West Point July [strikethrough: 4]13. 1799. Sir, I now inclose you returns of Ordnence & Military Stores and Quarter Masters Stores issued, received & transferred at this Garrison from the 1^st of April to the 1^st of this month, accompanied with orders & receipts for what I issued. Tho' my instructions from General Knox when Secretary of War, mention that no article in my charge here is to be alienated unless I have the special orders of the Secretary of War for the same or your order, I delivered the apparatus for the brass french four pounder to Capt. M^c Callen on Major General Hamilton's order, being sensible he would not have given such an order unless he was authorized to do it. The brass four pounder [I intend?] also to have delivered to Capt. M^c Callen on the order. On receiving the order by the post inclosed in a letter to me from Capt. M^c Callen, whom I expected would be here the next day, I went to Capt. Ingersoll and told him I had just received an order from Major General Hamilton to deliver to Capt. M^c Callen a brass four pounder with the apparatus complete according to the french plan, and would have to deliver one of the best mounted of the four brass four pounders I had delivered to Rochefontaine & him—to to be mounted in the french mode. He told me he would not deliver one of them unless he received an order from General Hamilton or Major Hoops! I then showed him the General's letter, a copy of which I now inclose you, on which he agreed to deliver one of the pieces to Capt. M^c Callen, but told me he would not part with either of the two best mounted. I told Ingersoll that I had delivered the two pieces now best mounted to Rochefontaine to mount for the practice of the Artillerists & Engineers and that they were continued on my general return and considered by Rochefontaine & myself as subject to be sent away on my receiving a special order for them — and I added, that the other two of the four pieces I had delivered to himself to mount in the french mode on his own order, without his obtaining an order to let him have them, and consequently retained them also in my general returns, & considered them as much in my charge as they were before I let him have them. I also told him I had received no receipts from any persons for the said four pieces. Capt. M^c Callen told me he receipted to Ingersoll for the pieces, its carriages, limbers, two trail handspikes, harness drag ropes & a bucket, and that he got the best mounted piece after a considerable altercation with him. The piece only is in my general return, as the carriage & other articles Capt. M^c Callen received of Capt. Ingersoll were made here by the Artillerists' artificiers. I have been thus particular in relating the preceeding to you about the field piece, for fear hereafter the Public business might be retarded on my receiving an order from the Secretary of War or yourself, for articles belonging to the repository here Capt. Ingersoll has in his possession, if not in use, that I delivered to Rochefontaine. As soon as the season for the business permitted I commenced the running the fixed ammunition, musket cartridges &c. and am now very busily engaged running the magazine powder. When the weather does not answer for the running of the powder I have, as usual, all hands re-examining & repairing the fixed ammunition &c. I am with great esteem & respect, Sir, Your most obed^t Humble serv^t Geo. Fleming. [Major Samuel Hodgdon.]