War department 16 April 1799 Sir, I wish I had been earlier apprised on the subject of the necessity for money to move Lieutenant Leonards party; but you could not advise me of the circumstance before it came to your own knowledge. Inclosed is a letter to Lieutenant Leonard with 2875 dollars on account of pay to the thirty first of March ultimo, bounties to his Recruits, and for expenses in marching his men which you will be pleased to forward by one of the Officers you have designated to join him. You will also direct the Officer to muster his Men and forward the Muster Roll. The two Bonds — H. Smiths and Lieut Macwhorters have come to hand. I have no objection to the nomination of Lieut Waters Clark as Adjutant, Lieutenant James Gordon Jun^d. as Quarter Master and Lieut Truman Mosely as Paymaster to L^t. Colonel Taylors Regiment. Not knowing where to find Lieut Mosely I shall send to you to morrow inclosed for him a letter containing the amount of bounty money and four months pay to the Officers of the said Regiment with instructions from the Accountant of the War department. You will be pleased to forward this money with such orders as may be proper. Several Officers appointed to the new Regiments had expressed uneasiness upon the ground of not receiving their Commissions. I know however the uneasiness among some of them proceeded from another cause. They were apprehensive they were to receive no pay till called into actual service, while some of them would have hoped that the first commissioned would be intitled to priority of Rank. To quiet any apprehensions on the first account and remove any expectations on the second I issued a circular letter upon the first of April instant of which the enclosed is a Copy. I do not know whether you recollect that Commissions were not issued to the Officers of the Army directed to be raised in 1792 till a twelve month after their appointment. I have not learned that this delay created either complaint, or uneasiness. The field Officers for New Hampshire viz: One Lieutenant Colonel and one Major and one Major for Vermont cannot possibly be appointed for some time. The Representation from New Hampshire just before the rising of Congress requested that nominations to the President might be delayed till they could return home and have an opportunity to forward me the names of qualified persons to fill there Offices. I have not yet heard from them and after I do I must transmit my choice to the President for his approbation before I can announce their being appointed. M. Payne Senator and M. Morris Representative for Vermont have recommended a Cornelius Lynde of Williams Town for the Office of Major. If you can give me or procure me any information respecting him it will oblige me. I shall write you in a few days upon the subject of certain principles which require to be settled, connected with the issues of Commissions — If I can procure an Ady for you it shall be sent Enclosed is a list of acceptances and nonacceptances of Officers received since the transmission of my former list. I am Sir with great Respect Your obedient Servant James McHenry [Major Gen^d. Hamilton]