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generally of the 40 or 50 animals or more besides the teams - six - four & two mule that were sold.

I have no comments to make, - only that an officer's reputation belongs in part to the country & the Army, & that of the latter suffers if he is accused or suspected of wrong,- until exonerated, & it is the fact that in consequence of what Mr.P. & the other gentlemen have told, of these transactions, the character of the service, of the Q.M. Dept. (to which I have the honor to belong, & fought jealously to guard) & especially the character of Capt. Garouth are prejudiced in this community.  It is also said that many horses were sold at the auction block, & paid for on the spot, whose description was not called out as that of others was, to the clerk, in a room in the building nearby, nor the prices at which they were sold &c. & these things are also the subject of unfavorable comment. Further it is alleged that when Duncan G. McRae Esq. asserted to Capt. G. that an order of Genl. Rugers, exempted from reclamation & sale unbranded horses, Capt. G. denied it was so, as he had come directly from Raleigh, & knew it not to be so.  Although I have little intercourse with the people here, outside of my official duties, yet all these things, with unfavorable comments have come to my ears, & although it is to be presumed that every thing was properly done,