Department of War Accountants Office November 27^th 1800 Sir In reply to your letter dated the 12. Inst. on the Subject of extra allowances claimed by an Officer in the Army. I have to observe that, it is expected in all your payments you will confine yourself strictly within the limits of the Laws or established Regulations – There being neither of those which will warrant the allowances stated by you to have been claimed by an Officer in the Army. the result will appear obvious. When Officers perform extra services out of the line of their duty as such for which no compensation is fixed by Law or established Regulations by the War Department and a claim for compensation is made it must be submitted with a statement of the circumstances and the order under which the service was performed to this Department, for the purpose of obtaining in case an allowance is proper the Sanction of The Secretary of War. I am Sir Your mo obd Servt [signature] David Henley Esq^r AWD Knoxville [Endorsement on verso: Department of War / Accountants Office / Nov[ember] [undecipherable] 1800 / [undecipherable]] [Address panel: Department of War / Accountants Office / FREE / [franking signature] / David Henley Esq^r / Agent War Department / Knoxville Tennessee / [circular postal stamp: CITY OF WASHINGTON]]