[Docket: Newport 25. March / [1]7[99] / Major General A. Hamilton / New York.] Newport March 25^th 1799 Dr Sir, I have the Honour of requesting your Permission to assemble a general Court Martial at the Garrison. There are a Number of Prisoners charged with capital Crimes. Enclosed are the Names of the Officers who may be convened with little or no Expence to the Public. Present { Capt. W^m Littlefields Lieut. George T. Ross Lieut. Robert Oweing Ensign Saunders Rogers. Absentees { Capt. George Tillinghast Lieut. Loveit Whittle. The new Law for the better organizing the Troops of the United States provides for a Quartermaster Serjeant in each Battalion of Artillerists and Engineers. Serjeant Edward Kendall is a worthy Man, does all the Writings of the Company, has been at hard Duty last Year, inspecting and keeping an Account of the Labourers' Work. I have to request your Sanction of my having appointed him as such to my Battalion. I would suggest the Necessity of ordering a second Subaltern Officer to this Garrison. With Esteem and Respect I remain, Dr Sir, Your obedient and Very humble Servant, Louis Tousard Commandant Major General A. Hamilton --- Nam Tousard March 29, 1799 I have appointed as he intimated by the enclosed copy of a General Court Martial order a General Court Martial of which [strikethrough: Capt. Littlefields] to be President. If possible it must consist of not less than Seven members — I authorise you to summon in my name for this purpose any of the Officers mentioned in the enclosed list besides those of the Garrison — He must name a [undecipherable] person to officiate as Judge Advocate. It belongs to the Colonel of the Regiment to appoint Q. Master Sergeant. Then I approve of [his] appointing one provisionally. His suggestion respecting a provisional Subaltern will be attended to hereafter.