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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Richardson Davie to Thomas Burke
Davie, William Richardson, 1756-1820
August 30, 1781
Volume 15, Pages 628-629

COL. W. R. DAVIE TO GOVERNOR BURKE.

Halifax, August 30th, '81.

Sir:

We have now no Salt nearer than Surra Town, which was stored at first for 369 bushels. 18 barrels of this were sent the Oliphant's

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Mills on the Catawba, by whose Orders I know not, and my Order in May last was honoured for 25 Barrels as Comy. to the So. Army. The Hospital I am also informed drew and bartered for supplies a considerable quantity.

The Salt was under the Direction of the Board of War. I never received any Notice or Invoice of it; either as Agent for the States or Commissary to the So. Department. I suppose there is about 200 bushels remaining, which should be removed into the State, and Stored with a proper Quarter Master, who knew whose Orders he honours. Salt will be immediately wanted. Mr. Bignal informs me by letter “that he has none but what is engaged.

I believe it would be proper to receive a draught from your Excellency upon the Board of Trade, with Instructions to procure the necessary supply which will not be lesss than 2,000 bushels.

I will furnish your Excellency in a few days with an Estimate of the resources of some of the Counties, where it may be necessary to raise contributions.

The commissioners who collected the late Contributions of one fifth have been enquiring about their commissions upon it which I promised to report to you. The difficulty of transportation renders it unnecessary to prepare salted provisions for the Troops in the field, and the proportion necessary for the convenience of Issuing at the Posts is very small.

I have the Honor to be your Excelcy. Most Obt. hum. Svt.
WILLIAM R. DAVIE, Com. Gl.
Govr. Burke.