Letters to the Council. 509

matter, deem it essential to the success of the measures in contem-
plation to be carried on against the Enemy, to call on the States for
certain Aids of Militia, in addition to the requisitions for Men
already made, and that they should be at places of rendezvous ap-
ponted by me, by the fifteenth day of next month. The aid requested,
in this instance, of your State, is founded on a principle of appor-
tionment common to all the States from New Hampshire to Mary-
land inclusive, (the others on account of their distance and the opera-
tions in the southern quarter not being nor called on) and is Stated
as Two thousand two hundred and five Rank and File. This number
of Militia well armed, and equipped in every other respect for the
Field in the best manner circumstances will admit, under proper
Officers, I wish to be at the Head of Elk at the time mentioned by
the Committee, which appear to me a suitable place for their ren-
dezvousing in the first instance, and from whence they will proceed,
on my orders as occasion may require. It will also be material, on
account of disciplining and organizing the men, as well as on account
of public economy, that they should be formed into full Regiments.
If this is not done, it will render our arrangements extremely diffi-
cult and irregular, and will add by greatly encreasing the number of
Officers, very considerably to the public expence. I would beg leave
to observe, that I think the whole number of Militia requested from
your State should be comprised in four Regiments. This additional
aid will not, I trust, and erneastly intreat, impede in the smallest
degree, the filling up the Regiments of the State, by draft, to their
full Complement, as requested by the Hon^bl the Committee in their
letters of the 25^th ult^o This is a point of such vast importance, so
absolutely essential to give the least prospect of success to our opera-
tions, and indeed on which they depend, that I could not forbear
mentioning it. If the Regiments are compleated by drafts, it is pos-
sible our demands for Militia may be a good deal diminished, but
this must be governed by Events, and therefore for objects so very
interesting, so important as those are to which we at present look, we
should provide whatever may be possibly requisite
I have the Honor to be With great Respect and Esteem Your
Excellency's Most ob^t and humble Serv^t G^o Washington

Brown Book

No. i

[Richard Dallam Harford County, to His Excellency
Thomas Sim Lee Esqr.]

Sir I am just returned from York & Lancaster where I sold the
flour Rye & Corn M^r Baily sent to York & Wrights ferry, at York
Town I found 75^ Bushels of Corn at Wrights Ferry 401^ Bush^ls
Corn 19 Bush^ls of Rye & four Barrels of flour, there must be a very
Considerable Loss in the Corn which was stored part in a Continental
Store the floor of which, was so open then I could run my hand
through the Joints, & the remainder in a house very insecure & from

June 3
Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 37