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said to him I understood you are the commanding Officer — Fritchy
said he was and told Orndorf the Name of the Man in Virginia from
whom he received Instructions to recruit but has forgot the name —
asked why they pitched upon him; said because he had been in N.
York so long they thought he was the fittest Person if he would un-
dertake it — though they were not quite ready for a Thing of that
sort. Orndorf desired him to get the Names of all the Officers which
he promised to do — before they parted Fritchy told him not to dis-
close what he had communicated Orndorf replied he would sooner
sacrifice his Life than do it.
Orndorf told him to get ready as soon as he could and let him
know it and he said he would & as soon as he was Orndorf should be
informed of it — and then he said some of his officers were so violent
for it that he was afraid it would be made public — asked who they
were he said one Kelly a Lawyer & an Irishman who lives in the
mountains about twelve or fourteen miles from Fred Town — had no
further Conversation with Fritchy.
After Orndorf rode four or five miles along the main Road New-
comer said Orndorf you look so dead I'm afraid you ruin the matter ;
answered not at all Sir — says keep it a Secret whatever you do, for
we will soon give these Fellows a damn Threshing — said as we are
not ready I must send my Boy up to the South Mountain and let
them know We are not ready yet. Our Boys are so violent we can
hardly keep them in — said he sent an Express last week to Lancaster
to hush them a little while longer — he slapt Orndorf on the shoulder
and said I am so glad as if I had £10000 we have got you Orndorf
for they could not get one so proper for the Expedition as you are —
said we have consulted one another a great while and were afraid
to mention the Matter on your Father's Account as we knew him to
be a violent Rebel — and then they parted and Newcomer went towards
Hagers Town. Newcomer lives within five or six Miles of Hagar's
Town.
two or three Days after Orndorf got Home Bleacher one of the
Captains came to him and called him out aside and said I understand
you are let into a Secret that is going on now — answered he was — and
said I suppose you are one of the Officers. Bleacher said he was
Orndorf asked him what Rank he was — he answered a Captain.
Orndorf asked how many men he had recruited he said he had fifty
men. Orndorf asked him to let him look at his Warrt he said he had
it not about him and made it a Rule not to carry it about him.
Orndorf asked him to put it in his pocket and bring it to his House
and shew it to him, he said he would — and then Orndorf asked him
how he managed to make known his Doings to those he wanted to
join him he said he had applied to twenty that had refused him and
asked Orndorf how he thought he must have felt after being re-
fused — said to Orndorf you are acquainted with our Secrets and if
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