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Dear Sir:

It is entirely out of my power to come over to Elizabeth, as I had promised myself the pleasure of seeing you there; I have not therefore written you as fully as I might have done on the subject of the army. I believe by the time this reaches you, the whole or much the greater part of the troops will have joined you. I am really sorry to find the Regiments are not fuller, but the principal cause is owing to individuals who have undertaken to find fault with the measures now pursuing. You will be pleased to make me a general return of the Brigade which marches from Elizabeth Town as soon as you conveniently can, and of Genl. Rutherford's Brigade whenever you can obtain return from him. These I wish

to have in time to lay before the General Assembly at their first meeting. You will proceed with your Troops the shortest and best route from Elizabeth Town to Charles Town where you are to put yourself under the command of Genl. Lincoln, and continue in that service until the tenth day of April next, unless sooner discharged. You are required to attend to a Resolution of Council which I enclose you a copy, to prevent the enlisting of your Militia in any other service during the time they are drafted for, and par ticularly in any Continental Battalion not belonging to this State. Our former complaints in Gen'l Lee's southern expedition were justly founded but never redressed. The other resolve respecting the discharge of the men, you will likewise be pleased to attend to. Lest you shall have vacancies in the Wilmington District among your officers, I shall send you by Col. Caswell as many commissions as I can get ready before he goes, which will be in a very short time. Give me leave to recommend him, (my son) to your particular notice.

Mr. Blount goes on with money to pay the bounty of the Wilmington men, and to take up such warrants as you as Commander of the troops shall think proper to grant, in favour of commissaries, Quarter Masters &c; my time will not allow me to give you a list of the officers. I have directed all I have seen of them to wait on you, those I have not seen will no doubt consider it their duty to do so. Shall be glad to hear from you on all occasions. You may rely on my doing what I can for you, in the business of the Treasury.

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