of the Council of Maryland. 39

Our Recruits march to morrow under care Capⁿ Praul about 45
in number recruits & Deserters

August 3

[Jos'a Beall, Lieut P^s Gs. Cty, Bladensburgh to Govr Lee]

S^r The Classes have returned 23 men for the new Battⁿ and 17
for filling up the Old Ridgments, There are but two men now want-
ing to compleat the Quota of men for the New Battalion, I am in
hopes they will yet be furnished by those two Classes which will
save a deal of Trouble to my self & the people of the county, in
Clasing & Drafting the Militia for two men, agreeable to the Act for
Regulating the Militia, which I find by the Act I am to do, to supply
that deficiency.
By the Act for Expediting the raising an Additional Battalion
(which has rather tended to perplex & prolong the Busness) in the
last Section of the Act are the following words " And all property
belonging to any Exempted person in such Class, as doth not find
a recruit, shall pay five pound of the fifteen in the hundred hereto-
fore imposed by the above recited Original & suplementary Act "
Some of the Exempted persons in some of the Oases, though the
Militia has not yet been drafted refuses to pay more then 5 p C^t
towards procuring a recruit for the new Battalion, which would
make it fall heavy on the other persons who Compose such Clases.
Whether the law (as the militia has not yet been drafted) will
support me in issuing Executions against the property of such per-
sons for more than 5 p C^t Or whether I must proceed to Classing
& drafting the militia to fill up so small a deficiency, remains a doubt
with me I must therefore be Your Excellencys and Hon^rs direction
therein
I have inclosed to Coll^l Forrest the returns and inrollments of all
the men that has been recruited in this County, chief of whome I
Expect by this time is in Town

August 3

[Eph. Blaine C. G. of Purch^s, Kings Ferry to Govr Sim Lee]

Sir The Committee of Congress at Head Quarters having Called
upon the States to furnish Supplies of Provisions for Our Army
(during the Campaign) which is Increasing fast, and makes the
daily Consumption of Provisions very Considerable, and will re-
quire every possible Exertion of the States to keep them supplied.
Your State is requested to furnish for the Commissary Department,
Two Thousand five hundred barrels of flour and one hundred forty
three Thousand and Thirty five pounds of Beef Monthly, and
thirty Thousand weight of Bacon for the Campaign. There is four-
teen Brigades Assembled in this Neighbourhood, and recruits
hourly Coming in, which with the followers of the Army, now Con-
sume One hundred Barrels of flour and Sixty five head of Cattle

August 3