An angry letter written by Major Bauman, commander of artillery at West Point, to Major Shaw, aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Henry Knox. Says You will please to inform the general that it is moral[ly] impossible for me to join the party at New Windsor to morrow, agreeable to the promptery orders I Received, Except it is meant to destroy me, and what little I have left in this ungrateful Service. In an earlier letter, Knox gave permission to Bauman to take a few days to deal with family matters, and this letter seems to be a backlash against the revoking of that permission. Bauman says he needs time to bring my property into a manner of security. Says he only planned to be away 8 days and that he has not been absent from West Point since his family moved from there. Says he cannot comply with orders because of a situation that requires my care, and stay, untill Thursday next, without matters are so pressing, that I must sacrifice all. Written in response to GLC02437.01146.