168 Letters to the Governor and Council

April 7
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the Enemy succeeds in their plan for reducing North Carolina you
may depend upon Virginia and Maryland falling next. It is of more
importance to support the Southern States in time than you may
imagine. The Enemy will get great reinforcements from this quar-
ter if they establish their government.
I am now on my march for South Carolina, but I shall not be able
to hold my ground there unless I am immediately reinforced. I am
told the old German Regiment is halted in Maryland to guard the
Prisoners at Frederick Town. This I am surprised at while we are
so weak here, and Militia would answer that service there. I must beg
leave to refer your Excellency to the publications of Congress for a
State of the Southern operations.

April 7

[Jos^a Beall, Lieu^t P^s G^s C^ty to His Excell^y Tho^s Simm Lee Esq^r]

I have just now reced an Acc^t that 6 of the Enemies Ships are
on their way up Potomack That they have destroyed Coll^l Barnses
houses & Robed him of all he had, that they have burnt priest Hunters
House at the mouth of Portobacco Creek and are Expected at Alex-
andria, the Vessells from that place are all moveing up into the
branch, I shall order the Militia or such part as are in the Neighbour-
hood of the river to meet immediately & hold themselves in readiness.
But what we are to do for arms I know not, If I knew where they
were to be had I would press some carriages to bring them, But shall
wait your farther Orders with respect to them which I hope to re-
ceive by this Express

April 7

[Rich^d Barnes, Leo^d Town, to His Excellency Tho^s Sim Lee, Esq^r]

M^r J. A. Thomas comes to you at my particular request, to git
such necessarys as can be possibly spared. I am in hopes that more
than the Seventy stand of Arms you mention may be spared, as Arms
are not wanted in the interior parts of the Country, and the whole
of this Co^ty exposed, I am satisfied that the Men would turn out
freely if we could Arm them, in most parts of the Co^ty There are
many other things necessary, which M^r Thomas will inform you of,
and to whom I request the Arms &c. may be delivered, as he will be
there on the spot to forward them. To him also I refer you for all
the Intelligence that we have. I have no money and therefore request
that the Expences may be paid by you.
M^r Thomas will hand you the necessary accounts.

April 7

[John Murdock, Montgomery to His Exc^y the Governor and the
Honble the Council]

May it please your Honours I have the Honour to enclose you
a Commission and Instructions for a Captain Etherington, late be-
longing to a Privateer from New York, who, with three others,