public sLorcs and I wo cannon and a HowiLzer had been shiped for GaJvesLon-the vessel would sail on the third-we are looking for their arrival hourly al Lhis place of which you have been previously informecl-no means shall be spared to send them on as soon as possable. lam requested Lo send you Col. Carson's letLer of Lhe 4th. That part under the head of news Good news-to which your atlenl·ion is more particularly directed-you can form as corrccL an estimaLe of the weigh I lo be aUached to it ru; I or any other person. I am dirccLed to request of you to be particular in having every mans name enrolled that enters the service and that you report their names Lo this department every month. Also the diff erenl municipalitys to which they belong also all deserters from your army. It is important for Lhe department to know who is and who is not in the service. It is very difficult to enforce the late militia law owing lo the dispersed situation of the inhabitants of the country-and those who will nol tume out and defend the country should be well known and the penaJties of the laws of the land visited upon them. Those who will not fight in defence of the country, should not be entitled to any of the benefits of it-such a report from you would greatly facilitate this department forcing the people oul.-and would afford means of assertaining hereafter who had done their duty and who had forfeited their rights in the country &c. We have been deliberating on the propriety of calling out the people en mass lam in favor of it could we adopt any probable means of enforcing a call of the kind. Tell Co. Rusk l would be glad if he would returne-I find my situation a very troublesome one. Btit I would be willing Lo put up with any difficulties, if the good of the country can be promoted by it &c. I am with great respect Yours &c David Thomas Acl. Sec. al War
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