196 Letters to the Governor and Council

April 17

to a determination to have Killed him in a few days if he had not
been sold, the Lard Tallow & Hides of the Public in my care I should
be glad to know what to do with, I enclose Doc^r Reeders certificate
that St. Marys Warehouse is Burnt.

April 17

[Zacha Forrest, St. Marys County, to Gov. Lee]
The bearer M^r Mills brings with him a deserter from the Conti-
nental Army, not having a Goal in our county nor any Officer there
to receive him and one other who was committed at the same time
having escaped from me, are reasons which I hope will excuse me in
begging that your excellency will order the said deserter to be taken
in care by some Officer so as to discharge me. I also hope you'l be
pleaS^td to send some orders respecting the negro man under sentence
of Death, he is young and healthy and would make a fine Soldier.
if acquitted

April 17
Brown Book
No. 7
Letter 71

[Lafayette, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee]

I have the Honor to inform Your Excellency that the detach-
ment under my command Have Passed this day through Baltimore
and will encamp on the other side of the Ridge ferry where they
will Remain to morrow By which time I may Be Honored with An
Answer from Your Excellency
Intelligence from the Enemy and letters from General Greene
oblige me to Enter as soon as possible into the State of Virginia — the
fatigue of the troops, the Absolute want of shoes, and the desire of
Having as many Rivers as possible Behind us to prevent desertion
are the Reasons which, tho with Reluctance, Have forced me to
impress a large number of Waggons to carry the troops as far as
Potowmack. The distance Being But short, and the time of their
service not Exceeding two days, I thought I might make a free use
of the permission Given By Your Excellency and Council to impress
every thing which would be necessary to forward the movements of
this detachment. By a Letter from Baron de Struben dated at Ches-
terfield Court House the 1^st of this month I find that General Philips
is Arrived with 1500 or 2000 Men — the Enemy keep still within their
lines and their projects are as yet unknown
Some days ago I Had the Honor of Giving to Your Excellency
An Account of a discovery I Had the Good Luck to Make Relating
to a mode of furnishing flour to the Enemy which Many disaffected
People within this state seem to Have Adopted. One Paul [illegible]
a quaker Has Made His Escape, But if ever He was Retaken I Beg
Leave to Request He would Be sent to the Military Authority.
Pigot Being Convinced of coming within the description of a Spy
was Hanged at Susquehana ferry. Out of three others being Con-
cerned in this trade who upon the information of Pigot were taken
up, and whom the Lieutenant of the County Requested Major Mc-
Pherson to Carry off with Him One Has Been shot in Attempting