War Department 7^th January 1799 Sir The Attorney General of the United States [undecipherable] transmitted to me, some time since, [undecipherable] him, from myself, Alexander Li[undecipherable] and Charles M. Mitchell, sealed [undecipherable] on the Subject of a [undecipherable] of Infantry, who have [undecipherable] reason to offer, their [undecipherable] to the acceptance of the [undecipherable] Army. I was [undecipherable], [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the cut of [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] occasions, have retarded the Correspondence of the departments and occasioned the delay in answering your letter, agreeably to the request of the Attorney Generale. The law authorizing the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to raise a Provisional [undecipherable] [undecipherable] passed the 28^th of [undecipherable: probable reading May] last, under which the services of Volunteer Companies [undecipherable] be accepted, prescribes certain conditions [undecipherable] previous to the acceptance, to be complied with by the Company offering; and certain general [undecipherable] resolutions, consistent [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] respecting such companies, have [undecipherable] by the Department, a Copy of which [undecipherable] for your information. [undecipherable] you will [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] one company, to the [undecipherable], the United States, on complying with [undecipherable] [undecipherable], of the [undecipherable] Consequent and the General [undecipherable] enclosed. I am Sir with [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] Servant [undecipherable: probable reading James McHenry] Captain John M. Mitchell Dumfries, Virginia,