1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 319 



battery ; but the number of the enemy proving to be much 

 greater than was expected, under cover of the re(hnibt, and dis- 

 covering a party efjual to tlieir own from the direction of Adam 

 Guyer's, the Americans were obliged to return to the fort, with 

 the loss of two men killed and five wounded. From this time 

 the enemy continued to throw up works at several places in the 

 meadows. 



The enemy's sIujjs had taken a position near Billingsport, and 

 had succeeded in removing one of the ciievaux-de-frize. On 

 the night of the 12th, the Commodore went down "with two 

 chains of fire rafts to drive them away fiom that place," which 

 being eff'ected, he returned with his armaments to the fort. 

 Several conflicts ensued at this {)oint from day to day, the enemy 

 succeeding, by degrees, in removing portions of the obstruction 

 in the channel. 



The army under Gen. Vrashington was now in the most desti- 

 tute situation for the want of clothing, blankets, kc, besides 

 which, no provision had been made for the recruits coming in. 

 A strong appeal was made by Gen. Washington to Congress for 

 supplies, who, in turn, had the matter brought to the ntjtice of 

 the Executive Council. The following order from that body 

 sufiiciently explains the means resorted to, to obtain a portion of 

 these supplies, without which the army could not have been con- 

 tinued in the field : 



'' In Council, Lancaster, October 21, 1777. 

 " Ordered, 



" That Col. Evan Evans, Col. Wm. Evans, Col. Thomas, 

 Col. Gibbons, Capt. Thomas Levis, Capt. William Brooks, and 

 Capt. Jacob Rudolph, be authorized and required to collect 

 without delay, from such of the inhabitants of the County of 

 Chester as have not taken the oaths of allegiance and abjuration, 

 or who have aided or assisted the enemy, arms and accoutre- 

 ments, blankets, shoes and stockings, for the use of the army ; 

 that they tippraise the same when taken, according to their 

 quality, allowing at the rate of three pounds for a new single 

 blanket, and give certificates for the same to the owners ; tliat 

 they call to their aid the militia of this Commonwealth, who are 

 hereby ordered to obey and assist them in the execution of this 

 order ; and that they deliver the same, so taken, to the order of 

 the Clothier General, or his agent, with whom they are to cor- 

 respond in the discharge of this business."' 



The Quakers having generally refused to take the oath of al- 

 legiance and abjuration, were, no doubt, great sufferers from the 



' Penna. Archives, v. 691. 



