388 Journal and Correspondence.

Red Book
No. 22

Troops & Baggage when embarked must be expected to sail with
Western Wind which will detain them in any of the Eastern Shore
Creeks, inlets, or Ports untill another Frost may happen, when from
the City of Annapolis they may go off with a fair wind (the first of
a N. Wester) and be out of danger before a frost can Check them,
as you will observe by the inclos'd letters that the Board expects my
answer, acquainting them of the probability of success and my
opinion of the Possibility of getting Craft. He thank you to wright
me on the Subject, and also to give your opinion of what place the
Troops had best imbark at and when, and what Vessels can be had
to carry them

December
17

[Richard Peters, By order, War office to Col Hollingsworth]

Sir On conversing with General Woodford we find that the Vir-
ginia Troops must inevitably go down the Bay by Water no Wag-
gons being within our power to convey their Baggage. It seems
most probable that the passage immediately by water from Elk
will be Obstructed by the Ice, Therefore the Vessells must be col-
lected at some place the least likely to be frozen up & on the Eastern
side of Susquehanna Kent Island or Charles Town, to us have been
mentioned but you will judge for Yourself being most intimately
acquainted with Circumstances, Waggons must be in readiness to
convey the Baggage to the place of Embarkation from Elk or indeed
from Xteen for if the water Passage be practicable the Troops will
take advantage of it, if not the Waggons conveying their Baggage
by Land from hence can carry it to the Vessells. We wait with
Impatience to hear what your success has been in Collecting Vessells.

December
18

[Tim. Pickering War Office to Colo Hollingsworth]

Sir We have rec^d your letter of the 16^th Ins^t by Jiles. For answer
relative to Craft to be provided for transporting the Virginia troops
we refer you to our letter of yesterday sent off this day by Express,
copy of which is inclosed, notwithstanding the difficulties attending
their passage by water, we are convinced a land march would be
still more embarrassing, and therefore urgenty repeat our request
that you would spare no pains to procure the necessary number of
transports, and collect them at some rendevous on the eastern shore
(the most convenient you can find) that will assuredly remain open
notwithstanding the Frosts

December

23
Red Book

No. 5
Letter
No. 29

[Henry Lee Junr Maj. Com. Md. Monmouth, to the Honr The
Delegates in Congress from the State of Maryland

Gentlemen. I beg leave to refer to you the enclosed paragraph
of a let. from Gen. Smallwood in answer to my application in behalf
of the Maryland Officers in my corps.