Council of Maryland, 1781-1782. 33

[Council to Lieu^t Col^o North.]

We received yours of the 22^d Instant by Major Baily, and have :
wrote to Col^o Thomas Lieutenant of Frederick County, to order a
sufficient Guard of Militia to escort the Prisoners to their Destina-
tion, and have empowered him to impress as many Teams, Horses
and Drivers as may be necessary for the Prisoners and the Guards
to be sent with them. It is not in our Power to furnish a Farthing
of Specie to the Officers of the Line, we have no other than Bills of
Credit of this State, which cannot issue but as Specie and, we under-
stand, they will not pass in Frederick. We hope and expect, the Pris-
oners will be marched off immediately, that the Militia may not be on
Duty longer than necessary at this inclement Season

December 26
Liber No. 78
p. 314

[Council to Christopher Edelen Esq^r]

If you have any Linen or Cloth, or any other Article, in your
Possession belonging to the State, we wish you to embrace the first
Opportunity of sending them to this Place, as the Soldiers here are
much distressed for Cloathing.

Ibid.

[Council to Col^o George Stricker]

Your Letter respecting the Horses is received. The one fit for
Service you will send immediately to Governor Lee's Plantation,
whose Servant will be there in three or four Days, and will deliver
him to the Quartermaster at this Post; the others you will dispose of
for the best Price you can obtain.

Ibid.

[Council to Thomas Johnson Esq^r]

We wish it was in our Power to give you a satisfactory Answer
to your Letter of the 13^th Instant, respecting the Supply of Wood
to the Prisoners and Guards but such is our Situation, that we can-
not make any positive Engagements for Payment, in any other Man-
ner than with the Money of the late Emission, which may not. make
you an adequate Compensation, as it must issue as Specie, but being
sensible of the Necessity of immediately furnishing the Prisoners
and Guards at Frederick Town with Wood, induces us to offer Pay-
ment in either Tobacco at the Warehouses on Patowmack at 16/8
p C^t or Flour in Frederick at 12/6 p C^t for 100 Cords. If this
Proposal is agreeable, an Order for the Tobacco or Flour Will be
immediately transmitted to you on the Delivery of the Wood. Our
Army are in such Distress for Shoes, that disposing of the Hides
in any other Manner would be depriving them of the only Probability
of a Supply of that Article. M^r Dent, in Consequence of your Recom-
mendation, is appointed Surveyor of Frederick County.

3

Ibid.