a hundred and twenty men to quell them. We have not yet heard the event of that affair.

I have just now received another letter from you, and am delighted with your description of the bravery of Colonel Moultrie and the garrison of Fort Sullivan. It is not flattery, my dear General, when I tell you that most of us here attribute the glorious display of bravery on that day to the animating presence of a commander, who, independent of his great military abilities and experience, appeared to be the evil genius of Clinton, who had followed him, and from whose presence he had seemed to retire and retreat along the coast, from Boston to Charleston. All that I could do, as there were not gentlemen enough in town to make a Council, was to desire Brigadier Lewis to send immediately to North-Carolina all the powder that could be spared out of the magazine. About four thousand pounds will be sent.

I am, most sincerely, yours,

JOHN PAGE.

To Major-General Lee.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Camp near Gwin's Island, July 12, 1776.

General Lewis cannot leave camp without expressing his approbation of the conduct of the Officers and Soldiers at this station. The fatigues through which they have gone with cheerfulness, and the great services'they have rendered their country, justly entitle them to his hearty thanks, which he would have expressed at the head of each Company by the Captains.

MATTHEW TILGHMAN TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Talbot County, Maryland, July 12, 1776.

SIR: The resolution of our Convention to send up our regular troops as part of our quota for the Flying-Camp, has given some uneasiness to our commanding officer, Colonel Smallwood, who seems to apprehend that the Brigadier-General, (Mr. Dent,) who is to command the Militia sent from hence, may also take the command of his battalion. This, he justly observes, would be an indignity to him to which he could not in honour submit. To prevent any evil from hence, our Militia should be considered as different corps.

And what I have to request of you, sir, is, that you will be pleased to remind Congress of this circumstance. So, unless Colonel Smallwood can retain the command of his own battalion, (being under the control of a Continental superior officer only,) he will most certainly resign. He is a worthy man and good officer, a firm American, and much devoted to the cause; for which reasons, I cannot but hope that care will be taken to prevent the loss of such an officer, by exempting him from the command of a person under whom he thinks it improper for him to act, because, in his own Province, he takes rank of him.

The service requires that some attention be paid to this matter, and I trust you will readily excuse the trouble I have given you in it.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient and very humble servant,

MAT. TILGHMAN

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress, Philadelphia.

N. RUXTON MOORE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Annapolis, July 12, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIRS: As there is a vacancy in Captain Nathaniel Smith's company of Artillery for a Second Lieutenant, I should esteem it a very particular favour, if your honourable Board would grant me liberty to fill that place. My reason for being so pressing to leave Annapolis is, I have never enjoyed my health since I have been here, and am afraid, should I not be benefited by the Baltimore air, I shall be obliged to resign my commission, though very much against my inclination, as I do not imagine I shall have my health while I remain here, and, as you well know, life is of little worth without health. I hope you will consider my case, and indulge me in my above request; and the obligation shall be ever gratefully acknowledged by, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

N. RUXTON MOORE.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety.

JOHN WEEMS TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

July 12, (eleven o'clock,) 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Enclosed is a letter I just received from Captain Chew. If it should prove true, please to let me know in what manner I am to act; and am, your most humble servant,

JOHN WEEMS.

To the Hon. Council of Safety, in Annapolis.

Saturday morning, seven o'clock.

DEAR SIR: I this moment received, by express, a line from Colonel Somerville, acquainting me that there are forty sail of square-rigged vessels as far up the bay as Point-Lookout. We have ordered the Captains of our battalion to call their companies together immediately, and to have their guns put in the best order they will admit of. Like for them to be ready to march at a moment's warning. Captain Parran's company is under arms. Have heard that the whole of the Militia of St. Mary's is in arms. If the vessels come up farther, which I make no doubt they will, Barbara begs that Mrs. Chew will come down here. I am in great haste; then conclude, by subscribing myself your most obedient humble servant,

JOSEPH WILKINSON.

To Captain Richard Chew.

THOMAS SMYTH TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Ship-Yard, July 12, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: This will be handed you by my son Thomas, who waits on the Council for his commission, in pursuance of the honourable the Convention's order to him for inlisting a company of Militia. He has inlisted a company of stout, able young fellows, and almost all of them country-born. He informs me that they have very few muskets among them which are fit for service, and I believe it will be very difficult to borrow any from the inhabitants, as they do not know how soon they may be called on to use them. What guns belong to the Militia are generally very indifferent. Permit me, therefore, to solicit your honourable Board, that his company and Captain Perkins's may be armed out of the arms that will be made by Winters, and those which are sent for to Chingoteague. I hope they will be indulged with having their companies well armed, as they have been industrious enough to enrol them so soon at this busy season of the year.

As I apprehended, the Council have not been able to provide tents for the Militia that this Province has resolved to send to the Flying-Camp. I make them a tender of my best endeavours to get as many made as will be sufficient for my son's company, and, perhaps, Captain Perkins's, if they will order over one of those made at Baltimore, with the poles, the linen, and twine or thread to make them; the cruger would do much better than none; perhaps some of the sail-duck which is ordered up from Chingoteague might do better. It will certainly kill all our men, to be exposed to the open air in the months of August and September, when such heavy dews fall. I have two or three men in my service that have been used to making sails, and a tailor, who, I think, would make, in a few days, as many as will be sufficient for those two companies. If the Council should determine to accept of my offer, the sooner they send everything over the better, and I dare say I can soon get the tents made, especially if they are to be made of cruger, as many women can be employed in sowing such linen. If the Council have not provided baggage-wagons enough, I can furnish them with one very suitable for the purpose that is almost new, and in very good order. I wrote you some time last week, that a Robert Blake, a saddler in Chestertown, would undertake to furnish the Province with a quantity of cartridge-boxes, gun-slings, and bayonet-belts, at the same price which the saddlers of Baltimore had done, and requested an answer; but have not heard from the Council on that subject. Blake waits your determination. A report prevails here that some of the companies of Militia which are ordered to be raised for the Flying-Camp are to be stationed in this Province. My son earnestly requests that he may not be one of those companies, and that he may be permitted to march to the camp as first intended, and I hope the Council will indulge him in his request.

You will please to remember that the hire of the wagons sent to Chingoteague will amount to a pretty large sum. It will be some time before I can attend the Council, as I am