of the Council of Safety, 1776. 359

the Company, as it has no other fifer and if he does not, the
company can have no business with him after the Flying
Camp is discharged; The council will please signify whether
they gave such indulgence, and whether the boy was returned
in the muster roll of the company and this matter shall soon
be set right between the General and the Captⁿ I wish their
acc^ts may be as easily adjusted. There are many other
charges exclusive of what articles are and will be enumerated
in the returns, which the Continent is charged with, particu-
larly medicine necessaries supplied the troops, arms repaired
&^o for often on our march and since the Commissaries cou'd
not supply nor would the public armourers work, at all events,
soldiers must be fed and have their arms repaired, or else it
cant be expected they will fight, an account of which can't at
this time be rendered, for the retreating and flying disposition
which has so much prevailed in our army latterly, made it
most safe to send my books, papers &^c to Philadelphia lest
they should be lost, but be assured a true and particular acc^t
shall be rendered, doubt not the province shall not be injured.
This precaution was necessary, for hitherto we have been
generally drawn from our station and Baggage, to cover the
retreat and defend the baggage of others, which has subjected
us to much loss, upon the retreat or rather flight from New
York. I have scarce an officer (myself included) or soldier
who did [not] lose more or less of their baggage, pillaged
by the runaways, indeed I believe many of them never had
other views, than flight and plunder, both which they are
extremely dexterous at. General Washington was so kind
after he left the common where we were posted, to stop
waggons himself and made one of his aid de Camps attend
the sending of our baggage, but as I had left but four soldiers
as a camp guard, being desirous the Reg^t upon this occasion
shou'd be as full as possible, these cou'd not guard the Wag-
gons and thus we lost part of our baggage, have since
stripped from these poltroons several of our soldiers coats
and had them severely scourged. Have purchased from the
Continental Store Cloaths for such of the Independant Com-
panies as their Captains inform me have received none before
and I think upon good terms, accounts of which shall be trans-
mitted. I think Thomas's company were paid for finding
themselves, or at least he prefered this one day when I was
present at the Council, you'll inform how this matter is, and
whether you supplied him with money to purchase cloaths at
Philadelphia, his company being as bare as those who have
never had. I have dispatched Cap^t Hindman's to Philadel-
phia after his Company's cloaths which he tells me are ready
made there, by whom Thomas has sent for his. I have sent

C.S.C.