Choptank River Trip - Col Richardson Revolutionary Trail
Colonel Richardson's Eastern Shore Campaign

On December 1, 1776, the Maryland Flying Camp was discharged in accordance its enlistment agreement. But the Continental Congress shortly renewed its call for troops to serve under Washington.  On December 10, Marylanders formed the Maryland 5th Regiment as part of the “Maryland Line”. Richardson continued to serve as colonel of the Fifth Regiment’s Eastern Shore Battalion.

During 1777, and possibly through October 1779, Richardson’s military activities included suppressing partisan “Tory” activities on the lower Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland and Delaware.

Many colonists on the Lower Shore responded to King George III’s offer of pardon any American who would remain loyal and support British military efforts and British authorities during the conflict. Many joined an organization known as The Association of Loyalists of America, which was formed to employ "his majesty's faithful subjects for the purpose of annoying the sea coasts of the revolted provinces, and distressing their trade."  Large numbers of Tories were enrolled on the Eastern Shore. They reportedly robbed and murdered the American revolutionaries in Somerset and Worcester Counties of Maryland, and in Sussex County, Delaware.

Richardson was charged to enforce this anti-Tory edict from the Maryland Council of Safety:

If any inhabitants should “adhere to any person or persons bearing arms or employed in the service of Great Britain against the United Colonies, or shall afford such persons any aid or comfort, or shall give them, or any subject of Great Britain any intelligence of the warlike preparations or designs of the United Colonies, such person on conviction thereof by a petit jury, after a presentment by a grand jury, in a court to be erected in this colony by the next convention, for the trial of such offenders, shall suffer death with benefit of clergy, and forfeit all estate which he had at the time of the commission of the crime, to be applied to the use of this colony, unless such convicted person shall be pardoned by the person or persons invested with the power of granting pardon for such offences."

Colonel Richardson apparently directed a successful military and law enforcement campaign on the lower Eastern Shore.   In early 1777, the Council of Safety at Annapolis wrote to Richardson:

    Sir,
    We have the honor of transmitting to you
    thanks of the General Assembly of  this state for
    your spirited conduct in marching your Battalion of Militia in order to assist General Hooper in quelling
    the insurrection in Somerset and Worcester 
    Counties.
    With the greatest respect and regards, Sir,
    your most Obedient Servant,
                    The Council of Safety.