of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 149

Officers; the returns not being near compleat nor, in all Cases,
so distinct as we could wish, we cannot ascertain the Number

of Men who go under the Character of Drafts, but, from what

we have seen, we perceive that an over Proportion of Officers
are among them. Capt^t Williamson and Lieu^t Dare from
Calvert, Lieu^t Morgan, who you appointed Brevet Captain
last Campaign, from S^t Mary's and Lieu^t Dyes, from Prince
Georges, go up now with the Recruits, Substitutes and a Few
Drafts. We do not know how many there will be in the
Whole, but suppose not more than one Company, and
probably, with the others there may also be some Officers.
We feel much Embarrassment under these circumstances as
we imagine several of them will be supernumerary Officers
and have little to do in Camp, and sending them home from
hence might occasion much uneasiness in their Neighbourhoods
on their Return. We have therefore concluded that they shall
proceed and wish you, as soon as you can have a comprehen-
sive View of the Subject and its Circumstances that you will
retain them or such of them as may be useful in their Station
or any other that may suit with their Inclination, or if you see
that they cannot render the Service they wish, that you would
discharge them. Inclosed you have a Copy of the Resolution
of the General Assembly respecting Gen^l Count Pulaski's
Legion, by which we understand he is on 'the Footing, in this
State, with the Maryland Regiments. We shall, if we find he
has any men who were attached to the Regiments, endeavour
to have them restored. Our Exertions to equip our Men
have not fully succeeded. We have endeavoured to get As-
sistance from the Continental Stores, but do not know
whether we have succeeded; we wish you to second our In-
stances, especially for Blankets, they are not to be had here
and nothing but the strongest Impressions of sending the
Men forward without could have induced. We run too great
Risk of the Loss of many of them. Could you not spare an
Officer of a proper Temper to teize the Cloathier General
perpetually? We think, a good Dunn could not be more
usefully employed.
Gen^l Smallwood. We are &^ca

C. C.

[Council to C. Williamson.]

In Council 24^th June 1778.
Sir.
Lieutenant Johns informs us that there is a young Fellow
Basil Hellen a Draft from Calvert, an exceeding good
Drummer and is willing to enter into the State Service for

p. 178