CALEB C. GOUGH TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, July 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to my last, Mr. Jacobs waits on you respecting the tents. Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth received your favour per Captain Nicholson, and thanks you for the draft therein enclosed, which he will apply to the purposes you direct, and render you an account of the charges of unloading the brigs and removing the soldiery, as soon as the amount can be ascertained.

He desires me to assure you that he will give all the assistance he can to George Wells, in procuring the timber for the gondolas, and will always be glad of such commissions from you as it may be in his power to execute.

I am, gentlemen, for Mr. J. Hollingsworth, your obedient servant,

CALEB C. GOUGH.

To the Honourable Council of Safety of Maryland, at Annapolis.

JOHN HANSON, JUN., AND OTHERS, TO MARYLAND CORNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fredericktown, July 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In consequence of a resolve of the Convention, we, the Deputies from the several Committees of the Districts of this County, met and proceeded to the recommending of Officers for the two German Companies, and Lieutenants for the Rifle Company, whose names, together with a transcript of our proceedings, we here enclose you. As we have not heard from Captain Barrett, and have some reason to believe that he will not accept of his appointment, from the emergency of the occasion, we beg leave, in case of his refusal, to recommend to your notice Mr. Thomas Beall, son of Colonel Samuel Beall, as a gentleman well qualified to fill that station, and one who, we are informed, would be able, in a very short time, to raise his company.

We are, with respect, gentlemen, your obedient servants,

JOHN HANSON, Jun.,

H. GRIFFITH,

ADAM FISCHER,

MICHAEL FALKNER.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

Fredericktown, July 12, 1776.

At a meeting of Deputies from the several Districts of this County, for the purpose of recommending Officers to the Council of Safety, for the command of two German Companies, and Lieutenants to one Rifle Company, to be raised in this County:

Were present, Messrs. John Hanson, Jr., Samuel Beall, Michael Falkner, and Adam Fischer.

Resolved, That the following persons be recommended as Officers to the two German Companies:

William Heiser, Captain; Jacob Cotz, First Lieutenant; Adam Smith, Second Lieutenant; and Paul Christian, Ensign.

Henry Fisher, Captain; Charles Balsall, First Lieutenant; Michael Barger, Second Lieutenant; and Jacob Crummitt, Ensign.

Adjourned till six o'clock to-morrow morning.

July 13th, 1776. Same gentlemen present as yesterday.

Resolved, That the Lieutenants to the Rifle Company be recommended as follows:

Peter Hanson, First Lieutenant; James Lingan, Second Lieutenant; and Richard Dorsey, Third Lieutenant.

RICHARD POTTS, Clerk.

JAMES HINDMAN TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Oxford, July 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: When I was in Somerset the Committee of Safety delivered me three prisoners to bring up as far as Talbot, there to be delivered to the Militia to send over to Annapolis. When I came to Cambridge I delivered them to a guard of Militia there, who had some men to send over. The Committee there, thinking I had no right to leave them there, have sent them over here to me, with a prisoner they had in custody, in expectation of my calling at Annapolis on my way to the head of Elk. As it may be a means of stopping us some time by calling, I have hired the boat to carry the prisoners over, whom you will please to pay, and take charge of the prisoners. I shall set off to-morrow morning early for the head of Elk, and shall make the best of my way to Philadelphia as fast as possible.

I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,

JAMES HINDMAN.

To the Hon. the Council of Safety, Annapolis.

COLONEL BARNES TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

St. Inigoes, July 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I received information on Friday, the 12th of July, that there was a considerable number of ships and small vessels between Smith's Point and Point Lookout, on which I ordered five companies of Militia to repair there as fast as possible, and immediately set out to the Point myself, in order to get further information. On my arrival there, I found about forty sail of vessels; they were then about twenty-five miles off the Point, in the Bay, where they continued till in the night. In the morning about fifty-eight sail were discovered opposite Smith's Creek in Potomack, and eight in the Bay, on which I gave orders to call the companies of my battalion immediately to march to Potomack, in order to prevent their landing in the district of the Twenty-first Battalion. We have had two small vessels driven on shore from the fleet; on board of one of them were three whites and two negroes, three of whom now have the small-pox on them. One of the white men informed us the fleet was Dunmore's, and that Governour Eden was on board the Fowey, and that he heard it surmised that they intended to take possession of St. George's Island; since which the Fowey and her tender have come to in St. Mary's River; and I don't doubt but the greatest part, if not all of the fleet, will be there in the morning. We have between two and three hundred of our Militia stationed in different places, and I have just sent off an express to Colonel Jordan to supply me with one or two hundred men of his battalion, if possible.

From the above affair, I think it would be proper Captain Beall's company from Drum Point should be ordered here, and their place there supplied with the Militia of the County. I should be glad of your advice and assistance. I should have written you more particularly, but have been marching from place to place, from the morning till now, which is twelve o'clock in the night, and am much tired.

Mr. Hugh Hopewell has promised me to hire an express in Calvert to carry this to you, should therefore be glad you would pay him.

I remain, gentlemen, your humble servant,

RICHARD BARNES.

To the Hon. the Council of Safety of Maryland.

JOHN WESTON TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Kingsbury Furnace, July 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I received your favour 8th current, and sorry it is out of my power to serve the Province with guns, as both our furnaces are out of blast, nor can we blow till late this fall for want of water. Captain Charles Ridgely's furnace is in blast, and likely to continue for some time.

I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,

JNO. WESTON.

To the Hon. the Council of Safety, Annapolis.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COMMITTEES OF THE LOWER COUNTIES.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer hereof (Colonel Ewing) will have occasion to spend some little time in your County, in forwarding the raising the men for the Flying-Camp, purchasing arms and blankets for them, and promoting in other respects the publick service. As he is pretty much a stranger in your part of the Province, he may be at a loss, perhaps, unless he receives some assistance from you; we therefore take the liberty of introducing him to you, and shall be obliged for any assistance you may give him, or any favours you may show him. We are, &c.

To the Committees of the four lower Counties.