16 Letters to the Governor and Council

January 14

ner as the nature of the case can possibly admit of, by which means
perhaps some very dark Villenys may be brought to light. Any State
or cuntry whatever thats threatened with an invasion, cannot take ,
too many precautions for its own Safety.
I must Beg you^l Excuse my freedom in this, and belive me to be
with the sincerest well wishes for the Good of my Country.

January 14

[Chas. Gr. Griffith, Mont^y County, to His Excellency Thomas Sim
Lee.] (P^r Mr. King)

I have this minute your letter before me, and observe its contents
shall take every step in my power to have our Militia in readiness to
march at a Minutes warning, should this State be Invaded, I am
sorry to Inform your Excellency that we in a manner are destitute
of Arms. What few there is shall be Immediately put in a condition
for service so far as lays in my power you may rest assured I will
attend to the preservation of Military Stores, provisions &c. I should
be much pleased to have Arms Ammunition &c to compleat a full
Regiment sent us, as should the Enemy attempt George Town, on
speculation of Tobacco, or otherwise it will enable us to oppose them
with the assistance of the Neighbouring Counties.

January 15

[W^m Lyles, J^r, Potomack to the Governor & Council]

Agreeable to your directions I had a meeting of the Captains in
my Battalion for the purpose of recommending a Proper Person
for a Major to the said Battalion, and they Unanimously recom-
mended Cap^t Jn^o H. Beanes, if you approve of him, you'l be pleaS^td
to forward his Commission by the earliest opportunity.

January 15

[Jas Calhoun, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee]

Inclosed is the Report of a Gentleman lately from Charlestown
who come to Town last night which I do myself the Honour to
transmit to your Excellency.
Capt Babcock commander of the Privateer ship Gen Mifflin be-
longing to Boston came to Town last night and reports that he was
taken off Charles Town by the Hyena Frigate about the first Dec^r
and that he left that place the 8^th Charles Town was Garrisoned by
about 700 Hessians 384 Men had arrived from N York a few days
before and were immediately sent forward to Cornwallis — a number
of the Principal Inhabitants had been sent to Augustine which so
exasperated the others that five hundred of the most Active Men had
deserted the Town and joined Gen^l Sumpter determined neither to
give nor ask quarter Lesly was not in either of the Carolinas — a
Major Wates who is aid to one of the Southern Generals told Cap^t
Babcock at Wilmington that the Enemy had evacuated Camden and
that our Army had possession of the Country 20 Miles south of