New York March 6^th 1800 Sir, The following is an extract of a letter which I have just received from the Secretary of [the] War — "The circumstances stated relative to Captains Bowman's pretensions to rank first Captain in the 11^th Regiment of Infantry readily induce me to give my sanctions to his being so placed in the arrangement." — You will alter the arrangement accord[undecipherable]. with best consideration I am Sir, V[undecipherable] [Signature: H. G. [undecipherable]miller] Col. [Sphens], [Address panel: for public [service] / [undecipherable] / Aaron Ogden / and to Aaron [undecipherable] / with [undecipherable] — means / Dept. office Brunswick / N. Jersey] [Docket notation, upper right corner: [undecipherable]]