WILLIAM HINDMAN TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

In Committee, Talbot County, July 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We herewith send you, under the guard of Messrs. Charles Troup, John Hindman, and Nathan Walker, three of our Militia, William Barclay Townsend, who was this day presented to us under an authority from the Committee of Worcester County, to appear before your Board.

We are, gentlemen, your humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

WILLIAM HINDMAN, Chairman.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland.

SAMUEL BARRETT TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Skipton, July 15, 1776.

SIR: By a resolve of our Committee I am to apply to you for eight hundred weight of lead to answer the powder received, we having no lead in this district, and therefore the powder is useless without the lead.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

LEMUEL BARRETT, Chairman.

To Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esq., Chairman of the Council of Safety, Annapolis.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL SOMERVILLE.

SIR: We received yours of the 14th, and by the same opportunity one from Colonel Richard Barnes, informing us that Lord Dunmore and the fleet were within the month of the Potomack, and, as he heard, intended to take possession of an Island called St. George's Island; but as their designs are uncertain, we think you had better give notice to your battalion to keep themselves in readiness to march to oppose any attempt they my make to land in your County, and likewise to assist in any neighbouring County.

Captain Beall will have orders from us to remain in St. Mary's County with Colonel Barnes, to watch the motion of the enemy, and to regulate his motions accordingly. He will move to you if there should be a necessity. We have written to Brigadier Dent, who will take the command of the Militia and regular forces in his district. You will communicate this to Colonel Mackall, if he should have returned to your County. We are, &c.

To Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Somerville.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN REZIN BEALL.

SIR: We expect this will find you in St. Mary's County, as we hear from Colonel Somerville that you marched from Drum-Point on the 14th. It is impossible for us to give absolute and particular directions to you, as the designs of the enemy are not known to us. We can only instruct you to watch their motions, and regulate your own accordingly. You will stay in St. Mary's County so long as you apprehend the enemy may have any design of landing there, or making any attempt to distress or plunder the inhabitants. If they should move from thence to any other part of the Potomack, or up the bay, to land on this shore, you will follow them with all the despatch you can. We have sent instructions to Brigadier Dent, to take the command of the Militia and regular forces in this district; whose orders, when they reach you, you will obey.

We are, &c.

To Captain Rezin Beall.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO GENERAL DENT.

SIR: By different letters we have received from St. Mary's and Calvert, we are informed that the fleet under Lord Dunmore have appeared in the mouth of the Potomack, and it is apprehended they may attempt a landing on some part of that river in the lower Counties on this shore. We therefore think it expedient that you should give directions to the Militia of your district to have themselves in readiness to oppose the enemy in case they should attempt any hostilities. We think it expedient that, on this emergency, you should yourself take the command, and remain with them till you hear further from us. As the Militia for the Flying-Camp are not in readiness, we conceive it will not interfere with your duty as Brigadier of those corps, and your presence will be much wanted at this time in your district. Captain Beall, with his Independent Company, is now at St. Mary's County, ready to oppose the enemy. He and his company will likewise be subject to your command. We shall be glad to hear from you. We are, &c.

To Brigadier-General Dent.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO RICHARD BAKNES.

SIR: We have yours of the 13th, and are glad you sent for Captain Beall's company, who, we have the pleasure to hear, marched immediately to you. We would have that company remain with you to watch the motions of the enemy, and assist you in case they should attempt a landing. We have written to Brigadier Dent to have all the Militia in his district kept in readiness to march to your assistance, if there should be a necessity. He will also take on him the command of the Independent Company. Yon will, on all occasions, send us up notice of the motions of the enemy, and we shall order you every assistance in our power. We are, &c.

To Colonel Richard Barnes.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN THOMAS.

SIR: We have just received intelligence that makes it necessary for us to stop your proceeding up the bay with your company. We therefore desire that you will immediately return with it to Annapolis. We are, &c.

To Captain John Allen Thomas.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN HINDMAN.

SIR: We have just now received intelligence that Lord Dunmore, with the fleet under his command, is in motion about the bay; and as his designs are uncertain, we think it necessary, for the service of the Province, that you, and the company under your command, instead of proceeding up the bay to march to Philadelphia, should directly, with your company, come to Annapolis, where you may receive further orders. We are, &c.

To Captain James Hindman.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO GENERAL HOOPER.

SIR: We have just received information, by express, from St. Mary's and Calvert Counties, of Lord Dunmore, and the fleet under his command, being removed from Gwin's Island a small distance up Potomack River, with intention, as we suppose, of landing at some place within that river; and if he should be unsuccessful in that attempt, we think it not improbable but he may endeavour to make a landing somewhere or other upon the Eastern Shore; and should that be the case, we have no doubt but that, upon the receipt of this, you will be in readiness, as soon as may be, with the Militia under your command, to repel every attempt that he may make to land within your district.

Should the Militia in your district be in want of powder, you will be pleased to apply to Brigadier Chamberlain for as much as may be necessary for your immediate purpose.

We are, &c.

To Brigadier-General Henry Hooper.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN SMYTH.

SIR: Be pleased to send down immediately, by the tender Resolution, two eighteen-pounders, with carriages, rammers, spunges, ladles, and worms, and a sufficient number of wads of all sizes, with five hundred five-pound shot.

We are, &c.

To Captain Nathaniel Smyth.