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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Alexander Martin to George Washington
Martin, Alexander, 1740-1807
May 16, 1777
Volume 15, Page 702

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COL. ALEX. MARTIN, 2 N. C. BATT'A., TO GEN. WASHINGTON, MAY 16, 1777.
[“Letters to Washington” Book 15, P. 212.]

Alexandria, May 16th, 1777.

May it please your Excellency:

Five days ago I arrived at this place with the first Division of the North Carolina Troops, and expect two more will arrive tomorrow, and am sorry that we are compelled to halt for some time to undergo Inoculation for the Small Pox before we can join you. The marching and countermarching of the N. Carolina Troops last Winter and this Spring to and from Charleston, has much retarded our Northern Duty and prevented our being much earlier at your Head Quarters.

I cannot at present transmit to your Excellency a full and proper State of our Troops by the late unexpected Death of General Moore, who was to have marched with me, whose papers are not in my possession; and can only inform you that the nine N. Carolina Battalions consisted of about 4,500 officers and men when they marched from Halifax in that State. Gen. Nash in a short Time will follow us, who first is to regulate the recruiting service there agreeable to the Instructions of Congress.

Colo. Jethro Sumner of the 3 N. Carolina Battalion, a worthy good officer, waits on you with this, who commands a Detachment of all those soldiers from the several Batallions who have had the smallpox agreeable to a late Resolve of Congress, who, on every Occasion, will gladly receive your Commands.

In the meantime I shall take every Step to hasten the Recovery of our Troops, and march to you with the utmost Expedition, or wherever you will please to order us.

I am with the utmost Respect, your
Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,
ALEX. MARTIN, Colo. 2 Bat. N. C. Troops.
His Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and Commander in Chief, &c.