4 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

common class of people, the officers are more ready to march
as you inform, than the privates. We are &c.
Col. John Murdock

No. 79.

[Council to Chamberlaine and Hanson.]

January I^st 1777
Sir. Col. Contee in passing through Annapolis left with us
some papers preparatory to a complete return, and promised
to attend the Board in a few days to explain every thing that
had been done by the Commissioners.
We are sorry now to inform you that he has not been up,
and we hear both himself and his family have taken the small
pox; this obliges us to request your immediate attendance for
a few days; the board are at a loss in several particulars, and
cannot well proceed to a final arrangement of the eight Bat-
talions without you, be pleased therefore to come down as
soon as you can. We are, Sirs your ob. S. &c.
To Gen^l Chamberlaine and John Hanson Esq.
P. S. We congratulate you on the victory obtained by Gen^l
Washington, the particulars of which you will see in the Hand
Bill inclosed. Mr. Carroll from Congress writes us that
General Heath had crossed the North River and retaken Fort
Lee & Hakinsack 130 prisoners and the Stores and Baggage.
We are, Sirs, &c.

[Chamberlaine to Jenifer.]

Talbot County January I^st 1777
Sir,
On being informed last Saturday that seventeen armed men
from a neighbouring county, had forceably taken some salt I
had purchased some time agoe for the use of a plantation
belonging to an orphan under my care, I collected some
persons as soon as possible and persued them about twenty
four miles without being able to overtake them before they
had seperated, having got the start of us about two hours,
we waited on the man who was said to be their leader, whose
house we found guarded, tho' he did not appear himself, and
the only one of the party who acknowledged the fact, we
brought off and now send him under a Guard with his con-
fession enclosed and the deposition of the person who lived
in the house and had the salt in charge. I also send you
Colston's letter to me for your information, to which I answered
that I had nothing further to say in the affair, and that it
should be laid before the Council of Safety. The expence I