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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Horatio Gates to Richard Caswell
Gates, Horatio, 1728-1806
January 29, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 17-18

GEN. HORATIO GATES TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]


War Office, Janry 29th 1778.

Sir:

I have the honor of informing your Excellency, that there is a large quantity of clothing at Edenton in North Carolina which was purchased for the use of the American Army.

The Board being of opinion, that carriages could not easily be procured in North Carolina have ordered four Brigades of wagons to be collected in this State, and sent to Edenton, in order to convey it to Lancaster. Lest the number of wagons should not be sufficient, to bring the whole, the Board have directed the D. Com. of clothing in North Carolina, Messrs Hewes and Smith, to apply to your Excellency if necessary for any assistance they may want.

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The Board are convinced your Excellency will do every thing, in your power to expedite the arrival of the clothing at Lancaster, when you are informed it will tend in an eminent degree to relieve the present distress of the army.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your Excellency's most ob. huml. Servt.
HORATIO GATES,
President.

The Board have not been favored with your Excellency's answer to their letter on the subject of purchasing Leather and Skins. If any purchases, and there should be loads wanting for some wagons, which Mr Purnall will have with him, the articles may be sent by informing him.