158 Letters to the Governor and Council

Wednesday
April 1
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 6

April 2

tachments of the Militia from Ann Arundel — Calvert — Pr: Georges.
Charles or St. Marys as Convenient, that at least the Barges might
be prevented from Ravaging the Coasts above Benedict if not lower
down.

[Rich'd Dallam, Harford County, to Gov. Lee.] (fav'd by
Mr. Smith)

Not being honord with any Answer to my Letter of 21^st Ultimo
And expecting to hear every hour of the Enemy being in our Rivers
and that I shall be obliged to order out the Militia to prevent the
Inhabitants from being plundered I am obliged to send to your
Excellency for directions when I shall apply for Arms Ammunition
& Meat Provisions which I may stand in need of And if Its possible
I shall be glad to obtain for our County a few p^s Artilerey as they will
render us essential service if only used as alarms to Collect the Militia
as at present I have no way but the sending to every man notice to
attend and before We can collect them in this way the damage appre-
hend^d may be done. I am much in want of a Little Salt & shall be
glad to know where to apply for about 20 Bushls as its out of my
power to procure it for the want of money. I have received very
Little provision in Virtue of the Act to raise supplies not more than
20 Bush^ls Wheat & 200 lbs Pork but I have about 400 Barrels flour
of my former purchase Ready to forward and shall be obliged for
directions what I am to do with it. As I am afraid to send it by
Water, & part of it lays within the Enemies Power if they come
after it.
I have passed ten recruits under the New Law & expect more &
as there is no person to receive or provide for them I am much at a
loss what to do with them, I am to draught our Militia on fryday to
make out the Quota of the County I find by the Law Your Excellency
may put off the draught in those Counties which have heretofore
exerted themselves to procure recruits & as I flatter myself Our
County has heretofore furnishd more men then any other of the same
ability by Our last Classing we had but 5660£ to find a recruit when
other Counties had from 18 m to 22 m to raise them & under these
Circumstances We raised about 40 recruits & tooke up near 20
Deserters Our Quota now is 37 men & I hope we shall get one half
enlisted & if time is allow'd & money can be had the remainder may
be procured
I wrote in my last for some Commissions I shall be obliged if they
can now be sent me with the Last Laws.
I have obtaind no money from the Commissioners & Want for the
procuring flour Cash to pay many Expences I am at. I intended
making your Excellency full returns of the 15 p C^t Tax received &
provisions but have them not compleatd but shall forward them in a
few days