of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 339

Thursday 8. April 1779

Present as on yesterday. Tho^s Sim Lee Esquire Attended.
Ordered that the western shore Treasurer pay to William
Leavely Ninty Pounds for the use of Andrew Grebble due him
per Acc^t passed by the Dep^y Aud^r

C. B.

[Washington to Gov. Johnson.]

Head Quarters Middle Brook, 8^th April 1779
Sir
I have been honored with yours of the 26^th March inclosing
a Resolve of the House of Delegates for the incorporation of
parts of the German Battalion and Rifle Corps into a Regi-
ment, and another for forwarding the recruiting service. I
also at the same time received from the president of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Delegates two Resolves — one
empowering me fully to settle the Rank of the Officers of the
Maryland line, the other allowing half pay for life to such
Officers as shall remain in service during the War.
By an allotment of the quota of troops to be raised by each
State, made by Congress the 26^th Feb^y 1778, the German Bat-
talion was wholly attached to the State of Maryland and con-
sidered as her Reg^t since which it hath done duty in that line.
Had not this been the case, the incorporation of such parts of
that Regiment and Rifle Corps as are deemed properly to be-
long to Maryland would still be attended with the greatest
inconveniences, particularly in regard to reconciling the Ranks
of the Officers, Col^o Rawlins and most of his being elder than
Col^o Weltner and those of the German would supersede them
upon incorporation.
Indeed Col^o Weltner would not only be superseded, but he
must be supernumerary. In short, the difficulties attending
the measure recommended are more than can be conceived,
and I am convinced by experience that it cannot be carried
into execution without totally deranging the German Regiment.
In January last, Congress, to make some provision for Col^o
Rawlins and his Officers, resolved that he should increase his
remaining men (who are not more than 70 or 80) to three
Companies to be commanded by him as a separate Corps.
The times of most of the old men are near expiring and
whether they will reinlist I cannot say.
I entertain a very high opinion of the merits of Col^o Rawlins
and his Officers, and have interested myself much in their be-
half. It is to be regretted that they were not provided for in
the States to which they belong, when the Army was new
modelled in 1776, but as they were not, after a variety of

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