118 Journal and Correspondence

Original

distributed among the Army in general to prevent Jealousies.
We are extremely sorry to trouble you with Matters which
ought to be attended to by the proper Officers. But the
Necessity of the Case must be our Excuse & your Weight is
requisite to oblige the Officers to do their Duty as Matters are
circumstanced. As to Provisions our uneasiness is by no
Means quieted on that Score. The supplies from the South-
ward are slow & in Quantity purchased by no Means equal to

our Expectations. Congress being informed that the salted

Provisions in Maryland & Virginia were spoiling from Want
of Care directed the Board to appoint a proper Person to go
to the Southward to examine into the Matter & repack such
as should want it, have it coopered & fitted for Transportation
& forward the whole with all Expedition. Col Aylett writes
us he intends to take Advantage of the Bay being cleared &
Col Hollingsworth having sent to his Address a Number of
Craft from Elk, the Board too having authorized Col Joseph
Copperthwaite to execute the Resolution of Congress we
hope any other Person's Assistance will be unnecessary. Yet as
we do not know how long the Bay may be clear if your Excel-
lency sees any Neglect in the Business the Board will ratify
any thing you think proper to order on the Occasion. The
Head of Elk is not perfectly safe while the Enemy remain in
Philadelphia therefore too many Articles should not be col-
lected there at present. Charlestown is fixed on as a safer
Place & it will be best that in future they should go there.
One half of General Smalwood's Division is posted at the
Brandywine at Chad's Ford to cover the Stores & Provisions
& the other has joined the Main Army as you are no Doubt
informed. I have the Honour to be
with great Respect
Your very obed^t Serv^t
Richard Peters
His Excellency By order
Gov^r Johnson

P. S. The Board have taken uncommon pains for several
Months past to have the Cloathing Tents Arms & Stores on
the Eastern Shore brought forward. M^r Lux wrote us he
should get them transported to Baltimore but we fear Nothing
is done. If there is we know Nothing about it altho we have
taken every step to get Information.

C. B.

Tuesday 2^d June 1778.

Present as on Saturday J. Hindman & Tho Sim Lee Esq^r
Attended