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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Smallwood to Horatio Gates [Extract]
Smallwood, William, 1732-1792
October 31, 1780
Volume 14, Page 737

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GEN. SMALLWOOD TO MAJ. GENL. GATES.
[Extract of a Letter to the Honble. Major General Gates, dated October
31st, 1780.]

“Since my last, nothing material has occured, except a great Scarcity of Provision. Colo. Polk has not even supplied the regular Troops. Our principal Subsistence has been brought in by Detachments, which they took from the disaffected who have gone over to the Enemy; and I have now not less than two Hundred Men employed on that Duty, which is the only prospect of supplying the Troops 'till the late Provision Act for collecting a specific Tax in Provision is more effectually carried into Execution, which I fear at last will not afford an ample Supply in addition to what purchases can be made.”