To His Excellency, Arthur Dobbs, Esqur., Gov’r & Commander in Chief in & over the province of No. Carolina:
Sir: Pursuant to your Excellency’s Instructions of the 27th of January last to me directed, as Lieut. Colonel of the Regiment of Orange, I have returned the list of Officers with the Number of Private Men in each of the Companies that Appeared at the General Musters.
Mark Morgan had Notice of his being Appointed Capt., but did not Attend to be qualified.
Michael Dickson, not being of Ability of Body, Desired to be excused.
John Gordon, Esqr., was present when the other Officers ware Qualified, but refused to except of the Captain’s Commission.
Laurence Thompson, Esqr., having been by a late Commission appointed Capt. of a Troop of Horse, did not Qualify to the Commission in the Foot.
Robert Harper Moved to South Carolina last Sumer.
Robert Little was Qualified, but by an Indisposition in the family could not Possibly give his Company Notice to be at the Muster.
If it suits your Excellency’s Pleasure, I humbly Conceive would be agreeable to Appoint the following Persons, in the place of those Captains that are wanting, To wit:
John Patterson, Esqr., and Thomas Loyd, in the Room of Mark Morgan, whose Company was too large.
Laurence Rambo, in the Room of Captains Gordon and Dickson, whose Companies ware too Small.
William Lee, in the Room of Robert Harper.
The Districts are not so regular as they may be for the ease of the
People, but as there is no Colonel Appointed, and so many of the Captains not Qualify’d, I thought it suitable to Postpone the affair till your Excellency’s Pleasure is further known.I shall take care, so far as I am capable, to Discipline the Regiment under my Care, but as I am not well acquainted in the Law of the Army (?) and Military Affairs, am Doubtful of answering the Design, which this great trust was Reposed in me, And would Therefore humbly request your Excellency’s favour in Excusing me from ∗ ∗ ∗ in that station any longer, believing there are others in the County More Capable, Namely, Laurence Thompson, Esqr., and ∗ ∗ ∗ Alexander Mebane.
Inclosed with the list above Mentioned comes a list of Captain Thompson’s troop of light Horse.
So wishing your Excellency much Happiness in the Administration of your Government, I take leave to subscribe my self, with the greatest Respect,
Orange, April the 12th, 1755.
(Endorsement.)
To His Excellency, Arthur Dobbs, Esqr., Capt. General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province of North Carolina.