Letters to the Council. 377

Baltimore Town also his late purchases — as my wants for feeding
the Army is so great and a very few days will Stop the navigation
in Chesapeak bay and Delaware with Ice, and my Principle depen-
dance is in feeding the Army untill the first of march next with
flour from your State — and as I have Every Reason to believe
the french Consul has Double the Quantity he was Licenced to
purchase, Requests your Excellency and council to order M^r Dal-
lam to deliver over all his former and late purchases of flour and
wheat under your Directions to M^r Jacob Giles who has my Instruc-
tions to forward the same to head of Elk without a moments delay.
Shall inform you fully by next post my prospects of feeding the
Army the Quantity of flour upon hand and what my expectations are
respecting future suplies.

Red Book
No. 25

[John Randall, Morristown, to His Excelcy Thomas Sim Lee Esqr.]

Sir I arrivd here two days ago with the Cloathing Sent from
Maryland at which place our Troops arrived this Morning and are
preparing to Build their Hutts for the Winter. I've got a House,-
ready and .am to be furnish'd with the Taylors to make up the Over-
alls immediately
I could purchase nothing in Philadelphia, the Continental agents
purchase everything fit for the army. Our whole dependence is on
the State for the deficiency of the two Thousand Overalls, Shirts
& Sacks, with all the Shoes, Stockings and Blankets you can pos-
sibly procure, at least twelve hundred of the latter are wanted and
our men Suffering exceedingly for want of them

December 3

[Col. Rawlings, Fort Frederick to Gov Lee]

Sir I have the Hon^r to Inform your Excellency that the Board
of War Intends sending to this Garrison four Hundred Prisoners,
and they begg I would Solicit y^r Excellency for a Guard of Militia,
but as I dont expect the Prisoners wil larrive before the first of
January it will be needless to have them here sooner.
Y^r Ex^cy will please order up a Comp^y at that time as I have wrote
to the Board that I shall then be ready to receive the Prisoners.
I am very Certain the Militia will never answer this purpose, for
they will not Subject themselves to such Close duty as will be neces-
sary to prevent the prisoners from getting away which would mor-
tify me very much to see one of them make their escape from us,
altho they do it dayly, owing to our great Humanity, which in my
opinion is misplaced.
I would begg leave to recommend raising a Standing Guard for
this purpose which I think might be done with propper encourage-
ment, that is 200 Dollars from the State, Congress is willing to
allow Cloathing & Cont^l pay

December 3