of the Council of Maryland, 1777-1778. 459

[Council to Dashiell.]

In Council Annapolis 7^th Jan^y 1778.
Sir
You are privy to the Measures taken and Instructions given
for collecting the fat Cattle from those Parts of your County,
easily approachable by the Enemy, for the Use of the Army.
Perhaps the Disaffected may forcibly oppose the Execution
of the Order; if that should be the Case, and the Gent,
appointed should apply to you for Assistance, you are to col-
lect the Militia and support the Gen^l in the Execution of the
Order, for, withholding the Cattle and opposing their being
applied to the Subsistance of our Army, can only be done in
favour of our Enemies and, we are determined, they shall not
draw any Supplies, from this State, if it can be prevented.
Col^o George Dashiell. We are &^ca

C. C.

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[Council to Board of Auditors.]

In Council 7^th Jan^y 1778.
Gen^l
When the Militia were ordered out, the Officers who com-
manded them, represented, and we believe very truly, that
many of the Men could not march, without an Advance of
some necessary Articles of Cloathing, most commonly Shoes,
or Money to purchase them, and with a View to enable the
Officers to advance for such Purposes, in small Sums to the
most necessitated, Orders were drawn, by the Council and
myself on the Treasury in favour of the Colonels or Principal
Officers who went with Detachments of the Militia. Money
was advanced by the Congress in the same Manner, and
Shoes by the Council of Safety, last year, with the same Inten-
tion. We are informed that, in by far too many Instances, the
Men, to whom small Advances were made, much within a
Proportion of their Pay, have deserted, and that, in settling
the Militia Accounts, no Credit is allowed to the Officers for
Money advanced in such Instances. The Officers, in such
Cases, last Year, had Credit in their Accounts and, we think,
on every Principle of Justice and Policy, and we are satisfied,
unless the Officers have the like Allowances now, they, nor
any others in future, will advance Money for which they will
expect to be chargeable on an Event which they cannot hinder,
We therefore wish you to make the Allowance to the Officer,
unless it appears the Advance was imprudently or improperly
made. We are Gen^t &^ca
The Board of Auditors.

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