Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Edward Stevens to Horatio Gates
Stevens, Edward
November 16, 1780
Volume 14, Pages 737-739

GEN. EDWARD STEVENS TO MAJ. GEN. GATES.

Hillsborough, Thursday Night, Novr. 16th, 1780.

Dear General:

Your favour of the 12th Inst. I recd. this morning, since which the Inclosed Letters came to hand from Virginia. The Letter I received from the Governour gave me much satisfaction, as I find their will be no misunderstanding about my not returning when I receiv'd his orders.

The information he gives me with respect to the situation of Affairs their is nearly the same that he has mentioned to you, tho' I now send you a Copy of his Letter to me.

-------------------- page 738 --------------------

Major Ridley's Corps of Eighteen months' men are now under marching orders. They will move tomorrow. He has Just received a Supply of Shoes from Virga., so that none of his people will be left behind for the want of that Article. He has spared some of them on Loan to Major Mazarett for ye Artillery. The detachmt. will consist of upwards of 250 Rank and File.

As soon as I receive an Answer from you to my Letter of ye 12th Inst., the Militia will be ready to move; their numbers will be some where about 600. You may depend I shall strictly adhere to your orders in every point. Since my last I hear nothing more of the Goods comeing from Newburn. I hope they will arrive in time to come on with the Militia. For this several days past we have been supplyed with our full rations of provisions, tho' only from hand to mouth. We are obliged to our own Baggage Waggons for the Bread Kind.

The Governour of this State has called the Board of War from hence to Hallifax, tho' Colo. Martin informs me they shall go to Sallsbury before they remove and will set out for thence sometime tomorrow. The Board have had some of their late Despatches to Genl. Harrington intercepted. We are informed their is a number of British emissary's between Deep River and Peadee, one of which has been apprehended some days agoe by a party of Militia and brought to this place. His name is Girard, is an inhabitant of this State, has a Capt.'s Commission from the British, and was a Recruiting for a Regmt. that is to be commanded by Governour Martin, tho' it would appear he had no very great success in the business. It's not clear to me but he may very properly come under the Denomination of a Spy. I shall order a Court of inquiry on him, And their proceedings shall be transmitted to you. I am informed In a Little time a number of sick in ye Hospital will be fit for duty, but they are very naked and without Shoes. If they could be furnished wth. Shoes they might go on to ye Army, and with those of ye Maryland Line which was left behind for the want of that Article when yo. marched, would make a Clever little reinforcement; but I see no chance of their being supplyed here. If they depend on the Factory at this place, and wait till they are furnished from it, they will hardly get from hence this Winter. Their Leather is now all out.

If their is any Shoes among those Goods comeing from Newburn

-------------------- page 739 --------------------
would it not be well to serve them out to them here, as then they could imediately go on to you? A person from Virginia brought a small Quantity of Iron here. The Quarter Master was in want of it. He nor the Board of War could find ways and means to pay for it. The person offered to take my draft on ye State of Virga. But as I thought all drafts of that Kind would come more properly from you, I ashured him if he would let the Quarter Master have it, I would take care to see he got a Draft, in consequence of which he let the Quarter Master have it.

With much respect and esteem,
I have the Honour to be, Dear General,
Your most obt. & very hum. Servt.,
EDWARD STEVENS.