Lenox 28^th March 1786 Dear S: On my return Home I found the Rect. and Papers which I send you, by Sam. Phipps, they were by Chance put into my Adjutants Chest and sent by him to Bennington the Winter before our Retreat, this was unknown to me, I supposed they were with the other in my Chest, I likewise send you the Disposition of Phipps with my own You will find some accounts of Breeches Blankets &c which at the request of the Captains, I inlisted with my Money and delivered them for the use of their Companies, which you will see ought to be charged to their Acct. among their Districts as well as in the Ret. Book which you have as I wish you'd be so kind as to send me by Phipps in Certificates to the amount of my Commutation let the remainder be in your hands until a Settlement is compleated I have a chance to dispose of them at [undecipherable] on the Pound for a good [undecipherable] I have one more request to make of [undecipherable] note [undecipherable] to myself, you know that the Abstract I left with you was for Money without any Depreciation, which ought like all others of that Nature to have been hard at that Time, if you are sensible would have been, had I not been unfortunately been lost, this at that time put me under the Necessity of giving my Note on Interest for the Balance among a Number of the Officers of the Regiment, I being then the only Paymaster to it, this I did to Capt. [undecipherable] for which you have the receipts included among those others. I am now like to be sued on those Notes, and other particular engagements which I came into for their pay, and must fallibly have my Estate sold at Vandue unless I can receive two hundred pounds in Money, that would be the most aggravated piece of Cruelty to me, to let me suffer, and I have a just right to demand equal Justice with the other Regiments raised in 1776 which were all completely paid and settled with, and on the certainty (and supposed) of recovery of, like others of my Brother Officers, I became particularly engaged, I must beg, and entreat you to let me have that Sum, it will prevent my being ruined for the public and nothing else will. If this cannot be (the God forbid) I must beg you to lend one that Sum, and any Security you shall ask I will send you besides what will remain in your Hands, for the Payment, for I am exceeding loth to have my little Interest sold, after serving my Country eight Years, to pay a Debt of their own and by that Means not only beggar myself but my Family, I am exceeding loth to trouble you but the cruel suffering I shall meet with in case of refusal obliges me to it — please to give my love to Nancy, and Complements to all Friends, at the same time I wish you to believe me to be your real Friend & humble Serv.^t John Paterson John Pierce Esq.^r P. M. General