With  respect  to  damage  done  by  the  troops,  the  common
mode  has  been  to  get  some  good  substantial  freeholders  to  view
the  damages,  make  an  account  thereof,  and  certify  it  before  some
civil  magistrate,  and  their  accounts  are  transmitted  to  the  Board
of  War,  who  will  direct  payment  hereafter,  so  as  to  do  equal
justice  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  that  have  been
injured  by  military  operations.
With  regard  to  the  carts,  cattle,  yokes,  chains,  etc.,  that  men
lost  upon  the  Ehodo  Island  expedition,!  am  sensible  it  is  a  great
hardship  upon  the  people  to  lose  their  property  and  get  no  sat-
isfaction. I  think  General  Sullivan  should  give  orders  for
payment  after  being  acquainted  fully  with  the  circumstances.
However,  if  he  will  not,  such  teams  as  were  impressed  into
the  service  and  sustained  real  losses,  properly  proved,  you  may
make  them  satisfaction.
You  must  be  very  careful  in  the  payment  of  these  accounts,
as  there  will  be  a  critical  examination.  Reasons  must  appear
clear,  and  the  facts  fully  ascertained,  that  no  doubt  may  remain
of  the  losses  sustained  or  of  the  justice  of  payment.
I  intended  to  have  ordered  you  a  party  of  artificers,  but  at
my  return  I  found  it  impossible  to  spare  them  from  the  army
without  doing  more  injury  here  than  they  could  be  of  service
to  you.     You  must  therefore  endeavor  to  do  without  them.
