Letter from Virginia Committee of Safety to Maryland Council of Safety

v5:141

Williamsburgh, March 9, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The great length of the Potomack River, from its mouth to Alexandria, where men-of-war can go, and the probability of some attempts being made by the enemy in that quarter, make it prudent, in our opinion, to erect beacons or signals for communicating intelligence of their approach up the river, in a more speedy manner than can be done by land. We have, therefore, appointed Colonel Mercer, of the Third, and Colonel Peachey, of the Fifth Regiment, to examine the river, and to fix the different posts and mode of continuing these signals; but as we are aware that the course of the river will make it necessary that many of them should be set in your Province, we hope you will approve the measure, and name Commissioners on your part to co-operate with the above-named gentlemen in effecting it.

We hear of no more naval arrivals, and the former are quiet as to depredations on shore and up the river, confining themselves to seizures in the bay, when they have an opportunity. We have had no intelligence of General Clinton since he went out.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants.

For the Committee of Safety of Virginia:

EDMUND PENDLETON, President,

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.