1. Carleton enclosed a copy of a letter from Joseph Reed, president of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, to the Board of War. The letter, dated “In Council” on 15 May at Philadelphia, reads: “We some time ago forwarded to you a petition from Northumberland County [Pa.] against Colo. Weltner it is but Justice to send you one of a contrary tenor. It is most likely they have got into parties in the County on this subject, and if so, their complaints as well as commendations must be taken with some allowance” (DLC:GW).

The enclosed undated copy of a “Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of Northumberland County” to the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, reads: “That your Petitioners have seen the Copy of a memorial Signed [by] John Byers, against Colo. Weltner for Irregularity committed in quartering his Troops in Sunbury. That the Said Memorial tends to create Discord and Confusion betwixt the said Troops, and the Inhabitants of this County; which at all times ought to be avoided, but more especially at this critical conjuncture, when every good Man would chearfully sacrifice his private resentments to the General Safety—and when our most vigorous and united efforts scarcely promise the continuance of our existance as a County.

“That Colo. Weltner has observed the greatest Decorum in quartering his Troops in Northumberland Town & not a Single Individual has been insulted—The Officers & privates behaving with the greatest Decency and Civility.

“That Colo. Weltner is a Gentlem[a]n in whose Conduct and Fidelity we can confide; and altho’ the necessary Arrangement of his Troops in forming a Chain of Posts on our Frontiers renders him absolutely unable Speedily to turn out large and Sufficient parties in quest of the Enemy; Yet his Zeal for the Public good, and the vigilance and activity of his Officers is perfectly Satisfactory, they having done every thing in thier power for the safety & welfare of this County.

“When we consider the purport of said Memorial (altho’ certified by Such respectable names) and the distress necessarily attending so Severe a season, we are astonished, and are led to suspect that some cause less Honorable than the ostensible one was the occasion thereof.

“We therefore humbly pray that Colo. Weltner may Suffer no dimunition in Honor or Command by the said Memorial but may be continued with his Regiment in this County” (DLC:GW). For the memorial of John Buyers, see his letter to GW, 18 May, n.1.

In part of a letter to Reed dated 8 May, Lt. Col. Ludwig Weltner had written: “I hope my Short Defence laid before the Board of War, together with the Vouchers from Eminent Gentlemen to the Contrary; with their own Contradictions on the Subject will Sufficiently Evince your Excellency the Charges being Malicious & Groundless” (Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 1st ser., 8:233–34).