The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-02-19


revolutionary troops being in full retreat.
Rawlins afterward retired under the guns
of the fort. Twelve hundred British were
killed and wounded, and General Howe
acknowledged that half of his loss was
caused by the Maryland and Virginia rifle
men,
Washington began a winter campaign
on the Sth of December, 1916, when he
crossed the Delaware The Maryland Line
took an active part in the battle of Tren-
ton. 1t was here that their old Hessian
antagonist, Colonel Rawle, was killed.
His brigade became prisoners.
General Mercer, commanding the brl-
gade to which the Maryland Line was at
tached, fell at the head of his men in the
battle of Princeton Washington says in
his letters that Smallwood's troops had
then been reduced to mere handful Of
men, but they took part in the engagement
with their usual gallantry, and won great
renown. Thus regiment of l, IA men
in the month of August, when the battle
of Long Island was fought, was reduced in
four months to mere handful Of men.
oNE-TENTH OF THE WHOLE ARMY.
For the ensuing campaign Maryland $
quota was eight battalions, numbering
1 1000 men. one-tenth of the whole army.
They were promptly furnished, and the
MARYLAND Line again became the flower of
the Continental army. In October follow
inc an additional quota of ,, 900 men, to
serve three years in the Maryland Line,
was filed. In August, 1777, these troops
were engaged in an attack upon Staten
Island. The first brigade was under COM
mand of General Smallwood, and all were
commanded by General Sullivan The net
result of the expedition was al British
prisoners, of whom j were officers.
The line participated in the battle OF
the Brandywine, where it formed the right
wing of the revolutionary army. At one
time Smallwood was in great jeopardy. but
extricated himself with great skill.
AT the battle of Germantown, on the
3D. of October the gallantry Of the Mary
landers was again conspicuous They adj
vanced in gallant style, and with such res
olution that the British light infantry were
driven from the field and their encampment
fell into the hands of the victorious line.
They also captured two 6-pounders. Their
steady valor on this occasion won for them
the highest encomiums from their COM
manders. They were the first in action
and were constantly engaged. Victory
was snatched from their hands by the oc-
cupation of Chew's stone house by the
British
The year was ended by the gallant de
Tense of Fort Mitfiin, in which the Mary
landers were prominent. That winter the
Line. under Smallwood, reduced to | 100
men. was stationed at Wilmington to pre-
tect Delaware from British incursions.
FIRST To FILL TIE QUOTA.
In Nav. 1873. Maryland furnished
2.9O2 men to the revolutionary army.
Count Pulaski also raised an independent
corps in that State and persisted at its
head at Savannah. Maryland was the first
to fill the quote ordered by Congress in this
year.
..On June % Lieut.. Col Samuel Smith
and Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey, with tw"
MARYLAND hattalions. and Smallwood
Second Maryland Brigade, were engaged
in the battle of Monmouth. The British
were driven back by Smallwood ; brigade,
with loss of 300 men killed outrig hit.
Sir Henry Clinton withdrew from the field
and retreated to New York.
'.On February Il, 1879, the British
moved from Staten Island with the design
of taking Elizabethtown. Smallwood.
with the Maryland Line, met them at
Scotch Plains. and after short Skimsh
the British retired.
.When the summer opened the Line,
under Major Stewart, distinguished itself
in the storming of Stony Point Congress
voted silver medal to Major Stewart, and
the Maryland Line received well-merited
enconiums from General Wayne. When
the army was afterward concentrated at
West Point the Maryland Line formed its
right wing.
''WERE FIRM AS \ ROCK.
In 1880. Georgia and South Carolina
being in the hands Of the British, and
North Carolina invaded the First Brigade
of the Maryland Fine. under command of
Major General de Kalb, marched south
Three companies of artillery in the CONT
mental service were attached to the force
An additional regiment was raised and sent
with the brigade. The Line outdid itself
at the battle of Camden .Gist's Mary
land brigade, so reads the dispatches
were firm as Il rock. and Williams regi-
ment. with Howard at its head. broke
upon the enemy and severed his front,
driving the opposing corps before them.
The Second Maryland Brigade again
charged CORVALLIS grenadiers with the
bayonet.
The British troops began to recede.
Their line was broken and thrown into dis
order, but the brave Marylanders. unsup-
ported with cavalry, were compelled to
withdraw Afterward ), 1000 British regu-
lars were poured upon the two Maryland
brigades, containing only 800 men, who
still fought unAinchingly. They were as
saulted by British cavalry in front and
rear De Kalb fell while attempting to
restore the line. After performing their
duty valiantly these gallant troops, over
whelmed with numbers, took to the woods
and swamps. Gist moved off with body
of 100 men, maintaining unbroken ranks,
and Howard made his escape with a smaller
party. The loss of the Maryland Line
was 400 killed and wounded and 10 pris-
oners, mostly wounded In the ten sue
ceeding days Smallwood collected over 700
officers and privates.
One hundred and fifty of the Line who
were prisoners were afterward captured
by General Marion while on their way to
Charleston.
CONFIDENCE IN SKILL AND COURAGE.
Thereafter, under Washington direc-
tons, the seven regiments of the old Line