Fort Johnson 3^d May 1800 Sir I have received your letter of the 17^th of last month. I acknowledged the receipt of the clothing for the Company, in my letter to you of the 25^th Ultimo — I have caused it to be counted again, and I find there are 242 Privates Shirts — the other articles as before stated. In answer to that part of your letter which respects Captain Frye's clothing — I have to inform you that when his Company arrived from New York, they had on hand a large quantity, which I understood belonged to them; I had not then any idea that this clothing could be liable to my order, because I viewed it the property of the Company — therefore I never touched it — And until I received your last letter, and had some conversation with Captain Frye upon this subject, I had not understood it otherwise. I should certainly have supplied the wants of Capt. Hattaisen's Company from this Stock, if I had been fully apprised of the circumstances. — I enclose you the Copy of a letter from Capt. Frye to me assigning reasons why his Company appears to have this surplus. — To answer your inquiries as to the [underline: cause] of the injury, and the [underline: nature] of the damage — I have to inform you, that, Fort Moultrie is built at the edge of the water on Sullivan's Island, and that the ordinary tides flow above the foot of the glacis — The barracks without the fort, and the caserne within, were at the time occupied by Capt. Frye & Huger's companies, and a detachment of Marines, under Lieut. Wynkoop; there was, therefore, no other place to store the surplus Clothing but the Magazine, which is at one end of the caserne & none so secure; it is to be observed that the barracks without, are in a most wretched condition, and the United States do not order them to be repaired, because the State of South Carolina will not cede the fort. — On the 25^th of September there was a most violent N. E. Storm; the tide rose to a considerable height — there were two feet water in the caserne and ditch — the water made its way into the Magazine — thus the Clothing was injured. [strikethrough: That part of it which the officers have reported as dam]aged may be used, but that unfit for service is totally lost. — I am extremely sorry, that I was not perfectly acquainted with the circumstances relative to this clothing when Captain Frye's Company first came on — Capt. Hattaisen has borrowed one or two Coats from it, under an impression the same as mine, with intention to return them when he should receive a supply. I propose to issue part of this Clothing to Capt. Hattaisen's Company. — I observe by the General orders of the 28^th of March, that we are directed to make returns to you of all medicines &c. in the Hospital Department, on hand and wanting — Enclosed are returns of this kind — I need not urge to you the necessity of our having at all times a supply of these articles. — D^r. Dalcho has requested me to forward the enclosed letter from him — he has left the service and set up a Druggist Store in Charleston — as long as he should keep fresh and good drugs, it might be proper to comply with his wishes, if he would supply them as cheap as they could be purchased in Philadelphia, including the [undecipherable] I would thank you to send me two [undecipherable: fort?] Flags, one for this Post, the other for Fort Moultrie — I imagine they can be purchased cheaper and better in Philadelphia than in Charleston. — I am, Sir Your Obedient Hum. Ser. Wm. Freeman. maj^r. 1^st Reg^t. A. & E. Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r. S. O. M. S. P.S. I have not sent you returns for the Hospital Stores, such as tea, sugar, wine, &c. which may be required; because D^r. Thomas who succeeds D^r. Dalcho as Surgⁿ. Mate, has not been in service but three days, and consequently cannot have obtained sufficient information to make the returns — I shall therefore be [undecipherable] to you to send such articles as can be procured at Philadelphia. D^r. Gallaspey who has served at this post knows best what we may require. I suppose you have before now been informed, that M^r. John Loveday, has been appointed, Conductor of Military Stores, or Storekeeper for the M. S. in Charleston. He was recommended by General Pinckney, and is a worthy, honest man. He sometimes is at a loss, how to act when the removal or safety of the Stores requires some small expence. — The Agent of the War Department, M^r. Crafts, does not suppose he has any thing to do with him. — I have therefore told M^r. Loveday that when ever, the removal of the stores should require a trifling expence, I would give him my orders for the purpose, and that I have no doubt but you would settle these accounts at your office or give some directions how to proceed. I should be obliged to you to give him some instructions as he is a member of your department. — C. Fr.