Worcester County June 10th 1777
Sir/
I was at Senepuxent on the 27th May, and there then appeard of[f] that harbor Six Sale of Top sale Vesels one of themaship. one of them fired a signal gun as for a piolet. the Sloop Independance 2 Sent her boat of[f] expecting they ware Continental Vesels: but found to there Cost they ware enemey as they made Prisonars of five men &kept the Boat. they lay at Anc or all that night, and the next day we Expected them to attempt to Come in. we Caled in Sum of the Militia in order to give them a proper Reseption. But the wind Cumpeled them to put to sea the next Day which I was sorry for, as we ware better prepared to Recive them then — then at present; as Major [Joseph) Vaughan of the Delawar Battelion Was down with 150 of that Reghment A Guard to the Wagons that Caried up the Armes an amunition Last Thursday they appeared of[f] Senepuxent again a few of the Militia was prevaild on to March again with Colo Done but Absalutely Refusd to go over to the Beach to keep Guard. a friday they went to sea again, but by a signal Gun Which the Sloop Independance fired, again on Saturday Afternoon they are agane in Sight. Submit it to your Excelencey & Co[unci]l if a proper Guard Drafted from the Militia or other wase procured, Stationd there under a proper officer would not be advisable. I heare that Colo Richardson is on his march to this place if so he will answer Every purpose as I know the Militia will what few have armes Turn out if thur is a regular force here, to keep them in Aw if not only a Very few, will Bare the Burden of the Day and I am afraid two few to Stand any formatable force, and as I am proswaded that the enemys know our Numbers of Well affected men I doubt they will not attempt to Come in Except they have a suficent force to repell them: as you know the Consequ[e]nce of that harbor when almost all the Other harbors are Block'd up I need not remind you of how much Importence it would be to them in case they ware to make them selves Masters of it all which might be p[reven]ted by a regular force Stationd there to raise sum Little Batterys, thur is plenty of Cannon thur not less then forty peces on Bord Several Vessles, and sum on Shore — one of their Vesels stood so nigh the shore that our people Could see what Colur their Clothes ware Twined up with, and we fired Two shott, from the South Beach in to their Main sale, after which they put to sea I am Convinced that with two Small Rogalleys & Sixty men I Could keep out any Vesel that the Chanul would let in. I have heard that Colo Richardson is at Cambridge on his way hear if so the Barer will Deliver him a letter informing him of our Setuation and requesting him to hasten down to our Assistance. if not there I have ordrd the Express to Deliver his Letter to you in which is Callo Dones to me, which I am sorry to say Contains my Opinion of our Militia. If it is posable to assist us with any Armes they would be most exceptable as we have but Very few that a man Couel'd Trust his Life too — I am with Esteem [&c.]
Joseph Dashiell
1. Red Books, XVII, 32, Md. Arch.
2. Continental Navy sloop Independence, Captain John Young, had arrived at Sinepuxent from Martinique with arms and ammunition which were part of the cargo of ship la Seine.