of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 217

New-England Schooner out of Patuxent on Tuesday as they

came up, & two or three other small Vessels yesterday. We
expect every moment to be informed from Baltimore by
Express of their Movements which we will communicate to
you, but as probably they are gone there with a View to take
what Vessels they can meet with and particularly our Ship
Defence & on their Return may pay you a Visit, We think it
proper to apprize you of their Proceedings by this Opportu-
nity that you may make the best Preparation in your Power
for their Reception if they should venture up Potowmack
9th March 1776

c. s. c.

[Council to Virginia Committee.]

To the Committee of Safety of Virginia.
Gentⁿ
At 8 ^oClock on Tuesday Night our two Pilot Boats returned
to this Place with Intelligence that a Man of War and two
Tenders were pushing up the Bay, that in the Mouth of
Patuxent River they made Prize of a New England Vessel and
that we might hourly expect them off our Harbours. We
immediately dispatched Expresses to Baltimore Town and
other Parts of the Province with Orders for the Militia to hold
themselves in Readiness tu march. The high Wind all day
on Wednesday prevented these armed Vessels proceeding up
the Bay. Yesterday half past three, post Meridiem they hove
in Sight and pushed fast up the Bay, having taken several
small Vessels on their Way. The Ship which we imagine to
be the Liverpool, came to an Anchor last Night off the Mouth
of Potapsco River, the Tenders kept under Sail. Early this
Morning the Ship weighed and we presume proceeded up
Potapsco to take or destroy our Ship Defence and a large
Ship loaded with Wheat & Flour by Permission of the Con-
gress. Whether the Ship Defence with a Battery hastily
thrown up will be sufficient to defeat the hostile Attempt we
cannot say but we are confident if a Landing is attempted
either at Baltimore Town or this Place that the enemy will be
defeated. We are with the greatest regard.
9th March 1776

P. S. 9 oclock P: M: we have this Moment received certain
Intelligence that the Man of War is the Otter Sloop with two
Tenders, one of six Carriage-Guns and the other Swivels only;
that they have taken the Ship loaded with Wheat and Flour
which unluckily happened to be aground at the Mouth of
Potapsco & that they are proceeding up the River to take or
destroy the Ship Defence. Fresh Provisions also we believe
is their Object.

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