Immediately after my arrival here I informed the Officers that from your Excellencies Letters to me I conceived myself to be in command as usual, untill Mr Fowler, agreeable to your Order had specified the charges made against me—the Judge Advocate Genls’ instructions were filled up with the name of the Deputy, and he proceeded to take the Depositions; when agreeably to the words of your Letter I would give up the command to Col. Gibson, to prevent every Objection to the validity of the Depositions as being taken under any influence of mine, as Commandant. And my orders were received & obeyed accordingly.

Mr Fowler sent me charges more general than those contained in the petition (as will appear by the inclosed Copy) And instead of appearing as the Prosecutor he affects to appear an innocent Man, sheltered behind a multitude, against whom it is clear, I could have no redress for all the trouble & Expence I might be put to, by his malicious prosecution.

Captn John Finley the Deputy Judge Advocate (appointed by Col. Gibson) waited on Mr Fowler and requested him to specify his Charges & prosecute them agreeable to your intention. But Mr Fowler declared himself to be the Dy Judge Advocate & that he would not give up that point untill he was ordered to do it by your Excellency.

From this refusal of Mr Fowler’s I still considered myself in Command untill the Depositions could be taken with propriety. But yesterday Col. Gibson privately assembled the Officers (a great majority of whom are of his own Regt And were ordered to Virginia before I left this place, as surplus Officers) who gave it as their opinion that from your Excellencies Letters to me my Command must cease untill I was acquitted of the charges exhibited against me. They at the same time declared that they entertained a high respect for me & knew no officer under whose immediate Command they would rather serve. That they were convinced the charged exhibited against me were groundless and that they were ready to support me against the unjust Clamors of the Complainants, Lt Col. Bayard and a number of other Officers insisted that it was clearly Your intention that I should remain in Command untill the Depositions were to be taken and that as your Excellency had thought proper to deprive me of the Command They conceived the Officers here were out of their Duty to take upon themselves to determine any thing respecting it.

Thus by the clamor of a set of disaffected persons & others, I find myself in the most disagreeable situation I ever experienced. And were it not for the redress I expect from your Excellencies well known Justice my situation would be insupportable. I therefore beg to know your Excellencies immediate pleasure and that you will be pleased to instruct me how to treat those seditious proceedings. With the most perfect respect I have the Honor to be your Excellencies most Obedt Servt