[Endorsement on cover, rotated: ~ Major comman[undecipherable] [undecipherable] / 9^th Oct^r 1800 / Fort Johnson — / Indians Medicines [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] [Filing notation, rotated: No 583] Fort Johnson 9^th. October 1800. D^r Sir On the 28^th June I acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the 4^th of that month — and I assigned to you reasons why I did not then make the purchases of medicines which had been authorised — The same reason operates now — D^r Griffith Surgeon's mate of the 1^st Reg^t of Artillerists & Engineers, who has been ordered to this post has not yet arrived — fortunately we have not had many sick in our hospital this summer, and it has been better to make small drafts on the Contractor, than to purchase the full quantity of medicine. D^r Peters has been here about two months — he came by the orders of the late Secretary of War and is to be the Surgeon's Mate at Fort Green on the River Savannah — So soon therefore as D^r Griffith shall arrive I will send D^r Peters to his Station — There are but a few articles of Medicine at Fort Green, and not any Surgical Instruments — I enclose you a return of what was on hand the 1^st instant. It seems proper that where there is a Surgeon, there should be Medicines; I have therefore directed D^r Peters to make a return of what may be required for one years, and I enclose them to you, that you may either send them from the Northward or obtain an order for them to be purchased here. We enjoy perfect health, and send our good wishes for the happiness of your family. I am D^r Sir, &your Obed^t Hble. Serv^t. [undecipherable: probable reading "Wm. Keenian"] Maj^r 1^st Reg^t A & E. [Address panel:] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r S. O. M. S.