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Sir:

I joined Genl. Sumner Sunday evening, & remitted both to him and Col. Seawell your Excellency's Letters. We are to march off to day, & would have done it yesterday if it had not been for waiting for the parties we had out for Provisions. Brig. Genl. Caswell came up to us to day; he is in a very poor condition of health, & does not know when the Major Genl. is to join the Army. I am, Sir, according to your kind recommendation, to act as Aid de Camp to Genl. Sumner on our March till we Come to the Enemies' Line, when I expect to take the Command of a small Scouring party, wherein I am determined to deserve your Excellency's notice or to fail entirely in the attempt. I met here, Sir, Capt. David Meres, who holds a Commission in Colonel Seawell's Regiment; this Officer is a French Gentleman, & bore a Commission in Genl. Pulaski's Legion; has his wife (an American Lady) & three Children in Charlestown, Sailed from that place about nine months ago in a Brig belonging to him, was taken on the coast and brought into Jamaica, where he remained a prisoner of war for three months, at the expiration of which time he was sent out in a Flag of Truce with several others to the Cape Francois, where he was exchanged. From there he embarked on board one of the King's Vessels as a Capt. of Marines for Philadelphia. On his arrival at Philadelphia he heard of the surrender of Charlestown, which was the more afflicting to him as he had never met with any opportunity either of writing to his family nor of hearing from it. He is really, Sir, in the greatest distress for his family, & entreated me to write to your Excellency to petition he should be permitted to Repair with a Flag to Charlestown, to Get permission from the Commanding Officer to settle his affairs in that Town, & for removing his family to this State. His case, Sir, I think very hard; a foreigner in this Country, without friends & without relations, he is, & must be so, in the greatest uneasiness about his family; his losses here have been very great, but would willingly make the sacrifice of his fortune, provided he could get his family out of the Enemies' hands. The Bearer is the Gentleman I mention, & would find myself happy should you

think proper to Grant him the request. We are told Genl. Harrington is at Cross Creek, pursuant to your Excellency's orders, with a Strong body of men. I will make use of every opportunity that should offer to inform your Excellency of every material Concurrence, & am,

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