Resolution of the House of Representatives The Secretary of War requests the Accountants report agreeably to the within, as far as relates to loss sustained in his office Resolved, That the Secretaries of War and of the Treasury, be directed to communicate to this House, such information as may be in their powers in relation to the destruction of Official Books and papers in their respective departments by fire, designating particularly what description of books and papers has been lost thereby, and what the probable effect of such loss will be, in the adjustment of the unsettled accounts of the United States.
Extract from the Journal (sign’d) John H Oswald, Clerk