[Docket text written sideways:] [Camp'd. V.G.] [Gen: [undecipherable] to G[en]:] [...strictly [undecipherable] between] [Opinions and a[undecipherable] a[undecipherable] to] [how [undecipherable] of the] [——] [Addressed [undecipherable]] [& very [undecipherable] Main.] [a [undecipherable] —] [Private & confidential] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Aug 1^st 1798 My dear [undecipherable] You'll consider this Letter as private & confidential. Dict- ated by Friendship, and Favour, even [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — if [undecipherable] any thing— any thing should be found therein W— may have too much the appearance of [undecipherable] dealing, look to the Motives, and manner of the communication, & my apology will be [undecipherable] for my candor From the Moment I accepted my Appointment as Commander in Chief of the Armies of the U: States, I considered myself as nearly allied to the Sec-retary of War, & called to particular attention From her, to well [undecipherable] [undecipherable] her was [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] — I should not have been supposed, had it not either [undecipherable] been expressed, that I would [undecipherable] led to [undecipherable] the Moment to [undecipherable] as ignorant of its formation, its [undecipherable] on, & every thing relating thereto, as if I had just dropped from the Clouds. — My Solicitude often & Strongly as proper, relatively to the Formation of the Army, could not but have impressed you with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — But if [undecipherable] evidence was necessary, the [undecipherable] made to [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and in other respects [undecipherable], to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — But what Fruit has it produced? — To this no [undecipherable] answer can [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] that has been taken up the appointment of the Battalion [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — the [undecipherable] that — Fixing the places of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] With respect to the Quarter Master [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the list of Appointments — for any thing [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] of the 18^th of July appointing them, I waited [undecipherable] [undecipherable] an explanation of this matter would be given, but for [undecipherable] I am [undecipherable] to you on the 22 of that month to [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] cause; and [undecipherable] to the first of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] with us back to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to General [undecipherable] to his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I have heard it said that Congress [undecipherable] was opposed, and [undecipherable] had [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the News papers; but think have not been at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] has a eye to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] see [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] my de- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the Govern- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] country; it is in little [undecipherable], [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] the nea- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you are to [undecipherable] things [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] augmented force, and forces that act is absolutely [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and it is much to be denied that it [undecipherable] takes the field with a [undecipherable], [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that the President [undecipherable] responsible [undecipherable] [undecipherable] there [undecipherable] many [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] independent of this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] attached to [undecipherable], and as the multiplicity of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Department, the early [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] agree [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] find him in your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a variety of occur- rences, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] against. — I would have [undecipherable] a similar measure with respect to General Knox as it related more particularly to Arms, & the Ordnance Department but (under he rose for the present) he seems to be so much dissatisfied with the arrang- ment of the relative rank of the General Officers that I have no expectation of his serving. — Let me conclude by requesting to be informed, is what [undecipherable] State the Formation of the augmented Corps is? — Whether the applications for Commiss- ions are numerous, & the characters good? — What arrangements are made for recruiting? — Where the General rendezvous are to be? — Who are appoint- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] What is the present State of your Military Suppli[es] &c What the means, and what the measure, for augmenting them? — [undecipherable] With much [undecipherable] Prosperity, Happiness, [undecipherable] affectionate and [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [signature: Go: Washington] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [James McHenry Esq^r. Sec[retar]y of War] [undecipherable]