[undecipherable] War Department October 10^th 179[undecipherable] Sir, I had the honor to receive your letter of the [undecipherable] of September also enclosing [Commissions?] on the three Major Generals [undecipherable] of the United States, [undecipherable] and dated on the same day. In notwithstanding the communications which may be afforded from this Department at the [time?] of presenting the [Commissions?] to each of the generals I found myself embarrassed respecting the course you meant I should pursue on the occasion. It was my [undecipherable] to avoid the renewal of a subject that had already been attended with too [undecipherable] and [unpleasant?] communications, by [undecipherable] the questions upon you, for more precise instructions. After considerable deliberation I at last was induced to transmit the [Commissions?] to General [undecipherable] and others, and to inform them that I considered the dates [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and nominations [approved?] by the Senate as determining their relative rank. I have also written to Generals Hamilton and Knox, calling them into [service?], and soliciting their presence as soon as practicable, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [10^th?] of November [undecipherable]. Their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to me indispensable. To more [undecipherable] in any other [undecipherable] the the 1^st August [undecipherable], for [undecipherable], the [undecipherable] [communications?] [undecipherable] or the [undecipherable] [embarrassing?] circumstances, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [appointments?] to a very little [undecipherable]. It would be [desirable?] also that I should [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to request the attendance of General Washington. My design is, to derive from the knowledge the Generals may have of the original characters, who have [applied?] [undecipherable] military appointments, and others disposed to enter into the Army, [Federal?] and [undecipherable] aid, in the [selection?] and [undecipherable] of the most suitable to the different grades [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] in conjunction with them, a [list?] for your final determination: And also, to avail myself of their [knowledge?] and new experience in [undecipherable] a report, to be submitted for your approbation relative to the measures necessary to be pursued to give efficiency and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the remaining [forces?]. — In the distribution of the military force of the United States — the most [certain?], regular and [economical?] mode of [provisioning?] the recruits, and the troops in the field: the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] of Ordnance, including [Arms?] and other [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to be procured in addition to what we [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] in our Magazines and Stores, and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a permanent deposit in the [undecipherable]. I also [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] to the two Major Generals, Hamilton and Knox such branches of the military [service?] as were suggested in my letter of the 6^th [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I [should?], Sir, certainly consider it my duty to report to you [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] were stated, without the assistance of the generals the officers and it is known to be the practice, and a [judicious?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in every government in Europe, for the [Minister?] of War [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [opinions?] and [undecipherable] of the most [expert?] and military Officers in [undecipherable] and to [undecipherable] in concert with the most [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and of Campaigns, and all great [arrangements?] [undecipherable] with the military [undecipherable]. By thus setting out with a [judicious?] and calculating [undecipherable], [undecipherable] will be [undecipherable] [forced?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and only be liable to [extremes?], in consequence of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] such [undecipherable] upon a state of [undecipherable]. I take the liberty of respectfully suggesting the concerns [undecipherable] [particularly?] to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable], [undecipherable] the [appointments?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for the two [undecipherable], and as [consequently?], the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]; that [negotiations?] are [commencing?] from all [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [orders?] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [attainment?] of [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and that, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which can be used in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], [undecipherable] [undecipherable] can be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] some of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. With the greatest respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most [faithful?] [humble?] [servant?], James [McHenry?] [undecipherable] Adams Esq[undecipherable] [President?] of the United States [undecipherable] [undecipherable] can be commenced, as things are situated, before the [meeting?] of Congress. [Besides?] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] to [undecipherable], [undecipherable] the [presence?] of the President [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the important and [delicate?] to give the utmost [facility?] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Sir your most ob[edient?] & [faithful?] [undecipherable] James McHenry John Adams President of the United States