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February 26
1 o'clock in
the morning
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Baltimore you will inform me by the return of this express I think
you have ovens at Elk, it will be of great consequence to have as
much hard bread baked as will serve the detatchment thirty days
please to inform me if this can be done you will now see the extent
and importance of the business hereby committed to your manage-
ment and thereto proportion your exertions, let me intreat you to give
it your whole attention, and not rest till every necessary provision
is made, and by the third of March as before mentioned In addition
to the above it will be necessary for you to provide teams and have
them at Christiana bridge by the second of March twelve four horse
teams will I Judge be sufficient to take the tents and baggage of the
troops from thence to the Head of Elk besides these a large number
of teams will be required to Transport Shott Shells, powder and
implements before mentioned these articles I expect will be sent from
hence to Christiana bridge in the course of three or four days.
A few cords of wood should be provided at Christiana bridge for
such of the officers and troops as may take Quarters in the houses
there, tho I rather suppose they will march to the nearest woods at
the head of Elk it will be requisite to provide twenty cords of wood
and have it cut ready to put on board the Vessels.
You will take care to provide and fill water carts for each Vessel
Sufficient for their crews and the troops on board, making large
Allowances, for the length of time, such a fleet will be going down
the Bay and for contrary winds. Tho I said above that to facilitate
the Execution of these orders, you might mention the object of the
expedition yet I would not have the particular contents of this Letter
divulged except perhaps in Confidence to the person, shou'd it so
happen, whom you may consult, in estimating the tons of Shipping
requisite for service. Once more suffer me, intreat that nothing de-
pending in you may be omitted, which can either defeat or Retard
this expedition
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February 28
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[Jno. Dorsey & Co., Annapolis, to the Governor and Council]
We will Charter the Schooner Nautilus to the State to go as a
Flag to New York to Carry a Cargo of Corn and some Flour for the
freight of one third of the Sales to be paid in N. York, unless some
flour be sent and Permission obtained to invest the freight in such
goods as may be Permitted and to bring them an Account of the
Owners of the Vessell the Freight of one third cannot be Accepted.
We will bring any goods for the State without any Freight not Ex-
ceeding one Half of the Burthen of the schooner. We will purchase
the corn on being furnished with the Money and we will procure
the flour and advance the money on the usual Commissions. If its
Required the Vessell shall Load in Patuxent
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