The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-08-16
LOCAL HISTORY.
HISTORICAL RESEARCHES
THAT OUILP MADE AS A BOHEMIAN
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Campaign of l777-British Fleet at Turkey Point
Army Lands at Elk Ferry-Howe's Proclama-
t!on-Army at Head of Elk-Battle of
Coochs Bridge-Demoralizati of the
People-Court Martial at the Head
of EIk-Its Result,

The campaign Of 171j was disastrous to
the Continental army, no portion of which
had acted with greater bravery or distinc-
ton than the Maryland line. Washington
had done what he could to retrieve the for
tunes of the Continental cause at Princeton
and Trenton, and in the Spring of III his
army occupied northern New Jersey and
having been largely reinforced was so for
midahle that General Howe resolved to ac-
compiish by stratagcm what he had failed
to do 10y force, namely, the capture of Phil
adclphia, then the capital of the infant Re
public TO this end he embarked his; army
on board his brothers fleet, intending to
reach Philadelphia by sailing up the Della
ware. But, learning that this was imprac-
ticable Oh account of the distractions in
that river, he abandoned his original plan
and entered the Chesapeake bay.
On the way up the Chesapeake the British
fleet, consisting of three hundred sail of
lnen-of- war, stopped at the mouth of the
PatapSco river and threatened to destroy
Baltimore We learn from DunlapS N0rg-
lana Gazcttc Il newspaper published i'll Bal
timore ut that time, that the fleet left Bod
kin Point, at the mouth of the Patapsco, on
the 24th of August, and sailed to the mouth
of Elk river and came to - off Turkey
Point The writer then proceeds As follows:
1t has been reported they landed Some of
their troops, but it proceeded from their
sending Il number of boats to PursuSa
(Spesuti;l) Island, lying between Hartford
and Kent county, ON which was a large
stock of cattle and sheep, some of which
they have taken off" This erroneous ac-
count of the landing of the British troops at
Turkey Point was adopted lily kumsay and
published in his History OF h Re o!utionary
War, and his account has been generally fol-
lowed ty all 81 bsequent American writers.
The fact is correctly stated by British b stor-
i,ns, who say that Howe'> army landed some
distance above the mouth of the Elk river
From Turkey Point the British s,iled on
up I he Elk river and landed in Elk Neck,
nearly op .osite Court House Point, at
which place they We're encamped on tie
eth. The weather at this time was very
rainy, which may have prevented them
from landing sooner.
On the 9th, the British general issued the
| following pro, llmarion, which we do not
believe has been reprinted since 11I7. We
found it in Dunlap'S MuHlnnd Gdzcffp and
republish it for the benefit of our readers:
"By His Excellency Sir William Howe
&C. SSf. ~ tttiilIdifll " INC
of Pennsylvania, the lower counties on Del
aware and the counties ON the Eastern
Shore of Maryland: Sir William Howe, re
GREETING the calamitieS to which many of
His Majestv's faithful subjects are still eX-
posed, by the continuance of the rehclion
and no less DESTROYS of protecting the limo
cent than determining TO pursue with the
rigors of war all those whom His Ma eSty's
forces in the course of their progress may
., IL,
assure the peacelble inhabitants of the
province of Pennsylvania, the lower coun-
ties on Delaware and the counties of Mary
land on the eastern shore Of Chesapeake
bay, that in order 70 remove any groundleSS
approximations which may have been raised
of their suffering by depredations of the
army under his command: He hath issued
the strictest orders to the troops for the
preservation of regularity and good disci-
pine; and has signitied that the most ex-
emplary punishment shall be inflicted upon
those who shall dare to plumber their pro-
perry or modest the persons of any OF His
MajeSty's we'll disposed subjects.
Security and protection are likewise eN-
tended to all persons, inhabitants of the
province and counties aforesaid, who (not
guilty of having assumed Legislative or jul
dicial authority may have acted Illegally
in subordinate stations and conscious of
their dwellings: Provided such persons do
forthwith return and remain peace;lhly in
their usual places of abode. Considering,
moreover, that many officers and private
men, now actually in arms against His Ma
.ieSty, may be willing to relinIni,h the part
they have taken in this rebellion and return
10 their due allegiance. Sir William Howe
doth therefore promise Il free and general
pardon to all such officers and private men
shall Voluntarily and urrpnt1pr
themselves to any detachment OF His MAJ
tjcSty's forces before the day on which it
shall be notified, that the said indulgence
shall he discontinued.
Given under my hand at Head Quarters
of the Army, the 9th of August, HI, by
His EXcellency's command.
ROBERT MCKENZIE,
Secretary.
The two days after the British landed