[undecipherable] [undecipherable] the Two letters from you after [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the [last?] papers & them [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you be it, that a plan may be considered for numbering the Regiments and [arranging?] the rank of the Lt. Colonels [undecipherable] upon for consideration [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to I observe. It being [undecipherable] to commence the recruiting service, to [advise?], or without [receiving?] the appointment of officers the States could take [place?] able, as the buttons for each Regiment is be numbered, to [fix?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] [undecipherable] always [at?] it or have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] question [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] its [selection?] [undecipherable] Colonels [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] men be [extended?] to the [whole?] [Regiments?] and [others?] could not be [discharged?] without great injury to the service [undecipherable] [the?] [because?] of age should be [appointed?] [undecipherable] have been governed by [geographical?] [losses?], according to the order [which?] was adopted [last?] was when the arm[y?] faced the sea board. This rule appeared to me as good as any other and less liable to criticism. The result is, that [undecipherable] two Regiments to be raised in [Georgia?] & the Carolinas [Georgia?] & Kentucky were to be numbered 5 & 6. That of which W. Bentley is Lt. Colonel commandant N^o 7. That of which Th^o. Parker is Lt. Colonel N^o 8. That of which Josias C. Hall is [Lt.?] Colonel N^o 9. That of which Th^s. Moore is 2^t Col N^o 10. That of which [Irvon?] Aeden is 1^e Col. N^o 11. That of which [undecipherable] G. [undecipherable] is 2^t. Col. N^o 12. That [undecipherable] Timothy Taylor is [Lt. Col.] N^o 13. That of which N. [undecipherable] is Lt. Col. N^o [undecipherable] [that?] of [undecipherable] [and?] [undecipherable: Harnewell?] is Lt. Col. N^o 15 That [it?] is to comprehend the companies [to be?] raised in New Hampshire Vermont [and?] Rhode Island N^o 16. It also appeared proper to adopt [undecipherable] whatever it might be, for the [undecipherable] arrangement of the numbering of the Regiments [which?] would be permanently convenient, and in future cases would [undecipherable] consistent effort. This would [undecipherable] me learn the case, if the relative rank of the first commandants of the Regiments was to govern. When Regiment [undecipherable] (for example) [lost?] its commandant [by?] promotion death, resignation or [undecipherable], his successor would be the [senior?] of all the Lt. Colonels, and the Regiment would either lose its action originally acquired by the accidental rank of its commandant, or it would [claim?] it, in contradiction of that rule [that?] [undecipherable] commandant was the junior junior of [the?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] this incongruity the commandant[s], [if?] [to?] be removed, so that N^o 2 might become N^o 1. the dislocation would be [at?] it with injurious effects. All the [undecipherable] [to?] be derived from the [attachment?] [and?] confidence of office, and [order?] to the particular commander would frequently be [lost?] in the midst of a [camp?] [undecipherable], and the discipline of all the corps [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [suffer?] and [undecipherable] to change [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] moreover were [employed?] in [different?] armies in extreme parts of the U.S. [undecipherable] commandants would be also constantly [itinerant?], [leaping?] from [army?] to another. It was on these and [other?] [undecipherable] that I was [induced?] to adopt a [method?] [of?] numbering the Regiments. [This?] is to have the sanction of [Court?] was [undecipherable] was [also?] to the [reconsidering?] [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] the relative rank of the Lt. Colonels [to?] be hereafter settled. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] With great respect I have the honor to be &. [Docket: 22^d April. 1797 [undecipherable]]