[I 85] War Department 29 June 1799 [undecipherable] Sir. [undecipherable] The inclosed plan, for connecting the different parts of our military system, in whatever regards the providing and issuing supplies for the army, has been reported to me by Major General Hamilton, and referred to the Secretary of the Treasury who has verbally approved thereof. The plan appears to me a good one & comprises such of the regulations as were found useful and necessary during the revolutionary war, with some additions to our present system. Being a nation, and not of the lowest order, there are three [strikethrough: the] things essential to the maintenance of our proper grade among the powers of the earth. 1^st an army, and means adequate to its support. 2^d. A system calculated to keep its wants regularly supplied. 3^d Genius in the general who commands it. If we can combine these three, with a navy, and I hope we can, we shall have nothing to fear from without or within. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir Your most Ob^t Hble S^t James McHenry John Adams President of the United States Plan for the providing and issuing of Military Supplies. The Business of procuring shall constitute two distinct branches of service — that of issuing, another. The purveyor shall be charged with the procuring of all Supplies, except those for which Contracts are made directly by the Chief of the Treasury, or War Department. The Superintendent of Military Stores, shall superintend the Issue of all Supplies. The purveyor shall have near him three Assistants, by whatever Denomination; one in relation to the Supplies, which according to past practice, fall within the Department of Quarter Master General, including the means of transportation — Another in relation to the Supplies, which according to past practice fall within the Department of Commissary of provisions with the addition of Medical and Hospital Stores — a third in relation to the Supplies, which according to past practice fall within the Department of the Commissary of Military Stores, with the addition of Clothing — The person who now resides at the head of Government, in quality of Quarter Master General may perform the duty of the first mentioned Assistant. The Superintendent of Military Stores shall have near him three principal Clerks, each of whom particularly to superintend the Issue in one of the above mentioned branches, aided by as many Storekeepers as may be necessary. The purveyor shall have with each Army a Deputy, to be charged with the procuring of all Supplies necessary to be procured with the Army. The Superintendent shall have with each Army a Deputy, who shall have under him three Assistants, one to superintend the Issue of Quarter Masters Stores, another to superintend the Issue of Provisions, a third to superintend the Issue of other Military Stores and Clothing. The purveyor and his Deputies shall deliver over all they procure, to the Superintendent and his Deputies; the actual custody and issuing of Articles to be with the Store-keepers, pursuant to the written orders of the Superintendent and his Deputies. The Quarter Master General with the Main Army, and the Deputy Quarter Master General with each separate Army, shall have the Superintendance of the Deputies of the purveyor with the respective Armies, to see that they do their duty according to their Instructions from the Heads of their respective Branches, and the Orders of the Commander of the Army. The Inspector General with the Main Army, and the Deputy Inspector General with each separate Army, shall have a like charge of the Deputies of the Superintendent of Military Stores; — these Officers to serve as checks upon the respective deputies, and points of union between the military and civil authorities. The Paymaster General shall reside at the Seat of Government and be the fountain of all Issues of Money for the pay, Bounty &c of the Troops. He shall have a Deputy with each Army, who shall be charged with the issuing of all Monies to the Regimental Paymasters. The Quarter Master of each Division shall be charged with the procuring of all Supplies which may be occasionally necessary for such Division, in addition to the general Supplies. The Quarter Master of each Brigade shall be charged with the like duty when the Brigade is detached only, and always with the Superintendance of the Issues for such Brigade, and consequently with the direction of all Brigade Officers having the custody of Supplies. Each Brigade shall have a Commissary of Forage, and another of provisions, to be charged respectively with the Issues of those Articles. The Regimental Quarter Master shall receive and issue all Supplies for the Regiment, except Money and Clothing. The Regimental Paymaster shall receive and issue all Supplies of Money and Clothing for the Regiment. The Regimental Paymaster shall issue monies for the Recruiting Service to the Company Officers charged with that Service; pursuant to Warrants from the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, or from the Superintending Officer of the Recruiting Service, for such Regiment; taking from each an accountable Receipt. Whenever it is practicable, he will himself pay the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Privates of his Regiment individually. — When by reason of distant detachments this cannot be done, he will deliver the money to the Officers commanding Companies, or to the Officers commanding parts of Companies at Stations too distant for the Agency of Commanders of Companies; taking from each an accountable Receipt. The money must in each case be paid and issued pursuant to Pay Rolls signed by such Commanding Officers; and wherever it is practicable accompanied by Warrants of Commanding Officers of Regiments — of Battalions when detached. For all monies which shall be issued to Officers to be disbursed by them, they shall account monthly with the Regimental Paymaster, producing to him the requisite Vouchers. Upon every such accounting he shall give a Certificate of the Substance thereof, to the Officer with whom such accounting shall be; specifying thereon the Vouchers which shall have been produced and left with him. This accounting shall be provisional only, & liable to the revision and controul of the proper Officer of the War Department, to whom the Accounts and Vouchers must be forwarded. The same Regulations (as nearly as the subject will admit) shall be observed in respect to the issuing of Clothing, and other Articles, provisions excepted; which shall be issued to the Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, and in respect to the accounting for the same. Every Receipt for pay, Bounty, or other matter from a Non-commissioned Officer or private, who cannot write, shall be certified by a commissioned Officer, who, whenever it shall be practicable, shall be other than the person for whom it is to serve as a Voucher. All Documents or Returns, upon which Issues of money or other Articles are to be made, must be countersigned by the Chief Officer of the Regiment, or other particular Corps, for which the same is to be issued. The Accounts of Regimental Paymasters and Quarter Masters shall [undecipherable] to the War Department, and forwarded to the Commanders of Regiments, or of Battalions when detached, and to those persons from whom respectively they shall have received the objects for which they are accountable, who shall summarily examine them and certify their Justice respectively. The above Regulations shall apply to all persons who are engaged as Substitutes for the Officers to whom they relate. All Returns and Requisitions for obtaining Supplies from the Department of War shall go from the Deputy Superintendent of Military Stores with each Army to the said Superintendent. Estimates for Supplies shall be reported by the Deputy Quarter Master General with each Army to the Commander of such Army and shall be by him transmitted to the Secretary of War with his opinion. Each Deputy shall send a duplicate of every Estimate to the Quarter Master General who shall report to the Commander in Chief, general Estimates for all the Troops of the United States illustrated by the particular Estimates, which general Estimates shall be transmitted by the Commander in Chief to the Secretary of War with his opinion. —