I have received yours of ye 1st. inst. and agreeably to your request have seen J. Valentine a private soldier of Captn. Eddins’s company. From what he says and from what I can learn of Captn Eddins himself I am ready to believe that Valentine did command a company during ye American revolution. I am informed also that he has a Wife and a number of children in Virginia. The Man is blind of an eye, is afflicted with a strangury is subject to ye gout and appears from his age to be a fit object for discharge.

I have informed ye commanding officer of ye company to which J. M. Perrin belongs that you have no objection to his discharge provided he procures an able substitute

I am very respectfully your obt. servt