Sir,

You are to pass up the River, with your Boats and Burn all the Hay along the Shore from Billings Port to this place—taking an Acc^t. of the Persons Names to whom it belongs together with the Quantity—

On one John Kelleys place at the Mouth of Rackoon Creek there is near One Hundred Tons—and up Mantua Creek there is a Considerable Quantity—it is His Excellencies Wish to Deprive the Enemy from Rec^g. the Benefit of the forage—and at the Same time for such persons as are friends to their Country—to Receive Recompence at a future day—for Altho' it is a Maxim that Private Property must be Sacraficed to Publick good—Yet it is not His Excellencies Intention to Distress the Individual for the benefit of the Publick; but where Prudence and Policy,joined to Necessity will justify the Measure—and not even then but with a full Intent that Restitution be made to that Individual.

You will by the first Opportunity Transmit to Head Quarters, the Names of the Persons together with the Quantity of forage belonging to each that you may have Distroyed persuant to this Order