The Body and Indorsements of letters are signed by the Adjutant when the letters are addressed to those lower in rank than the Commanding Officer. They are signed by the Commanding Officer himself when addressed to those higher in rank than the Commanding Officer. Letters are never addressed to adjutants.
In connection with indorsements it might be well to quote what Army Regulations say in their regard.
“Communications, whether from a subordinate to a superior, or vice versa, will pass through intermediate commanders. This rule will not be interpreted as including matters in relation to which intermediate commanders can have no knowledge, and over which they are not expected to exercise control. Chiefs of War Department bureaus are intermediate commanders between higher authority and the officers and enlisted men of their respective corps or departments, who are serving under the exclusive control of themselves and their subordinates. Verbal communications will be governed by the same rules as to channels as written communications. When necessity requires communications to be sent through other than the prescribed channel, the necessity therefor will be stated.
Communications from superiors to subordinates will be answered through the same channels as received.
Except as provided above, all communications, reports, and estimates from officers serving at a military post, and communications of every nature addressed to them relating to affairs of the post, will pass through the post commander.
Officers who forward communications will indorse thereon their approval or disapproval, with remarks. No communication will be forwarded to the War Department by a department commander or other superior officer for the action of the Secretary of War without some recommendations or expression of opinion.”
It may often be necessary to enclose other letters, certain documents, or even bulkier material with a letter. Such addition to a letter is called an Inclosure and is submitted as part of the letter. Inclosures to the original communication will be noted on the face of the letter at the left-hand margin opposite the signature, thus:
2 Incls.
J. L. Douglas,
Capt. 99th Inf.
The inclosures themselves will be numbered on the outside. The two inclosures of the above example would be marked 1 and 2.