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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Rutledge to Richard Caswell
Rutledge, John, 1739-1800
May 05, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 464-465

PRESIDENT J. RUTLEDGE, OF S. C., TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

May 5th, 1777.

Dr. Sir:—

I, some time ago, received a Resolve of Congress, recommending

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it to me, to have enquiry made, what quantity of provisions had been stored by Col. William Kennan, for public use, agreeable to engagements made with General Lee, and to take such provisions off his hands, allowing the price thereof, if reasonable, to appoint Commissaries to remove such of these provisions, as were fit for use, to places of safety, and to make returns of the quantity and cost thereof to Congress. I was also requested to examine, and certify Col. Kennan's demand. This I have done, and allowed the following charges, viz:

p'd for pork at
Wilmington
w'th
Jno. Moore.
700
£
salt at
do
w'th
do
200
pork—barrels at
do
wth
do
60
£960
prod.

And with respect to the provisions stored in this State, I have ordered some into the hands of the Commissary, for the Continental Troops, and others to be sold, as appeared most for the advantage of the Continent. But, as to those in your State, I conceive, they are, most properly under your directions;—I have therefore wrote Congress, that I should take the liberty of requesting you, to give such directions, about them, as may be most for the interest of the Continent, and to inform Congress of the quantity, and condition of those provisions, and how you intend to have them disposed of. And, I now accordingly request, not doubting that you will be pleased to do so.

I am, with great esteem, Sir, your
obed. hble. serv't.,
J. RUTLEDGE.
His Excellency Gov'r. Caswell.