the pleasure of the government is communicated as to its disposal." Certainly other M arylanders and Virginians had received similar compensation from provisioning the British, and had been painted as traitors for what was perceived as open trade with the enemy. Gibson clearly was seeking to fend off such accusations by offering the funds to the state or federal government. Gove rnor Winder forwarded G ibson's letter to President Madison with a transmissio n, reprinted in the May 25 edition of rhe Republican Star, which carried a tone favorable to G ibson, while clearly articulating rhe concerns raised by the case. Mr. G ibson was not in a situation to resist any demands that might be made upon him , and of course is not to be censured for the conduct of the enemy. It is now for rh e constituted authorities of this country to decide, whether, under circumstances disclosed, and when that
protection, which is rhe just claim of every citizen, has no r been afforded to him, chis gendeman shall receive rhe co mpensation which rhe enemy offers, o r it would be better by refusing such permission in all cases, and indemni fy ing the injured out of the nation al resources, to take from individuals the temptations which might sometimes be offered, to an underhanded and dangerous traffi c with th e enemy. It was a second gaffe chat seriously marred his character in local circles, however. Gibson had reached bis fa rm o n Sharp's Island by first crossing the Miles River to St. Mi chaels, cross in g to th e other side of the narrow peninsula, then taking a second boat fro m Broad C reek, down the C hoptank River to Sharp's Island. H e returned the same way, in a vessel that resembl ed a barge, a larger class of sh ip's boat that co uld be sailed or rowed.
On returning up Broad Creek, G ibson Rew a red Rag from his masthead that co uld have been mistaken at a di stance for the British red ensign. Accom panyi ng him o n the vessel were so me of his slaves, o ne of whom was thumping rhythmically on the head of an emp ty ba rrel-a so und that is thought ro have been mi staken from ashore as a military drum. His prank reportedly had the desired effect, creating enough commotion asho re ro call fo r a muster of rhe Sr. M ichaels Patriotic Blues, the neares t militia company. As hore, G ibson received an indignant receptio n. The militia commander, Cap tain Kemp, a Federalist and political oppo nent of Gi bson, extracted both an apology and an explanation of his deal ings w ith the British on Sharp's Island, parts of which had undoubtedly been observed from a distance. Ultimately G ibso n was permitted to return to his hom e across the M iles Ri ver, having brought the scrutiny and co nd emnation of Sr. Michaels society upon hi s head for which a m ere
At least two schooners were on the stocks in St. Michaels at the time of the attack, in addition to a barge that would later become part ofJoshua Barney's gunboat flotilla.
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.SEA HISTORY 143 , SUMMER2013