Page:History of Cumberland, Maryland 2.djvu/270

252 on stakes driven in the ground, and their kilts at- tached thereto. This act of barbarism thoroughly enraged the Highlanders, who were in an ecstacy of disappointment at not being able to avenge their decapitated comrades.

Governor Sharpe returned to Annapolis in the middle of October, and on the 22d the militia at Fort Cumberland were paid off, but were continued there on garrison duty.

In December the Maryland Assembly took into consideration the condition of the road between Fort Frederick and Fort Cumberland, with a view to securing the construction of a shorter road between these points, the location of which should be entirely in Maryland, thus obviating the necessity of fording the Potomac. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Colonel Thomas Cresap, Crabb, Joseph Chapline, E. Dorsey, Josias Beall and Francis King, members of the Assembly, was appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the convenience of clearing a road from Fort Frederick to Fort Cumberland, through Maryland, and to make an estimate of the cost of the same. The committee reported as follows :

Yoar committee have made an enqairj into the Situation of the present wagon road from Fort Frederick to Fort Cumberiandi and are of opinion that the distance bj that Road from one Fort to the other is at least Eighty miles, and find that the wagons which go from one Fort to the other are obliged to pass the river Potowmack twice, and that for one third of the year they can H pass without boats to set them over the River.

Your committee have also made an Enquiry into the condition of the Ground where a road may roost conveniently be made to go altogether on the north side of the Potowmack which will not exceed the distance of Sixty-two miles at the expense of £250 current money, as may appear from the following Estimate) viz :