Sir:
The inclosed petition, amounting to a charge of oppression, partiality and injurious exercise of authority against the Commanding Officer of the County of Perquimons within your District, I refer to you that you may cause the truth of the charge to be enquired into by Court Martial or Court of Inquiry and transmit to me their report.
This is necessary as well to give the accused officer an opportunity of defending himself, as to give redress to the party injured.
The Petitioner, you will perceive, complains of unjust degradation and arbitrary punishment as a Deserter. You will be so good as to cause inquiry to be made whether he has been returned or convicted as a Deserter and upon what grounds he has been degraded, if such degradation has taken place.
If you find it necessary to order a Court Martial on the occasion-you
will be so obliging as to direct them to proceed without delay and to report the testimony in writing.The whole, Sir, you will be so kind as to transmit to me, as I shall suspend the taking order on the affair until your report arrives.