[Draft] [30 may 1799 / To Gen. Hamilton / Troops in Tenisse] 30 May 1799 my dear Sir. The Troops in Tenisse have never been considered as forming any part of th[strikethrough: e W]estern army, or the Commander of the Western army as having any controle over them. It was necessary [strikethrough: for the success of the Objects to be accomplished & the quick Transmission of orders,] in Tenisse, and the [strikethrough: responding works] to be pursued, that this should be so. There is no position which it is possible for a General to assume in the North Western Country or on the Missisippi, which [strikethrough: avowed and [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] of the enable him to [undecipherable] and the [undecipherable] in favouring a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the Troops in Tenisse, the best [undecipherable] communications with the Works both] the State of things there in Tenisse [strikethrough: and the State of Government. your aspect. There the perplexity This State] delicate state of things [strikethrough: to affairs in] that apparatus will long I am afraid but long continue, and forbid the [strikethrough: entrusting the delicate short routes communications] to be entrusted to circuitous [strikethrough: order— [undecipherable] the necessary orders, and — that may be from a very distant commander, or to necessary. I an Officer on the North Eastern portion their views most be limited, and the Commander, as I have already extended to Tenisse. suggested measures laid any controlling The position to be taken by Gen Pinckney here from and [undecipherable] for in Tenisse. Eye directly on [undecipherable] of Communication between Tenisse of frequent the alterations] your [undecipherable: probable reading "proposal"]. I have expunged the words "in Tenisse" and added after dependencies, "except the Troops in Tenisse"; and [undecipherable: probable reading "shall"] forward the letter tomorrow.