[Fort Johnson So. Carolina 1798 / [undecipherable] Governor [undecipherable] / Michael Patterson / Rec'd 12 Nov'r / Ans'd — 14 —] Fort Johnson So. Carolina 22^nd October 1798 — Sir I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28^th [undecipherable]. I perceive that one dollar has been deducted from the pay of George Prince, (orderly to the Hospital) for the month of August. Therefore it is necessary I should give you my reasons for allowing him that sum. I take the liberty of referring you to my letter of the 1^st of November 1796 on the appointment of an Orderly to the Hospital, in which I had informed you, that I had allowed four dollars per month in addition to his pay as a Soldier. From that time to this, the allowance was always made to him — and as an additional dollar was allowed by Congress to the monthly pay of the Soldier since the first of last August I conceived the Orderly of the Hospital, in his capacity of a Soldier, was also entitled to it, and that the four dollars, for his extra fatigue and trouble in attending the sick, would of course make his pay nine dollars per month — which I allowed not having received any orders on the subject. There is no doubt that the Orderly or Nurse to the Hospital at this Post, earns the additional [undecipherable] dollars with much fatigue and trouble. The two dollars which I charged the United States for Enlisting George Pehlman was made on this principle. The recruiting instructions to which I am regulated, mention I believe, that the premium for enlisting, will be allowed to the Officers, for those recruits who join their corps by which I understand that a man whom I enlist for [undecipherable] Company joins his corps the moment he joins my company, and as I have been ordered by the Secretary of War to muster my own men I could muster every recruit the day after his enlistment. — This man remained at the Post two days only, but my trouble in enlisting him was the same, as if he served his five years faithfully. — The Secretary of War some time since wrote to me that he had enclosed me some new recruiting instructions which have been adopted by the President — but they were by some means unfortunately left out of his dispatches — of which I have informed him. — By this accident I feel much embarrassed — as I may be wanting in some things which those regulations direct. Any information or direction you may may please to give me I shall receive with much pleasure and chearfully conform thereto. — Blank Muster and Pay Rolls are much wanting I am Sir Your very Obed^t Serv^t William Patterson Capt. a. D. 8 [address panel:] W^m Simmons Esq^re Accountant to the Depart^t of Wars. —