GEORGE DASHIELL AND WILLIAM HORSEY TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Somerset County, February 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The enclosed certificate serves to inform you, that the company to which Mr. George Wailes was appointed Captain, by the Convention, has been displeased at their not having been previously informed of that appointment, that they might have had an opportunity of re-electing their officers, to fill up the vacancy in the company.

We are to inform you that Captain Wailes has declined to act in that station, and the company have chose their officers by ballot, as will appear by the enclosed certificate. As it appears inconsistent to rank those gentlemen in battalion, with the officers who are honoured with commissions by the Convention, before they receive their commissions, (or, in fact, that they cannot, we presume, exercise in battalion before they receive commissions,) it becomes our duty to acquaint you, that we apprehend the granting commissions to the gentlemen mentioned in this certi6cate would have a good tendency, as it would enable us to exercise them in battalion, and we have reason to believe it will prevent a dissolution of the company.

We have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants,

GEORGE DASHIELL

WILLIAM HORSEY.

To the Council of Safety.

Certificate.—On the 9th February, 1776, we happened at a Militia company, to which George Wailes was appointed Captain by the Convention, where a discontent appeared among the whole company, upon which Captain Wailes resigned his commission, and the company proceeded to choose, by ballot, their officers; who were, Robert Hitch, Captain; Jacob Beall, First Lieutenant; Thomas Humphreys, Second Lieutenant; and George Tull, Ensign. We being, by the company, appointed to receive the ballots and attend to the election, do certify that the above-mentioned gentlemen were duly appointed officers by the ballots of the people.

URIAH FORREST

ROBERT DASHIELL.

SAMUEL BARRETT TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fredericktown, February 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I had the honour to receive from the Delegates of the freemen of this Province, a commission as Captain of one of the Independent Companies in the regular service. No one would be more happy than myself in the acceptance of it, had the gentlemen who were appointed Lieutenants been known to the men I would wish to carry into action.

It is twenty years since I first had the honour to command a company in defence of my country. Since that time I have commanded many. And being apprehensive at the beginning of this unhappy, cruel, and unnatural contest between the mother country and her Colonies, that I might be once more called on to stand forth in defence of our liberties, I had frequently conversed with and informed my Militia company, and many others of my neighbourhood and acquaintances, that it was highly probable I might again solicit them to follow me to the field of battle. They, in the general, most cheerfully agreed to march whenever I should call on them; but, as it was possible I might fall if we went into action, they desired that two gentlemen, which they had agreed on, might be appointed Lieutenants; and, as it had been customary with me to nominate the subalterns, I promised that those gentlemen (did I accept of a commission) should be my Lieutenants, and had wrote to Mr. Johnson, while at the Convention, mentioning the names of the gentlemen, and informing him of my promises; but, unfortunately, my letter miscarried.

One of those gentlemen was a Lieutenant of mine in a late expedition against the Indians, who behaved himself much to the satisfaction of my company, as well as to myself.

I have come this far in consequence of a letter from Mr. Johnson, who enclosed my commission, with an intent to accept it, and to return and inlist a company of riflemen, which I flatter myself I could have done, at farthest, in a week, not knowing but my letter had got safe to hand, and the Lieutenants (if appointed at all by the Convention) were the gentlemen I had mentioned. From this disappointment, after my engagements, I am reduced to a disagreeable necessity of betraying the confidence of my company and friends, or to reject the acceptance of my commission. To do either is highly distressing; but, as one must be done, and it is too probable I may be much wanting in our own part of the country, upon a similar occasion, I must beg you will appoint some gentleman to command in my stead.

My resignation, I hope, will by no one be imputed to a thirst after a more honourable appointment than my present. I am ready and willing, whenever my country's cause demands it, to march with my rifle in the ranks, whenever I am commanded. I am actuated solely by the reasons above assigned, nor could any thing but a breach of confidence with my friends prevent my acceptance of the appointment with which I have been honoured.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL BARRETT.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland.

SAMUEL CHASE TO DANIEL OF ST. THOMAS JENIFER.

Philadelphia, February 10, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Enclosed you receive a proposal to furnish our troops with the new invented knapsack and haversack, and of cartouch-boxes, &c.

The blockade of Quebeck is continued. Arnold has seven hundred men with him; daily aids are going. He expects to take the command in six weeks. No news of consequence.

Your obedient servant,

SAMUEL CHASE.

To the Honourable Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esq.

CONGRESS OF NEW-JERSEY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read February 13—Referred to Mr. Smith, Mr. Bartlett, and Mr. Adams.]

In Provincial Congress, New Jersey, Brunswick,

February 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Sensible of the importance that the battalions raised in this Province should be as speedily as possible furnished with arms, we collected, for the supply of the First and Second Battalions, all the arms fit for service that could be obtained in this Province. We have, therefore, no resource of providing arms for the Third Battalion, but from our own manufactories or importation. How soon they can be manufactured is uncertain, and we have no-present prospect of receiving them from abroad; but, being informed that two thousand stand have been lately imported, and that they are within your disposal, we should be glad that part of them may be ordered for the use of the Third Battalion, unless some more immediate publick service calls for them.

We beg leave to propose, whether it would not be advisable to clothe the battalion now raising in uniform, deducting the expense attending it out of the men's wages.

We are informed that considerable quantities of powder are lately arrived, and it being probable that the assistance of the Militia of this Province may be speedily wanted, for the defence of this, or a neighbouring Colony, we request the favour of your assistance in supplying us with ten tons of gunpowder, and twenty tons of lead, or as much as may be spared.

On a requisition from Lord Stirling, the Committee of Elizabethtown have furnished him with six thousand cartridges, Somerset County four quarter-casks of powder, Woodbridge a considerable quantity, and Brunswick one hundred and fifty weight of lead.

Our Militia are very illy supplied with ammunition; those who have given the above supplies to Lord Stirling are, therefore, very desirous that they may be immediately replaced.

By order of Congress:

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL TUCKER, President.

To the Honourable Continental Congress.