Dr sir

Inclosed is Copy of an Order from the Committee to Capt [William] Stone sent by Directions of Congress on an Application from Maryland wch it is necessary you shou'd have ー

I also take the Liberty to send you a List of the Field Officers & Captains of two Regiments of Foot & three Companies of Artillery all Provincials station'd at Charles Town So. Carolina, shou'd you go there, upon your Arrival off the Bar the Pilot will informe you what Officer is at Fort Johnson or any of the nearest Batteries to you, from whom you may depend on all the Assistance they can give, they are most of them Gentlemen of considerable Fortunes with us who have enter'd into the service merely from Principle & to promote & give Credit to the Cause, they take it by Turns to be at the Fort, & the Zeal & Activity of all of them are such that you can't happen amiss let who will be there ー

In Charles Town my particular Friends Mr [Rawlins] Lowndes, Mr [Thomas] Ferguson, Coll [George Gabriel] Powell, Mr Benja Elliott, Coll [Charles] Pinckney, Mr [William Henry] Drayton, Mr [Peter] Timothy & the Revd Mr [William] Tennant a Countryman of yours will introduce you to many others, who will all be glad to have an Opportunity of obliging you & promoting the Service ー I wrote yesterday to Mr Ferguson one of the Gentn just mention'd by Way of Georgia, by a Gentleman I can depend on who will destroy my Letter shou'd he be taken, in this Letter I have hinted to look out for you, & be ready to assist you at a Moment's Warning ー The two large Ships seen off of Virginia the 29th of last Month we are told were not bound there, however you will know more certainly by the Time you get out of the Capes I make no doubt ー I hope you will be able to effect that Service, but whether you may or not, sooner or later I flatter myself we shall have your Assistance at Carolina, where you may depend on an easy Conquest, or at least be able to know without Loss of Time when off our Bar the Strength of the Enemy, & shou'd it be too much for you prudently to encounter wch I hardly think probable if soon attempted wth the Assistance to be depended on from us you may in such Case Retreat with great Ease, Safety & Expedition ー

Wishing you every Success you can possibly wish yourself ー I am Dr sir [&c.]

P.S. Pray make my Complimts to Capt [Dudley] Saltenstall & the Rest of our Captains, & shall be obliged to you if you go to Carolina to introduce them to any or all the Gentlemen I have mention'd who I am sure will be glad to shew them every Civility in their Power ー I hope Capt [Abraham] Whipple is better ー

One of the Maryland Gentn Mr [Robert] Alexander a Delegate of that Colony tells me their is a very good Ship of about 20 Guns there 2 easily fitted out wch he is in hopes will join you with the Hornet & Wasp, & that he shou'd press it to be done this I mention by the by, ー

[Enclosure]

Field Officers & Captains of the 1st & 2d Regiment of foot in the Provincial Service of South Carolina ー

Officers of Artillery

Lieut. Coll. Owen Roberts Esqr Honle Barnard Elliott Esqr Major ー Barnard Beekman, Charles Drayton & Syms White, Captains.