PREFACE.

          In the preface to the preceding volume of the Maryland Archives, the

        origin, nature and duties of the Council of Safety were explained. The

        present continues the journal and correspondence during the critical

        and eventful year, 1776.

          The military movements, during the period covered by this volume,

        were, in brief, as follows:

          The theatre of war had been changed from the Eastern States to

        New York. The British land forces were under the command of Gen.

        Howe, and the navy under his brother, Admiral Lord Howe.

          For the Americans to hold New York City, it was necessary that

        they should possess Brooklyn Heights, which were occupied by Gen.

        Putnam with a force of about 9000 men, of whom about one-half, under

        Sullivan and Stirling, were thrown forward to defend the approaches.

        On August 22, Gen. Howe crossed over from Staten Island with

        20,000 men, and on the 27th defeated the Americans at the battle of

        Long Island, of which a highly interesting account will be found in

        Gen. Smallwood's letter on p. 338. On the night of the 29th,

        Washington withdrew his forces across the East River to New York.

          On Sept. 15, Howe crossed over, and Washington evacuated the city

        and withdrew his army to the north of the island, where he took up a

        position, his centre resting on Harlem Heights, and his right wing

        extending to Fort Washington on the Hudson and Fort Lee on the

        Jersey side. An attempt by Howe to outflank the American position

        led to the battle of White Plains, fought on Oct. 28, after which

        Washington withdrew his main body to Northcastle, thus severing his

        connection with his right wing at Forts Washington and Lee. It was

        his intention to abandon these forts and make West Point the central

        position of the defence, but Congress overruled his plans, and ordered

        Greene to hold them as long as possible. On Nov. 16 Howe attacked

        Fort Washington and captured it, with heavy loss to the Americans.

        Washington now withdrew his army through New Jersey, and on

        Dec. 8 took up a position behind the Delaware.

          These repeated disasters produced a deep feeling of discouragement

        throughout the country. To make matters worse, the terms of enlist

        ment were expiring, and the men were refusing to re-enlist and were

        going home, so that the American army seemed to be falling to pieces.

          On Dec. 2, Gen. Charles Lee, who had remained at Northcastle,

        despite Washington's summons to join him, crossed the Hudson with

        4000 men and marched to Morristown. Here he was captured by a