Sir:

As no field officer in the Continental Service has attended nor any other officer particularly appointed to receive the detachment of Volunteers and Drafts from the Dobbs Regiment of Militia towards completing the Continental Battalions, I conceive it to be my duty to give you the following orders. That is to say,

1st. You are to receive the aforesaid Detachment from the commanding officer of the Militia, and with the detachments from Craven which you have already received, march them immediately by the shortest and most convenient Route, to Halifax. I would therefore recommend that which crosses Contentnea at House's Mill. Little Contentnea near John Tyson's Esq. and into the Tar River road near John Williams' Esq. by Tarboro' and then the direct way to Halifax. This I know is the shortest way and I think most convenient on account of water and provisions.

2d. You are also to take under your command William Alford who is appointed Contractor for your provisions with his wagon and such provisions as can conveniently be carried from hence, and on your arrival at Halifax he with one wagon and Team (Mr. Cobb's light wagon) is to be discharged, the two Baggage wagons from Dobbs to proceed with the detachment. Mr. Harvey with Col. Hogun's approbation, is appointed Quarter Master, and I presume will take the necessary steps for procuring forage for your Teams.

3d. I request you will inform the Craven men, from whom I had several applications for Certificates of the time of their discharge, that these certificates are entirely unnecessary, as the law under which they are raised expressly directs their discharge at the end of nine months, after their arrival at the places of Rendezvous, and the only inducement I had to give the Certificates to the Dobbs men was a promise I had made to them at the time of their Enlistment, to remove the doubt which some seemed to entertain of the time of their continuing in service.

4th. You may also assure the Craven men (those from Dobbs having already received their Bounty from me) that they will receive their Bounty, and what pay may be due them before they leave Halifax, as the money is daily expected for that purpose. Col. Blount or his assistant will on its arrival immediately attend to discharge the same. Nothing further occurs to me at present, than that I recommend that no Furlough be given to any Soldier until your arrival at Halifax. This I think essentially necessary to the service and therefore can't omit it. I wish you an agreeable and speedy march. And am Sir,