of the Council of Maryland. 41

here untill this morning. He called upon me (as a Commissary for
a supply of Provisions for the Troops during there stay, as also for
a quantity sufficient to take them to the next stage, I considered the
mode of my issuing provision, as highly improper, having no orders
from you for that purpose; however as there appeared an absolute
necessaty of the troops being furnished, and no possability of its
being done in any other manner, I consented to his request, having
previously consulted M^r Rogers & Col^o Sim, who considered my
complyance as indispensably necessary. I have Captⁿ Armstrongs
receipt for 617 1/2^lbs Bacon & one Barrel of Flower and must submit
the property of the measure to your consideration under the reflec-
tion of having acted for the best.

August 3

[Robt Done, Worcester, to His Excellency Thomas Sim Lee Esqr]

May it please your Excellency Sir As it is uncertain how soon
the Militia of this County may be called to actual Service, it becomes
necessary that the several Field Officers should know their Rank, as
I apprehend the determining the Rank of the Militia Officers is re-
ferred to your Excellency, shou'd be exceeding Glad if you cou'd
now take the time to settle it. I am somewhat apprehensive if the
Militia shou'd be called on before it is done it may occasion some
disturbance among us, as Col^o Hopewell who commands the last
Battalion raised in the County seems to think himself intitled to pre-
cedence. If your Excellency will be kind enough to refer to the
proceedings of the Convention of December 75 under which the
Militia was regulated you'l find the Battalion I now have the honor
to command distinguished as the first Batallion in the County; at
that time there were but two Battalions in the County and upon the
Convention ballotting for Rank of Counties and Colonels the Batal-
lion at that time commanded by Col^o Peter Chaille which I now com-
mand was the tenth and the other commanded by Col^o Purnell the
twenty fourth, it has since been thought necessary to divide the
County into three Batallions and accordingly a third was composed
out of the former two; of which Col^o Hopewell has the command,
by means of resignations Col^o Hopewell's Commission (as he says
bears the oldest date, notwithstanding there is not a field Officer in
the County except of his own Batallion, but were such before he ever
had any commission the Militia under these circumstances I cannot
suppose him intitled to the Rank he contends for: and shall be glad
of your Excellency's determination the bearer (Col^o Dashiell) had
once the command of my Battalion; to whom I refer your Excel-
lency for any further particulars as there is a want of Officers in
Capt. Patterson's Company beg leave to recommend the following
persons as such Jonathan Stevenson first Lieut Benjamin Stevenson
second Lieut and Noble Dreadon Ensign

August 4
Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 77