cision. He was just setting off as we arrived in Camp: I waited on him and pressed your Promotion in very pressing terms, and he said he would do what he could for you, urging that the Maryland Line had long wanted General Officers. Since his departure I wrote him a letter, of which the Inclosed is a Copy. I made several efforts to speak for myself when I spoke in your behalf, but my delicacy got the better of me.

I would be glad of a line from you, and be assured of recieving one from me as soon as I obtain proper Credentials respecting the above Subject, accept my Compliments and tender them to Mr Gist, Maj! Sterritt and all friends and Acquaintances and believe me to remain with sincere regard

Your very Obd! Hum Serv!

W. Smallwood

The Construction of the Assembly on the former Resolution respecting the powers intended to be vested in Gen! Washington to settle the Rank of our line will I fear occasion many Resignations in the Regular and Flying camp corps-many officers in both now was not the intention of the assembly to do justice in such instances where undue Promotions had been where junior Captain's had been promoted over

Ensigns

senior, to Majorities, Iun! Lieu's over over sen to Lieutenancies & to what purpose was it to decieve

by creating a

Washington was to be vested with

full powers to do justice in every such instance, justly

of the Regulars or Flying Camp Rank was not so much undue promotions,

an Object of their Apprehension

and if these were not to be altered the Assembly could not expect any other Confidence, as they must have been conscious this was their greatest Objection Service, doubly of the breach of Confidence; and their not being more candid and never would have remained a day

in their Service under such glaring Acts of write more on the Generals return, and

Sentiments of

a

will

the further

CHARLES CARROLL TO GIST.

Your favor of the 19th My Dear General, for wch I Return you thanks, was the first Confirmation we Received of the absolute surrender of Cornwallis. A Great Event, Glorious to our allied arms, Happily accomplished with small Loss, and Hope Happy in its Consequences, as it may open the Eyes of the British King and His ministry, Lead to Peace, and stop the further Effusion of Blood; for I Can Hardly Conceive their mulishness w be so Inveterate as to Induce them to Tug on at so up-hill a Peice of work as the subjugation of America must appear to them now to be, and the Victory is so Well Timed that it will Get to England By the Beginning of the session and will Raise such a Clamour against the measures and Conduct of the ministry, that should they Incline to Deceive or Mislead the Nation it Will not, I think, be in their Power. What may be the Plan of operations Intended now, I Know not; But I should think that the Town of York would be a Proper Place for a Garrison and that the Count De Grasse might Leave a few ships for the Security of our Bay and its Navigation. They would be Equally secure as if at Rhode Island, as the Fortifications of York and Glocester might Protect them if Pressed by the Enemy, and if there was Occasion they might Run further up that River, or into any of our Rivers and be in a friend's Country and so far safe. The Trade of this Bay is of no small Importance to France as well as to America, as Great Remittances may be made from the two States and if we are Left without any Naval Defence our Bay will be much Pesterd by the Enemy's Privateers. Our assembly Has not as yet Met, so that I Cannot Entertain you with any of our Political operations. I Hear that it is Projected to Give our Red Money a Value by making it a Tender in all Payments. This I think if Carried into Execution Will be filling the measure of our Iniquity and Indeed our in Paper Currency Projects. No Domestick News. Our Town Pretty much in the Condition in wch you Left it; the Trading Part Enliven'd a little by your Suceess against the Enemy would I Believe strike

some Bold Strokes in Business, but the want of Cash Cramps them. Mr Carroll and Miss Tilghman Present their Compliments. May Health and Success, my Dear Sir, attend you

Your affectionate and Obdt Servt

I am much indebted to you for your favor of the 26 Oct which after a passage of three Months came safe to hand. Your Ideas, (after the Surrender of Cornwallis) of the next plan of operations has been perfectly consonant with those of our greatest military Genius's and must afford you pleasure to find them adopted.

Should the Fleet of our ally be in a capacity to favor the designs of our next Campaign, the Troops under command of the Count Rochambeau have an eligible position to assist our operations either in this or the Northern department; but if the Guardian Spirits of the British Nation have not entirely forsaken their Charge they must on this crisis exert their Influence with the Ministry to negotiate an immediate peace.

It is now time for us to expect some interesting Accounts from England; the capture of a large part of their Army in America, the recovery of the Southern States, their losses in the West Indies, and above all their loss of Sovereignty on the Seas must be mortifying subjects for their consideration. Add to this the Insurrection (said to be) in Ireland; and if the Nation is not obstinately implacable, they must desist from the prosecution of a war wch began in error, and has continued so long in folly.

But if Providence for Wise purposes, shou'd admit them, to continue in an infatuated perseverance, it would be wise in us,

to profit by experience, and stand prepar'd for the worst events, by displaying a respectable Army in the Field, independent of our Allies. Shou'd we under the Idea of Security, relax our exertions for this end, the consequences may procrastinate the War, while the interposition of some Neutral power may render the issue doubtful and precarious.

Our Army is now in the clear stream of Success; but the exertions of the different States will determine if we are to continue with the Current.

The General Assembly of this State met at Jacksonsburgh 3 miles west of this place the 8th Ul, elected The Honble John Matthews Governor. Richard Hudson Esq! L: Governor, sequestered by Law, the property of such individuals as continue to adhere to the British Government, and are now adopting measures for raising their quota of Troops.

John Martin Esquire is elected Governor of Georgia, and the Assembly of that State is now conven'd within 30 Miles of the Enemies' post at Savanah.

The Troops from York under the command of General St Clair form'd a junction with the main army at Round O the 5th Ultimo. after a fatiguing march of Sixty Days. On the 12th. the whole Army marchd to Stone. A Detachment was ordered that night to cross the river to Johns Island to surprise the British Troops at that post, but the Tide rising with a S. E. Wind to an unexpected height, the attempt fail'd. Yet those Boasted Heroes, (Terrors to the Rebels), fled with precipitation to their Boats and retir'd to Charles Town. Their outpost is now at the Quarter House 5 miles from Town and within Ten Miles of our Light Infantry and Cavalry. We have just received intelligence that they are calling in all their Invalids and Artificiers and preparing their Troops for Action. If they venture out I hope my next letter will announce their defeat.

I am Dr sir

truly and Affectionately

y mo. Obd Serv

M: Gist

The Honble Charles Carroll Esq!

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.

T. J. C. WILLIAMS.

Washington County was erected, by a resolution of the Convention, on September 6, 1776, and is said to have been the first county in the United States to bear the name of the Father of his country. It is one of a group of Revolutionary counties, all adjacent Montgomery in Maryland, Franklin and Adams in Pennsylvania, Jefferson and Morgan in Virginia. Washington County is separated from Frederick, of which it was formerly a part, by the Great South Mountain which extends across the State from Mason and Dixon's line to the Potomac, a distance of thirty miles.

The first settlement in Maryland west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was made in the centennial year 1734, at the mouth of Conococheague Creek, where it flows into the Potomac, and was a mere trading port. Not until 1732 was the attention of the Proprietaries drawn to this valley; but in that year Charles, Lord Baltimore, offered liberal terms to all who would settle on any of the back lands on the northern and western boundaries of the Province, where, it was stated, there were several large tracts of land fit for tillage. There was a prompt response to this offer, many of the settlers coming from northern Ireland, Germany and Pennsylvania, while some wealthy residents of the Eastern Shore also took up large tracts.

One of the first to come was Jonathan Hager, a German, who laid out Hagerstown in 1762. He was a man of some prominence, was associated with Washington in several enterprises, and was so highly esteemed that a special act was passed to enable him to sit in the Legislature. A large tract was taken by Thomas Johnson, the War Governor of the State, who with Launcelot Jacques established an iron foundry at Green Spring,