Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-12-05

in the latter part Of the year 11S0,
The British had : seml-piFstical force Of
armed boats On tbe lower waters Of the
Chesapeake and is tributaries. Mar
anda0e parties we're landed ct any point
which promised spoil without much
risk, and it was IN resisting these free
ADolefs that Col. Fltxhugh exhibited pc
raliaF zeal and courage. Unfortunately
lnF him, bis own property was more ex-
posed than almost any one eIse's.--
kousby Hall and Milmount. names still
known in Calvert county, were then IN
his possession: the one = large planta-
sion and the other farm connected
viii Il ! mill or manulaclofy. where be
carned 81 very lucrative business by
lsiaH nlsis.s bfend fnr The sapplY nf lile
vessels then trading in the Chesa-
peake."
The foIIowrngoriginal letter from Gen.
eral Washington, now printed for the
first time, will show the intimate rela-
tions existing between him and Col.
Fitzhugh, and also the important infu-
ence the latter was supposed TO COM
mand in this State:
HEADQUARTERS PAssAIc FALLS, Oc-
tober %, 17S0.-Dear Sir: The gen.
tleman who will have the honor of pre-
seniing you with this letter Is Major
General Greene, particular friend of
mine, and one who would beg leave
to recommend to your civilities. He
is going to take command Of the South
ern army. and calls at Annapolis to
make some arrangements with the State
respecting its supplies, which are
turned into that direction. This gen.
tleman is so intimately acquainted with
our situation and prospects can relate
them with such accuracy that ! shall
not trouble you with them. My best
respects attend Mrs. Fitzhugh and the
young officer Zone of the colonel's sons
who had been taken by the enemy }
whose final exchange is, hope, not far
distant, If the prisoners we have in this
quarter will reach the date of his cap
tivity in the exchange we arc about TO
make. The company is now gone in
with powers to effect the purpose. l
am, dear Sir, your obcdieni and affec-
tionate humble servant.
GEO. WASHINGTON.
Please 10 turn. over.
p. S.-I hope the assemblies that are
now sitting, or about 20 sit, will not rise
till they put these things in a fair and
proper train. FIRST, To give full and
ample powers TO Congress competent TO
all the purposes OF war. Second, By
loans and taxes to put our finances upon
a more respectable footing than they are
ut present; and third, That they will
endeavor TO establish permanentiorce.
These things will secure our indepen-
dency beyond dispute: but 10 60 on in
our present system, civil as well as mil
itary, is useless and vain attempt. IL
is idle to suppose that raw and undisciP-
lined men are fit TO oppose regular
troops, and if they were our present
military system is too expensive for any
funds except those OF an eastern nabob,
and in the civil list, instead Of one head
and directors, we have or soon shall
have, thirteen, which is as much a mon
ster in politics as il would be in the hu-
man form. Our present distresses and
future prospects Of distress, arising from
these and similar causes. are great be-
yond the powers Of description and
without a change must end in our ruin.
am, &c., G. w.
The writer Of the Memoir contin-
ues:
"These estates were contiguous, and
both situated on the estuary of the Pa
tuxent, only a few miles from its mouth.
In The fall OF 1880 and again in the
spring Of 1871 the enemy landed parties
which hurt all his buildings and iurni-
ture and carried off AZ valuable slaves,
who were never recovered. By virtue
of the act of 1888, chapter %, entitled
IAN Act TO ascertain the property ofthe
citizens of this State carried of or des-
troyed by the enemy during the pres
ent war; a commissioner was appoin-
ted, and returned the damage thus sus-
tanned by Colonel FItzhugh at the large
sum (for those days. of five thousand
FIVE hundred and seventy mine pounds
ten shillIngs.' II was in reference to
this loss that General Washington, writ
ing to Colonel Fiizhugh, observed: 1T
is with sincere concern / heard Of the
injury you had sustained in your proper
ty at the mouth ol the Patuxent: but il
Is only adding another specimen 10 the
of British Clemency and boast
ed generosliy.' And again, from the
camp near Dobb's Ferry. August Sth
ISL he says: III is with much con-
cern hear Of your second loss by the
pirates Of the bay and Ofthe insults Mrs.
Fitzhugh and yourself had received
from them, Sc"
On the 9th of February. 1852, Gen.
Washington, writingtc Count De Grasse
TO request the return of Eve of Colonel
slaves who had been taken
by Frerch vessel, makes use Of the
following language: "My knowledge
Of the goodness of your excelIeney's
heart induces me without hesisstion
10 request your attention 70 an affair
which is Of consequence TO PaT-
fieuiGr friend Of mine, Colonel Fstz-
hugh, OF Maryland. While the COM
mon enemy were IN possession Of the
Chesapeake they committed great dep
relations upon that gentleman's proper
~, burning his houses and carrying
away upward Of 40 of his most vaIua-
bic slaves" &c., SC.
Although the Legislature Of The State
did not make Colonel Fifzhugh Ire re-
dress he SO perseveringly sought they
we're nr,f nrhnlIv rauarilnss Of his ca.e