of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 365

The militia assembled are composed of five companies from

Kent, three from Queen Ann's, two from Caroline— the num-
ber from Cecil I do not know. I understand the Talbot &
Dorset militia march next week.
We have nothing from Washington's army. Pray send
commissions & write me the Intelligence.
Y^r hb. Ser^t
Chester Town 6^th Sept. 1777 W. Paca
His Ex^y Thos. Johnson Esq.
Gov. of Maryland

C. C.

[Benjamin Rumsey to Gov. Johnson.]

6 Septr. 1777
Sir: Two Deserters from the Isis came in to the Company
of Militia stationed in Gunpowder Neck, under the charge of
Lieuten^t Thomas. They are sent to your Excellency, as the
Intelligence they bring is of Importance to the United States
in General, and this in particular, I thought in Conjunction
with the officers they ought to be conveyed to you.
They say one Half of the Fleet is to go into Delaware Bay,
and the other to fall down to York River, that the Ships had
no Soldiers on Board, having landed 13,000 under Gen^l How.
That half the Fleet in Delaware was to assist the operations of
the Army, and the Residue to receive them here in case of a
disaster. They say the 64 Gun Ships have but 350 sailors to
navigate them and 64 Marines that they design to plunder
the unarmed part of our Coasts of Provision of which they are
in want, that one Half of the Marines and sailors were sick,
and that the negroes were received on board the merchant
vessells of which there were several in the Fleet who boasted
they would make their Fortunes by selling them in the West
Indies, that they were kicked and cuffed on every occasion, &c.
I congratulate your Excellency on the weakness of the
Enemy in this State and the little probability there is of an
immediate attack within your Government, at the same Time
also on the affair of Bennington the Raising the Seige of Fort
Stanwix, Burgoins entrenching or perhaps retreating. I hope
I shall upon some future Day have occasion to do so on their
total Defeat and the firm Establishment of Liberty
I am your Excellency's most humble Servt
Benjamin Rumsey

Original.

Monday 8^th September 1777.
Present Josiah Polk and John Rogers Esquires.

Ordered That the western shore Treasurer pay to Resha
Todd eighty two pounds ten shillings Am^t of Account passed.

C. B.