[undecipherable] Trenton War dep[artmen]t 20. August. 1799. Sir I have received your letter of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable], informing [me] that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon [undecipherable] the Second and third [undecipherable] of Surgeons [undecipherable] [undecipherable] recommends [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] severely from the want of medical men. It has always been a rule with me, the moment I was [appo-] [inted] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the Western [Frontier?] Army [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of medical [appointments?] [in addition?] to the regular regiment at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] honorary Surgeons Mates [were?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 2. 3. and 4 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [that?] in [Regiment?] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Surgeon?] and [Mate?] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Department?] of [Adjutant?] [undecipherable] no Surgeon [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [shall?] receive [undecipherable] [undecipherable] temporary Surgeons [Mates?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [latter?] [on?] the [undecipherable] one in [undecipherable] [Missi]ssippi Troops, one at Charleston, one at [Norfolk?] one at P[undecipherable] [undecipherable] one subjected to your orders Thus it appears that there are in service the full complement of [Surgeons?] and [five?] temporary Surgeons Mates [beyond?] the number of mates allowed to the [before?] mentioned regiments. You will be pleased to [observe?] that I consider the distribution of [the?] medical men to be exclusively with the Generals [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [General?] [Wilkinson?] [and?] [in?] [regard?] [to?] those mentioned [are?] thought [necessary?] [I shall?] [formally?] appointments as temporary Surgeons Mates for the two [gentlemen?] [recommended?]. I have the honor to be Your ob[edien]t serv[an]t [Con]fid[ential?] [undecipherable] James [undecipherable] [General?] [A]lexander Hamilton