190 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

No. 128.

[Council to St. Mary's Committee.]

Committee of St. Mary's County.
Gentⁿ
Captⁿ Mantz's company being compleatly armed, as well as
good marksmen were the causes that induced us .to send him
to occupy Captⁿ Thomas's Station, whom we thought it our
indispensible duty to order to the Flying Camp so soon as
the enemy left Potowmack river. But as you are of opinion
that this Company will not answer the end for which it
was sent, we have ordered Captⁿ Mantz to march immediately
to Annapolis & have sent Captⁿ Berry in a Boat to the mouth
of Patuxent to take in his Baggage.
We cannot, without contradicting a resolution of the Con-
vention, order that part of Captⁿ Bealls Company stationed
at Port Tob^o to S^t Marys, but have ordered Captⁿ Forrest to
take Captⁿ Thomas's station, and we must depend upon the
militia's lending Captⁿ Forrest's Comp^y arms until we can
supply them, which, we expect, will be soon, expecting some
from Virg^a that we have lately imported.
P. S. We have rec^d information by one of our boats that
the enemies fleet had anchored in Hampton Road.
9^th Aug^t 1776.

No. 129.

[Council to Maryland Deputies.]

To Deputies for Maryland in Congress.
Gentⁿ We have the pleasure to inform you that the
enemy's fleet left Potowmack River on Friday last, and is gone
off down the Bay; they had collected a number of small
vessels which they had dismasted and left on the point of S^t
George's Island with intention to set fire to them, but a high
Tide floated them off, and they were driven on Shore near our
Guard, who have taken possession of them and have found
sundry goods and other effects on board to the value of
three or four hundred Pounds currency; some of the Hulks
may be repaired, and made fit for service — they burnt some
other small vessels, and from appearances expect they are
gone down to the capes — our Pilot Boat is just returned
yesterday evening and says he heard at Pyanketank that the
men of war had stopt in Hampton Road, and were making
demands of fresh provisions and water, and promised on
being supplied, to leave the Bay. The Deserters, of whom
many have come over to us, inform that the Tory families are
going some to the West Indies, others to Halifax, and the
Roebuck to New York.
The Flying Camp are beginning to move, Captⁿ Good's
company from Fred^k will be with you by the Time this comes