Sir:
Governor Mathews has favored me with a Copy of your letter respecting the men of your State being harbored in the District of those men who are under a treaty of neutrality.
I have wrote to Major Gainey who commands these men. He promises to drive all the men of your State out of the neutral ground. Should he not perform his promise, I will readily co-operate with you in obliging him, and shall be very glad to know whenever your force march for that purpose that I may be on the Pee Dee at the same time and chastise those banditti for the infraction of the Treaty.
My motives for coming into the measure of granting them a neutrality were compulsory by my being always kept near the British Lines and not having time to subdue them.
Had I removed so far as that District, I should have laid open a considerable part of this Country which the Enemy would destroy.
I shall at all times readily co-operate with your force against these people whenever you give me notice.