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Please Your Excellency:

Before my last to you I was taught by several of the Colonels to believe that the men were turning out agreeable to my wishes, which I now find quite otherwise, and I believe chiefly owing to their neglect, except Col. Rhoads, who has behaved extremely well on the occasion; he has proved every article for his men, and have paid up the Bounty. As for Col. Kennan, there is ½ of his men come down, and those noways provided for, not a Wagon, cart, pot or kettle, not one farthing of money to purchase an article with, and it is needless to mention borrowing money here, the public faith is so bad with them, and what we are to do I know not. As to leaving any one behind to lay in provisions, &c., for the men coming on, is entirely out of my power; no one can be got to do it without the money first given them. I am now trying to get a wagon for myself; I can't say as yet how I

shall succeed; to-morrow morning I shall go down to Brunswick; there went yesterday evening about 80 men to join the Bladen men, if got down to Brunswick. Not one word from Cumberland as yet. I shall not wait for them, but march as soon as I can collect these lower countrymen together. Your Excellency may depend on my making you acquainted, the time we cross the line, and a return of our numbers. I could wish we had the money to pay the men their Bounty.

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