[Docket on outer wrapper: [undecipherable] of War / Philadelphia April [undecipherable]] Philadelphia April 26.^th 1799 Sir It being very urgent that the Two Regiments of Artillery should be organized into companies and disposed of to the several destinations which you have contemplated, [strikethrough: according to your instructions] [strikethrough: of the 4^th of February last — it has occurred in a] [strikethrough: result that] a very inconvenient delay would [strikethrough: result from the necessity of making] attend the making of that arrangement in concert with General Pinckney as suggested in your late Letter. As, likewise, this arrangement is a mere matter of organization, the distribution having been previously determined upon, it is presumed there will not appear on further consideration any sufficient motive for incurring the delay of such a concert — and that you will think it preferable by the interposition of your agency to settle the arrangement and communicate it for execution to the two Major Generals. In this expectation I beg leave to submit to you the plan of [strikethrough: Such] an arrangement. [strikethrough: It appears to me] [strikethrough: ought] The [strikethrough: detail] result will be [strikethrough: laid] in the [strikethrough: paper] [strikethrough: next] transmitted. A preliminary basis, in conformity with the rule by which the twelve Regiments have been numbered, is [strikethrough: to give] on the Sea board, to give the right to the first Regiment, the left to the Second — This, as it happens, will occasion the least possible dislocation of the companies from their present Stations. [strikethrough: and] You will perceive that a Battalion of the first Regiment is left to the Western [Army]; and it so turns out, that the number of Officers in that quarter [strikethrough: nearly] corresponds — of the same Reg[imen]t Another Battalion is assigned to the posts in Georgia and South Carolina. And a third to the Posts in North Carolina Virginia & Maryland. The fourth will remain for the troops in the field and may be annexed to the part of the army under General Pinckney. One Battalion of the Second Regiment is assigned to the posts in Delaware Pennsylvania New Jers[ey] and New York. Another to the States Eastward and Northward of New York. The third is reserved for the field and will naturally form a part of my command[.] The fourth battalion of this Regiment not been yet [strikethrough: recruited] — [strikethrough: of course] cannot be [strikethrough: embraced] in [strikethrough: the present] an immediate disposition. In the association of officers for the companies, I have availed myself of all the [strikethrough: under] information I was able to discover of their actual relations. (But it may [strikethrough: also] happen when situations and characters are better ascertained, that some alterations may promote personal harmony and benefit the Service. It is therefore desirable that the adoption by you may be qualified by a view to further information to be obtained through the field Officers and to eventual [strikethrough: alterations] changes. There were no indications to regulate the association of the Officers with the Western army. [strikethrough: Then] It is proposed to refer to Col Burbeck. when you shall have approved the plan now presented or with such alterations as you may judge adviseable, it will only remain to communicate your determination to the two Major Generals, who will concert its prompt execution. It is extremely to be wished that a Commandant of the Second Regiment may without delay be appointed. You are [undecipherable] how much, in the first [undecipherable] of a military corps, the want of the proper chief — must impede the establishment [strikethrough: of] of order and discipline. With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Your Obed^t Ser^vt — [signature] The Secretary of War