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140 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. II.
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remit it him or signify as much to me that at my Return I
might satisfy his Expectations. One James Johnson also made
a Complaint to me against Mr Gist alledging that some time
before Gist went to Williamsburg, he agreed with him for 18
Beeves which Johnson was to drive to Salisbury Plain &
receive the money for them at Gist's Return to the Camp, but
when in pursuance of the Agreement the Beeves were brought
He was then told by Gist that as he could not procure money
at Williamsburg to pay for the Cattle He must be excused for
declining the Bargain & said that Mr Johnson must also give
a little longer Credit for some money due to him for Flour that
He had delivered in at the Camp some time before for that He
could at present let him have one pistole only in Part of Payment.
Johnson complains that apprehending Gist was empowered
to contract for the Government he reserved the Cattle for him
& has neglected & refused every other market or Chapman
whereby he must greatly suffer unless you will be pleased to
direct that the Beasts be accepted & payed for according to
his Agreement. As there were a number of fine Beeves offered
for Sale while I was at the Camp & the Owners on finding
no purchasers there, were about to take them away to Philaa I
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ordered Colo Cresap (who has the Care of laying in provisions
for the Maryland Company to contract for them & keep them
till they can be slaugtered imagining that if those were driven
away others of equal Goodness would not be procured this
winter on such easy terms what the Cost of them is I will let
you know as soon as Cresap sends me the Accounts, & I also
expect to be drawn on at the same time for the Price of
6 Waggons which I have agreed for & will be brought to
Wills Creek loaded with Flour at 12/ p Ct I would have
agreed for more to put things in the greatest forwardness but
was doubtful that £70. for a Waggon Harness & four Horses
was too extravagant a Price. I cannot but think that the sev-
eral Rivers & waters that occur & intersect the Road from
Belhaven to Wills-Creek on the South Side of Potowmack
will render the Conveyance of Stores that way expensive &
very uncertain wherefore I apprehend it will be the best
& easiest way to land every thing that shall be sent up Potow-
mack for the Troops at Rock Creek whence our waggons will
carry them to Conegocheek where Battoes may be made to
convey every thing thence by water. I have ordered a Batteau
or two to be made & then I shall after Tryal be able to estimate
the Expence of that method & will give Orders for those
6 waggons to be employed between that place & Rock Creek.
I wish you could find it easy to engage a few Ship Carpenters
& send them to the Camp & order up thither some Cartridge
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paper, Moulds for Musket & Swan Shot, wire for Screws &
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