[P. 12.] State of SIR New Hampshire In Committee of Safety The Committee of Safety have been informed that there is a valuable Farm in Amherst which appeared by the County Records to be the property of one John Sargent an absentee from the State of Massachusetts Bay, but now in possession of Major Joseph Blanchard. I must request of you, and the other Gentlemen, the Committee for taking care of those estates to examine this affair & if it appears as afores that you enquire of Major Blanchard by what right he possesses said estate, and make report as soon as possible to the Gen' Court or this Committee of your Doings in said matter. James Underwood. I am &c. In Committee of Safety Exeter June 2d 1780. GENTLEMEN Inclosed you will receive a Copy of a Letter directed to John Dudley Esq., you are desired to make every necessary enquiry of Major Blanchard concerning the contents of said Letter or of any other person & make report thereof to the General Court or to the Committee of Safety to this State as soon as may be. To Col. Nichols and [P. 13.] SIR I am &c. Exeter July 15th 1780. The proposals you made Major Gains relative to supplying this State with a Quantity of Rum for the use of the Army we esteem equitable; yet such is the pressing necessity for money to carry on the great and urgent operations of the Campaign that we must be under the necessity of depending on Credit for obtaining that article. I am &c. State of New Hampshire June 24th 1780. To Capt. Nehr Houghton. In pursuance of a Vote of Council & Assembly you are to Muster & Swear all the men brought before you at Winchester as soldiers to serve with the Continental Army untill the last of December next passing none but able Bodied & effective Men, paying each man two Dollars per mile from the place of his abode to Springfield, where they will draw provisions. You are to keep an exact List of the Names of the men you Muster, the day they passed Muster & the Towns they serve for-Noting each man who is provided with a Knapsack and Blanket, and of every Deficiency. SIR Exeter, June 28th, 1780 The purchasing of wheat at or near Connecticutt River for the use of the public, being a desirable object: The General Court have therefore passed the inclosed Resolve. [P. 14.] The raising of men, Supplies for the Army and other Contingencies have constantly drained the Treasury although most of the Towns have been punctual in paying their Taxes, yet as many of the Towns on & near the River Clairmont are delinquent in paying their Taxes, the Court have empowered you to draw orders on them for said Taxes, which orders being paid will be the same as if paid into the Treasury-your proceeding in this Business will be esteemed a particular Service (and if effected) I believe a great benefit to the United States. Major Childs. State of New Hampshire ( To Col. Stephen Peabody I am &c. June 28th 1780 In pursuance of a Vote of Council & Assembly, you are to Muster all the men brought before you at Amherst as soldiers, the Militia, as well as those who are to serve under Continental Officers, passing none but able Bodied effective Men, to whom you are to administer an Oath for the faithful discharge of their Duty. The Militia must be equipped with a good Firelock, Knapsack & Blanket at least, and those who are to join the Continental Companies with a Knapsack & Blanket. [P. 15.] And you are to pay each soldier you muster Two Dollars per mile for travel money from their respective homes to Worcester where they will draw provisions. You are to keep an exact List of the Names of the men you Muster, the day they passed Muster & the Towns they serve for-Noting each man who is deficient in having a Blanket or a Knapsack-You will keep the list of the Militia & those who serve under Continental officers entirely sep erate. State of New Hampshire Το In Committee of Safety June 30th 1780. You are hereby empowered and desired immediately to purchase within the County of Horses to be used in drawing for the Army, you will therefore procure such as are suitable for that purpose fit for immediate [use] and on the best Terms you can, you are to fill up the Blank Certificates, you will receive herewith with the Names of the Persons you purchase of, the sums Bargained for, the time of payment, which must be either one year or two years, or three years, as you & they can agree, and the number of days which you will procure a Treasurer's Note for said [P. 16.] sum-It is expected that you will be called on in a few days for the Horses, and in the mean time you will agree with the persons you buy of, to keep them untill called for or procure pasturing when it will be inconvenient to leave them with their former owners. You will take receipts of the persons you trade with, for the sum you give for any such Horse setting forth that said Horse was for the use of the United States. The Treasurer will make out Notes to pay for said Horses on your application. State of New Hampshire In Committee of Safety July To Major Benja Whitcomb. The General Assembly of this State in their last session, Pursuant to a Resolve of Congress agreed to Raise two companies of sixty men each besides officers for the Defence of the western frontiers to be in the Continental service until the last day of December next; But the Assembly did not give directions who should have the ordering where the men should be stationed or employ'd and as we suppose that you have at present the Chief Command in those parts, we have ordered the men under your care to be employed for the Defence of the western frontiers of this State in such [P. 17.] manner as may best answer that design & desire you to give the necessary direction for their being supply'd with provisions &c and inform us from time to time of the situation of Affairs. Exeter July 1st 1780. SIR-You was acquainted when at Court, that a number of Horses were required from this state for the use of the Army. The Committee have agreed to buy a proportionable number in each County, twenty seven is the proportion of the County of Cheshire-As a proper person to purchase said Horses in your County is wanted, I have sent Blank Orders inclosed herein to you, & desire you will find some suitable Person & fill up the Blank & deliver it to him. I have likewise sent 27 Blank Certificates to be filled up and given to the Persons of whom the Horses may be pur chased, for their security untill the purchaser can have opportunity to get the proper notes from the Treasurer for them when he will deliver the Note and receive back the Certificate-You will be pleased to let me know by the [P. 18.] Bearer the Name of the Person you deliver the order to, that I may call on him for the delivery of the Horses; as I expect every day an order from the Quarter Master General for the Horses, and therefore desire the greatest expedition may be used in purchasing them. Collo Hunt. GENTLEMEN Exeter in New Hampshire July 1st 1780. I had the honor of receiving yours of the 19th Inst this day and have inclosed three acts of this State passed in consequence of your Requisitions-Those troops who are to recruit the Continental Army are ordered to rendezvous at three several places on the southern extremes of this State of the 4th of July Ins' where Continental officers will attend to forward them with the greatest expedition, and from the various accounts I have received, I have reason to expect the Major part of them at least will rendezvous by the time appointed. The Militia are ordered to be at the same places, on the 12th July Inst in their way to camp, [P. 19.] which was as soon as could be expected, considering the great distance from Exeter to the remote parts of our scattered settlements-I am led to believe, that the Militia also will be on their way at the appointed time, as very great exertions, are making to raise them-The Cattle in this part of the Country at this early season of the year, are generally lean, and but few really fit for Beef, yet such as they are, I believe the Quota allotted to this State for July will be ready to be delivered the Commissary Generals Orders-The first months proportion of Rum, viz. twenty five Hhds, is now ready at Portsmouth & waits the Commissary's Order-Persons are employed to purchase 150 Horses for the use of the Army, and I think it probable, that in a few days most of them will be likewise ready and wait the Quarter Master Gen's Order. Rum is very scarce in this State, yet no pains will be wanting in having the several Quantities ready at the Peri[P. 20.] ods fixed as well as the other articles. In your letter of the 2a of June last you say "The supplies apportioned to your state are as follows-166,835 pound of Beef per month and 25 Hhds of Rum per month, to be transported to & delivered where the Commissary General shall direct; Also 150 Horses to be attached to the Army & to be delivered where the Quarter Master General shall direct," to which you also refer me in your Letter of the 12th Inst-In consequence of which, every measure tho't feasable hath been pursued to have the Articles in readiness to be delivered on Receipt of the Commissary Gen1 and Quarter |