[Address panel: Department of War / Accountants Office / FREE / [undecipherable] / War Department / Knoxville / Tennessee] [Endorsement: Letters Recd / Accountants Office / April [undecipherable], 1800 / [undecipherable] of Tennessee] [Postal cancel: David, Agent] Department of War Accountants Office April 18^th 1800 Sir I have received your letter dated the 2^d Inst. inclosing an extract taken from your Books for february. Collo Butler having received from M^r Chandler his Pay March as appears by his Certificate forwarded, Rations as [undecipherable: body both] and Commandant at the rate of 12 p^r day — to those as Commandant I have considered him not entitled. I have therefore charged him with the amount thereof until a Principle Shall be established by the Sec of War to govern in the case. my opinion is that he is not entitled to the allowance. I have accordingly directed a Statement of his account a Copy of which I inclose you. by which you will observe that after charging him with the above mentioned Rations, & a balance due on a former Statement I have credited him with his Pay, Subsistence & forage for the months of July August & September 1799. the period [above line: the money] for which M^r Chandler to his possession, for his Pay &c— I have accordingly directed M^r Chandler to refund to you the amount he holds for those items, and in order to balance the account of Collo Butler that you would be directed either to receive the balance Stated in the amount Current from Collo Butler or Stop the amount from his Pay & emoluments [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] as they hereafter become due as may be most convenient. Collo Butler's Pay, Subsistence & forage has been entered & paid (to the) 28^th february 1800 inclusive — I am Sir Your Mo ob Ser H Simmons [undecipherable] Dept War P.S. M^r Herbert has delivered to me your letter dated 26 July. with the Box of Vouchers Therein mentioned, apparently in good order.