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Sir:

General Sumner has represented to me, some Counties have failed to make their drafts for the completion of Continental Battalions, and that many of the late draughts for the same, are yet in their respective Counties; and that returns by the Commanding

Officers have not hithereto been made as required by the Act of Assembly. I therefore Sir desire that you will with all the dispatch the value of the business admits, obtain such descriptive Lists of the draughts from the different Colonels of your District; and when effected, that an accurate return be made to me, ascertaining the Officers’ names who in any instance have failed to do their duty; whereby I shall be enabled to fix the blame on the proper subjects, and direct the punishment due to such neglect. I also request that you will arrest every officer that have in any wise been negligent or deficient in their duty; as I am determined thro you Sir, to inflict the penalties incurred by the disobedient to the utmost, and shall direct the Attorney General to carry on prosecutions agreeably to Law. The necessity of the punctual execution of the Law and the repeated solicitation of General Greene to forward on those Troops make these measures absolutely necessary.

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