To his Excellency General Washington

After serveing my Country six years in the glorious cause of Liberty, am at length Reduced to the Necessity of Solissiting your Excellencies permission to Retire, a distressed family now calls me from the field. Being almost destitute of any the Necessaries of Life to support them, by Reason of sickness which they have experienced all the last Campaign and is still continuing upon them, so that it calls upon me by every seacred tie of humanity to Releive their distressess as much as lyes in my power which I Cannot do whilst in service, as I am greatly Reducd by the continuance of the war so that I am not able to furnish myself with cloathing & Other Necessaries that are decent and needfull whilst in service Neither can I do it without my pay which is Remaining due Being destitute of Parants to give me or my family any Assistance I have also devoted up the best part of my days with Cheerfulness, in the service of my Country, which has very much hurt my constitution and much deminished my private intrest.

Under those distressing Circumstances which I have mentioned I have the greatest Reason to think your Excellency will be pleased to grant me permission to Retire from service.

I wish your Excellency and Army under your Command and all our Allies every possible success in the several departments which they Command, and hope soon to see Amarican independance established To her upon such lasting foundations that no power can destroy. I am with every Respect your Excellencies most Obedient and Hume Servt