Head Quarters, Morris Town, February 23, 1780.

    Gentlemen: By the regulations the non-commissioned officers are to be armed with swords as a mark of distinction and to enable them the better to maintain the authority due to their stations. This necessary arrangement has not yet been carried into execution. By some returns I have seen there appears to have been a considerable number of Hessian hangers at Albany, though I find no mention of them in the last returns of The Commissary of Military stores. I presume the Board know where they are and I should think it would be adviseable to have these and any others that may be brought to the army distributed.

    There is a great deficiency of drums fifes and standards. I presume the necessary measures are taking to procure them with other articles of a similar kind. I have the honor, etc.⁷⁸

[Note:The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman. ]