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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to James Richardson
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
April 12, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 65-66

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GOVERNOR CASWELL TO MAJOR JAMES RICHARDSON, BLADEN.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Kingston, 12th April, 1779.

Sir:

Your letter of the 8th Instant I rec'd this day; it gives me much concern to find the Militia officers in general so backward in discharging the duties of their appointments, the bounties of the men should have been paid in the respective Counties before the men had marched. If the Cols. had attended to the orders they received, that would have been the case. The pots should have been sent on with the detachment from each County. If that has not been done you should have applied to the commanding officers of each County; it is rather strange that altho' I was five days at Cross Creek, waiting to see the officers and Troops from your District, and where money might have been supplied, and where it was publicly known I was to be, that not an officer came near me or applied for money, now so large a sum as £8,000 is wanted to buy a few pots and some spirits, why, Sir, you certainly have lumped the matter, you never can have made any regular estimate, or at least I cannot think that sum or any thing near it ought to be furnished, and as your Bond is expressly for that sum, I do not think myself at liberty to send you any.

You must apply to Mr. Emmot, at Cross Creek, for Rum or spirits, but surely you will not expect it whilst your men are lying there or at home, not in service; it will be impossible for the public to furnish a Commissary to go on with every small detachment of men sent out in the manner men are from your District. If the men had been assembled at the time, or within ten days of the time I directed all these, complaints would have been removed; money has been advanced for the Military from Onslow, New Hanover and Cumberland, if those from the other Counties have not received theirs, the pay master will be sent on as soon as the money can be signed, this you may assure the people, and it is now struck and signing. He will follow in a few days, and supply every necessary sum for the service. I send you a Commission, and wish you a great success; pray let me entreat you to go

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on with the Troops as fast as you possibly can. The Lieut. Colo. is here waiting for some other men, who are hourly expected.

I am, Sir,
Your mo. ob. Servt.
,
RICHARD CASWELL.