Sir

. . . I take the liberty to trouble Congress upon a subject of all others the most disagreable to me, as I may appear to be interested in their determination upon it; but Service requires it of me, & Congress may be assured, their opinion will always be binding upon me—

The prizes taken by detachment from the Troops under my Command &c acting under my Order have been condemned—¹ my Right to any of the Prize money is disputed & denied—I therefore presume to apply to Congress to be informed, whether the General of an Army, if he send out a Detachment, is not entitled to a share of the money arrising from any prize or prizes they may take, and if he is, what proportion he draws—A copy of the Orders I gave upon this occasion, which induces this reference to Congress, I have I believe already transmitted I however send another Copy, by which it will appear that in the execution of those very Orders, to annoy attack & dislodge any Enemies of the United States,² this Capture was made, & if the General commanding the department draws no Share of any thing taken by detachments sent out by his Order, he can hardly have any claim at all, as almost all Captures are made by detachments where in person, it is more than propable he never may be-Congress however will be pleased as immediately as possible to resolve me upon this head, which will settle the present & prevent all future disputes—³ I am Sir [&c.]