[Docket:] S Belle Cantons Aug 1798— / Lieut. Col. Thomas Butler— / strenuously recommending that / the Junior Lieutenants in his [Reg't] / may be promoted— has sold / Sundry Dragoon Horses— / incloses a return of their price— [sent in— / Ans. Rec. as 24.] Belle Canton august 5^th 1798 — Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter stated the 17^th of July ulto, enclosing the act of Congress passed the 16^th ulto which I have communicated as directed— I observe Sir by the law, that my regiment is to consist of ten Companies, and I flatter my Self that the Senior Lieutenants now in my Regiment, will receive the Command of those Companies, Should it not be the case, there is every reason to Suppose that discontents will prevail, which would give me much uneasiness, as I value my Subaltern officers much, and those who would Stand candidates for them Companies, are equal to any of their Rank in the Army of the United States, and I am persuaded if the President of the United States, knew how much them officers merits, he would have them appointed to the Command of the additional companies — I have detached two officers on the Recruiting Service, one to Kentucky the other to a town called Abington, in this State they have not had time to make much progress as yet— I Set out tomorrow morning for [undecipherable] to accompany Judge Walton to the Cherokee nation, You have been advised of the intention, I presume we Shall be absent near fifteen Days; There is a young Gentleman at this place, by the name of Grimes, who conceives that he has been appointed a Cornet in the Cavalry, having Seen his name in a list of appointments forwarded Some time Since to this place by the accountants Should it be the case that he has been appointed, he would be ready for duty as Soon as ordered— I have removed the ^[valey]^ Cavalry from Powells, to Halson river, five miles from this place, as forage could not be procured in this valley— I have also to inform you that I ordered to be Sold at Public vandure, Seven disordered and broken down Cavalry Horses, that was only an incumbrance, and also fourteen Pack Horses, you will observe by the enclosed Bill that, the most of them were Sold for Corn, which will Serve the cavalry for Some time, it is to be delivered by the purchasers, one half on the first of Nov. next, the other half on the first of Jan^y 99— I hope Sir that you will approbate my conduct in So doing— I have taken the liberty of enclosing a letter to my Son at Dickinson college, there being enclosures in it of consequence you will lay me under an obligation if you will be So kind as to frank it, as it may be a means of its going Safe— I am Sir with Respect your Humb. Serv. Tho. Butler Lt. Col. Comd^g in Tennessee The Hon^ble James McHenry Secretary of war Philad^a [Sent in— Ans. Rec. as [undecipherable]] --- Statement of the sale of public horses 4^th August 1798 Dol. Cen. 1 packhorse sold to Gypson Hardin at . . . . . 140 1 d° . . . W^m. Page . . . 76 1 d° . . . Charles Wright . . . 65 1 d° . . . Rob. Love . . . 71 1 d° . . . David Miller . . . 128 1 d° . . . William Burk . . . 75 1 d° . . . Hugh Dunlap . . . 93 1 d° . . . Pat. Shanty . . . 71 1 d° . . . William Nowne . . . 70 1 d° . . . Thomas Dodson . . . 91 1 d° . . . Pat. Shanty . . . 75 1 d° . . . Joel Copeland . . . 25 980 1 Cavalry horse to Hugh Walker . . . 216 1 d° . . . W^m. Stephenson . . . 156 1 d° . . . David Caldwell . . . 210 1 d° . . . John Hickling . . . 41 Dollars 1603 1 d° Ruh. Chandler at . . 88. 75 1 d° d° . . at 25. .. 1 d° A.b. White . . at 21. 25 7 1 packhorse to S^t Taylor at 21. 25 1 d° . . d° . . 25. .. 2 Dols. 181 25 Cts. 21 horses Jo. Bowman D.Q.M. Bell Canton 5^th July 1798