I have the Honor to hand your Excellency the Abstracts of Musters for the Months of January and February. From Unavoidable Circumstances, Major Barber has not previous to this, been able to Compleat the former. The Observations necessary on the latter are few, and they pretty General.

The want of Facings has prevented the Coats of the Soldiery, except in a few Instances being turn’d, Cloth I Understand has been promis’d for the purpose by the Secretary at War, for which the Officers Commanding Regiments are now waiting. Those of the York, and Jersey lines have been turn’d for sometime, but the Cloth was Originally so bad, and they have been so much longer in Wear, than the Cloathing deliver’d the other Troops, that many of the Coats are at present worn out, and few will last more than two months longer.

Many of the Coats in the Conecticut Line are also turn’d, and I am sorry to find a great Variety in the Cut of them, as well as in that of the facings; these Regiments likewise labour under the disadvantage of having a Mixture of Hats and Caps, which lessens the Uniform Appearance they should Possess very much. Unless Strenuous Exertions are made by the Officers of this Line, it will take the field to a great disadvantage. I must remark to Your Excellency that the Cause of its Appearance, I attribute in a great measure to the Incorporation of the two Junior Regiments, the Uniform of which differ’d from the others.

In some of them I likewise find two serjeant Majors, two Quarter Master Serjeants, two Drum Majors, & two fife Majors, with Seven or Eight serjeants to some of the Companies, as these men were Incorporated from the Reform’d Regiments, & having heretofore behav’d equally well, there Appears a great difficulty which of them ought to be Reduc’d; for the last Month I muster’d them as they stood, but Your Excellency’s Sentiments are necessary on this head, And Authority for a Similar step in future.

The Cloathing of the Massachusets Line, has in General been taken great Care off, that Issued to the 10th Regiment was not in Quality equal to the Rest, and is vastly more Worn, as it differs in Colour from that of the Line, and the Men formerly of that Corps are distributed into the different Regiments, it would add much to their Uniformity, could an Exchange be made of the Brown Coats for Blue ones.

The two Regiments of Artillery make a very Respectable Appearance, but the preference must decidedly be given to Colo. Cranes, the Officers of each pay much Attention to Uniformity in the turning of the Coats.

The New Hampshire Line Major Barber Reports as Continuing to Improve, but that they still want steadiness on the Parade, the Cloathing is not well fitted, nor set off to advantage.

The Arms, Accoutrements, And Ammunition of the Army, are all paid great Attention to, and in very good Order, very little Waste takes place in the latter Article.

There are a Number of men in the different Regiments unfit for Any duty in the field, I submit it to your Excellency, whether a Board had not better be Appointed for their Examination; and such as are found in this Situation to Receive their discharges.

I hardly flatter myself with a prospect of seeing the Army properly Uniform’d before the Inspection of May, but a great deal will depend on the time the Secretary at War sends on the facings, which is one of the great Obstacles to the Works go[ing] forward. I have the Honor to be with Respect & Esteem Your Excellencys Most Obedient Hble servant