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[James McHenry, Baltimore, to His Excellency Governor Lee.]
The apprehensions of danger and attack from the enemy's plun-
dering vessels with the recent desertion of several negroes from the
neighbourhood of this Town, have induced its citizens to purchase
and prepare two look-out boats at their private expence in order to
prevent the latter, but more particularly to give information of the
approach of the former, that they may have time to embody for its
defence. It is calculated, that the price of the boats, the wages of their
crews, and some common disbursements, will amount to near 300£
specie per month. The inhabitants of this Town have requested me to
lay this before your Excellency, and to beg your order to the com-
missary here, that provisions may be issued for the boats during this
particular service; or till the plan, which they are informed govern-
ment has before them for the general defence of the bay, shall be put
into execution.
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April 7
Red Book
No. 32
Letter 48
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[Nathl Greene, Head Quarters, North Carolina, to Governor Lee]
Your Excellencys Letter of March the 19th I had the honor to
receive the Day before yesterday.
General Gist informed me sometime since of the order for incor-
porating the new Regiments with the old ones, which had taken place
before your Letters arrived and the Officers were on their way home.
When I had the honor of an interview with a committee of your
two Houses at Annapolis, and laid before them the distresses of the
southern department, and the little force there was there to oppose
the Enemy, they promised me I should be reinforced as soon as pos-
sible, and might rely upon all the support they could give. But I con-
fess I am not a little disappointed that succour is so long a coming.
And I had the mortification to hear a few Days ago that on the 13th
of March not a man was raised.
Our distress here has not been less than I represented; on the con-
trary it has been much greater; and had it not been for the very
great exertions of Virginia the Southern States must have fallen.
But it will be impossible for that State to give effectual aid to this
Army while they have such a large Body of the Enemy in the Bowels
of the State to contend with.
No one part of my requisition has as yet, been complied with.
The Waggons we are in the greatest distress for want of. The
Cavalry Horses equally so; and the disappointment of the money has
been exceedingly distressing. Not a shilling of money have I had for
the most pressing emergency since I took the command in the south-
ern department. In this situation you may readily conceive my diffi-
culties. Maryland certainly has it in her power to releive me. I re-
quired of her but a few things and she has given me none of either
I wish you may not neglect to give support to the Army too long. If
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April 7
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