Headquarters, March 14th, 1779. Dear Sir, Colonel Laurens, who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina on a project which I think in the present situation of affairs is a very good one and deserves every kind of support and encouragement. This is to raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes with the assistance of the government of that state, by contributions from the owners in proportion to the number they possess. If you should think proper to enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan. He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the state and as an inducement, that they would engage to take those battalions into continental pay.