The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-08

of Miss Julia Scott, now living near Tur-
keytown, in the Fourth district. When
Mr.. Ramage returned to the forge he found
that his property had disappeared during
his absence and Imprisonment.
At the time of which we write there lived
some where in the vicinity of Chestnut
Hill a gentleman and his wife, who had
the honor of lodging Gen. Washington.
This mans name was Seth James. He
lived to be quite old and taught school in
the latter part of his life. The General
was accompanied by his servant and asked
the favor of lodging with them. The old
lady fixed up the best feather bed she had
in the best style. The servant, however,
was of the opinion that something might be
concealed in the bed and he subjected it to
a minute inspection, after which he rear
ranged it and the General then retired.
They arose early the next morning and
departed.
We must now revert to the operations of
that part of the army under Gen. kny-
phausen, who, we learn from the old map,
were encamped on the Oldham farm, near
Court House Point, on the 31st of August.
This division of the army were Hessians.
They appear to have spread over the greater
part of Sodom-as the country south of
Back Creek was then called. They had
an encampment very near to st. Augustines
Church, and are said to have broken the
glass and window sash with their sabres in
the windows of the old church that stood
there at that time. Gen. Howe is said to
have occupied the house on the Writ farm,
near the church, and some One drew pic
ture of soldiers drawn up in military order,
on one of the wooden partitions in that
house. Samuel Is. Foard, Esq, told the
writer that he saw the picture or sketch
frequently, and that it was executed in a
very artistic and beautiful manner but
was afterwards obliterated by the partition
being whitewashed. Gen. knyphausen, the
Hessan General, occupied the house of Mr..
Foard's mother, just south of the church,
and another General occupied an old house,
sinCe ueSlloyeu VI IeLnoNeu, Ildt SIoOu ou
theWiiliam's farm, northwest of the church.
Mr. Foard's ancestors, like many other per-
sons, left their home and repaired to place
of safety, taking with them their slaves
and valuable property. One of Mr. Foard's
slaves refused to 90 with the family, pre-
ferring to remain and take care of the pro-
perty. Her name was Phillis, and she had
charge of the house during its occupation
by the British. She afterwards told many
stories about them.
Sodom was bounded by Back Creek on
the north, and included all the country
between that creek and the road leading
from Court House Point to Cayott's Cor
ner and the road leading from Cayott's
Corner via of St. Augustine to Back Creek
Mills.
The British also had an encampment on
the Lumm place, not far from the Buck
Bridge. 1t is probable that the different
divisions of Howe's army Joined each other
near Cooch's Bridge inst before the battle
was fought.
A part of Elowe's army landed at Welch
Point and marched close by the old red
house, on the property Of David Taylor.
This is probably the part that historians
tell us formed a junction with the main
army under Howe, at Grays Hill now Red
Hid, east of Elkton, on the 2Sth of August.
There is a tradition that nineteen of the
Hessians deserted, but were captured and
shot at WEIGH Point, and buried in one
common grave there. Some indications of
grave of that kind are to be seen at the
Point at this time. The depression in the
earth that is said to be their grave is called
1.-The Hessians' Hole"
The battle of Cooch's Bridge took place
on the 30th of August. 1777. Although it
was dignified by the name of battle by
the early historians of the war of 1777, it
was only skirmish between four or five
hundred American ritlemen and Howe's
army, which was IS, 900 strong. The Brit
ish line of battle, as shown by the old map
before spoken of, which was published only
twenty three years after the battle, extend
ed from point in Maryland south OF Chris
tana Creek in an easterly and southerly
direction to near the Clark farm, between
Cooch's Bridge and Glasgow or Pencader
Church, which was then called Allentown.
A part of Howe's army was encamped on
Iron Hill, about half mile south of the
old Baptist Church, near fine spring Of
water. The writer has in his possession
small iron ball that was picked up in
corn field, this Summer, and presented to
him by Mr.. Clendennin, who lives close by
the old church, and whose grand uncle,
then young man of eighteen, was drum
mer in the American army. Mr.. Clenden-
min has in his possession twenty eight
pound ball that was found close by the
church, while digging ditch to drain the
church yard, a few years ago. 1t is one of
inches apart and bore evidence of having
been fastened together; the fastening, what
ever it was, had disappeared. The British
burned Cooch's mill, and appear to have
INDUCED IN many dCtS VI "dutou utSlIuC-
ton of property. The shutters Oh the old
Baptist Church showed that a ball had
been fred through one of them and passed
dagonaly across the building and out
through another one The church was re-
paired some years ago and the old shutters
were replaced by new ones.
There was an old and eccentric surveyor,
bv the name of HUMPHREYS, who was a fifer
in the American army at the time of the
battle of Cooch's Bridge. He was accused
of cowardice, inasmuch as he hid his fife
lust before the fight at the bridge, in order
to keep out of danger. This man Hum
phries left a son Edward Humphries-bet
Ger known in the northeast part of the
county as cold Neddy." He was well
educated, but very eccentric; rather too
fond of whisky, and had habit of mutter
ing and talking to himself. A friend of
the writer once asked him about the accu-
sation against his father. "Oh, yes, " re-
piled Neddy, "he hid the fife and hid the