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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to Richard Henderson
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
August 13, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 193-194

GOV. R. CASWELL TO CAPT. RICH. HENDERSON.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Kingston, 13th August, 1779.

Sir:

Your favor of the 7th Current I rec'd by Mr. Colethson, whom I sent to New Bern with a letter to Mr. James Green, the Continental Loan Office Treasurer, requesting to change the Certificates you sent down and give in lieu Continental Currency if he was in list for that purpose, otherwise to procure it on my promise to take up the certificates when it should be in my power, (at present I am almost destitute of money of any denomination, occasioned by my being under the necessity of advancing to procure bread, at the extravagant prices flour and grain is going for the soldiery, and the money not yet arrived from Congress, but daily expected). But by some means he missed Mr. Green and is returned without answering that part of his errand, which I am really sorry for. He, however, brought me a letter from the President of the Council, to whom I had enclosed your letter, and in consequence of advice of some of the members of Council, I send a warrant to the Commissary for $20,000 more to enable him to discharge the duties of his department with credit to our State, and in conformity to the opinion of the Council and your request I send Col. Williams' commissions for Officers of another Company, with orders to fill them up and raise the men if the Commissioners certify him that, in their judgment, another company is really necessary to be added to their Guard. Of this you will be able to judge when you come into the back Country, where I know your interest and Col. Williams' are such as to be able to raise the men with little trouble from amongst those who will be most useful in the important service you are engaged in, and give me leave to

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assure the gentlemen who have the honor to be Commissioners that I have the utmost confidence in their prudent conduct in this matter, being assured that they will make a proper use of this discretionary power, and not direct this additional Company to be raised unless it shall appear to them to be really and absolutely necessary.

I can not tell what to say to the Commissary about procuring wagons at a higher rate than allowed by Law, but recommend it to the Commissioners to direct him in this business, and if the wagons can not be had at the price stipulated, to direct him what to give so as by no means to suffer any delay in carrying the duties of their appointment into effect, and I flatter myself their conduct therein will be approved by the General Assembly. I most sincerely wish you and the Gentlemen, your associates, an agreeable time in your fatiguing undertaking,

And am, with the utmost esteem and regard, Dr. Sir,
Your mo. ob. Serv't,
R. CASWELL.