Edgecombe County, Nov. 24th 1778.
May it Please Your Excellency:
I have herewith sent you the Commissions of Capt. Davis and Ensign Gay, Resigned, the former through infirmity, the latter for cowardice, and as no Ensign offers to supply the place of Gay our detachment is without any Captain. Lee who now heads the Company is a volunteer, who accepted of the office in the room of Davis resigned, and as I have no blank commissions he is without. One Absolum Barnes, our Lieutenant, has a commission. I am sorry to inform your Excellency of so many Resignations at present, but it is out of my power to help it. I have furnished Capt. Lee with 934 lbs. of Beef, and 21 p. Barrels of Meal, and 8 pots, 8 axes, and am happy to inform your Excellency that the men are mostly in good health, and now on Duty, are in high spirits and resolved to encounter every difficulty. I can only add, I am sorry that more of our old Captains would not go with them, as I think so large a Detachment deserve a good Captain, and so no more at present but Sir I still remain,
N. B. The other detachment is now drafting, and will march as soon as possible.