of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 5

to M^r Forman on the Subject. You'll send us an Account as
soon as you can of the Quantities of Cloathing received, the
price will not be so material, the Quantities delivered and
what yet is deficient.
We are &^ca
The Thread is just sufficient
to make up the Brittanies and
designed for that Purpose

To M^r John Randall.

C. C.

[Smallwood to Johnson.]

Wilmington April 2^d 1778.
D^r Sir
Col^o Hollingsworth pursuant to Instructions from the Board
of War has called on me for a guard to escort the removal of
the Stores out of the Peninsula below to some place of greater
security, back in the Country, which is a very Necessary
Measure as those parts are Subject to, and even threatned
with an Invasion, which there are disaffected enough to coun-
tenance and even Intercept those stores without the aid of any
Considerable drafts from the Enemy's forces, the present
weakness of this Garrison will not admit of a draft sufficient
to aid Col^o Hollingsworth to effect this purpose, and he has
little reason to expect any aid from the Militia of this state I
have therefore recommended him to apply to you for a Com-
pany or two of Militia to assist him in this pursuit
Many of the Troops here are in great want of Cloathing
particularly Shirts & breeches, which you will Please give
orders to have forwarded, & direct the recruits to be marched
here with all possible dispatch, to strengthen the Regiments
at this post which is much expos'd and daily threatned with a
stroke from the Enemy both by Land & Water. We are not
more weak in men than Officers, having but five Field Offi-
cers in Garrison, and want Captains in as great a degree,
which shews the Expediency of calling in the Officers on
furlough & recruits Immediately; We have the strongest assur-
ance that General Howe is drawing his forces to a point,
having ordered the troops from Rhode Island and four Reg^ts
from New York great part of the Latter arrived some days
ago at Philad^a and the former are daily expected under the
Convoy of Lord Howe, this ought to rouse the States to the
most Vigorous Exertions in pushing forward their respective
Quota's should be glad to know if you have had the Officers
debited with the money I advanced them for the recruiting

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