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Sir,

You mentioned to me the propriety of laying my proposal before you in writing, and in consequence of that I have taken the liberty to express my desire of obaining the command of a company of people of Colour, to be imbodied into the fifteenth Battalion, of which , if I mistake not, you are a field officer.
There are a number of people of colour residing at Preston, where I am settled as a farmer, and where I have an intention of spending my days.
I have used every energy, since I found it disagreable to muster with common labourers, to acquaint myself with the duties of a Militia Officer.
I mentioned to the Adjutant General of militia in July last, my wish, as I have already stated, and that iti was in my power to raise a company of volunteers, as a Grenadier Company to your Battalion; but having been so invariably, 'till now, employed, in collecting harvest, it rendered it impossible almost, for to have stated this to you before. Major McColla suggested to me the propriety of having the whole body of the Coloured People, imbodied in a separate Battalion; but concluded, that whatever you should recommend, he should luse every motive to forward.
I must conclude, that I shall leave nothing undone to acquaint the [Com'p'y?] with their duty, which they all seem anxious to complete.