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U. H. J.
Liber No. 35
Nov. 22
p. 372
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Whatever the Fate of the army may be it is impossible to foresee,
but whether we are success full or not, it is necessary to Leave as
Large and Extensive a Barrier as Possible to cover the Frontiers of
Virginia, Maryland, and Pensylvania, the Number of the Kings
Troops that I have under my Command does not exceed twelve
Hundred men the Greatest Part of which I must send to the In-
habited part of the Country to Recruit and fit them selves out for
the ensuing Campaign for were I to leave the whole dureing the
Winter in the uninhabited parts of the Country these corps would
not be in a Condition to March on Service early in the Spring
I shall Lay before you the Posts that are Necessary to be kept
up which are now in Possession of us Leaving it to you and the
Assembly of your Province to Judge of their Importance to them,
and to know how far they will Contribute in men and expence in
Supporting the Necessary Garrisons and makeing the Soldiers Life
comfortable without the Latter no real Service can be expected from
them.
Whatever the fate of this Army may be the Posts of Loyal Hannon,
Cumberland, Rays Town, Juniata, Littleton, Loudoun, Frederick,
Shippensburg and Carlisle ought to be Garrisoned, besides Win-
chester, the Forts on the South Branch of Potomack, and the Fron-
tiers of Augusta, I have wrote to the Governors of the two other
Provinces to know how far their Assembly' will go in keeping up
these Frontier Garrisons, I hope your new assembly will not only
chearfully Contribute to the expence of the Garrisons but grant
money to Pay off the Large arrears which is due to their Troops
who must have Starved with cold if I had not Advanced Money for
Providing them with Necessaries. I expect by this Time they have
granted a Sum adequate to the Sum I advanced out of the Kings
Money (without any orders) for keeping up the Troops of the
Province for its Security it will easily occur to you the things that
are Necessary for makeing the Soldiers Life comfortable in the
Severe Climate dureing the Winter the most Necessary are a second
Blanket in lieu of a Bed, Flannel Jacket, a new pair of Breeches, two
pair of Stockings, and a pair of Shoes
I should be glad to know how far your Assembly will go in
putting it my Power to Maintain the ground that is gained, if they
do Nothing for the safety of the Province I am certain it is not in
my Power to defend them dureing the Winter with the Strength
that I shall have left; and which I must expect will diminish Dailey
To Cover your Frontiers will in my opinion require five Hundred
men which is a Small Proportion in Comparison to the Other Prov-
inces
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