554 Letters to the Governor and Council

November 23
Red Book
No. 29
Letter 48

[Timothy Pickering, Q. M. G., Alexandria, to Gov. Lee.]

Inclosed is a copy of a letter from L^t Col^o Carrington deputy
quarter master to the southern army, which shews the propriety &
necessity of my making this application to your Excellency, agree-
ably to his request. Destitute as M^r Yeates is of money, I know
that a requisition to him must be fruitless; and that the State alone
can furnish to him or its own agents the means of procuring the
supply of horses demanded by Col^o Carrington, & which I am con-
vinced will be essentially necessary for the southern army. While
the enemy were scattered over that country, the frequent captures
of horses from them kept up a tolerable supply for the small num-
ber of continental troops usually commanded by General Greene:
But this resource is entirely at an end. And the exhausted state of
the Carolinas forbids the hope of obtaining horses in that country.
Virginia too, by the supplies it has sent to the southward, but mostly
more by the incursions of the enemy during the year past & the
great numbers furnished to our own army in the state, is very much
drained of horses; so that it would be extremely difficult to procure
horses there, & such as could be obtained would cost very extrava-
gant prices.
Under these circumstances, Col^o Carrington's demand is very
naturally pointed to Maryland a state which tho' its exertions on
many occasions deserve the highest praise, has never suffered by the
devastations of the war, And unless that demand be complied with,
at least in a very principal degree, I do not conceive that the South-
ern army can operate. In times past it has moved with the utmost
difficulty; and has saved itself from starving by divesting itself of
every convenience & even of necessary equipage, that the waggons
might be employed in transporting provisions. These difficulties will
be increased by the considerable reinforcement of Pensylvania &
Maryland troops now on their march to the southward. There will
be a proportionably greater destruction of horses & render a sup-
ply from Maryland still more essentially necessary These consid-
erations, as they appear to me important, so I doubt not they will
receive due attention and that by the exertions of your Excellency
and the State of Maryland such a supply of horses will be furnished
to the army commanded by General Greene, as will enable him to
continue to act with that vigour & efficacy which have hitherto so
remarkably distinguished all his operations, from whence such im-
mense advantages have been derived to the United States.

November 15
Brown Book
No. 8
Letter 25
[copy]

[Edw'd Carrington, D. Q. M. to Colo. Pickering, Q. M. Gl.]

The States Southward of Maryland are from the ravages of the
Enemy & Continued drafts of the Service so exhausted of Horses
that few or none can be obtained in them. I have repeatedly called