M. Burgess, and Mr. George Fraser Hawkins, of Maryland, that Captain Robert Conway has propagated a report, much to the dishonour of the Twenty-Sixth Battalion of the Militia of Maryland, viz: that three or four hundred of the said Militia betook themselves to flight as soon as the Ministerial row-galley began to fire: in order, therefore, to remove every ill impression made by the said report, I take this method of asserting that it is a malicious, infamous falsehood; as many gentlemen who were present, as spectators, when Captain Conway says this scene of cowardice was acted are ready upon oath to testify.

"S. HANSON, S. of Sam."

No man, conscious of his own integrity, would lay silent under such opprobrious epithets; therefore, in vindication of what I have already asserted, which was altogether to the same effect as the foregoing Depositions, I desire you will publish the foregoing Narrative, for the truth of which I appeal to every impartial spectator; and remain, sir, your humble servant,

ROBERT CONWATF

Certificates of Captain JOHN N. LOWE and Mr. JOHN M. BURGESS and Mr. GEORGE FRASER HAWKINS.

Prince George's County.

I do hereby certify to all whom it may concern, that some time last week I fell in company with several people, who were on their way, by water, to Alexandria. Amongst these there was one Mr. Conway, as I understood, who said he was just from Sandy-Point, where a party of three or four hundred of the Maryland Militia was stationed; that as soon as the row-galley began to fire, the said Militia all ran; that Colonel Harrison walked after them, laughing at them, and never attempted to rally them; that the only man of spirit amongst them was one Jones, as he described; that the galley landed a parcel of her men and launched one of his boats, carrying her off, after giving three huzzas, without meeting with any opposition. This conversation, and a great deal more, passed in the presence of many gentlemen. I would have been more particular, but being very unwell with a bad fever, cannot at this time recollect every particular conversation that passed.

Given under my hand this 29th day oil July, 1776.

GEO. FRASER HAWKINS.

To all whom it may concern.

We, the subscribers, John H. Lowe and John M. Burgess, set out on Wednesday last from Mr. George Hawkins's, with some other gentlemen, by water, in order to view the situation of the Ministerial fleet that was then lying opposite Sandy-Point; and on our way down we met with Mr. Conway, who said he was from Sandy-Point, where a party of three or four hundred of Militia were stationed, and at the appearance of a row-galley, which directed her course to the shore, and on firing, the said Militia ran off. He was asked whether the Colonel did not endeavour to rally the men; he said no, but walked after them and laughed. He said, as the row-galley approached the shore, the Colonel addressed his men in the following manner: You that will not fight, give your guns to those that will. On which declaration every man left the field but himself and one who we suppose to be one Jones. The row-galley landed a parcel of her men, launched one of his boats, gave three cheers, and carried her off, without meeting with any opposition. There were several other matters that he spoke, the particulars of which I do not at present remember, but all tended to the discredit of said Militia.

July 29, 1776.

Colonel HARRISON'S Statement.

Charles County, October 21, 1776.

Mr. GREEN: SIR: Reports having been propagated by a certain Robert Conway, of the Protector row-galley, belonging to the Commonwealth of Virginia, his Second Lieutenant, and two Midshipmen, with design to dishonour the Twenty-Sixth Battalion of Militia of this Province; which reports being, within my own knowledge and that of many other persons, entirely without foundation, I had determined to treat them with contempt; but finding that they have carried the joke rather far, by publishing part of their story in the Baltimore and Virginia gazettes, and some of them swearing to the same, I think it high time to publish a little too, as a piece of justice due myself and those whom I had the honour to command. You will, therefore, be pleased to insert in your next paper the whole which Captain Conway has published in the Baltimore paper of the 20th of August, herewith sent you; also, the certificates under the hands of Captain John H. Lowe and Mr. John M. Burgess and Mr. George Fraser Hawkins.

The variation between Captain Conway's own narrative (as certified by Messrs. Lowe, Burgess, and Hawkins) and the depositions of his Lieutenant and Midshipmen, and again, the variation in what they depose, must make every impartial reader suspect the truth of them. Captain Conway asserts, that as soon as the row-galley began to fire, the said Militia (being three or four hundred in number) all ran; that as the row-galley approached the shore, every man left the field save two. Mr. Lieutenant swears that only one company out of the three or four hundred men ran. Messrs. Midshipmen swear that the whole three or four hundred made a precipitate retreat, and ran up to the woods; then they swear, that some of the Militia were within less than one hundred yards of the boat when the enemy took her off.

Men who mean to wound the characters of others in the eyes of the publick, by inventing and circulating falsehoods, should be extremely circumspect in what they say or swear; and, as I have already observed, the variation and inconsistency in the assertions and depositions of Captain Conway and his party, would make every impartial man suspect their veracity. However, to evince to every one that they are founded only in malice and mischief, I have taken the depositions of Messrs. Finley, Hunter, and Lawrason, of Alexandria, and Messrs. Matthews and Stoddart, gentlemen volunteers, which you will also insert, with the certificate under the hands of the Rev. Mr. Fendall and Mr. Warren Dent.

"Alexandria, October 4, 1776.

"On Tuesday, the 23d of July last, we, the subscribers, set off from this place with intentio'n to see the enemy's ships, which we were informed were proceeding up Potomack, and arrived opposite them at Sandy-Point, in Maryland, about half an hour past six o'clock in the evening, where we found a body of Militia stationed, who informed us there were more men a little lower down the river, to whom we immediately went, and were by them told that Colonel Harrison, with a detachment of twenty-five men, was gone down to prevent the enemy's taking off Captain Conway's boats, by means of a gondola and armed schooner, which had left the ships for that purpose, as was conceived. We saw the Roebuck under way turning down, and firing now and then across the field, between the detachment and main body, and heard other great guns, which we supposed were from the gondola and armed schooner. We returned to the main body, when we immediately heard a brisk firing of small-arms and swivels, which was thought to be an engagement betwixt the detachment and the enemy. We think about sixteen cannon were fired in the whole. The men appeared to be all drawn up ready with their arms, and during the firing seemed in good spirits; and we heard several of them ask if they ought not to go to the assistance of the detachment. We neither saw nor discovered anything like cowardice, but, on the contrary, a willing spirit seemed generally to prevail.

"JOHN FINLEY,

"WILLIAM HUNTER,

"JAMES LAWRASON.

"Sworn before me,

WILLIAM RAMSAY, J. P."

"Charles County, October 18, 1776.

"We, the subscribers, joined three Companies of the Twenty-Sixth Battalion of Militia, under the command of Colonel Harrison, at Sandy-Point, on Tuesday, the 23d of July last, early in the morning, in the character of volunteers. About nine o'clock the ships began to man their tenders and small boats; when Colonel Harrison ordered the three companies to stand to their arms, and, after watching the motions of the enemy a few minutes, gave orders for Captain Mastin's company, consisting of about forty-live men, including officers, to repair to the head of a valley which led down to the river nearly opposite the Roebuck. We fell in with this company at the head of the valley. A little while after, there came three or four strangers, who