---

Sir:

I am now encamped 8 miles South of Charlotte, my number consisting of 400, minute men from Rowan and Mecklenburg counties, none from the other counties being yet arived. The enemy are at Wax Haw creek, 20. miles distant. Lords Cornwallance and Roddin are both with them. Their number, by the best intelligence, about 1,000. They are busied threshing and flouring wheat, collecting cattle, sheep, butter, &c. I do not learn they have any artillery. Col. Ferguson and his party, which by common report consists of 1,200, are troublesom to the westward. I cannot find they have yet entered this State, except some who have committed some depredations on the west end of Rutherford county.

Lest they should advance I have sent Col. Lock to Rowan to embody the rest of his regiment to join Col. Macdowell, who lies

in Burke with about 400, by the best accounts. Col. Paisley joins me to morrow with near 200. Gen. Sumner with his bregade is expected to be at Salisbury this evening. Gen. Sumpter lies 13 miles to my right with 200, his number daily increasing. Our troops are in high spirits, and seem determined to stand out to the last extremity rather than submit to the fate of So. Carolina.

P. S. The greater part of the Rowan regiment have not yet joined me on account of the frequent alarms from Ferguson's party, and the number of tories on the North and West of that county.

---