of the Council of Maryland. 665

Offer you make to do the Business in his Stead. We have orderd up
a large Quantity of Cattle, and directed the Commissary General to
keep the Post supplied as well as the State of the Country will afford

November

10

Liber No. 78
p. 300

[Council to Colo. Moses Rawlings.]

A Proportion of the Prisoners captured with Cornwallis have, as
we are informed by Col^o Thomas, arrived in this State, where they
are to be provided for, Part of them are to be kept in Frederick Town.
It is not in our Power to give particular Directions respecting them,
but have referred the providing for them to yourself and Col^o
Thomas, to whom we have wrote more particularly and have re-
quested him to confer with you on the Subject. We have no Doubt
but you will do every Thing for the Interest of the State and the
Convenience of the Prisoners. To enable you to provide for the
Prisoners with their Guards we hereby authorize you to impress or
seize, if not to be procured otherwise, all Articles necessary to repair
the Barracks and other Houses for the immediate Reception of them.
The Guards and every Workman that can be got, ought to be em-
ployed in this Business, as well as the Prisoners. We have directed the
Commissaries-to send Supplies of Cattle and Flour to Frederick Town
and have requested Col^o Thomas to forward a Proportion to you.

Ibid.

[Council to Colo. Philip Thomas.]

We are favored with your two Letters of the 5^th Instant. We find
many Difficulties and Impediments in providing for the British
Prisoners to be Quartered in this State. ' From the late Information
we received of their Destination, we are totally unprepared for their
Reception. It is impossible for us to give you particular Directions
at this Time, and must submit the whole Management of this Business
to you, recommending an immediate Consultation with Col^o Raw-
lings, who is written to by this Opportunity, to receive as many of the
Prisoners as possible at Fort Frederick; and we authorize you to im-
press and seize, if not to be procured otherwise all Articles necessary
to repair the Barracks and other Houses for the immediate Shelter of
the Troops; the Militia and every Workman that can be got ought to
be employed in this Business, as well as the Prisoners; the most effec-
tual Measures will be taken to pay your Orders or Certificates in

Ibid.

prosecuting this Business. The Proposal for erecting a Stockade Fort
near the Mountains, will be laid before the General Assembly, in the
Mean Time every Exertion will be necessary to guard provide for and
shelter the Troops. Provisions are Ordered from the several Counties
to be forwarded to Frederick, and you will call on the Commissary of
your County to provide and issue, until a Supply reaches you, such
Proportion of which must be forwarded to Col^o Rawlings agreeable to
the Number of Prisoners which may be stationed at Fort Frederick.

p. 301