58 Letters to the Governor and Council

February 7
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 120

curing Forage, both Long and Short for this post, so that wee have a
clever Little supply for the present, the demand being not very great,
Corn may be had delivered here at twelve Pounds, ten shillings Con-
tinental Hay at about five Hundred £ p^r Ton for Cash, I have Reced
no wheat, Flower, or Forage Lately save the Forage from M^r
Williams

February 8
Brown Book
No. 3
Letter 25

[M. Gist, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee.]

I am favored with your letter of the 6 InS^t concerning a resolution
of the General Assembly requesting the Council to direct Captain
Browns Company of matrosses, and part of the German Regiments
to march to Frederick Town to serve as a Guard to the British con-
vention Troops
I could have wish'd the Assembly had considered my situation
previous to their resolution as it would have relieved me from the
pain I must feel in doing any thing that may wear the appearance of
contravening their instructions, they must in that case, have seen that
as an Officer of the United States I am only subject to the orders of
Congress — the Commander in chief or such superior Officer with
whom I may serve; that I cannot act against their Instructions and
can receive orders only from them, consequently I am answerable for
the disposition of any Troops which may be placed under my com-
mand, who can receive no orders but such as are Issued thro' me.
However what the Assembly should have known then, must now
serve as an explanation of my Duty and conduct. Your Excellency
The Council must be aware, that a disposal of the Continental Troops
either passing through a State or Stationary in it, by any other Au-

thority but a Military one, must he productive of much evil and em-

barrassment, and might defeat enterprizes of co-operation and de-
stroy a competency of power in the Commander in Chief or the
Delegates without which no Army can operate to effect.
Captain Brown with the detachment under his command are there-
fore on their march with Artillery & Stores for the Southern Army,
by order of the Commander in chief thro' the channel of General
Knox; and it is my instructions to forward them with all possible
dispatch; I cannot therefore do any thing less, and have given him
orders accordingly.
I had the Honor to inform the Council of the situation of the
German Regiment when I was left at Annapolis who were pleased
to concur with my orders for their march to Baltimore, these orders
were Issued the 20^th last month & forwarded to Colonel Weltner
and I have found no reason since for an alteration, but as Col^o
Weltner is sick and the officers of that regiment upon the point of
retiring upon the half pay establishment I have sent Captain Lans-
dale to take command of them and March them to this place in order
to equip and forward them to the Southern Army.