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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Cosimo de Medici to Richard Caswell
Medici, Cosimo de, fl. 1767-1789
March 21, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 68-69

CAPT. COSMO MEDICI TO GOV. CASWELL, N. C.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Halifax March 21st 1778.

Sir:

By the bearer Lieut. Ben Mills of Light Dragoons, I take the liberty to trouble your Excellency concerning recruiting money, as I was ordered from the Northward partly on the account, and have a number of horses, and no men to mount them. It would therefore answer no purpose for me to return in this situation.

I believe sir men are to be had provided we had money to recruit with. Capt. Ashe is at this place waiting for that purpose. Our Troops of Horse are augmented to forty, so that Capt. Ashe's Troops and my own, are wanting to complete thirty two Troopers, so that at the usual bounty given thirty dollars, will take nine hundred and sixty.

I should be extremely happy your Excellency would point out some way for me to come at the above sum, I am informed that Mr. Daniel Mallett of Wilmington has some public money in his hands, and will deliver the whole or any part of it up, on a proper warrant, from your Excellency for that purpose. I need not urge to you Sir, the necessity of our making all possible expedition to join the Grand Army. Should there be no money at this time, to be had, your Excellency will please to direct me, what steps would be proper for me to take. Genl. Howe is in Georgia, and forming an expedition against Augustine. The South Carolinians are to assist in this undertaking. I don't think he means to attack the Fort, but rather to cut off the communication of their frontiers, in order to prevent the large supplies of provisions going into

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that place. The Assembly of Georgia have ordered a sale of all the properties, of those people who have absented themselves from that State, and have directed the Managers to take no money in payment, but continental and their own currency, this is done in order as they say to humble the pride of the South Carolinians, who refuse to take their money, but at an under rate. We have nothing new at this place. Only, that we had an elegant Ball last night, all exceedingly merry.

I have Sir the honor to be with all due respect your Excellency's most Ob. & Mo. huml. servt.
COSMO MEDICI.