[15 Sett^r 1798 / Geo. Washington] [rec'd. 20 oct.] [S^r 11-322] Mount Vernon 15 Oct^r 1798 Dear Sir Your letter of the 2, and three of the 5^th Instant, came duly to hand — those of the latter date, were received late in the evening preceding my visit to the Federal City, where I was detained several days on business, and is the cause of their remaining unacknowledged so long. — In the former, you ask if I am acquainted with [strikethrough: undecipherable] characters, who have talents and acquirements to fit them for the command of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers? — I am so far from the possession of such knowledge, that I should be unwilling to hazard a recommendation of any to these important Officers. — M^r Edward Rutledge of Charleston S^t Carolina commands the Artillery Corps of that State, and is a man of Spirit and abilities. He is, besides, the particular friend of General Pinckney; but I have no idea (if he was agreeable to the Presi-dent) that the Rank of Lieu^t. Commandant would induce him to come forward. — Major Rivardi (now in the Service of the U. States) is, I am told, a Scientific character, & a man of experience. — He is a Swiss, and was sometime in the Service of Russia. — How he has conducted himself in ours, your opportunities, better than any information of mine, will enable you to judge. — He is gentlemanly in his appearance, & by those who know him better than I do, said to be a man of abilities & information. — With respect to the Officers for the Regiments, which (by the plan you submitted to the President) are to be raised in the Southern division, I have made, and shall continue to make, such enquiries for suitable ones, as I do & do without committing myself, & if it should not be approved, and [undecipherable] their State I might be able, I promise, with the aid I could [strikethrough: undecipherable], to make a tolerable good Selection for the proportion, in quota of the four Regiments it would have to furnish. But this is not to be done in the Southern and Western States in that relying upon others, and in their care more confidence be placed than in the General Officers therein, who are to experience the good or the evil that shall result from proper, or improper selections. — My opinion therefore is, that after the [strikethrough: undecipherable] [undecipherable] required from each State is ascertained, that the best [and] most efficiant mode would be to send a list of the Applicants from each [undecipherable] to the General Officers, or Officer, [where] there are any, residing therein, and therefrom [strikethrough: undecipherable] better knowledge of [undecipherable] characters, and such information as [undecipherable] be obtained, make a selection of Officers of the different grades, proportioned thereto, — and to learn [undecipherable] they are, or will go to serve in the [undecipherable] allotted. — This to be, [undecipherable] that the [undecipherable] service may commence without further delay. — But if the President chuses to have a check upon this, let such arrangements be forwarded without delay, to the War Office for sanction, or alteration, at his pleasure, and returned for the purposes above mentioned; for it is of the highest importance that the augmented force should be raised, & its training as soon as possible. — Generals Pinckney and Washington would doubtless be [undecipherable] confi-dant [undecipherable] careful in their selection of Officers for the Troops to be raised in South Carolina & Georgia; — and from the character of General Darnie, I should hope he would not be less attentive to those to be taken from N^o Carolina and [undecipherable]; this might be in the State of Tennessee; I cannot say; — and with [undecipherable] to Kentucky, I am [undecipherable] at a [undecipherable] for any period. Enclosed is a Sketch of the quotas which the States in the Southern division would have to furnish of the four Regiments of Infantry, & two Troops of them according to the Census, & State of the present Representatives. — If upon due consideration it should be approved, it might go into immediate execution; either by an immediate order from the War Office, or mediately through the Commander in Chief, as shall be deemed best. — In the former case I conceive it ought to be accompanied with Instructions to the Generals, or persons to whom the order issues, to give, in the selection of fit characters, a preference first to Officers of the Revolutionary army, who are in the prime of life; — who have distinguished themselves by their bravery, attention, & gentlemanly deportment; & who have not forfeited their pretensions to either of these qualifications since. — 2^d if such are not to be found; neat, young Gentleman of good Families, families, liberal educations, and high sense of honour; — and 3^d. in neither case, any who are known enemies to their own governments; for they will as certainly attempt to create disturbances in the Military, as they have done in the Civil administration of their Country. — With great esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Most Obed^t. Serv^t. G^o Washington James McHenry Esq^r. Secretary of War