Virginia Argus

From the Fredericksburg Va. Herald.
Orange, 10th Oct. 1815.

Dear SIR--in that portion of the Virginia Militia, lately in the service of the United States, and particularly those under the command of Gen. Porterfield, who have not received all the pay to which they were entitled, there are many disposed to ascribe (for want of information) the delay of payment, to the officers who commanded them, either by not using the necessary exertions to obtain pay, or having obtained it, hold it for their own purposes--and there are many persons who encourage those suspicions. For the information of the soldiers, and the persons alluded to, and to shield from imputation the reputation of innocent officers, you will much oblige me by publishing two or three times in your paper, the following correspondence between Robert Brent, Esq. Pay Master of the United States' Army, and myself.

Accept, sir, the assurances of my high respect.
LAW. T. DADE.
The Editor of the Virginia Herald.

City of Washington, Oct. 3d, 1815.

SIR--The Volunteer Company of Virginia Militia, lately under my command, attached to Gen. Robert Porterfield's Brigade, in the service of the United States, and discharged on the 4th of February, 1815, not having received but two months of their pay, I take the liberty of enquiring of you what has produced this delay -- Whether the military funds provided by Congress have been exhausted, and if so. on what the militia unpaid have to rely for their claims ?

I have the honor to be, most respectfully,
your most ob't. serv't.
LAW. T. DADE.
Late a Captain Vir. Ma.
Robert Brent, Esq. Pay Master
U. S. A. Washington.

City of Washington, Oct. 3d, 1815.

SIR--I am this moment favored with your letter of this day, and cannot reply to it in a better manner than by transmitting a copy of one addressed by me to Dr. Carr on the 22d July last, in answer to a letter from him, containing enquiries, as he stated to me, from himself and brother officers, on the subject of payment to the militia who served under General Porterfield.

I am, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT BRENT.
Law T. Dade, late a captain of V. M. in the service of the U. S.

City of Washington, 22d July, 1815.

SIR--I have been favored this moment with your letter of the 21st inst. and embrace the earliest moment to reply to it.

The funds appropriated by the last Congress for the military service of the present year, were predicated on a force of 10,000 men, for the Peace Establishment, not taking into calculation the time it would take to disband the army, so as to reduce it to that number—nor taking into calculation the considerable arrears due or the militia before the present year, as well as those who have been in service in the early part of this year, which was the case of those, in a great degree, until the 25th of March, who served at New-Orleans.

During the early part of this year, while Congress were in session, under a full persuasion they would not adjourn before they made provision for payment of militia. and the extended regular force, until it could be reduced by the Executive to the contemplated peace establishment--I continued to pay the militia and regulars to the extent of the funds with which I was furnished. I continued to pay for a short time after Congress adjourned, but finding the extent of the demands so great, when compared with the funds appropriated, I felt myself under the necessity of making a full stop as to the militia, to enable me to reserve a sufficiency to pay the regular troops, which were discharging every day, and in every quarter of the U. States.

I apprehend, in my anxious desire of paying all, I have gone too far, and that the appropriation remaining, which is now nearly exhausted, will not enable me to pay the regular army to this time.

From the foregoing statement, you will readily perceive, sir, that the claims of the militia, who are yet unpaid must be laid over to depend upon the justice of the next Congress, which I cannot doubt for a moment, will not withhold the necessary appropriations for paying the claims of those who have left the comforts of their homes and firesides. in obedience to the call of their country, to encounter perils and hardships in the field. This I know, to have been the case with the brigade under the command of Brigadier General Porterfield, and I have sincerely to lament that they should so long be deprived of receiving what they have a right to claim. Before I know the full extent it would require for payment of the regular army, I had some hope in the early part of the spring and summer, to have been able to furnish Mr. Turner with funds--In this, I was, however, disappointed.

With sentiments of much respect, I am,
Sir, your most obedient servant,
ROBERT BRENT.
Payr-Master U. S. Army.
Dr. Frank Carr, Charlottesville, Va.