[Captain Amos [undecipherable] [?] Captain James Hills Captain William Steele } Third { New Port and New London } Major Wadsworth Vacant Captain [undecipherable] Captain John Henry Captain Alex. D. Pope } Fourth { Boston Portland · Capt. Henry Marblehead Capt. Pope } Major Jackson. Boston Vacant] Sir Head Quarters City of Washington 12^th October 1800 The Command of Fort Johnston or Cape Fear River, has been assigned to you with your Company complete — and I rely that your conduct may justify the trust. — At such a distance, and with the faint light of [undecipherable: probable reading "prospects"] of the Merits of the position and fortifications which you are to occupy Instructions can but be General. — The establishment has been made to guard the Country against maritime depredations, and to protect the harbour from injury or insult; To fulfill these Objects in the manner most Effective, and at the same time most accommodating to those immediately entrusted will be your duty, and I trust your measures may be Correspondent. You are to pay strict regard to the discipline and exercise of your Company Conformably to established Rules, and must steadily oppose the relaxation of duty, but too common with Solitary Garrisons — The health, ease, content and appearance of your men [undecipherable] but preserved by constant action and employ — Your post being so near the Sea board, is obnoxious to Naval Enterprise, against which you must provide by competent [undecipherable] and the necessary precautions — Your Men in ordinary should [not] be Allowed more than two Nights in Bed; greater indulgence will effeminate them and induce vicious Habits You are to report to [undecipherable] to the Commanding Officer of the battalion to which you belong but all [undecipherable] are to be issued to me at this place, and You are to transmit to the Inspector here Monthly Returns of the Troop and Quarterly Returns of the Artillery Store &c. I am Sir Your Obedt. Serv^t. (Signed) J. Wilkinson Captain Bruff P.S. — You have under cover an order for the Revenue Cutter, but it is to be expressly understood, that this order is not to be employed, if you can charter a vessel or engage a passage on any tolerable terms — and Arrangement is made to [undecipherable] — you have also under cover an order for the Medicine Chest — Your Residence will [undecipherable] always be within the Walls of the place, and you are not to absent Yourself from it, without permission from your Superior Officer [undecipherable] responsible for Consequences. — Signed J. Wilkinson Captain Bruff