This Day in History: January 21

We are in a poor situation to contend with a very superior force. Our men are almost naked for want of overalls and shirts, and the greater part of the army barefoot. We have no rum, or prospect of any; none within four hundred miles of us, and little or none providing in Virginia ; and if there were ever so much there, the difficulty of transportation would prevent our getting it, as we were four weeks without ammunition since we have been in the lower country, and a plenty of this article waiting at Charlotte for the means of transportation. Had the enemy got knowledge, and availed themselves of our situation, they might have ruined us. [More]