74 Letters to the Governor and Council

February 17
Red Book

No. 28
Letter 72

that the Gov^r & Council may be informed whatever Compensation
or Commission the Executive of Maryland may think proper to allow
you for Negociating this Business you are to be content with. I wish
this may lead to a Connexion with your native State that may be
Benificial to both it and you

February 17

[Baker Johnson, Fred^k Town to Gov Lee]

Yours of the 5^th Ins^t inclosing the Resolve of the House of Dele-
gates, relative to Capt Browns Corps and Col^o Weltners part of
the German Batt^l composing part of the Guard to the Convention
Troops at this place came to hand the day before yesterday, the dupli-
cate a day or two before Gen^l Gist had wrote me (I Presume with
your knowledge and approbation) to deliver such Men as were under
my direction here to Capt. Lansdale who he had sent to take com-
mand of the residue of the German Batt^l, infering that something
had happened (unknown to me) that induced you to counteract the
Resolve of the Assembly as to what men should compose the Guard
here, I marched eleven men with Col^o Weltners, tho' I much wished
events had not happened to have taken them from this place, the men
which were marched from here, with Capt Browns Corps would have
made a Guard sufficient without calling a Single Militia man and
undoubtedly would have answered the end much better. Col^o Crockett
is now under marching Orders and waits for nothing but to be re-
lieved, I have Ordered a full Company of Militia from this County
to be ready by the 21^st and wrote to Col^o Griffith (as you directed)
to have the Company from Montgomery County here by that day if
possible, but I fear he will not be able I have undertaken to Issue
those Orders as it is essentially necessary Col^o Crockett should be
relieved, but I hope and for that purpose send this Express to you,
that you will be pleased to appoint some other Gentlemen to take
the Command of the Guard, it is by no means in my power to attend
to it, and tho I would not presume to dictate, I should suppose it
might not be inconvenient, or improper to send some one of the
officers belonging to the Maryland Line to take the Command,
should there be no one, that you could immediately send, Capt Bailey
lives in Town and I suppose might discharge the trust very satisfac-
torily Col^o Crockett has requested me to inform you that the Prison-
ers have not drawn any flesh provisions this 15 or 16 days, that the
Guards are several days in arrear, I leave you to Judge what the
Militia Guard will say to such living, would it not be right to im-
power M^r Murdock to send Waggons to Pr. Geo^s for what flesh is
there, or any where else that it is to be had. I must not omit to men-
tion that the whole neighbourhood is continually plundered, owing
as it is thought in great measure to the Prisoners and Guards being
so badly supplied with provisions, I again request and hope you will