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September 11
Brown Book
No. 8
Letter 27
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[H. Knox, Brig Gen'l Artillery, Annapolis, to Gov. Lee]
I have the honor to state to your Excellency the importance of an
immediate supply of Thirty thousand feet of white oak plank, of
2 1/2 or 2 inches thick, which is wanted for the intended operations
against the enemy in Virginia. The difficulty and indeed impracti-
cability of transporting this article from any other quarter has in-
duced a full dependence for it on Maryland. I have written to Genl
Gist, who is at Baltimore, on this matter, but as his powers must be
very limited, I take the liberty earnestly to pray your Excellency to
take such decided measures as will ensure the quantity above men-
tioned, or such part of it as can possibly be procured, in a few days.
The Board of War in Philadelphia informed me of eight tons of
Powder, belonging to the Continent at Frederick Town in this state,
which I also pray may be transported, as soon as possible, to the
most convenient water carriage and embarked on board of a tight
vessel, proper for the purpose, and forwarded to the point of
operation.
The extreme imbecillity of any continental arrangements will, I
hope, be a sufficient apology for troubling your Excellency on these
subjects
If it should be found impossible, upon examination to obtain the
white oak plank, pine plank might be substituted
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