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not be got in this country ; we have, however, sent out powers to all the trading towns here, to take it wherever they can find it. I write to General Gates, to try whether the duck in North Caro lina cannot be procured hy the Executive of that State on Conti nental account ; for, surely, the whole army, as well our militia as the rest, is Continental. The arms you have to spare may be de livered to General Gates s order, taking and furnishing us with proper vouchers. 3e shall endeavor to send our drafts armed. I cannot conceive Irew the arms before sent could have got into so very bad order ; they certainly went from hence in good condi tion. You wish to know how far the property of this State, in your hands, is meant to be subject to the orders of the commander in chief. Arms and military stores, we mean to be perfectly sub ject to him. The provisions going from this country will be for the whole army. If we can get any tents, they must be appro priated to the use of our own troops. Medicine, sick stores, spi rits and such things, we expect shall be on the same footing as with the northern army. There, you know, each State furnishes its own troops with these articles, and, of course, has an exclusive right to what is furnished. The money put into your hands, was meant as a particular resource for any extra wants of our own troops, yet, in case of great distress, you would probably not see the others suf fer without communicating part of it for their use. We debit Congress with this whole sum. There can be nothing but what is right in your paying Major Mazaret s troops out of it. I wish the plan you have adopted for securing j a return of the arms from the militia, may answer. I apprehend any man who has a good gun on his shoulder, w r ould agree to keep it, and have the worth of it deducted out of his pay, more especially, when the receipt of the pay is at some distance. What would you think of noti fying to them, further, that a proper certificate that they are dis charged, and have returned their arms, will be required before any pay is issued to them. A roll, kept and forwarded, of those so discharged, and who. have delivered up their arms, would supply accidental losses of their certificates. We are endeavoring to get bayonet belts made. The State quarter master affirms the car- touch boxes sent from this place, (nine hundred and fifty nine in number) were all in good condition. I therefore suppose the three hundred you received in such very bad order, must have gone from the Continental quarter master at Petersburg, or, per^ haps, have been pillaged, on the road, of their flaps, to mend shoes, &c. I must still press the return of as many wagons as possible. All you will send, shall be loaded with spirits, or something else VOL. i. 23
