The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-06-06
Johnston's History
Of Cecil County.
CHAPTER XX CONTINUED.

1t is stated in a letter which Lafay-
cite addressed from Head of Elk TO
Governor Thomas Sim Lee. upon the
10Th. that he intended to march the next
day, and that it would be necessary to
nave horses and wagons ut Baltimore to
relieve those which would accompany
him from that place. He also informed
the Governor that two men came on
board his vessel while coming up the
Bay. and. installing it for British YES
sci, had offered to show them the country
about the mouth of the Gunpowdcr
River, and accompanied by small de-
tachment which he had sent for that pur-
pose. had gone there. He also informed
the Governor that he intended to execute
them rs spies.
The army under Lafayette left the
Head of Elk on the morning of the 18th
of April, and marched to the Brick Meet
ing House. which they reached about an
hour before sunset, and encampcd in the
mreting-houSc woods. The author is in
dcbted to james Trimble for the follow
ing description of the interesting scene.
he having derived his information from
those who witnessed it The leading
divisions were rapidly followed by others
until the whole woods, then containing
about thirty acres. seemed filled with
horses, wagons and men. but the villag-
erS were surprised to see 50 many people
settle down 50 quickly in exact order.
the men cooking their SuppcrS. and SEN
tlnelS walking around the entire body
None of the Inhabitants were molcSted
except to repleniSh their empty cantecns
at the old-fnshioned draw wells in the
vicinity. William Kirk. then in about
his twelfth year Informed me that in
company with others he went the next
morning ut the first appearance OF day
light to see the Frcnchmcn before they
left. but found the road already filled
with the army in motion. in compact
order. Upon this occasion Lafayette
spent the night in the old stone house
upon the plantation of the late Marshall
j. Hunt, Il short distance northeast of the
village of Rising sun. then occupied by
job HaincS On taking his leave the
next morning, the General presented
each of Mr.. HaineS' sons with Il piece of
money. giving his son Lewis gold coin.
his name being the same as that of the
Generals sovereign.
Some Of the army are said to have
encampcd near HarriSville the same
night, which seems quite probable. from
the fact that Lafayette spent the night
about midway between that place and
the Brick Meeting House. The next day
the army crossed the SuSquchanna in
scows Mt Bald Friar Ferry, and proceed
ed to Baltimore. The troops under Gen
eral Lafayette We're all from Northern
States, and though they had willingly
engaged i'll the expedition down the Bay
they became dissatisfied when ordered to
engage in Il summer campaign in the
South. They were poorly cad and with
out shoes. and showed so much discon-
tent that it was predicted when they
left Bald Friar Ferry, that not one-half
of them would reach Baltimore. But by
hanging one deSelter and severely re-
primanding some other dclinqupnts, Laf
ayette preserved his little army intact
and safety reached Baltimore where the
wants of his army were supplied.
In the September following. the Ameri-
can Army under command of General
Washington. passed through the Head
of Elk, en- route to the siege Of York
town. Claude Blanchard. who accom-
panied the French troops. 200 of whom
were in Washington'S Army. published
journal kept by him during his service in
the army in this country aS commSSnry,
in which he states that the troops en-
barked ut Plum Point. where Il number
of transports from the French fleet were
waiting to receive them. Blanchard. on
his route northwarl. passed through
Havre de Grace. in company with the
army. in August. 1TS2. He states in his
journal that the army was nearly two
days in crossing the SuSpuchannn, there
being but one ferry boat at the lower
ferry: and remarks that the Head of
Elk is in Il very dry soil and one is
drowned with dust there. Fever is very
prevalent there. doubtless caused by the
Swamps in the vicinity"
After the capture of Yorktown. part
of the American Army. under General
Lincoln, passed through the Head of Elk
on their way northward. 1t is stated, in
reuuiSiton made upon Colonel Hol-
lingsworth by Henry Dcarbourn. then
Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Quarter
Master. afterwards Major General in the
war of 1877. that he WAS in want of one
hundred and fifty beef cattle to drive on
with the army for its SuhsiStcncc He
also wanted ut least thirty-four horse
teams, and iutimntch that if they were
not forthcoming 'he would lie under the
diSagrcCablc necessity of making Use of
the authority of the army for procuring
them" which he seemed to regret lest it
might distress those who had already
contributed their full share He adds, in
postscript. that 40 wngon-loalS of
straw will be absolutely necessary for
the troops in this cold season.
Shortly after this. in December. 1871,
some of the Rhode Island troops who
were qu0rtcrrd in the house of one Jane
Clark. mt the Head of Elk. got into Il
quarrel with gang of watprmcn. who
attacked them in their quarters in the
night. and being driven away. returned
and renewed the fight the next morning
Jane Clark kept Il hotel or at least sold
liquor. and it was in evidence that the
watermcn were drunk. and probably the
soldiers were in the same condition. The
fight was ended by one Fortecn Stodder
negro soldier from Rhode Island, shoot
Al, L.. A..