[First page illegible] [No 2. cop. 2] American War Department 3^d Sep^t 1799 [undecipherable] to regulations adopted by the [undecipherable] of the United States relative to military rank and promotion. The commander in chief to whom they were submitted made no objection to take upon himself to determine the relative rank of those officers who had not been in service. I have therefore preferred leaving this point as it stood originally. I shall transmit to the commander in chief all the information I have obtained from the Lieutenant Colonels and Majors respecting their claims together with such information as the office affords that as little delay as possible may take place in the assignment to the [undecipherable] officers of their relative rank and its due promulgation accordingly. In the mean while you will hasten to fix the relative rank of the company officers of such regiments as you have not yet reported to me. I have only received your arrangements for the [undecipherable] & 12 transmitted in your letter of the 25^th [undecipherable] I think the rule a good one, that in promotion to the rank of general, the officers of Cavalry, Artillery, & Infantry, should be considered as eligible indiscriminately or without distinction of one Corps from another. The probability is that this rule will generally govern. I have not however found a fit opportunity to submit it to the President, it has not therefore been incorporated with the regulations. Is there no danger, if established and published, that this latter rule will [undecipherable] in the Army [undecipherable] as an appointment [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of promotion which is by no means intended. [undecipherable] I have the honor to be with great [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Your most [undecipherable] James McHenry [Major General Alexander Hamilton]