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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 249
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N Carolina are the only Corps that have any Reason to com-
plain of Sickness. But I am sorry to inform you that General
Forbes has not yet left Shippensburg (which lies upwards of
75 Miles to the Eastward of Rays Town) being laid up there
by the Flux with which he was attacked more than a month
ago at Carlyle. He tells me however in a Letter dated the
23dlnst that he now finds himself recovering & that he hopes
he shall be strong enough to travel in a few Days, he has
likewise intimated to me that he expects a sufficient Quantity
of Stores & Provisions will be carried on to the Fort which
Sr Iohn St Clair is building at Laurel hannon in less than a
Fortnight & that being determined to proceed directly after-
wards to Fort Du Quesne & willing to march with as strong
a Force as possible he should be extremely glad if I could
garrison Fort Cumberland with Militia for three weeks or a
month that he might draw all the Virginia Troops from that
post to strengthen the Rear of his Army. As our Assembly
when they met last made some Resolves declaring our Militia
Law to be obsolete or not in Force & denying that I have any
Authority or Right with the Advice of the Council to march
any of the militia even if our Law was in Force unless in Case
of an actual Invasion or as they construe that Expression
unless a very large Body of the Enemy was actually in the
Heart of the Province. I have told the General that I am
afraid no more of the Militia would be prevailed on to come
even thus far if I was to attempt to carry 'em to Fort Cumber-
land, but I am endeavouring to get 200 or 250 Voluntiers to
accompany me to Fort Cumberland & to stay there till the
Affair is decided & I am in hopes that I shall be able to march
hence with that Number in about a week which will be as
soon as the General will want to draw the Virginians from
Fort Cumberland. In that Case I shall appoint one of the
Field Officers of our Militia to take the Command at this
Fort, which has been garrisoned by Militia ever since I came
hither the 1 5th of lune, & I have the Satisfaction to inform you
that altho they were dissuaded from coming out & encouraged
to desert since they have been here by several Members, of
our Assembly who seem to have made it a Point that if the
Gentlemen of the Upper House would not accept such a Bill
as they had offered they would on their Parts obstruct all
measures that should be taken for the Defence of the Prov-
ince yet the several Companies whose Lott it has been to
march hither & to take their Tour of Duty have paid due
Regard to my Commands, & altho several Parties of the
Enemy have been discovered this Summer within the Limits
of the Province None of them have ventured down among the
Inhabitants nor presumed to do any Mischief near the Settle-
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LetterBk.III
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