DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

WASHINGTON,

December 18th, 1880.

My Dear Sir:

I have received your letter of the 11th instant, and
had at once a conversation with the President about it, who
thought that in the way of promotion in the army the object you
had in view, and with which I fully sympathized, could not be
accomplished. I think it best, therefore, to try to accomplish
the end desired by way of legislation. An amendment to the
Indian appropriation bill will be prepared and sent to the Com-
mittee on Appropriations, to be accompanied by a letter setting
forth the circumstances of the case, and urgently recommending
its adoption. I hope that it will be successful, and that in
this way your pay can be raised to a point corresponding with
the position you occupy and the services you render. I may
assure you that no effort will be wanting on my part.

Very truly yours,

Capt.R. H. Pratt,
Carlisle, Pa.