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Aithim's Tavern [Aiken's Tavern], Crouch's Mills [Cooch's] 1777

Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 7, May 1 - Sept 18, 1777

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Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 7 May 1, 1777 - September 18, 1777
Charles Carroll of Carrollton to Thomas Johnson


Dear Sir, Swan Creek 8th Sept 1777. I beg the favor of you to forward the inclosed by the first Safe opportunity: my father will be anxious to hear from me.(1)
G. Smallwood writes to you by this opportunity & transmits a return of the militia here, their arms, ammunition, & accoutrements & I suppose will inform you he proposes to order the militia to rendevouze at Johnson's Ferry. The militia at this place will march tomorrow for that ferry. I shall proceed to head Quarters. No doubt you have better information from Mr. Jones of the enemys position & motions than I can collect at this out of the way place. Howe I hear is at Aithim's Tavern 5 miles from head of Elk. Col. Rumsey, who is now here, was Saturday at head of Elk & made some prisoners. Cornwallis is at Crouch's mills, Kniphausen at Fisher's mills, the last distant from Newark 3 miles. Poor Alexander is gone along with the enemy with all his Family. He can never remain in this country unless in the disagreeable situation of seeing it conquered by the enemy. If he has any virtue, this thought alone must pain him. Dr. H. Stevenson, it is said, cried like a child when he left his plantation in this neighbourhood. Unfortunate misguided men! G.W. made a speech (I am told by one Rogers who keeps Susquahanna Ferry) to his army which was recd with great applause. Officers & men desired to be led to battle. Washington is said to be at the head of 30 thousand men. I believe this number exaggerated by at least a third. I believe Gen. Smallwood does not intend to cross Susquahanna till he

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SEPTEMBER 8, 1777

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receives the feild pieces, at least not to proceed near the enemy. Gen. Washington I am sure will not hazard a general battle. We this day had a full view from stony point of the Enemy's fleet lying from the mouth of Elk to Sasafras, but chiefly about the mouth of Sasafras. If Mr. Smith should be desirous to return home, as it appears he is by a letter of his I this day saw written to Col. B. Rumsey, I shall proceed to Congress, & not return to join Smallwood's brigade of militia.(2) Indeed I already find this kind of sauntring life extremely disagreeable & fatiguing & hard lodging & irregular hours of eating begins to disagree with my puny constitution & habit of body; but perhaps I shall soon be more inured to & better able to support the fatigue of a campaign. I heartily wish you well & am yr. affectionate friend,
Ch. Carroll of Carrollton

RC ( MeHi ) .

1 Carroll's September 8 letter to his father is in the Carroll Papers, MdHi.
2 Carroll was still with Gen. William Smallwood (at "Nottingham") on September 14, at which time he appended the following brief note to Johnson at the bottom of Smallwood's letter of that date to the governor. "I shall proceed with General Smallwood till he joins the main army and shall then on this go to Congress or return home. I am well and desire you will inform my father thereof by the first opportunity." Brown Books, MdAA.

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Library of Congress: Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 7