138 Letters to the Governor and Council

March 21
Red Book
No. 5
Letter 54
[copy]

I must inform your Excellency from him till more regular appli-
cations can reach you that they are in Extreme want of lead Car-
tridge paper and thread. I think it improper, however it might urge
an instenious supply to repeat to you his state of the extent of their
stock of those articles. In a former letter I mentioned to you the
failure of the Vein of our lead mines which has left the Army here
in a state of equal distress and danger
Look out Boats have been ordered from the Sea Board of the
E. Shore to apprize the Commander of the french fleet on its ap-
proach of the British being in Chesapeake

Ibid.

[James Barron, Hampton, to His Excellency Thos Jefferson.]

Yesterday morning twelve large ships came within the Capes and
anchored sent up one Frigate this morning under English Colours
which proves them to be a British fleet. The frigate lies now in
Hampton Road, with Arnolds Ships, the other Ships are still in the
Bay at Anchor. I take them all to be men of War, and no transports
among them.

March 21

[Rich'd Dallam, Harford County, to Gov. Lee.]

On Thursday the 15^th Inst. I received Intelligence that two Brit-
ish Ships & some small Vessels lay off Pools Island that they had
then land'd some Men & were taking off the Stock, I immediately
orderd out two Companies of Militia nearest the shores to oppose
their landing. On Saturday I was informed that they had gone off
after robing Pools Island of 14 head of Cattle all the hoggs & Corn
& the Overseer of his Bacon knives & Spoons and Capturing some
small Vessels amounghts which unfortunately was a small schooner
on board which was 100 Barrels flour I had forwarded, & to the
Comm^y of Issues at Elk & also another with nearly the same Quan-
tity belong^g to M^r Tho^s Hall which he was sending up the Bay. On
Sunday two Top sail Schooners & some Smaller Vessels returned &
stood up towards the mouth Elk & since they are constantly Passing
& repassing & have taken allmost all the small craft & I am just in-
form'd that last night they went up Susquehanah & took out a Vessel
with 50 Barrels flour & as many of Bear belonging to W^m Cox. I
have order'd out parties of Militia to different Posts the most likely
for their landing tho they have never attempted landing or coming
on Shore except at Pools Island
The Greatest force above Pools Island from my best Intelligence
are the 2 Schooners above which have a Number of Tenders &
Barges, Its said a Ship & a Brigg lay below Pools Island as this
was the whole force of the Enemy I have not ordered. out many of
the Militia on this occation. I conjectured their great object in com-
ing up was the Capture of the Transports with the Troops going
down which happily escaped, I am sorry to inform your Excell^cy that