522 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.

Blacks Gap, to shorten the Distance and avoid Fred^k Town.
Washington County has been so much burthened already that
we cannot expect a Guard can be fully furnished from thence,
indeed it gives us real Concern to be obliged to call on the
Militia any where for Service, at this Season, but Necessity
compels us. We have ordered a Company of one Captain,
2 Lieut^s, 1 Ensⁿ, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corp^ls & 68 Priv^ts from Freder-
ick and we desire that you will immediately order half a Com-
pany of the Militia of your County, of the Classes which have
not yet served, consisting of 1 first & 1 2^d Lieu^t an Ensⁿ 2
Serg^ts, 2 Corp^ls & 34 Privates immediately to hold themselves
in Readiness and actually to march so as to be at Fort Freder-
ick the 27^th Ins^t where they are to continue on Duty with the
Frederick County Company five Weeks & until relived as we
desire they may be by such another half Company which you
are hereby empowered, in like Manner to call out on Duty,
unless, as we hope, the Guard should either not be further
wanted or some other Provision should take Place. You are
to supply the Militia of your County with Arms & a reason-
able Quantity of Ammunition. The inclosed Letter from Col^o
Blaine to Col. Rawlings which be pleased to forward imme-
diately, is on the Subject of Provisions, which are to be
furnished by the Continental Comm^ys. We rely on your
Efforts to prevent any Disappointm^t and hope the Militia will
perform their Duty with Alacrity in a Service so essential.
The rough Fellows to be kept in Fort Frederick will require
some Body to superintend on the Spot, who has been used to
such People, we have mentioned Col. Rawlings's Vicinity to
the Fort and we could wish he would undertake it
We are &^ca
Dan^l Hughes Esq^r
L^t of Washington County

p. 23

[Council to N. Bruce.]

In Council Annapolis 11^th Sept^r 1779
Sir.
We received the Day before yesterday a Letter from the
Board of War dated the 4^th Ins^t informing us that they are
much overburthened with Prisoners at Philadelphia (by what
we learn from Col^o Blaine they have there about 1000) that
they are under the Necessity of sending about four Hundred
to Fort Frederick and requesting of us a good Militia Guard
over them, we have answered their Letter that we shall en-
deavour to get the Guard and that the Prisoners may be sent
off about this Day week so that about the 28^th Ins^t they may