In the absence of Colo. Trumbull, I took the liberty of opening your Letter of the 9th & laying the subject of it before the Commander in Chief—in ansr to which His Excellency directs me to inform you, that upon proper Certificates & left monies from Persons on the spot that the Provisions in question were lost by inevitable accident & without any carelessness or fault of those concerned in the transportation, an order will be given for replacing it—at the same time the General requests to be informed of the reason or necessity for continuing any of your Corps at Fishkill, as it was his expectation & intention that the post there should be entirely broken up, and all Guards discontinued as soon as the stores were removed—it was with this view, His Excellency adds that the Barracks on Constitution Island were designed for the accomodation of the Corps of Invalids. I am &c.