War Department 17^th Oct^r 1798 Dear Sir I received your letter dated Newark the 14^th inst. this morning, and sincerely congratulate you upon your safe arrival. The readiness you have expressed to accept of your appointment, after so long an absence from home and your private affairs, is extremely satisfactory, and will I am sure be justly estimated by the President and your country. I inclose your commission of Major General in the army of the United States, and flatter myself, I shall soon have the pleasure of seeing you here, when we can talk over some points upon which your Opinion will be required, and the propriety of a short delay, or your immediately proceeding home agreeably to your desire. The relative rank of the Major Generals of the army (as you have collected from the order of appointment, as announced in the News-papers referred to) is as follows, viz. Major General Alexander Hamilton, Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney & Major General Henry Knox. with sincere regard I am Sir Sir your most ob^t— James McHenry [Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney]