40 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.

[Council to W. Hemsley.]

In Council Annapolis 17^th April 1778
Sir
We have thought it necessary, from the Information given
to us by Col^o Bordley's Letters rec^d this Morning to send 32
of our Matrosses, two Field Pieces, such as we have, and two

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hundred small Arms, with Directions to proceed to Chester,
if the Wind serves, if not, to land at Queen's Town, sending
an Express, if they stop at Queen's Town to you and to Col^o
Bordley. If the Affair should grow more Serious, call on
Dorset, Talbot and Caroline for Assistance and advise us by
all Means, of your situation that we may if necessary, send
you further Assistance from this Shore. If Things should be
better, we desire that every Thing may be returned in the
State they are, as we do not know where or when they will
be next most wanted. We are &^ca
William Hemsley Esq^r

[Council to Col. Bordley.]

In Council 17^th April 1778
Sir
We send you thirty two Artillery Men, two Field Pieces,
such as we have, two Hundred stand of good Arms and all
the Cartouch Boxes we have fit for Use about 130. We have
directed that if the Wind serves they proceed to Chester
Town and follow your Orders; that if the Wind will serve no
farther, they proceed to Queen's Town and follow the Orders
of Col^o Hemsley, dispatching Expresses to both of you,
getting the Assistance of the Militia Officers to forward them
towards your Rendesvous, wherever it may be. Any Provis-
ions convenient, whether ours or Continental, must be applied,
but with all the Frugality and Exactness that the Nature of
the Service will permit. If you should prove too hard for the
Insurgents, we would not have you stop short at the Line of
our own State, but follow them 'til they are entirely broke

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up and we must give way to the disagreeable Necessity of
making a free and effectual use of the Arms we hold in the
Defence of our Country. If Things should be settled before
this Supply gets over, you are to return every Thing in the
same Order we send it, that it may be ready for the next
Occasion for when or where it may happen we cannot foretel.
It is out of our Power to supply Blankets. We are &^ca
Col^o Bordley