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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Benjamin Lincoln to Richard Caswell
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
February 06, 1779 - February 07, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 17-18

GEN. B. LINCOLN TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]


Purysburgh, February 6th, 1779.

Dear Sir:

Soon after the arrival of your troops a complaint was made against Lieut. Lytle for disobedience of orders. He was arrested, and hath been tried. The proceedings of the Court, as it respects some officers appointed by your State, I do myself the honor to enclose. One other Officer, viz., Capt. Jack, is in arrest, charged with discharging a new Levy man, and for receiving the sum of £60 for so doing. The Court, to which he applied for trial, reported, as he was not a Continental officer, his case was not cognizable before them, so that probably he will not receive a trial.

I hope as soon as the furloughs of your nine-months men shall expire, they will be forwarded, and that your militia will be relieved in time. The Enemy lately marched as far as Augusta with, as I am informed, 1,700 men. We have a body opposite to oppose their crossiEg. General Ashe, with General Bryan's Brigade, is gone up. They arrived the 31st Ulto. It is a matter of great importance to prevent the Enemy from getting into

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the upper part of the Country, from which we draw many of our supplies, in which are many unfriendly persons, and by which ou communication with the Indians would be cut off, and they obliged to turn their trade and receive their supplies through another channel, not the one consonant with our interest.

Our people, (most of them militia of this State,) a few days since, had a schirmish, on Port Royal Island, with the Enemy. By a letter from General Moultrie I learn we had much the advantage of them.

I had the happiness, a few days since, to see Col. Caswell, your Son; he is well, and gone up the river.

Your officers and men are generally in health, and in justice to them you will give me leave to say that they do well.

I am, Sir, with regard & esteem,
Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,
B. LINCOLN.

To His Excellency, Governor Caswell.

P. S.—Feb'y 7th. Since writing the above I have been honoured with your Excellency's favour of the 13th Ulto. Fortunate indeed for us that you adopted the measure of sending out your men, though in opposition to the opinion of many of your State, and that you were able so fully to carry your own Sentiments into execution, though it is to be lamented that, from unavoidable delays, many of them arrived at so late a date (Jany. 31st.) I know, Sir, you have been embarrassed. If the measures you advised had been vigourously executed, Savannah might now have been in our hands. Those of your people here are not, most of them, well armed. Every exertion to give us a reinforcement is necessary—yours for that purpose I don't doubt. I am made happy by the encouragement you give that so considerable an Aid may be expected, for it is truely mortifying that the enemy, with so contemptable a number compared with the force these states might bring into the field, are submitted to remain in quiet, and entertain an idea that they have conquered one of the thirteen United States.

I am, Your affectionate, humble Servant,
B. LINCOLN.