398 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.

had that degree of Spirit and Patriotism which I think woud

have (on a similar occasion) been exerted in any other Gov-
ernment on the Continent his supplies must long since have
been cut off. here is more Toryism I suggest than in all the
states besides and perhaps less Fortitude than in any particular
State in America our Gallies obliged 54 Soldiers & 2 officers
who had landed on Province Island and were erecting a Bat-
tery ag^t the Fort to surrender on the 18^th and the obstruction s
and our Force on the Delaware embarrass the Enemy much
more than they expected from which shou'd the Fort hold out
a shorter Time than may reasonably be expected the advanc-
ing Season must defeat their Design if not subject their Army
to destruction
At length I have got the Militia in a more orderly and
regular Train they seem somewhat better disposed and disci-
plined than I ever expected but their Time being near expir-
ing the impression will make them lose sight of this and every
other Object of their Duty. Cap^t Cox's & Baileys companys
have obtained liberty to return they are entitled to this Indul-
gence from their situation (being mostly Tradesmen) having
served their Time out faithfully these men and Murdocks
Regiment have behaved better than any corps of Militia from
Maryland and have had far less Desertion among them. Col^o
Dorseys Reg' evidently the worst corps in the Militia having
only 28 men left from the Desertions w^ch have prevailed in it
has also obtained leave to return & I coud have wished they
had never slept forth the men from Elk Ridge and some
other parts of Ann Arundel will shine more at an Election
than in the Field their disorder & licentiousness under our
present Regulations will ever render them contemptible in the
Field. I have thought it most adviseable for these men to
return Home with their Arms and Accoutrem^ts as its probable
they will reach Home before many of the other classes turn
out & I have no Place of security for them here, they set out
to Day or Tomorrow morning & I have ab^t 296 Arms &c
which have been left by Deserters many of them out of Order
which I shall order back w^th an Officer and a Detatchment
taking his Receipt for them to be transmitted to you I have
also inclosed Receipts for those which the men March with
the Pensylvanians have already made application for these
Arms to Gen^l Washington which I have absolutely refused to
give up to their Militia & am obliged to put a Guard over
them otherwise they might be seized therefore am induced to
take the above step.
In much haste remain
Y^rs &^c &^c
W. Smallwood