24

was ordered to the frigate United States.⁶⁶ His as-
signments on ships must have been of rather short
duration, for March 22, 1799 found him a recruiting
officer in Baltimore, with a force of thirty new
Darines already sent to Philadelphia.⁶⁷ At first,
his recruiting efforts were highly successful; he es-
tablished a "rendezvous" at Gray's Gardens, in the
station of the city known as Chatsworth,⁶⁸ later
moving it to Fell's Point.⁶⁹ His efforts received
notice in the columns of the Telegraphe;

The character of this young officer is so well
known that it is almost needless to say, every-
thing will be done to give encouragement to such
patriotic young men as may have an inclination
to try their fortunes in this way.⁷⁰

He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, March
13, 1800.⁷¹

Methods of recruiting in that day would undoubted-
ly not be countenanced now. Edwards probably had a
quota to enlist, and took the best (or only) means he
could find for enlisting them - not always to the
satisfaction of the authorities, for he was rebuked

66 Information from Office of naval records and

library, U. S. Navy Department.
67 Telegraphe. March 22, 1799.
68 Ibid. Apil 15, 1799.
69 Ibid June 10, 1799.

70 Ibid April 15, 1799.

71 U. S. Veterans administration. Pension reports.
ton Edwards, widow of Phillp Edwards.