The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-08-10
The early Governors of Maryland-X

been for fear of French and Indians to the
west there would have been 4 great exodus
OF Maryland planters into the Ohio country.
GOVERNOR SHARPE was likewise VERY much
aware OF Baltimores possibilities as a port.
Only nine months after his arrival in
Maryland he wrote to Lord Baltimore:
l have taken an Opportunity since my
arrival of visiting Baltimore which indeed
has the Appearance of the most iucreas-
ing Town in the Province, tho it scarcely
answered the Opinion / had conceived of
it: hardly as yet rivaling ANNAPOLIS in
number of Building or Inhabitants; its
Situation as to PleaSantncSS Air and
Prospect is inferior to that of Annapolis,
but if one considers it with respect to
Trade the extensive Country beyond it
leaves not room for Comparison; were Il
Few Gentlemen of fortune to settle there
Y encourage the Trade it might soon
become a furnishing place hut while few
beside the Germans (WhO are in general
Masters of small Fortunes build and
inhabit there | apprchend it cannot make
any considerable Figure.
Sharpe, during his fifteen years of Governor
ship, saw Baltimore become one of the fore
most ports OF the Colonies, his prophecy more
than fulfilled.
IN JULY. 1854, George II issued to Mary
lands Governor the commission to take
command OF the Forces that shall be raised
on this part OF the Continent to protect his
Majesty Domnions from the Enroachments
and Devastations of his presumptuous
enemies" The vessel bearing news OF this
commission was carried off her course by
storm, requiring twelve weeks for the pas
sage and the commission was not received
until October.
Sharpe at once communicated with the
Governors OF the various Colonies, MAJ 4
tour of the deienscs and estimated the
strength OF his actual and prospective forces.
The only ful-lcdged frontier defense in the
middle Colonies was the enc in process of
erection at WIS Creek, later to become Fort
Cumberland. No better brief survey of the
situation in the Colonies can be had than
Sharpc's letter to Sir Thomas Robinson then
Secretary Of State acknowledging the receipt
Of his Majcsly's commission.
ONLY ONE DAY before he wrote the letter, Sir
Thomas Robinson had written to Sharpe ad-
visins him that 4 large complement oi Eng
fish troops would soon be transported to
America, to be preceded by deputy quarter
master-s general with whom he was to copper
ate) and shortly thereafter by 4 commander
in-chief
Sharpe was therefore, hardly aware OF his
commission before the appointment OF
successor was contemplated. However, due
to the slowness OF the mails, Sharpe did not
receive Sir Thomas letter until the following
January. 1t was what Sharpe accomplished in
the interim, when preparations were being
made for taking care of the English troops,
that showed OF what mettle this man was
made.
u
SHARPE FOUND considerable disorder and lack
of organization at all points, especially at
Fort Cumberland. He had to combine his
duties as commandment chief with that of
quartermaster- general, for it seemed that
little thought had been given to the provision
ing OF troops. Sharpes ability in this kind
of planning amounted almost to genius; no
detail was overlooked, it appears Writing to
Lord Albemarle OF the conditions he found
at Fort Cumberland, he contrasted them with
the preparations which the French had made
at Fort Duqucsne, where they had laid in
provisions for the whole winter At Fort
Cumberland he found mo provisions as vet
procured and as the season was advanced, it
was difficult to purchase and collect sufficient
supplies, nor had Governor Dinwiddie ap-
pointed commissaries for this important duty
'AIortars, Field Pieces or Cannon we had
none except four small ones OF the Latter
which purchased out OF Ship
NJ.
THE FORCES which Sharpe had to plan with
We're pitifu!!y mcager and undiscinfned
There wee three Independent comDan!.s. so
POOR that when later reviewed by Braddocks
quarter.:2s cr-g"nerL forty men wee dis
caaTec ..o,A enc ccmnany as unit fo- duty.
In Z mans OF the VIRGINIA forces. E,arDc
wrote some time later "a,rountcd to :.:3yt
15) di.ca@t-n;.d unrriy :; t2~ van. CT Pay
muinous: the Maryland Company was at