You certainly fully understood me, when you suppos’d me fixed in my Determination of leaving the Army at all Events; the Reasons I then assignd were such as I could not surmount, and they continue in full force to this Time.

but the Matter being undecided, when I last saw you, whither a Derangment of General Officers would take Place, agreable to a Resolve of Congress, and that being the only Mode in which I could retire without relinquishing all Hope of Compensation for pasd Services it was your Excellency’s Advice to write to the Minister of War on the Subject; on his Answer to my Letter I wrote your Excellency the 17th of May and have receivd your Answer of the 28th: my Design was solely to know whither your Excellency, whom we justly esteem our Friend & Patron, could not place me in such Circumstances as would answer my Wishes without making my Resignation absolute, so as to preclude myself from all Hope of Satisfaction for former Services.

On the Subject of resuming a Command again in the Army, I meant to be understood that if any such Emergency should happen that more General Officers should be wanted than were at the Time in Service. I should not be averse to taking Command again for a short Time during the Continuance of such Necessity; but the Reasons which prevailed with me to retire are still in full Force against returning to a fixed, Stated Command in the Army.

But since tis not within your Authority to grant me the Indulgence requested, I must apply to Congress for the Liberty I wish for or for an absolute Discharge, which shall not be delay’d beyond the next post.

Col. Durkee of the first Connectt Regt was buried last Thursday. I am with every Sentiment of Esteem Dear General yr most Obedt Servt