[draft] West point 29 May 1783 Sir The non commissioned officers and privates of Colonel Cranes regiment [inserted: whose names are enclosed], complain to me that [struck: certain notes but] [inserted: certain] notes given by [inserted: by the state of] Massachusetts for their pay and depreciation of pay were [struck: lodged on your hands for] [inserted: received] by you in their behalf, and that [struck: same] a [struck: certain] [inserted: large] proportion was appropriated by you in a manner utterly unauthorized by them, and for which they have not to this time received any compensation. I am not perfectly possess'd of all the circumstances and therefore cannot give any decided [struck: upon] opinion upon the subject, But it will be necessary that you immediately remove the cause of the complaint, and fully satisfy the parties, either by giving them notes of the same nature which you received for them, or [inserted: in] any other manner which may be [struck: fully] [illegible] satisfactory to them. Serjeant [sic] [Howes] one of the complain[ants] [struck: has] is authorized in part the rest, to receive [inserted: from you] this compensation [struck: from you] he will wait upon you [2] for this purpose ten days. If at the experation [sic] of that time you do not settle with him for himself and the rest, [struck sentence] [inserted: I am under the necessity [struck: at] [struck: of] directing that you repair to camp without the least delay. This order you will consider as [struck: pos] positive and final - The prospect of the speedy dissolution of the army will render, [struck: that] it necessary [struck: that] for your own reputation as well as sufficient to them, that you return to camp to as soon as possible - General Heath has informed of the circumstances of your detention in Boston, But you will consider what I now write concerning your return to be the [orders] of the Commander in chief [struck sentence]. your Humble Sert HKnox Lt Colonel Popkins [docket] Lt. Colonel Popkin. 29 May 1783.