[1799 Apr. 10] War Department 6^th April 1799 [undecipherable] D [T]he President thinks it highly expedient that no time should be lost in selecting proper characters to offi- cer the twenty four Regiments of Infantry, the regiments and Battalions of riflemen, the Battalions of artillerists and Engineers, and the three regiments of Cavalry which may be raised in pursuance of an act giving certain au- thority to the President of the United States to augment the army, [undecipherable: passed] the second of March last, and contemplate, as soon as the election shall be closed, to make the ap- pointments. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] many importan[undecipherable] [undecipherable] many [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] confidence that the [undecipherable] officer[s] can- [undecipherable] extended to them [undecipherable]tion to request you with accor[undecipherable] [undecipherable] and furnish me as soon as [undecipherable: practicable] [undecipherable] the names of such characters in your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to fill the annexed military grades as in your opinion [undecipherable: are] best qualified and willing to serve in case of an ac- tual war which will render [undecipherable: it] indispensable to recruit men for the most extended army. You [undecipherable: will] doubtless find a facility in commun[undecipherable] [undecipherable]sulting and cooperating with proper persons in different [undecipherable]ts of your State who may be calculated to give informa- tion of the requisite [undecipherable], and upon whose patro- nage and judgments a [undecipherable] confidence may be placed. Every cautionary measure is necessary to guard a- gainst errors in appointments which too frequently result from the ease with which recommendations are [undecipherable] tained, the [undecipherable] of friends, and a [undecipherable] ho- nest men of bad habits, by being transplanted into the arm- [undecipherable] become good men, and good officers. The officers proposed to be drawn from the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable], [undecipherable] Colonels                  One Colonel [undecipherable] Majors                     Two Majors [undecipherable] [undecipherable]                 Eleven Captains and [undecipherable] Captains                  Twenty [undecipherable] Subalterns, [undecipherable] [and undecipherable] Subalterns of Infantry [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to present themselves for a choice, [undecipherable] proportion [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Captains and Subalterns to the several Counties accord- [undecipherable]ing to their respective populations, as well with a view to facili- [undecipherable]tate the recruiting service as to give general satisfaction, with however, [undecipherable] not meant to be so invariably obser- [undecipherable]ved to [undecipherable] great [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] by too strict adherence [undecipherable] it. Circumstances may exist at the time of the President's [undecipherable]king the appointments which may render [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to make some [undecipherable] in the list with which [undecipherable] may be fur- nished, you are requested not to give the parties recom- [undecipherable]ded, such positive [undecipherable] as will render a choice im- practicable without wounding, too sensibly, [undecipherable]. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir your most ob[edien]t Hum[ble] Ser[van]t James McHenry [undecipherable]