His Excellency Richard Caswell, Esq. Governor, Captain General, and Commander in chief of the said State, To Lieut Col.-John Luttrel commanding officer of the Continental Troops within this State.

You are hereby required to order a Court of Inquiry to be held by the Continental officers, under your command at the Town of New Bern as speedily as possible, to take into consideration the petitions of sundry persons who are or were soldiers in the Continental Army raised in this State, who suggest that they have served out the time for which they enlisted and from whom discharges are withheld—herein fail not.

Given under my hand and seal at arms at New Bern the        day of        Anno Domini 1777, and in the 2d year of the Independence of the said State.