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A STATE NAVAL FORCE. 481
ing two guns each, and carrying in all two hundred and fifty men. And to
induce the co-operation of Virginia in the matter, they sent Robert Hanson
Harrison as commissioner to that State.
These vessels were fitted out, but did not suppress the daily outrages upon
the farmers and inhabitants of the State, residing along the shores of the
bay and rivers. To procure the assistance of the merchants of Baltimore in
providing a sufficient force to rid the waters of Maryland of these depredators,
Governor William Paca, on the 19th of February, 1783, addressed them the
following letter:
" You cannot be strangers to the depredations daily committed by the enemy in our
Bay. Not content with interrupting our trade, they are guilty of the most wanton
destruction of property on the shores. Unfortunately for the people who are exposed to
their ravages, there is no force belonging to government able to oppose them. Were
our barges completely manned and fitted, they would be quite insufficient for the purpose,
and the State ship building by Mr. Steward cannot be finished in any reasonable time.
Under these disagreeable circumstances we are compelled once more to put the patriotism and public spirit of the merchants of Baltimore Town to the proof. We understand
they have generally determined not to send out their shipping until the result of the
negotiations carrying on in Europe is known ; and we therefore flatter ourselves they will
be able, without injury to themselves, to afford us the aid we have to solicit on the present
occasion, which is to lend three armed sloops or schooners of eight or ten guns, and
upwards, completely manned, and one hundred and fifty men over and above the crews
of these vessels for one month, if their services should be so long wanted. We want the
one hundred and fifty men to man three barges belonging to the State, which are now at
this place. We propose that the armed vessels and barges shall be commanded by such
officers as the merchants shall appoint. From the best information we can obtain,
there are thirteen barges, one sloop, and two schooners belonging to the enemy,
now in the Bay. Their largest vessel mounts ten guns; the greater part of their
barges, we apprehend, are small; and we think the force we have mentioned,
added to the Polecat, which we expect to get, will be quite sufficient to drive
them out of the Bay; but if we should be disappointed in the Polecat, we shall in that
case, be under the necessity of requesting one more sloop or schooner; and that no time
may be lost,'we beg you will be so obliging as to consult Commodore La Ville Brune on
this subject. The whole of the prizes taken by this equipment, shall be divided among
the crews, agreeable to the practice in like cases; and we will .agree to pay the men, at
the end of the cruise, at the rate of three pounds per month, and the inferior officers in
proportion ; the commanding officer £20 and the other Captains £15. The Lieutenants
£10 per month besides furnishing them with a sufficient quantity of good provisions and
liquor. As for the sloop, or schooners, we will agree to pay for them if it should be
required, such price as you shall agree upon, by the month, and will engage that the
value of them shall be paid to the owners in case of loss or capture ; and any damage
they may sustain, shall be repaired at the public expense. We need not add that the
utmost dispatch is essentially necessary in this business. Whalancl has taken post with
a considerable force, and is building barracks at Cage's Straits, and there are vessels
now in Patuxent doing great damage. The warehouses all over the State are in the
greatest danger. We send an express with this, and we hope to hear from you by his
return."
The merchants of Baltimore immediately responded favorably to the governor's request. The governor, however, upon examining his powers in the
31—v. ii
| 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 | 00000524 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | A STATE NAVAL FORCE. 481 ing two guns each, and carrying in all two hundred and fifty men. And to induce the co-operation of Virginia in the matter, they sent Robert Hanson Harrison as commissioner to that State. These vessels were fitted out, but did not suppress the daily outrages upon the farmers and inhabitants of the State, residing along the shores of the bay and rivers. To procure the assistance of the merchants of Baltimore in providing a sufficient force to rid the waters of Maryland of these depredators, Governor William Paca, on the 19th of February, 1783, addressed them the following letter: " You cannot be strangers to the depredations daily committed by the enemy in our Bay. Not content with interrupting our trade, they are guilty of the most wanton destruction of property on the shores. Unfortunately for the people who are exposed to their ravages, there is no force belonging to government able to oppose them. Were our barges completely manned and fitted, they would be quite insufficient for the purpose, and the State ship building by Mr. Steward cannot be finished in any reasonable time. Under these disagreeable circumstances we are compelled once more to put the patriotism and public spirit of the merchants of Baltimore Town to the proof. We understand they have generally determined not to send out their shipping until the result of the negotiations carrying on in Europe is known ; and we therefore flatter ourselves they will be able, without injury to themselves, to afford us the aid we have to solicit on the present occasion, which is to lend three armed sloops or schooners of eight or ten guns, and upwards, completely manned, and one hundred and fifty men over and above the crews of these vessels for one month, if their services should be so long wanted. We want the one hundred and fifty men to man three barges belonging to the State, which are now at this place. We propose that the armed vessels and barges shall be commanded by such officers as the merchants shall appoint. From the best information we can obtain, there are thirteen barges, one sloop, and two schooners belonging to the enemy, now in the Bay. Their largest vessel mounts ten guns; the greater part of their barges, we apprehend, are small; and we think the force we have mentioned, added to the Polecat, which we expect to get, will be quite sufficient to drive them out of the Bay; but if we should be disappointed in the Polecat, we shall in that case, be under the necessity of requesting one more sloop or schooner; and that no time may be lost,'we beg you will be so obliging as to consult Commodore La Ville Brune on this subject. The whole of the prizes taken by this equipment, shall be divided among the crews, agreeable to the practice in like cases; and we will .agree to pay the men, at the end of the cruise, at the rate of three pounds per month, and the inferior officers in proportion ; the commanding officer £20 and the other Captains £15. The Lieutenants £10 per month besides furnishing them with a sufficient quantity of good provisions and liquor. As for the sloop, or schooners, we will agree to pay for them if it should be required, such price as you shall agree upon, by the month, and will engage that the value of them shall be paid to the owners in case of loss or capture ; and any damage they may sustain, shall be repaired at the public expense. We need not add that the utmost dispatch is essentially necessary in this business. Whalancl has taken post with a considerable force, and is building barracks at Cage's Straits, and there are vessels now in Patuxent doing great damage. The warehouses all over the State are in the greatest danger. We send an express with this, and we hope to hear from you by his return." The merchants of Baltimore immediately responded favorably to the governor's request. The governor, however, upon examining his powers in the 31—v. ii |
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