I flatter myself the proper Measures have been before this Time taken to procure the Number of Men for Continental and Militia service, required by my Letter of the 24th May from Weathersfield. In the Calculation which I then made of the Aid of Militia which would be necessary to support the Operations which we have in View, I included sixteen hundred from Pennsylvania, but that State having been since called upon to embody and march two thousand four hundred Men immediately to the Assistance of Virginia, I am obliged to add the Number which I shall be disappointed in from Pennsylvania, to the Quotas required from the other States—Your Proportion of them will be six hundred, which with the Requisition of the 24th of May will make in the whole two thousand one hundred.

From Circumstances, I have Reason to expect that our Operations will commence somewhat earlier than I at first expected. I am in immediate Want of Eight hundred Militia for a particular Purpose. Your Excellency will therefore oblige me, by ordering that number to repair, as soon as possible, from the most contiguous counties, to West Point. The Remainder to march in such Time that they may punctually join the Army by the 15th of July next.

I am convinced that I need not enter into a Repetition of the Arguments which were made Use of in my Letter of the 24th May to induce the most strenuous Exertions to fill up the Continental Battalions. I will only say, that our Success will depend upon that being done. Without it, there is not a Chance, and with it we have the fairest Prospect. These Men must be sent forward as fast as they are raised.

I am in Hopes that the Assembly will at their present Meeting, take effectual Measures for supplying the Quota of Beef called for in the Requisitions which were laid before You by Major General Heath. Your Excellency must be fully sensible that our whole Dependance for Provisions is upon the Exertions of the States, and, that without their punctual Compliance with the Demands made upon them the Force which will be collected must soon disband. Whereby the immense Expence which we are now incurring by our Preparations will be a dead Loss, and the Consequence, in a political View, of a most serious and alarming Nature. I have the Honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servt