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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Rutledge to Richard Caswell
Rutledge, John, 1739-1800
March 06, 1779
Volume 14, Page 32

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PRESIDENT J. RUTLEDGE OF S. C. TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Charles Town, March 6, 1779.

To His Excellency, Richard Caswell, Governor of North Carolina.

Dear Sir:

The situation of this State, and of Georgia I presume, will have been, ere now, fully represented to you by the two Gentlemen whom I sent some Time ago to solicit Aid from your State and Virginia, & I flatter myself with the hopes that Reinforcements are now on their March this Way, that I shall soon be favoured with advices from you and the Governor of Virginia respecting them. Conceiving that it would be more expedient to retain the North Carolina Militia now here than that they should return Home at the Expiration of the Time for which they were engaged, & which I understood from General Lincoln it was their Intention to do, I desired him to offer to such as would stay only two Months after the expiration of that Time an Addition to their Pay, so as to Make it the same as our Militia are now entitled to, viz., 1 Dollar per day to the Privates, & a proportionable advance to the officers; but the General, in his letter of the first Inst., writes thus: “The North Carolina Militia will remain but forty days longer with us. I mentioned to General Ashe the Encouragement offered by your State to such of them as would remain after their present Time of Service should expire, but he told me that he could not admit it, if they were disposed to engage, for his State had directed him to return with all the Troops, save such as should enlist in their Continental Battalions.”

I therefore request, if it can be done Consistent with the Interest of your State, which I suppose it may, that you will relax the orders to General Ashe, & extend the time for his Stay or give Liberty to such of his men as are so inclined to accept our offer, & remain here some time longer until we shall have a sufficient Force in the Field to meet the Enemy. You see the Necessity that Genl. Ashe should receive your orders on this Matter before the 9th of April.

I am, with great Esteem & Regard, Dear Sir,
Yr. most obedt. Servt.,
J. RUTLEDGE.