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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to Thomas Burke
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
June 10, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 494-495

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GOV. CASWELL TO DR. BURKE.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

New Bern, 10th June, 1777.

Dear Sir:

I have had the pleasure of receiving sundry letters from you lately: the last was of the 11th ult. At present I have not time to make any observations on the accounts they contain, and shall content myself with barely answering that part relative to the Brigadier General.

I entertain the favorable sentiments which you express of Col. Clark, and think him worthy of the appointment; but at the same time, will by no means assure you that it will be satisfactory to your country. Its sense can not be obtained until the meeting of the General Assembly, which now stands adjourned to the 3d of November. In the mean time it will be necessary, no doubt to, make the appointment; and as the Gentlemen who may be candidates will all be up with the Troops, the Congress will be better able to determine who is best qualified for the office. A few days ago arrived in this State from France a lieut. Col., a Major, and two Captains, and two Serjeants, employed by the Commissioners for the United States at that Court. I have furnished them with carriage, horses, attendants, and money to enable them to prosecute their journey to Philadelphia. When I got an account of the whole expence, I intended drawing a bill on the Continental Treasury for the amount. You will therefore be pleased to obtain an order of Congress for payment of such draft on its arrival at the Treasury. I do not learn that Mr. Harnett has set out for Congress. No doubt Mr. Penn is there, and carried with him the necessary papers to obtain the money from the Treasury, to be sent here. For God's sake let it be sent out with the greatest dispatch. The officers left here to recruit can do nothing without money. I have given them warrants on the Treasury, while some of them have been furnished with bills on the Continental Treasury, which they cannot get money for. Of course that very essential service is nearly at a stand. Col. Sheppard's officers, by making use of their own and borrowing money from their friends, I believe will be able to recruit the 300 men agreeable to the Resolve of Congress.

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I must therefore request you will be pleased to give me as early notice as possible, if that Battalion is to be taken into the service of the Continent, and considered as the 10th North Carolina Regiment, that I may pursue the necessary measures for sending them on. The French Gentlemen are very anxious to go on, and are now waiting on me. I therefore defer saying more till next opportunity.

Dear Sir, I am, with the greatest esteem and regard
your obedient Serv't.,
RICHARD CASWELL.
to Dr. Burke.