Philad. 2^d March 1799 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] previous letters under date [undecipherable], [undecipherable] Nov[undecipherable] 18 & 19[undecipherable] [undecipherable] Mr [undecipherable] writes [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] There are many [undecipherable] little relative to the [undecipherable] recruiting [undecipherable] necessary to [undecipherable] to all having Lieutenants, and [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] additional Lieutenants, [undecipherable] described in the law [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] officers [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] President [undecipherable] to make[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] no objection to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Paymaster [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for selecting [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] Lieutenants. These officers, being entrusted You will note[undecipherable] [undecipherable] by the law that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] must [undecipherable] bond in the sum of 7000 Dollars for the faithful discharge of the duties of [undecipherable: his] Office, respectively and You will of course take measures to have this done and the bonds [strikethrough: otherwise] transmitted [strikethrough: to me] as soon as possible [strikethrough: to them] [strikethrough: that] that there may exist no reason [be there?] for delaying the transmission [undecipherable] of the recruiting money. The same operation must be performed on the old establishment respecting which you will also take order. I take the alternative [undecipherable: suggested] [strikethrough: preferred] [strikethrough: of Inlistment] [undecipherable] the oath, as to the term of service — [undecipherable: we] be [undecipherable: sure] during the continuance [undecipherable] or for the term of [undecipherable: four] years at the Option of the U S[.] And yet I foresee [undecipherable: that] [undecipherable: such] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] be [undecipherable: misunderstood] [undecipherable] excite clamors [undecipherable] of [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] said, that there is a definite number of [undecipherable: men] [undecipherable: which] the law contemplates [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] inlisted for 5 years [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the permanent Establishment, [undecipherable: say] 5000; [undecipherable] [undecipherable] another [undecipherable: defined] number of [undecipherable] authorized to be enlisted [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the additional [undecipherable] say of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: good] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] person [undecipherable] may be of [undecipherable: greater] or [undecipherable: lesser] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: than] the former. The law [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon the [undecipherable] it will be perhaps the safest course [undecipherable] to follow [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of each case [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] old establishment and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] It strikes me [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] to have done [undecipherable] that men will [undecipherable] more readily [undecipherable: inlist] for the casual duration, than for the [undecipherable: In]den- tion of 5 years. You sent but one letter for Gen. Wilkinson. I have had advice of its arrival at Knoxville in [undecipherable: Tenn]o [undecipherable] of its having been and [strikethrough: that my agent had] send it forward by express. I [undecipherable: presume] Col. Elliot [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from any [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] upon a letter [undecipherable] [undecipherable: having] [undecipherable] not [undecipherable: knowing] it [undecipherable] [undecipherable] power to send [undecipherable] as means [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable: Congress] for one of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I have [undecipherable: last] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: in] Elliot any strong desire of [undecipherable: independence] [undecipherable] disregard to orders. Perhaps his being of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] prevented him from [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] I intended that you should. but every thing in train for commencing the recruiting service the moment you receive an act, that a suffi- ciency of clothing was ready for the purpose. and that [undecipherable] if you thought [undecipherable] you might issue direct in a circular [undecipherable: way] enlistments to be made in the mean while. I have now noticed most if not all the points contained in your private letter — and I believe [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] all your ideas are very judicious ones. — The regular troops ordered to the scene of insurrection have all reached their first points of destination, except the company from this place [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: which] is to [undecipherable: march] when ordered by Gen. [undecipherable: McPherson]. The [undecipherable: General] received [undecipherable: his] instructions on Monday last, and [undecipherable] many [undecipherable] dependent [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon me has been done. It seems from [undecipherable] said to my [undecipherable] that the State Adjutant [undecipherable: General] has not yet been able to furnish him with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] returns. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it [undecipherable: remarkable] however slightly the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] Govern[o]r comes in contact with [undecipherable] insurrection [undecipherable: that] [undecipherable] delay in [undecipherable] it becomes unavoidable. [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] Yours sincerely & affy Mar Gen Hamilton [Left margin: 29 march 1799 Gen. Hamil[undecipherable]]