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138 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. II,
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also be taken to oblige the Venders by their Contracts to make
the Delivery at Wills Creek & no where else unless any Per-
sons may be disposed to engage for the Delivery of what they
supply (whether it be cured or Live Stock fit to kill) to the
Deputy Commissary at any place the Troops may march to
after their Departure from Wills Creek & you will perhaps
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p. 34
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think it proper to encourage them to enter into such Engage-
ments & Stall-feed their Cattle during the winter by advancing
them a proportionate Price for whatever they will agree to
furnish in that manner. I have inclosed you a Calculation of
the Expence of supplying 3000 Men with Provisions for 8
months, which Quantity I apprehend it will be necessary to lay
into the Magazine at Wills Creek immediately by reason I
conceive it will be very difficult if not impossible to procure
Beeves or Hogs fit for the Slaughter after this Month & next
till July or the August following.
My Estimate is made in Maryland Currency which is at this
time with Sterling at about 65 p Ct Discount. The Expence
of the hired waggons I could not know, neither have I taken
any notice of the number that will be wanted for carrying
Ammunition & Baggage. You will be pleased to give Direc-
tions (if you have not already ordered a sufficient number to
be made or purchased) that Barrells enough to receive the
meat be immediately laid in, the most eligible way I think
would have been to send proper workmen & Coopers to have
Cut & prepared Staves & made them up near the Camp but as
I am dubious it will be now too late to proceed in that manner
(for unless the Timber be washed or cleaned from Sap before
it is made up there will be a great probability of its damaging
or quite spoiling the meat with which they shall be filled) I
hope you will give strict Orders to have them procured or
prepared in the best manner that the time will permit, & in
the mean time I think the Comissary might proceed to salt up
some Provision in large Troughs or Vatts that might be made
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for that purpose I was told on my journey that at the late
Secretary Carter's Estate there are a large number of Hogs to
be disposed of, if you should think fit to order them to be pur-
chased you will take Care to have it agreed that they be not
driven to the Camp till a quantity of Salt be carried up &
Receptacles for the meat first made & here I must observe to
you that there had not been any Salt in Camp for a con-
siderable time before my Arrival there when I got some
brought up on Horses Backs. The Cattle that had been
driven to the Fort, for want thereof could not be killed but
were permitted to range the woods & to hinder their Stragling
quite off it was found necessary to hire Herdsmen constantly
to range & ride thro the woods to prevent their passing the
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