AMREV_B1F3_BOW_Corr_178011_005

War office Hillsborough ov'r 7th 1789

Sir,

[centered text - 40 pr]

[strike - The Board acknowledge the Receipt ]Yours
of the 27th of Octo. from New Providence ^was yesterday handed us by Mr Webb in which [strike - you inform us of]
we receive with pleasure the account of Lord Cornwallis's
Retreat over the Catawba, occasioned first by the Defeat of Ferguson
His great Western Bugbear, and last [strike - we make Doubt in] by your
new approach, which we make no doubt hath greatly contributed to his Fears.
And we are sensible ^Sir, you ^will take every Measure ^in your power to add to his Distress [strike - in your power]
either by harrassing him on his Retreat or cutting off his Supplies

The account of the Militia at Salisbury affects us
much, but we know not how to relieve them, they must have
been sensible of their own wants when they left their Homes
on a Tour of Duty, & ought to have guarded against them.
We recommend ^they drag out their time of Service & that you employ them to the best advantage during
the [strike -Times of Service they must drag out] same

Respecting the Inhabitants of Rowan and Mecklenburg
^as to their want of Salt, the Board have drawn up an order for the Commissioners
of more Counties, ^somewhat agreeable to your plan which you have inclosed and which we
have transmitted to them that may relieve in some measure
[strike - these] the Necessities ^of those people and retain their provisions for the Army
but we are [striken word] apprehensive our Resources of public Salt will not be sufficient
^long for this purpose, and [strike - the] at the same Time answer the
great demands of the Army. We shall ^however do everything in our
power to have all the Salt in the State ^so secured [strike - for the Inhabitants]
[strike - that] as will answer the most beneficial purposes to the Army &
the Inhabitants.

The Board are sorry that they ^are an way [embarrassed by?]
Capt Linton, he was formerly a Lieut in the Continental Service
was willing to be a volunteer in the Militia we were desirous to have
imployed as a Captain if a vacancy in the Militia service offered

[vertical text] To Gl [General] Smallwood
1 Nov. [(U?)]