of the Council of Maryland. 455

Effect immediately and to enable you we have given Orders to the
Lieutenant of Washington to furnish on your requisition as many of
the Militia of his County as you may think necessary to escort the
Prisoners and have desired Col^o Price of Frederick Town to supply
you with such Provisions as he may have on Hand and if necessary
to seize as much as may be wanting and have authorised and em-
powered the Lieutenants of Washington County to impress waggons
Teams and Drivers sufficient for the forwarding the Prisoners into
the State of Pensylvania where we would have them marched and
where we expect you will receive further Orders from the Board
of War to whom we have wrote on the Subject The Resolution
referred to is enclosed. We were favored with your Letter of the
25^th Ult. which shall be laid before the Assembly, it gives us Pain
that there should be such a Scarcity of Provisions and so many
Embarrassments. We cannot write you fully at present but will do
it by the first convenient Opportunity.

June I
Liber No. 78
p. 172

[Council to Lieutenant of Washington County.]
In Pursuance of the Directions of the general Assembly for the
removal of the British Prisoners from Fort Frederick, Northward
we request you will order such a Guard from the Militia at large
under trusty and vigilant Officers as Col^o Wood may deem sufficient
for the safe keeping and conducting them into some Part of Pensyl-
vania. You will impress if not to be procured by Hire, a sufficient
Number of Waggons Teams and Drivers to transport their Baggage
and Provision.

Ibid.

[Council to ]
The Enemy under Lord Cornwallis are marching with great
rapidity through the State of Virginia, and a force embarked under
Leslie supposed for Patowmack to cooperate with Cornwallis makes it
necessary that we should have as great a Force as in our Power to
receive them should they invade this State. We therefore direct you

Ibid.

to give Orders to the Select Militia of your County to march im-
mediately to George Town on Patowmack the Place of Rendezvous
and there to remain Subject to our further orders. And we also
request you to order all the Militia in your County who can be well
armed and accoutred to hold themselves in readiness to march at
a moments warning.
Circular to the Lieutenants of Charles Prince Georges Mont-
gomery Frederick Washington, With this Addition to the Lieu' of
Montgomery. As the large Quantity of public Provision at George
Town may be an Object with the Enemy. We request you to have it
carried into the most safe interior Parts of the County and to be
lodged in different Places and likewise with this Addition to the
Lieutenant of Frederick. You will direct the Troops of light Horse
to repair to George Town.

p. 173