General Waddell,

Colonel William Bryan's Johnston County.

I have experienced much satisfaction on the Receipt of your dispatches; the first from Mecklenburg met me on Sunday last near Mr Miller's on Neuse the other dated from Salisbury the 27th ult: is just put into my hands by Express.

I flatter myself the difficulties and fatigue you have struggled with in raising the Troops required will be recompenced by a happy issue to our important undertaking.

I shall have in this Camp to night the Detachments from the Neuse Tar and Cape Fear Divisions amounting to nearly eight hundred Men exclusive of the Detachments I expect to join me on the March—General Gage has furnished me with some Brass Cannon and the necessary ammunition which will be up here with the Neuse Division this evening. The men are well satisfied with the service and seem determined to do their duty with Spirit and Order—If you think by leaving a Captain or other Officer behind you could get a few more men to follow you in a week or ten days you will use your own discretion in this point. I apprehend I shall not be able to get the Troops to the place of Destination before the 13th or 14th instant. They will move from this Camp Friday afternoon. It may therefore be advisable [to be] out of the heart of the Settlement of the Insurgents till after the first week in May so as to meet me on the 13th or 14th instant at the appointed place of Rendezvous.

Accept my Compliments to yourself and Officers.