556 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C,

to Britain & beg you to take the opinion of Congress upon
the same, whether they be Prisoners of war. You will be
pleased to get the opinion as soon as convenient, and transmit
it to us.
Dec's; 27^th 1776

No. 73.

[Council to G. Welles.]

M^r George Welles
Sir. Your's by M^r Barry we have received and are glad to
hear you have launched one of the Row Gallies and that you
are pushing the other on as fast as possible. As to the mast-
ing, we must refer you to M^r Stephen Steward who is now in
your Town. Inclosed is an order on the Commissary for
sheet Lead for the purposes you mention. M^r Barry brings
the amount of the Accounts for the repairs of the old vessels,
but we cannot be justified in advancing the seven Hundred
pounds on account of Row Gallies without an Account of the
Expenditure of the money before advanced for that business,
which you will please to forward to us, and the further advance
shall be immediately made.
Dec^r 27^th 1776

No. 74.

[Council to Johnson.]

Brigadier General Johnson
Sir. We send you by the messenger Commissions in
Colonel James Johnson's and Colonel Bruce's Battalions
according to your request. We have also sent Commissions
for Colonel Sheredeine & others in his Battalion made out in
the best manner we could, there are no commissions for some
of the Captains, Lieutenants, & Ensigns, because we did not
know them, but you may assure any of the Gentlemen who
may march, that we will send them forward so soon as you will
be pleased to favor us with a list of names.
We are exceedingly desirous of forwarding the Service all
we can, and should cheerfully have sent forward Blankets
and stockings, but we have them not, nor can we get enough
of Blankets for the Hospitals; we will send up five hundred
or a thousand pair of shoes by the first waggon we can get to
be left at Frederick Town and delivered to you, or in your
absence to your order; unless you should write us that they
had better be sent to Christiana Bridge, or the Head of Elk
where we are of opinion the Troops might more readily get
them. We expect to hear from you on that head as soon as
possible: in the mean time we will order them to be packed
up ready.