I am to inform your Excellency, that by a resolve of the General Court of this State of the 26th instant, which I did not recive, till yesterday I was requested, to appoint three officers, to Reside in the Towns, of Wells, Worcester, & Springfield, To recive, and Muster the men raised by this State, pursuant to a Resolution of Congress, of 18th Decr Last; I was Doubtfull of the propriety of my Acting in the Matter, Least it Should millitate with any Orders your Excellency may have given previous, to the resolve: however, finding it Absolutely necessary, for the Good of Services, that Such Appointments Should be immediately made, a great number of recruits having been Waiting Some time Since their inlisting to be mustered, I Could not think myself Justified to Decline making the Appointments.

I have therefore venterd to appoint Capt. Banister of the 4th, to reside at Springfield, Capt. Thorp of the 7th at Worcester, and Capt. Carr, of the 8th at Wells, to Recive & muster the recruits, from each Town, in their Respective Destricts, and Send them on to West point in Squads, of 20, or 30, men each under the Care of a Proper officer; and shall be happy if my Conduct meets your Excellencys approbation.

It was expected before I Left West point, that a reform of the army would take place before the Campaign would open, and that Some officers of my Rank would be Derangd which induced me to Write the Secretary at War, that if that Should be the Case, I wishd to be one of that Class, as my ill State of health rendered me totally unfitt to do the duty of a Soldier in the field; to which I recived an answer imparting that it was probable Some of the Brigadiers Generals would be permitted to retire on the half pay Establishment, Subject to the Call, of the Command of the Commander in Chief, but whether, I could be any of those Depended on too many Circumstances, to admit of a Desicion at that Time.

Unfortunately for me, I was taken sick immediately on my return from Camp, and remaind so till after General Lincoln Left Boston, which put it out of my power to See him on the Subject; however as Soon as I was Able wrote him a Second Letter, on the Matter, urging the reasons of my former, with Some additional ones for being Deranged to which I have as yet, recd no answer; these Circumstances, Added to my Debilitated & Very precarious State of health, I hope will be a Sufficient apology, to your Excellency, for my not Joining the army, befor this Time. I have the Honor to be Sir—your Excellencys Most Obdt Hbe Sert