00000489 |
Previous | 489 of 684 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
446 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
Mr. James McHenry, in a letter to General Greene, dated Baltimore,
April 16th, 1781, thus refers to the patriotic action of Lafayette and the merchants of Baltimore:
" While I admire your policy, I have more than once pitied the Marquis' situation.
His troops passed here yesterday, discontented almost to general desertion ; destitute of shirts,
and proper equipments, and in most respects, unprovided for a march. You know the
Marquis. He has been with us two days; but,in this time, he adopted an expedient to
conciliate them to a degree which no one but himself would have thought of. To-day he
signs a contract, binding himself to certain merchants of this place, for above two thousand
guineas, to be disposed of in shirts, overalls and hats, for the detachment. Without these
the army could not proceed; and with these, he has managed to reconcile them to the
service. He is also bent upon trying the power of novelty on their minds by giving to
the march the air of a frolic. His troops will ride in wagons and carts from Elkridge
Landing to the limits of this State, and how much further he will continue this mode of
movement depends on Virginia."
In a letter from Lafayette to General Greene, on the same subject, he
observes:
" As our brave and excellent men (for this detachment is exceedingly good) are shockingly destitute of linen, I have borrowed from the merchants of Baltimore a sum on my
credit, which will amount to about two thousand pounds, and will procure a few hats, some
shoes, some blankets, and a pair of linen overalls, to each man. I hope to set the Baltimore ladies at work for the shirts, which will be sent after me, and the overalls will be
made by our tailors. I will use my influence to have the money added to the loan which
the French court have made to the United States, and in case I cannot succeed, bind
myself to the merchants for payment, with interest, in two years; McHenry, now president of the Baltimore board of war, has given me very important aid to bring about this
arrangement."
On the following day, the 18th, he addressed a letter to Washington, in
which he said:
" The merchants of Baltimore have lent me a sum of about two thousand pounds,
which will procure some shirts, linen overalls, shoes, and a few hats. The ladies will
make up the shirts, and the overalls will be made by the detachment, so that our soldiers
have a chance of being a little more comfortable. The money is lent upon my credit, and I
become security for payment in two years' time, when, by the French laws, I may better
dispose of my estate. But before that time I am to use my influence with the French
court in order to have, as soon as possible, this sum of money added to any loan that congress will have been able to obtain from them."
Alluding to this generous act of Lafayette, Washington said, in reply:
" The measures you had taken to obtain, on your own credit, a supply of clothing
and necessaries for the detachment, must entitle you to all their gratitude and affection;
and will, at the same time that it endears your name, if possible, still more to this country, be an everlasting monument of your ardent zeal and attachment to its cause, and the
establishment of its independence. For my own part, my dear Marquis, although I stood
in need of no new proofs of your exertions and sacrifices in the cause of America, I will
of the Continental army, or wherever any other General Smallwood's merit, to solicit the atten-
major-general is present. tion of congress to this subject, and to request
" That the General Assembly are induced, by they will take such measures as are necessary
the duty they owe the State, and a due sense of to have justice done to the State and its officers."
| 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 | 00000489 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 446 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. Mr. James McHenry, in a letter to General Greene, dated Baltimore, April 16th, 1781, thus refers to the patriotic action of Lafayette and the merchants of Baltimore: " While I admire your policy, I have more than once pitied the Marquis' situation. His troops passed here yesterday, discontented almost to general desertion ; destitute of shirts, and proper equipments, and in most respects, unprovided for a march. You know the Marquis. He has been with us two days; but,in this time, he adopted an expedient to conciliate them to a degree which no one but himself would have thought of. To-day he signs a contract, binding himself to certain merchants of this place, for above two thousand guineas, to be disposed of in shirts, overalls and hats, for the detachment. Without these the army could not proceed; and with these, he has managed to reconcile them to the service. He is also bent upon trying the power of novelty on their minds by giving to the march the air of a frolic. His troops will ride in wagons and carts from Elkridge Landing to the limits of this State, and how much further he will continue this mode of movement depends on Virginia." In a letter from Lafayette to General Greene, on the same subject, he observes: " As our brave and excellent men (for this detachment is exceedingly good) are shockingly destitute of linen, I have borrowed from the merchants of Baltimore a sum on my credit, which will amount to about two thousand pounds, and will procure a few hats, some shoes, some blankets, and a pair of linen overalls, to each man. I hope to set the Baltimore ladies at work for the shirts, which will be sent after me, and the overalls will be made by our tailors. I will use my influence to have the money added to the loan which the French court have made to the United States, and in case I cannot succeed, bind myself to the merchants for payment, with interest, in two years; McHenry, now president of the Baltimore board of war, has given me very important aid to bring about this arrangement." On the following day, the 18th, he addressed a letter to Washington, in which he said: " The merchants of Baltimore have lent me a sum of about two thousand pounds, which will procure some shirts, linen overalls, shoes, and a few hats. The ladies will make up the shirts, and the overalls will be made by the detachment, so that our soldiers have a chance of being a little more comfortable. The money is lent upon my credit, and I become security for payment in two years' time, when, by the French laws, I may better dispose of my estate. But before that time I am to use my influence with the French court in order to have, as soon as possible, this sum of money added to any loan that congress will have been able to obtain from them." Alluding to this generous act of Lafayette, Washington said, in reply: " The measures you had taken to obtain, on your own credit, a supply of clothing and necessaries for the detachment, must entitle you to all their gratitude and affection; and will, at the same time that it endears your name, if possible, still more to this country, be an everlasting monument of your ardent zeal and attachment to its cause, and the establishment of its independence. For my own part, my dear Marquis, although I stood in need of no new proofs of your exertions and sacrifices in the cause of America, I will of the Continental army, or wherever any other General Smallwood's merit, to solicit the atten- major-general is present. tion of congress to this subject, and to request " That the General Assembly are induced, by they will take such measures as are necessary the duty they owe the State, and a due sense of to have justice done to the State and its officers." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| G |
|
| H |
|
| M |
|
| T |
|
