Letters to the Council. 381

[Tim Pickering, By order of the Board, Philadelphia war office to
Gov. Lee]

Sir Yours of the 2^d inst was duly received, The North Carolina
brigade is gone down the River on their way to the head of Elk. The
Virginia troops will follow. It is necessary that you make provision
therefore for the transportation of two thousand Men, besides the
North Carolina brigade, the latter you will dispatch as soon as they
arrive. The Virginians may be at Elk in Ten or Twelve days. Some
exertion will be requisite on your part, write us of your prospects ;
and mention the number of water cask (if any) that will be neces-
sary to be sent with the Virginia troops, during the ten or Twelve
days mentioned, the craft you collect for the Virginia troops may
be employed in any short trips; but you will be sure to have them
ready by that time. We hope there will be no failure in procuring
the number wanted.
p. S. the enemy ought not to know of the passing these troops
down the Bay: if it can be let it be a Secret, till they are all embarked

December 8
See
Liber C C
No. 22
p. 42

[Eph Blaine D. C. G. Philadelphia to Govr Lee]

Sir The distresses of the Army for want of Bread and my great
fears respecting their present & future supply will sufficiently Ap-
pologize for my troubling your Excellency & Council so often with
the Business of my Department.
The depreciated State of our Currency, the Spirit of Monopoly
which so generally prevails with mankind, & the temper of the
Farmers to hold back from Sale such produce as they have to spare,
is very alarming and makes me dread a Disolution of the Army for
want of Bread, indeed I despair of being able to procure one third
of the quantity demanded for the ensuing Years Supply on any
terms without the aid of the Legislative Authorities, and the most
vigorous measures adopted to secure every Bushel of Wheat & Bar-
rel of Flour either in the Speculators or Millers Possession & pro-
curing the residue which is to spare. The Millers & Speculators in
your State have I presume bought up considerable Quantities, I
wish it could be secured and means taken to stop their future pur-
chases while the wants of the Army are so great
As the Season is now at hand in which the Navigation of Chese-
peak & Delaware will be obstructed with Ice & cut off all Com-
munication of Supplies by Water which is the only easy mode of
transporting Provisions towards Camp.
I have some time ago given directions to my Assistants in your
& Delaware State, to rise their utmost exertions to forward every
ounce of Flour in their Possession before the 20^th Instant & have to
request your Excellency & Council to order the State Commissioners

December 8
Red Book
No. 25
Letter
No. 44