1777.] HISTORY OF Delaware county. 299 



the course of a few days, and, as a consequence, on the 25th of 

 June the order for the marching of our h>cal militia was sus- 

 pended. 



Besides the regular army and militia, there were at this time, 

 independent companies of volunteers. On the 11th of June, 

 Benjamin Brannen, Es(|., one of the Sub-Lieutenants of Cliester 

 County, informed tlie Council, " that there were several com- 

 panies of Artillery Men formed in that county, and requested 

 that they may be furnishetl with a piece of Artillery proper for 

 exercising the men, and also a few pounds of powder for prac- 

 ticing the Firings with." A proper piece, and twelve pounds 

 of powder were ordered to be furnished. 



The militia appear to have been divided into eight classes. 

 When a class was called out, many belonging to it could not, or 

 would not go. The deficiency was made up by the employment 

 of substitutes, either taken from the other classes, or from those 

 not subject, by law, to the performance of military duty. These 

 substitutes were procured by means of a bounty, which was paid 

 by the State, to be remunerated by the fines imposed on de- 

 linquents, and varied from £15 to X50, for two months" service. 

 In some regiments the number of substitutes nearly equaled the 

 number of those regularly drafted. The system of employing 

 substitutes, at high rates, was much complained of by the officers 

 of the regular army, who regarded it as a serious obstruction 

 to recruiting by enlistments. 



It having become apparent that General Howe had definitely 

 changed his plan for gaining possession of Philadelphia, the 

 marching orders for all the militia, except those of Philadel- 

 phia and Chester County, were countermanded. News of the 

 embarkation of a large British force, at New York, very reason- 

 ably suggested the idea that the attack on the Capital of Penn- 

 sylvania would be by way of the river Delaware ; and doubtless 

 that was the plan of General Howe when he sailed. Every 

 effort was accordingly made for the defence of the river. The 

 modification of the works at Billingsport, recommended by De 

 Coudray, was ordered by Congress to be carried out, under the 

 direction of the authorities of Pennsylvania. Much labor was 

 expended at this point, while Fort Miftiin, (but recently known 

 by that name,) and the earth work at lied Bank were strength- 

 ened and improved. Some other points were fortified. One of 

 these was near the mouth of Darby Creek, — doubtless on the 

 Island of Tinicum. 



Agreeably to some general suggestions made by the com- 

 mander-in-chief, a survey of the grounds bordering the river, to 

 the distance of four miles from its banks, was ordered by the 

 Council. The surveyors were instructed to note particularly 



