[undecipherable] pa[rt] of it [undecipherable] to apply the regulation, [undecipherable] that [the] Allowances to Officers, dated the 10^th Decemb[e]r [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] in search or pursuit after Deserters, which is [undecipherable] in ste- [undecipherable] the service may materially suffer from. The other parts [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to a future but early answer as I am pressed [undecipherable] [undecipherable] necessary communications on military Subjects to Congress. I do not conceive that the Regulations cited [undecipherable] to the case of search [undecipherable] Deserters: An extra[undecipherable] and in my opinion distinct provision for [undecipherable] is ma[de] by the last matter added to the A[undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] and Articles of War, which has the high sanction [undecipherable] Laws, [undecipherable] not to be superseded by Regulations applying only [undecipherable] incidental or contingent Services not specifically or particularly contemplated in any Act of Congress but growing out of the actu- [al] necessities of Service. The Resolution you will refer to [undecipherable] it makes it the duty of the command[er] [undecipherable] of any [undecipherable] troops in the service of the United States, upon [undecipherable] being made to him of any desertions from the Troops [undecipherable] his order to cause the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] search to be made after the Deserter or Deserters which may be conducted by a commissioned or non commissioned Officer. If the search shall prove ineffectual it makes it the duty of the Officer commanding the Regiment or Corps to which the Deserter or Deserters belonged, to advertise them offering a Reward not exceeding ten Dollars for apprehending & securing them. This resolution you will observe is mandatory, it prescribes Duties which ought not to be disclaimed, & [undecipherable] performed by the orders of the higher officers, it is equally [undecipherable] in [undecipherable]. As to the charges of advertising Deserters the reason of the extra Expences [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable] conducting the pursuit & the [undecipherable] shall be paid by the Secretary at War on the Certificate of the com[manding] [undecipherable] of the Troops." [I] shall transmit a Copy of this letter, together with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on this subject to the Accountant [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] Department and request him to [undecipherable] such instruc- tions as [undecipherable] appear to him (if any [undecipherable]) to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] settlement of all accounts [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [the] apprehension of Deserters. I have the honor to be with great respect [undecipherable] James McHenry Major General Cha: C. Pinckney.