Sir

I am surpris'd you should pretend to Contradict my Orders to the Captains of the Schooners at this time when we are alarm'd by a Signal of the Approach or the Enemy, and much more so, as I acquainted you some time since that the Commander in chief had Appointed me to take command of the Navy on the Lakes, had I not receiv'd this Appointment from my rank in the Army and as commander in chief of this Post, it is your duty to obey my Orders, which you have receiv'd and executed for some time past, you surely must be out of your senses to say no Orders shal be obey'd but yours, do you Imagine that Congress have given you a Superiour Command over the Commander in chief; or that you are not to be under his direction, if you do, give me leave to say you are much mistaken and if you do not suffer my Orders to be Immediately complied with by sending to the Captains of the Schooners to obey them I shall be under the disagreeable necessity, of Convincing you of your Error by Immediately Arresting you.