Camp in Whitemarsh 6th Nov 1777-

My Dearest Hannah,

By the arrival of Col. Powel I had the satisfaction to hear that you and my Dearest Babes are well. Believe me it was no small satisfaction to me & sorry am I that the Circumstances of our situation…[illegible] have that Pleasure oftener.

The four Letters you will receive from me, all of which were written in the Course of the last month, will convince you that I have not been unmindful of you, & will satisfy you respecting some things you desire to be informed about. Be assured my Dearest Hanny that you and my Dearest Children are the grand Objects of my cares, And tho the Affairs of my Country and the Occupations in which I am here engaged engross very much of my thoughts, yet they are much employed on the Dearest Objects I have left behind me. I know you do not want to be persuaded to the belief of this.

In a former Letter or two I have told you, in general, that I should leave the Management of Plantation Affairs entirely to Your discretion. I am sorry you find them so bothersome: But you may remember that my desire was, when last at Home, to disencumber you of that Care by selling off the Stock. You have only your self to blame; & you may be assured I shall not wish you to continue it longer than is agreeable to yourself. 

In a former Letter you say you paid Mr. Kirk £39. In your last you say it was £49. Either of these sums are much more than I think I owe him, firstly, and I must again desire that you will not discharge any more Debts till I return. There is something in what you say concerning the Accts. of Peyton that I cannot understand. Was it Coll. Peyton or Craven that you call’d upon: I should be glad to be informed, & wether there was not a Balance sufficient to discharge his Demand or Herberts.

The Season is now advancing when it is necessary to make Provision for the Winter. The pork you want you must endeavour to provide on the best Terms you can—I imagine you will not have a sufficiency without purchasing. Is Salt to be had? You must get Canby or some other of your good Neighbors to Provide you some. I fully intended sending you some Money by Coll. Peyton but he went off before I expected it. You may Depend that I shall send you a supply by the first safe opportunity. As I have reason to believe that some of my Letters are intercepted, I do not think it prudent to trust it but by a well known Person. I am much obliged to you for your Care in sending me my flannel waistcoat, which I have received. I enclose you the measures you desire of a Collar & Wristband for Shirts—Pray do not make them Smaller than the Measure. The Shirts I have are in Tollerable Order yet, & I think, with repairs, would last me another Year. I think if you make me half a Doz.n  New Ones it will be sufficient. I expected to have been able to say more but am obliged to conclude abruptly as the Bearer is in much haste. 

So God bless you

D. Griffith