of the Council of Maryland. 127

will go to the use. they were intended for, tho Col^o Yeates wont
receive them, for the use of Public Waggons, yet the people will
buy them, and do public work with them, which is the Mode M^r
Yeates wishes to have the Public business done,
lie thank you for your further Directions

September
30

[Joseph Dashiell, Salisbury, to Gov Lee]

May it please y^r Excellency I rote you yesterday by M^r Vandam :
to which I refer you: but as that was rote in grate Hurry & Con-
f usiton, I will now Indivour to give you a Detail: of the Conduc
of Our people at Vianna upon the appearance of the Enemys Boats
which I am informed they saw sum time before they Landed Insted
of flying to armes: the Inhabitants more in number then the Enemy :
suffer them to Land without offring them the Least opposition; and
permitted Twelve white men & Twenty one negro men to Stay at
Vianna from abought half an hour by Sun in the morning untill
Neare 12 a Clock, in which time they Burn'd a new briggentine of
Mess" Rob^t Dashiell & my one. a Vesel Belonging to M^r James
Shaw one Vesel Belonging to One Traver: and hove down a New
Vessel of Prichet Willeis that was Building and Distroy'd all the
Tools the poore man had & did him much more Damage, they Left
One new Vesel on the Stock & a sloop Belonging to one M^r Hopkins
& I Cant heare that they Ignord any one else at that place Except
taking away some negroes, after this they went down the river 3 or 4
miles to Col^o John Henry's whare they gave a Specimen of their
savage Disposition, they Broke all the Glass in his house all the
Dores his Clock Broke up all his Flores and puled up all his Wind-
scut. Broke his Still Started all his Sider & Brandy & did him a grate
Deal more Damage. Caried of Two of his Negro men, and Neare
Night, thus Left him and then proceeded down to Damquarter in
Somerset County whare they ware Rec^d with open Annes bv out
people and Carest for the noble acts they had done, I would observe
to you that Capt. Joseph Venables of Somerset had notice of theif
Being at Vianna Early in the morning: by a man that Inform^d him
they ware Indevoring to Burn the Brigg⁶ but I Cant heare of One
single man he attempted to race to appoint them, altho it was within
five miles of his House, and his Company all in that Neighborhood
if he had have done his duty the whole Damage might have bin
prevented, the next morning I was Informed that several more
Boats had threathnd to Cum up Pocomock & Wicom. to Take sum
Vesels that is Landed with Corn and Pork and to plunder sum of
the most Welthy Inhabitants on the Water side. In consequence of
which Immediatly ordered out the first Class of the Militia and it
is with grate Dificulty we Can keep a guard of thirty men together
and many have Refus'd Expressly to march against the Enemy
I should be Glad of sum Express orders from you on that occation

September
30
Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 50