The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-08-22

Element into certain circuits and
ride around such circuits as shall
be assigned them once fort
night, make particular inquiry in
to the diStresses of the inhabitants
and order them such relief as they
shall think necessary. Should
their companies not be sufficient
for giving such relief, they are
required to apply to the Thinkers
and Mennonists residing nearest
to give their assistance"
Some of the recruits behaved
Gin very riotous and disorderly
manner" in Hagerstown, and the
committee had to tell all recruit
ing officers to have their men con-
duct themselves properly or ex-
pect a representation to Congress
of their behavior. Servants, or
negroes, were also ordered not to
go without written permission
from their masters any distance
from home while the militia were
away, on penalty of receiving
thirty lashes on the bare back
we'll laid on" Every measure was
taken to prevent the spread of
terrifying rumors.
If private property was needed
for public use, it must be given.
When a man received message,
requesting him to send in his
small farm wagon Immediately
and neglected to do so, a guard
,, was sent at once to fetch the
wagon and three horses, or oxen,
if the horses could not be found,
and the owner with them, to show
cause why he had treated the au-
thority of the committee with so
much contempt. Other requiSi-
tons were on residents of the
county for teams to draw cannon
for Col John Stull's battalion,
or for axes and blankets for Col.
Davies and Major Swearingen's
troops, or for horses to enable
Capt Evan Baker TO capture mem
bers Of his company "who have
absconded disagreeable to orders"
or for blankets for Capt. Keller's
company. All was to be done de
Gently and in order. No horses
were to be pressed "without au-
thority of the committee" nor
was any guard TO be entitled to
pay unless they went out with
written orders from the committee
and made return in writing there
to. Three men complained that
soldiers forcibly entered their
houses and took blankets, which
they could not possibly spare.
The committee at once declared
such proceeding "without order
and tyrannical," and ordered the
captain of the company to which
the soldiers belonged to return
the blankets. There should be
no unnecessary hardship created.
Men who were late in marching
with their companies were ordered
to give bond for $500, that they
would march with the next COM
pany leaving Hagerstown, or
were kept in close confinement in
the Tory ga0l and then delivered
to the custody of the captain of
the first company going to the
front. Robert and Henry Foard
and Hugh Gilliland enrolled with
Denton Jacques. AS he made no
preparation to march, they went
to the committee and were told
that they might enroll the com
pany, have rendezvous appoint
ed, choose officers and make re-
turn of all delinquents. Clearly
Jacques was unfit for his position.
Let the more Jealous take it.
Long after the other companies
had gone, Capt Abraham Baker
acknowledged that he and most
of his company had deserted, and
with remarkable lenity, the COM
mittee merely required him to
give bond to appear when re-
quired, to use his utmost endeav-
ors to bring back the other de-
serters, and to march with his
company to re enforce General
Washington.
Many of the committee were
captains of the companies which
left for the field. and so their
places had to be filled. The re-
naming members elected men to
fill the vacancies and the work
went on. New levies were made
by the State to aid Smallwood in
his task of subduing the Eastern
Shore Tories. The Washington
County Committee had just sent
their best men to aid Washington.
But "from a sincere affection for
the common cause of liberty, ever
willing to risk their lives and
fortunes in defense thereof they
unanimously resolved to "give
every assistance and encourage
meDt in their power to the speedy
completing of every company un-
der the said generals command