January 1-December 31, 1781 289

raised in this State. I humbly request the command or part of said
horse, my presumption is on having served near five years as Captain
in the 4^th reg^t Light Dragoons and now out of employ, said reg^t
having only about one Sixth of its compliment of horses, two thirds
of the officers are now Idle
I wish the command, prefering an active life and rendering my
Country Service

June 13

[Dan'l Jenifer, Portobacco, to Gov. Lee.]

I have not as yet received any horses (tho' promised a great many)
owing to the Minds of the people being poisoned with regard to the
validity of the Certificates to be given for them — However as I have
a suff' n^o marked down, Your Ex^cy may expect to hear that the
Quota for this County will by the last of next week be compleated ;
as I set out this day for seizing Many people who had promised to
bring their horses to Port^o yesterday flew the way owing to the above
cause of doubting the Credit of the Certificates to be given for them.
M^r Ridgate from his own Acc^t has a large quantity of Goods fit for
the Soldiers. (Especially hats) But upon the Alarm He had packt
them up and I believe moved the Greatest part out of Town I can not
get at them except a few hats; He says that he will treat with your
Excellency and the Council for all the Articles he has provided you
will engage to pay him tobacco. But that he cannot think of taking
Certificates as they will not (he says) answer his purpose of going
to Market &^ca He hath promised not to dispose of any of the Articles.
Therefore I shall forbear to take adversary measures 'till I have the
honor of hearing from Annapolis which I hope will be in a few days
M^r Beale Turner upon proper Examination can disclose where the
Goods of M^r Ridgate are
The thirty Sail of Vessels with which your Ex^cy was alarmed are
dwindled to a single flag of Truce Ship

June 13
Red Book

No. 22

Letter 15

[Certificate relating to James Price a draught]

Maryland ss.
We hereby Certify that James Price one of the Draughted men of
this County is at this time and has been for some time back incapable
of Performing Military Duty and am thorughly Convinc'd he is by
no means Capable of turning out to Camp as a Draught to Continue
there under Duty for the term of time mention'd in the act of As-
sembly, having had his Collar bones broken in sundry Places, which
beyond a doubt must render him very incapable of the Duty
aforesaid.
Sign'd by
Lewis Lattermann
19

June 13
Blue Book

No. 4

Letter 53