Letter from Captains Henry and Kent to Maryland Council of Safety

v5:469

Head-Quarters, Northampton, Virginia, March 23, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: We embrace this opportunity by Captain Kell, who has been some weeks blocked up in this harbour by tenders. On Monday evening last a tender came into Chariton Creek, and carried out a sloop belonging to Isaac Vaughan, and got Captain Kell' s schooner under way, but luckily run aground. Our companies that are stationed at the Court-House got down a little after dark; and as there were a ship and five small craft in the offing, that we supposed to be the man-of-war and tenders that were up the bay with you, we planted sentinels along the bay shore, and went to heaving up an intrenchment opposite to Captain Kell' s schooner. We discovered nothing of the tender till the morning, when she weighed anchor, and came opposite to our little breastwork, and an engagement ensued, which lasted about an hour; when we obliged the tender to retreat, without carrying out the schooner.

We shall be exceedingly thankful for the Continental regulations relative to victualling and paying off troops. We were obliged to send Mr˙ Bruff to the Treasurer for the money to pay one month' s wages to our companies. We hope your Honours will make some provision for getting the companies home, as also for our Surgeons.

We are, very respectfully, gentlemen, your very humble servants,

JAMES KENT,
WILLIAM HENRY.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

P˙ S˙ As Captain Kell will return here again, he has promised to wait on you for any commands you may have to us.