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Dr. General:

We have now but a very little Corn here, but have taken the necessary precautions to have a large quantity laid in here soon, it is my duty to inform you that not a grain can be had out of this County, which is entirely exhausted, & our resources must be from Surry, Wilkes and Montgomery. Now there is a plenty of oats and good grass, upon which the horses may feed, therefore I think that the good of the service requires that you would be so kind, as to give orders to Capt. Gamble, on account of the scarcity of Corn, to deliver none for forage, but upon your own order & to issue to the public Horses Oats only, reserving the Corn at this post, for bread for the use of such Troops as may be in want of it, upon the application of the Commissaries.

We have orders from General Greene to lay in here a large Magazine of provisions, but cannot possibly do it, where the public Horses are allowed to be fed with Corn, & Should our Army be compelled to a Retreat between this and Cambden they must be supplied from here and Charlotte, & I much therefore dread for the consequences, if Suitable provision be not made to provide for the Worst.

I'll have the honour to wait upon you this evening, & could wish you had by then come to a determination on the subject of the latter part of my letter of the 7th instant, or it is essential for me to take such measure as to enable me to obey your orders. I have had

yesterday and to-day my hands full of Business, sending expresses to every corner of this district, which deprived me of the pleasure of waiting on you sooner.

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