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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Abraham Sheppard to Richard Caswell
Sheppard, Abraham, fl. 1759-1790
February 16, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 48-49

COL. ABRAHAM SHEPPARD TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Exective Letter Book.]

May it please your Excellency:

I hope the number of letters sent to your Excellency, and the trouble we were obliged to give you, while in your State, will in some measure atone for my not addressing your Excellency since my arrival in the State of Virginia. I have now enclosed an exact return of the state of my Regiment, as now in the Camp, also a return of all those absent, and the reasons for it, in order that your Excellency may give the proper orders for their speedy joining us

Ensign Mr. Rennals has just arrived in Camp with seven clever recruits, and says he has enlisted seven more which deserted, but he expects many of them are taken up by this time, as he has given the proper orders for that purpose.

If your Excellency would please to remind Capt. Wilson of the purposes for which he was sent to Caswell county, I am inclined to think it might be of service, as I am something doubtful if such methods are not taken, he may be rather supine and inactive, as well in regard to that part of his duty, as to his joining the Regiment.

As the shirts drawn in our State, are by this time nearly worn, I hope your Excellency will order the Commissary of Stores to furnish us with a sufficient number against we get out of inoculation, as I am well convinced by that time, the best part of the whole Regiment will be almost totally without that necessary

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article of Clothing. As for Breeches, Stockings, & Blankets our good friends the Virginians have amply supplied us with them and likewise one month's pay; which was delivered to my order without the least hesitation.

I have the honor to be your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.
ABRAM SHEPPARD.

Camp at Tottopotomoy Creek, Hanover county, State of Virginia. Febry 16th 1778.