I have now
about 170 privates. A single company, and twelve from Hammond's
regiment, join me to-day. That is his complement.
A commissary of hides at this place can furnish me with shoes as I
want them, if you will give an order for that purpose. He delivers
none without a general order. I can purchase rum here at twenty
dollars per gallon. There is no commissary of purchases.
There are a number of women here of bad character, who are continually
running to New-York and back again. If they were men, I should flog
them without mercy.
It was the indolence of the commissary, and not the real scarcity of
wheat, which alarmed me. I shall not trouble you again on the score of
flour. I send you two papers by the sergeant.
Yours respectfully,
A. BURR.
FROM GENERAL McDOUGALL.
Peekskill, January 22, 1779.
Sir,
There are reasons, which I shall explain to you at a proper time, why
----- should not be sought after. Make a great noise about him; abuse
him as the vilest of horse thieves, and a spy for the enemy; but send
no parties after him. If you are told where he is, turn off the matter
by some pretext or other. Don't carry this out on party, or out of
your quarters to any unsafe place.
Yours affectionately,
ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL.
FROM WILLIAM PATERSON.
January 27th.
I am at the Hermitage, my dear Burr, and cannot forbear writing you a
few lines, although I expected, before this time, to have been
favoured with a letter from you.
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