448 Journal and Correspondence

C. H.

Pence for the use of the Part of his Battalion who were in Ser-
vice due to them per Account passed the Board of Accounts
James Claypoole, Edward Warrell and John Bolton of Kent
County or any two of them are appointed to enquire estimate
and make return according to the Resolution of the General
Assembly on the Memorial of Robert Anderson of Kent
County respecting the Seizure of the Sails from his Vessel.

C. C.
Original.

[Washington to Gov. Johnson.]

Head Quarters Valley Forge, 29^th December 1777
Sir: Gen^l Smallwood will, by this Conveyance, transmit
you a Return of Seven of the Maryland Regiments. The
eighth, which was composed of part of the German Battalion,
and part of Rawlins's Regiment, is in the same situation in
point of numbers. By this you will discover how deficient —
how exceedingly short they are of the complement of Men,
which of right, according to the establishment, they ought to
have.
This information I have thought it my duty to lay before
you, that it may have that attention which its importance
demands, and in full hope, that the most early and vigorous
measures will be adopted, not only to make the Regiments
more respectable, but compleat. The expediency and neces-
sity of this procedure are too obvious to need argument.
Should we have a respectable force, to commence an early
Campaign, before the Enemy are reinforced, I trust we shall
have an opportunity of striking a favorable and happy stroke.
But if we should be obliged to defer it, it will not be easy to
describe, with any degree of precision, what disagreeable con-
sequences may result from it. We may rest assured, that
Britain will strain every nerve to send, from home and
abroad, as early as possible, all the Troops it shall be in her
power to raise or procure. Her views and schemes for sub-
jugating these States, and bringing them under her despotic
Rule, will be unceasing and unremitted. Nor should we, in
my opinion, turn our expectations to, or have the least
dependance on the intervention of a foreign War. Our
wishes on this Head have been disappointed hitherto, and I
do not know that we have a right to promise ourselves, from
any intelligence that has been received, bearing the marks of
authority, that there is any certain prospect of one. How-
ever, be this as it may, our reliance should be wholly upon our
own Strength and exertions. If, in addition to these, there
should be aid derived from a War between the Enemy and
any of the European powers, our situation will be so much
the better. If not, our efforts and exertions will have been