October 3 day 1712
Gentlemen Friends and Neighbours,
I have recieved and with grief of heart considered your address to the Council, and shall lay it before them as soon as I can get them together, and in the meantime shall use my uttermost endeavours in redressing your wants of men, provisions, and ammunition. Captian Norton as I was informed by Mr Knight, sailed last Saturday from pasquotanke in Major Reed's sloop with 30 or 40 men, provisions, and two Barrels powder and ten Barrels I think of shot. Mr Benjamin Tull and George Tomson, who were here last night, informed that last Sunday they left Major Cole in a periago and a shallop, with provisions with him at Croaton. I have sent now this morning by Mr Tull and Mr Tomson a
barrel of powder and ten new guns, they are likewise impowered to take up and carry back all deserters they can meet with or apprehend. I have likewise appointed Mr Furnifold Green, Commissary to impress and supply the army with anything that is to be had in Bath County: and because our corn here will not keep to be carried round to the army, yet the corn there in Bath county, in some places may, and they may be repaid from here, as soon as conveniently can be. As for meat, I have writ to Mr Jordan, and have his answer, that he hath a Shallop almost ready to sail for the army, with beef, and that all the people in general are very willing to assist the army what they can. You have two proclamations sent you, both of the same tenor, confirming all officers both civil and military. The first was sent by Capt'n Cleeves about four days after the Governor funeral: the other by Captn Stone.Gentlemen and Friends, our all lies now at stake, our country, our wives, our children, our estates, and all that is dear to us. Let us therefore bear with patience some hardships; let strive against all difficulties. Who can tell but God hath appointed you to be the defenders and delieverers of our country? We have lost one oppertunity already of delivering of our country in not taking Cotechny fort last spring, and, now another oppertunity is offered, for God's sake let us make us of it; for if we lose it we can never in reason expect such another. The Indians, as we are informed by Tom Blount who was in here four days last week, are very scarce of provisions, and ammunition, so that they can not, as he says, stay in their forts. And I doubt not the Ashley River Indians will clear the woods of the vermin, and force them into their dens, I mean their forts, which they cannot be able to hold long, for want of provision, Ammunition, firewood and everything necessary.
Wherefore. Gentlemen, let us look to God, and implore his assistance and direction Let us lay aside all animosity, difference, and dissentions amongst ourselves; Let us shun such, as we would shun the plague, that endeavour to raise mutinies, or to sow the seeds of dissention amongst us. As for my own part, I take God to my witness, that I have not been wanting, nor shall not to the best of my knowledge and power, in my true endeavours for the country's good. The peace and prosperity whereof shall be still the chief and only aim of him who is in all sincerity, Gentlemen