Letters to the Council. 479

[W. Smith, Baltimore, to His Excellency, Thomas Sim Lee ;
In Council]

Sir I have chartered the Brigantine Ranger Thomas Johnson
master to carry provisions for the fleet & Army of his most Chris-
tian Majesty in the West Indies. She mounts Ten four pounders
and is prized for fourteen & carrys thirty men. As I intend she
shall Sail in C^o with & as Convoy for those Vessells for w^h I made
Application yesterday, the present serves to Request you'll be so
obliging as to send me a permission for this Brig, to receive her
Cargo on Board

April 22

[Thos Richardson, Georgetown to His Excellency
Thomas Sim Lee Esq^r]

Sir By yesterdays Post I rec^d a letter from Col^o Biddle dated
Morris Town 13^th Ins^t advising that the Maryland Division were
under orders to march to the Southward, he expected they would
move on the 15^th their Rout is by Baltimore, Snowdens, Georgetown,
Alexandria &c. requesting me to assist them with Forage as far as
was consisttent with the Laws of the State. I apprehend this makes
it necessary that I should inform you that there is some Forage in the
Magazine here but I apprehend not so much as the Troops will
require & request you would consider whether it would not be proper
that the Commissioners of this County who have plenty should be
directed to supply the Issuing Forage Master here during the present
March, provided he has Occasion of their Assistance
I beg leave further to Suggest that the Troops might be benefited
by orders being given to the different Commissioners on the Rout
they are to march to supply them with Forage, as there are few or
no Continental Forage Masters on the Western Shore. I hope the
foregoing will not be thought impertinent but if it should I beg it
may be imputed to the desire I have to comply with the Requisitions
of my Friend & my Zeal for the Publick Service.

April 23

[William Smallwood, Portobacco, to Governor Lee]
Sir I wrote you the other day by M^r Hamilton that I had received
Advice from the Board of War that the Maryland Division was on
the March for Carolina since which I have received no Intelligence
respecting them, their route was then announced to be from Tren-
town by water to Christeen thence to the head of Elk where they
were to embark for Petersborough in Virginia if you shoud have
any Intelligence of their Arrival at the head of Elk, observe or hear
of their passing Annapolis I shoud be much obliged to you for the
earliest intimation thereof as it wou'd enable me to form a ludgment
when and where it would be most eligible to fall in with them. I have
received no Instruction from General Washington relative to the

April 23
Brown
Book No a
Letter
No. 42