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ANNAPOLIS IN DANGER. 315
built at the said place, the Command of which is given by Congress to Nicholson,
and a Mr. Cook, related to Mr. Johnson, is promoted into the Defence, besides the above
Ships, they have fitted out several Galleys wiiich make a formidable appearance,,
but, I am well assured, can be of little Service except in smooth Water, at the
Entrance of Rivers. A very great part of the Troops lately raised in Maryland are
Convicts and Servants in consequence of an Act 'that persons under Indentures,
&c, and had only a limited season to serve, were at liberty to enlist, their
Masters being paid in proportion to the Residue of their time.' This plan, though
it procured them many recruits, greatly prejudiced their Cause, numbers of the Men so
raised seizing every opportunity to desert, so that Orders have been issued to be particularly guarded how persons under such Circumstances are received into the American
Service.
" The Mortality which has prevailed among the Provincial Troops is incredible. A
vast number of those raised in Maryland brought back with them the Camp fever & died
prodigiously fast. The Church yard, the back of the Poor House and a Piece of Land
which is enclosed in the Folly, are crowded with melancholy proofs of Calamity. Medicines there are little or none in the Country, and every appearance seems to indicate
plainly the most dreadful of all Punishments, War, Pestilence and Famine.
"Previously to the unhappy affair at Trenton,the general Disposition of the Colonies
tended towards a Reconciliation with Great Britain on almost any terms. In Maryland
the persons attached to Government began to breathe with Freedom, and the precipitate
Retreat of the Congress to Baltimore was universally expected to be succeeded by an immediate acquisition of Philadelphia; but the surprise of the Hessian Post, however trifling it.
might have been thought in a regular war, was attended with the most prejudicial consequences to His Majesty's arms. It gave spirits to the demagogues, recruited their forces,,
and enabled their leaders to magnify, in the most exaggerating terms, the amazing advantages that would arise from this unexpected incident. The congress soon after returned
in a kind of triumph to their usual rendezvous."1
Washington at this time was watching the enemy, and anxiously waiting
to hear from the British fleet, as he was uncertain whether it had gone to the
South or East. Soon, however, the mysterious movements of the enemy were-
disclosed, when, on the morning of the 20th of August, the British fleet, consisting of upwards of two hundred and sixty sail, passed Annapolis, moving
up the bay. The governor immediately summoned his council and submitted
to their consideration the question "whether the small number of militia
already in town should be kept, others called in and preparations made with
a view to defend the place, or the town and forts evacuated, and the guns and
stores endeavored to be removed and secured." After some discussion, the
governor and council, with the advice and consent of Major Fulford, of the
artillery, " were unanimously of opinion that Annapolis cannot be defended
by any force which may probably be collected against the force the enemy
may at anytime bring against it, and that, therefore, the town an c> forts ought
to be evacuated and the guns and stores removed and secured." Preparations
were immediately made to evacuate the place, and all the books, records, etc.,
were removed to a place of safety. In the meantine all the women and children,
servants and slaves were ordered to leave the town at once. It was ordered,
1 London Public Record Office, American and West India papers, No. 204.
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000350 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | ANNAPOLIS IN DANGER. 315 built at the said place, the Command of which is given by Congress to Nicholson, and a Mr. Cook, related to Mr. Johnson, is promoted into the Defence, besides the above Ships, they have fitted out several Galleys wiiich make a formidable appearance,, but, I am well assured, can be of little Service except in smooth Water, at the Entrance of Rivers. A very great part of the Troops lately raised in Maryland are Convicts and Servants in consequence of an Act 'that persons under Indentures, &c, and had only a limited season to serve, were at liberty to enlist, their Masters being paid in proportion to the Residue of their time.' This plan, though it procured them many recruits, greatly prejudiced their Cause, numbers of the Men so raised seizing every opportunity to desert, so that Orders have been issued to be particularly guarded how persons under such Circumstances are received into the American Service. " The Mortality which has prevailed among the Provincial Troops is incredible. A vast number of those raised in Maryland brought back with them the Camp fever & died prodigiously fast. The Church yard, the back of the Poor House and a Piece of Land which is enclosed in the Folly, are crowded with melancholy proofs of Calamity. Medicines there are little or none in the Country, and every appearance seems to indicate plainly the most dreadful of all Punishments, War, Pestilence and Famine. "Previously to the unhappy affair at Trenton,the general Disposition of the Colonies tended towards a Reconciliation with Great Britain on almost any terms. In Maryland the persons attached to Government began to breathe with Freedom, and the precipitate Retreat of the Congress to Baltimore was universally expected to be succeeded by an immediate acquisition of Philadelphia; but the surprise of the Hessian Post, however trifling it. might have been thought in a regular war, was attended with the most prejudicial consequences to His Majesty's arms. It gave spirits to the demagogues, recruited their forces,, and enabled their leaders to magnify, in the most exaggerating terms, the amazing advantages that would arise from this unexpected incident. The congress soon after returned in a kind of triumph to their usual rendezvous."1 Washington at this time was watching the enemy, and anxiously waiting to hear from the British fleet, as he was uncertain whether it had gone to the South or East. Soon, however, the mysterious movements of the enemy were- disclosed, when, on the morning of the 20th of August, the British fleet, consisting of upwards of two hundred and sixty sail, passed Annapolis, moving up the bay. The governor immediately summoned his council and submitted to their consideration the question "whether the small number of militia already in town should be kept, others called in and preparations made with a view to defend the place, or the town and forts evacuated, and the guns and stores endeavored to be removed and secured." After some discussion, the governor and council, with the advice and consent of Major Fulford, of the artillery, " were unanimously of opinion that Annapolis cannot be defended by any force which may probably be collected against the force the enemy may at anytime bring against it, and that, therefore, the town an c> forts ought to be evacuated and the guns and stores removed and secured." Preparations were immediately made to evacuate the place, and all the books, records, etc., were removed to a place of safety. In the meantine all the women and children, servants and slaves were ordered to leave the town at once. It was ordered, 1 London Public Record Office, American and West India papers, No. 204. |
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