To George Washington from Thomas Sim Lee, 26 December 1779
From Thomas Sim Lee
Annapolis December 26th 1779
Sir,
I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 16th Inst.1 in the Evening of the 24th.
The important subject of it was instantly Communicated to the General Assembly of this State which happily was then setting and I have the pleasure to assure your Excellency the Resolution of that Honorable Body is to make the most Vigorous Exertions in sending forward every Supply the State is capable of furnishing. The Enclosure is a Copy of the Law passed for the purpose, which I trust is a clear manifestation of their laudable intentions and which, judging of the disposition of other States from our own, I flatter myself, affords a well grounded hope that the wants of the Army will be speedily satisfied.2 I have the Honor to be with the most respectful Attachmt Your Excellencys Most Obedient and Most Humble Servant
Tho. Sim Lee
ALS, DLC:GW. GW replied to Lee on 24 Jan. 1780 (DLC:GW, ser. 9).
Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819) became governor of Maryland in November 1779 and served until 1782. He represented his state in Congress during 1783 and subsequently supported Maryland’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Elected governor again in 1792, Lee left that office in November 1794 and later declined opportunities to serve in the U.S. Senate and yet another term as governor.
2. The enclosed copy of “An ACT for the immediate supply of flour and other provisions for the army” has not been identified, but see , chap. 32. The Maryland legislature expedited adoption of this measure (see , 71, and , 33–35).
Lee then issued a proclamation on 29 Dec. that reads: “Whereas it is represented by the most unquestionable Authority, that the Army of the United States is greatly distressed for want of Flour and Forage and that they will infallibly disband unless the most speedy and Extraordinary exertions are made by this State to procure those Supplies for their relief And Whereas the General Assembly have enacted a Law entitled ‘An Act for the immediate Supply of Flour and other Provisions for the Army’ which requires the utmost efforts of every worthy Citizen of this State, to carry the same into full and speedy Execution. I do therefore most earnestly intreat, conjure require and enjoin all Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs and their Deputies Constables and all other the good Citizens of this State by that Love of their Country, that Patriotic Zeal and Magnanimity which have hitherto distinguished their Conduct, in the present glorious Contest for Life, Liberty and property, to exert themselves to the utmost of this Critical emergency in procuring and furnishing Flour and other Provisions for the immediate relief of the Army in their present Alarming distress and rendering every Assistance to the Commissioners in carrying the said Law into Execution” ( 43:43).
The Maryland Council wrote the county commissioners, presumably on the same date: “The General Assembly reposing the most entire Confidence in your Integrity Patriotic Zeal and Attachment to the common Cause, have appointed you Commissioners for —— County to carry into Execution the ‘Act for the immediate Supply of Flour and other Provisions for the Army.’ The enclosed Copy of his Excellency General Washington’s Letter, manifests, in the strongest Terms, the great Distress of the Army, and the urgent Necessity of your most vigorous Exertions to procure and forward a sufficient Supply of Flour and the other Articles enumerated in the Act. Your own Discernment is sufficient to point out the manifold Evils that would result from so calamitous an Event as the Disbanding the Army and will suggest to you that the Happiness of yourselves and Posterity, may depend on your Diligence and Activity in executing the Law, and your Endeavours to dispose the People of your County, not only to acquiesce in, but further the Measures of the General Assembly in attaining so desirable an Object as the immediate Supply of our Army with Flour and other Necessaries. You may rely on our Assistance, to remove every Obstacle that might impede, or render a full and speedy Execution of this Law, difficult. … The Copy of the General’s Letter is sent as the most authentic and indisputable Pro[o]f of the Truth of the Grounds of the Law merely for your Information and not to be communicated to any Person unless you think it will facilitate the Execution of the Law in particular Cases and induce a more chearful Compliance” ( 43:43–44).