New York, March 18, 1799. Sir, In compliance with the object of your letter of the 11 instant, I have put in motion two companies of Militia from Fort Jay ( Murray and Boehanm ) who are to embark at this morning for Amboy and to proceed from thence by way of Brunswick to Trenton in Bucks County. There [at Brunswick] D^r Robertson with his party is instructed to join them. The two companies as they march will muster together seventy men, ance will go provided with all necesaries except that the number of tents will be in complete. If you had known the wants of D^r Bode's party, they could not [have] been supplied from this place— Enclosed are the directions to him. Tomorrow you will be advised of the exact number of men and tents. I trust you will excuse the deviation from your order as best calculated to fulfill its object. The march from Mad. brint would have been attended with great difficulties and much delay. The River will shortly open and if necessary, the substitute can then be brought from Mad. brint to Fort Jay. For the mean time no inconvenience is likely to ensue. A person will go by conduct between both Towns and the Contractor in the double capacity of Quarter Master and Commissary — We can easily do both duties. Perhaps indeed the expense of such a person might have been saved, had there been a sufficient number of Officers with the companies. But it has been impracticable to send more than one Sublivin and two Lieutenants. I defer till tomorrow to give any Major [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] him is which is to [have] Captain Baya and a Doctor it would perhaps be more in order to send him the Major part of his command. But this for reserved With great respect &esteem I am Sir Your obed^t hum^t A Hamilton [sec^y of War] [endorsement, inverted: General Hamilton. March 18, 1799 received. [undecipherable]]