488 Letters to the Governor and Council

September 11
Brown Book

No. 8
Letter 27

[H. Knox, Brig Gen'l Artillery, Annapolis, to Gov. Lee]

I have the honor to state to your Excellency the importance of an
immediate supply of Thirty thousand feet of white oak plank, of
2 1/2 or 2 inches thick, which is wanted for the intended operations
against the enemy in Virginia. The difficulty and indeed impracti-
cability of transporting this article from any other quarter has in-
duced a full dependence for it on Maryland. I have written to Gen^l
Gist, who is at Baltimore, on this matter, but as his powers must be
very limited, I take the liberty earnestly to pray your Excellency to
take such decided measures as will ensure the quantity above men-
tioned, or such part of it as can possibly be procured, in a few days.
The Board of War in Philadelphia informed me of eight tons of
Powder, belonging to the Continent at Frederick Town in this state,
which I also pray may be transported, as soon as possible, to the
most convenient water carriage and embarked on board of a tight
vessel, proper for the purpose, and forwarded to the point of
operation.
The extreme imbecillity of any continental arrangements will, I
hope, be a sufficient apology for troubling your Excellency on these
subjects
If it should be found impossible, upon examination to obtain the
white oak plank, pine plank might be substituted

[September

12]

[Petition To his Excellency Thomas Sim Lee Esquire]

We the Subscribers being Excited by an Object of great Pity beg
Leave to Represent to your Excellency the Situation of Benjamin
Light and to Solicit Your Interposition in his behalf he has been
Confined in the Goal of Washington County from the ninth day of
November 1780 almost the whole Time in heavy Irons in that situa-
tion has he Lingred away Life with Cloathing scarcely Sufficient to
Cover his nakedness he Stands Committed on Suspicion of passing
Counterfeit Money and although the money may be Counterfeit it
is done in such a manner that very few Can distinguish it we hope
from these Circumstances and the Extream Punishment which the
Prisoner has suffered Your Excellency will be Pleased to Grant him
a pardon and to permit the said Benjamin Light to Enlist in the
American Army for three years which he will most Readily Comply
with it is thought that he might be a most Valuable man in the Army
as he is an Extraordinary Black Smith & might be Kept with the
Travelling Forees at his Trade

John Stull;

Elie Williams;

Andrew Rentch;

Henry Schnebely;

Alexander Clagett ;

B. Johnson.

John Cellars;

Richard Davis;

H. Shryock;

Joseph Chapline;