To George Washington from Brigadier General Mordecai Gist, 24 November 1780
From Brigadier General Mordecai Gist
Baltimore 24 November 1780
Dear sir
Your favor of the 13th Instant came to hand Yesterday,1 our Assembly have ever since my last been unhappily engag’d in a dispute respecting the power of the House of Delegates, to call their Members to the Bar to Answer for Misdemeanours committed out of the House during the sessions, parties ran high, and the Members were much inflamed on the case of Mr James Hindman, who was called to the Bar for speaking freely of the public character of Mr sam. Chase and other Members, in a Tavern: Mr Hindman refusing to make the concessions directed by the House was put in custody of the Serjeant at Arms, where he still remains.2
a Committee of the House is now sitting on the requisition of Genl Greene a Copy of which I have the Honor to enclose you, as also a copy of my letter to them on that Subject.3 I flatter myself from the disposition of some of the Committee that a report will be made Similar to the Measures propose’d, & that it will meet the concurrence of the House.
I send Your Excellency also a return of the Troops from this state, serving in the Southern department,4 with a copy of Major General Greens requisition to the Delaware state, to which place I shall proceed agreeable to my Orders to press its speedy & effectual execution.5 I have the Honor to be With perfect Respect & Esteem Yr Excellencys Mo. Obdt Servant
M. Gist
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. GW’s letter to Gist dated 13 Nov. acknowledged a return of the Additional Continental Regiment from Maryland and encouraged recruiting efforts (see Gist to GW, 26 Oct., n.4).
2. The controversy centering on James Hindman and Samuel Chase had come to the attention of the Maryland House of Delegates on 10 Nov.: “Hindman, a member of the house, in public, on yesterday, in conversation with a number of gentlemen respecting the debate, and the division of the house, on the question for calling out of circulation the state and convention money by exchange, at a rate not less than forty for one, declared, that the members who voted against the proposition were scoundrels, except a few fools; that particular members were rascals, scoundrels, and villains, and that others were scoundrels and fools, and crazy or out of their senses; and that the speaker, who on a division of the question voted in the negative, gave his vote from the nod or wink of a member.” The body then postponed an order to the next day, when six men received summonses “to testify the truth of their knowledge respecting the charge made against Mr. Hindman” (, pp. 16–17).
Meeting on 16 Nov., the delegates resolved that Hindman be informed “that the house highly disapprove of his conduct, and the expressions uttered by him, as improper, illiberal, indecent, and highly injurious to the honour and dignity of the house, and the honour and integrity of several of the members; and that he be reprimanded, and censured for such his misconduct, and that he ask the pardon of the house, and the speaker, and the particular members reflected on by him” (, pp. 21–22). Hindman refused to “ask pardon of the particular members” and was “committed to the custody of the sergeant at arms” (, p. 22). Hindman defended his course in a letter to the speaker (see , pp. 22–23).
A measure to restrain Hindman’s movements did not gain approval from the house on 20 Nov., and he was allowed to resume his seat on 29 Nov. so his county could “be equally represented” on pending votes (, pp. 27, 37).
3. Gist enclosed copies of the “Requisition made to the State of Maryland,” dated 10 Nov., and his undated letter to the president of a committee of the Maryland legislature (both DLC:GW). The requisition called for two regiments of infantry, with proper clothing and arms; 100 “good road Waggons with four Horses a Waggoner and Harness” for each; 60 “good dragoon Horses for Major Lees Legion”; 22 “Men to serve in the Corps of Artificers, of whom ten should be Carpenters Six Blacksmiths four Wheelwrights and two harness makers”; “One Thousand Pounds in specie for the purpose of procuring Intelligence”; and “every necessary Aid to the Quarter Master for the State, in forwarding all Stores for the Southern Army upon his Application.” Gist’s undated letter began: “It Appears by the last returns of our Troops that the State of Maryland want 1954 Men exclusive of the State Regiment to Compleat there quota agreable to the Establishment made by Congress the 21st Ult. I beg leave to Offer a few thoughts on a plan for raising them which I submit to the consideration of the Committee with every sentiment of deference and respect” (see also , 18:958–62, and General Orders, 1 Nov.).
Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, who commanded the Continental forces in the southern department, had left Gist in Maryland to obtain supplies and support from that state’s government (see Greene to GW, 13 Nov., and n.9).
4. Gist enclosed Col. Otho Holland Williams’s detailed return titled “Abstract of Muster and Inspection of Coll Williams’s Regiment of Maryland Troops Serving in the Southern Army of the United States,” prepared in camp at Hillsborough, N.C., on 1 Oct. (DLC:GW).
5. Gist enclosed an undated copy of the “Requisition made to the State of Delaware for the use of the Southern Army” (DLC:GW, filed under 10 Nov.). The requisition called for the state’s regiment to be prepared “for a winters campaign”; “forty good road Waggons”; “twenty Artificers to join those belonging to the Southern Army,” these to be “ten Carpenters, four blacksmiths, four Wheelwrights, one sadler and One harness maker”; and “Two thousand Pounds in Specie or the Value thereof for use of the Military chest in the Southern Department” (see also n.3 above).