of the Council of Maryland. 609

[Council to James Calhoun, Esqr.]

By Information this Day received from Governor Nelson of Vir-
ginia, the Article of Flour will be immediately wanted for the com-
bined Forces in Virginia. You will therefore use every Exertion to
have as much as possible collected at such Places on navigable Water
as will be most convenient for Transportation. There are consider-
able Quantities of Wheat and Flour in Frederick and Washington
Counties; we request you to have the Wheat immediately manu-
factured into good Flour and waggoned without Delay to George
Town, and the Flour now in the Possession of those Commissaries,
must be sent to George Town as soon as possible. We directed Col^o
Rawlings to purchase Waggons to transport the Flour from Wash-
ington. If Waggons should not be attainable by Hire, you will make
use of the enclosed impress Warrant to obviate any Difficulties that
may arise. We must call your Attention to this Business, and think
your Presence will be necessary [to] assist in forwarding the Sup-
plies to the several Posts. We think for the present, you ought to
refrain from delivering Flour to those Gentlemen to whom we gave
Orders, and flatter ourselves the Importance of the Service and the
immediate Demand for that Article will induce them to wait without
Complaining a few weeks.

September 7
Liber No. 78
p. 279

[Council to Governor Nelson of Virginia.]

The Arrival of the French Fleet commanded by the Count De
Grasse with 3000 Land Forces in the Bay of Chesapeake gave us the
highest Satisfaction and we can but applaud the Cautionary Measures
concerted to prevent the Escape of Lord Cornwallis and have no
Doubt of their proving effectual. We are anticipating the Pleasures
that must follow so auspicious an Event as the Surrender of the
Garrisons of York and Gloucester. We saw the Necessity of laying
in ample Supplies of Provisions for the Fleet and Army and have
been and are still exerting ourselves to procure a large Quantity of
Flour, 5 or 6000 Beeves and what salt Meat is obtainable in our
State. Although we cannot at this Time, ascertain the Quantities of
Provisions this State can furnish, yet there is Reason to believe they
will be considerable in the essential Articles of Flour and Cattle.

Ibid.

Saturday 8^th September 1781

Ordered that the Commissary of Stores deliver to Serjeant Rose
of the 4^th Regiment a suit of Cloaths, one pair of Shoes and one pair
of Stockings
That the W. S. Treasurer pay to Mary Preston wife of Thomas
Preston late a Soldier in the 7^th Regim^t and Ann Dudley wife of
Joseph Dudley a soldier in the 3^d Regiment each, twenty Dollars of
39

September 8
Liber C. B.
No. 24
p. 150