Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 7, May 1 1777-September 18 1777
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Maryland Delegates to To: Thomas Johnson


Sir
Philadelphia May 1st. 1777

   We embrace this oppertunity by Your returnd express, to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 26th Ult.(1) The multiplicity of business before congress, made it impossible to dispatch the express sooner than has been done.

   We have the honour to inclose your Excy. coppy of the Resolutions of Congress, respecting Capt Nicholsons very indecent & Imprudent behavior, to your self & Council as well as his infringmt. on the liberties of the people. We have the pleasure to assure yr. Excellency that Congress were Unanimous in expressing their warmest disapprobation


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of Capt. Nicholsons Conduct, & that he had not the least incouragement to proceed in this business in the manner he has done, & we are of oppinion he would have been dismissd the service immediatly, but many Gentlemen thought him a good officer & were willing to believe your Excelly & Councill would Accept of Such Submissions & Acknowledgments as he ought immediatly to make.

   By letters yesterday from Genl. Washington we were informd that the enemy had landed 1500 or 2000 men on the Sound near Fairfield, Conecticut, & had marchd to Danbury abt. 25 Miles into the country where we had a large Magazine, that they had destroyed abt. 5000 bbls of Pork, & 3000 Barrells of Flour, Burnt the greatest part of The Town.(2) We had not above 50 regular troops at this post. The Militia, however. collected next morning Under Generals Arnold & Worster (& a few regulars) in the whole About 600, & harassd them on their retreat. We killed 12 of the Enemy, took 13 Prisoners, the Number of Wounded not Known, our loss very trifling. Genl. Worster Mortaly Wounded & one or two other officers. They retreated on board their Ships, more like a flight than a retreat. From every accot. recd. if we had had nearly an equal number of Troops these robers would have been taken proper care of. We have the Honour to be yr. Excellencys, Most Obt. hble Serts,


W. Smith

B. Rumsey

P.S. The Enemy have burnt in this excursion the Towns of Danbury & Ridgfield. The Frigates at this place have Impressd Some Seamen, but we have not learnd that any complaints have been made on that head, therefore this State have winkd at this measure & incouraged it from the pressing necessity. Congress, nor even the Marine Committee have ever given any incouragement to this practice, nor we hope will congress ever give any incouragement to their officers to Interfere with the Internal police of any State.


Note: RC (MdAA). Written by Smith and signed by Smith and Rumsey.


1 The Maryland Council's April 26 letter to the Maryland delegates is in Md. Archives, 16:230.


2 See John Adams to Abigail Adams, April 30, 1777, note.