January 1-December 31, 1781 371

it engaged and am Collecting them together — the People are not dis-
posed to let the Public have their Beef agreeable to the Law. When I
goe to Persons houses and talk to them about Beef they say their dry
Cattle are out and I dont know where to find them. I some days go to
twenty Peoples Houses and do not get a Single Beef, I am con-
vinced no Person cou'd have taken more pains than I have done to
procure the Cattle. I will do every thing I Posably can
Please to excuse haste the bearer hereof I met on the rode.

July 26

[Geo. P. Keeports, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee.]

May It Please Your Excell^cy Last Sunday I Received From Phila-
delphia 500 Musq^ts with Bayonets & 500 Cartridge Boxes The Whole
in Good order, some of the musq^ts Received a Little Rust on the
Passage Coming Down But not so much as to Damage them
M^r Donaldson Yeates D. Q. M. at the Head of Elk who For-
warded the Arms to Desired to be Informed Wether they are State
or Continental Property and wether he or I am to Pay the Trans-
portation From Philadelphia which your Excell^y will Please to
Inform

July 26
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 80

[Matt Ridley, Goods Bridge, Appamattox, to Gov. Lee.]
(Fav^d by Dr. Goodwin)

The day after the arrival of the Troops at Head Quarters I was
honored with yours of the 3^d Curr^t and in consequence thereof should
have immediately returned to Maryland, had we not received orders
to go an expedition which threatned personal danger. Under such
circumstances I could not in justice to my reputation or the Gentle-
men with whom I left home think of looking back. From that period,
untill within these few days we have had constant cause to believe
danger at hand which has of course operated to detain me. I have
thought it much better to sacrifice a little of my time to this business
than by a contrary conduct give cause of complaint to the Gentlemen
of the Troop who seem much wounded when any individual of it by
Absence avoids the difficulties to which they are naturally opposed.
I flatter myself your Honorable Board will approve my Conduct.
By the last Accounts part of the Enemy were at Portsmouth &
Suffolk & part embarked — the last supposed for New York. I must
confess I am rather apprehensive their rout may be up the Bay.
Generals Morgan & Wayne are here with about 1500 Men In-
fantry & 100 Horse including ours. The Marquis is at Malvin Hill
about 12 miles below Richmond. Col^o Moylan has joined him with
about 60 Horse. Col^o White is expected every Hour with near 200.
Your Honorable Board will oblige me much by forwarding my
necessary papers to Baltimore. It may not be amiss to remind you
that the Act of Assembly will be proper & the private resolution as

July 26