By accident I have obtained in this wretched country paper enough to write a letter upon, we arrived at camp (on the sixth) about two miles from West point, in want of every thing necessary for the support of the army both man and horse; we get some beef but never, enough, and that such as we find in the old fields, not good, without salt and often without bread, the supply of which is allways precarious; our horses go often twenty four hours without food We have nothing in abundance, but ticks and musketoes not as many of the latter as we expected to find, If we remain here many days longer, we must1 depend entirely upon supplies brought from Richmond as the country between this and that place was found too poor to support us on our march

We very often see large establishments apparently the abode of, wealthy persons upon approaching them we find them occupied by squalid indigent, wretches who cannot give a meal of any kind to two persons

Our sick list is rapidly encreasing; The water drank by part of the corps is such as our horses in Albemarle would not drink,

Your kind offer2 of a draught upon Gibson would be very acceptable