of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 287

further work is made on the Beach, would consult on the Pro-
priety of a Kind of floating Battery. We shall be glad to
hear from you. It may not be convenient for every Man of
these Companies to go out at once. Where it happens so
(being desirous of consulting the Ease & Convenience of the
People, as far as may be) if any such will find another good
Man in his Stead, we would have him accepted. We are
informed that M^r Joseph Bruff of Talbot County, has near an
Hundred Arms in his Hands, which were collected last year
for the Flying Camp, we suppose they are not very good; if

you cannot get better supplied, we have wrote to him to

deliver them to your or Col^o Dashiells Order; if you take
them, you will be careful that they be not lost. We are &^ca
Col^o Zadock Purnell

C. C.

[Council to J. Dashiell.]

In Council June 12^th 1777.
Sir.
We have received your Favor of the10^th Ins^t inclosing your
Letter to Col^o Richardson and Col^o Done's Letter to you,
upon Consideration of the Subject of these several Letters,
have ordered two Detachments of the twenty fourth Battalion
of Militia in Worcester County to guard Synepuxent Inlet
alternately eight Days each, under the Command of a Major
of that Battalion, which Expedient, we hope will answer the
Ends of securing that Part of the Country from the Depreda-
tions of the Enemy and preventing their taking Possession of
the Inlet, should that be their Design at least until further Aid
can be offered.
Col^o Richardson's Regiment is at this Time, very illy
provided, being without Arms and almost every other Neces-
sary to take the Field, but we expect that in a few Days, and
before the Time limited in our Order for the Service of the
Militia is expired, this Regiment will be in a Condition to
render very effectual Assistance, should any further Rein-
forcement be requisite.
We are informed that there are a Number of Arms in the
Keeping of M^r Joseph Bruff, belonging to this State and we
have wrote to him by this Opportunity to deliver them to your
or Col^o Purnell's Order for the Use of these Detachments, if
they cannot be otherwise more conveniently accommodated.
We are &^ca
NB. Our Letter to Col^o Purnell is inclosed, which you will
please to peruse and, after sealing it, continue it to him.
Col^o Jos^h Dashiell.

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