Letters to the Council. 437

[Samuel Chester Baltimore to His Excelency Thomas S. Lee]

S^r Having the honour of your Orders for Recruiting men for
the Service of the united States with the Lawes of this State To
Direct me and Likewise positive orders not to Inlist Brittish or
forreign Deserters
But I find that there are officers in this Town which Inlist Boath
Deserters and prisoners of war which I Can by no means Do my
orders Being to the Contreary had I had that Liberty I could have
Recruited more then the Col. of men for Baltimore Countey
I herewith send you a List of the men Recruited By me and
Delivered To Capt. Samuel Farmer of the third Maryland Battalion
agreeable To your orders I Drew on the Sherriff of Baltimore
•County for 3000 Dollars which I applyed Towards Raising these
Recrutes

But Two of these men after Being Duley attested Before a Majis-
trate Deserted and as Capt Farmer says not Being Regularly passed
Before a field officer he Could not Give me a Recipt for them But
I had Carried them Before Maj^r Sellers and he said they wair Good
men But Gave no further Certifycate
Now should I be at the Loss of these mens Bountey it would Be
hard as there is not an opertunity of meeting with a field officer
Every Day in Town and as I mentioned Before Brittish Deserters
and prisoners of war pass Before our Field officers without Ex-
amination

Therefore I should Be Glad of your Honours Further Instruc-
tions about the matter

February 28
[The en-
closed list
is not
found]

[Conrad T. Wederstrandt, Wye River, to His Excellency
Thomas Sim Lee, Esquire]

Sir I had the honor to write to your Excellency the 5^th instant
since which M^r Richard Keene Commissioner for Caroline County
has attempted to seize the Continental flour & wheat I have purchased
in part of that County and also to press the Continental Waggons
I have drawing the said flour to the Delawar Landings in order to be
fowarded to the army pretending to be authorized by Law So to do,
in order to remedy to the deffect occasioned by my neglect, which
being erroneous is the more sencible, and Gentlemen of the House
of Delegates having informed me it was look upon the Law passed
appointing Commissioners would facilitate the Commissaries pur-
chases, I am the more Surprized at M^r Rich^d Keene's conduct;
therefore must desire Your Excellency's orders how to proceed,
meanwhile I have directed the Millers & Waggoners to go on their
usual way unless M^r Rich^d Keene should apply by authority and
with proper officers in which case I have directed to let him take
possession without opposition 'till I am informed by your Excel-

February 29