War Department 6^th August [undecipherable] Gentlemen, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] of the [Military] Commandant at Detroit. [Undecipherable] per[undecipherable] it is the wish of Government to preserve the Civil Authority as well as every virtue throughout the territory of the United States and on no instance to countenance encroachments upon the rights of the Military; that the conduct of the Commandant at Detroit may undergo a regular and due investigation, I shall refer your [undecipherable] instances to Major General Alexander [undecipherable: probable reading "Hamilton"] who I have no doubt will take proper measures to ensure in future a proper propriety of conduct in the Military. I have however to observe that a Military Commandant has not only the authority, but it is particularly enjoined upon him to restrain his Soldiers on whatever may lead to insubordination, endanger the Garrison or prove injurious to themselves, that [undecipherable] he may prevent a too frequent intercourse with the Citizens inhabiting at or near his Posts, which by affording opportunities of intemperance [undecipherable] produce the [undecipherable] of consequences, and that [undecipherable] generally he has a right to give[undecipherable] on his men under his command — such orders as an[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and the good[undecipherable]. ...direction a Copy of the rules and articles for the better Government of the troops of the United States, to which is annexed several Military Laws, among there "An Act for the better Organizing the troops of the United States and for other purposes passed 3^d March [undecipherable]" The 4^th Section of this Act you will observe, provides an exemption from personal arrest for any debt or Contract, for all non-commissioned officers Privates and Musicians who are and shall be entitled to[undecipherable] extend the same provision to the Militia or the Corps who may at any time be in the Actual service of the United States — To prevent this law from Operating Injuriously to the Citizens it will be incumbent upon them to avoid giving Credit to Soldiers I am &c Signed: James McHenry To Lewis [Bousset?] — James May — } Esquires Joseph [Noyes?] — Charles [St.?] [Guardin?]