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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to John Salter
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
July 14, 1786
Volume 18, Pages 686-687

GOV. CASWELL TO COL. JOHN SALTER.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Kingston, July 14th, 1786.

Sir:

Your letter of the 10th Inst. I have before me, and am much concerned about the Pitt Militia which I always considered as equal at least, to any in the State, and in general well Officered, should now be found defective, and the principal Officer dissipated, so as to omit doing the necessary duties of his Office.

Col. Gorham has not formally resigned that I know of, and not having in my possession any list of officers appointed since I went out of administration, in 1780, by those who have been in administration since, I cannot fill in the Field Officer's Command indeed

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until Col. Gorham resigns, which he may do, if he pleases, to General Armstrong. No command to supply his place can regularly issue, and then not without the advice of the Council, and the appointment to continue until the next Assembly only under these circumstances. I find forty Commissions to General Armstrong, 4 for the field officers, and 36 for the Captains, Lieutenants & Ensigns of 12 Companies. To him I shall write to fill up the field officers Commissions agreeably to the Assembly appointment; the others to be delivered the Colonel, if he will continue to Act, if not to the Lieut. Col. to be by him filled up, and the Companies properly arranged. At the same time I shall request the General to give the necessary orders for this arrangement, the Exercise of the Regiment, and a proper return to make; all of which I hope will prove satisfactory to you.

With much esteem I am Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
R. CASWELL.