General Putnam communicated to me last night, the disagreeable account that Lt.Col.Preston's party of Militia from Cumberland County in this State has deserted him; this practice in the Militia so generally prevails, that unless some effectual check can be speedily applied, I apprehend the most fatal Consequences. The mischief is not confined to the desertion alone, they stay till they are properly equipped to render essential Service, and by that means plunder the public of the necessaries that were at first otherwise intended and would be better applied. [More]
Wednesday, January 21, 2009