Edenton 25th Nov. 1778.
Sir:
Agreeable to your orders of the 16th of October, I have used every means in my power to call in all Troops in this District, but as I mentioned to you in my last, find it very difficult, the men being all on Furlough and scattered about in this broken District in such a manner, that it will be almost impossible to find them all, and when found pleads strongly their furloughs. However, I have with much difficulty sent on about a hundred by Capt. Goodman, chiefly regulars of my own enlisting, during the War, who will march from Mackey's ferry this afternoon with Col. Perkin's party of Militia, which I believe may be about one hundred and fifty. I think it most advisable for me to wait here a few days to try and collect in the other furloughed Troops from this District, and for that purpose have sent an officer and file of men to the different Counties, and hope to have their returns in about ten days, when I expect to be able to march and bring them on pretty well equipt as well as those I have sent on by Capt. Goodman, having applied to Messrs. Hewes & Smith for that purpose, who I lately understood have a considerable number of good Continental Arms, Cartridge boxes, belt bayonets, blankets, &c., & on application they were kind enough to supply me with what I wanted for the Troops I have sent on. What few arms I rec'd from the Militia were quite unfit for service and have left them here with the Commissary, where I intend lodging the others that may come in hereafter, and I will endeavour agreeable to your request to bring on what Troops I can collect equipt in the best manner I possibly can. The arms, &c., now in the hands of Hewes & Smith are originally very good, but at this time much suffering with rust, and if not soon cleaned will be an entire loss—and as I
have no reason to expect the arms from other districts much better than those of this, thought proper by express to acquaint your Excellency of those. If you think proper to order it there might be as many brought on to Kingston as may well equip all the new levies, &c. I have advised with Hewes and Smith on the subject, who will likewise write you by this express.Enclosed you have the returns of my Troops when they embarked from this place, together with the returns of the Volunteers and Balloted in this District. We are in want of Tents which might be purchased here, if money could be had, for which I am at a great loss. I have the honor to be
P. S. Col. Patten passed this Town this morning on his way home. Eighteen days from Head Quarters, has nothing new, only that a report prevailed that Count D'Estaing has lately been reinforced with a number of heavy and warlike ships and put to sea in pursuit of the British Fleet. Arrived this day Capt. Colvin in twenty five days from Curacoa, in a schooner from Charles Town, but brings no news.