456 Proceedings and Correspondence

June 1
Liber No. 78
P. 173

[Council to Philip Thomas, Esqr.]

As the Enemy under Lord Cornwallis are making as rapid Progress
thro' the State of Virginia, and in all Probability will invade this
State, it is absolutely necessary that we should be as well prepared as
possible to receive them on an Invasion, we therefore direct you will
have all the Arms in your County immediately repaired and put in
good Order, and have 20,000 Cartridges immediately made up, for
which Purposes you will hire as many Hands as you may deem neces-
sary. You will send directly to this place one thousand weight of
Lead and six barrels of musquet Powder to be delivered to M^r Shaw.
We request you to make a full return of Military Stores in your
Charge as soon as possible.

Ibid.

[Council to Joseph Wilkinson, Esqr.]

You will deliver the Bullet Moulds furnished you by this Board
some Time ago to the Bearer hereof, we are surprised that you
neglected sending them to M^r Shaw agreeable to Order. The Move-
ments of the Enemy, makes it necessary that you order such of the
Militia in your County as are well armed and accoutred to hold
themselves in Readiness to march at a Moments Warning, to such
Place or Places of Rendezvous as may be directed hereafter. You

p. 174

will have all the Arms that can be made fit for Service immediately
collected and repaired.

Ibid.

[Council to Capt. Keeports.]

As the Enemy under Lord Cornwallis are making a rapid Progress
thro' the State of Virginia, and in all Probability may make a push
for Baltimore Town, it is absolutely necessary that we should be as
well prepared as possible to receive them on their invading this State,
we therefore direct you to have the Arms immediately repaired and
put into good Order, and to have as many Cartridges made as you
possibly can, for which Purposes you will hire as many Hands as
you may deem necessary to compleat this Business with the utmost
Expedition

Ibid.

[Council to President of the Board of War.]

We have the Honor to transmit you a Resolution of the gen^l
Assembly of this Day respecting the removal of the British Prisoners
from this State to the Northward, in Consequence of which we have
this Day wrote Col^o Wood to march them immediately into the State
of Pensylvania, and referred him to your Honble Board for further
Orders. The general Assembly were induced to take this Step from
the rapid Movements of the Enemy under Cornwalis in Virginia,
who by the latest Intelligence had reached Page's Warehouses and
was expected in a short Time at Alexandria, from whence to Fort