January 1-December 31, 1781 213

Amunition I have recommended to council also to be sent to such
of the lower Commissarys as make their first returns to assist up
with any provisions they may have on hand, and am now setting out
to collect a Brigade of waggons in this neighbourhood to remove the
provisions from the Head of Chester as it may arive there, to such
places as Col^o Blain may appoint, he agreeing with your Honours of
the Head of Chester being the properest place for the first deposit,
I have therefore appointed M^r Ahram Faulkner to receive, take
charge of and deliv^l the State provisions at that place, and have been
thus particular to convince you that though little is done, there has
been nothing wanting on my part; (in my power) as soon as a
Brigade is collected, by which time I am in hopes some returns will
be made me, I shall set out again to the lower Countys (if necessary)
to execute your Orders; in my last tour was informed of a quantity
of what about two thousand Bushels in a Mill the property of Doctor
Slyter Bouchell, near the Head of Chester about four or five Miles
from the Line, the wheat is said to be the property of M^r John Acord
a residenter of Wilmington, whither this wheat is intended to go, out
of the State or not is uncertain, but tis a pity our Army should want
Flour while there is such a quantity of wheat laying, (providing
M^r Acord could be paid for it, there is about twelve hundred Bushels
of Corn in Store Just by the Mill (I see the wheat and it is very good)
I have only to add that Enemys Shipping six in number are between
PooleS^t Island and Turkey point (as I am informed)

April 25
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 105

[Sam. Smith, Balt, to Gov. Lee.]

At Sun Set yesterday one Ship of 16 or 18 Guns & 2 Brigs lay on
our River Channell at 3 Mi from North Point our Barges awes
theirs & prevents their Landing the other 2 ships are off Pooles
Island. Yesterday some Militia from the N. side of Patapsco Were
arrv'd & I Have not a Doubt will prevent any Deprivations there,
all the Stock & Goods of Value is remov'd from thence. Our Mili-
tia begin to be formidable should these Vessells Cut off our Com-
munication long the Distresses of our poor will be very great. Our
Galley is nearly fit for service. She only Stops for want of Money
the Town have done their utmost. I Have not gone to Market for
these last 3 Market Days for want of Money. It is not to be had.
Fines have been laid & more will be laid on persons refusing to turn
out on actual Service, these fines in fact belong to the Town, for
they are levied no where Else. I Have been Spoke to by allmost all
the principal Inhabitants, I Have been applied to by the Committee
to solicit that these fines Collected from & Levied on the Inhabitants
of the Town be applied to the Defence of the Town, the request I
think just & therefore I make it to your Excell^y not doubting that
you will think the request reasonable, was the Galley properly fitted it
would not be necessary to keep up so respectable a Militia, & she

April 25
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 73