294 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1776, 



" Philadelphia, July 10th, 1776. 

 "D^Sir: 



"At the time I left Marcus Hook, there was a number of 

 men inoculated for the Small Pox, w"'' were left under the care 

 of Docf Davis, but being ordered to the Jerseys, it became abso- 

 lutely necessary that the Docf should go with the troops — those 

 sick men still remain at the Hook, under the notice of Docf 

 Chapman — but I should be much obliged to you, (as I know no 

 other person upon whom I can so well depend,) if you would be 

 kind enough to see that those men are served with every 

 necessary provision, while they remain there, for which you will 

 be satisfied. I hope you will not refuse this trouble, otherwise 

 the poor men will possibly suffer. 

 " I am, Sir 



w"* much Esteem 



your H,ble Servt. 



Saml. Miles." 



Col. Miles, with his regiment, crossed New Jersey, was at 

 the unfortunate battle of Long Island, and taken prisoner. It 

 would be interesting to follow him in the forlorn effort to defend 

 New York, but that is forbidden by the limited scope of this 

 work. 



The following extracts from a letter dated at Kingsbridge, 

 on the 22d of September, addressed by Capt. Patrick Anderson, 

 to Dr. Franklin, sufficiently attests the shattered condition of 

 Colonel Atlee's battalion of musketry, after the battle of Long 

 Island : 



"Immediately after our defeat on Long Island, the command 

 of the Musquetry Battallion devolved upon me. I found the 

 number of men remaining fit for duty to be about 200, but 

 most of their baggage & some even of their arms and accou- 

 trements Lost, and having no field oflicers left, applyed to 

 Lt. Col. Broadhead for his advice and assistance ; soon after 

 he informed me the General ordered him to annex our Bat- 

 talion to the Rifle Keg', which I at that time complyed with 

 in expectation of further instructions from the Convention 

 or Council of Safety, as Col. Broadhead wrote you concerning 

 it. Want of necessaries sowered the men's minds. Deficiencys 

 in their stipulated rations hath increased it, & neglect of 

 punctual pay', of their pay hath caused their meeting and 

 Desert in great numbers, with arms, &c. So that there is 

 now only scarce Eighty three remaining & they still think 

 if they are taken prisoners, they will not be exchanged, while 

 any prisoners from the Continental army is in the enemy's 



