[draft] West point. 19 October 1782. Sir I beg your Excellencys indulgence for a few [strikeout] [inserted: moments] while I just state my ideas respecting the poor unfortunate invalid regiment, which [inserted: ideas] are the result of compassionate sensations combined with what I conceive to be the good ofthe service. I have in every shape I could devise endevor'd to make the few who are here serviceable in some degree, but without producing any adequate effect. [struck: Those who I] [strikeout] of eight who I [appropr] to the service of the ferry, [strikeout] [inserted: six] fell sick, after four days [strikeout] duty. Some were [struck: appropriated] [inserted and struck: were] [inserted: ordered] to the beacon Guard, on the W. side of the river, but [struck: two] a few days brought an application for a number of men to bear two of them to the hospital- ultimately I determined to place them on Constitution Island [struck: and] build them a barrack [inserted: & nurse them in] and only require the duty of guarding that [struck: place] [inserted: post]. But upon every examination I am convinced to place the least degree of confidence on them is to deceive ourselves, & to rely upon an assistance which if [demanded] must inevitably fail, [strikeout] merely some [struck: weakness] [strikeout] [inserted: inability] Indeed [struck: I think they almost only [service] they are] [2] not capable of any service, but in a few instances boatmen, artificers in light work, waiters, and to do [some] guard duty where they might be sentries inside of houses, stables, &c- Their distributions are contained in the enclosed paper. [inserted: The party cannot be withdrawn from Fish Kill] The teams cannot be had to move the ordnance stores [struck: from Fish Kill and] of which there are one hundred & fifty loads- The [struck: party from thence cannot be drawn [inserted: any] until the Stores are removed]- the party at Newburgh are guarding the clothg stores, some waggons Quarters Master [inserted: stores] &c. The few we have here are of no use, and even if the [strikeout] [inserted: whole] from Fish Kill and nearby were here [strikeout] I could not trust [Constitu] [sic] Island to them, especially as the Magazine of powder there [struck: enhances] [inserted: so greatly enhances] its importance [strikeout] For those reasons I with great deference beg leave to propose [struck: those] [strikeout] [inserted: that] line should be removed [strikeout] to [Newburg] [sic] at which place they may be of some use in guarding the cannon, tools, quarter masters, clothing &c which would require all the effectives from Fish Kill if we should be able to [strikeout] [inserted: bring the stores] from that place [struck: your Exclly will observe that] [inserted: Your Exclly will observe] [3] this number is under sixty. I had hopes to obtain from the Levies under Colonel Pickerings orders a party of carpenters which might have enabled us to have built a barrack for a regiment [inserted: of Infantry,] but of the party which he sent me yesterday for that purpose only two were carpenters. Every man [struck: who we have] here that can handle an ax is employed in the numerous works which we have in here [struck: and] [inserted: Therefore] unless [struck: I can] [inserted: strikeout] we can obtain thirty carpenters [inserted: & 20 masons] from the army for one month It will be impossible to erect the barrack [struck: all] the [struck: buildings [inserted: barracks here] on [struck: the point exclusive of that in fort Clinton, will not contain nine hundred men] Even with [struck: these men] [inserted: these artificers], it will be [struck: an arduous] difficult [struck: to make the] [strikeout] to effect it, [struck: but with exertion it may be done] [inserted: without much]. The barracks on the point exclusive of that in Fort Clinton will not hold nine hundred men. There are thirteen [inserted: or fourteen] more artificers who belong to Colonel Van Schaicks regiment, are employed [4] [strikeout] on the [works]. I beg your Excellencys permission to keep them, for a short time. This may be done with more propriety as they have not furnished the engineers department with any workmen - I have the honor to be with great respect Your Excellencys Most obdient Sert. His Excellency General Washington - [docket] To His Exy Gen Washington 11 Octo. 1782.