His Excellency Governor Nash.
Dear Sir:
As soon as I got home, I wrote a letter to General Hogun, requesting him to acquaint me with the wants of himself and his fellow sufferers that I might endeavor to supply them. I took the liberty of assuring him that your Excellency would give me all the assistance therein that was in your power. But upon inquiry I find a greater difficulty than I imagined in procuring a conveyance for my letter. The English, I am told, have not a guard between this & Charlestown, neither do I know where any of our troops are. Col. White and others were at Cambden, but I fancy they are by this retired within our State (altho' I got it conveyed to Col. White or Governor Rutledge, there must be a considerable loss of time before it could be sent to General Hogun and an answer returned). As I am very certain our officers are in great want of many articles of cloathing, I submit it to your Excellency if it would not be well to send a flag, either with a letter to know their particular wants, or with such articles as we know they must stand in need of. If a letter could be speedily conveyed, I do not know but that might be most eligible; for, besides learning their circumstances General Clinton's passport, might it even be obtained, this would possibly obviate some difficulties, that might otherways happen. I shall most cheerfully go in with the cloathing, should your Excellency think proper to grant me a Flag; for I think it my duty, as a servant of the states, to do every service in my power; but for that corps it is more especially my duty to exert myself in everything. I shall be much obliged for a line on this subject, & in the interim I shall try to send in my letter. I have a large quantity of paper very fit for cartridges, both small and large; would it not be proper for the Commissary of stores, or some other state officer, to get it for the use of the State,
P. S. Could it possibly be procured, hard money would be of great service among them.