Transcribe Browse revision history View notes

Transcription

would accept the appointment you mention; but whether he [undecipherable] all the [undecipherable] and qualifications necessary for a person at the head of the Corps of Engineers, would first [undecipherable] to be ascertained: --and would it not be well also to know if [undecipherable], who is now in the service, and who is said to have been educated particularly for this branch, is not as well qualified as [undecipherable]? --And if is, should he not have a preference as being already in the service? --I know nothing of the comparative merits or qualifications of these Gentlemen, and have no particular partiality for the one or the other. -- I merely suggest these thing's for your consideration, knowing how highly important it is to have the best qualified men we can get in that time.

The enclosed letters, containing applications for appointments to fill such offices as may become vacant, in the [undecipherable] establishment, from non-acceptance or assignation, I have thought proper to transmit to you. --Such may come to my hands for appointments in the provisional army I shall [undecipherable] until the selection of officers for that army shall be made from this State.

The letter from Major George Lewis shews his disappointment had his name brought forward at an earlier day. --He did not apply to me at that time; because he knew I had always felt a [undecipherable] in bringing into [undecipherable] office any of my own [undecipherable]. -- I confess, however, that I regretted not seeing his name on the list which was laid before the General Officers at Philadelphia; because I knew him to a valuable officer, and believed that he had [undecipherable] for the service. In justice to his application I must say, that I think he deserves attention. He served with [reputation?] in the Revolutionary War, and commenced the oldest Captain in Colo Baylor's Regiment of Cavalry; but [marrying?], resigned before the close of it. --On the western Expedition he commanded the Virginia Cavalry, with the Rank of Major, and [acquitted?] himself with honor. --His age and standing in society

I did not transcribe the later applied stamp from the Maryland Historical Society that this document is not to be reproduced or published without permission or the stamp re copyright law.

I'm also not sure how to transcribe the abbreviation of Col. with the raised circle over a dot so I used the coding to superscript an "o". -- Karen 7/27/2020

Thank you - no need to transcribe the stamp. And Colo. is perfectly fine. Thank you for transcribing! - PWD Editors.

Thank you! -Karen