Head Quarters Ashley Hill,
October 31st, 1782.
Sir:
I have been duly favoured with your Letter of the 29th of August and must beg your Excellency to hasten the supply of beef from the State of North Carolina by all the means in your power. I flatter myself a representation of our distress is at this time unnecessary to call forth your exertions. The Cattle which have been collected in the District of Edenton, New Berne and Wilmington I wish to receive without one moment’s loss of time. The season for supplying the Army with fresh provisions is so far advanced as to render it essential for me to make immediate preparations for a supply of salted pork.
I am fearful that unless we can obtain from North Carolina two
thousand barrels of that article the Army must suffer exceedingly during the Winter. By your exertions with the Assembly I hope measures may be taken to procure us that Quantity.I would propose to have it put up at the expence of the State and delivered by their Agents to our Commissary on the navigable waters of Cape Fear and such other places as I will mention. The State shall have credit with the Financier for the value of the pork at the cost price in the State at the time of the delivery. The pork must be delivered during the months of January, February and March.
Your Excellency will please to inform me whether it is practicable to obtain such a supply as early as possible. This information is in some measure necessary to enable me to determine on the Winter cantonments of the Troops. Should it be practicable, I will send a proper person to assign the places of delivery and the mode of inspecting the pork. The very great distress of an army whose exertions have been conspicuous and serviceable will plead my excuse for soliciting the most pointed exertions of your Excellency to accomplish this business. The Troops have not been supplied with rice or bread for upwards of thirty days, and a great part of that time they were without any kind of meal. Unless the pork can be had from North Carolina our prospects will appear very unfavourable.
I am much obliged by your attention to the Letter addressed to Major Tatom.