January 1-December 31, 1781 91

And it is very probable one from Col^l de Mingen, who Commands
the Brunswick Troops & if so, must I think by the date be the en-
closed Letter & which fortunately has escaped the flames by being
in L^t Col^l Hill's posession.
To convince your Excellency of the openness of our correspon-
dence, I have enclosed a latter Letter of L^t Co^l Lentz, which mentions
his writing by M^r Wall, the business from it you may well imagine.
I wish it returned, as it is from a Person who has now the Com-
mand of the German Troops — & is the first of a good many Letters
I shall receive on many Matters & must be preserved on that acc^t
If anything further is required to gain this poor Devil his liberty
or ease the minds of those that are alarmed on this Subject, I will
do it with pleasure, not only from the principles of justice & human-
ity; but from gratitude, for the tiresome hours this man help'd us to
pass over in the wilds of Virginia, by acting on a little Theatre the
officers erected at the Barracks I have but to add, which I am certain
is unnecessary to your Excellency, that I am under Parole
P. S. We have received but two Days meat since my last Letter

February 27
Red Book
No. 32
Letter 36

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk to Jas. Calhoun, Baltimore]

This comes to inform you that Expect about fifteen hundred
Troops here in the course of three or four days from this date are
intirely out of Flour and Flesh provisions both Salt and fresh must
therefore intreat that you send me all you possibly can. The Troops
will want at least thirty days provisions to be laid in at this place and
all I have is about 250 B^ls Bread, as the Troops will want Vessels to
transport them to the Southward and as Col. Yates will be applying
for them at your Post which will furnish a good oppertunity to for-
ward any provisions you may have to me. Pray dont fail us on this
occasion as my whole dependance is on you the several County Com-
missaries having not got properly fixed to collect provisions in the
Spesifick way.
He thank you to give me the earliest information in your power
of the quantity of each species of Provisions you can furnish this
will enable me to know what I shall want which must be had at some
rate or other it may not be amiss for you to apply to his Excellency
the Governor in Council as that lays in your district perhaps some
provisions may be had there.

February 27

[Baruch Williams, Head of Elk to Gov. and Council]

In consequence of information this day received from Col^o Hol-
lingsworth of a Number of Troops expected at the Head of Elk,
in a few days I this moment set out with an intention of supplying
this place with as much Provision of the Meat kind as lays in my
power, he intimates to me that with respect to flour he is provided

February 27.