OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 275 



Board of War to President Reed, 1779. 



War Office, March 9tli, 1779. 



Sir : The Board have been honoured with your letter of yesterday, and 

 in answer to that part relative to the Militia and the Stores at Lebanon we 

 beg leave to inform you. That the Board desirous of placing those stores 

 in a situation more secure, to ease the militia, as much as possible, from 

 the burthen of military service, and save expense to the States, lono- since 

 ordered enquiry to be made of the practicability of removinn^ them to 

 Lancaster. But at that time the quantity was so great as to render their 

 removal exceedingly difficult and expensive. Besides, the magazine at 

 Lancaster was not sufficient for their reception, and another building 

 suitable for them was occupied by the Clothier General; since then the 

 supplies have been drawn from thence rather than from other magazines, 

 with a view to render their removal more easy, and on the 26th ult., the 

 Board directed Col. Flower to prepare them for removal as soon as the 

 roads would admit, having Lancaster in view as the place of deposit, 

 orders for their actual removal will be given accordingly. Until then 

 we request the guard of militia may be continued. 



Enquiry will be made immediately of the condition of the light dra- 

 goons at Lancaster ; and if they are adequate to the duties of the post, 

 the militia may soon be relieved. But we are apprehensive of some 

 difficulty on this head. The Board were not inattentive to the public 

 interest in this regard, having long ago endeavored to get the duty of 

 guards at Lancaster performed by the horse. But Lieut. Col. White, 

 who then commanded them, gave such reasons against the measure as 

 induced the suspension of orders for that purpose. Perhaps most of the 

 objections are by this time removed. 



Of that part of your Excellency's letter relative to General Pulaski's 

 corps, a copy has been taken and inclosed to him this day in a letter 

 from the Board on the subject, a copy whereof we have the honor to 

 send you herewith. The Count some time since received orders to march 

 to South Carolina, in consequence of which he has collected his corps 

 at York Town, from whence he will in a few days proceed on that 

 route. The Board have an equal abhorrence Avith your Excellency and 

 the honorable Council of the abuse of military power complained of 

 as exercised by that corps, and will on all occasions, to the utmost of 

 their power, discourage and prevent such irregular and oppressive 

 practices. 



Your Excellency's other letter respecting the sounding the river has 

 also been received. You and the honorable Council will permit us to 

 express our regret at the intervention of any obstacles in the execution 

 of a business so highly interesting to the United States in general and to 

 this State in particular. But you say you will consider fiirther. We 



