Now I have all pages. Let me produce the transcription of the primary document (pages 1–4), using the cleaner copy (pages 7–9) to assist with illegible portions of the draft. Pages 5–6 are archival separator pages and are not transcribed. War Department 19 March 1800 Sir I have received from you two letters of the 7^th, one of the latter, 2 of the 11^th 3 of the 12, one of the 13 [strikethrough: and] one of the 14^th inst. Agreeably to the rules approved of by the late General Washington relative to the order of rank among field officers and the Documents in this office Major Hopkins [strikethrough: would take the] take later rank of Major [strikethrough: than] William D. Bealle. The rule prescribes that [strikethrough: as to all such of the field Officers who have served in the Revolutionary Army of the United States as will have among them of equal grade to let their relative rank at the close of the war govern it]. By the records of the office it appears [strikethrough: that David Hopkins was appointed a Major on the first day of January 1781 and continued in service till the end of the War, that William D. Beale was appointed Major on the Sixth day of November 1781 and mustered on the first day of January 1783]; of course if there are not [some] special reasons for a departure from that rule of which [I am] uninformed, Major Hopkins [strikethrough: is] is justly [entitled] to be considered the 1^st Major in the Regiment. The orders you have issued relative to the [strikethrough: occasion] suspending the recruiting service for the 12 Regiments appear to me judicious & proper. You wish to be informed whether it is recommended, that the vacancies occasioned by different circumstances are not to be [not] filled by those officers next in relative rank in regular succession, or only that the ultimate vacancies after such succession are not to be filled by new appointments. [strikethrough: My meaning was that] I intended to suggest, that at [strikethrough: the] present circumstances, any appointments to the new Regiments, where [strikethrough: powerful] motives [or the strikethrough: absolute wants] of the service [strikethrough: circumstances] did not render indes[pensible] it was likely [not be made] [strikethrough: It is certainly good to economize] where we can, but [not at the] expense of [undecipherable]. [There is reason] to apprehend that [were] those entitled [strikethrough: before the higher ranks] the vacant grades [being] offered to the [Senate] their [nominations] would be suspended. This however is presented more as a conjecture than the result of positive information. [strikethrough: undecipherable] The only instances where there have occurred at the war office of Judge Advocates having been [strikethrough: allowed] ordered an allowance has been in the cases of M^r Hare & M^r Morton, gentlemen not of the army who were called to [hear] duty [strikethrough: allowed their expenses] for the [time] of their attendance only. It would bring up a thousand claims and [occasion] endless payments [were such occasional services by officers] to be considered, intitled to remuneration. [strikethrough: undecipherable] [Your] [undecipherable] to make this [rule] of the [department] known to those persons who have formed expectations [and] may apply for your interference. [If they] are to be compensated it can only be by [an act of Congress]. are to be compensated it can only be by an act of Congress. The Resignation of D^r Spring is accepted — to bear date the 31^st instant by which time it is thought [necessary] he may be advised of the acceptance. Doctor Barron is to be considered as Temporary [undecipherable: probable reading Surgeon's] Mate, from the time he commenced to render service in the 14 Regiment. Col. Rice's letter does not give the date of the commencement of his doing duty; when informed thereof I shall send [you] his warrant [made] out accordingly. [W.D. 19 March 1800 In [undecipherable] Ind. 9.23]