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presumed it is a desirable Object with them. We shall how-
ever have a Ballance & therefore would be happy to be
favoured with the Result of the Application to your Assembly
& as Mr Hughes has not, to our Knowledge corresponded
with Mr Boudinot, the Board will be obliged by any new Infor-
mation your Excellency & the Council may be enabled to
send us with Regard to Fort Frederick & the Guards & Pro-
visions you may order to that Post.
Accounts from Camp of the Scarcity of Provisions still con-
tinue to alarm us. Their supplies are irregular & very scant.
Whole Brigades have within this Fortnight gone entirely
without Meat & great Part of the Army has only half a Pound
of Pork in Seven Days p Man. The Soldiers are of course
mutinous & dissatisfied nor have they the comfort of being
clad so as to resist the cold. These are circumstances the
more distressing as we have the greatest Reason to believe
from the Decay of the Enemy's strength & the little Prospect
they have of Reinforcements; that if we could encrease our
Numbers & make one Grand Effort the Liberties of our
Country might be effectually secured by the Destruction of its
Enemies. I do not wish to add to a disagreeable Catalogue
but I am to mention to your Excellency that our Stock of
Lead is extremely low. A Quantity was requested from your
State but none has arrived from thence except about Eight
Tons which was Continental Property. I enclose a Copy of a
Letter from Col. Scammel the present, to Col. Pickering the
late Adjutant General, for your Excellency's private Informa-
tion. I have the Honour to be with
great Respect your very
His Excellency Govr Johnston obedt Servt
Horatio Gates
President
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