War Department, February 22 1799 Sir, The embarrassing incidents which have taken [undecipherable] [undecipherable] attention having rendered it expedient to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] your duties [undecipherable] regards it [undecipherable] [undecipherable] proper to give the [undecipherable: probable reading, Superintendent] of [undecipherable] and detailing particulars in order to [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading, maintain] a whole it will serve to [undecipherable] the Department of If certain details will likewise continue [undecipherable] and may [undecipherable] in the different branches of the [undecipherable: probable reading, service] The [undecipherable] now [undecipherable] for the present [undecipherable] from actual connection, the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] in pursuance of the above [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] within the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] if [undecipherable] you to [undecipherable] any [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable: probable reading, service] ment for [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] agency at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] North Carolina South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and [undecipherable] During the outline which I have [undecipherable] before you [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] no [undecipherable] that you [undecipherable] every [undecipherable] to the charge you [undecipherable: probable reading, most best] [undecipherable] to give [undecipherable] satisfaction [undecipherable] ment of the [undecipherable: probable reading, service] General [undecipherable: probable reading, Pinckney] will no doubt [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] for his [undecipherable] Quarters as soon as [undecipherable] the most [undecipherable: probable reading, favourable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the several [undecipherable] command and with the seat of Government. He is now at Charlestown where he may remain for a short time. You will until otherwise directed forward to me duplicates of your letters to General [undecipherable: probable reading, Pinckney]. The design of this is that [undecipherable] have an of[undecipherable] should a case of urgency occur to [undecipherable: probable reading, interpose] immediately with the requisite orders in such cases. In making [undecipherable] the disposition of your tro- [undecipherable] as protection of the new [undecipherable], you will [undecipherable] in vie- [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the North Western frontier by the [undecipherable: probable reading, Cumberland] River. You will pay the same attention as heretofore to guard the Indian lands from being intruded upon and will take the most decisive steps to prevent Settlements in that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I am Sir, with great respect Your ob^t Serv^t, [undecipherable: probable reading, James McHenry] [undecipherable] Colonel [undecipherable: probable reading, Thomas] Butler