OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 287 



o'clock at night I was called upon by the ofiiccr of the Guard who in- 

 formed me a soldier of the 71st regiment had come to the guard house 

 (one of ye Block-houses,) desiring admittance; that he had a matter of 

 importance to communicate ; he was accordingly admitted and o-ave the 

 following intelligence. That the sergeants of the Prisoners had a private 

 and unanimous meeting that day and form'd a plan to effect the escape 

 of the whole, viz : They, after their meeting broke up inform'd the Prison- 

 ers of their resolution and gave directions for the whole to be in readiness 

 on the proceeding day to avail themselves of the opportunity when the 

 Gates opened for the delivery of their wood — the whole to rush out, 

 surprize the Guard and disarm them ; they then would proceed to town 

 where a certain Inhabitant (his name we cannot find out,) would conduct 

 them to a Magazine of arms and ammunition ; these they were also to 

 take, then to fight their way thro' the Country and effect their escape. 



I immediately on receiving the information, after making some neces- 

 sary dispositions of the Guard, entered the Barrack yard, and ordered the 

 whole of the sergeants (upward of forty in number,) to parade, which 

 after some time was effected; I then gave them in charge of the Guard 

 and had them conducted to the Jail where they are now safely lodg'd. 

 We have 800 Prisoners here; the number of disaffected people thro' this 

 Country is very considerable, so that our situation is truly alarming when 

 I consider the state in which I find the militia ; should the Prisoners once 

 clear themselves of the barracks the few men on Guard who no doubt 

 would do their duty would not be able to stop them. The well disposed 

 Inhabitants who would be willing to lend their aid and assistance for 

 want of arms can only be idle spectators and perhaps see their own and 

 neighbours' property destroyed without being able to give the least oppo- 

 sition. 



If some ways and means could be fallen on to arm the militia of this 

 Town, I should consider it safe from any attempt of the prisoners or their 

 Emissaries. 



By the particular desire of the most reputable Inhabitants of this place 

 I am to solicit Council that they do arm and relief after the expiration 

 of their Tour the present Guard by an equal number of men from the 

 8th Battalion (town militia,) only and this Battalion to be reserv'd (so 

 long we have the prisoners with us,) for that duty. It will answer vari- 

 ous good purposes. The farmer will now be wanted in the ffeld to gather 

 his Harvest and the expenses of quartering Country militia when callVl 

 upon to perform a tour of duty can be saved as the Town people have 

 their own houses to go to, besides should there be a call for unlitia to 

 march this summer this town must in a manner be left naked as the 

 Guards merely would not be sufficient to secure 800 Prisoners exclusive 

 of their Emissaries which I believe are not inconsiderable. 



