[Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24. 1894. B.P.O.401810.] [457] Fort Johnson — South Carolina 31^st August 1796 Sir Your letter and the clothing by Capt Strong — I had the pleasure of receiving on the 17^th inst — I found the clothing agreeable to the invoice — Enclosed you will receive the ordnance store and clothing returns, for July and August — I have waited on the Governor again with the request for the field pieces — who told me, he had already answered me on that subject — that the Militia had them — and he did not feel himself autho-rized to disarm them — I should be extremely obliged to you you would send me a few stand of small arms — I have some which want repairing — but to have them done in Charleston, would be very expensive — and there are no armourers belonging to the company — I am Sir. Your very humble Serv^t [undecipherable: probable reading: Mhode Patterson] Capt. A. [undecipherable] S. Major Hodgdon.