of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 103

Ann's. The Service will be short and, we expect, important
in this View that the Regulars will be disengaged and may
act together. We have also ordered a Party of Matrosses.
Matthews carries up one hundred Stand of Arms, which you'll
receive and deliver to Col^o Rumsey's Order; we would not
have the Boxes broke, unless the Arms should be wanted.
Two of our Gallies are gone below, one of them manned, the
other only so as to navigate her, loaded; we are not able to
man another as she ought to be, or as would in any Degree
answer as a Convoy; we have represented it often and re-
quested some Men from the Delaware, but without Effect.
Sensible of the Necessity of forwarding the Provisions we
have ordered a Sloop which will carry about 300 Barrels from
hence to Potowmack for Shad, without Convoy. From our

C. C.

latest Accounts the Men of War were as low as Hampton
Road, if there's a good Look out kept, we think small Craft
may be prudently trusted to Potowmack. You would do well
to inform us where the Corn & Provisions are and in whose
Hands that we may, as Opportunities offer, employ our own
or other Vessels in the Removal of them. Col^o Blaine men-
tioned Charles Town to us as a proper Place to deliver Stores,
in Consequence of it we sent 102 Barrels of Pork there the
other Day. We have yet received no Account of the Wag-
gons and cannot give unlimited discretionary Orders, as to
impressing them. The Burthen, the most equally divided, will
be extreamly heavy, and we wish it to be lessened, by making
use of Water Carriage as far as possible. Orders are gone
to Baltimore to send 500 Stand of Arms from thence, Car-
tridges Cartridge Boxes & Flints; on their Arrival, you'll be
so obliging as to take Care of them for Col^o Rumsey.
Col^o Henry Hollingsworth, We are &^ca

[Council to C. Rumsey.]

In Council Annapolis 21^st May 1778.
Sir
We wrote you yesterday: this goes by the Galley Independ-
ence, she carries 100 stand of Arms in Boxes; our Boats will
be up soon after her with 600 stand from Baltimore, with
Cartridge Boxes, Cartridges & Flints all ordered to be lodged
with Col^o Hollingsworth, subject to your Orders. You'll have
none of the Boxes broke unnecessarily, all possible Care taken
of the Ammunition and as the Men are discharged, the Arms
collected and packed up again in the same Boxes and every
Thing which is left sent back as soon as the Occasion for them
is over. To prevent such Loss as too commonly happens, we

p. 162