12. Original 
Honble C. M. Conrad Sec at War Washington City, D. C. 
Baltimore 30 June 1851 
Sir 
The accompy letters have been handed me by the friends of 1 st Sergeant C. H. McNally, Compy D. Regt. Mountd Rifles, with the request that they be presented to you. They are from officers of the Regt of Mounted Rifles, one ofwhom is Captain of Compy D. & were written under the impression that additional Regiments would havebeen added to the Army at the last Session ofCong: for an appointment in one ofwhich Segt McNally desired to be an applicant. 
His friends have been informed that there now are, or soon will be, two vacancies in the Regt ofMountd Rifles that may probably be filled by others than graduates ofthe Military Academy, in which case, they desire respectfully to call your notice his claims for an appointment. They beg leave to refer to his service ofthe Regt ofwhich he is now a member, & to the testimony of the officers under whom he has served, the only two with whom they have been able to hold intercourse. 
I can add nothing to this testimony from my personal knowledge, though from my acquaintance with his family who have long been residents ofthis city, & from representations that have been made to me in his behalf, particularly by Mr Wm L. Marshall who has known him from his boyhood, I believe him to be a young gentleman ofgood education, (page 2) refined manners & integrity of character. He is an excellent classical scholar, understands and speaks french perfectly and is a good English scholar in all its branches. He enlisted in the Rifle Regiment in this city, some years since, under peculiar circumstances, & from the statement of Capt George McLane, with whom I have conversed on the subject, his conduct & deportment since his entrance into the Service has been unexceptionable. 
Under these circumstances, should it be determined to fill the vacancies among the 
commissioned officers in the Regt ofMounted Rifles, by others than graduates ofthe Military 
Academy, I beg leave to write cordially with the friends of Sergt C. H. McNally, in asking for him 
an appointment. 
I am very respy your ObtServt 
RELeeBtCol Capt Engrs