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the more necessary and indispensible. For my own part, I
should be happy, if the Idea of a foreign rupture should be
thrown entirely out of the scale of politics, that it may not
have the least weight in our public measures. No bad effects
could flow from it, but on the contrary, many of a salutary
nature. At the same time, I do not mean that such an Idea
ought to be discouraged among the people at large.
There is one thing more to which I would take the liberty
of solliciting your most serious and constant attention, to wit,
the Cloathing of your Troops, and the procuring of every
possible supply in your power for that end. If the several
States exert themselves in future in this instance, and I trust
they will, I hope that the supplies they will be able to furnish,
in aid of those which Congress may immediately import them-
selves, will be equal and competent to every demand. If they
do not, I fear —— I am satisfied that the troops will never be
in a situation to answer the public expectation, and perform
the duties required of them. No pains — no efforts on the
part of the States can be too great for this purpose. It is not
easy to give you a just and accurate Idea of the sufferings of
the Army at large, and of the loss of Men on this account.
Were they to be minutely detailed, your feelings would be
wounded, and the relation would not be probably received
without a degree of doubt and discredit. We had in Camp,
on the 23d instant, by a Field Return then taken, not less than
2898 men unfit for duty, by reason of their being bare footed
and otherwise naked. Besides this number, there are many
others detained in hospitals, and crowded in farmers Houses
for the same cause. I flatter myself the care and attention of
the States will be directed in a most particular manner, to the
supply of Shoes, Stockings and Blankets, as their expenditure,
from the common operations and accidents of War, is far
greater than that of any other article. In a word, the united
and respective exertions of the States can not be too great —
too vigorous in this interesting work, and we shall never have
a fair and just prospect for success, till our Troops (Officers
and Men) are better provided for than they are or have been.
We have taken post here for the Winter, as a place best
calculated to cover the Country from the Ravages of the
Enemy, and are busily employed in erecting Huts for the
Troops. This circumstance renders it the more material, that
the supplies should be greater and more immediate than if the
men were in warm comfortable Houses.
Before I conclude, I would also add, that it will be essential
to innoculate the Troops or Levies as fast as they are raised,
that their earliest services may be had. Should this be post-
poned, the work will be to do, most probably, at an interest-
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C. C.
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