every occasion. But on the present, I am very sorry to
observe, that obstacles great and I fear unsurmountable are
opposed to the immediate march of the men. Upon requisition
to the deputy quartermaster-general in this department for
tents, kettles, blankets, and wagons, he informs they cannot
be had. The season when the march must begin will be severe
and inclement, and, without the forementioned necessaries,
impracticable to men indifferently clad and equipped as they
are in the present general scarcity of clothes.

The council, as well as myself, are not a little perplexed
on comparing this requisition to defend South Carolina and
Georgia from the assaults of the enemy, with that made a few
days past for galleys to conquer East Florida. The galleys
have orders to rendezvous at Charlestown, which I was taught
to consider as a place of acknowledged safety; and I beg
leave to observe, that there seems some degree of
inconsistency in marching militia such a distance in the
depth of winter, under the want of necessaries, to defend a
place which the former measures seemed to declare safe.

The act of Assembly whereby it is made lawful to order their
march, confines the operations to measures merely defensive
to a sister State, and of whose danger there is certain
information received.

However, as Congress have not been pleased to explain the
matters herein alluded to, and altho' a good deal of
perplexity remains with me on the subject, I have by advice
of the privy council given orders for 1000 men to be
instantly got into readiness to march to Charlestown, and
they will march as soon as they are furnished with tents,
kettles, and wagons. In the mean time, if intelligence is
received that their march is essential to the preservation
of either of the States of South Carolina or Georgia the men
will encounter every difficulty, and have orders to proceed
in the best way they can without waiting to be supplied with
those necessaries commonly afforded to troops even on a
summer's march.

I have to beg that Congress will please to remember the
state of embarrassment in which I must necessarily remain
with respect to the ordering galleys to Charlestown, in
their way to invade Florida, while the militia are getting
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