[Private] [23 Oct. [undecipherable]] [[undecipherable] Oc[undecipherable]] [G. [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] James M^cHenry Esquire Secretary of War Trenton [undecipherable] [undecipherable] tation [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] identity [undecipherable] Reason of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] appointed the [undecipherable] anxiously Running [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the Plough men I not look be a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] yet he is [undecipherable] the senior Officer, is very little acquainted with the duties of Infantry and Instruc men with discipline in general. The [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] therefore requires that [undecipherable] he with [undecipherable] to put them in Training. It [undecipherable] after that he may communicate [undecipherable] me to whom for some [undecipherable] last deprived a [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] in turn after [undecipherable] what generally [undecipherable] twelve or fifteen days. [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] inconvenient to [undecipherable] this at home [undecipherable] Camp. If any difficulties should arrive in this [undecipherable] a line from you [undecipherable] request or proper. I am acquainted with Gen^l Pinckney. You have appointed Rob^t [undecipherable] a first Lieut. If the Rank is to be settled by lot he may [undecipherable] once [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] genteel in Manners & tolerably [undecipherable] probably defective. the latter has the [undecipherable] good Officer & probably enough yet to be [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. the other I fear fixed. Whatever were your [undecipherable: motives] I [undecipherable] they were on public & general views & I will endeavor to make the most of him. But as he was the last appointed I think justice & the good of the Service require he [undecipherable] in the last of his grade. I have no personal wish to be gratified, at this time, by the appointment of any Officer. With the greatest personal Respect Your most Ob^t [undecipherable: Serv^t] Josias C. Hall