of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 223

from Northampton, a considerable Body of sound Militia
might be expected, and not far from very well affected Parts
of the Maryland Eastern Shore. The Idea is, that if Congress

should be pleased to allow one of the Regiments to be sta-
tioned thereabouts, ranging Parties might be kept out, even
in Sussex, occasionally; that they would prevent a Junction of
the Tories, and in some Measure their Intercourse, that it
would prevent any Attempt, by a small Force, under Assur-
ances of Assistance from the Tories, and if any Thing more
formidable should be sent, the well affected Part of the Militia
would instantly collect there, as a Place of general Rendez-
vous, and enable the Regulars to make a Stand, 'til effectual
Support could be given. These Reasons have induced the
General Assembly to request one of the Continental Bat-
talions, which I think will, in all Likelihood, be the cheapest
mode of Defence, and the Regiment being left for a Time in
this State may probably be the Occasion of its filling the
sooner, for a good many of our People are possessed with the
Humour of serving within, rather than out of their own State. If
no Succour is afforded, the inclosed Petitions to the Governor,
Council and General Assembly of this State and the Remon-
strance and Petition of Accomack, Somerset and Worcester
Counties to the Congress, fully shew, our Friends will despair
of being able to support themselves. I have also inclosed you
a Copy of an Act of our General Assembly for building Bar-
racks; The Accomodations for the Troops, either quartered
or occasionally in this State, are not such as are desirable,
very inconvenient to the Inhabitants and very expensive, the
Assembly are therefore desirous, tho' it will be expensive, to
make a better and more suitable Provision, and to enable us
to do it, hope for the Assistance of Congress.
The great separate Expence we are at, and the frequent
Drafts in Favour of the seven Battalions raising here, has
much weakened our Treasury and obliges me to request a
further Sum of Money, to be lodged by Congress, to enable
further Advances to those Regiments; it is of Consequence
to the Service, without it we shall not be able to raise and
forward the Troops. I shall be obliged to you Sir, to lay these
Matters before Congress and to that Honorable Body, for
their speedy Decision thereon.
I am Sir with the highest Respect
Your most obed^t humble Serv^t
If a few brass Field Pieces can
be spared, they are desirable

To The Hon^ble the President of the
Congress.

C. C.