Owing to a Very Heavy Rain and A Most Stormy Night I Was Yesterday Obliged to Counter Mand the orders I Had Given to the troops, and Upon the Representation that the Roads to the Susquehana Would Be impassable, I differed our Departure to this Morning. We Shall Encamp on A Ground Near the Ferry and Be as Expeditious as possible in Crossing the River—in Consequence of Your Excellency’s permission I Have allowed Some officers to Return to the Army with orders to Report themselves to Head Quarters.1

The Extreme Wants of the Officers Have induced Me to permit an officer per Bataïllon and one of the jersay Line to Return to the Army and Get Some cloathes for themselves and the Rest of the Corps—this Measure Appeared to Be Necessary, and Clel Barber is Gone to philadelphia With a letter to the Board of War Exposing our Wants and Requesting some tents, Over alls, shirts, shoes &c.2 While these Will Be preparing I thought I Might indulge Him to Go to Morristown, As I think His presence Will Be Necessary at philadelphia By the time when our Supplies Will Be forwarded.

Major Troop Being Gone We Want a field officer to Reimplace Him—Clel Barber and Major Reed Are Happy to Remain With us and I am no less Happy to keep these Excellent officers—Colonel Vose is (I am told) desirous to Return—the officers of His Bataïllon knowing that it Was His inclination Have Waïted on Clel Smith to Express to Him the Ardent desire they Had, in Case Clel Vose Was Allowed to Go, that Clel Smith Be Appointed to the Command—this Circumstance I thought Worth Communicating to Your Excellency—Smith is Sick for the present, and a letter would find Him Either Here or at philadelphia—Was He to Be attached to a light Corps as He Was Last Year I think He would Be glad to Act as inspector, But in the Southern Army Would Be Under an officer to Whom He is Superior in Rank of Commission.3

As to Clel Gimat and Major Galvan, Now that their fate is Going to Be decided in a Way Which Cannot But Affect their feelings and Reputation, I think Myself obliged to Submit to Your Excellency an Observation Which for fear of Appearing partial I Had Hitherto Omitted—I will therefore Confidentially impart to You that Major Galvan is Very Unpopu⟨lar⟩ Among the officers, While Colonel Gimat is particul⟨arl⟩y Beloved—Complaints Have often Been Made to Me Against the One, While the other Has Ever Received from the officers Under His Command the Most Flattering testimonies of Affection, and I may go So far as to Say that the Recalling of Clel Gimat Will Be very disagreable to His Bataïllon—this I Mention to Your Excellency, No[t] that I think the sentiments of the officers Must induce You to Recall Major Galvan, A Measure Which I Would Be far from Advising, But Because this Opposition Being perhaps owing to the partiality of the officers for or Against private persons, and this Circumstance Being of a Very Serious Nature for these two Gentlemen, I thought it My duty Not To Withdraw Any particulars from Your Excellency’s Knowledge.4 With the Highest and Most Affectionate Respect I Have the Honor to Be Your Excellency’s Most obedient Humble Servant