For a book on George Washington and his slaves, I am at work on a
chapter about the African-American role in the Revolutionary War.  I'm
wondering if someone can help with a Maryland question, or could direct
me to a source there.  A "Return of Negroes in the Army" prepared by
Alexander Scammell in August 1778 lists 84 blacks in Smallwood's Brigade
and the 2nd Maryland Brigade.  My question is this: would a similar
number of blacks have been enlisted in William Smallwood's Maryland
Battalion two years earlier, when that battalion carried out the heroic
rear-guard defense of Washington's army in Brooklyn, August 27, 1776?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Henry Wiencek
Charlottesville

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html