Sir

Your letter of the 19th Inst. has been received.  The cooperation you mention is highly proper and would have been directed by this Department, had not the duty been of that obvious character, requiring no specific order.  Genl. Smith states that the timber of which you are making the Gun carriages, is not sufficiently seasoned, and that it will be long before these will be finished, for the first there is no remedy but that of stove drying or baking and for the other an increase of workman, which you are authorized to employ.  There are I understand about 500 Arms in the fort not used, these you will give to the Militia, taking the Governors receipt for them.  Coll. Swift will have directions to inspect the works and give such general directions for their repair, as he may find necessary.  Is there any active intelligent Officer of the U.S. at Baltimore, who might be enployed as Apt D.Q. Master.  communicate the contents of this letter to Genl. Smith and accept the expiessiency.

my respets

signed  John Armstrong

Major L Beall
Baltimore