Philadelphia Augt. 7th. 1781.
Sir,
The Board of War assures us that the remaining 500 Stand of Arms, & the two Field peices will be sent down immediately - probably the Waggons will leave this place to morrow.1 We applied to the Board to send a guard, but find it cannot be done. Instructions will be given to the Conductor to convey the arms &ca down by the safest rout. We take the Liberty of suggesting to you whether it wou’d not be proper to direct a guard to meet the waggons on the road.
We are with great respect, Your Excellencys Most Obt. Servt.
Daniel of St Thos Jenifer
Danl. Carroll
Receiver’s copy, Maryland State Papers (Red Books), Maryland Hall of Records Commission, Annapolis. Written by Carroll and signed by Carroll and Jenifer.
1 For the Board of War’s original assurance that 1,500 stand of arms would be ready for shipment to Maryland "in 7 days time," see Maryland Delegates to Lee, June 4, 1781. The following day Carroll sent Lee an August 8 invoice of the arms shipment with a brief letter to the delegates from Commissary General Samuel Hodgdon, which is in the Brown Books, MdAA. It was enclosed with Carroll’s brief comment: "The Board of War informs that the Arms were ordered to go by Lancaster & from thence the nearest road to Baltimore - this we mention that you may know where to meet them. It is thought proper to send a guard. . . . N.B. Mr Jenifer not present." Brown Books, MdAA.