Elisha Payne ALS to Jonathan Chase, May 12, 1777

Cardigan 12th. of May 1777—

Colo. Chase Sr.

I have Seen in the orders you Sent to Capt. Keny
That You Expected I Would Come forward with the
Meletia. I Supose You Ment to go forward to Tyondiroga
it is Not for want of a Willingness to Serve The Publick
Cause That I do Not, but Meer Necessaty prevents—all
The help I have I have Spared and incouraged to
Go forward have None left but My wife and a Number
of Small Children and Not a hill of Corn plainted Nor
The Ground Cleared and have No body That Can be Got
on any Terms to Take any Care of any Thing. but I Supose
if Nothing els was in The way My helth would Not admit
of The fateague. but if That was all. I would if Necessary
Go untill I dyed. and I Should die an honarable death
if Not an Easey one. but besides Sr. Your are Sensible
That if the whole of the Melitia Should Go There Could
be but one field Officer be allowed pay according to
The Resolves of the Continental Congress. and I Question
Wheather There will be a Sufficiant Number That Will
appear to Go to allow one field officer. I am Sensible
your orders from The Committe are for you to Go forward
With as Many as posable. but I Mean to pay The Regard
to Their orders it deserves & No More it appears to Me
Sr. to be Raither a Hurleburly That any Thing els and
The Consequences will be More Hurtfull to The Common Cause
Then it will do good. as it keeps the Country in a perpetual

{Note: Transcription provided by Sarah Caswell Angell Chapter, NSDAR}