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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 231
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Philadelphians to make one by the way of Rays Town which
would have been very beneficial to the Inhabitants of this
County as they would have had a certain & good Markett for
their Corn Cattle & every thing else which they might have
been willing to dispose of, for I am persuaded that all the
Troops would have been then ordered to rendezvous at this
Place & I doubt not but half as much Money would have been
brought into Maryland & left here as might, have been granted
for the Support of our Troops. I took several Opportunities
while the Assembly was sitting to mention as much to many
of the Members but neither my Representations nor the
Representations of a Number of the Inhabitants of this County
who petitioned the House for such a Road had any weight.
All the Virginia Troops except 6 Companies that are with
Colo Bouquet marched from Winchester for Fort Cumber-
land the latter End of last month leaving Fort Loudoun &
the other Forts on their Frontiers to be garrisoned with
Militia, they are commanded by Colo Washington & Colo
Byrd a Gentn of the Council. The two Regiments amount I
suppose to about 1900 Men & they are really fine Corps.
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Letter Bk. I.
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There are also 150 Men from N Carolina on their way to
Fort Cumberland, they landed at Alexandria about three
weeks ago & were to have come hither but I understand that
they were marched thence to Winchester a few Days before
their Commanding Officer received his Rout. I hear that the
General is just come to Carlyle & that the Highland Battalion
with the Artillery was daily expected there, which encourages
me to hope that the Army will be on the Allegany Moun-
tains before the middle of next Month. It is supposed that
the Number of the Enemy at this time in & about Fort Du
Quesne does not exceed 500 Men, most of whom as some
Parties that have been lately within Sight of that Fort tell us
go over the Ohio every Morning to work on a Fort which the
French are building about half a mile beyond that River. I
have now communicated to you all that has come to my
Knowledge relative to the Progress of the Expedition which
General Forbes is charged with, of the other two that are
carrying on in America I know nothing but what the Gazette
Writers tell us & their Accounts you have in the inclosed
Paper. Since I came hither I have received your Letter dated
the 17* of March acknowledging your Receit of mine of the
i6th of Decmr last. I am glad the Steps I have taken to
defend the Province in the best manner I can with Militia are
approved of, It likewise gives me great pleasure to learn
that you & my Brother William were with His Ldp's Appro-
bation to wait on the Earl of Hallifax to acquaint him with the
true State of Affairs in this Province & with the Reasons why
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P. 362
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