[4. 10 July 1799 Gen Hamilton.] War Department James McHenry Major Gen. Alex^r Hamilton New York [Private] 10 July 1799 Dear Sir. In your letter of the 7^th inst. containing your project for employing certain officers of the 1^st & 2 [strikethrough: old] Regiments in the recruiting service, I find you have named D^r Charles Smith (son of Judge Smillie of Tronton) for Pay-master and Quarter master to two companies. I have understood since [strikethrough: is disgraced and] [strikethrough: the appointment of M^r Smith that he] [strikethrough: undecipherable] [strikethrough: his father addicted to the bottle. If you think,] [strikethrough: bad upon him] with this habit, he may be intrusted with the recruiting money, it woul be indespensible that his accounts be unexceptionable. Has Major Col^s of the Infantry been [strikethrough: forgotten or] overlooked designedly? He is [strikethrough: undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable] at present in New Hampshire, and I understood left Detroit with the expectation of being engaged in the recruiting [strikethrough: service] service. I expect every hour [Marginalia, left margin: undecipherable] to receive an account from Bellington of the actual suits of cloathing he can turn into the Store weekly, after which you shall hear from me relative to furnishing the supplies for the proposed recruiting parties, and your letter of the 6^th inst. I have [strikethrough: undecipherable] need a letter from [Lt.?] [Fergus?] of the artillery dated [strikethrough: James McHenry] [25^th?] June [strikethrough: undecipherable] Capt Johnston N. Carolina, from which I conceit that he is ordered to Alexandria in Virginia with his men. The order is by Major [Brooks?]. If it directs that his men are to accompany [him,] their peace must be supplied by others, there being one [strikethrough: undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable] [of?] [undecipherable] artillery [undecipherable] [have?] [strikethrough: undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable] [heavily struck through and obscured text] Can the expense [strikethrough: undecipherable] of transportation be avoided? Major [Brooks?] — may send him a party of about 7 men [Maj^r Gen. Alex. Hamilton] said to be of Cap [Foy's?] company, which you know some time since for Charleston. Why have these men been delayed. The sending the company in detail, besides increasing the expense [strikethrough: adds to] [strikethrough: the trouble and] [strikethrough: undecipherable] the [strikethrough: trouble and] inconvenience of the Department. yours truly [gen Hamilton]