true sort of your Sons, as we did the [strikethrough: last] Revolutionary War, and we will endeavour again to keep pace with those, whose Hardihood and Valour, may urge them to the front in support of the Independence, honor and dignity of our Country — With great respect, I have the honor to be Sir, Your most Ob^t humble Ser^t Signed W. S. Smith N^o 2 — War department 17^th Dec^r 1798. Col^o W. S. Smith. Dear Sir, an early long and intimate acquaintance with you, and a favourable opinion entertained of your Military merit and other qualifications, induced me when at Mount Vernon, to confer with the Commander in Chief, in July last to acquiesce with pleasure in his designation of you provisionally to the post of Adjutant General to the Army, and your name was accordingly presented to the Senate — It was not till the nomination had been made that I understood objections existed among the members of the Senate which would prevent a concurrence — To Obtain their assistance and advice (among other matters of moment) in selecting proper Characters, to fill the Several Grades in the augmented Army of the United States, the Commander in Chief and Major Generals were requested to convene at the Seat of Government, and have