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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Abner Nash to Horatio Gates
Nash, Abner, ca. 1740-1786
July 29, 1780
Volume 14, Pages 513-514

GOV. ABNER NASH TO GEN. HORATIO GATES.


Newbern, July 29th, 1780.

Sir:

I received your favor by General Huger, & am very glad you have got so far towards the Army. Your presence, I dare say, is very much wanted, & will be of great importance to the Southern States. It was not from ignorance of the state of the Army, or neglect in the Executive department, that they have been so badly supplied. The requisition of specific supplies came too late to be of any service. The provisions of the preceding year had been brought up & appropriated, & 'tis surprising to me that the Commissary did not get his share of them. Since April he has had of me upwards of 2,700,000 Dollars, to pay, as I understood, the contracts he had for provisions, & the Quartermaster and Commercial Agent have drawn very large sums, the latter for the express purpose of purchasing Corn, Spirits, Sugar, &c., for the army. By the Laws & Constitution of this state, I have no Controul or right of interference with their Officers. The power of a Governor and Council here is very limited, & indeed for the present time so inadequate to the public exigencies that I determined to call a meeting of the General Assembly at Hillsborough the 20th of August, & as the resources of this Country are abundantly sufficient for the supply of the Army & the spirit of the People

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tree to yield them on proper terms, I have no doubt the assembly will be able to devise some means of effectually supplying the Army for the future. I expect to be at Hillsborough some days before the meeting of the assembly, & if 'tis convenient should be very glad to see you there. We have no spare tents. I am sorry, Sir, you did not get the letter I writ in answer to yours dated at Fredericksburgh. I received yours by express from Mr. Jones, & the same person took my answer. I hope for the pleasure of seeing you shortly, & am

With the highest respect & esteem Sir,
Y'r most Ob'dt Servt.,
A. NASH.

I send inclosed your L'rs to Mr. Clay, that Gent. not being in this part of the Country. Mr. Green, the Commissary, takes up w'th him £200,000 for the pres't supply of yr. army. We have a considerable quantity of Spirits, Coffee and other articles wanted & only wait til waggons can be had to transport them.

Y'r ob't servt.,
A. NASH.