On a Supposition of the Army being soon order’d from this place to their respective Destinations, I waited on his Excellency consistent with my Duty as Sup. Inteng Officer of the Virga Line to receive his Orders respecting the Va Detachement now here. he Directed me to report their Liberation, which I thought might with propriety come through you.

The Detachment is composd of 70 men lately returned from Charlestown, who on their landing were promisd a Short Furlough so soon as the Exigency of the Service would admit of it, and it could be procur’d for them, which is now submitted to his Excellencys Consideration. The Residue of the Detachement are some [   ] for the War some have from 15 to 18 Months to serve and other only untill the 31st of December next—The total as taken from the Weekly returns of this Day is as follows

Serjeants		71
Drums & Fife		36
Fit for Duty		251
on Duty		16
Sick		119
Sick Absent		162
on Command		13
on extra Service		26
on Furlough		5
Total		592

The whole of those present I find on Examination to be almost totally destitute of Cloathing and entirely unfit to proceed on a long March.

I therefore propose if permitted by his Excellency that the Corps might be marchd to the General Rendezvous at Cumberland old Courthouse, where there now is 170 Men for 18 months there to pickout all those Men who had the longest term to serve arrange them into a Regiment or Detachement properly officerd and [   ] completely cloathing & equipping them which I have proposed [so]doing in a very short Time to order them to such a place as his Excellency might think proper to Direct. I am requested by the Officers of the Va Line as well as indeed by my own Situation to request the Favours of you to represent to his Excellency the Commander in chief, their distressd Situation for want of Cloaths or monney to procure them and other accessories, they make this Application to you in particular, as you have been long with them & can represent Traits as they really are they sollicite your Influence with his Excellency to obtain the Favour of him to make Use of his power and Interest to procure them some means of Subsistence.

many of the most valuable Officers especially of those returnd from Captivity will if not soon relievd be under the Necessity of having Recourse to other Employments for Subsistence after several years faithfule Services and Sufferings. I have the honor to be with every Sentiment of Respect Sir Your most obedient humble Servant

Christian Febiger