[WD. May 17. 1799 Genl. Hamilton S.P. 302] War Dep. 17 Mayo 1799 Sir Inclosed is a ^{copy of} letter from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] suggesting that certain artificers now with the Ca^pt Elliott Company could be very usefully employed at Fort Mifflen as also D^r Gibson. D. Gibson has [strikethrough: been] already discovered mechanical ability in the line of his profession and will be of [undecipherable] at Fort Mifflen to superintend the construction of Gun Carriages for the different garrisons. Lut. Piles a Deancy who is at West Point has the same skills in a pretty remarkable degree and superintends the artificers at that Post. without [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] materially affecting the arrangement Whither then it [undecipherable] be convenient more two officers can be attached to the companies stationed at Fort Mifflen and West Point, viz Gibson to the former & Deancy to the Latter and [strikethrough: vice] if so will arrange them accordingly and give the necessary orders [+] relative to the artificers required at Fort Mifflen. I also enclose you a letter from Francis Mentges relative to [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] of a certain [undecipherable] with the greatest respect [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] & Gn Hamilton