Having Perused with regret, and concern, a Late Performance, before a General Court Martial held at West Point, whereof Colo. John Greaton was President, signed by Major James R. Reid of our Regiment, called his Defence, in a Prosecution, at the Instance of Colo. Hazen, on Charges then Exhibited against him.

Shocked at the Indecent reflections, Illiberal Sentiments, and pointed Impeachments, contained in Major Reids performance, foreign to the Charges, on which he was Prosecuted, Criminating a greater number of the Officers of the Regiment, In which he holds a Commission, and in Consequence, finding ourselves sensibly affected, we are necessarily oblidged, In Justice to Ourselves, to our Country, and to the service in which we are employed, to Declare most Solemnly, that we Are, and ever have been, totally Ignorant, of the Aspertions, In his Defence Contained, and that they are in General, so far from the Line of truth, that we find ourselves, obliged, to Decline doing any kind of Military Duty, with, or under Major James R. Reid, unless, he shall support his assertions, at a public hearing: These our sentiments, we beg you will Communicate, to his Excellency, or in his Absence, to the Next Commanding Officer, to Colo. Hazen, and to Major Reid.

I received a day or two ago a letter of which the Inclosed is a Copy. I have inclosed another to Col. Hazen and shall Transmitt one to Major Reid by the first opportunity of which I request your Honor to inform me.

The decisive oppinion of the Subscribers must be new to You, tho the Subject matter on which they have taken it could not have escaped You. It is not for me as matters stand to Determine, on the propriety, of the steps or dictate measures: that rests, with your superior Knowledge & Understanding. I am sorry to say, that Major Reid has so far departed from his millitary Character has to have endeavoured by his inflamatory Expressions to destroy that Confidence the Commanding Officer of every Corps ought to possess. I have the Honor to be with perfect Esteem & Regard Your most Obedt and Very Hble Servt

By a Serjeant and four privates I send you two Prisoners, deserted from Capt. Hix’s company at the Bridge—they were taken very early this Morning in a swamp by the Militia guard—acknowledge they left the bridge last night, and when first taken, that they were going to the enemy—Names, John McCormick and Wm Boyd—That panic which commonly attends desertion and other acts of Perjury seized them at the approach of two Militia men and one of them without arms: they resigned without Opposition—The Address of the Captors viz. James King and Moses Crissy I think deserves the Generals Notice—They claim a right to the Arms and Accoutrements The Claimants want the Arms and would doubtless make good use of them; but a quantum would satisfy them which I tell them is the most they can expect—The Bedford Militia are brave and firm, and deserve all the protection our Army can give them. hope therefore in a short time our command will be enlarged to inable them to sleep with their wives at least once a week without fear—Such Separations, should the War continue a Century, might prove fatal in point of Propagation—Mr Kipp is frequently up with Parties of horse to the plains committing Acts of plunder and desolation and as warm Weather is coming on I feel in some degree savage, and propose from some commodious lurking place to act a little Indian—such a mode of fighting, however low in contending with an honourable enemy is well adapted to such spurious Corps.

I likewise send you a Lad quite unfit for my command—young and slack twisted at best; he could not be prevailed on to stand Sentry last night but cry’d like [a] lusty fellow—he may serve to rock your landlady’s cradle or guard the commissary’s stores—seems calculated to defend a Kegg of rum or a suet pudding equal to any lad of his age. Your h’ble Servant