The Virginia Gazette

Mr. PURDIE,

FINDING myself, by an advertisement in your Gazette of the 14th instant, set forth as a deserter from the service of my country, which of all other characters I (at this time particularly) most heartily despise, and which I conceive must have been occasioned by some misunderstanding, thinking it necessary as well to rectify the same as to relieve myself from the odium which would otherwise justly belong to me, I must beg leave to trouble the public, through your means, with the following narrative of facts.

Some time towards the latter end of August 1776, I enlisted under capt. Lewelling Jones as a trooper in the 4th troop of horse, and until the 24th day of December, in the same year; as far as my indisposition (contracted by the hardships of the service) would permit, continued to act in that capacity; but as my ill state of health would, I found, disable me from going through it with the alacrity and closeness of attention I could wish, I thought proper to apply to the captain for a discharge, which demand was consistent with his promise to me at the time of my enlistment. I therefore provided myself with a man (though under no obligation) to serve in my room, he being first approved of by the captain; and having afterwards qualified, as appears by the following certificate, viz.---AMELIA co. This day Isaac Chapman qualified before me as a trooper in capt. Lewelling Jones's company of light horse, in the place of Charles Irby, who is discharged from the service. Given under my hand this 24th day of December, 1776. John Winn.---I received from the captain the following discharge, viz.---Dec. 24, 1776. This is to certify, that Charles Irby is discharged from the service of my troop of light horse, having got a good man in his room. LEWELLING JONES--And in consequence of this I promised to send the said Chapman to Fredericksburg, pursuant to which I prepared horses to attend him, but being desirous of informing col. Jones before I sent him up, directed him in his way to call on the captain, then in the county, who forbid his proceeding any farther, as he would wish he might attend him when he went himself., and for that purpose appointed a day when he should be ready. The man was accordingly provided with horses as before, but was again directed to meet another time, and then at the courthouse, when being upon his way, and informed that the captain was not there, nor likely to be so, he returned as before. Tired out with this delay, the trouble and expense, and anxious to get the said Chapman to the general rendezvous, I furnished him with money and necessaries to set out on foot, who, joining the captain at the courthouse, proceeded to Fredericksburg: since which, satisfied with having complied with my undertaking, I have not made any inquiry.

Injured reputation compels me to make the above recital. The impartial public will be able to determine whether the charge of desertion is justly attributed to, sir, your and the publick's very humble servant.

CHARLES IRBY.

AMELIA, Feb. 20, 1777.