When I had the honour of receiving your Letter of the 19th. of March I requested Major Moore and Major Brickell to state to me their Reasons for the alterations in the Rank of the Captains, copies of their Letters to me on that subject I have the honour of enclosing, by which you will perceive that I received no other information than, that it was for the good of the Service, or to promote the Public good. My reasons for the alterations in the Rank of the Captains you will see in my “opinion as to the Merit of the different Officers” which I give in obedience to your request

Alexander Duncan Moore, first Major
	Appears to be fond of a Military life and will in time probably make a good officer; but his Constitution being extreamly delicate will not enable him to undergo much fatigue.
William Brickell, second Major
	Would probably have made a good officer if he had been in the Military line in the early part of his life; but he is now past forty eight years of age and has not a very good Constitution
1st. Captain, William P. Anderson
	I have never seen him; he has resigned. My reason for placing him first Captain was, because a Letter which I had the honour of receiving from you mentioned him as first Captain.
2nd. Captain, James Taylor
	A Man of good understanding and would I suppose make a good officer if he had an opportunity of being instructed in Tactics; but he is appointed Surveyor of the Port of Beacon Island in this State and will probably be stationed there; how far therefore it will be proper that he should be first Captain now, since the resignation of Captain Anderson, and in case of a vacancy be appointed Major, and be absent from the Regiment I take leave to refer to your better judgement to decide
3rd. Captain, John Williams
	Attentive to his Duty; has been very industrious and successful on the Recruiting Service, and when in Camp has taken great pains to acquire knowledge in his Profession; he has had a pretty good education; a Man of good Morrals; about twenty three years of age; makes a Soldierly appearance, and has an excellent Voice; with a little more experience he would be well qualified for the Inspectors Department
4th. Captain, William Hall
	Will with experience probably make a good officer; he has been industrious and successful on the Recruiting Service; he is a Man of genteel Manners
5th. Captain, Maurice Moore
	Has been successful on the Recruiting Service, and will probably with experience make a good officer; he is the Son of the Honourable Alfred Moore Esquire Federal Judge who is much attachd to the Government and greatly respected by those who are well acquainted with him
6th. Captain, William Dickson
	He has not been successful on the Recruiting Service; he has had a pretty good education, and makes a good appearance; he is the Son of General Dickson (Member of Congress) who is a friend to Government and a worthy Man
7th. Captain, Samuel Graves Barron
	He has not been so successful on the Recruiting Service as I expected; he possesses the Manners and Habits of a Gentleman; but I am aprehensive he has not that fondness for a Military life which is necessary to constitute the accomplished officer
8th. Captain, John Nicholas
	Would probably have made a good officer if he had had the advantages of education and genteel Company in his youth he however appears to be anxious to improve himself in his profession altho’ he appears to be upwards of forty years of age
9th. Captain, Eli Gaither
	He has not been successful on the Recruiting Service, nor have I heard that he has made much exertions; if he is fond of the Service I have not yet seen any great specimen of it
10th. Captain, Edmund Smithwick
	I shall feel great Pleasure in communicating to you his merit when I discover it
1st. Lewis Tiner, first Lieutenant
	I have never seen him. I place him first for the same reason that I placed Captain Anderson first
2nd. McKennie Long, first Lieutenant and Adjutant
	Fond of the Service and anxious to learn his Duty; requires only experience to make a good officer
3rd. James Mackay, first Lieutenant
	Will I suppose with experience make a good officer
4th. Benjamin Smith first Lieutenant
	Fond of the Service and will I think make a good officer
5th. Carleton Walker, first Lieutenant and Pay Master
	Will probably make a good officer
6th. Edward Jones, first Lieutenant
	Will probably make a good officer
1st. Edmund P. Gains, Second Lieutenant
	I have never seen him. I place him here for the same reason that I placed Captain Anderson first
2nd. Abner Pasteur, Second Lieutenant & Quarter Master
	An attentive good officer
3rd. Marcus Sharpe, Second Lieutenant
	Fond of the Service and requires only a little more experience to make a good officer
4th. Alexder Hunter, Second Lieutenant
	Will with experience I think make a good officer
5th. David T. W. Cook Second Lieutenant
	A very good Recruiting officer
6th. James Morris, Second Lieutenant
	I have never seen him
7th. Benjamin Forsyth, Second Lieutenant
	He was here a few Days but I am not well enough acquainted with him to say much about him
8th. John Wilkinson Second Lieutenant
	He is in a bad state of health and I do not think he is likely to recover
Doctor Roger Cutlar, Surgeon
	Attentive to his Duty; and as far as I am capable of judging, well qualified for the appointment
Mr. Dominick Jordan, Surgeon’s Mate
	He joined the Regiment lately; I am not ⟨—⟩ acquainted with him but I suppose he is ⟨——⟩ qualified for a Surgeon’s Mate

I request the favour of you⟨—⟩ me for not transmitting this sooner I have ⟨been⟩ much indisposed but am now recovering

With Great Respect I have the Honour to be Sir Your Obedient Servant