Letters to the Council. 483

Officers and Commandant who I expect this day & am sorry to say
we have neither vessells or provision (of the meat kind) at this
post sufficient for their daily consumption much less for their em-
barkation) yesterday I was apply 'd to from Wilmington by the
Commissary there acquainting that the Artillery was there on their
way to this place and could not proceed for want of Provisions of
the flesh kind. I cou'd not send them any as we have not three days
provisions of that kind here. I have apply'd to M^r Ewing late Com-
missary who assures me he has none but a small Quantity at M^r
Jn^o Pages Commissioner of Kent County, (which seems to be in
dispute) I have sent a Vessell this morning to M^r Page requesting
the Provisions on any terms not doubting but the State will pay him
for such part as is not already paid for and flatter myself of its
coming. In the mean time am obliged to send out and procure fresh
Shad for the whole Troops this will do a day or two yet. (but not
longer) I must therefore beg the favor of your Excellency and
Honors to take Immediate order in it & direct as you may think
Necessary. I have not half Vessells enough and shall want at least
200 Barrells Pork and Beef but if part cou'd be had, the other might
meet them on their way down the Bay shall want a quantity of Pork
for the Artillery and put the Baggage which go by Land, by way of
Harford Baltimore and Alexandria to Petersburgh, as I am order'd
to see them through this State by the Board of War and Q. M. G^l
and am also order'd by the Navy Board to have a quantity (24
pieces) of Cannon haul'd from M^r Hughes Furness to Baltimore and
to see them forwarded to Philadelphia suppose it may not be amiss to
furnish me with orders for the Commissioners of Baltimore, Wash-
ington &c^a Counties to serve my order with Forage, as it will take
at least 24 Waggons for this Service and they cant take Forage
from here, nor have I money to buy it, your particulars orders in
this as in all other the matters related of, will much oblige Gentlemen
Your Most Obed^t Hum. Servant

April 27

[John Stull, Washington County to His Excellency
Thomas Sim Lee]

Sir I ake the Liberty to Inform you that Thomas Taylor a
Greable to your Reprive Did inList in the Service of the United
States has since Deserted with Two others Stole three horses they
are a Gain apprehended and now in our Gaol I w^d be Glad your
Excelency w^d Take order with said Tayler as he is an Extraordinary
felow and prehaps Get a way

April 28

[Joseph Chapline, Hagerstown, to Gov. Lee]

May It Please Your Excelency: We have Received orders from
the Committee To Transmitt an account of the purchases made by us
immediately to them & as there Clark who has omitted his name

Red Book
No. 23
Letter
No. ?!
April 28