of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 523

be expected at Fort Frederick. We don't know what will be
their Route but have recommended it through Black's Gap,
to shorten the Distance and avoid Frederick Town. Wash-
ington County has been so much burthened already that we
cannot expect a Guard can be fully furnished from thence, in-
deed 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 desire that you will immediately order a full
Company of the Militia of your County, of the Classes which
have not yet served consisting of one Captain, two Lieutenants,
one Ensign four Sergeants, four Corporals and 68 Privates, to
hold themselves in Readiness and actually to march so as to be
at Fort Frederick the 27^th Ins^t where they are to continue on
Duty with half the Number of Washington Militia for five
Weeks or until relieved, as we intend they shall be about that
Time by a like Company from Montgomery, unless, as we
hope, the Guard by that Time should either not be further
wanted or some other Provision should take Place. You are
to supply the Company with Arms and a reasonable Quantity
of Ammunition. The Continental Commissaries are already
ordered to furnish Provisions. In a Matter of this Conse-
quence where Delay might prove so very injurious, we can
rely on your Efforts and flatter ourselves that the Militia, im-
pressed with the Necessity and having a just Confidence that
we, on this as every other Occasion, shall joyfully embrace the
first Opportunity of lightening their Burthen, will, as they have
hitherto done, discharge their Duty with Alacrity. We request
the Favor of you to send the inclosed to Col^o Hughes imme-
diately by Express, it is on the same Subject as this Letter &
that you will also forward M^r Murdock's Letter by the same,
or some other safe Hand, it is from Col^o Blaine, appointing
him Comm^y of Purchases with our Licence under the late Law.
We are &^ca
Normand Bruce Esq^r
L^t of Fred^k County

[Council to H. Young.]

In Council Annapolis 12^th Sept^r 1779
Sir
The five nine Pounders were lent the Buckskin under the
Orders of the Assembly; we did not know of their having
been yet returned, as they are we imagine, they are not
wanted again and therefore presuming the Assembly would
sell them you may have them with any Number of, not exceed-
ing two hundred and fifty nine pound Shot at Balt^o, for the

C. C.