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MARYLAND RIFLEMEN.

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armed with tomahawks and rifles, were painted like Indians, and were dressed in hunting shirts and moccasins. These men were ordered to march to the camp around Boston, being joined by like companies from Virginia and Pennsylvania.

12. The arrival of these stalwart fellows, such as Washington had known in his early campaigns -many of them upwards of six feet high, and of vigorous frame-in their fringed frocks and round hats, excited great wonder among the rustic visitors of the camp. Their dash, their skill-they could hit a mark while advancing at quick step, at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards-their striking costume, caused them to be looked upon with some jealousy by the plainer troops about them, who seemed to think that all valor, as well as virtue, was enclosed in the round jacket and trowsers of Marblehead; and it was well for the gaily clad sons of the South, that their behavior in battle was always equal to the expectation they excited. In the sharpest conflicts of the war, it was they "who stemmed the current of the heady fight."

13. The officers of these were Michael Cresap, Thomas Warren, Joseph Cresap, Jr., Richard Davis, Thomas Price, Otho H. Williams and John Ross Key.

14. Many were too impatient to endure the delay of organizing these troops, and hastened to

Questions.-12. What is said of their appearance in camp? What is said of their skill? 13. Who were their officers? 14. What did many do?

join the camp before Boston, at their own expense. Among these was James Wilkinson, afterwards a Major-General in the United States service.

15. The great difficulty to be contended against was the want of supplies. The arsenal at Annapolis, was almost empty. To overcome these difficulties, the convention offered bounties and encouragement for the manufacture of such articles as were most needed-such as saltpetre, materials for clothes, and munitions of war. Powder mills were erected, and Mr. Hughes, of Frederick county, agreed to furnish the province with cannon.

CHAPTER II.

LORD DUNMORE-Plans of Lord Dunmore-Attempt to inflict a Servile War-Discovery of his Plans-Aid to Eastern Shore of Virginia - Batteries Erected near Baltimore-"The Otter". "The Defence" — State Navy-Gov. Eden-Civil Authority and Military Power -Eden Sent to England-Militia Sent to the Coast→→→ Flying Camp.

1. As yet Maryland had not even been threatened with hostilities. But a period of real danger was approaching. This arose from the attempts

Questions.-15. What was the great difficulty to be contended against? How did the convention overcome these difficulties? 1. What danger now threatened Maryland?

DUNMORE'S PLAN.

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of Lord Dunmore, the late royal governor of Vir

ginia. It was his plan to raise an army in the western parts, and cut off all communication between the northern and southern provinces. The tories and Indians were to be enrolled, an army to be formed with artillery gathered up from the line of fortresses on the north and west, and this army was to cut its way to Alexandria, where Dunmore would join it, bringing with him servants and negroes, and others belonging to rebels-in the words of Washington Irving-to inflict upon Virginia, the horrors of a servile war.

2. His plans, however, were discovered by the arrest of one of his agents, in Frederick county. While endeavoring to organize a force in the west, Dunmore was actively engaged in scattering the seeds of disaffection on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He succeeded in raising several companies of men pledged to support the royal cause, if arms and ammunition should be furnished them. But this conspiracy was crushed out by the committee of safety of the Eastern Shore.

3. Two companies of militia from Kent and Queen Anne's, under Captains Kent and Henry, marched to Northampton county, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, to repel the invasion of that

Questions.-1. What was Dunmore's plan? 2. How were his plans discovered? What was Dunmore doing on the Eastern Shore? What success had he? 3. How was the Eastern Shore of Virginia protected?

section. They remained there long after their term had expired, rather than leave their neighbors unprotected.

4. To prevent the harbors of Maryland from being bombarded by Dunmore, batteries were erected near Baltimore and Annapolis, and several merchant vessels were manned and armed as vessels of The basin at Baltimore was also obstructed by three heavy chains of wrought iron stretched across its mouth, and by vessels sunk in the channel. The public records were removed from Annapolis to Upper Marlborough.

war.

5. Early in March, 1776, the Otter, a British sloop of war, with two tenders, captured several small vessels in the Chesapeake bay. She an chored a few miles below .Baltimore, with the intention of destroying the State Ship Defence, then nearly completed, in that harbor. Captain Nicholson, who commanded the Defence, hastily prepared his vessel, with the intention of recaptu ring the prizes. Accompanied by several smaller vessels, on a hazy morning, he bore down upon the Otter. The British were completely surprised; the tenders escaped with difficulty, and all the prizes were retaken.

6. The Otter bore away for Annapolis, but finding this place fortified, she dropped down the bay

Questions.-4. What was done to the harbors in the bay? What at Baltimore? At Annapolis? 5. What British vessel threatened Baltimore? What was her design? What did Capt. Nicholson do? 6. Where did the Otter now go?

GOVERNOR Eden.

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without having won either booty or success. The militia followed her down the bay shores as fast as possible, and succeeded in preventing her from capturing a prize that was almost within her grasp.

7. On the 5th of June, the gallant Nicholson received a commission in the new Continental Navy, and took command of the frigate Virginia. Many other Marylanders entered into the service, among whom none were more distinguished than Captain William Halleck and Joshua Barney.

8. Mr. Eden, the last English governor, still remained in the province, although the real supremacy was in the hands of the convention. His politic course, his want of power to hurt, and his personal popularity preserved him from the exile, which had been the fate of other provincial governors. But letters to him from the English ministry, commanding him to hold himself ready to assist the crown, having been intercepted, it was no longer deemed prudent to permit him to remain.

9. He was arrested by the military. The committee of safety of Maryland, who were the civil authority, immediately resented this usurpation of their prerogative; they summoned the officer, reprimanded him, and ordered him to return to his post. The people of Maryland were not disposed

Questions.-6. What did the militia do? 7. What is said of Nicholson, and other officers? 8. What is said of Mr. Eden? Why was it thought prudent that he should not remain? 9. By whom was he arrested? What did the civil authority do?