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 c
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 
 
 SO FAR AS IT RELATED TO THE 
 
 STATES OF NORTH AND SOUTH-CARO- 
 LINA, AND GEORGIA. 
 
 COMPILED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC MATERIALS, THE 
 AUTHOR'S PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIOUS 
 EVENTS, AND INCLUDING AN EPISTOLARY 
 CORRESPONDENCE ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
 WITH CIVIL AND MILITARY OF- 
 FICERS, AT THAT PERIOD. 
 
 BT WILLIAM MOULTRIE, 
 
 LATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH-CARO- 
 LINA, AND MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE ARMY 
 OF THE UNITED STATES DURING 
 THE AMERICAN WAR. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 PRINTED BY DAVID LONGWORTH, 
 
 FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 1802. 
 
 [Cepj -right Suure,,'.]
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 v 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 
 
 GENERAL Lincoln attacking the British lines at 
 Stono-ferry, and I attacking them from James'-Is- 
 land with the gallics, made their situation on John's- 
 Island, rather unpleasant ; and, no doubt, they ex- 
 pected we should make some other movements to- 
 wards them j they therefore thought it best to quit 
 that place, and get to a place were they could be 
 supported by their shipping : accordingly they went 
 from Island to Island, until they got to Port-royal, 
 where they established a strong post at Beaufort ; 
 we never could get a sufficient number of boats to 
 follow them, as they had possession of that part of 
 the country where most of the boats belonged. 
 
 To GoV. RUTLEDGE. 
 
 * ' JAMES'-ISLAND, June 25th, J779. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' BY a letter I received this morning from Gen. 
 1 Lincoln, I am informed that the enemy are moving, 
 ' and have actually quitted Stono-ferry ; this is cori- 
 < firmed by private intelligence of my own j so that 
 
 461811
 
 ' there is not left the least room for doubt : a party 
 ;it down the river to perceive something of 
 ' their motions, if possible ; and another party is 
 1 this moment embarking, with a view of reconnoi- 
 < tering that part of the Island which is nearest us. 
 ' Permit me, sir, to request an additional number of 
 ' boats and flats ; they may be indispensibly ne- 
 ' cessary. 
 
 ' I am, Stc. 
 
 ' WM. MOULT HIE.' 
 
 FROM Gov. RUTLEDGE. 
 
 *CHARLESTOWN, June 26th, 1779. 
 
 * DEAR SIR, 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING repeated orders to the 
 ' commissioners of the navy to have flats and other 
 ' boats collected and sent to you, I apprehend there 
 ' is, as usual, in all our operations, which com- 
 
 * monly renders them of less consequence than they 
 
 * otherwise would be, much delay ; and Major Har- 
 
 * les>ton having offered his service to go about and 
 
 * collect all that may be necessary, and proceed with 
 them to your camp ; I have requested him to do 
 
 * so.. ..I hope he will obtain a sufficient number of 
 
 * boats to transport Paulaski's horse, also Gen. Lin. 
 4 coin's troops of infantry ; as well as yourself ; for 
 4 if a blow of any importance is to be struck, (your 
 
 * men being too few) it seems requisite that you and
 
 * they should co-operate with each other : you will 
 
 * of course, apprize them of the number of boats you 
 
 * have, and concert with them the most effectual 
 ' plan for annoying the enemy. I understand they 
 
 * have not vessels enough to carry off all their own. 
 
 * troops at once ; (much less the negroes, and plun- 
 
 * der they have taken) so that some will probably 
 
 * wait for the return of the vessels. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 { J. RUTLEDCK. 
 
 4 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 JAMES'-ISLAND, June 26th, 1779. 
 'DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' FROM all the information I have been able to 
 
 * collect, and particularly from a deserter who came 
 in this morning, and left the enemy about 5 o'clock 
 
 * yesterday afternoon it seems certain that they 
 
 * are all gone on board of their shipping : I had no 
 ' opportunity of giving them a blow on their retreat, 
 1 it was so suddes and so rapid : I had ordered a 
 ' party, and a field-piece already in the boat, when. 
 4 1 received a letter from Capt. Hall, informing me 
 ( that the enemy were busily employed in throwing 
 
 * up some intrenchments at Mr. William Gibbs', and 
 
 * that a great body of them were there : this deter- 
 
 * mined me to countermand my order ; the next 
 
 VOL. n. 11
 
 < account I had of them, was at night, when they 
 
 * were at Simons'-Island, and embarking ; I then 
 thought it needless to follow them, as it would be 
 
 4 carrying my troops at too great a distance from 
 ' town :* I have sent the gallies to endeavor to take 
 ' some of their transports, or destroy them : Capt. 
 
 * Anthony and Milligan are going to observe the 
 ' motions of the enemy, they will call on you for 
 
 * any orders you may have. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIK. 
 
 ' P. S. Since writing the above, two sergeants, 
 ' deserters, are come in, they say the enemy have 
 
 * not vessels sufficient to qarry them all off at once ; 
 1 the 71st and light-infantry are now halted at the 
 
 * meeting house ; I have too few to attack them : I 
 ' shall therefore send some flats and boats to the 
 1 ferry, to facilitate your crossing : I will join you 
 if you think necessary.' 
 
 ON the 27th June, I ordered all my boats from 
 >oo-cut to Glen's-landing ; and on the 28th em- 
 barked all my troops and landed them in Charles- 
 town about noon. About the 30th instant, I was or- 
 dered out, to take the command of the army at Sto- 
 no ; Gen. Lincoln wishing to come to Charlestown. 
 
 We always kept in view ; that the enemy might come 
 round by water, and attack the town.
 
 To GOV. RUTLEDGE. 
 
 STONO, July 3d, 1779. 
 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 * FROM Gen. Williamson's information, I find 
 
 < it is impossible to keep his men in the field any 
 ' longer ; and the expectation of a relief for them, is 
 
 < intirely vanished ; as I saw a letter from Col. Lyle> 
 ' and others, in that part of the country, to William- 
 t son, informing him he could not get the men to 
 
 * march down this way ; and as an excuse they have 
 i played the old stale game of Cameron's being in 
 
 * the Cherokees, with a number of white men and 
 ' Indians, ready to fall on their part of the country ; 
 
 * and also 1,000 tories coming from North-Carolina, 
 ' &c. In short, I cannot tell what to advise, unless 
 
 * we could discharge all our back country militia, 
 
 < and begin a new plan with them, such as the le 
 
 * gislature may adopt ; I think it would be best : I 
 
 * have prevailed upon Williamson's men to stay un- 
 til I hear from you ; when I did not doubt but that 
 
 * they would be allowed to return home, especially 
 
 * as most of these men are the best of them, and have 
 
 < been in the field five months....! shall be glad to 
 
 * have your answer soon. 
 
 v I am, &c. 
 
 WM. MOULTRIE.'
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 STONO, SOMMER'S, July 3d, 1779. 
 4 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I HAVE nothing extraordinary to write you 
 
 * from hence : by a letter from Colonel Horry, which 
 
 < is dated Port-royal-ferry, July 1st, I am informed 
 
 < that the enemy's army are not yet got to Beaufort, 
 
 * that only a party of marines, were on that island, 
 
 * and stationed opposite his post, but upon his ap- 
 
 * pearance they were called in, and went on board the 
 
 * Vigilant and two transports which lay there, that 
 
 * they had no more than 200 hundred men altogether 
 1 at that place, including the Vigilant's crew. By 
 1 three deserters from the enemy's gallies yesterday, 
 f I am informed that they are still on Edisto-Island, 
 
 < but they agree that their intention is to go for 
 ' Beaufort. I think it not adviseable to move from 
 
 * hence, while they remain where they are. The 
 
 * North-Carolinians begin to move to day, their sick 
 ' and weak, 202, the remainder will go next Sunday 
 
 * week. I fear I shall not be able to detain our mi- 
 
 * litia any longer. Williamson tells me his men 
 
 * seem determined to go in a few days ; no argument 
 
 * can prevail on them to stay. I herewith send you 
 4 a letter from Governor Houston, with inclosed 
 
 * letters and papers from Colonel Dooley, I am un- 
 
 < acquainted with any plan you have directed, there-
 
 < fore could say nothing to him. I shall be glad of 
 ' your instructions. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIB.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 4 HEAD-QUARTERS, CHARLES-TOWN, 
 
 < July 4th, 1779. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' I RECEIVED your's of yesterday, this morning. 
 ( I wish you would immediately send to Mr. Gol- 
 
 * phins 500 pounds of powder, lead, flints, and 100 
 
 * stand of arms, under the escort of the Georgia 
 
 * Brigade, which will remain in that part of the 
 
 * country, till further orders. After we came to the 
 ' 13 Mile-house, (Stono) I was informed that the 
 ' enemy had left the state of Georgia ; upon that I 
 
 * advised the inhabitants thereof, to collect and at- 
 
 * tempt to gain as much of it as possible. On this 
 1 recommendation they have assembled 4 or 500 men, 
 
 * and wish to be aided in the attempt, but as our 
 4 little army will soon be reduced ; I have written 
 ' to Colonel Dooley that he must at present content 
 ' himself with covering the upper part of the country, 
 
 * for we cannot reinforce him, but with the few Geor- 
 ' gia troops, whose times are near out and who it is 
 
 * said, can be engaged provided they can return. I 
 
 * think you judge right in keeping your ground until
 
 10 
 
 the enemy leave Edisto-Island, or at least till their 
 < main body do it. 
 
 1 I am, See. 
 
 * B. LINCOLN. 
 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 STONO, July 5th, 1779. 
 c DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I HAVB just received information from different 
 1 quarters, that the enemy are now upon Port-royal- 
 
 * Island. In consequence, I have ordered Colonel 
 ( Pinckney's and the Georgia brigade, to be ready 
 
 * to march to-morrow morning early, and shall order 
 
 * General Sumner's to follow the next day ; I shall 
 
 * march them in divisions, because it would be in- 
 ' convenient to have them all together, when they 
 
 * came to cross the rivers. I propose forming my 
 
 * camp near Colonel Garden's, and keep my picquets 
 1 on the river side; I shall order two field-pieces 
 
 * with each division, the remainder of the artillery 
 
 * I think may be as well sent to town ; but for this 
 1 I shall wait your orders. I shall remain here a day 
 ' or two longer, to know your pleasure relative to the 
 4 Virginians and North-Carolinians whose times are 
 4 near expiring. Mr. Houston was with me yester- 
 
 * day, and informed me that you promised some arms 
 ' and ammunition to Colonel Dooley, for the state of
 
 11 
 
 < Georgia. I shall be glad to know how many, and 
 
 * what quantity I shall send them. Williamson's 
 
 * men are anxious, and seem determined to get home. 
 
 * I wrote the governor concerning them. I shall be 
 
 * glad to have his answer. 
 
 * I am, Sec. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 < HEAD-QUARTERS, July 5th, 1779. 
 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' YOUR favor of yesterday's date I received last 
 
 * evening: I am sorry that Colonel Pichin's men have 
 
 < left him, and that General Williamson's are like to 
 
 * follow their example. The governor informs me 
 
 * that the council cannot be persuaded, that the safety 
 
 * of the state will not admit of ' their being clis- 
 1 charged. The governor and council have ordered 
 a draught of one third of the militia, to march im- 
 f mediately to camp; on their arrival they will con- 
 1 sent that those now therein shall be discharged. 
 ' I suppose the consequences will be, that the militia 
 ' will discharge themselves. You will endeavor to 
 
 < keep pace with the enemy ; if they make a partial 
 
 * movement, and you cannot find means to attack 
 
 * them, I think you had better reinforce Col. Horry, 
 
 * I think, with you, that it would be hardly worth 
 
 * while to march the North-Carolina troops to Port-
 
 12 
 
 1 royal-ferry, for their time of service will be out 
 
 * soon after their arrival, and it would lengthen their 
 
 * march, which if possible, should be avoided this 
 ' hot weather : I think, as your force decreases, you 
 1 had better send some of your artillery to town. 
 
 ' I am, Sec. 
 
 * B. LINCOLN. 
 ' Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM COL. DANIEL HORRY. 
 
 ' PORT-ROYAL-FERRY, July 6th, 1779. 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 1 CAPT. Dogharty (who has lately been with us 
 ' for a day or two) went from hence to Beaufort, in 
 
 * cog. and was for a few hours at a friend's house ; 
 
 * who informed him that Gen. Provost was expected 
 ' from Edisto every hour, with the remainder of his 
 ' army : that about 2,000, including sick, wounded, 
 1 convalescents, 8cc. were already at Beaufort, but 
 kept on board ship : that Commodore Christie 
 
 * will not permit any boat on shore after retreat 
 4 beating ; and that they had already wooded and 
 ' watered ; this appears to us as if they meant a 
 f speedy embarkation. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 < DANIEL HORRY. 
 'Gen. MOOCTIIIE.'
 
 13 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 STOKO, July 5th, 1779* 
 
 * DEAR SIR, 
 
 I INFORMED you some time ago, that I had 
 directed Col. Drayton to have a number of bags 
 
 * (200) made for the purpose of carrying corn-meal 
 ' from Augusta, to any place where it may be want- 
 
 * ed : As we are now bringing down meal, those 
 ' bags would be of infinite service to us, and a great 
 
 * saving to the public, by more expeditiously loading 
 
 * the waggons, and by preventing great waste of the 
 
 * meal, which often happens from bad casks, and 
 1 especially as each waggon may carry five bushels 
 ' more, which is the difference between the casks 
 ' and the bags : I shall be much obliged to you , to 
 c speak to Drayton about them : he informed me 
 1 they were made some time ago, and sent up ; but 
 ' God knows where ; he could not tell where they 
 1 were sent to, nor by whom : if this is to be the 
 < case with other articles, our calls for money will 
 4 be endless. I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 { CHARLESTOWN, July 6th, 1779. 
 f DEAR. SIR, 
 
 ' I HAVE been honored with your two favors of 
 c yesterday. I am fully with you in opinion, that 
 VOL. ii. c
 
 u 
 
 < part of the artillery ought to be sent on to town. 
 1 I yesterday expressed my sentiments with regard 
 ' to the North Carolina militia. I think you majr 
 
 < ivant the Virginians with you, if you think you 
 4 should not, you will also leave them behind. I have 
 ' ?poken to the governor often, perhaps too often, 
 
 < about the Williamson militia; I hope he will give 
 ' you an answer. Colonel Drayton will explain to 
 
 * you the matter of the bags. 
 > 
 ' I am, Etc. 
 
 ' B. LINCOLN.' 
 c Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM THE GOVERNOR. 
 
 Julyrth, 1779. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 < I AM favored with your's of the 3d. inst. which, 
 
 < together with General Williamson's of the same 
 
 < date, I laid before the council. I have wrote fully 
 ' on the matter to General Williamson, who will 
 1 communicate the contents to you, &c. 
 
 < I am, &c. 
 
 * J. RUTLEDGE. 
 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.'
 
 II 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 STONO, July 7th, 1779. 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 < I RECIEVED your favor, date the 5th inst. 
 1 upon General Williamson's frequent representation 
 ' to me, that he could not keep his men a day 
 ' longer in camp, and upon telling me he thought it 
 ' would be best for the service to discharge them, 
 ' and suffer them to go home and send others down 
 
 * in their places, as the relief had absolutely refused 
 ' to come ; I accordingly issued an order for their re- 
 ' turning home this day: I know they would go 
 ' without my leave, had I not done it; (their num- 
 ' bers 726.) I have sent four pieces of artillery to 
 
 * town, by Major Grimkie, we shall have two left, 
 ' which will be quite sufficient for our little army. 
 ' I shall also order the arms* down, about 300 stand. 
 ' I wrote you that I would order Sumner'a brigade 
 ' to Port-royal-ferry, since which, I think they will 
 ' be as useful here at present, as marching them to 
 1 that place, especially as I am informed by two de- 
 
 * serters who came in last night, and who left the 
 
 * enemy two days ago, that they are on St. Helena- 
 
 * We were always obliged to keep a number of arms in 
 camp, as we were obliged frequently to arm the reliefs from the 
 militia.
 
 16 
 
 1 Island,* and their shipping laying in the sound- 
 ' I will endeavor to keep pace with the enemy ; I 
 ( have sent Colonel Pinckney, with about 250 men, to 
 ( reinforce that post at Port-royal-ferry, and to take 
 
 * command there. General Sumner has applied to 
 4 me for leave to go home, owing to his ill state of 
 
 * health ; he tells me he thinks he can be of more 
 
 * service, and that if he was in North-Carolina, he 
 f might recover, and be on the spot to forward on 
 ' the troops to this place, as fast as possible, which 
 
 * he has promised me to do : I have accordingly 
 
 * given him leave to return home. 
 
 * ON Gen. Williamson's men being permitted to go 
 ' home, to prevent the disagreeable necessity of their 
 
 * leaving camp without orders, I have requested the 
 ' general (as I know his influence over these people) 
 ' to return to that part of the country, and to send 
 
 * out the reliefs as soon as possible, which he has 
 ' promised to do. I will be much obliged to you, to 
 
 * request of the governor to have some large flats 
 ' stationed atPonpon, Ashepoo, and Combahee rivers, 
 
 * to facilitate the marching of troops through those 
 
 * parts of the country ; it seems to be absolutely 
 
 * They could soon sail round to Charlestown, which was 
 rny reason for remaining at Stono ; from whence I could readUy 
 march down to town.
 
 17 
 
 * necessary) as they are now obliged to go many 
 1 miles round. I am, &c. 
 
 1 WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 DEAR SIR, STONO, July 7th, 1779. 
 
 I WROTE you this morning by Major Grimkie, 
 
 * since which I have received intelligence by letter, 
 1 from Col. Mayson at Port-royal-ferry ; that Capt. 
 
 * Dogharty was on the Island the 3d instant, and re- 
 1 ports, from good authority, that Provost means to 
 ' summer it there, and to take post on the Main 
 
 ' with 1 ,000 men, at all hazards : they have it amongst 
 f them, that your army is dispersed : I shall order 
 1 Sumner's brigade off to morrow. I have ordered 
 
 * the several bodies of militia that are raised south. 
 
 * wardly, to join ours at Port-royal-ferry. I wish I 
 
 * could have about 20 light batteaus fixed upon wag- 
 
 * gon carriages always in camp ; as we could some 
 4 time surprise some of their posts on the Island. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM COL. HORRY. 
 4 PORT-ROYAL-FERRY, July 8th, 1779. 
 
 * DEAR G-ENEBAL, 
 
 ' You will herewith receive John Livingston, a. 
 1 prisoner, which our party made yesterday, at the
 
 18 
 
 * plantation of Dr. Fraser, on Port-royal-Island ; he 
 ' is a son to the widow Odengell, and has been with 
 
 * the enemy ever since they took possession of the 
 
 * town, and therefore may be a proper person for you 
 
 * to obtain intelligence from; he says he is only 15 
 ' years of age, and stayed with his mother : the 
 ' enemy from their talk, mean to remain on the Is- 
 ' land and to take post with a party of 2,000 men on 
 4 this side the river : that they intend next high wa- 
 ter to come up here with one or two gallics, to at- 
 
 * tempt to prevent us from going on with erecting 
 
 * our little redoubt. 
 
 ' I am, Sec. 
 
 ' D. HORKY. 
 * Gen. MOULTKIE.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWH, July 8th, 1779. 
 4 DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I HAVE been honored with your two favors of 
 ' yesterday's date. 
 ' THE governor and council have ordered a draught 
 
 * of one third of the militia to serve three months af- 
 1 ter they join camp : I hope this order will be put 
 into execution, and that in future, your militia will 
 
 * be relieved regularly, for unless they are, it is not 
 ' probable they will render us much service in camp ; 
 or remain there with any satisfaction to themselves.
 
 19 
 
 I do not think that the enemy mean to remain OH 
 < Port-royal-Island, much less attempt to take post 
 f on the Main ; however, I think you perfectly right, 
 
 * in preparing for the worst. There is but little 
 
 * money in the military chest ; I wish you would 
 1 take that, and let Mr. Rapely* return to town ; he 
 1 will join you again, when the auditors return to 
 4 camp : I will replenish the chest. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 1 B. LINCOLN. 
 4 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 1 STONO, July 8th, 1779. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 * UPON my moving the troops to Port-royal-ferr 
 
 * ry, and my ordering the commissary and quarter- 
 { master's stores to follow: I find we have not a sin- 
 
 * gle waggon for that purpose ; I therefore request 
 { that you will order the quarter-master to send us 
 
 * ten waggons ; I shall also send to Port-royal-ferry 
 for some regimental waggons ; I shall want some 
 1 to remove the flying hospital immediately : our 
 { wounded officers and men cannot be removed at 
 1 present, especially those with fractured limbs. I 
 
 Mr. Rapely was pay-master.
 
 20 
 
 * have wrote Doctor Oliphant* on the subject. I 
 ' have 3 waggons load of arms (317 stands) they 
 ' were given in by Gen. Butler,t who, I suppose, 
 will deliver as many more to-morrow. Gen William- 
 
 < son has sent his spare arms up the country. Col. 
 
 * Thaxton's brigade^ marched off this morning. I 
 1 cannot leave this place, until I see the stores in a 
 ' way of moving on. 
 
 < I am, Sec. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 ' STONO, July 10th, 1779. 
 
 * DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' I RECEIVED your favor, dated the 8th inst. in 
 c which you inform me that the governor and coun- 
 
 < cil had ordered a draught of one third of the militia ; 
 
 * I hope they will have something to bind them to 
 ' their duty stronger than any thing we have had yet. 
 ' At present I have no militia with me, but about 25 
 1 of Colonel Hammond's ; all Goodwin's went off ex- 
 
 * cept the major, 3 lieutenants, and 5 privates, whom 
 
 * Director-general of the hospital. 
 
 t Of North-Carolina. This shows that when we hsd re- 
 inforcements from N. C. we were obliged to furnish them with 
 arms, and when their times were out, they delivered them up 
 ag?in. 
 
 North-Carolina.
 
 21 
 
 ' I discharged, and sent the officers home to collect 
 4 more men. I should be glad to have some more 
 
 * bags for conveying corn-meal j as Col. Hammond 
 
 * informs there is a great deal ground up, and a large 
 
 * quantity of corn, which we may still have from 
 
 * Beach-Island. This is like to be our principal de- 
 
 < pendance this winter, as I am informed our wheat 
 
 * in the back country is totally lost. I received the 
 
 * military chest from Mr. Rapely, containing about 
 36,000 dollars ; he is to return to day. I have 
 
 * just now received a letter from Col. Horry, inform- 
 
 * ing me that the enemy have landed at Beaufort, 
 
 < and mean to maintain the Island : they still talk of 
 ' taking post on the Main : this last I give but little 
 ' credit to : a party of our troops went on the Island, 
 
 * and brought off a young man, a prisoner, whom I 
 
 * have sent to town ; he says they have landed their 
 
 * sick and wounded, and placed them in the court- 
 i house and goal, which they have converted into 
 4 hospitals : this looks as if they intended staying 
 
 * there. Is it not scandalous to America, that a 
 
 * handful of men, with two small men-of-war, should 
 
 * ride triumphant, and distress these southern states - 
 1 when perhaps our continental vessels are cruizing 
 ( for the emolument of their commanders.. ..Should 
 
 4 not this be represented to Congress ? At all events 
 VOL. zi. D
 
 22 
 
 i I shall set off on Monday for camp at Port-royal. 
 
 * ferry. I fear we are beginning a new campaign. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 WILLIAM MOULTRIK.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 < CHARLESTOWN, July 10th, 1779. 
 
 * DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I HAVE been honored with your favor of yes- 
 
 * terday's date : Major Pinckney has returned from 
 ' Port-royal-river, where he has been to negociate 
 
 * an exchange of prisoners : the enemy make a con- 
 
 * dition, previous to a general exchange taking place : 
 
 * that the officers who have absconded, and broken 
 ' their paroles, and those taken, must be returned be- 
 ' fore this business can be accomplished. 
 
 ' I AM sorry that any officer who has the ho- 
 
 * nor to hold a commission, should conduct himself 
 
 * in a manner, so unjustifiable, and which in its con- 
 
 * sequences will do so much prejudice to their broth- 
 ' er officers : those who were taken, I do not view 
 
 * in an unfavorable light, but I think from the tenor 
 ' of their paroles they cannot act until exchanged. 
 
 < P. S. For particulars you must inquire of Major 
 < Pinckney. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 'B. LINCOLN. 
 ' Gen. MOULTRII.'
 
 23 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 * CHARLESTOWN, July llth, 1779. 
 ( DEAR SIR, 
 
 * YOUR favor of yesterday's date I received this 
 
 * morning. I hope that your conjectures, that we 
 
 * are now commencing a new campaign, are without 
 
 * foundation, for we are by no means prepared for 
 
 * such an event. We have at present neither men, 
 ' stores or money ; indeed the latter is so depreci- 
 
 * ated, that I apprehend that unless something is 
 done to increase its value, it will not long answer 
 ' the purpose of carrying on the war ; if that fails us, 
 
 * our only resource is the VIRTUE of the people ; how 
 
 * far that will avail us at this day, I leave you to 
 judge. 
 
 < I am, Sec. 
 * Gen. MOVLTRIE. B. LINCOLN. 
 
 A GREAT number of the preceding letters will 
 show what little dependance we could put upon the 
 virtue of the people. 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 <DEAR SIR, CHARLESTOWN, 13th July, 1779. 
 
 { SERGEANT Jasper with a party of men wait upon 
 
 ' you, desirous of something being given them to do. 
 
 ' Your being immediately on the spot, will better 
 
 enable you to judge of the most advantageous man-
 
 34 
 
 4 ner in which they may be disposed of. It is theirs 
 and my wish that they may be employed at your 
 discretion*. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 < B. LINCOLN.' 
 'Gen. Mou LTRIE." 
 
 e 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 * SHELDON, July 14th, 1779. 
 <DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' I HAVE the honor to acquaint you that I arrived 
 { at this camp last night. I have ordered the Georgia 
 
 * At the commencement of the war, William Jasper entered 
 into my regiment, (the second) and was made a sergeant ; he 
 was a brave, active, stout, strong, enterprising man, and a very 
 great partizan. I had such confidence in him, that when I was 
 in die field, I gave him a roving commission, and liberty to pick 
 out his men from my brigade, he seldom would take more than 
 six : he went often out, and returned with prisoners before 1 knew 
 he was gone. I have known of his catching a party that was 
 looking for him. He has told me that he could have killed 
 single men several times, but he would not, he would rather 
 let them get off. He went into the British lines at Savannah, 
 and delivered himself up as a deserter, complaining at the same 
 time, of our ill usage to him, he was gladly received (they 
 having heard of his character) and caressed by them. He 
 stayed eight days, and after informing himself well of their 
 strength, situation and intentions, he returned to us again; but 
 that game he could not play a second time. With his little 
 party he was always hovering about the enemy's camp, and 
 was frequently bringing in prisoners. I have already spoken 
 of him on the a8th of June 1776, and shall say more of him 
 in another place hereafter.
 
 25 
 
 c troops to move for Augusta. I have sent a fiat 
 ' from Ashepoo to Combahee, over land ; and 
 
 * will have a large one finished in a few days. 
 ' I do nol write you any thing relative to our camp, 
 ' or the enemy, as I have not had time to make the 
 4 necessary inquiries. I therefore refer you to Col. 
 ' D. Horry, who waits on you with this. We shall 
 
 * want him again. 
 
 1 I am, &c. . 
 
 * WM. MOUITRIE.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 SHELDON, July 17th, 1779. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 I RECEIVED your favors of the llth and 13th. 
 
 * The last information I received from the enemy 
 1 and from good authority, is, that they have sent 
 ' some of their troops to Savannah, and have kept 
 ' the 71st, the light-infantry, and some Hessians, 
 1 posted in the following manner ; the 71st at Beau- 
 1 fort, and the Hessians at Mile-End, throwing up 
 ' some works ; this place is a narrow neck of land, 
 
 * about a mile from the town, not more" than 300 
 ' yards across, on each side is a navigable river, 
 ' which makes it a very strong post indeed : the 
 1 light-infantry, (between 3 and 400) are opposite 
 1 Port-royal-ferry, in sight of one of our guards at
 
 25 
 
 1 Uie redoubt ; the whole of their number does not 
 
 * exceed 1,000 men. It appears to me as if they 
 ' would leave the place before long. I imagine they 
 ' have not shipping enough to take them off at 
 
 * one trip, and are therefore obliged to wait the re- 
 ' turn of the vessels which carrud the first division. 
 
 ' As there are matters of the utmost consequence 
 * * to come on the carpet, at the meeting of the 
 ' general assembly, I propose to be in town, to at- 
 4 tend the Senate, if you have no particular objec- 
 1 tion : and will also give leave to as many officers, 
 ' members of the assembly, to attend as can possi- 
 ' bly be spared. The business here, in my opinion, 
 
 * will be only to wait on the motions of the enemy, 
 1 which I think will be passive enough ; they only 
 
 * mean to keep possession of the Island in peace 
 4 while they stay. I have sent off the Georgia troops, 
 1 and have also detached Capt. Newman's company 
 4 of horse, and Jasper's little party, to harrass and 
 
 * perplex the enemy in that state ; I have given them 
 
 * directions to join Col. Dooley, should he be under- 
 c taking any thing capital. I have been employed, 
 ' these two days, in reconnoitering the country in 
 
 * this neighborhood : Col. Garden, with about 100 
 
 * men, has taken post at Gordon's plantation, on 
 
 * Scotch-neck, and detached about 20 men to Page's- 
 4 point, where the battery is built : Col. Hammond 
 
 * is here with about 40 men ; these are all the mili-
 
 27 
 
 tia of this state, that are now in the field, near this 
 
 * place : I have changed my opinion, relative to 
 ' commencing a new campaign, I rather think the 
 enemy are lingering out the old one : Our camp 
 
 * will be very small in a fortnight, as the time of 
 the North-Carolinians will expire, and I see no 
 
 < method taken by this state, to replace their num- 
 { bers : before I quit this, I will arrange matters in 
 ' the best way I can : Col. Pinckney informs me 
 
 * that the 3rd regiment mutinied this morning ; their 
 
 * complaint is, the want of pay and cloathing ; it is up- 
 1 wards of four months, and some of them five, since 
 
 * they have received any pay ; which must appear 
 
 * long to those who had always been paid regularly 
 1 every month. I will be obliged to you to order the 
 { auditors to make a few copies of forms for pay-bills, 
 ' such as Congress directs : several sets of pay-bills 
 ' have been sent down, but are returned with this 
 
 < answer, " that they are not proper, and cannot be 
 
 < paid." I wish something would be done to bring 
 
 < their pay regularly about as usual. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 1 WM. MOULT R is.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 < DEAR Sin, . < SHELDON, July 18th, 1779. 
 
 ' I WROTE you yesterday, since which, I have 
 
 * been informed that Gen. Scott is on his march from
 
 28 
 
 1 Salisbury to this place : as there is no immediate 
 
 * call for those troops this way, I would humbly 
 ' submit my opinion to you, whether it would not be 
 ' best to order them through the back country, to 
 
 * Augusta ; where they can be supplied with every 
 ' necessary, and keep the enemy in continual appre- 
 
 * hension ; besides encouraging and supporting our 
 4 friends in that quarter : I fear if they march through 
 1 this low country, at this extreme hot season, it 
 
 * will render many of them useless, for a considera- 
 
 * ble time. Col. Twig was with me yesterday, and 
 
 * says they are in want of ammunition at Augusta : 
 
 * I informed him that you had sent some to Col. 
 
 * Dooley : I wrote you yesterday that I proposed be- 
 4 ing in town at the meeting of the general assem- 
 ' bly : if you have no objection, I shall leave this 
 4 next Friday. 
 
 ' I am, 8cc. 
 
 * WM. MOULT* IE. 
 
 FROM G*N. LINCOLN. 
 
 ' PIEAD-QJART*S, July 19tll, 1779. 
 
 4 DEAR Sia, 
 
 ' SENSIBLE of the necessity for your attendance 
 
 * in the Senate, it is my desire, yourself, and as ma- 
 6 ny officers, members of the house, as can, consist- 
 4 ent witli the duties and welfare of the service, be 
 
 -d, may, with ail convj.;L:;t speed, repair to
 
 29 
 
 < town, after the meeting of the house. The audi- 
 
 * tors and pay-masters are to repair to camp this af- 
 ' ternoon, in order to pay the army. 
 
 * I am, See. 
 
 ' B. LINCOLN. 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE,' 
 
 GEM. Lincoln wished all the officers of the army 
 that were members of the general assembly, to at- 
 tend at the meeting, that they might be upon the 
 spot, to inform the Representatives with the difficul- 
 ty there was in this state to keep an army together : 
 that it was a folly to depend upon the militia ; that 
 it was impossible to keep them in the field : there- 
 fore some other method must be fallen upon to raise 
 an army, or else the country must be given up. 
 
 LETTER FROM COL. MAITLAND. 
 
 BEAUFORT, July 19th, 1779. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I SEND you by this flag of truce, a young man,* 
 
 * which Lieutenant Parham, one of your officers, 
 
 * This young man was left as a safeguard on the field, to 
 protect Captain Campbell from being killed by our soldiers, but 
 he had nearly been killed by their's : when we were obliged to 
 retreat, Captain Campbell could scarcely save him. 'Tis an 
 unpleasant situation to be placed as a safeguard on the fkld ot 
 battle, over any one. 
 
 VOL. it. E
 
 * was so good as to leave with Captain Collin Camp- 
 
 * bell of the 71st regiment, vhen wounded at Stono. 
 ' The lad should have been returned long ere now, 
 < but our army's being in motion, and Captain Camp- 
 
 * bell at a distance from where I was, rendered it 
 ' impossible. We are extremely obliged to Mr. 
 
 * Parham for his attention to Captain Campbell, 
 who begs you will assure him, that he will ever 
 
 * retain a most grateful sense of his humanity and 
 
 * goodness. A Mrs. Odingse'l of this island, has 
 ' acquainted me that a small party of your people 
 
 * took her son, (a boy) from the plantation some 
 4 time since, and that he still remains a prisoner. 
 ' I cannot help thinking that this has been done 
 \vithout your consent, as the boy is only fourteen 
 ' years old, and never carried arms ; however, if 
 
 * ycu hold him as a prisoner of war; as his mother 
 ' is extremely uneasy on his account, I shall take it 
 
 * as a favor, if you will release him, and send him 
 
 * here on his parole, until we can exchange him. 
 
 * BY this opportunity, I also send you some letters ; 
 
 * amongst them is one for Miss C , containing 
 1 1 GO pounds Carolina currency, and a 50 dollar bill; 
 
 * a. portmanteau containing cloaths, and a letter with 
 3 half joes, are also sent to Ensign M'Pherson, of 
 ' 'he 7 li-t, who was left sick at the widow He) ward's, 
 
 4 I beg you ill order to be delivered him ; if 
 ' there should occur to you any thing in which I
 
 51 
 
 4 can be of service to you here, I shall be happy in 
 
 * the opportunity of obliging you. There was a pro- 
 ' posal made by Major M' Arthur, to Major Pinckney 
 
 * of yours, relative to the exchanging of Ensign 
 
 * M'Pherson for Doctor Hailing. I should be happy 
 ' to know whether you approve of this exchange 
 ' taking place. 
 
 * I am sir, &c. 
 
 ' JOHN MAITLAND, 
 
 Lieut. Col. 71st Regt. 
 4 Gen. MOULT RIE.' 
 
 To COL. MAITLAND. 
 
 < SHELDON, July 20th, 1779, 
 < SIR, 
 
 ' I WAS honored with your favor of yesterday : 
 { the soldier who was left by Lieut. Col. Henderson 
 
 * of the 6th South-Carolina regiment, with Col. Camp- 
 { bell on the field at Stono, is returned, but without 
 ' his arms. Lieut. Parham of the 1st regiment, was 
 ' the gentleman who assisted another of your officers, 
 ' when laying wounded on the field, and who, after 
 f repeated intreaties, received his watch of him :* if 
 
 * the officer still survives, and will send his name, 
 1 Mr. Parham will immediately return his watch ; 
 4 having, at same time, assured the owner that he 
 
 * A handsome gold watch.
 
 32 
 
 1 would receive it upon no other terms ; as it was 
 ' for liberty, not for plunder that we fought. Mrs. 
 ' Odingsell's son was brought off before I came to 
 
 * this place : I will endeavor, however, to get him 
 
 * restored to his mother ; upon his parole, at least, 
 as soon as possible. I have received the several 
 1 letters that accompanied your's ; that, containing 
 
 * 160 pounds, and a 50 dollar bill, and the other shall 
 ' be delivered, as directed. Mr. M'Pherson's port- 
 ' manteau, containing the articles specified in the 
 c letter, with the three half-joes shall be sent him, by 
 
 * the first opportunity : I am infinitely obliged to 
 1 you, for your kind offer of service ; and shall be 
 
 * happy, in my turn, to have in my power to oblige 
 ' you : I must beg you would excuse my being so 
 ' frequently troublesome, in granting flags and pas- 
 
 * ses ; but, as there are a number of widow ladies, 
 
 * who flatter themselves with the hopes of recovering 
 ' some part of their property on the Island, I cannot 
 
 * well refuse them. Not having seen Major Pinck- 
 ' ney since his interview with Major M'Arthur, it 
 
 * is not in my power to say what passed between 
 
 * them, relative to the exchange. 
 
 ' I am, kc. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 JUIT 20th. At this time, nothing material was 
 done ; the legislature was in session ; and our little
 
 33 
 
 army remained at Sheldon, waiting upon the British, 
 who had taken post at Beaufort, under the com- 
 mand of Col. Maitland. About the 4th of Septem- 
 ber, an officer came to town, from Count D'Estaing's 
 fleet, then off our bar, consisting of 20 sail of the 
 line ; two 50 gun ships ; and 1 1 frigates, to acquaint 
 Gen. Lincoln that the Count D'Estaing was ready 
 to co-operate with him in the reduction of Savannah, 
 and at the same time, to urge the necessity of dis- 
 patch ; as he could not remain long upon our coasf, 
 at fiis season of the year. This information put us 
 all in high spirits : the legislature adjourned : the 
 governor and council, and the military joined hear- 
 tily, in expediting every thing that was necessary : 
 boats were sent to Count D'Estaing's fleet, to assist 
 in taking the cannon and stores on shore : every one 
 cheerful, as if we were sure of success ; and no one 
 doubted but that we had nothing more to do, than 
 to march up to Savannah; and demand a surrender : 
 the militia were draughted ; and a great number of 
 volunteers joined readily, to be present at the sur- 
 render ; and in hopes to have the pleasure of seeing 
 the British march out, and deliver up their arms ; 
 but, alas ! it turned out a bloody affair ; and we 
 were repulsed from the lines, with the loss of 8 or 
 900 men killed and wounded : and 1 think I may 
 say, that the militia volunteers were much disap- 
 pointed ; as I suppose they did not go with the ex-
 
 34 
 
 pectalion of storming lines ; I was pleased, when I 
 was informed that in general they behaved well ; and 
 they could truly say, they had been in very severe 
 fire. On the 5th of September, Gen. Lincoln order- 
 ed all officers and soldiers to join their respective 
 regiments ; and on the 8th the continentals were 
 drawn from the forts, which were garrisoned by 
 the militia : Gen. Lincoln goes off to take command 
 of the army at Sheldon, about the 12th, and orders 
 the troops, that were appointed to join the army, to 
 follow as soon as possible ; leaving myself the com- 
 mand of Charlestown, with a few continentals and 
 the militia : Gen. Lincoln lay with his army at 
 M'Millens', three miles from Savannah, from the 
 17th to the 23d September: on the 23d our army 
 joined the French, and encamped before Savannah. 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 ' CAMP, BEFORE SAVANNAH, Sept. 24th, 1779. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 I AM very glad you detained the North-Coro- 
 ' lina militia in town ;* for they cannot, I think, arrive 
 ' here in time. Ground was broken last night, very 
 ' near the enemy's lines, towards their left, with very 
 * little interruption. The cannonf and mortars will 
 
 * A reinforcement just came in to us. 
 + The cannon and mortars were landed at Thunderbolt, 
 about five miles from Savannah, and drawn to camp over land*
 
 35 
 
 ' soon be up, and ground opened in different places* 
 * I should invite you to camp, but think the matter 
 ' will be determined one way or other, before you 
 * can possibly arrive. ' I am, &c. 
 
 4 Gen. MOULTRIE. * B. LINCOLN.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 1 CHARLESTOWN, Sept. 26th, 1779. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' I HAVE just now been honored with your favor 
 
 * of the 24th inst. by which, I am glad to be informed 
 4 that you have approached so near the enemy's lines, 
 without any loss. I hope a few days more will de_ 
 ' termine them to surrender to the united forces of 
 i France and America. I should have been ex- 
 
 * tremely happy to have shared the glory, but the 
 f fates have forbid it. I hope soon to have the plea- 
 
 * sure of seeing some of your young gentlemen with 
 
 * the joyful news of the surrender of Savannah. 
 
 * Yesterday arrived another 500,000 dollars for the 
 
 ' state of Georgia. I have ordered it to be lodged 
 1 with Mr. Jervais in the same manner as the former, 
 4 until I shall receive your orders thereupon.* One 
 
 * At this time our money was very much depreciated, 1618 
 for one, and we talked of millions, and in fact, it was next to 
 nothing; there was one convenkncy in it, which wss, that a 
 couple of men on horse-back, with their bags, could convey a 
 million of dollars from one end of the continent to the other, 
 in a little time, with great facility.
 
 36 
 
 * million and a half more, will be in to-morro\v, for 
 ' the purpose of exchanging the two emissions which 
 
 * were stopped in circulation. 
 
 * I am, Sec. 
 
 * WM. MOULT* IE.' 
 
 THE army before Savannah was employed in mak- 
 ing fascines, and building batteries ; and the 4th of 
 October, at 5 o'clock, A. M. the batteries opened 
 upon the town with 37 pieces of cannon, on the land 
 side, and 1 6 from the water ; and 9 mortars, to 
 throw shells at one and the same time. The French 
 army lay before Savannah, 7 days before Gen. Lin- 
 coln's army got up, and demanded a surrender on 
 the 1 6th September, and the garrison requested 24 
 hours, to consider on an answer : in the mean time, 
 Col. Maitland got into Savannah, with a strong re- 
 inforcement from Beaufort. The -batteries continued 
 their fire, for 4 or 5 days, with very little intermis- 
 sion : Gen. Provost sent out to request leave to send 
 the women and children without the lines ; but it 
 was denied, supposing he only wanted to gain time. 
 Count D'Estaing having been now a month with his 
 fleet on our coast, and close in shore ; his officers 
 remonstrated to htm, the dangerous situation the 
 fleet was in, and the hazards they run of being at- 
 tacked by the British fleet, whilst theirs was in a 
 bad condition ; and a great many of their officers
 
 and men on shore : these representations determin- 
 ed the Count D'Estaing to call a council, in which 
 the opinion of the engineers was, that it would re- 
 quire lo days more to work into the enemy's lines ; 
 upon which it was determined to try to carry them 
 by an assault ; and on the 8th, the following order 
 was issued. 
 
 EVENING ORDERS, BY GEN. LINCOLN. 
 WATCH WORD-LEWIS. 
 
 * THE soldiers will be immediately supplied with 
 40 rounds of cartridges ; a spare flint ; and have 
 their arms in good order.' 
 
 * THE infantry destined for the attack of Savannah, 
 will be divided into two bodies : the first composed 
 of the light troops, under the command of Col. Lau- 
 rens ; the second of the continental battalions, and 
 the first battalion of the Charlestown militia, except 
 the grenadiers, who are to join the light troops : the 
 whole will parade at 1 o'clock, near the left of the 
 line ; and march by the right, by platoons.' 
 
 THE guards of the camp, will be formed of the 
 invalids, and be charged to keep the fires as usual, 
 in camp.' 
 
 * THE cavalry, under the command of Count Pau- 
 laski, will parade at the same time with the infan- 
 try, and follow the left column of the French troops> 
 and precede the column of the American light troops ; 
 
 TOL. II. F 
 
 461811
 
 HI 
 
 they will endeavor to penetrate the enemy's lines, 
 between the battery, on the left of the Spring-hill 
 redoubt, and the next towards the river : having ef- 
 fected this, they will pass to the left, towards Ya- 
 macraw ; and secure such parties of the enemy, as 
 tnay be lodged in that quarter.' 
 
 ' THE artillery will parade at the same time; follow 
 the French artillery, and remain with the corps de re- 
 serve, until they receive further orders.' 
 
 * THE whole will be ready by the time appointed, 
 with the utmost silence and punctuality ; and be rea- 
 dy to march, the instant Count D'Estaing and Gen. 
 Lincoln shall order.' 
 
 ' THE light troops, who are to follow the cavalry, 
 will attempt to enter the redoubt, on the left of the 
 Spring-hill, by escalade, if possible, if not, by en- 
 trance into it ; they are to be supported, if necessa- 
 ry, by the first South-Carolina regiment : in the 
 mean time, the column will proceed with the lines 
 to the left of the Spring-hill battery.' 
 
 * THE light troops, having succeeded against the 
 redoubt, will proceed to the left, and attempt the 
 several works between that and the river.' 
 
 * THE column will move to the left of the French 
 troops, taking care not to interfere with them.' 
 
 * THE light troops, having carried the works to- 
 wards the river, will form on the left of the column.' 
 
 * IT is expressly forbid to fire a single gun before
 
 39 
 
 the redoubts are carried, or for any soldier to quit his 
 rank, to plunder, without an order for that purpose : 
 any who shall presume to transgress, in either of 
 these respects, shall be reputed a disobeyer of mili- 
 tary orders, which is punishable with death.' 
 
 * THE militia of the first and second brigades; 
 Gen. Williamson's, and the second battalion of the 
 Charlestown militia, will parade immediately, under 
 the command of Gen. Huger, after draughting 500 
 of them ; the remainder of them will go into the 
 trenches, and put themselves under the command of 
 the commanding officer there : with the 500, he 
 will march to the left of the enemy's lines, and re- 
 main as near them as he possibly can, without be- 
 ing discovered, until 4 o'clock in the morning, at 
 which time, the troops in the trenches, will begin 
 an attack upon the enemy : he will then advance, 
 and make his attack as near the river as possible ; 
 though this is only meant as a feint, yet should a 
 favorable opportunity offer, he will improve it, and 
 push into the town.' 
 
 * IN case of a repulse, after having taken the 
 Spring-hill redoubt the troops will retreat, and rally 
 in the rear of the redoubt ; if it cannot be effected 
 that way, it must be attempted by the same rout at 
 which they entered.' 
 
 * THE second place of rallying (or the first, if the 
 redoubt should not be carried) will be at the Jew's
 
 burying-ground, where the reserve will be placed : 
 if these two halts should not be effectual, they will 
 retire towards camp.' 
 
 < THE troops will carry on their hats, a piece of 
 white paper, by which they will be distinguished.' 
 
 THE order for the attack, shows it was to have 
 been made on the British lines at 4 o'clock in the 
 morning, but by some means or other, it was de- 
 layed until it was clear day-light, which gave the 
 enemy a very great advantage, because they could 
 see our columns marching up, and knew where to 
 direct their fire, consequently our troops suffered 
 much, before they got up to the works ; and on their 
 attack upon the Spring-hill battery, they were so 
 crowded in the ditch, and upon the berm, that they 
 could scarcely raise an arm ; and while they were 
 in this situation, huddled up together, did the Brit- 
 ish load and fire upon them very deliberately, with- 
 out any danger to themselves : a body of them came 
 out, and formed a line to the left of their battery, 
 within their abbettis, and kept up a warm fire upon 
 our troops until they retreated t in all this confusion 
 Limits. Hume and Bush planted the colors of the 
 second South-Carolina regiment upon the ramparts, 
 but they were soon killed. Lieut. Grey was on the 
 ramparts, near the colors, and received his mortal 
 wound ; and the gallant Jasper was with them, and
 
 41 
 
 supported one of the colors, until he received hU 
 death wound, however he brought off one of the co. 
 lors with him, and died in a little time after. The 
 second regiment gained great honor in this affair: 
 they lost Major Motte, marching up to the attack ; 
 and 3 lieuts. and Sergeant Jasper, killed in support- 
 ing their colors on the ramparts ; besides many- 
 others killed and wounded : of the Carolina troops, 
 Major Wise and Capt. Shepherd was killed, and 
 Capt. Warren wounded. Count D'Estaing received 
 two wounds ; and Count Paulaski, at the head of 
 his cavalry, received his mortal wound, from one of 
 the gallies. 
 
 OUR troops remained before the lines, in this hot 
 fire fifty-five minutes : the generals seeing no pros- 
 pect of success, were constrained to order a retreat, 
 after having 637 French, and 457 continentals killed 
 and wounded : the Charlestown militia, although in a 
 warm part of the fire, were fortunate enough to have 
 only Captain Shepherd killed, and five or six wounded. 
 General Huger made his attack at the same time, 
 but had to wade through a rice field ; he was received 
 with music and a warm fire of cannon and jnus- 
 ketry, and after losing a few men, they retreated 
 faster than they marched up. The assailants upon 
 Savannah were about 2,500 French troops, headed by 
 Count D'Estaing, and 4000 Americans, militia includ- 
 ed, headed by Gen. Lincoln ; the garrison was about
 
 42 
 
 2,500, and of those, only 150 of them were militia* 
 The British it was supposed, had information the day 
 before, by a sergeant from the Charlestown Grena- 
 diers, who went in to them) and gave them a particu- 
 lar account of our plan of attack. They knew our 
 force was to be led to the Spring-hill battery, and 
 they were prepared accordingly by filling that post 
 with as many men as it could possibly hold ; and 
 they knew that General Huger's attack was only to 
 be a feint, they therefore drew almost all their 
 troops from their left to their right. There cannot 
 be a doubt, but that if the French and American 
 armies had marched into Savannah when they ar- 
 rived on the 17th, they would have carried the town 
 very easily, because at that time, they had only the 
 Spring-hill battery completed and no abbettis round 
 the town ; instead of which, they employed themselves 
 in throwing up batteries for their cannon and mor- 
 tars, which were of very little consequence till the 
 9th of October, before they made their attack, which 
 gave the besieged three weeks to fortify themselves, 
 and their success proves that they were not idle in 
 that time. After this repulse, the idea of taking 
 Savannah by regular approaches, was still kept up ; 
 but Count D : Estaing's marine officers being rery 
 uneasy at the situation of his fleet, pressed his de- 
 parture, he then ordered all his cannon and stores 
 on board, and embarked his troops from Thunderbolt, 
 and left the coast of America.
 
 43 
 
 WE were then in a much worse situation than 
 before he arrived : the unfortunate militia of Georgia 
 who had taken the British protection, could not go 
 back to them again, after they had joined us, but 
 were obliged to seek for shelter in a strange country, 
 or live in the back woods of their own. This disap- 
 pointment depressed our spirits very much, and we 
 began to be apprehensive for the safety of these two 
 southern states j it also depreciated our money so 
 Very low, that it was scarcely worth any thing. 
 
 GENERAL Lincoln retreated with the Americans 
 as far as Ebenezer Heights, and, on the 19th of 
 October, left the army to follow him to Charlestown. 
 In November the small-pox broke out in Charlestown, 
 after it had been kept out of the country near twenty 
 years. 
 
 LETTER TO GEN, LINCOLN. 
 
 CHARLKSTOWN, Nov. 17th, 1779. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I HAVE nothing new to write you ; but new 
 
 * discoveries are made every day of the small-pox ; 
 ' the persons are immediately removed to the pest- 
 
 * house. I expect it will continue to make its ap- 
 
 * pearance for some days to come ; but I hope we 
 
 * shall be able to put an entire stop to it soon. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 * Gen. LINCOLN. * W*t. MOULTRIK.'
 
 44 
 
 THE small-pox breaking out in Charlestown, was 
 a very good pretence for the militia not coming into 
 town : in fact, they dreaded that disorder more than 
 the enemy. 
 
 THE British finding they could make no impres- 
 sion upon the northern states, reversed the proverb of 
 " taking the bull by the horns," and turned their 
 thoughts on the southern states ; their late success 
 in the repulse of the French and Americans from 
 Savannah, and still keeping possession, encouraged 
 them in the undertaking, and in December a large 
 army embarked from New-York, under command of 
 Sir Henry Clinton, convoyed by Admiral Arbuthnot, 
 with several men of war : they had a long and boister- 
 ous passage, and arrived at Savannah on the 1 1th of 
 February ; after staying there a few days, a strong 
 detachment under General Patterson, was ordered to 
 cross over to Purisburgh, and march through the 
 southern parts of the state; whilst Sir Henry Clinton 
 with the body of the army, came round with the 
 fleet to Stono-inlet, and landed the troops on John 
 and James'-Islands. We soon received accounts of 
 the arrival of the British army at Savannah : at this 
 time the legislature were sitting, they immediately 
 adjourned, and all officers and soldiers were ordered 
 to their posts.
 
 45 
 
 LETTER FROM GEN. PROVOST. 
 
 SAVANNAH, Feb. 19th, IT'SO. 
 6 SIR, 
 
 I HAVE received the honor of your letter of 
 < the 1 6th inst. and am much obliged to you for tjje 
 favor : Captain Pemberton has been detained at one 
 of our posts, from which he will be sent back, as 
 
 * soon as my letter arrives there. General Lincoln 
 4 will also accept my thanks. I have been happy to 
 ' find that our prisoners have been treated with 
 ' civility, particularly Captain Constable, unjustly 
 ' oppressed. I was to send back your's on parole, 
 ' but a fleet and army being arrived, I have not had 
 ' it in my power to effect it, they having demanded to 
 
 * defer their going : the other flag came in a canoe ; 
 it has not been thought prudent to send her back 
 
 * as yet, from this place. 
 
 { I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 < A. PROVOST. 
 f Col. DAN.HORRY.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 < HEAD-QUARTERS, CHARLESTOWN ? 
 
 Feb. 19th, 1780. 
 <DEAR SIR, 
 
 You will please to proceed immediately to Ba- 
 
 * con's-Bridge, where you will form a camp of the 
 militia of that part of the neighborhood, and of
 
 45 
 
 those who are ordered to this town ; if you should 
 
 * find it necessary, or for the safety of the troops 
 
 < under Colonel Marion, or for the defence of your 
 post, you will call on him also : you will at all times 
 1 ieep hanging on the enemy's flanks, and oppose^ 
 them at every advantageous pass. As the horse 
 
 < will be under your direction, you will give such 
 
 * orders as may be necessary for a co-operation of 
 
 < them and the infantry. You will cause to be re- 
 
 * moved, all the horses, beaves, sheep, swine, car- 
 
 * riages, boats, and indeed every thing which may 
 ' comfort the enemy, or facilitate their march, saving 
 t such as may be necessary for the support of fami- 
 
 * lies left. You will throw up a work on the rising 
 ' ground, on this side Bacon's-bridge, to command 
 
 * it. You will on approach of the enemy, previous 
 
 * to your leaving your post, effectually destroy the 
 
 * bridge. You will please to examine Stan's-bridge, 
 1 and the swamp above it, and report your opinion of 
 
 * the practicability of passing it with heavy cannon. 
 
 * You will keep a small guard at Dorchester-bridge, 
 
 * and one on your right at Slan's-bridge. You will 
 ' advise me daily of your situation and strength, and 
 
 * of the state of the enemy. You will keep the horse 
 4 as near the enemy as possible. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 B. LINCOLN. 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.'
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 < BACON'S-BRIDGE, Feb. 22d, 1780. 
 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I DID not write you sooner, as I waited for 
 1 the return of a party of horse that had gone out 
 ' towards the enemy's lines at Stono, which returned 
 ( last night. Major Jemison informs me he was 
 ' within view of the Gentries of their picquets, posted 
 
 * at the Cross-roads, that he had not heard of any 
 ' number coming out, except the first day or two, 
 
 * to drive in some stock. By the accounts he got, 
 ' he believes there are not so many at Stono, as 
 
 * when they first took post there, that some of them 
 
 * are returned to John's-Island. I have not one mi- 
 
 * litia-man doing duty here. I am informed they 
 
 * are patroling in their different districts ; they de- 
 1 clare against going to town ; from what I can un- 
 ' derstand, they are afraid of the small-pox breaking 
 
 * out, when they are cooped up, which they say, 
 ' will be worse to them than the enemy. When 
 1 they collect here, I shall employ them in drawing 
 
 * off the stock, and destroying such provisions as 
 
 * cannot be brought away, from those plantations 
 
 < that are left to themselves. The rains have filled 
 ( cur rivers and swamps so much, that it is almost 
 { impossible for the enemy to drag their cannon and 
 6 artillery stores along. I think they cannot pass 
 ' this way j it therefore becomes us to look out, and
 
 48 
 
 expect them from some other quarter: I am told 
 
 * they have four gallics. I beg leave to suggest, 
 < whether it will not be more practicable for them to 
 
 * transport their army in flat-bottomed boats, under 
 cover of these gallies, through Wappoo-cut, and 
 * land them on the west of the town ; then to march 
 1 them round this way ; or whether they may not 
 
 * draw their flat-bottomed boats from Rantowle's to 
 1 Ashley-river, drop down, and land near our lines ; 
 
 * or cross at Ashley-ferry and land on the causeway. 
 
 * I think the causeway should be cut across within 
 ' grapeshot distance of the field-pieces, under Major 
 ' Hog's command. I hope we will have some heavy 
 < pieces of cannon mounted on the west of the town, 
 ' and that the creeks about Cumins' and the sugar- 
 ' house be filled across. I am throwing up some 
 
 * works on a commanding hill at this place ; two 
 
 * field-pieces will make it very strong. We have a 
 ' detachment of horse constantly waiting on the 
 
 * enemy, to observe their motions. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 * Gen. LINCOLN. WILLIAM MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To Gov. RUT LEDGE. 
 * BACON'S-BRIDGE, Fcb, 22d, 1780. 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 I RECEIVED your favor of the 20th inst. and 
 ' forwarded the inclosed packets, agreeably to your
 
 < request. Colonel Skirving was here at the time, 
 ( in his way to town, but is gone back to execute 
 
 * your orders : not one militia-man at this place on 
 
 < duty : they are much averse to going to town : 
 
 * they are apprehensive of the small-pox breaking 
 
 * out, when the weather grows warmer, and they 
 
 * cooped up in town, would be worse to them than 
 ( the enemy. I am informed they are doing patrole 
 
 < duty in their own districts ; if they were collected 
 c here, I would employ them in driving off the stock, 
 
 * and destroying the provisions which cannot be 
 
 < brought off. The continentals and state cavalry, 
 
 * I employ in waiting on the enemy. These heavy 
 
 * rains will retard the enemy's march this way, as 
 
 * all the rivers and swamps are full. I think we 
 
 * ought to have a watchful eye towards Wappoo-cut. 
 
 * I am informed they have four gallies and a number 
 
 * of flat-bottomed boats ; some heavy cannon should 
 ' be mounted on the west of the town, and the 
 
 * creeks about Cumins* stopped. A detachment 
 
 * of our horse returned last night from the enemy's 
 ' lines, but discovered no movements from that 
 5 quarter. 
 
 1 I am, &c. 
 
 < WM. MOULT R IE. 
 
 < His Ex. J, RUTLEDGE.'
 
 so 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLK. 
 
 < BACON'S-BRIDGE, Feb. 23d, 1780. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 < I HAV B the pleasure to inform you that Major 
 { Maham and Captain Sanders with a part/ of hprse, 
 ' took Captain M'Donald and eight privates yester- 
 ' day, near their picquet ; I shall send them down to 
 
 * day. We are much in want of ammunition : the 
 { people about the country have none. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 WM. MOULTRIE. 
 4 Gen. LINCOLN.' 
 
 FEBRUARY 23d. The returns made me this day of 
 the troops under my command at Bacon's-bridge, 
 were, cavalry of all ranks 379, and the infantry under 
 Colonel Marion 227 ; total 606. My being so strong 
 in cavalry, kept the enemy pretty close to their 
 lines. 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 * CHARI.ESTOWN, Feb. 24th, 1780. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 * You a favor of yesterday, I have received, and 
 
 * the prisoners. 
 
 * WOULD it not be best to divide your horse, and 
 < keep two thirds, or more, over Stono-swamp, near 
 c where we encamped last year, and in the neighbor-
 
 51 
 
 < hood ; frequently shifting their ground ; and al- 
 
 * ways have a party to watch the enemy's motions, 
 to prevent surprise, and to give you the earliest no- 
 
 * tice ; the other to watch them at Rantowlc's, and 
 
 < look at them as far as Wappoo ? 
 
 4 I am, &c. 
 
 B. LINCOLN. 
 < Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 * BACON'S-BRIDGE, Feb. 25th, 1780. 
 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 < I RECEIVED your favor, yesterday: I had ac- 
 quainted Major Jemison that I would sent his corps, 
 
 * and Major Call's to some where near the places 
 
 * you mention ; and where the most fodder is to be 
 4 had : I should have removed them yesterday, but 
 ' took the 2 majors, and a party with me, to recon- 
 ' noitre the enemy on James' and John's-Islands : we 
 c proceeded to Wappoo-cut, from whence we had a 
 
 < very good view of their whole encampment ; their 
 
 * left on Stono-river, extending their right, along the 
 ' ditch, in Mr. Hudson's pasture, to the end of the 
 
 < ditch, near Wappoo-creek, which I take to be a 
 
 < quarter of a mile : by the stacks of arms and num- 
 
 * ber of men moving about, I judge them to be about 
 1 1,000 or 1,200, British and Hessians; in Stono- 
 
 * river, I saw 3 gallics and 3 schooners, and some
 
 52 
 
 < small boats, sailing down the river ; 1 galley lay at 
 * the mouth of Wappoo-cut ; another lay at Hudson's- 
 landing, and 1 at Fenwick's lower landing : they 
 have thrown up a work near the Cut : I was in- 
 formed by several persons, that 90 flat-bottom boats 
 
 and canoes, went down Stono, towards the Cut a 
 
 . 
 few days ago ; and yesterday, 6 proceeded down 
 
 the river : for further particulars, I refer you to 
 * Major Jemison. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 4 WM. MOULT RIE,> 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 BACON'S-BRIDGE, Feb. 26th, 1780. 
 
 * DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I JUST now received two letters from Col. Skir- 
 ' ving, both of which I send you enclosed : I also 
 < send down the prisoners mentioned in them : I al- 
 
 * so wrote to Col. Skirving, to send his militia, to 
 ' endeavor to disperse the disaffected that are in 
 
 * arms : though should I want them in the mean 
 
 * time, I shall send for them. There are, as yet, 
 
 * no militia* at this post. I most earnestly request 
 ' you will order me some ammunition ; as, not only 
 
 * the militia want it, but, that Major Venier report- 
 
 The militia refusing to go to town, on account of the 
 small pox.
 
 53 
 
 < ed to me to day, that he had not more than 
 ' four rounds per man, for his corps, &c. 
 < I am, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 * HEAD-QUARTERS, CHARLESTOWN, Feb. 28th, 1780. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 I WAS last night favored with your letter of 
 
 * the 26th instant, inclosing two from Col. Skirving ; 
 
 * a representation has this morning been made on 
 
 * the subject, to the governor : I shall order some 
 
 * ammunition to be sent you : the enemy are open- 
 
 * ing the ground near Fort Johnson : I expect our 
 ' ship will disturb them before night. 
 
 * I am, Sec. 
 
 ' B. LINCOLN. 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM COL. D. HORRY. 
 
 ' CAMP, NEAR ASHLEY-FERRY, Feb. 28th, 1780. 
 
 * DEAR GENERAL, 
 
 4 1 AM just returned from Lucas' old field, and 
 
 * Wappoo-cut ; and with a small party, I went over 
 
 * to a point called Long-Island : the galley is at her 
 
 * old station, and about twenty-four or five at Mr. 
 
 * Hudson's-landing, with four armed schooners, and 
 
 * two other schooners, with a number of armed boats 
 
 VOL. H. H
 
 54 
 
 < are now gone up to Stono ; probably with an intention 
 ' to bring off the baggage from that post ; which we 
 
 * are told now consists of a command ; with 600 
 ' men to guard their provisions and boats. The 
 ' party we saw to-day, must consist of about 200 men 
 4 including the galley's crew ; and from every intelli- 
 gence we can obtain, the enemy will soon make a 
 
 * point of collecting at Fort Johnson ; where they 
 are now busily employed erecting some works. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 D. HORRY. 
 4 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM MAJOR CALL. 
 
 STONO, Feb. 29th, 1780. 
 
 'SlR, 
 
 1 NONE of the enemy have been out since Sun- 
 
 * day ; when a pretty strong party advanced as far as 
 Culp's-house, but returned, before the detachment 
 ' of horse got down i I had all the country recon- 
 4 noitered yesterday, between Ponpon-road and Mrs. 
 ' Thomas' plantation, and not a man was to be aeen. 
 ' The officer who went down the Ponpon-road, re- 
 ' ports that their drums beat, and horns sounded 
 ' about 8 o'clock, where the picquet was usually 
 ' kept ; after waiting some time, in expectation of 
 
 * their coming out, he moved up the Will-town 
 
 * road, found the guard drawn in, and the log-bridge
 
 55 
 
 ; torn up, which stopped his farther progress. The 
 1 inhabitants seem to think they are gone, or about 
 
 * to leave Stono-ferry : several schooners were passT 
 
 < ing to and fro yesterday from that place, to New- 
 ' cut ; which in some measure strengthens the ac- 
 ' counts of the inhabitants : though those I saw had 
 f got too far to discover what number of men they 
 ' contained. I have sent a party this morning, to 
 
 * get some certain intelligence, if possible, of their 
 ' disposition, &c. 
 
 < I am, &c. 
 
 f RICHARD CALL. 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM GEM. LINCOLN. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, Feb. 29th, 1780. 
 *> DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' YOUR favor I have received, and am much 
 ' surprised to "find the militia so unreasonable as to 
 
 < wish to avoid this town : are not the North-Caroli- 
 ' nians here, who have not had the small-pox ? have 
 ' they views and interests to support that the inhabi- 
 4 tants of this state have not? surely no! the safety 
 4 of the town depends upon their coming to its assist- 
 ' ance ; and I cannot give them the least encour- 
 
 < agement to hope that they will not be brought 
 
 * down : they must be brought down ; they ought 
 1 to have been here before now, for they have nothr
 
 56 
 
 < ing to apprehend from the small-pox : there has 
 4 been this day, the strictest inquiry, by the com- 
 
 * missioners of the town ; the surgeons of the hos- 
 1 pitals, and the officers of the army ; and they re- 
 port to me that it is not in this place. Our garri- 
 
 * son is at present so vreak, that I shall be obliged to 
 
 * send for the light troops the moment that you 
 have a hundred or two of the militia join you. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE. B. LINCOLN.* 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 1 BACON'S-BRIDGE, March 1st, 1780. 
 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 'I THIS moment received intelligence from 
 
 * Major Vernier that all the enemy have crossed 
 ' Wappoo j and are approaching this way ; our horse 
 ' are retreating towards us : should the intention of 
 
 * the enemy be for this post, I shall? on their com- 
 
 < ing near, have the bridge destroyed, and make a 
 
 * stand, as long as the force I have will permit : 
 having been confined to my bed, ever since last 
 ' Tuesday, 1 shall be obliged to leave the command 
 
 < to Col. D. Horry. In case of a retreat, I shall be 
 
 * glad to know whether you would have the light 
 
 * troops come to town, or remain in the country 
 
 * with the horse. By order, 
 
 PHILIP NETLE, A. D. C.'
 
 57 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 < BACON'S-BRIDGE, March 7th, 1780. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 4 BY accounts received from Major Vernier and 
 
 * a prisoner taken this morning, the enemy crossed 
 
 < Wappoo last night at 8 o'clock, .with 1,000 grena- 
 
 * diers and light-infantry : the last accounts we had 
 of them, they were about 3 miles from Ashley-fer- 
 
 * ry ; we cannot learn what their intentions were? 
 1 unless they designed to surprise Major Vernier's 
 
 * post. By order, 
 
 PHILIP NEYLE, A. D.C.* 
 
 FROM THE SAME. 
 
 < CHARLESTOWN, March, 1780. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 * I AM happy to hear that you are better, and 
 
 < that probably you will soon be on your legs ; in or- 
 
 * der to hasten that, I have sent Gen. Kuger to Ea- 
 1 con's-bridge, to take all care from you ; as soon as 
 1 you are able, you had better come to town. 
 
 * I am, Sec. 
 
 < Gen. MOULTRIE. B. LINCOLN.' 
 
 ON the 9th of March I left the command at Ba- 
 con's-bridge, to Gen. Huger, and came to Charles- 
 town, where I was confined to the house for several 
 days, owing to my weakness from my late illness.
 
 58 
 
 EXTRACTS OF LETTERS TO A PARTICULAR 
 FRIEND IN THE COUNTRY. 
 
 { CHARLESTOWN, March 19th, 17SO. 
 
 < TH enemy are at Fenwick's place, at the 
 
 ' mouth of Wappoo-creek, making batteries and 
 
 4 other works directly opposite the town : their ship- 
 
 ' ping lay off our bar ; and perhaps, may attempt to 
 
 * get in, to-morrow or next day : if they remain on 
 
 * our coast, much longer, they may be surprised by 
 ' a Spanish fleet :* we are all in high spirits : the 
 4 Virginia troops are expected in a few days. 
 
 ' Yours, 8cc. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, March 20th, 1780. 
 ' THIS morning the enemy's ships (7 of them) 
 
 * got over our Bar ; and are now in Five-fathom- 
 
 * hole : perhaps they may begin their attack to-mor- 
 ' row : I hope we shall give a good account of them : 
 ' the enemy still remain at Wappoo ; we hear they 
 ' are to march to day, this way. 
 
 * Yours, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 Col. Ternant was sent to the Havannah, to endeavor to 
 get the assistance of a fleet *nd army, but could not succeed, 
 because they did not think he was authorized by the governor .
 
 59 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 March 21st, 1780. 
 
 'THE enemy have got in ten of their men of war,* 
 4 one of fifty guns, two of forty-four guns, and seven 
 ' frigates and twenty gun ships. We expect in a 
 
 * day or two, to see some smart firing between them 
 1 and our vessels and Fort Moultrie : we have sevent 
 < ships and three gallies to oppose them, if they will 
 ' lay any time before the fort, I will engage we beatf 
 ' them ; but it is generally thought they will pass as 
 4 fast as they can, and endeavor to take their stations 
 1 above the town, in Cooper or Ashley rivers, where 
 
 * they will incommode us a little at our lines ; but 
 
 * we are erecting batteries to keep them clear of us, 
 
 * which I hope will answer the purpose. I suppose 
 
 * we shall have their army soon on the neck, to 
 blockade us ; when that happens, you will hear but 
 { seldom from 
 
 < Your's 
 
 * WM. MOUITRIE.* 
 
 * Three of them store ships. 
 
 t The Bricele of forty guns, the Providence and Boston 
 frigates, each thirty -two guns, the Queen of France twenty-eight, 
 L'Avanture and the Fruite, each twenty-six guus, brig General 
 Lincoln twenty guns, and three gallies. 
 
 + General Pinckney was commanding officer of the fcrt at 
 that time.
 
 60 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 March 22d, 1780. 
 I WROTE you yesterday; since which, we have 
 
 * altered out- plan greatly ; all our ships and gallies 
 are ordered up to town, and their guns taken out 
 ' and placed in the batteries, and manned by the 
 
 * sailors, by which means we have a reinforcement 
 
 * on shore, of 1,200 men, which adds greatly to our 
 ' strength. We are to sink some ships, to stop the 
 
 channel from the exchange over to the marsh, on 
 
 * the other side. The Virginia line, is expected in 
 4 three or four days. 
 
 1 THE reasons for altering the plan fixed upon to 
 
 dispose of our fleet, was, that Commodore Whipple 
 
 4 did not choose to risk an engagement with the 
 
 * British fleet. I think he was right in the first in- 
 
 * stance, when stationed just within the bar to pre- 
 4 vent the British fleet from coming over, as that 
 
 * was a dangerous place, but his second position* 
 
 * when he was to lay a little above Fort Moultrio 
 
 * within point blank shot of the fort, with his ships 
 
 * across, to rake the channel : in that situation it 
 4 would have been impossible for them to pass with- 
 4 out losing some of their ships ; I scarcely think 
 4 they would have attempted it. The fleet was of little 
 ' service to the besiegers in blocking up our port, as 
 
 * all the reinforcements that we got, or could expect to 
 ' have, came in by land: it is true, Admiral Arbuthnot
 
 had the honor of having Fort Moultrie tamely given 
 
 * up to him, without firing a single gun, after Colonel 
 
 < Pinckney,* was withdrawn from that command. 
 
 * After the British fleet had passed Fort Moultrie, it 
 
 * was no longer of use to us, but rather a dead weight. 
 
 < We fired at them yesterday, which obliged them to 
 ' move a little ; two of their boats were sounding 
 { Ashley-river, but we soon made them retire. The 
 ' fleet still lays in Five-fathom-hole. We can manage 
 c them easy enough. We are sinking some vessels 
 
 * across the river, from the Exchange to the marsh 
 
 * opposite, which I think will stop the channel. We 
 
 * expect the Virginians every day. Yours, &c. 
 
 < WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 ' March, 26th, 1780. 
 
 < THE enemy are advancing slow; the head of 
 their army is about John Cattel's, but I imagine 
 they intend crossing over to Gibbs' place with 
 ' their main body ; they are busily employed on the 
 opposite shore, in making fascines and other things ; 
 1 I suppose it will be a day or two yet, before they 
 1 appear before our lines : they have three gallies at 
 
 * the mouth of Wappoo-creek, quite open to us. 
 
 * Yours, &c. 
 
 4 WM. MOULTRIS.* 
 
 * Now General Pinckney. 
 VOL. n t i
 
 62 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 April 3d, 1780. 
 
 ' THE enemy are now before our lines,* and 
 c throwing up works very fast; they have four redoubts 
 4 abreast finished ; one at the broad road at Watson's, 
 
 * one at Hamstead, where St. Edmond Head's house 
 stood, and one between those two, another they 
 
 * have on our left, near Cumin 's-point ; I suppose, to- 
 ' night they will have one, where Tagart's house 
 
 * stood. We began to cannonade them yesterday, 
 < and shall continue every day ; their batteries are 
 
 * not yet opened, but I suppose to-morrow or next 
 day, they will begin ; then you will hear a great 
 
 * deal of noibe, but there is very little danger from 
 1 this sort of fighting. I hope the obstructions laid 
 
 * across our river before the Exchange, will deter 
 
 * their shipping from coming up. We have estab- 
 
 * lished an hospital at Cainhoy meeting-house, for 
 ' all those who are not able to do duty, to repair to. 
 
 * I forgot to mention to you, that the women walk 
 out from town to the lines, with all the composure 
 
 * imaginable, to see us cannonade the enemy, but I 
 fancy when the enemy begin, they will make 
 
 * themselves pretty scarce. We had a skirmish 
 4 with the enemy, on their approach to our lines. 
 
 * They crossed Ashley-river, in force, above the ferry and 
 at Gibbs' within a mile or two oi the town.
 
 63 
 
 i Colonel Laurens commanded a corps of light 
 ' troops, and fought them two or three hours, several 
 
 * were killed and wounded on both sides, and he was 
 
 < obliged to retire within the lines. Major Hyrne 
 
 * was wounded in this skirmish. 
 
 * Your's, &c. 
 
 1 WM. MOULT R IE.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 < April 7th, 2 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 <THE Virginians are now landing at Gadsden's- 
 
 4 wharf; we intend as soon as they land and march 
 
 up, to fire thirteen guns, man the lines, and give 
 
 ' three cheers. 
 
 < Your's, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE. 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 April 8th, 1780. 
 
 ' No doubt you have heard the firing yesterday* 
 1 it was the British men-of-war pas sing Fort Moultrie 
 
 < they are now lying by Fort Johnson ; the fort has 
 1 damaged them a little, and obliged them to burn 
 
 * one that got on shore ; we cannot tell whether it 
 
 * is a man-of-war, or a store-ship,* but we see the 
 4 people from the fort are very busy in picking up 
 ' their plunder. We have not yet heard from the 
 
 * Slic was a store ship.
 
 64, 
 
 1 fort, but I dare say they have little or no damage 
 f done them, and perhaps not a man killed. I sup- 
 1 pose in a few days they will attempt to pass the 
 ' town, then you must expect to hear a very great 
 
 * firing indeed, but we shall be pretty secure in our 
 1 batteries. They have nine laying near us, but not 
 c more than seven men-of-war. Your's, &c. 
 
 4 WM. MOULT R IE.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 ' April 27th, 1780. 
 < WE are now closely blocked up, and only expect 
 
 * to be relieved by our friends. I have lost my 
 
 * brave and worthy aid, Philip Neyle,* killed by a 
 1 cannon ball on the 18th inst. which took away a 
 
 * part of his head, since which, my poor brother 
 
 * Tom was killed on his return into our lines ; they 
 
 < went out to sally into the enemy's entrenchments; 
 
 * they brought in twelve prisoners, and bayoneted 
 fifteen or twenty more ; my brother was the only 
 
 * man killed, and two wounded, in this sortie, of 300 
 
 * men. We two days ago had Colonel Parker killed, 
 
 < or else very little damage has yet happened ; not 
 above ten killed and forty wounded, notwithstanding 
 
 < the great number of cannon balls and shells that 
 4 are thrown into the town. 
 
 WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 The only child of a crippled and aged father.
 
 65 
 
 EVENING ORDERS BY GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 March 26th. 
 
 * As General Moultrie is to direct the disposition 
 ' of the artillery of the different batteries and works 
 in and about the town, all orders relative thereto, 
 * issued by him, are to be obeyed.' 
 
 A JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF 
 CHARLESTOWN. 
 
 Tuesday, March 28th, 1780. 
 
 THE enemy crossed Ashley-river, in force, above 
 the ferry. 
 
 Wednesday, 29th. 
 
 THE enemy advanced on the neck. The light- 
 infantry were this evening reinforced with two com- 
 panies, and the command given to Colonel Laurens. 
 Thursday, 30th. 
 
 THE enemy came on, as far as Gibbs', where they 
 continued skirmishing throughout the day, with our 
 light-infantry : the enemy were reinforced in the 
 evening, with two field-pieces, and ninety men, which 
 obliged our party to retire into garrison about dark. 
 Capt. Bowman of the North-Carolina brigade killed ; 
 Major Hyrne, and seven privates wounded. The 
 enemy were all this day transporting troops from 
 Old-town, on Wappoo-neck, to Gibbs'.
 
 66 
 
 Friday, 31st. 
 
 THE garrison employed in mounting cannon ; 
 throwing traverses, &c. 
 
 Saturday, April 1st. 
 
 NOTHING material : the troops employed as yes- 
 terday. 
 
 Sunday, 2d. 
 
 LAST night the enemy broke ground, and this 
 morning, appeared two redoubts ; one nearly oppo- 
 site the nine gun battery, on the right of the horn- 
 work ; and the other, a little to the left of the same, 
 at about twelve hundred yards distance from our 
 lines. 
 
 Monday, 3d. 
 
 THE enemy employed in completing their two re- 
 doubts, and erecting one on our left, at an equal 
 distance from the rest. 
 
 Tuesday, 4th. 
 
 SEVERAL deserters within these three or four days, 
 who say the enemy on Thursday last had upwards 
 of twenty men killed and wounded ; among the lat- 
 ter, a lieutenant colonel of the 60th regiment ; Lord 
 St. Clair badly ; and that they are bringing their 
 cannon on the neck : since the appearance of the 
 enemy's works, they have been cannonaded : two 
 ten inch and one seven inch mortars were removed 
 from the Bay, and employed in retarding them. The
 
 er 
 
 enemy all this day employed in finishing their re- 
 doubts, and throwing up a line of communication. 
 Wednesday, 5th. 
 
 LAST night the enemy continued their approaches 
 to Hamstead-hill, on which they erected a battery 
 for twelve cannon ; and a mortar battery a little in 
 the rear. The cannon and mortars employed as 
 usual, in annoying their works : the battery from 
 Wappoo, and the gallies, have thrown several shot 
 into town ; by which, one of the inhabitants in King- 
 street, was killed. 
 
 Thursday, 6th. 
 
 THE enemy approached from their centre redoubt 
 and erected a five gun battery on the angle, between 
 batteries No. 11 and 12. The Virginians,* under Bri- 
 gadier General Woodford, got in by the way of Addi- 
 son's-ferry ; and some North-Carolina militia under 
 Colonel Harrington. 
 
 Friday, 7th. 
 
 THIS afternoon twelve sail of the enemy's vessels, 
 passed Fort Moultrie, under a very heavy fire ; one 
 of them, supposed to be a store ship...having met 
 with some accident, ran aground in the cove, where 
 she was blown up by her own people : the remain- 
 der were ten square rigged vessels ; viz. one fifty and 
 
 * About seven-hundred.
 
 6S 
 
 tvro forty-four gun ships ; four frigates ; two ships, 
 supposed to be store ships ; a schooner and sloop 
 anchored under Fort Johnson. 
 
 Saturday, 8th. 
 
 THE enemy employed in finishing their batteries 
 on the right. 
 
 Sunday, 9th. 
 
 THE enemy last night continued their approaches 
 from their redoubt on the left, and threw up a bat- 
 tery for ten cannon, against the angle of our advanced 
 redoubt, and the redan No. 7. Some shot were 
 thrown at the shipping, by our batteries in town, but 
 without effect. 
 
 Monday, 10th. 
 
 SIR Henry Clinton, and Admiral Arbuthnot sum- 
 moned the town. 
 
 SUMMONS TO MAJ. GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 < April I Oth, 1780. 
 
 * SIR Henry Clinton, K. B. general and commander 
 in chief of his majesty's forces, laying on the Atlantic, 
 from Nova-Scotia, &c. Ecc. Sec. and Vice-Admiral 
 Arbuthnot, commander in chief of his majesty's 
 ships in North -America, 8cc. &c. Sec. regretting the 
 effusion of blood, and consonant to humanity towards 
 the town and garrison of Charlestown, of the havock 
 and desolation with which they are threatened from 
 the formidable force surrounding them by land and 
 sea. An alternative is offered at this hour to the
 
 69 
 
 inhabitants, of saving their lives and property con- 
 tained in the town, or of abiding by the fatal conse- 
 quences of a cannonade and storm. 
 
 ' SHOULD the place in a fallacious security, or its 
 commander in a wanton indifference to the fate of its 
 inhabitants, delay the surrender, or should public 
 stores or shipping be destroyed, the resentment of an 
 exasperated soldiery may iniervene ; but the same 
 inild and compassionate offer can never be renewed. 
 The respective commanders, who hereby summons 
 the town, do not apprehend so rash a part, as further 
 resistance will be taken, but rather that the gates 
 will be opened, and themselves received with a de- 
 gree of confidence which will forebode further recon. 
 ciliationo 
 
 4 HENRY CLINTON* 
 * M. ARBUTHNOI.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 ' HEAD-QUARTERS, CHARLESTOWN, 
 April 10th, 1780. 
 
 * GENTLEMEN, 
 
 < I HAVE received your summons of "this date ; 
 sixty days have passed since it has been known that 
 
 * your intentions against this town were hostile ; in 
 which, time has been offered to abandon it j but 
 
 VOL. II. K
 
 re 
 
 * duty and inclination point to the propriety of sup- 
 
 * porting it to the last extremity. 
 
 ' I have the honor to be, 
 
 1 Your Excellency's humble servant. 
 
 B. LINCOLN.' 
 
 Tuesday and Wednesday, llth and 12th. 
 THE enemy busied in completing their works and 
 mounting their cannon. 
 
 Thursday, 13th. 
 
 BETWEEN 9 and 10 o'clock this morning, the 
 enemy opened their cannon and mortar batteries. 
 The cannonade and bombardment continued, with 
 short intermissions, until midnight : the gallies and 
 battery at Wappoo also fired. An embrazure at re- 
 dan No. 7 destroyed ; a sergeant and private of the 
 North- Carolina brigade killed ; a twenty-six pounder 
 destroyed, and one eighteen pounder dismounted, in 
 the flanking battery, on the right : some women and 
 children killed in town. The enemy's cannon were 
 chiefly twenty-four pounders ; and their mortars from 
 five and an half, to ten inches : they threw several 
 carcasses from eight and ten inch mortars, by which 
 two houses were burnt. 
 
 Friday, 14th. 
 
 THE enemy began an approach on the right, and 
 kept up a fire of small arms. Cannonade and bom- 
 bard continued. One sergeant of the North-Caro- 
 linians killed by a cannon ball: one of the militia
 
 71 
 
 artillery killed, and one wounded : two matrosses of 
 the South-Carolina artillery killed. 
 Saturday, 15th. 
 
 THE enemy continued approaching on the right: 
 the mortars ordered to the right, and commence a 
 firing immediately, to annoy them. A continual 
 fire of small arms, cannon, and mortars. A battery 
 of two guns, opened by the enemy at Stiles' place, 
 on James-Island. Major Grimball's corps of militia, 
 relieved from the advance redoubt, by a detach- 
 ment of continental artillery, commanded by Major 
 Mitchell. 
 
 Sunday, 16th. 
 
 IT is said the enemy attempted to land at Hobcaw- 
 neck with two gun boats, but were prevented by 
 Col. Malmadie. Two 18 pounders, a quantity of 
 provisions, and other valuable articles got out of the 
 wreck of the vessel near Fort Moultrie. 
 Monday, 17th. 
 
 A MAN, inhabitant of the town, killed by a cannon 
 ball, and a woman wounded ; both from Wappoo 
 battery. 
 
 Tuesday, 18th. 
 
 THE enemy continued a warm firing from their 
 cannon, mortars, and small arms. Mr. Neyle, aid- 
 de-camp to Gen. Moultrie, killed by a cannon ball. 
 We advanced a breast-work to the left of the square 
 redoubt, for riflemen, to annoy the enemy on their
 
 72 
 
 approach. Five men killed by small arms; and 
 thrte wounded by a shell : a sentinel at the abbattis 
 had his arm shot off by one of our own cannon : 
 a twelve pounder* bursted in the horn-work, by which 
 two men were much hurt. The enemy ceased 
 throwing large shells. We hear that our cavalry 
 under General Huger, have been defeated t; and that 
 we lost between 20 or 30 killed and wounded ; among 
 the former was Major Vernier of Paulaski's legion. 
 General Scott with the light-infantry crossed Coo- 
 per-river, into town ; about 40 Virginians got in 
 last night. The enemy continued their approaches 
 to the right, within 250 yards of the front of the 
 square redoubt : they threw during the night a great 
 number of shells from sixteen royals and Cohorns, 
 chiefly in the North-Carolina camp : one man killed, 
 and two wounded. 
 
 Wednesday, 19th. 
 
 THE enemy began an approach from the left bat- 
 tery, towards our advanced redoubt ; and moved 
 
 * Thi? was onr of the guns belonging t< thr Artcon frigate, 
 that got on shore while engaged with bort Mouitnc, in 1776, 
 and was burnt. It is remarkable tliat eiglit or ten of those 
 guns which >vc weighed, andmrurtcd on our lines, were 
 ev ry one of them b:ii steel, alter two or three rounds: which 
 makes me suppose that tlicir being heated by the fire ot the sb p, 
 and suddenly p'unqiug into the water while n-d-hot, destroyed 
 their iTict?lli( p>rts, and left nly the dioss behind. 
 
 t This was a shameful surprise, at Monk's-corner, in the 
 open day.
 
 73 
 
 some mortars into the former : they also advanced 
 on Hobcaw-neck, and exchanged a few shot with 
 our advance party. Two or three persons killed in 
 town. 
 
 Thursday, 20th. 
 
 THE approaches continued on the left; their mor- 
 tars removed from their left battery, into their 
 approaches ; an eighteen pounder dismounted at 
 Captain Bottard's battery on the right; four of their 
 gallies after dark, moved from Wappoo-creek to the 
 shipping at Fort Johnson, under a very heavy fire from 
 our batteries. The enemy retreated from Hobcaw 
 across Wappataw-bridge, which it is said they have 
 burnt. Two magazines in the batteries commanded 
 by Capt. Sisk, blew up by shells, but no persons hurt. 
 Friday, 21st. 
 
 A flag sent to Sir Henry Clinton. 
 
 4 CHARLESTOWN, April 21st, 1760. 
 
 * SIR, 
 
 * I AM willing to enter into the consideration of 
 < terms of capitulation, if such can be obtained as 
 1 are honorable to the army, and safe for the inhabit- 
 
 * ants. I have to propose a cessation of hostilities 
 ' for six hours, for the purpose of digesting such 
 ' articles. ' I have the honor to be, 
 
 ' Your Excellency's, 8cc. 
 
 ' B. 
 c His Ex. SIR HENRY CLINTON.'
 
 FROM SIR HENRY CLINTON. 
 
 * CAMP BEFORE CHARLESTOWN, April 21st, 1780. 
 SIR, 
 
 'ADMIRAL Arbuthnot, who commands the fleet, 
 ' should have been addressed jointly with me on 
 ' this occasion. As I wish to communicate with him, 
 
 * and as I give my consent to a cessation of hostilities 
 ' for six hours, I desire an aid-de-camp* may pass 
 to the ships, with a letter, and my request, that the 
 
 * battery on James'-Island may desist firing. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, Sec. 
 
 ' H. CLINTON.' 
 
 * Maj. Gen. LINCOLN.' 
 
 ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION PROPOSED 
 BY MAJOR GENERAL LINCOLN. 
 
 'CHARLESTOWN, April 21st, 1780. 
 
 ARTICLE 1. That all acts of hostilities and works 
 shall cease between the naval and land forces of 
 Great-Britain and America, in this state, until the 
 articles of capitulation shall be agreed on, signed, or 
 collectively rejected. 
 
 ART. 2. That the town, forts and fortifications 
 belonging to them> shall be surrendered to the com- 
 mander in chief of the British forces, such as they 
 now stand. 
 
 * The aid was permitted to pass to the ships, from Gibbs', 
 round Ashley-river, to the vessels near Fort Johnson.
 
 75 
 
 ART. 3. That the several troops garrisoning this 
 town and forts, including the French and American 
 sailors, the French invalids, the North-Carolina and 
 South-Carolina militia, and such of the Charlestown 
 militia as may choose to leave this place, shall have 
 thirty-six hours to withdraw to Lamprier's, after the 
 capitulation be accepted and signed on both sides; 
 and that those troops shall retire with the usual 
 honors of war, and carry off at that time their arms, 
 field-artillery, ammunition and baggage, and such of 
 their stores as they may be able to transport. 
 
 ART. 4. That after the expiration of the thirty- 
 six hours mentioned in the preceding article, the 
 British troops before the town shall take possession 
 of it, and those now at Wappataw shall proceed to 
 Fort Moultrie. 
 
 ART. 5. That the American army thus collected 
 at Lamprier's, shall have ten days, from the expira- 
 tion of the thirty-six hours before mentioned, to 
 march wherever General Lincoln may think pro- 
 per, to the eastward of Cooper's-river, without any 
 movement being made by the British troops, or 
 part of them, out of the town or Fort Moultrie. 
 
 ART. 6. That the sick and wounded of the Amer- 
 ican and French hospitals, with their medicines, 
 stores, the surgeons and director-general, shall re- 
 main in the town, and be supplied with the neces-
 
 76 
 
 safies requisite, until provisions shall be made for 
 their removal, which will be as speedily as possible. 
 
 ART. 7. That no soldier shall be encouraged to 
 desert, or permitted to inlist on either side. 
 
 ART. 8. That the French consul, his house, pa. 
 pers and other moveable property, shall be protected 
 and remain untouched. 
 
 AKT. 9. The continental ships of war, Provi- 
 dence, Boston, and Ranger, now in this harbor, 
 with the French ship of war, the Adventure, shall 
 have liberty to proceed to sea, with the necessary 
 stores on board, and go unmolested, the three former 
 to Philadelphia and the latter to Cape Francois, with 
 the French invalids mentioned in article three. 
 
 ART. 10. That the citizens shall be protected in 
 their persons and property. 
 
 ART. 11. That twelve months be allowed to 
 those who do not choose to live under the British 
 government, to dispose of their effects, real and 
 personal, in the state, without any molestation what- 
 ever, and remove such parts thereof, as they 
 choose, with themselves and families; and during 
 that time, they, or any of them, may have in their 
 option to reside occasionally in town or country. 
 
 ART. 12. That the same protection to their 
 persons and property, and the same time for the 
 removal of their effects be given to the subjects of 
 France and Spain, residing amongst us, as are re-
 
 77 
 
 quired for the citizens residing amongst us in the 
 preceding article. 
 
 < B. LINCOLN.' 
 
 SIR HENRY CLINTON AND VICE-ADMIRAL ARBUTH- 
 
 NOT TO MAJOR GENERAL LINCOLN. 
 <CAMP BEFORE CHARLESTOWN, April 2 1st, 1780. 
 
 * SIR, 8 o'clock at night. 
 
 { WE have in answer to your third article (for we 
 
 * cannot proceed further) to refer you to our former 
 
 * offer, as terms, which, although you cannot claim, 
 ' yet we consent to grant. These however, must be 
 ' accepted immediately, and responsible hostages, of 
 
 * the rank of field-officers, must be sent us as secu- 
 1 rities, that the custom of war in these cases must 
 { be strictly adhered to, that no person of the garrison 
 
 * or inhabitant be permitted to go out, nothing be 
 ' removed or destroyed, and no ships or vessels pass 
 4 from the town. All dependant posts are to be in- 
 ' eluded in the surrender, and the hostages to be as an- 
 ' swerable for these as the town. Your answer is ex- 
 ' pected at ten o'clock, at which hour, hostilities will 
 ' commence again, unless our offers are closed with. 
 
 ' H. CLINTON. 
 ( Maj. Gen. LINCOLN.' < M. ARBUTHNOT.' 
 
 ON the summons of Sir Henry Clinton, and Ad- 
 miral Arbuthnot, General Lincoln called a council 
 of war, of field-officers, on the propriety of evacu- 
 
 VOL. u, i.
 
 ating the town. They were of opinion * that it 
 was unadviseable, because of the opposition made to 
 ' it by the civil authority and the inhabitants, and be- 
 ' cause, even if they could succeed in defeating a 
 ' large body of the enemy posted in their way, they 
 ' had not a sufficiency of boats to cross the Santee 
 { before they might be overtaken by the whole Bri- 
 4 tish army.' The council therefore recommend- 
 ed a capitulation. 
 
 Saturday, 22 d. 
 
 APPROACHES continued on our left in front of the 
 advance redoubt. The enemy kept up a heavy can- 
 nonade. Three men wounded. 
 Sunday, 23d. 
 
 APPROACHES continued on our right and left ; 
 those on the right within twenty yards of the wet 
 ditch. About eight at night two deserters from the 
 enemy; they'report them to have received a consider- 
 able reinforcement* from New- York, and that they 
 detached to day, ten companies of light-infantry 
 to get footing at HaddreU's-point, they say the enemy 
 have lost a number of men by our shells. 
 Monday, 24th. 
 
 A party composed of three hundred men, Vir- 
 ginians and South-Carolinians, under the command 
 of Lieutenant Colonel Henderson, made a sortie 
 upon the enemy's approaches, opposite the advance 
 
 * Lord Comvvallis with 2500 men.
 
 79 
 
 redoubts at day light, they were completely surprised 
 and lost about fifteen or twenty men killed with the 
 bayonet, besides twelve persons brought off, seven of 
 whom were wounded. Captain Moultrie killed and 
 two men wounded on our side. The enemy at- 
 tempted to support their guards from the trenches ; 
 but on receiving rounds of grape, made them retreat. 
 The prisoners report their party to have been com- 
 manded by Major Hall of the 71st regiment, but no 
 officers were to be found. Colonel Parker killed 
 about eight o'clock, looking over the parapet; two 
 privates killed and seven wounded. The greatest 
 part of the 1st South-Carolina regiment came into 
 garrison this morning, with Colonel C. Pinckney from. 
 Fort Moultrie. 
 
 Tuesday, 25th. 
 
 BETWEEN twelve and one this morning, a heavy 
 fire of cannon and musketry, commenced from our 
 advanced redoubt, and the right of the lines occa- 
 sioned as it was said, by the enemy's advancing in 
 column. It is certain they gave several huzzas, but 
 whether they were out of their trenches, it is not 
 clear ; they kept up a very heavy and incessant fire 
 with musketry, for thirty minutes. The enemy 
 threw several light balls into town. Two o'clock 
 P. M. Lord Cornwallis at Mount-Pleasant. 
 Wednesday, 26th. 
 
 THE Lord George Germaine, and a sloop, joined
 
 80 
 
 the enemy's fleet. The enemy were very quiet all 
 day, and last night ; we suppose they are bringing 
 cannon into thtir third parallel : they are strengthen- 
 ing their approaches : Lord Cornwallis took posses- 
 sion of Mount-Pleasant yesterday. Brigadier Gene- 
 ral Du Portail* arrived from Philadelphia. The 
 garrison ordered to be served with the usual quantity 
 of provision ; a plentiful supply having been receiv- 
 ed. One killed ; Captain Goodwin of the third 
 South-Carolina battalion, and one private wounded. 
 ON General Du Portail delaring that the works 
 \vere not tenable, a council was again called upon 
 for an evacuation, and to withdraw privately with 
 the continental troops : when the citizens were in- 
 formed upon what the council were deliberating, 
 some of them came into council, and expressed them- 
 selves very warmly, and declared to General Lin- 
 coln, that if he attempted to withdraw the troops, 
 and leave the citizens ; that they would cut up his 
 boats, and open the gates to the enemy : this put a 
 stop to all thoughts of an evacuation of the troops, 
 and nothing was left for us, but to make the best 
 terms we cpuld. 
 
 * As soon as General Du Portail came into garrison, and; 
 looked at the enemy, and at our works, he declared they were 
 not tenable ; and that the British might have taken the town, 
 ten days ngo : he wished to leave the garrisen immediately! but 
 General Lincoln would not allow him, because it WQuld dis- 
 pirit the troops.
 
 81 
 
 Thursday, 27th. 
 
 ABOUT 1 o'clock in the afternoon, four of the ene- 
 my's gallies, an armed sloop, and a frigate, moved 
 down the river, and anchored opposite the mouth of 
 Hog's-Island creek. Five militia men, late of James'- 
 Island, deserted last night from South-bay in a boat. 
 Our post at Lamprier's-ferry, retreated across the 
 river, in the night, to Charlestown, after spiking up 
 four eighteen pounders, they were obliged to leavu. 
 One private killed, and five wounded. 
 Friday, 28th. 
 
 COLONEL Charles Pinckney is requested to assist 
 General Moultrie in directing and disposing the 
 artillery of the different batteries and works in and 
 about town. Two deserters from the enemy at Hob- 
 caw, brought over by our troops that retreated last 
 night. Some supernumerary officers quitted the 
 garrison. The enemy busy in throwing up their 
 third parallel, within a few yards of the canal. Our 
 fatigue employed in inclosing the horn-work : two 
 privates killed ; Lieutenant Campaign of the North? 
 Carolinians, and two privates wounded. 
 Saturday, 29th. 
 
 WE are throwing up a redoubt on the right of tho 
 horn-work. The enemy's batteries remarkably si- 
 lent ; they seem to intend erecting two batteries in 
 their third parallel ; one at the gate opposite the 
 horn-work) and the other in front of Col. Parker's
 
 regiment. A heavy bombardment by the enemy dur- 
 ing the night : a deserter from them ; who says that 
 they are preparing a bridge to throw over the canal. 
 Captain Templeton of the fourth Georgia battalion, 
 wounded by a shell, of which he died. 
 Sunday, 30th. 
 
 THE deserter yesterday further tells us that the 
 huzzas which occasioned the firing last Tuesday 
 morning, were from the enemy's working parties, 
 who thought we were sallying : their engineer, he 
 *ays, had ordered them, in that event, to give three 
 huzzas, and fall back upon the covering party's, who 
 not having been apprised of it, received them as an 
 enemy ; in consequence of which, a considerable 
 number of them were killed arid wounded : he af- 
 firms the account of the enemy's receiving a rein- 
 forcement from New-York, and says their detach- 
 ment on Hobcaw, amounts to upwards of 2,000 ; that 
 they look for their shipping up every night ; and 
 are preparing a large number of fascines to fill up 
 the canal. Lieutenant Hall of the North-Carolinians 
 wounded ; his leg broke by a grape-shot, from our 
 own batteries. Lieutenant Philips of the Virgini- 
 ans wounded in his thigh by a shell. 
 Monday, May 1st. 
 
 OUR fatigue employed in erecting another redoubt 
 on the left of the horn-work, and completing the 
 new works. The enemy appear to be about another
 
 13 
 
 battery in their third parallel, opposite No. 12, on 
 our right. The garrison congratulated in the gene- 
 ral orders of yesterday, on the certainty of large 
 reinforcements being at hand. Five men deserted 
 from the galley last night, Captain Montford of the 
 North-Carolinians wounded, and Mr. Lord,* a volua- 
 
 * Mr. Lord and Mr. Basquin, two volunteers, were sleeping 
 upon a matrass together, when Mr. Lord was killed by a shell 
 falling upon him, and Mr. Basquin at the same time, had the 
 hair of his head burnt, and did not wake till he was called upon. 
 The fatigue in that advance redoubt, was so great, for want 
 ofsletp, that many faces were so swelled they could scarcely 
 see out of their eyes. 1 was obliged to relieve Major Mitchell 
 the commanding officer : they were constantly upon the look 
 out for the shells that were continually falling among them, it 
 was by far, the most dangerous post on the lines. On my 
 visit to this battery, not having been there for a day or two, I 
 took the usual way of going in, which was a bridge that crossed 
 our ditch, quite exposed to the enemy, in the mean time, they 
 had advanced their works within seventy or eighty yards of the 
 bridge, which I did not know of; as soon as I had stepped upon 
 the bridge, an uncommon number of bullets whistled about me, 
 on looking to my right, I could just see the heads of about 
 twelve or fifteen men firing upon me, from behind a breast- 
 work, I moved on and got in ; when Major Mitchell saw me, 
 he asked me which way I came in, I told him over the bridge, 
 he wis astonished, and said, " sir it is a thousand to one that 
 you were not killed," ard told me, " that we had a covered 
 way to go out and in," which he conducted me through on my 
 return. 1 stayed in this battery about a quarter of an hour, to 
 give the necessary orders, iu which time we were constantly 
 skipping about to get out of the way of the shells thrown from 
 their howitzers, they were not more than one hundred yards 
 from our works, and throwing their shells in bushels on our 
 front and left flanks.
 
 84 
 
 teer in the continental artillery, killed yesterday by a 
 shell, in the advanced redoubt. A smart bombard- 
 ment during the day. 
 
 Tuesday, 2cT. 
 
 LAST night the enemy were making a ditch on the 
 right, to drain our canal. A number of men killed 
 and wounded within these last three or four days ; 
 their number not ascertained. A nine pounder 
 bursted at battery No. 12, and a quantity of fixed 
 ammunition blown up by accident at batteries No. 10 
 and 12. The enemy throw shells at us charged with 
 rice and sugar.* 
 
 Wednesday, 3d. 
 OUR fatigue employed in fixing picquets, See. 
 
 Thursday, 4th. 
 
 OUR rations of meat reduced to six ounces, coffee 
 and sugar allowed to the soldiers. The fire from 
 the enemy's cannon still slack, but they do not 
 spare their shells. 
 
 Friday, 5th. 
 
 CAPTAIN William Mitchell of the continental ar- 
 tillery, badly wounded by a shell. 
 Saturday, 6th. 
 FROM all appearance, Fort Moultrief is in the 
 
 * They were misinformed if they fupposcd us in wa:;t of 
 those articles. 
 
 t Fort Moultrie \vas given tip without firing a gun.
 
 85 
 
 hands of the enemy ; a British flag was seen flying 
 on the flag-staff. 
 
 Sunday, 7th. 
 
 THE above confirmed. Our principal magazine* 
 near being destroyed, by a thirteen inch shell burst. 
 ing within ten yards of it. 
 
 Monday, 8th. 
 
 A SECOND summons from Sir Henry Clinton in- 
 informing us of the fall of Fort Moultrie, and that the 
 remains of our cavalry were cut to pieces the day 
 before yesterday. The embrazures of the enemies 
 batteries in the third parallel! opened last night. 
 Our meat quite out, rice sugar and coffee served out. 
 
 * The old magazine behind St. Philip's Church : in 
 consequence of that shell falling so near, I had the powder 
 (10,000 pounds) removed to the north east corner, under the 
 exchange, and had the doors and windows bricked up. Not- 
 withstanding the British had possession of Charlestown so 
 long, they never discovered the powder, although their provost 
 was the next apartment to it, and after the evacuation, when 
 we came into town, we found the powder as we left it. 
 
 t When the enemy's third parallel was completed, we had 
 sand-bags placed upon the top of our lines, for the riflemen io 
 fire through. The sand-bags were about two feet long ard one 
 foot thick, we laid down first two of them, three or four inches 
 one from the other, and a third laid upon the top of the two, 
 which made a small loop hole for the riflemen to fire through, 
 the British immediately followed our example: many men 
 were killed and wounded through these hole?. 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 86 
 
 FROM SIR HENRY CLINTOW. 
 <CAMP BEFORE CHARLESTOWN, May 8th, 1780. 
 SIR, 
 
 4 CIRCUMSTANCED as I now am with respect to the 
 4 place invested, humanity only can induce me to lay 
 6 within your reach the terms I had determined should 
 
 * not again be proffered. The fall of Fort Sullivan? 
 4 the destruction on the sixth instant, of what re- 
 
 * mained of your cavalry, the critical period to which 
 4 our approaches against the town has brought us, 
 
 * mark this as the term of your hopes of succor, 
 4 could you have framed any, and as an hour beyond 
 4 which, resistance is temerity. By this last sum- 
 
 * mons therefore, I throw to your charge whatever 
 
 * vindictive severity exasperated soldiers may inflict 
 ' on the unhappy people, whom you devote by per- 
 
 * severing in a fruitless defence. 
 
 1 I SHALL expect your answer until eight o'clock, 
 1 when hostilities will commence again, unless the 
 
 * town be surrendered, Sec. &c. 
 
 4 H. CLINTON.' 
 4 Maj. Gen. LINCOLN. 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 4 CHARLEITOWN, May 8th, 1780. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 4 YOUR letter to me of this date, is now un- 
 ' der consideration. There are so many different
 
 sr 
 
 * interests to be consulted, that I have to propose 
 that hostilities do not again commence until twelve 
 
 * o'clock. 
 
 * B. LINCOLN. 
 * His Ex. Sir HENY CLINTON.' 
 
 FROM SIR HKNRY CLINTON. 
 
 t SIR, May 8th, 1780. 
 
 I CONSENT that hostilities shall not again com- 
 
 * mence before the hour of twelve, as you desire. 
 
 1 1 have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 < H. CLINTON. 
 
 * Maj. Gen. LINCOLN.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 * SIR, May 8th, 1780. 
 
 * As more time has been expended in consult- 
 < ing the different interests, then I supposed there 
 1 would be, I have to request that the truce may 
 
 * be continued until 4 o'clock. 
 
 * B. LINCOLN. 
 
 * His Ex. Sir HENRY CLIWTON.' 
 
 ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION PROPOSED 
 BY MAJOR GENERAL LINCOLN. 
 
 CHARLF.STOWN, May 8th, 1780. 
 
 ART. 1. That all acts of hostilities and works 
 
 shall cease between the besiegers and the besieged,
 
 88 
 
 until the articles of capitulation shall be agreed on, 
 signed, and executed ; or collectively rejected. 
 
 ART. 2. The town and fortifications shall be sur- 
 rendered to the commander in chief of the British 
 forces, such as they now stand. 
 
 ART. 3. That the continental troops and sailors, 
 with their baggage, shall be conducted to a place 
 to be agreed on ; where they shall remain prisoners 
 of war, until exchanged : while prisoners, they shall 
 be supplied with good and wholesome provisions, in 
 such quantity as are served out to the troops of his 
 Britannic Majesty. 
 
 ART. 4. The militia now in garrison shall be 
 permitted to return to their respective homes, and 
 be secured in their persons and properties. 
 
 ART. 5. The sick and wounded shall be con- 
 tinued under the care of their own surgeons, and 
 be supplied with medicines, and such other necessa- 
 ries as are allowed to British hospitals. 
 
 ART. 6. The officers of the army and navy shall 
 keep their horses, swords, pistols, and baggage ; 
 which shall not be searched ; and retain their servants. 
 
 ART. 7, The garrison, at an hour appointed, to 
 march out with shouldered arms, drums beating, and 
 colors flying, to a place to be agreed on, where they 
 will pile their arms. 
 
 ABT. 8. That the French consul, his house, pa- 
 pers, and other moveable property, shall be protect-
 
 89 
 
 ed and untouched ; and a proper time granted to 
 him for retiring to any place that may afterwards be 
 agreed upon between him and the commander in 
 chief of his British forces. 
 
 ART. 9. That the citizens shall be protected in 
 their lives and properties. 
 
 ART. 10. That twelve months time be allowed 
 all such as do not choose to continue under the Bri- 
 tish government, to dispose of their effects, real, and 
 personal, in the state, without any molestation whate- 
 ver ; or to remove such part thereof as they choose, 
 as well as themselves and families : and that, dur- 
 ing that time, they, or any of them, may have it in 
 their option to reside occasionally in town or country. 
 
 ART. 1 1. That the same protection to their per- 
 sons and properties, and the same time for the re- 
 moval of their effects ; be given to the subjects of 
 France and Spain, as are required for the citizens 
 in the preceding article, 
 
 ART. 12. That a vessel be permitted to go to 
 Philadelphia with the general's dispatches, which are 
 not to be opened. 
 
 (Signed) B. LINCOLN. 
 
 FROM SIR HENRY CLINTON. 
 
 ' SIR, May 8th, 1780. 
 
 ; As I wish to communicate with the Admiral 
 
 1 upon the subject of your last letter, I have to de>
 
 *sire that an aid-de-camp* may be permitted to 
 pass to the fleet for that purpose. 
 * I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 H. CLINTON. 
 * Major General LINCOLN.' 
 
 FROM SIR HENRT CLINTON. 
 
 < May 8th, six o'clock, P. M. 
 
 * SIR, 
 
 ' IN order to give the articles of capitulation 
 ' which you proposed, a due consideration ; I propose 
 ( that the cessation of hostilities shall continue until to- 
 4 morrow morning at eight o'clock ; arid that in the 
 ' mean time, every thing shall continue in its present 
 
 * situation : if you accede to this, you will please to 
 4 give me immediate information of it. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 * H. CLINTON. 
 * Major General LINCOLN.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 1 May 8th, 1780. 
 
 ,SlR, 
 
 'I ACCEDE to your proposal, that hostilities 
 * shall cease until to-morrow morning at eight o'clock, 
 
 * To pass from Gibb's, down Ashley-river, to the fleet 
 lying at fore Johnsen....it was granted.
 
 91 
 
 * and that in the mean time all works shall continue 
 
 * in their present statet 
 
 (Signed) B. LINCOLN. 
 
 ( Hu Ex. Sir HENRY CLINTON. 
 
 FROM SIR HENRY CLINTON. 
 
 < SIR, May 8th, 1780. 
 
 * YOUR answer to my letter proposing a contin- 
 uation of the truce until to-morrow morning at 
 
 * eight o'clock, only accedes to the cessation of hos- 
 
 < tilities, and that in the mean time all works shall 
 
 * continue in their present state ; but my proposition 
 
 * was, that, until that time, every thing should con- 
 { tinue in its present situation ; and my meaning 
 
 * was, that there should not be an attempt made to 
 
 * remove any of the troops, or destroy any of the 
 
 * ships, stores, or other effects whatever, now in 
 
 * the town or harbor: If your idea is the same, I 
 
 * must request you will express yourself more ex- 
 
 * plicitly. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 *H. CLINTON. 
 1 Major General LINCOLN.' 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 4 SIR, May, 8th, 1780. 
 
 ' IN agreeing that the truce should be continued 
 ' until eight o'clock to-morrow morning, and all
 
 92 
 
 * works remain as they were, I meant to accede to 
 ' your proposal, that every thing should continue in 
 
 * its present situation, which I again assent to. 
 
 ' B. LINCOLN.' 
 { His. Ex. Sir HENRY CLINTON.' 
 
 WHILE these flags were passing, the militia looked 
 upon all the business as settled, and without orders, 
 took up their baggage and walked into town, leaving 
 the lines quite defenceless. 
 
 ALTERATIONS OF ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION 
 PROPOSED BY MAJOR GENERAL LINCOLN, AND 
 ANSWERED BY THEIR EXCELLENCIES, SIR HENRY 
 CLINTON, K. B. AND VICE ADMIRAL ARBUTHNOT. 
 
 ARTICLE 1. All acts of hostilities and work shall 
 cease until the articles of capitulation are finally 
 agreed to or rejected. 
 
 ART. 2. The town and fortifications, with the ship- 
 ping at the wharves, artillery, and all public stores 
 whatever, shall be surrendered in their present state 
 to the commanders of the investing forces. Proper 
 officers shall attend from the respective departments 
 to receive them. 
 
 ART. 3. Granted. 
 
 ART. 4. The militia now in garrison shall be 
 permitted to return to their respective homes, as
 
 93 
 
 prisoners upon parole, which, so long as they ob- 
 serve it, shall secure them from being molested in 
 their property by the British troops. 
 
 ART. 5. Granted. 
 
 ART. 6. Granted, except with respect to their 
 horses, which will not be allowed to go out of town, 
 but may be disposed of by a person left from each 
 corps for that purpose. 
 
 ART. 7. The whole garrison shall, at an hour to 
 be appointed, march out of town, to the ground be- 
 tween the works of the place and the canal, where 
 they will deposit their arms. The drums are not to 
 beat a British march, or colors be uncased. 
 
 ART. 8. Agreed, with this, restriction, that they are 
 to consider themselves as prisoners of war on parole. 
 
 ART. 10. The discussion of this article, of coursei 
 cannot possible be entered into at present. 
 
 ART. 11. The subjects of France and Spain shall 
 have the same terms as are granted to the French 
 consul. 
 
 ART. 12. Granted: and a proper vessel, with a 
 flag, will be provided for that purpose. 
 
 Att public papers and records must be carefully 
 preserved, and faithfully delivered to such as shall 
 be appointed to receive them. 
 
 (Signed) H. CLINTON". 
 
 M. ARBUTHNOTt 
 
 Camp before Charlestown, May 9th, 1780, 
 
 VOL. II. N
 
 94 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 ' May 9th, 1780. 
 < Sm, 
 
 4 IN reply to your answer on the articles of capi- 
 tulation, I must remark that in their present state 
 i they are inadmissable ; and have to propose those 
 ' now sent, may be acceded to. 
 
 * IF any further explanation should be necessary, 
 ' I have to propose also, that two or three gentle- 
 4 men be appointed to meet and confer on the sub- 
 < jcct. I have the honor to be, Sec. 
 
 < B. LINCOLN. 
 
 * His Ex. Sir HENRY CMNTON. 
 
 ALTERATIONS OF ARTICLES OF CAPITU- 
 LATION, PROPOSED BY MAJOR GENERAL 
 LINCOLN. 
 
 ART. 2. The town and fortifications ; with the 
 shipping at the wharves (excepting those which are 
 private property) and all public stores shall be sur- 
 rendered in their present state, to the commander 
 in chief of the British forces 
 
 ART. 4. The militia now in garrison, shall be 
 permitted to return to their respective homes, with 
 their baggage unmolested ; and not to be considered 
 as prisoners of war. 
 
 ART. 6. Such of the officers as may be unwilling 
 to dispose of their horses, may keep them.
 
 95 
 
 ART. 7. This article to stand as at first propos- 
 ed : the drums beating a British march. 
 
 ART. 8. The French consul, never having borne 
 arms, and acting in a civil capacity, is not to be 
 considered as a prisoner of war. 
 
 ART. 9. The citizens, and all other persons, now 
 in town, who are inhabitants of this state, shall be 
 secured in their persons and properties, both in 
 town and country ; and not to be considered priso- 
 ners of war. 
 
 ART. 10. This article to stand as at first propos- 
 ed : the persons who may claim the privileges 
 therein expressed, giving their paroles that they 
 will not act against the British government, until 
 they are exchanged. 
 
 ART. 11. This article to stand as at first proposed, 
 with the same restrictions as are mentioned in Art. 
 10. In order to prevent disputes, it is to be under- 
 stood that all officers of the continental army, who 
 are citizens of this state, be entitled to all the bene- 
 fits of citizens, with regard to the security of their 
 property. All public records now in town, will be 
 delivered to such persons as may be appointed to re- 
 ceive them. (Signed) B. LINCOLN. 
 
 Done at Charlestown, May 9th, 1780.
 
 96 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLK. 
 
 < May 9th, 1780. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 No other motives but those of forbearance and 
 
 * compassion induced us to renew offers of terms you 
 
 * certainly had no claim to. The alterations you 
 4 propose, are all utterly inadmissable ; hostilities will 
 
 in consequence commence afresh, at eight o'clock. 
 
 H. CLINTON.' 
 < M. ARBUTHNOT.' 
 * Maj. Gen. LINCOLK. 
 
 AFTER receiving the above letter, we remained 
 near an hour silent, all calm and ready, each waiting 
 for the other to begin. At length, we fired the first 
 gun, and immediately followed a tremendous cannon- 
 ade,* and the mortars from both sides threw out an 
 immense number of shells; it was a glorious sight, 
 to see them like meteors crossing each other, and 
 bursting in the air; it appeared as if the stars were 
 tumbling down. The fire was incessant almost the 
 whole night; cannon-balls whizzing and shells hissing 
 continually amongst us ; ammunition chests and 
 temporary magazines blowing up; great guns burst- 
 ing, and wounded men groaning along the lines : it 
 was a dread/ul night! it was our last great effort, but 
 
 * About 1 80 or 200 pieces of heavy cannon fired off at the 
 same moment.
 
 97 
 
 it availed us nothing; after this, our military ardor 
 was much abated ; we began to cool, and we cooled 
 gradually, and on the eleventh of May we capitu- 
 lated, and in the morning of the twelfth, we marched 
 out and gave up the town. 
 
 To SIR HENRY CLINTON. 
 
 < CHARIESTOWN, May, llth, 1780. 
 < SIR, 
 
 1 THE same motives of humanity, which inclined 
 
 * you to propose articles of capitulation to this garrison 
 
 * induced me to offer those I had the honor of send- 
 4 ing you on the 8th inst. They then appeared to 
 
 * me, such as I might proffer, and you receive, with 
 
 * honor to both parties. Your exceptions to them, 
 
 * as they principally concerned the militia and citi- 
 zens, I then conceived were such as could not be 
 
 * concurred with ; but a recent application from 
 4 those people, wherein they express an unwillingness 
 ( to comply with them, and a wish on my part to 
 1 lessen as much as may be, the distresses of war to 
 ' individuals, lead me now to offer you my acceptance 
 4 of them. 
 
 * J have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 4 B. LINCOLN.' .
 
 95 
 
 To GEN. LINCOLN. 
 CAMP BEFORE CHARLESTOWN, May llth, 1780. 
 
 < SIR, 
 
 WHEN you rejected the favorable terms which 
 
 < were dictated by an earnest desire to prevent effu- 
 
 * sion of blood, and interposed articles that were 
 4 wholly inadmissable ; both the admiral and myself, 
 4 were of opinion that the surrender of the town at 
 
 * discretion, was the only condition that should after- 
 
 * wards be attended to; but as the motives which then 
 
 * induced them, are still prevalent, I now inform 
 
 * you that the terms then offered, will still be grant- 
 
 * ed. A copy of the articles shall be sent for your 
 
 < ratification, as soon as they can be prepared, and 
 
 * immediately after they are exchanged, a detachment 
 
 * of grenadiers will be sent to take possession of the 
 'horn-work, opposite your, main gate. Every ar- 
 4 rangement which may conduce to good order in 
 ' occupying the town, shall be settled before ten 
 
 * to-morrow, and at that time your garrison shall 
 
 * march out. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 H. CLIHTON.'
 
 ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION BETWEEN HIS EXCEL- 
 LENCY SIR HENRY CLINTON, &C. AND MARIO f 
 ARBUTHNOT, ESQ; VICE ADMIRAL} AND MAJOR 
 GENERAL LINCOLN. 
 
 ART. 1. That all acts of ART. 1. All acts of hos- 
 hostilities and work shall tilities and works shall 
 cease between the besie- ce ase, until the articles of 
 gers and the besieged, capitulation are finally a- 
 until the articles of capi- greed to, or rejected, 
 tulation shall be agreed on, 
 signed and executed, or 
 collectively rejected. 
 
 ART. 2. The town and ART. 2. The town and 
 fortifications shall be sur- fortifications with the ship- 
 rendered to the command- ping at the wharves, artil- 
 er in chief of the British lery and all public stores 
 forces as they now stand, whatsoever, shall be sur- 
 rendered in their present 
 state, to the commander 
 of the investing forces. 
 Proper officers shall attend 
 from the respective depart- 
 ments to receive them* 
 ART. 3. The continen- ART. 3. Granted, 
 tal troops and sailors with 
 their baggage, shall be 
 conducted to a place to be 
 agreed on, where they
 
 100 
 
 shall remain prisoners of 
 war until exchanged; while 
 prisoners, they shall be 
 supplied with good and 
 wholesome provisions in 
 such quantity as is served 
 out to the troops of his 
 Britannic majesty. 
 
 ART. 4. The militia now ART. 4. The militia now 
 in garrison shall be per- in garrison shall be per- 
 mitted to return to their mitted to return to their 
 respective homes, and be respective homes as pri- 
 secured in their persons soners of war on parole, 
 and property. which parole, as long as 
 
 they observe, shall secure 
 them from being molested 
 in their property by the 
 British troops. 
 
 ART. 5. The sick and ART. 5. Granted, 
 wounded shall be continu- 
 ed under the care of their 
 own surgeons, and be sup- 
 plied with medicines and 
 such necessaries as are 
 allowed to the British hos- 
 pitals. 
 
 ART. 6. The officers of ART. 6. Granted, except 
 the army and navy shall with respect to the horses,
 
 lot 
 
 keep their horses, swords, which will not be allowed 
 pistols and baggage, which to go out of town, but 
 shall not be searched, and may be disposed of by a 
 retain their servants. person left for that purpose 
 
 from each corps. 
 
 ART. 7. The garrison ART. 7. The whole gar- 
 shall at an hour appointed, rison shall at an hour to be 
 march out with shouldered appointed, march out of 
 arms, drums beating and the town, to the ground 
 colours Hying, to a place between the works of the 
 agreed on, where they place and the canal, where 
 will pile the arms. they will deposit their 
 
 arms. The drums not to 
 beat* a British march, or 
 the colors to be uncased. 
 
 ART. 8. That the French ART. 8. Agreed, with 
 consul, his house, papers this restriction, that he 
 and other moveable pro- consider himself as a pris- 
 perty, shall be protected oner on parole, 
 and untouched, and a pro- 
 per time granted to him 
 for retiring to any place 
 that may afterwards be 
 agreed upon between him 
 and the commander in 
 chief of the British forces. 
 
 We marched out with the Turk's march. 
 o
 
 102 
 
 ART. 9. That the citi- ART.*. All civil officers 
 zens be protected in their and citizens who have 
 dersons and property. borne arms- during the 
 siege, must be prisoners 
 on parole, and with respect 
 to their property in the 
 city, shall have the same 
 terms as are granted to 
 the militia; and all other 
 .persons now in town, not 
 described in this or other 
 articles, are notwithstand- 
 ing, understood to be pris- 
 oners on parole. 
 
 ART* H>. That twelve ART. 10. The discuss- 
 months time, be allowed ion of this article of course 
 all such as do not choose cannot possibly be enter- 
 to continue under the ed into at present. 
 British government to dis- 
 pose of their effects, real, 
 and personal, in the state, 
 without any molestation 
 whatever; or to remove 
 such part thereof as they 
 choose, as well as them- 
 selves and family ; and 
 during that time, they, 
 or any of them, may hav
 
 at their option to reside . 
 
 occasionally in town or 
 country. 
 
 ART. 11. That the ART. 11. The subjects 
 same protection to their of France and Spain shall 
 persons and property, and have the same terms as 
 the same time for the re- are granted to the French 
 moval of their effects, be consul, 
 given to the subjects of 
 France and Spain, as are 
 required for the citizens 
 .in the preceding article. 
 
 ART. 12. That a ves- ART. 12. Granted; and 
 sel be permitted to go to a proper vessel, with a 
 Philadelphia, with the gen- flag, will be provided for 
 eral's dispatches ; which that purpose, 
 are not to be opened. 
 
 ALL public papers and records must be carefully 
 preserved, and faithfully delivered to such persons 
 as shall be appointed to receive them. 
 
 Done in the Camp before Charlestown, 
 May 12th, 1780. 
 
 H. CLINTON. 
 
 M. AKBUTHNOTe
 
 104 
 
 A LETTER FROM SIR HKNRY CLINTON AND AD- 
 MIRAL ARBUTHNOT, TO GENERAL LINCOLN. 
 * HEAD-QUARTERS BEFORE CHARLESTOWN, 
 <SlR, May 12th, 1780. 
 
 < We have to request you will propose some 
 
 * proper contiguous building in the town, for the 
 ' residence of the private prisoners of Avar, not to be 
 
 * on parole ; those will be, of course, such as may, 
 
 * in discretion be asked. 
 
 * THB officers of the army and navy will go to the 
 ' barracks at HaddrelPs-point, and boats will be at 
 
 * the wharves to convey them at 3 o'clock. 
 
 * THE militia must depart as speedily as possible ; 
 
 * and by a report of the numbers departing home- 
 
 * wards, on parole, by the several roads of the coun- 
 ' try, boats shall convey their baggage to Stono- 
 
 * ferry ; to Dorchester ; to Strawberry-ferry ; to 
 ' Cain-hoy : themselves shall be escorted beyond 
 ' our neighboring posts. 
 
 * WE beg from you, a general return of all per- 
 1 sons bearing arms ; and also all persons yet in 
 
 * town, in civil capacities. 
 
 * As soon as the detachment of grenadiers take 
 
 * possession of the horn-work, our deputies of depart- 
 ' ments shall meet your's, who will deliver up to them, 
 
 * all public effects ; and when your troops shall have 
 quitted the town ; the garrison destined to it, shall 
 
 * march in, Your officers shall be allowed to go to
 
 ' the extent of six miles from the barracks, but to 
 ** pass no river, creek, or arm of the sea. 
 
 * We have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 / 
 ' H. CLINTON. 
 
 * M. ARBUTHNOT.' 
 
 EARLY in the siege, General Lincoln requested, 
 and urged the necessity of the governor and council 
 leaving the town ; that their being in the country 
 would keep up the civil authority, and be more use- 
 ful than they could possibly be, by staying in town : 
 the governor made many objections, and said the 
 citizens would say he left them in a time of danger ; 
 at last they fell upon an expedient that satisfied all 
 parties, which was, that the governor, and three of 
 his council, should leave the town ; and that lieuten- 
 ant governor Gadsden, and the five others of the 
 council, should remain within the lines: this being 
 agreed to, on the twelfth day of April, Governor 
 Rutledge, the honorables .Charles Pinckney, John 
 Lewis, Gervais and Daniel Huger left the town, 
 and went into the north part of the country. It was 
 very fortunate for the province, that the governor 
 vras not made a prisoner in town : his presence in 
 the country, kept every thing alive, and gave great 
 spirits to the people, to have a man of such great 
 abilities, firmness, and decision amongst them : he 
 gave commissions ; raised new corps ; embodied the
 
 106 
 
 militia, and went to Philadelphia, to solicit reinforce- 
 ments : he returned, and joined the army ; he stay- ' 
 ed by them ; enforced the laws of the province ; 
 called the legislature ; in short, he did every thing 
 that could be done for the good of the country. 
 
 A RETURN OF THE NUMBER OF CANNON, &C. IN 
 CHAKLESTOWN, AT THE SURRENDER, ON THE 
 TWELFTH OF MAY, 1780, IN THE BATTERIES. 
 
 BATTERIES ON THE LINES. 
 
 GUNS. 
 
 No. 1. Beginning on the left 10 
 
 2 6 
 
 3. 6 
 
 4 2 
 
 5. . . 6 
 
 6 8 
 
 7. . . - 4 
 
 8. 4 
 
 9 2 
 
 10 2 
 
 11. 2 
 
 12. 
 13. 
 
 14 
 
 15. Advance redoubt 6 
 
 16. Carabray's battery 2 
 
 79
 
 io7 
 
 BATTERIES ON THE WATER-SIDE. 
 
 GUKS. 
 
 No. 1 Liberty battery, where liberty-tree stood 6 
 
 2. Lauren's wharf ....... 10 
 
 3. Cravan's Governor-bridge . . ; 7 
 
 4. Exchange , . . 14 
 
 5. Grenville's* ........ 8 
 
 6. Lyttleton's . . . . 12 
 
 7. Broughton's ........ 20 
 
 8. Gibbs's-wharf ....... 7 
 
 9. Britigney, behind Gibb's house . . 4 
 10. Sugar-house . . 7 
 
 95 
 Fort Moultrie 30 
 
 125 
 Four and six peunders .... 17 
 
 142 
 
 GUNS. FOUNDS. SHOT. 
 
 15 .... 24 ... 2817 
 31 ... 18 ... 7279 
 43 ... 12 ... 4990 
 68 ... 9 ... 4670 
 157 
 About fifty thousand pounds of powder. 
 
 Mortars, {number not known.) 
 N. B. A number of the above guns were taken 
 from the ships, two frigates and others. 
 
 South end of East-Bay.
 
 IDS 
 
 ABOUT eleven o'clock, A. M. on the twelfth of 
 May, we marched out between 1500 and 1600 conti- 
 nental troops, (leaving five or six hundred sick and 
 wounded in the hospitals) without the horn-work, on 
 the left, and piled our arms ; the officers marched 
 the men back to the barracks, where a British guard 
 was placed over them ; the British then asked where 
 our second division was I they were told these were 
 all the continentals we had, except the sick and 
 wounded ; they were astonished, and said we had 
 made a gallant defence. Captain Rochfort had 
 marched in with a detachment of the artillery to 
 receive the returns of our artillery stores: while we 
 were in the horn-work together in conversation, he 
 said * sir you have made a gallant defence, but you 
 had a great many rascals among you,' (and mention- 
 ed names) ( who came out every night and gave us 
 information of what was passing in your garrison.' 
 The militia marched out the same day and delivered 
 up their arms at the same place ; the continental offi- 
 cers went into town to their quarters, where they re- 
 mained a few days to collect their baggage, and 
 signed their paroles, then were sent over to Hadclrell's 
 point. The militia remained in Charlestown. The 
 next day the militia were ordered to parade near 
 Lynch's pasture,* and to bring all their arms with 
 
 Where the spring pump now stands.
 
 109 
 
 them, guns, swords, pistols, 8cc. and those that did 
 not strictly comply, were threatened with having the 
 grenadiers turned in among them ; this threat brought 
 out the aged, the timid, the disaffected, and the in- 
 firm, many of them who had never appeared during 
 the whole siege, which swelled the number of militia 
 prisoners to, at least, three times the number of men 
 we ever had upon duty : I saw the column march out, 
 and was surprised to see it so large ; but many of 
 them we had excused, from age and infirmities ; how- 
 ever, they would do to enrol on a conqueror's list. 
 When the British received their arms, they put them 
 in waggons, and carried them to a store-house, where 
 we had deposited our fixed ammunition (about 4,000 
 pounds) and although they were informed by some 
 of our officers that the arms were loaded, and several 
 of them went off before the explosion took place, yet 
 in taking them out of the waggons they threw them 
 so carelessly into the store, that some at last set 
 fire to the powder, which blew up the whole guard 
 of fifty* men, and many others that were standing 
 by ; their carcasses, legs, and arms were seen in. 
 the air, and scattered over several parts of the town. 
 One man was dashed with violence against the 
 steeple of the new independant church, which was 
 at a great distance from the explosion, and left the 
 marks of his body there for several days. The 
 houses in the town received a great shock, and the
 
 110 
 
 window sashes rattled as if they would tumble out 
 of the frames. 
 
 MOST of our militia were still together ; after de- 
 livering up their arms, they went in a body to assist 
 in extinguishing the fire, that had communicated 
 itself to the neighboring houses; and while they 
 were working they were under the dreadful appre- 
 hensions lest the magazine should take fire, as the 
 
 F 
 work-house and others that were next to it were 
 
 in a blaze ; at last some timid person called out, 
 that * the magazine was on fire,' this gave the 
 alarm ; every one took fright, both British and 
 Americans, and instantly broke off from work, and 
 run away as fast as possible through the streets, 
 throwing down, and tumbling over each other, and 
 others coming, after tumbling over them, in endea- 
 voring to get as far from the expected explosion, 
 as possible : I have heard some of them say, that 
 although they were so confoundedly frightened at 
 the time, they could not keep from laughing, to see 
 the confusion and tumbling over each other : the 
 alarm was soon brought into the town ; I was then 
 in a house, joining St. Michael's church, with some 
 company ; I advised the going out of the house, and 
 walking to South-bay, because I was apprehensive, 
 from the great shock which was felt in the houses, 
 from the explosion of 4,000 pounds of powder, that, 
 should the magazine blow up, which had 10,000
 
 Ill , 
 
 pounds of powder in it, many of the houses in town 
 would be thrown down : on my way thither, I met 
 a British officer, who asked me how much powder 
 was in the magazine ; I told him 10,000 pounds: 
 * Sir,' said he, 'if it takes fire, it will blow your 
 town to hell !' I replied, ' I expected it would give 
 a hell of a blast!' The British werexvery much 
 alarmed at the explosion ; all the troops were turned 
 out under arms, and formed . they could not telj 
 what was the matter : some of the British and Hes- 
 sian officers supposed it was designed by us : I was 
 abused, and taken up by a Hessian officer (whose 
 guard was at Broughton's-battery) he was very angry, 
 and said to me, ' you, General Moultrie, you rebel's 
 have done this on purpose, as they did at New- York;' 
 and ordered his guard to take me a prisoner, into a 
 house near, and placed a sentry at the door, where 
 a number of us were confined ; but I soon got a 
 note over a back way, to General Leslie, acquaint- 
 ing him of my situation, upon which he immediately 
 sent one of his aids to me, with an apology, that 
 my confinement was contrary to orders, and ordered 
 the sentry, from the door : after a little time, the 
 alarm subsided; they went back, and stopped the 
 progress of the fire : and if they had considered for 
 a -moment, they would have found that it was almost 
 impossible for the magazine to take fire from the 
 adjacent houses, because it was inclosed with a high
 
 112 
 
 brick vail ; and the magazine itself Yfas built of 
 brick, and bomb proof. 
 
 To GEN. PATTERSON. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, June 15th, 1780. 
 
 < SIR, 
 
 THK surgeons, at Haddrell's-point, represent 
 
 * to me, a number of patients under inoculation 
 
 * and many down with the yellow-fever ; and no me- 
 
 * dicines, or the common necessaries of life, to as- 
 
 * sist them : they have sent a list of such medicines 
 1 as are wanted, to the surgeons of our hospital, who 
 
 * say they cannot furnish them, being only supplied} 
 
 < from time to time, with what are immediately ne- 
 cessary : and we are unable to purchase any, for 
 4 the want of hard money : I am therefore to request 
 ' the favor of you, to order the director-general of 
 4 your hospital, to furnish the surgeons, with what 
 
 * medicines may be necessary, for the use of the 
 ' officers and servants at Haddrell's-point. 
 
 * J have the honor to be, Sec. 
 
 * W. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 Si, June 16th, 1780. 
 
 * I DO myself the honor of informing you, that 
 
 the American commissary of prisoners, reports to 
 
 * me, that the British commissary refuses issuing
 
 113 
 
 < provisions to the prisoners of war, as the returns 
 
 * from Haddrell's-point, exceed, by twenty-five, the 
 
 * real number : the reasons, I believe to be, is 
 t in the drawing rations for the general officers, each 
 ' drawing six rations for himself and servants, when 
 ' perhaps they have only one or two servants : I will 
 
 * inquire and have the matter cleared up. The 
 ' officers at Haddrell's-point, are irregularly served 
 
 * with provisions, occasioned by the uncertainty of a 
 4 boat at the precise time it should go off, which is 
 1 sometimes attended with the loss of tide : the pre- 
 sent boat is used with great risk, both to the men 
 *and provisions, as one hand is almost constantly 
 c employed to bale : I am therefore to request the fa- 
 
 * vor of you, to allow the officers at Haddrell's-point, 
 
 * to be supplied with provisions weekly ; and that 
 ' you will be pleased to order the deputy quarter- 
 1 master general to furnish the American commissa- 
 
 * ry of prisoners, a large canoe, for that purpose. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOVLTHIJE.'
 
 114 
 
 Copy of a Return of Prisoners made by the Britiia. 
 
 RETURN OF THE REBEL FORCES, COMMANDED BY MAJOR GENF.RAL 
 LINCOLN, AT THE SURRENDER OF CHARLESTOWN, THE TWELFTH 
 OF MAY, 1780 i NOW PRISONERS OF V\AR. 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 Ofriicrs. 
 
 Regtl. Staff. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 REGIMENTS, 
 
 
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 i 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 
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 T3 
 
 OR CORPS. 
 
 
 5 
 
 - 
 
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 9 
 
 
 
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 H 
 
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 y 
 
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 L 
 
 1 
 
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 3 
 
 
 
 >; 
 
 2 
 
 Z 
 
 
 . ?. 
 
 J 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 "" 
 
 ' 
 
 " 
 
 5 
 
 :2 
 
 Geneial Staff, 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Engineer do. 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 ] 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 South-Carolina ArtiHe 
 
 ry- 
 
 
 
 
 ; 
 
 I 1 
 
 fi 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 j, 
 
 
 62 
 
 North-Can)lma do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 i 
 
 46 
 
 Charlestown Ball, of do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 
 \> 
 
 
 146 
 
 Oinnomers, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 ; 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 159 
 
 1st RegL of South- Carolinians, 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 l 
 
 
 7 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 i 
 
 176 
 
 id do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 7 
 
 If 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 to 
 
 H 
 
 195 
 
 3<1 do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 n 
 
 j 
 
 
 1st Regt.of North-Carolinians, 
 2d do. do. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 , 
 
 1 
 I 
 
 7 
 
 
 J 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 l 
 
 i 
 
 II 
 15 
 
 234 
 24.5 
 
 3d do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 8 
 
 130 
 
 1st RegL of Virginians, 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 7 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 k 
 
 268 
 
 2d do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 1 1 
 
 6 
 
 \ 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 3d do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 
 7 
 
 ~ 
 
 'A 
 
 
 
 
 
 J4 
 
 u 
 
 7qg 
 
 1st Detachment of Virginians, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 i 
 
 235 
 
 2d do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 218 
 
 4th Virginia Regiment 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5th do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6th do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7th do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8th do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 i 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 KUh do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ;. 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 iHh do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Light Dragoons, 
 Officers of Georgia, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 31 
 
 Isf Batt. Chartestown ! 
 
 Jilitia, 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ! 1 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 312 
 
 ~d do. do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 I 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 S. and M. Carolina Mi 
 
 ilia, 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 36 
 
 43 
 
 10 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 _' 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 079 
 
 Citizens, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 40 
 
 French Company, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ; 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 36 
 
 .Spanish Company, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 ; 
 
 ! , 
 
 
 145 
 
 ies 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 '. 
 
 ;- 
 
 -7 
 
 70* 
 
 Civil List. 
 
 General Hospital 
 
 Quarter Master- 
 General's De- 
 
 Commissary 
 General's 
 
 
 Staff. 
 
 partment. 
 
 Department. 
 
 1 Lieut. Gdvemor v 
 
 2 Director-GeneraU 
 
 Qj. Master-Gen. 
 
 1 Commissary 
 
 3 Privy Council, 
 1 Commissary of Pur 
 chases, 
 
 4 Physicians and 
 Surgeons, 
 J Assist. Surgeons, 
 
 Assist do. 
 1 Dep. do. of forage 
 I Do of Hides, 
 
 General, 
 1 Dep. Commis- 
 sary General, 
 
 1 Clerk of the House 
 of Representatives, 
 1 A^st.mt Judge, 
 1 Sheriff, 
 1 Clerk of Sessions, 
 
 1 Apothecary-Gen. 
 1 Apothecary, 
 1 Apothecary's 
 
 1 Chaplain, 
 
 1 Waggon Master- 
 General, 
 i Waggon-Masters, 
 1 Powd. Inspector, 
 1 Arsenal Store- 
 
 1 Conductor, 
 I Commissary of 
 Stores, 
 1 Clerk of do. 
 1 Conductor of do. 
 
 1 Clerk of Pleas, 
 
 "2 Purveyors, 
 
 keeper, 
 
 
 1 Ordinary, 
 
 1 Paymaster, 
 
 Purchaser of 
 
 
 1 Aud. Gen. of accts 
 
 rus, 
 
 Wood, 
 
 
 1 Reg. of Conveyances 
 
 1 Waggoner. 
 
 2 Waggoners, 
 
 
 1 Measeng. of Council, 
 
 
 1 Stable-keeper, 
 
 
 4 Clersymea. 
 
 
 I Conductor. 

 
 115 
 
 FROM BRIG. GEN. PATTERSON. 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, June 17th, 1780, 
 
 * B. G. PATTERSON presents his compliments to 
 
 * General Moultrie, and begs he will do him the 
 
 honor to call at his quarters, at any time most 
 
 1 convenient to him this afternoon. He should wait 
 
 < upon the general himself, but is detained at home 
 ' on very particular business, by appointment of 
 t several gentlemen of the town and coun' ~y. 
 
 ' Gen MOULTRIE.' 
 
 IN the afternoon, I waited upon General Patterson 
 who received me very politely ; he wished to have 
 some conversation with me ; he said he had had a 
 number of applications from our citizens, for dif- 
 ferent purposes, and wished to take my advice and 
 opinion upon them, he informed me he was entirely 
 a soldier, and very little acquainted with the civil 
 matters, and therefore begged to have some con- 
 versation with me respecting the prisoners on Had- 
 drell's-point; after an hour's conversation, I left him, 
 and he very politely attended me down the stairs to 
 the outer door. 
 
 FROM GEN. LINCOLN. 
 
 CHARLESTOVTN, May 18th, 1780. 
 
 < DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' THE officers go this morning to HaddrelPs-
 
 116 
 
 6 point, you being the senior, I have to. request that 
 ' you would make an arrangement of the barracks, 
 
 * and see that justice is done to all the officers, with 
 
 * respect to the rooms. 
 
 ' I am, dear sir, your's sincerely, 
 < Gen. MOUI.TRIE. B. LINCOLN.' 
 
 WHEN we got to Haddre ll's-point, it was ve- 
 ry difficult to get quarters in barracks, for the 
 number of officers that were sent over ; they went 
 to the neighboring houses, within the limits of their 
 patroles* ; and many of them built huts about in the 
 woods, and in a very little time, were comfortably 
 settled with little gardens abcoit them : the number 
 of officers (prisoners) at Haddrell's-point, and the ad- 
 jacent houses, were two-hundred and seventy-four, 
 (Colonel Pinckney and myself were in excellent 
 quarters, at Mr. Pinckney 's place, called Snee-farm) 
 it would be too tedious to insert their names, I will 
 only give a general return of all ranks, and the states 
 to which they belonged. 
 
 * I was, at this time, .allowed to come to town when I 
 pleased.
 
 nr 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .-3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ;_! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DO 
 
 
 rn 
 
 
 
 
 
 U 
 
 
 tr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 0> 
 
 
 f- 
 
 
 
 
 c. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *-* 
 
 
 U 
 
 CJ 
 
 
 Lines. 
 
 OJ 
 
 
 C. 
 _0 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 tn 
 
 y; 
 
 rt 
 
 to 
 rf 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 [/) 
 
 a 
 
 U 
 
 'f- 
 
 1/3 
 C 
 
 cd 
 
 B 
 
 ui 
 
 G 
 
 M 
 
 o 
 
 "c 
 o 
 
 in 
 
 a 
 
 3J 
 
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 b/D 
 
 B 
 
 C 
 
 3 
 
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 u 
 
 bJD 
 
 S 
 
 rt 
 
 
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 " 
 
 
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 C 
 
 
 
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 . 
 
 aj 
 
 3 
 
 - 1 
 
 
 
 
 =3 
 
 U 
 
 _3 
 
 < 
 
 
 
 _; 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 s: 
 
 
 3* 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 Virginia 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 ;5 
 
 6 
 
 27 
 
 35 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 115 
 
 N. Carolina 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 25 
 
 y 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 59 
 
 S. Carolina 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 55 
 
 Do. Artillery 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 19 
 
 Corps Eng. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 Horry's horse 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 Polaski's leg. 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 Georgia line 
 
 l 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 Total 
 
 j 
 
 1 ! 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 7, 
 
 99 
 
 95 
 
 3 
 
 ! 1 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 274 
 
 GENERAL Lincoln was furnished with a vessel, to 
 carry him, and his suit, to Philadelphia ; but before 
 his departure, he appointed Captain George Turner, 
 deputy commissary general of prisoners, for the 
 southern department, who was allowed, for a time, 
 to stay in Charlestown, to transact the business of 
 his office. 
 
 VOL. ii. o
 
 118 
 
 To CAPT. TURNER. 
 
 < SIR, ' SNKE-FARM, May 28th, 1780. 
 
 < I RECEIVED your favor of the twenty-second 
 1 instant, in which you recommend the appointing 
 
 < some proper person to act as issuing commissary ; 
 
 * that business is already done ; but I am sorry to 
 1 say, that our provisions are very irregularly served 
 
 * out to us ; some times three days' bread, and two 
 1 days' meat ; at other times, half day's rations of 
 
 * beef, and full rations of flour : in short, we have 
 1 been almost starved : crabs and fish, have support- 
 1 ed us hitherto : a very few of the officers have hard 
 ' money ; and if they had they could not purchase any 
 
 * thing here ; the families have barely sufficient to 
 1 support themselves : the officers here who have 
 lately come from the Northward, inform it is cus- 
 ' tomary for our prisoners with the British, to re- 
 
 * ceive their pay in hard money : as you are late- 
 
 * ly from there, you can inform us how that matter 
 
 * is ; I wish it could be brought about at this time. 
 k I observe you sign yourself commissary general of 
 
 * prisoners ; I shall be glad to know what instruc- 
 ' tions you have, relative to the prisoners, that they 
 4 may apply to you accordingly. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE. 
 * Capt. GEORGE TURNER, 
 ' Dep. Com. Gen. of prisoners.'
 
 119 
 
 THE officers, prisoners at Haddrell's-point, were 
 very ungovernable indeed, and it was not much to 
 be wondered at, when two hundred and fifty of them 
 from different states, were huddled up together in 
 the barracks, many of them of different dispositions, 
 and some of them very uncouth gentlemen; it is 
 not surprising that their should be continual disputes 
 among them, and frequent duels. General M'Intosh 
 who was the senior officer that resided constantly 
 with them, complained to me of their disorderly 
 conduct and uncivil behaviour to each other, upon 
 which, I wrote him the following letter. 
 
 'CHARLESTOWN, June 26th, 1780. 
 SIR, 
 
 * I AM sorry to be informed that our officers 
 ' behave so much amiss, as to make it necesary to 
 ( hold court martials over them, and that they even 
 
 * dispute any authority we may have ; I am there - 
 
 * fore to request, that you will let them know that I 
 ' think myself fully authorized for that purpose, not- 
 ' withstanding we are prisoners of war, and should 
 
 * any disorders happen, you will apply to me, and I 
 1 will immediately order a court martial to be held, 
 ' and approve or disapprove as I shall think right, 
 
 * and will transmit the sentence to Congress, for
 
 120 
 
 * their approbation. The commandant* of the British 
 4 troops agrees -with me in opinion as to my right, 
 
 * and will allow me to send a flag to Congress for 
 
 * that purpose. I am sorry to inform you that the 
 ' gentlemen must not apply for any more indulgen- 
 
 * ces for the present, as Mr. Pendleton's escape has 
 4 put an end to all those matters. 
 
 4 1 am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULT R IE. 
 'Gen. 
 
 HAVING received information that Doctor Hous- 
 ton, a prisoner of war to Sir Henry Clinton, who 
 had permission to go to Georgia upon his private 
 business, was arrested and sent to jail on a charge 
 of treason, I wrote the following letter to Lord Corn- 
 wallis :... 
 
 * CHARLESTOWN, June 29th, 1780. 
 ' MY LORD, 
 
 ' I HAVE the honor to inform your Lordship, 
 1 that Doctor Houston, a continental officer, and 
 ' prisoner of war upon parole to his Excellency Sir 
 ' Henry Clinton, is now detained in Georgia on a 
 ' charge of treason ; three evidences appear against 
 ' him, who, to support this charge, swear they saw 
 
 Lord Cornwallis.
 
 121 
 
 ' him in the American camp, when that place was 
 
 * besieged, aiding and assisting the French and 
 ' Americans ; my Lord, I look upon it my duty to 
 ' require his discharge from his Excellency Sir James 
 < Wright, and that he may be permitted to return 
 to the hospital in Charlestown, where he is much 
 ' wanted ; I am therefore to request your Lordship 
 ' will allow me to write to Georgia for that purpose. 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 4 WM. MOULTRIE. 
 < Lord CORNWALLIS.' 
 
 FROM LORD CORNWALLIS' AID. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, 29th, 1780. 
 < SIR, 
 
 * THE Earl Cornwallis has directed me to ac- 
 
 * quaint you, that he has not the least objection to 
 
 * your writing to Sir James Wright.* 
 
 4 I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 * HENRY HALDANE. 
 1 Acting as aid-de-camp. 
 1 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 * Gov. Wright and his chief justice, had just arrived at 
 Savannah, and began to exercise his civil functions with a high 
 hand, before the military had arranged their matters, which 
 gave great offence to Col. Clarke, who commanded there, as 
 Lord Cornwallis informed me.
 
 122 
 
 To GENERAL PATTERSON. 
 
 * CHARLKSTOWN, June 29th, 1780. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 COLONEL Pinckney, the officer appointed to 
 
 * superintend the South Carolina line, informs me 
 < that of the officers who were left with him for that 
 
 * purpose, one of them is dead, and two others very 
 
 * ill; he requests Captain Gadsden may be permit. 
 ' ted to come to town to assist him ; I therefore will 
 
 * take it as a favor if he may be allowed to come. 
 
 ' I am, Sec. 
 
 * WM. MOVLTRIE. 
 ' GEN. PATTERSON." 
 
 WHEN the officers were first ordered over to Had- 
 drell's-point, four from each line were allowed to re- 
 main in town, to take care that the sick and wound- 
 ed were not neglected ; but from information they 
 had received of some misconduct in our officers, or 
 Pendleton's escape, or some caprice, I cannot tell 
 which : I received the following order, after writing 
 the above to Gen. Patterson. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, June 30th, 1780. 
 { BR i GAD IER General Moultrie, Brigadier General 
 
 * Woodford and all the officers now prisoners of war, 
 ' without exception, are to be in readiness to be
 
 123 
 
 * conveyed from Drayton's-wharf,* to morrow morn- 
 
 * ing at six o'clock, where they are to remain 
 { until further orders. The servants that are now al- 
 
 < lowed at Haddrell's-point, are to remain there, 
 
 * provided General Moultrie makes himself absolutely 
 
 * responsible for their being accounted for in the 
 
 * exchange of prisoners : should any of them desert 
 1 from Haddrell's-point they are on no account to be 
 
 * replaced. All indulgence of working is to be im- 
 
 * mediately stopped. Orders are issued for appre- 
 
 * hending all prisoners that may be seen in town 
 4 without a pass from Mr. de Rossette commissary 
 
 * of prisoners. The rolls of the prisoners are to be 
 
 < called by the commissary or his deputy every morn- 
 ' ing and evening, and the -officer commanding the 
 ( guard is to be accountable for any deficiencies. Any 
 4 prisoner who shall attempt to make his escape will 
 
 * be confined on board of a prison-ship. 
 
 ' By order of Brig. Gen. Patterson, Comdt. 
 
 * J. MONBY. Town Major.' 
 
 To Gov. WRIGHT. 
 
 * CHARLETOWN, June 30th, 1780. 
 
 1 1 HAVE just now received certain information from 
 
 ' Doctor Houston, an officer in the continental service, 
 
 * Wrag's wharf, where Colonel Drayton deputy quarter- 
 master-general kept his boats and carts, while he lived in Mr. 
 Manigault's house,
 
 124 
 
 of his being; a prisoner in your stale, and arrested 
 
 * for treason by Anthony Stokes, Esq. chief justice 
 
 * of Georgia ; the evidences against him are three 
 4 persons, who swear they saw him in the American 
 
 * camp, aiding and assisting the French and Ameri- 
 4 cans at the time of the siege ; if this be his charge, 
 I warn you of the consequences of proceeding on 
 c the trial, as should any injury be done his person, 
 
 * retaliation will certainly be made by Congress and 
 
 * their allies, on the subjects of his Britannic majesty. 
 ' I inform you, he is a prisoner upon parole, to his 
 
 * Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, and had his 
 
 * leave to go to Georgia to settle some business, 
 and to return agreeably to his parole ; I therefore, 
 
 * require his releasment from you. 
 
 * I have the hoBor to be, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE. 
 
 * His Ex. Sir JAMBS WRIGHT.' 
 
 THIS letter was sent open to Lord Cornwallis, who 
 ordered it on to Sir James Wright, to which I re- 
 ceived no answer, but Doctor Houston was imme- 
 diately released. 
 
 FROM CAPT. TURNER. 
 
 * CHARLESTOWM, June 30th, 1780. 
 < SIR, 
 
 * I HAVE been honored with your letter of this
 
 125 
 
 * morning, in which are these words : * As you sent 
 
 * me word by Major Doctor Ellient that you did not 
 
 * think yourself accountable to me for your conduct 
 4 as commissary of prisoners, I shall appoint some 
 
 < other person.' Give me leave to say, that the ap- 
 4 pointing of another te the office, under present cir- 
 4 cumstances, would create in me, no chagrin : un- 
 c provided as the department is, with every necessa- 
 
 < ry, I have found it a troublesome and unthankful 
 
 * office ; and nothing but the hopes of hearing from 
 
 * Congress, and a wish to serve my fellow prisoners, 
 
 * induced me to continue in it : as to the right of 
 4 displacing me, I deny that it rests in any body 
 4 here ; I hold myself accountable to none but Con- 
 i gress ; the commander of the southern department ; 
 
 * and the commissary general of prisoners ; and for 
 
 * your further satisfaction, I beg leave to inclose you 
 
 * a copy of my appointment. The message brought 
 
 * me this morning by your major of brigade, was 
 
 * to this effect : that you desired of me my account 
 
 < current, which you would transmit to Congress 
 4 by the same opportunity that conveys your letter 
 
 * concerning Mr. Pendleton's breach of parole : I 
 
 < did not conceive this a proper demand, and there- 
 
 * fore desired Major Doctor Ellient to inform you, 
 
 * that I, myself, would transmit what accounts 
 
 * I had to Congress ; and beg to know if they could 
 4 be sent with your dispatches. Before I conclude? 
 
 VOL. II. R
 
 126 
 
 permit me to observe, sir, that I believe I have acted 
 
 * up to my duty, and that you will not impute to my 
 
 ' conduct, any personal pique, or the want of re- 
 
 L t, which I have always had for your character. 
 
 4 I am, Sec. 
 
 * GEORGE TURNER, 
 < Gen. MOVLTRIE.' D. C. P. S. D. 
 
 A FEW days ago, when Mr. Justice Pendleton 
 violated his parole, and left Charlestown, Lord 
 Cornwallis sent a message over to me at Haddrell's- 
 point, requesting to see me ; upon which, the next 
 day, I waited upon him, at General Patterson's quar- 
 ters : (Mr. Motte's house) I was received by Lord 
 Cornwallis and General Patterson, very politely in 
 the drawing-room, up stairs ; after some little con- 
 versation respecting his rout through our back coun- 
 try, and telling me what a fine country we had, and 
 that he had taken all our stores, laid in different 
 places ; he then informed me that Mr. Pendleton 
 had broke his parole, and was gone off; he therefore 
 hoped I would order him back, or the prisoners at 
 Haddrell's-point should suffer for it : upon which I 
 told* him, I was not accountable for any man's pa- 
 role but my own : he said he had a right to discri- 
 minate, and take some one in confinement, for Mr. 
 Pendleton : I told him he might do as he pleased, 
 Hut that his lordship was too much of a soldier, not
 
 127 
 
 to know that every one was accountable but for his 
 own parole, and for no other ; besides, that Mr. 
 Pendleton was a civil officerj I therefore could have 
 nothing to do with him : I told his lordship that I 
 would write to Congress, for them to decide upon 
 the matter : upon which he was satisfied, and said 
 he would forward the letter to Sir Henry Clinton ; 
 which letter I wrote, dated the thirtieth of June, and 
 sent it to Lord Cornwallis, who forwarded it to Sir 
 Henry Clinton ; and by him, sent to the President, 
 who laid my letter before Congress ; and upon in- 
 vestigating the matter, they passed a resolve, 
 justifying Mr. Pendleton's* conduct ; and sent a copy 
 of the resolve, to Sir Henry Clinton. 
 
 To THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, June 30th, 1T8O. 
 SIR, 
 
 < I HAVE the honor to inform you, that a few 
 ' days ago, information was officially laid before me, 
 ' by his Excellency Lord Cornwallis, and the Honora- 
 
 * Mr. Pendleton's case was this : that the day he made his 
 escape, he was informed by a friend, who had it from a Bri- 
 tish officer, (Captain Constable) that if he did not get away 
 that day, it was determined, by a party of torics (William 
 Holiiday, who kept the corner tavern, at their head) to take 
 him from his quarters that night, and hang him at the town 
 gate. Mr. Pendleton counterfeited Major Benson's hand, 
 and made out his pass,by which he got off.
 
 128 
 
 c ble Brigadier General Patterson, commandant of 
 Charlestown, of the departure of Mr. Justice Pen- 
 1 dleton, one of the judges of this state, from Charles- 
 
 * town, in violation of his parole, given by him, as apri- 
 
 * soner of war, to his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, 
 ' shortly after the surrender of this place ; and I was 
 
 * desired, as I think it my duty to do, to lay the same 
 before the honorable the Continental Congress. 
 
 * SUCH a violation of honor, as well as those rules 
 
 * and principles which all civilized nations have esta- 
 
 * blished and ever held sacred in the conduct of war, 
 
 * I am sure by the respectable body over which you 
 
 * preside will be deemed highly criminal, and as me- 
 ' riting the severest punishment ? as in its conse- 
 quence the misery of thousands may be involved ; 
 
 * and such an offence is an injury to mankind in 
 
 * general. 
 
 I HAVE also, Sir, to inform you, it is the earnest 
 
 * desire and expectation of his Excellency Lord Corn- 
 
 * wallis and the Hon. Brig. Gen. Patterson, that the 
 Hon. the Continental Congress do interpose in this 
 < affair, and give the speedy remedy which is due in 
 ' such cases by laws of nations and of war ; and 
 ' which they have formaly demanded through me ; 
 ( intimating, at the same time, that unless Mr. Jus- 
 
 * tice Pcndleton is by authority ordered immedi- 
 1 ately to return to his parole, the prisoners now on 
 1 parole will suffer for this offence.
 
 129 
 
 I THINK it my duty also, Sir, to intimate to you 
 that the situation of the continental hospital, and 
 
 < the officers and privates, prisoners of war, is truly 
 ' distressing, and such as calls for the immediate at- 
 f tention of Congress : as the bills left by Major 
 General Lincoln, on his departure from this place, 
 ' cannot be negociated, the hospital department, and 
 4 the army, now prisoners, must want every ne- 
 
 * cessary and comfort, intended fpr them by the 
 ' transfer of those bills ; and at a time, when, from 
 
 < the inclemency of the season and climate, and the x 
 ' hardships those men have already experienced, 
 
 * humanity, would make every exertion, to soften 
 
 * the hardships of war, and the rigor of captivity to 
 1 the brave, and the good soldier : I would therc- 
 
 * fore recommend, that the Congress do, as speedily 
 ' as possible, obtain permission of a flag to Charles- 
 ' town, by sea ; in order to make the necessary pro- 
 
 < vision for the army here, and particularly the hos- 
 
 * pital ; in such manner as may appear most expe- 
 1 dientand proper, either by a transmission of money, 
 ' or of bills, for the purchase of those necessaries, 
 ' so much required. 
 
 ' CAPTAIN George Turner, of the first South-Ca- 
 rolina regiment of foot, is appointed commissary 
 ' of prisoners, by Major General Lincoln, for the 
 f American army here : the bills of exchange* left 
 
 * Fifteen hundred pounds sterling.
 
 130 
 
 by General Lincoln, for the array, were given to 
 him, to be negociated for that purpose ; but holding 
 
 * himself in no wise accountable to me for his trans- 
 
 * actions in that department, I shall therefore ap- 
 point another, until the pleasure of Congress is 
 
 * known. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRII* 
 ' His Ex. SAMUEL HUNTINCTOK, 
 
 ' President of Congress. 1 
 
 FROM CAPT. ROBERTS. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I THINK it incumbent on me to acquaint you, 
 for the information of the general, that the conduct 
 < of the rebels at the barracks at Haddrell's-point, 
 ' during the course of this night, has been very irre- 
 ' gular and improper. Not contented to celebrate 
 ' this day, of their supposed Independence, with 
 4 music, illuminations, Sec. they have presumed to 
 
 * discharge a number of small arms ; which, I ima- 
 
 * gine, it is thought they were not (nor indeed ought 
 ' not to be, by the articles of capitulation) to be in 
 ' possession of. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 ' J. B. ROBERTS, 
 
 * Captain of the sixty-fifth regiment ; 
 
 ' Commanding at Fort Arbuthnot.* 
 ' Major BEXSOX. 
 
 Fort Moultric.
 
 131 
 
 FROM GEN. PATTERSON. 
 
 4 CHARLES TOWN, July 6th, 1780* 
 
 < SIR, 
 
 < I AM extremely mortified to find myself 
 
 * under the necessity to transmit to you, the en- 
 
 * closed,* and in consequence of it, to beg, sir, that 
 ' you will be pleased immediately to make the most 
 1 particular inquiry ; and report upon it, for the in- 
 
 * formation of the commander in chief, who is very 
 4 much displeased, to see such an indecent abuse of 
 { lenity. 
 
 < I MUST also, sir, insist upon it, that the officers 
 
 * do immediately, and without exception, deliver up 
 
 < all their fire-arms to the commanding officer at Fort 
 i Arbuthnot. 
 
 * As soon as I am honored with your answer and 
 
 < report, a court-martial shall proceed to Haddrell's- 
 1 point, to examine into the particular circumstances 
 
 s 
 
 f and persons, concerned in this gross outrage. 
 I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 ' J. PATTERSON, 
 
 Commandant. 
 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.* 
 
 Captain Roberts' letter.
 
 132 
 
 To GEN. PATTERSON. 
 CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, July 6tb, 
 
 ' Half-past seven o'clock, P. M. 
 SIR, 
 
 1 As I am quartered five miles from the bar- 
 
 < racks, I did not receive your letter of this morn- 
 1 ing (inclosing one from Captain Roberts, to Major 
 Benson) until this moment : I will do myself the 
 
 * honor of answering it more particularly, to mor- 
 
 * row. * I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE. 
 1 Brig. Gen. PATTERSON.' 
 
 To THE SAME. 
 
 < CHRIST-CHURCH, July 7th, 1780. 
 ' SIR, 
 
 ' IN answer to your letter of yesterday with 
 4 which you were pleased to honor me, I am to in- 
 
 * form you, that every continental officer in Christ- 
 
 < church parish who was well attended at the bar- 
 
 * racks at Haddrell's-point, in order to celebrate with 
 
 * decent festivity the anniversary of the Declaration 
 
 < of Independence, I had the satisfaction of being 
 
 < there, and can assure you I saw no " indecent abuse, 
 ' or gross outrage " in any manner committed : with 
 
 * regard to music, except two or three fifes which 
 t played the Call for Dinner, there was none but what 
 
 * was brought by a person in your service, who with
 
 133 
 
 t two others and some women danced for two or three 
 
 * hours in one of the rooms in the barracks, and went 
 
 * away about four o'clock in the afternoon. At five 
 
 * o'clock in the evening I departed, and am informed, 
 
 * that at eight some of the windows in the barracks 
 
 * were illuminated ; I am sorry to find that some pis- 
 4 tols were fired, which, at the same time, I disap- 
 
 < prove; I hope you will impute this to no intended 
 f affront, but to that exhilaration of spirit which in 
 
 < young men is too frequently the effect of convivial 
 
 < entertainments. This, sir, is a candid statement of 
 
 * the transaction of the 4th instant; and I am at a loss 
 
 * to conceive wherein we have so grossly erred in 
 1 celebrating that day. It was by no means incon- 
 
 * sistent with our paroles to do so ; and the celebra- 
 
 * tion of particular festivals, even by prisoners, is not 
 
 * uncommon. I go no further back than the present 
 
 * war; the British troops have given us several pre- 
 
 < cedents of it ; the seventh regiment, now in Charles- 
 
 < ton, celebrated the anniversary of St. George's day 
 
 * when prisoners at Carlisle ; and the convention 
 ' troops kept the birth-day of his Britannic majesty 
 
 < both in the years 73 and 79, without the harsh ani- 
 
 * madversion of "indecent abuse of lenity "and "gross 
 
 < outrage." With regard to that part of your letter 
 1 wherein you require me to order all the officers, 
 ' without exception, to give up their fire-arms ; be- 
 
 * fore I do any thing in that matter, I must beg leav* 
 
 VOL, ii. s
 
 134 
 
 * to observe, that by one of the articles of capitula- 
 
 * tion, the officers are to keep their pistols ; nor, in 
 1 my humble apprehension, can they be deprived of 
 
 * them without a violation of that article. As to 
 ' their fuzees, they were not fired on the fourth 
 4 instant ; and I, some time ago, delivered you a let- 
 
 * ter, written by Sir Henry Clinton's order, and 
 
 * signed by Major Andre ; wherein his excellency 
 ' permitted the officers to amuse themselves with 
 
 * their fuzees. Upon the whole of this matter, when 
 ' my Lord Cornwallis, and General Patterson, come 
 ' to review this affair, I trust they will not take it in 
 ' the light, they seem to have done ; that they will 
 
 * not imagine any gross outrage was meant, where 
 ' none was intended ; but impute it to the warmth of 
 
 * a cause which the continental officers at Haddrell's- 
 
 * point have embraced through principle ; in which 
 
 * some of them bled ; and for which all of them are 
 
 * now suffering. 
 
 * 1 have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 * WAI. MOULTRIE. 
 * Gen. PATTERSON.' 
 
 FROM GEN. PATTERSON. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, July 9th, 1780. 
 ' SIR, 
 
 ' I SHALL, for the present, decline entering in- 
 < to the propriety of your letter to me of the seventh
 
 135 
 
 ' instant, on occasion of the festivity, in commemo- 
 < ration of the Declaration of Independence, cele- 
 ' brated by the officers at Haddrell's-point: their 
 
 * situation as prisoners of war, I apprehend, gives 
 
 * us a right, by every law of nations, and of war, to 
 
 * expect from them, a decent behavior ; far short of 
 ' illuminations, and other irregular demonstrations 
 1 of joy ; and I think it my duty to shew my dis- 
 ' approbation of their conduct, by immediately with. 
 ' drawing the indulgence granted them, of being al- 
 ' lowed their fowling-pieces : I am therefore, sir, to 
 ' insist upon their being forthwith delivered up to 
 ' the officer commanding at Fort Arbuthnot. 
 
 4 I have the honor to be, 8cc. 
 
 * J. PATTERSON. 
 
 * Commandant. 
 i Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. M'INTOSH. 
 
 SNEE-FARM, July 10th, 1780. 
 1 DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' As General Patterson declines entering into 
 ' the propriety of my letter, on the seventh instant ; 
 1 he thinks it his duty, immediately to withdraw the 
 ' indulgence granted the officers, of being allowed 
 ' their fowling-pieces. I am therefore to request you 
 ' will order all the officers, immediately to deliver up 
 ' to you their fowling-pieces (each officer marking
 
 136 
 
 * his own piece) and send them over to the officer, 
 
 < commanding on Sullivan's-Island, that you may 
 ' have them ready to deliver to his order. 
 
 1 1 am, &c. 
 
 4 WM. MOULTRIE. 
 
 To CAPT. ROBERTS. 
 
 * SNBE-FARM, July 12th, 1780* 
 4 SIR, 
 
 * IN consequence of a requisition from General 
 
 * Patterson, I have directed such of the officers at 
 4 Haddrell's-point, as have fowling-pieces, to deliver 
 
 * them to General M'Intosh, who resides at the bar- 
 
 * racks ; and have desired him, as soon as they are 
 
 * brought in, to acquaint the commanding officer 
 1 on Sullivan's-Island with it, that they may be deli- 
 
 < vered to his order. 
 
 1 1 am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 ORDERS RECEIVED FROM THE COMMANDANT. 
 
 4 August 6th, 1780, 
 
 ' THE commandant, being determined, rigidly to 
 adhere to the terms of the capitulation on his part, 
 expect they will be as rigidly adhered to on the part 
 of the prisoners. 
 
 4 No officer, under the rank of a general officer, 
 can be allowed to keep a horse, unless his state of
 
 137 
 
 health is such as demands it ; in which case, a cer- 
 tificate from a physician, will be required, and an or- 
 der from the commandant, be obtained for that pur- 
 pose. Such horses as are the property of persons 
 not in the above direction, must be immediately dis- 
 posed of: such as are not claimed as property, are 
 to be delivered up to the commanding officer of the 
 fort ; and such as have been taken from the inhabi- 
 tants, are to be returned to them immediately. 
 
 < ALL complaints and applications, in order to 
 their being regurlarly attended to, are requested to 
 be made in writing, through the commissary of pri- 
 soners, to the commandant, by the general officer 
 commanding. 
 
 * A DEPUTY commissary of prisoners will be or- 
 dered on the Point, to facilitate the above. 
 
 * ORDERS will be given to the commissary of pri- 
 soners, to grant powder to the prisoners, restricting 
 them to the limits of six miles from the Point ; not 
 crossing any creek, river, or branch of the sea (gene- 
 ral officers excepted) who have the range of the 
 parish, without the above restriction. 
 
 ' No more than one servant, can be allowed to 
 each officer (general officers excepted, who will be 
 allowed three). Such servants as desert, cannot be 
 replaced ; but any officer detecting his servant 
 in the attempt, on his delivering him up to the com- 
 manding officer at Fort Arbuthnot, taking his receipt,
 
 133 
 
 and sending it to the commissary of prisoners ; will 
 have one ordered to him. 
 
 (Signed) ' G. BENSON, 
 
 * Major of Brigade.' 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 ' September 1st, 1780. 
 < SIR, 
 
 1 ON perusing the paper of the 29th August of 
 
 * Robertson, M'Donald, and Cammeron, published 
 4 by authority, to my astonishment I find a para- 
 
 * graph to this effect : " The following is a correct 
 ' list of prisoners sent on board the Sandwich yester- 
 ' day morning," and underneath, the names of a 
 4 number of the most respectable gentlemen, inha- 
 1 bitants of this state; most of whose characters I 
 
 * am so well acquainted with that I cannot believe 
 ' they would hare been guilty of any breach of their 
 1 paroles, or any article of the capitulation, or done 
 ' any thing to justify so rigorous a proceeding against 
 4 them : I therefore think it my duty, as the senior 
 ' continental officer, prisoner under the capitulation, 
 
 * to demand a release of those gentlemen, particular- 
 ly such as are entitled to the benefit of that act. 
 
 * This harsh proceeding demands my particular at- 
 1 tention ; and I do, therefore, in behalf of the Unit- 
 ' ed States of America require that they be admitted 
 ' immediately to return to their paroles ; as their be-
 
 139 
 
 { ing hurried on board a prison-ship, and, I fear, 
 ' with out being heard, is a violation of the 9th arti- 
 ' cle of the capitulation. If this demand cannot be 
 
 * complied with, I am to request that I may have 
 
 * leave to send an officer to Congress to represent 
 ' this grievance, that they may interpose in behalf of 
 ' these gentlemen in the manner they shall think 
 ' proper. 
 
 * I am, 8cc. 
 
 1 WM. MOULT R IE. 
 
 ANSWER TO THE PRECEDING LETTER. 
 
 * CHARLESTOWN, September 4th. 1780. 
 < SIR, 
 
 THE Commandant will not return any an- 
 
 * swer to a letter wrote in such exceptionable and 
 ' unwarrantable terms as that to him from Gen. Moul- 
 ' trie, dated the 1st instant; nor will he receive any 
 
 * further application from him upon the subject of it. 
 
 1 By order of the Commandant. 
 
 G. BENSON, 
 * Major of Brigade. 
 1 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 < CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, Oct. 16th, 1780. 
 SIR, 
 
 t HOWEVER my letters may be thought by you
 
 140 
 
 to be wrote in " exceptionable and unwarrantable 
 terms," yet I cannot be deterred from representing 
 matters of such consequence, as I am now con- 
 strained to do, in the strongest manner: though it 
 ' is indifferent to me whether I write to you or the 
 < commissary of prisoners on trifling applications ; yet 
 
 * when my duty calls upon me loudly to remonstrate 
 
 * against a proceeding of so high a nature as a viola- 
 
 * lion of a solemn capitulation, I then think it ne- 
 
 * cessary to make application as near the fountain 
 
 * head as possible ; I therefore, sir, address myself 
 
 * to you to complain of a great breach of the capitu- 
 
 * lation in sending the continental soldiers on board 
 
 * of prison-ships (the truth of which I have not the 
 
 * least doubt of) as part of the agreement for which 
 ' the town was delivered up to Sir Henry Clinton 
 
 * was, that the continental soldiers should be kept 
 
 * in some contiguous buildings in the town, as ap- 
 4 pears by the following extract from their Excel- 
 
 * lencies' Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot's 
 letter of the 1 2th May, 1780, antecedent to the sur- 
 
 * render. 
 
 "SIR, 
 
 " WE have to request you will propose some 
 ' proper contiguous buildings in the town for the re- 
 
 * aidence of the private prisoners of war not to be 
 ' upon parole ; these will be of course such as may 
 
 in discretion be asked." The barracks and some
 
 141 
 
 adjacent houses were then proposed and agreed 
 ' upon ; as a proof of which the soldiers have been 
 ' confined in those buildings from the very instant of 
 
 * the surrender until this present removal, which I 
 do most solemnly protest against, and complain to 
 
 * you, sir, of a direct violation of the third article of 
 
 * the capitulation, and demand that the continental 
 < soldiers be ordered back to the barracks and other 
 ' houses in which they were first confined. In this 
 c demand I think I am clearly within the line of my 
 
 * duty, as well as in the demand I made for the citi- 
 
 * zens on the first of September last; and though they 
 
 * may not appear to you in the same military 
 4 view, yet Lord Cornwallis and General Patterson 
 
 * would have held them clearly so, as they insisted 
 ' I should write to Congress respecting Mr. Pendle- 
 
 * ton's breach of parole, and considered me answera- 
 4 ble for the whole militia in town, at the time of 
 ' the capitulation, as being the senior officer after 
 1 General Lincoln's departure from hence. Should 
 ' I be as unfortunate in this demand, as in that made 
 
 * for the citizens, I shall rest myself satisfied, that I 
 ' have done my duty ; and as these matters may be 
 ( discussed at some future day, I flatter myself! 
 1 shall stand acquitted to the world of any charge 
 
 * of neglect on my part. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 VOL. II. T
 
 U2 
 
 THIS letter was delivered by Major Doctor Ellient, 
 who received a verbal answer from the commandant, 
 ' That he would do as he pleased with the prisoners 
 for the good of his majesty's service ; and not as 
 
 * General Moultrie pleases.' 
 
 FROM DOCTOR OLIPHANT. 
 
 < CHARLESTOWN, Nov. 14th, 1780. 
 
 * DEAR GENERAL, 
 
 1 I SEND by the bearer the few articles you re- 
 quire. Inclosed is the return of our sick for last 
 < month ; the mortality is great ; by much the greater 
 
 * number of deaths happen to those patients from on 
 ' board the prison-ships : within these three days, 
 
 * there is an appearance of a jail fever from the ship 
 ' Concord ; she has been a prison ship throughout 
 1 the summer. No less than nine of the sick, sent 
 
 * from that ship, died in the space of 24 hours; all 
 
 * of them bearing the appearance of a putrid malig- 
 
 * nant fever. The unfortunate sufferers are the mi- 
 
 * litia sent from Camden. I am much at a loss how 
 
 * to act in these our times of distress ; my confine- 
 4 ment renders me incapable of giving such attend- 
 
 * ance or service as I wish or ought to do. I have 
 
 * no person to look up to but you, sir ; therefore I 
 
 * crave and entreat your assistance. 
 
 * I am, 8cc. 
 
 D. OLIPHANT. 
 1 Gen. MOULTJIIE.'
 
 143 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 1 CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, 22d Nov. 1780. 
 
 <SlR, 
 
 * BY a letter from Dr. Oliphant, and by returns 
 
 * from our general hospital, I am exceedingly shock- 
 ' ed to know of so great a mortality among our un- 
 
 * fortunate prisoners; I cannot tell to what cause to 
 < attribute it ; but our Director General (on whom 
 ( we principally depended for the good order and 
 ' well governing of our hospital) being so long con- 
 
 * fined to his house by the board of police, conse- 
 
 * quently could not attend to his duty where he was 
 ' so much wanted. I was led to believe, some time 
 
 * ago, by a letter from Dr. Fraser, that it never was 
 ' your intention to prevent Dr. Oliphant attending 
 ' the hospital : yet still he is restrained. I am so af- 
 ( fected at the distresses of our poor soldiers, that I 
 e am at a loss how to address you on the subject ; 
 
 * but I must begin by calling on your humanity, and 
 4 request you, for God's sake, to permit Dr. Oliphant 
 
 * to attend the hospital whenever he shall judge it 
 ' necessary : and also beg you will order the pri- 
 
 * soners from on board the Concord ship (where 
 
 * they are infected with the jail fever) to some other 
 vessels, if they cannot be permitted to be on shore. 
 
 * I am. Sec. 
 
 WM. MOULT R IE.'
 
 144 
 
 FROM LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 CHARLKSTOWN, Nov. 28th, 1780. 
 
 < Si*, 
 
 * I HAVE received your letter of the 22d inst. 
 
 * in which you so pathetically call upon me to grant 
 ' permission to Dr. Oliphant to attend your hospital 
 whenever he shall judge it necessary, as you ap- 
 
 * prehend, his not attending to his duty, as the di- 
 
 * rector general of it, by reason of the restraint he 
 ' is laid under by the board of police, has been one 
 
 * of the principal causes of the general mortality, 
 
 * which you say rages among the prisoners. 
 
 * I ASSURE you, sir, that whenever, with proprie- 
 ' ty, and consistent with my duty, I can remedy 
 even an ideal grievance, my inclination sufficiently 
 1 inclines me to it ; therefore, although I do not 
 ' think that Doctor Oliphant's absence, has been 
 ' materially injurious to the hospital, no objection 
 
 * ever lay with me to his having visited it, at pro- 
 
 * per times, as often as he pleased. 
 
 I AM informed that an application to Colonel 
 
 * Hamilton, on behalf of the widow, and orphans of 
 
 < a friend of Doctor Oliphant's,* who became his se- 
 1 curity, for the debt in question, was a prevalent 
 ' motive with him, to take the steps he has done, 
 
 < to oblige the doctor to do justice ; and although 
 
 Major Hugcr.
 
 145 
 
 1 their husband and father fell, fighting in the cause 
 
 * of treason and rebellion, we do not wish to see them 
 ' involved in ruin and distress. 
 
 4 WITH respect to the last part of your letter, I 
 ' was no sooner informed that there was a considera- 
 
 * ble sickness on board the Concord, than I ordered 
 
 * her to be inspected; and although it was reported 
 
 * to me that there was not any symptoms of tbe dis- 
 < ease you mention I removed the prisoners on shore. 
 
 ' I am, sir, 
 
 * Your most obedient servant. 
 N ' N. BALFOUR. 
 
 1 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 GENERAL OFFICERS BELONGING TO THE 
 AMERICAN ARMY. 
 
 December 15th, 1780. 
 
 OFFICERS' NAMES. BANKS. 'DATES OF COM. 
 
 George Washington, Com. in Chief, June 15, 1775. 
 Israel Putnam, - - Major Gen. June 19, 1775. 
 Horatio Gates, - - Ditto, - May 16, 1776. 
 Nathaniel Greene, - Ditto, - Aug. 9, 1776. 
 William Heath, - - Ditto, - Aug. 9, 1776, 
 Wm. Earl Sterling, - Ditto, - Febr. 1777. 
 Arthur St. Clair, - - Ditto, ^ Febr. 1777. 
 Benjamin Lincoln, - Ditto, - Febr. 1777. 
 Marq. de la Fayette, - Ditto, - July 31, 1777. 
 Robert Howe, - - Ditto, - Oct. 20, 1777.
 
 146 
 
 OFFICERS' NAMES. 
 Alexander M'Dougal, 
 Baron Stuben, - - 
 William Smallwood} 
 Sam. Holden Parsons, 
 William Thompson, - 
 James Clinton, - - 
 Wm. Moultrie, - - 
 L. M'Intosh, - - - 
 Henry Knox, - - - 
 
 John Glover, - - - 
 
 John Patterson, - - 
 
 Geerge Weadan, - - 
 Anthony Wayne, 
 
 Peter Mulhenbury, - 
 
 George Clinton, - - 
 Edward Hand, - - 
 Charles Scott, - - 
 Jedediah Huntington, 
 John Starkes, ... 
 Chev. du Portail, 
 Jethro Sumner, - - 
 James Hogan, - - 
 Isaac Huger, - - - 
 Mordecai Gest, - - 
 William Irvine, - - 
 Daniel Morgan, - - 
 
 RANKS. DATES OF COM. 
 
 Major Gen. Oct. 20, 1777. 
 
 Inspect. Gen. May 5, 1778. 
 
 Major Gen. Sep. 15, 1780' 
 
 Ditto, - Oct. 23, 1780. 
 
 Brigadier Gen. Mar. 1, 1776. 
 
 Ditto, - Aug. 9, 1776- 
 
 Ditto, - Sep. 16, 1776. 
 
 Ditto, - Sep. 16, 1776. 
 
 Ditto, - Dec. 27, 1776. 
 
 Ditto, 
 Ditto, 
 Ditto, 
 Ditto, 
 Ditto, 
 
 These gentlemen, 
 by resolve of Con- 
 gress, of Feb. 2 1 , 
 are to rank accor- 
 ding to the rank 
 of their commis- 
 sions in the army 
 at that time. 
 
 Ditto, - Mar. 2 5, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - Apr. I, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - Apr. 2, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - May 12, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - Oct. 4, 1777. 
 Do. chief Eng. Nov. 17, J777. 
 
 Brig. Gen. - Jan. 9, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - Jan. 9, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - Jan. 9, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - Jan. 9, 1777. 
 
 Ditto, - May 12, 1779. 
 
 Ditto, - Oct. 13, 1780.
 
 147 
 
 To COL. INNIS. 
 
 December 25th, 1780. 
 SIR, 
 
 MR. Gibbs, deputy commissary of prisoners 
 1 brought me an order yesterday from you, direct- 
 ing u the officers, (general officers excepted) pri- 
 
 * soners of war, to be forthwith drawn within three 
 
 < miles of Haddrell's-point." 
 
 * IN the third article of the capitulation, it is sli- 
 ' pulated, " that the continental troops and sailors, 
 4 with their baggage, shall be conducted to a place 
 to be agreed on, where they will remain prisoners 
 of war, until exchanged ;" and the place agreed 
 
 < upon for the officers, by their Excellencies Sir 
 { Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot, and Major 
 
 * General Lincoln, before the gates were given up, 
 
 * was " Haddrell's-point, and six miles thereof; 
 
 * without passing any river, creek, or arm of the 
 ' sea ;" a copy of which I transmit to you ; and, as 
 
 * a confirmation of this, all the officers' paroles (Gene- 
 ral officers excepted*) were filled up to Haddrell's- 
 
 * point, or within six miles thereof, with the above 
 restrictions ; and Colonel Balfour, in his first or- 
 ' der as commandant, restrained the officers to six 
 ' miles. As the officers are now situated agreeable to 
 
 * General officers restrained to twelve miles in their 
 paroles.
 
 1-1 it 
 
 * the agreement, made under the capitulation, espe- 
 ' cially as it is impossible to get proper quarters \vith- 
 in the bounds you prescribe, and the barracks them- 
 selves are so unfinished, as make them very cold 
 
 * and disagreeable in a winter season, I hope, sir, 
 ' you will consider the great inconvenience the prison- 
 
 * ers must necessarily be put tb by a removal ; and 
 
 * permit them to remain in their present quarters. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 THE officers were allowed to remain in their quar- 
 ters. 
 
 December, 1780. 
 
 GENERAL du Portail being now exchanged went 
 out from Haddrell's-point; and, on his way to Phila- 
 delphia, visited General Greene's camp. 
 
 To GEN. GREENE. 
 
 CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, Jan. 1st. 17S1. 
 SIR, 
 
 4 THREE days ago I was honored with your fa- 
 vor of the eighteenth of December last : I am sor- 
 
 * ry I cannot collect the returns which you require 
 
 * of me to transmit you by the favorable opportunity 
 
 * of General du Portail, who leaves this place so im- 
 mediately as not to allow time ; I thought it,
 
 149 
 
 ' however, best to send you such as I had ready ; 
 which is a copy of one delivered to the British com- 
 1 mandant, to send to New- York ; and consists prin- 
 
 * cipally of the prisoners of war, under the capitula- 
 
 * tion of Charlestown ; they stand upon the return 
 
 * as they are first to be exchanged, as settled by the 
 ' general officers, prisoners here ; which are to be 
 
 * those who have been longest in captivity ; and the 
 1 senior officer of the rank, proposed to be exchanged. 
 
 * I WILL have returns collected of all the prisoners 
 
 * of war in this state ; and transmit them to you as 
 ' soon as possible ; those of the non-commissioned 
 1 officers and privates can easily be procured, as 
 
 * they are all on board of prison-ships : my last re- 
 
 * turn of the continental soldiers amounted to about 
 1400. 
 
 Your's, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 THE following proposal was made to my son, which 
 I found in his desk among his papers, after his 
 decease ; in his own hand writing : viz. 
 'LIEUTENANT COLONEL BALFOUR'S PROPOSAL TO 
 GENERAL MOULTRIE. 
 
 ' January 14th, 1781. 
 1 MR. Moultrie, your father's character and your 
 
 * own have been represented to me in such a light 
 
 * that I wish to serve you both : what I have to say 
 
 VOL. ii. TT
 
 150 
 
 I will sum up in a few words. I wish you to pro- 
 
 * pose to your father, to relinguish the cause he is 
 now engaged in, which he may do without the 
 ' least dishonor to himself; he can only enclose his 
 
 * commission to the first general officer, (General 
 
 < Greene for instance) the command will devolve on 
 
 * the next officer ; which is often done in our service ; 
 
 * any officer may resign his commission in the field 
 
 * if he chooses : if your father will do this, he may 
 
 < rely on me, he shall have his estate restored to 
 
 * him, and all damages paid him : I believe you are 
 the only heir to your father. And as for you, sir, 
 ' if your father continues firm, I shall never ask you 
 
 * to bear arms against him. These favors, you may 
 
 * depend, I shall be able to obtain from my lord Corn- 
 ' wallis ; and you may rely on my honor, this mat- 
 
 1 ter shall never be divulged by me.' 
 
 
 THIS proposal from Colonel Balfour convinces 
 
 me, that the letter which I received from Lord 
 Charles Montague, some time after, did not origi- 
 nate with himself: when I shewed Lord Charles* 
 letter to my son he then told me of Colonel Bal- 
 four's proposal to him. He told Colonel Balfour, 
 ' He could not make such a proposal to his father, 
 for he was sure he would not listen to it.'
 
 151 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 'January 24th, 1781. 
 
 SIR, \ 
 
 1 ON my arrival in town, some days ago, I was 
 ' informed that some of the British officers frequent- 
 
 * ed the American hospital, with an intention to in- 
 
 * list the men, to the great disturbance and disorder 
 ' of the hospital ; upon which I ordered captain Shu- 
 1 brick to wait upon you, to acquaint you with their 
 
 * proceedings : you assured him it was contrary to 
 4 your orders, and desired to have the officers' names, 
 ' which I herewith inclose you : I could not procure 
 
 < them time enough to be sent before I left town. 
 1 On my way to the boat, to return to this place, to 
 
 * my great surprise, I saw an officer, and a gentle- 
 
 * man dressed like a clergyman, leading a number 
 ' of the continental soldiers down to the wharf; 
 ' which I took to be two of the officers named on the 
 
 * inclosed list, as I was informed that morning they 
 ' had inlisted many from the hospital ; I hope, sir, 
 
 < as it was done in violation of your orders they will 
 ' be directed to deliver those men back, and not be 
 ' permitted to visit the American hospital on any 
 
 ' pretence whatever. 
 
 ' I am, 8cc. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.
 
 152 
 
 FROM JAMES FRASER, 
 < CHARLESTOWN, Jan. 28th, 1781. 
 SIR, 
 
 < I AM desired to inquire what letter General 
 ' Greene received from you by General du Portail, 
 ' as no letter of your's was sent here for inspection 
 ' that was forwarded by that gentleman ; and, at the 
 4 same time, beg to be acquainted why General du 
 
 * Portail visited General Greene on his way to Phila- 
 i delphia, the camp of the latter not being on his di- 
 ' rect road to that place. 
 
 ' By order of the Commandant. 
 
 ' I am, sir, 
 
 * Your most obedient humble servant, 
 JAMES FRASEB, 
 * Com. Prisoners. 
 ' Gen. MOULTRIK.' 
 
 To GEN. GREENE. 
 
 * CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, Jan. 30th, 178!. 
 *Si, 
 
 4 I DID myself the honor to write you on the 
 < 1st inst. in which I enclosed you a return of the 
 
 * officers prisoners of war at HaddrelFs-point ; I now 
 4 send you a return of all the prisoners in this state 
 ' that I can get information of, as well militia as con- 
 
 * tinental, and those sent to Augustine. I shall be 
 ' much obliged to you for some direction relative to
 
 153 
 
 1 the exchange of prisoners. I have made some 
 ' partial exchanges, and shall be glad to know whe- 
 
 * ther I shall continue to exchange as I have done 
 
 * hitherto ; if so, be pleased to favor me with a list 
 
 * of such British prisoners as you have upon parole, 
 ' that I may know how to guide myself in that busi- 
 { ness when it is proposed to me : about fifty privates 
 4 have been proposed for exchange, but that I post- 
 
 * poned till I should hear from you, as you may give 
 
 * me some directions upon a more enlarged scale. 
 ' By the resolutions of Congress of the 5th and 12th 
 ' of August last, I am authorised to appoint a suit- 
 { able person to act as commissary of prisoners in 
 
 * Charlestown ; and am directed to return the name 
 1 of the person, so appointed, to the commander in 
 ' chief of the southern department. In pursuance 
 
 * of which resolution, I have nominated Mr. James 
 ' Fisher for that office> and acquainted General 
 ' Gates of the same for his approbation : I beg leave 
 1 to recommend him to you as a gentleman who will 
 ' exert himself to the utmost in the punctual and 
 
 * faithful performance of his duty. 
 
 I AM happy to inform you, that by a letter from 
 < Mr. Matthews, a delegate for South Carolina, that 
 ' a general exchange is agreed upon between their 
 
 * Excellencies Gen. Washington and Sir Henry 
 
 * Clinton ; and that it will soon take place. I am 
 .* sorry that I cannot yet give you an account of the
 
 154 
 
 < arrival of the flag from Philadelphia : we are in 
 
 * hourly expectation of seeing her. 
 
 4 I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE. 
 
 > 
 To DOCTOR FRASER. 
 
 4 CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, Feb. 2d, 1781. 
 
 * SIR, 
 
 4 I RECEIVED your's of the twenty-eighth of 
 4 last month, the evening before last ; and, for the 
 4 satisfaction of the commandant, enclose you a copy 
 4 of the letter sent to General Greene, assuring him, 
 4 at the same time, that I had not the least idea of 
 4 sending a letter to the American camp, or any 
 4 where else, in a clandestine manner, and contrary 
 4 to my parole ; but doubted not it would be examined 
 
 * by the British officer who was to attend General 
 4 du Portail without the lines ; and that if there had 
 4 been the least impropriety it would not have been 
 4 allowed to pass ; I left it open for perusal, and re- 
 4 quested the favor of General du Portail, when it 
 4 was examined, if he proceeded immediately on to 
 4 Philadelphia, after he left the British lines, that he 
 4 would seal up the packet, and forward it to General 
 4 Greene : General du Portail informed me, he be- 
 4 lieved (but was not certain) he would be under the 
 4 necessity of going to General Greene's camp, to 
 
 * procure money and horses, to carry him on to
 
 155 
 
 < Philadelphia ; as to what rout he took when he 
 ' left this, it was entirely at his own option; he best 
 4 knew what his exchange allowed, and, I dare say, 
 ' will anwer any objections that may be made on that 
 head. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM DOCTOR OLIPHANT. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, Feb. 3rd. 1781. 
 
 * DEAR SIR, 
 
 WITHOUT your support, it will be impossible 
 4 for me to do my duty by our unfortunate sick. I 
 
 * am to acquaint you, that I received a message 
 
 * by Doctor Hayes from the commandant this morn- 
 
 ' ing, desiring me to dismiss Mr. M'Clean,* our 
 6 steward, from the service of the hospital ; for he 
 was determined he should not continue any longer 
 ' in that place : no crime is laid to his charge : I 
 
 * conceive it contrary to my authority to dismiss him 
 ' without a regular trial, as he has ever, to the best 
 ' of my knowledge, acted as a faithful servant to the 
 
 * public. I look upon it I should commit the great- 
 1 est act of injustice were I to pay any attention to 
 4 the requisition. 
 
 * M'Clean was a faithful steward ; his only crime to them 
 was his dissuading the men to inlist in the British service.
 
 156 
 
 < THE physicians and surgeons were this day dc- 
 nied access to the sick in the hospital : no person, 
 'at 12 o'clock at noon, could pass or repass the 
 ' gates, except the steward or his assistant, to fetch 
 provisions for the sick : under such a choice of 
 1 difficulties, I am much distressed how to conduct 
 ' myself; permit me, therefore, if compatible with 
 your situation, to entreat that you may come to 
 * town, and, if possible, put matters on a better fcot- 
 ing, for the relief of our unfortunate sick. 
 * I am your's, Sec. 
 
 DAVID OLIPHANT. 
 
 { Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FROM LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 < CHARLES-TOWN, February 8th, 1781. 
 SIR, 
 
 ' I HAVE before me your letter of the 4th inst. 
 4 containing the complaint of Dr. Oliphant, respect- 
 
 * ing my directions for the dismission of the steward 
 
 * of your hospital, which is a point I must still insist 
 ' on, as, by the report of the Deputy Commissary of 
 
 * Prisoners, he has been guilty of a conduct highly 
 ' blameable from one under his situation. 
 
 ' FOR the sole right, which you assert, Dr. Oli- 
 ' phant has to give directions in the medicinal line 
 
 * of your hospital, I must conceive, as he is no lon- 
 < ger a prisoner of war, but detained here for the
 
 157 
 
 < failure of private contract, in not liquidating his 
 
 * debts, lhat neither you nor he can have claims on 
 
 * his person to any advantages arising from the capi- 
 
 * tulation of Charlestown ; and that therefore his be- 
 
 * ing at all allowed to officiate in his public capacity 
 
 * should rather be attributed to sufferance than claim- 
 4 ed as a right. 
 
 <THE officers of your hospital being precluded, 
 1 for a short time, admittance to it, as it was without 
 1 my directions, was immediately rectified on com- 
 
 * ing to my knowledge ; but, I must here remark, 
 
 * though against my inclination, that, in general, your 
 
 * people seem to be more solicitous for the causes 
 
 * of complaint, than anxious, on their own parts, to 
 ' remove them. You have my full permission to 
 s write what you please, within the line of propriety, 
 to General Greene, provided the same is submitted 
 
 * to proper inspection ; and as this, sir, is an express 
 1 condition of your parole, and I have some cause to 
 think it has been violated in your letter by General 
 
 * du Portail to General Greene, I may hereafter, 
 4 when I have completed my information, have occa- 
 ' sion to write you more explicitly on this subject. 
 { General du Portail's making General Greene's 
 
 * camp, on his way to Philadelphia, was a direct 
 
 < breach of that passportj under which he had liberty 
 
 VOL. II. X
 
 HB 
 
 ' to proceed there; of which I therefore think it my 
 c duty to inform the commander in chief. 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 * N. BALFOUR. 
 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 LETTER FROM LORD CHARLES MONTAGUE. 
 
 1 CHARLESTOWN, Feb. 9th, 1781. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 < IT is a longtime since I have had the pleasure 
 
 * of seeing you ; but the length of time has not ef- 
 
 * faced the civilities and marks of friendship I receiv- 
 
 * ed from you. I wish much to see you; you know 
 c I have again returned to this country for a short 
 
 * time. 
 
 * IF it is agreeable to you, I will either call upon 
 
 * you, or be glad to see you here, at No. 57, Old 
 ' Church-street. 
 
 I SEND this by my old servant Fisher. 
 * Your sincere friend. 
 
 * CHARLES MONTAGUE. 
 1 Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 1 CHARLESTOWN, February 12th, 1781. 
 1 SIR, 
 
 I RECEIVED your's of the 8th inst. in which 
 ' you inform me, you must insist upon the dismission
 
 15 
 
 i of the steward of our hospital, as he has been guil- 
 1 ty of a conduct highly blameable.* I am sorry the 
 ' steward has behaved himself in a manner unbecom- 
 1 ing his station. I wish I could have been inform- 
 
 * ed of it in time, to have pi-evented any ill conduct 
 
 * in future. I claim the sole right of Dr. Oliphant's 
 ' giving directions in our hospital in the medicinal 
 ' line, from a circumstance which, I imagine, you 
 
 < must be unacquainted with ; and, for your informa- 
 4 tion, I inclose you a copy of Dr. Oliphant's parole ; 
 1 by which you will see, that, though exchanged, yet 
 ' that exchange is not thoroughly completed, as he 
 
 * is there obliged to stay to do his duty in the hospi- 
 ' tal ; therefore he is still a prisoner upon parole, 
 ' and has still the direction of the hospital ; and 
 t should he make satisfaction to those who have de- 
 i tained his person for a private contract, yet he 
 
 * could not leave the hospital without first obtaining 
 
 * permission from the American officer commanding; 
 
 < in the southern department. I was well assured 
 
 * that you were unacquainted with the physicians and 
 ' surgeons being refused admittance! into our hospi- 
 ' tal was the reason I wrote you on the subject, as I 
 
 * Dissuading the American soldiers from enlisting >n the 
 British service. 
 
 + Because some British officers were then ' R the hospital cn^ 
 deavoring to enlist the men.
 
 160 
 
 < have been informed that you wished more care was 
 ' taken of the sick. 
 
 I AM very sorry you should have cause to think 
 I have violated my parole in the least ; I stand ac- 
 quitted in my own idea ; and I am sure a gentlemen 
 
 * of your candor will be of the same opinion, when 
 
 * you come to enquire more particularly into the cir- 
 
 * cumstances : the letter itself the most exact scru- 
 
 * tiny cannot take any exceptions to ; and the send- 
 ' ing a list of the prisoners I had your permission for 
 
 * so doing. 
 
 GEN. du Portail is undoubtedly a gentleman of 
 4 the strictest honor, and, I dare say, considered his 
 ' going to Gen. Greene's camp as no impropriety, or 
 ' he would not have taken that rout. 
 * I am, Sec. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To MAJOR HARLESTON AND CAPT. PETER GRAY. 
 HADDRELI/S-POINT, Feb. 27th, 1781. 
 ' GENTLEMIN, 
 
 * You are at the receipt of this, to repair with 
 
 * your baggage, servants, &c. to the barracks near 
 
 * Iladdrell's-point, there to take your quarters. 
 
 * I am your's, &c. 
 
 ( JAMES PLACE. 
 
 < A. C. P.
 
 FROM MAJOR HARLESTON. 
 
 < DISTILLERY, Feb. 28th, 1781. 
 
 * SIR, 
 
 * As I conceive the enclosed mandate to be a 
 
 * flagrant breach of a most essential article of the 
 
 * capitulation, and as nay refusal to obey it, may in- 
 4 volve me in a contention I wish to avoid, I beg 
 ' leave to address you on the subject, requesting an 
 ' application may be made to the commandant for 
 ' obtaining satisfaction in the premises ; and for si- 
 ' lencing threats ; one of which was conveyed to me 
 1 since the enclosed, in a verbal message, by a ser- 
 
 * geant, apparently calculated to irritate ; and which 
 
 * any attempt to execute, ought to be considered as 
 
 * discharging the party threatened from the obli- 
 1 gations of a parole. I am led to observe, that the 
 ' distance of this place from the barracks, in a di- 
 i rect line, does not exceed three quarters of a mile, 
 ' nor does the circuitous rout imposed on me by the 
 obstructions thrown in my way, protract the dis- 
 
 * tance to be more than two miles and an half. 
 
 * I am your's, &c. 
 
 ( ISAAC HARLESTON. 
 Gen. MOULTRIE.'
 
 162 
 
 To GEN. GREENE. 
 
 ' CHARLESTOWN, February 28th, 1781. 
 SIR, 
 
 * I HAVE the honor to inform you, that I have 
 
 * made exchange for a number of continental officers, 
 ' a list of whose names are herewith transmitted to 
 
 * you, and doubt not will meet with your approbation. 
 ' I had proposed to exchange some militia, but Col. 
 ' Balfour, commandant of Charlestown, did not 
 
 * choose to enter upon their exchanges, as that mat- 
 
 * ter would be settled in a general exchange ; which 
 
 * we are in hopes will soon take place. 
 
 * I SHALL esteem it as a particular favor if you 
 
 * would inform me, whether it is the custom, in our 
 
 * army, in making exchanges, to adhere to the old 
 
 * customs of war ; exchanging cavalry for cavalry, 
 
 * infantry for infantry, artillery for artillery ; or whe- 
 < ther we should go on as hitherto, by seniority and 
 
 * the longest in captivity. 
 
 * I am, &c. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 THE HON. BOARD OF WAR, PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 < CHAR LEiTOWN, March 1st, 1781. 
 ' GENTLEMEN, 
 
 * I AM honored with your favor of the 
 
 * 19th of December last, with invoice and bills of lad- 
 
 * ing of sundries for clothing the prisoners of war ;
 
 163 
 
 { and also of three hundred and forty-four barrels of 
 
 * flour : all which are come safe to hand ; and a re- 
 ' ceipt for three thousand six hundred and forty- 
 1 seven dollars for the use of the officers ; the goods 
 ' were a little damaged ; the flour I shall have sold, 
 ' and the money appropriated, by employing the 
 ' most necessitous people in making up the clothing ; 
 
 * and what balance may be left, shall be distributed, 
 
 * as directed to the continental trocps and militia 
 ( who were actually taken in arms : the money I 
 
 * have ordered to be paid to the officers, agreeable 
 ' to rank; which amount to nine days pay, including 
 
 * the hospital department. I am sorry I cannot send 
 
 * you an exact return of the prisoners of war, as 
 
 * many of them are inlisted in the British service ; 
 f I imagine, what remains, cannot exceed one thou- 
 
 1 sand ; I heartily wish their supply had arrived a 
 ' little sooner ; the officers are much in want; their 
 
 * supplies were so trifling, as to be of very little ser- 
 
 * vice to them. 
 
 * I HEREWITH send you an account of disburse. 
 
 * ments for the vessel: we have done every thing in 
 
 * our power to have her dispatched. 
 
 4 1 have the- honor to be, &c. 
 
 WM. MOULTRIE.'
 
 164 
 To COL. BALFOUR, 
 
 ' CURIST-CHURCH PARISH, March 2d, 1781. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 * I AM again under the necessity of troubling 
 
 * you upon a subject on which I have too frequently 
 4 wrote : I was in hopes matters had been so arrang- 
 ' ed, as would require no farther application, but a 
 
 * letter I received last night from General M'Intosh, 
 
 * a copy of which I beg leave to enclose you, in- 
 ' forms me that a British sergeant is ordered to be 
 
 * quartered in the barracks amongst the officers ; and 
 
 * that they are to turn out of a particular room, to 
 
 * accommodate this sergeant ; the reason given is, 
 " that four of lour officers, the other night, stole a 
 
 * boat, and went to town in her :" if this be true, I 
 
 * could wish they were pointed out, and punished ac- 
 
 * cording to the offence ; which, in my opinion, is of 
 ' a very heinous nature, and deserves the severest 
 { treatment ; but I cannot conceive the propriety of 
 ' reducing the whole to a disagreeable situation for 
 ' the ill conduct of a few. A parole is a sacred act 
 
 * between parties, which, if violated on either side, is 
 
 * void in itself; I cannot help observing, that this 
 
 * sergeant beingplaced among the officers upon parole, 
 1 is unusual, and has the appearance of a guard : I 
 { hope, sir, you will consider it in that light, and 
 ' have him removed. The officers afe now exceed. 
 ingly crowded, yet six of them must turn out to
 
 165 
 
 * give a room to this sergeant : many of them are 
 
 * now under the necessity of building huts in the 
 1 woods, for their better accommodation ; though 
 < we have had an exchange lately, yet their number 
 
 * was replaced by the gentlemen of the Maryland 
 
 * and Delaware lines. 
 
 1 MAJOR Harleston and others have also informed 
 ' me that they have received a positive order from 
 4 Mr. Place, assistant commissary of prisoners, to re- 
 4 pair with their baggage and servants near Had- 
 ' drell's-point, there to take up their quarters. This 
 
 * order, I cannot but imagine, must arise from some 
 mistake, as they are clearly within the line prescrib- 
 ' ed by the capitulation; en a direct course not more 
 
 * than half a mile, and on a circuitous rout not more 
 
 * than two miles and a half. 
 
 * ANOTHER matter I must trouble you with j Ge- 
 
 * neral M'Intosh, with a number of other gentlemen, 
 
 * are threatened by Mr. Scott to be turned out of his 
 
 * house, (which was allotted by the barrack master 
 
 * for the reception of the prisoners of war) and their 
 
 * baggage stopped for the payment of x the rent. I 
 
 * hope, sir, when you come to consider of these se- 
 
 * veral matters, here related to you, that you will 
 
 * agree with me in opinion, that the placing a ser- 
 ' geant * among gentlemen upon parole carries a 
 
 * The sergeant was withdrawn. 
 vot. ii. y
 
 166 
 
 < suspicion of their honor ; that Major Harleston and 
 
 < others being ordered to the barracks is a violation 
 of the capitulation ; and that Gen. M'Intosh and 
 
 * other gentlemen being turned out of their quarters, 
 ' and obliged to pay rent, would be an injustice done 
 
 * them. I find myself under some difficulty in not 
 
 * being permitted to send an officer to town to deliv- 
 
 * er any letter or message which I may have occa- 
 
 * sion to send you ; it leaves me in an uncertain si- 
 ' tuation when my letters are to be sent to the assist- 
 ant commissary of prisoners for his conveyance. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 4 WM. MOULTRIE.* 
 
 FROM LORD CHARLKS MONTAGUE. 
 
 < March llth, 1781. 
 
 'Sin, 
 
 K 
 ' A SIKCERB wish to promote what may be to 
 
 1 your advantage, induces me now to write ; and the 
 
 * freedom with which we have often conversed makes 
 4 me hope you will not take amiss what I say. My 
 
 * own principles, respecting the commencement of 
 this unfortunate war, are well known to you, and, 
 of course, you can conceive what I mention is out 
 
 * of friendship : you have now fought bravely in the 
 
 * cause of your country for many years, and, in my 
 
 * opinion, fulfilled the duty every individual owes to 
 
 * it. You have had your share of hardships and dif-
 
 < ficulties, and if the contest is still to be continued, 
 
 * younger hands should now take the toil from you. 
 
 * You have now a fair opening of quitting that ser- 
 
 * vice, with honor and reputation to yourself, by go- 
 ' ing to Jamaica with me. The world will readily 
 ' attribute it to the known friendship that has sub- 
 
 * sisted between us : and by quitting this country for 
 ' a short time, you would avoid any disagreeable 
 ' conversations, and might return at leisure, to take 
 
 * possession of your estates for yourself and family. 
 
 4 THE regiment I am going to command, the on- 
 
 * ly proof I can give you of my sincerity is, that I 
 1 will quit that command to you with pleasure, and 
 ' serve under you. I earnestly wish I could be the 
 ' instrument to effect what I propose, as I think it 
 ' would be a great means towards promoting that re- 
 1 conciliation we all wish for: a thousand circum- 
 ' stances concur to make this a proper period for 
 
 * you to embrace : our old acquaintance : my hav- 
 ' ing been formerly governor in this province : the 
 
 * interest I have with the present commanders. 
 
 * I GIVE you my honor, what I write is entirely 
 1 unknown to the commandant, or to any one else ; 
 
 * so shall your answer be, if you favor me with one. 
 
 * Think well of me. 
 
 * Your's sincerely. 
 
 < CHARLES MONTAGUE. 
 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.'
 
 168 
 
 To LORD CHARLES MOKTAOUE. 
 
 HADDRELL'S-POINT, March 12th, 178 1 
 { MY LORD, 
 
 * I RECEIVED your's, this morning, by Fisher; 
 ' I thank you for your wish to promote my advantage, 
 ' but am much surprised at your proposition ; I flat- 
 
 * tered myself I stood in a more favorable light 
 
 * with you : I shall write with the same freedom 
 
 * with which we used to converse, and doubt not, 
 
 * you will receive it with the same candor : I have 
 
 * often heard you express your sentiments respecting 
 
 * this unfortunate war, when you thought the Ameri- 
 
 * cans injured ; but am now astonished to find you 
 
 * taking an active part against them ; though not 
 
 * fighting particularly on the continent, yet seducing 
 
 * their soldiers away, to inlist in the British service, 
 
 * is nearly similar. 
 
 * MY lord, you are pleased to compliment me 
 
 * with having fought bravely in my country's cause 
 
 * for many years, and in your opinion, fulfilled the 
 
 * duty every individual owes to it ; but I differ very 
 
 * widely with you, in thinking that I have discharged 
 ( my duty to my country, while it is still deluged 
 4 with blood and over-run with British troops, who 
 
 * exercise the most savage cruelties. When I en- 
 
 * tered into this contest, I did it with the most ma- 
 
 * ture deliberation, and with a determined resolution 
 
 * to risque my life and fortune in the cause. The
 
 169 
 
 ( hardships I have gone through I look back upon 
 
 * with the greatest pleasure and honor to myself : I 
 
 * shall continue to go on as I have begun, that my 
 
 * example may encourage the youths of America to 
 ' stand forth in defence of their rights and liberties. 
 
 * You call upon me now, and tell me I have a fair 
 ' opening of quitting that service with honor and re- 
 4 putation to myself by going with you to Jamaica. 
 
 * Good God ! is it possible that such an idea could 
 1 arise in the breast of a man of honor. I am sorry 
 
 * you should imagine I have so little regard for my 
 
 * own reputation as to listen to such dishonorable 
 
 * proposals ; would you wish to have that man whom 
 
 * you have honored with your friendship play the 
 
 * traitor ? surely not. You say, by quitting this 
 
 * country for a short time I might avoid disagreeable 
 
 * conversations, and might return at my own lei- 
 
 * sure and take possession of my estates for myself 
 1 and family ; but you have forgot to tell me how I 
 
 * am to get rid of the feelings of an injured honest 
 ' heart, and where to hide myself from myself ; could 
 
 * I be guilty of so much baseness I should hate my- 
 
 * self and shun mankind. This would be a fatal ex- 
 
 * change from my present situation, with an easy and 
 
 * approved conscience of having done my duty, and 
 ' conducted myself as a man of honor. 
 
 * MY lord, I am sorry to observe, that I feel your 
 
 * friendship much abated, or you would not endeav-
 
 * or to prevail upon me to act so base a part. You 
 < earnestly wish you could bring it about, as you 
 
 * think it will be the means of bringing about that 
 ' reconciliation we all wish for. I wish for a recon- 
 1 ciliation as much as any man, but only upon ho- 
 
 * norable terms. The repossessing my estates, the 
 
 * offer of the command of your regiment, and the 
 
 * honor you propose of serving under me, are paltry 
 
 * considerations to the loss of my reputation : no, 
 
 * not the fee simple of that valuable island of Jamai- 
 
 * ca should induce me to part with my integrity. 
 
 MY lord, as you have made one proposal give me 
 
 * leave to make another, which will be more honor- 
 1 able to us both ; as you have an interest with your 
 
 * commanders, I would have you propose the with- 
 
 * drawing the British troops from the continent of 
 < America, allow the independence, and propose a 
 ' peace : this being done, I will use my interest with 
 
 * my commanders, to accept of the terms, and al- 
 
 * low Great Britain a free trade with America. 
 
 4 MY lord, I could make one proposal,* but my 
 
 * situation as a prisoner circumscribes me within cer- 
 
 * tain bounds ; I must therefore conclude with allow- 
 
 Which was to ad?isc him to come over to the Americans: 
 this proposal I could not make when on parole.
 
 171 
 
 * ing you the free liberty to make what use of this 
 1 you may think proper. Think better of me. 
 
 * I am, my lord, : 
 * Your lordship's most obedient 
 1 Humble servant, 
 
 1 WM. MOULTHIE.' 
 
 FROM LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 * CHARLES-TOWN, March, 1781. 
 SIR, 
 
 * I TAKE this opportunity to transmit to your 
 
 * information the proceedings of a court of inquiry 
 ; held here ; in consequence of which, Lieut. Col. 
 
 * Grimkie and Major Habersham are committed close 
 
 * prisoners until Lord Cornwallis' pleasure shall be 
 
 * known. On perusing these proceedings, the lenity 
 e of British officers must forcibly strike you ; as it 
 ' must come within your own knowledge and feelings 
 
 * that breaches of parole have heretofore been over- 
 
 * looked ; and their justice, if it were necessary, will 
 < be fully evinced in Mr. Place being dismissed from 
 
 * his office. You will be so good as to return the 
 1 original letters,* which accompany these proceed- 
 
 * ings. 
 
 1 I am now to address you on a subject, with 
 
 * which I am charged by Lord Cornwallis, who hav- 
 
 Kcane's Grimkie's and Habersham's.
 
 * in;^ in vain applied to General Greene for an equit- 
 
 * able and general exchange of prisoners, finds it ne- 
 < cessary, in justice to the king's service, and those 
 
 * of his army, who are in this disagreeable predica- 
 
 * ment, to pursue such measures, as may eventually 
 
 * coerce it ; and his lordship has consequently or- 
 { dered me to send all the prisoners of war here, 
 
 * forthwith to some one of the West-India Islands ; 
 
 * which, I am particularly directed to inform you, 
 
 * cannot be delayed beyond the middle of next month ; 
 
 * and for this purpose, the transports are now al- 
 4 lotted, of which an account will soon be transmitted 
 
 * you. 
 
 I AM sorry to add, that the treatment our mili- 
 tia received, when made prisoners by Brigadier 
 General Marion, is such, as unless speedily redress- 
 
 * ed, will compel me,, in justice to those unhappy 
 ' persons, to 'a severe retaliation ; and, in that case, 
 ' I shall be obliged to seperate the militia from the 
 ' continental prisoners of war. 
 
 * I am your's, &c. 
 
 < J. N. BALFOUP. 
 ' Gen. MOULTKIE.' 
 
 To COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 < CHRIST-CHURCH PARISH, March 31, 1781. 
 SIR, 
 
 'I RECEIVED your's yesterday evening, dated
 
 173 
 
 < sine die, 1781, with the proceedings of a court of in- 
 
 * quiry, ordered on Lt. Col. Grimkie and Major Ha- 
 
 < bersham and several letters relating thereto, and 
 
 * find every clause of so much consequence that I 
 ' could expatiate very largely on each j but my be. 
 
 * ing a prisoner prohibits me, I shall touch slightly 
 
 * upon them and leave the rest to those who are more 
 
 * at liberty. You inform me that Lt. Col. Grimkie 
 
 < and Major Habersham are close prisoners until Lord 
 
 * Cornwallis' pleasure shall be known. I observe, the 
 
 * court is of opinion they are guilty of a breach of their 
 
 < paroles, in corresponding by letters with a man not 
 
 * in the king's peace, and who is at Beaufort. I am 
 
 * informed, that the court were of opinion that the 
 
 * letters contained nothing criminal or of a bad ten- 
 J dency ; if merely writing a letter is to be construed 
 
 * a breach of parole, I believe there is scarcely an 
 
 * officer in the British or American service, who has 
 
 * been a prisoner any considerable time, but has vio- 
 ' lated his parole. I .am much at a loss to recollect 
 1 any breaches of parole that have been overlooked ; 
 
 * my feelings cannot point them out to me. I here- 
 
 * with return the original letters which you require. 
 
 * THE subject of your next clause is of a very se- 
 
 * rious nature and weighty consequence indeed ; be- 
 
 * fore I enter particularly into that, I must request 
 
 * you will be se kind as to inform me, whether you 
 deem the capitulation dissolved ? You tell me, Lord 
 
 VOL. II. Z
 
 4 Cornwallis has frequently applied to General Greene 
 for an equitable exchange of prisoners. I can also 
 
 * assure you, that General Greene, in a letter to Ge- 
 
 * neral M'Intosh, mentions that he proposed such a 
 4 measure to Lord Cornwallis ; and I can also assure 
 1 you, that by a letter from a delegate in Congress 
 1 we are warranted to say, that Congress has proposed 
 a plan for a general exchange, which Sir Henry 
 
 * Clinton approved, and signified to Gen. Washing- 
 1 ton his readiness to proceed on it; and, for ought 
 ' we know, is at this moment taking place ; how- 
 4 ever, the sending of us to the West-India islands 
 
 * cannot expedite the exchange one moment; neither 
 1 can the measure alleviate the distresses of those of 
 ' your officers who are prisoners, as you must be well 
 
 * assured such treatment as we receive will be fully 
 
 * retaliated by Gen. Washington. 
 
 4 1 AM sorry to hear Gen. Marion should use any 
 4 prisoners ill ; it is contrary to his natural disposi- 
 4 lion : I know him to be generous and humane. 
 ' Before you proceed to extremities I must request 
 4 you will permit me to send an officer to General 
 4 Greene, with a copy of your letter, and the pro- 
 4 ceedings of the court, with the letters relative to 
 4 Lieut. Col. Grimkie and Major Habersham for his 
 
 * inspection. 
 
 * I am, cc. 
 
 * WM. MOUI.TRII.'
 
 175 
 PROCEEDINGS OF A COURT OF INQUIRY, 
 
 HELD BY ORDER OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BALFOUR, 
 COMMANDANT OF CHARLESTOWN, &C. 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, March 23d, 1781. 
 
 MAJOR M' Arthur of the seventy-first regiment, 
 President. 
 
 CAPTAIN Bean of the sixtieth regiment, Captain 
 Blacke of the twenty-third regiment, members. 
 
 MAJOR. Barry laid before the court the letters 
 No. 1 and 2, addressed to Lieutenant J. F. Grimkie 
 and Major John Habersham, Haddrell's-point. 
 
 MR. Charles Wroughton master of a galley sta- 
 tioned near Haddrell's-point, appeared before the 
 court, and the following questions were put to him 
 by Major Barry, viz : 
 
 Q. WHAT conversation had you with Captain 
 Shubrick when he was a-long side the galley ? 
 
 A. I ALWAYS speak all boats passing near the 
 galley on their way to Haddrell's-point. Captain 
 Shubrick, with two ladies, totally unknown to me, 
 came in a boat a-long side the galley ; as I had not 
 the pleasure of knowing the ladies, I asked them for 
 their passes, and Captain Shubrick made answer, 
 * That one was his lady, and he did not conceive that 
 she had occasion for a pass,' or words to that pur- 
 pose. I then asked Captain Shubrick if he had 
 any letters, he answered * No. f Lieutenant John-
 
 176 
 
 i 
 
 ston commanding the galley, then permitted the 
 boat to go a-shore. 
 
 Q. (By the court.) WAS any person present at 
 the time of your asking Captain Shubrick if he had 
 letters ? 
 
 A. No, none to my knowledge, except those in 
 the boat with Captain Shubrick. 
 
 ENSIGN Place, assistant commissary of prisoners, 
 appeared before the court ; and Major Barry put 
 Uie following questions to him, viz : 
 
 Q. WHAT passed between you and Captain Sim- 
 brick, respecting the two letters ? 
 
 A. CAPTAIN Shubrick told me the officer of the 
 galley had desired him to inform me that Mrs. Shu- 
 brick was in the boat, and he desired to know if I 
 had any objections to her landing ; I said not, and 
 proceeded, as usual, upon business, which was that 
 of asking for letters ; but I do not recollect I asked 
 him for any, though he gave me several. 
 
 MR. Charles Wroughton further informed the 
 court, that when he went a-shore, he was surprised 
 to find Mr. Place had received letters from Captain 
 Shubrick. 
 
 CAPTAIK Shubrick being called upon to answer to 
 the evidence of Mr. Wroughton and Mr. Place, 
 declared positively to the court, that he never was 
 asked for letters, by the master of the galley or any 
 one else on board ; that the orders he received from
 
 177 
 
 the galley respecting the ladies were strictly com- 
 plied with. He further declared, that Mr. Place 
 never asked him for letters but that he gave them to 
 him. He further added, that he went to Mr. Place 
 first to get permission for Mrs. Shubrick and the 
 other lady to land ; and when they were landed, he 
 went a second time to Mr. Place and delivered the 
 letters. 
 
 RESPECTING the letters No. 1 and 2, Lieut. Col. 
 Grimkie and Major Habersham confessed to the 
 court, that upon a strict and serious examination in- 
 to the parole given to the officers at Haddrell's-point, 
 they certainly have been guilty of a breach of that 
 parole ; but, at the same time, hoped the court would 
 not consider it in a criminal light, nor as from a de- 
 sire, by any means, to prejudice his Majesty's ser- 
 vice, but merely to divert a few hours of tedious cap- 
 tivity. 
 
 LIEUT. Colonel Grimkie, in order to convince the 
 court of the innocence of the correspondence, further 
 informs the court, that the gazette alluded to in 
 Mr. Kean's letter, was only a recapitulation or men- 
 tion of those numerous and trifling reports, which 
 commonly prevailed among the officers at Haddrell's- 
 point. 
 
 LIEUTENANT Colonel Grimkie and Major Haber- 
 sham further informed the court, that any news or 
 information that was sent Mr. Kean, was prevailing
 
 178 
 
 at Haddrell's-point about six weeks before Mr. Kean 
 received it, from which they conceived no design of 
 hurt could be intended to his majesty's arms. 
 
 LIEUTENANT Colonel Grimkie and Major Haber- 
 sham, respecting that part of the parole, viz : { Or 
 
 * have intercourse, or hold correspondence with his 
 < enemies' they conceived it only extended to persons 
 without the British lines, or such as were wavering 
 in their principles. 
 
 AND further, in order to shew the real intention 
 of the gazette, the motto prefixed to it, was 
 ' Dissipant nugx curas edaces.' 
 
 THE following letters from Mr.Kean were the cause 
 of Colonel Grimkie's and Major Habersharn's being 
 confined ; they were delivered to the commissary of 
 prisoners, and sent by him, to the commandant. 
 
 COPY or MR. KEAN'S LETTER FROM BEAUFORT, TO 
 LIEUT. COL. GRIMKIE AT HADDRILL'S-POINT. 
 
 < March 4th, 1781. 
 No. 1. SWEET are the gratulations of friendship, 
 
 * especially to a heart buried in sorrow ; your friend- 
 4 ly letter has roused me, and from this moment I 
 drive the fiend from me. SORROW, thou drawer 
 
 * of gloomy dejecting pictures, thou anticipater and 
 
 * prolonger of misery, thou destroyer f health, con- 
 
 * tent, and peace of mind, avaunt; nor ever more per-
 
 179 
 
 t vade the sacred mansions of my friends. My heart 
 
 * has no room but for my mistress and my friends. 
 1 1 am not ordered to Charlestown ; no town, no 
 
 * charms shall keep me from you when I am ordered, 
 ' if I can gain permission to come where you are. 
 
 * The amusements you prevailed on Habersham 
 ' to send me have given me the greatest satisfaction ; 
 ' was I to send you a gazette for this latitude how 
 ' different would it be. 
 
 4 1 AM sorry to allay any joyous moments you may 
 1 possess by repetition of losses ; however, for fear 
 
 * common fame might say more than there is occa- 
 
 * sion for, I will tell you myself. You know I am a 
 
 * provident lad, and not having occasion to make use 
 ' of my crops of Indigo, for these last three years 
 
 < past, I had left them at Augusta, and they were 
 ' coming down Savannah river in order to be turned 
 
 * into money for my travelling expenses, with all 
 4 my present year's provision : the genius of the 
 
 * river, has taken a fancy to it, himself; and has 
 ' chosen to impurple his robe at my expense, say 
 ' about 1,000 pounds sterling. 
 
 1 1 AM sorry for the reduction of your regiment, 
 
 * for I fear it was literally reduced ; your known 
 
 < abilities can never want employ ; we will strike out 
 
 * some plan for an exertion of your abilities, and our 
 ( friendship shall be a stimulas to carry us to the 
 
 * pinnacle of fame ; I have a long race to run ere
 
 180 
 
 * I gain the height you already have : Pliny says 
 < there are but two points of view worthy our atten- 
 4 tion, the endless duration of fame, or the extent of 
 ' life : those who are governed by the former, must 
 ' pursue it with unremitting ardor ; those who are 
 4 influenced by the latter should quietly resign them- 
 selves to repose, nor wear out a short life in, pe- 
 ' rishable pursuits. 
 
 * WRITE me frequently, and tell Hab. not to fail 
 4 to send me his monthly exercises. 
 
 * THAT you may enjoy a Mahometan paradise in 
 ' this world, and such a heaven as is most pleasing- 
 
 * in the next, is the wish of your sincere friend. 
 
 (Signed) * JOHN KEAN.' 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER WROTE TO MAJOR HABERSHAM, 
 BY TBS SAME. 
 
 ' March 5th, 1781. 
 
 No. 2. * I THANK you, my dear Jack, for your 
 ' friendly congratulations ; and ^believe me, I have 
 ' not received more true pleasure, since my capti- 
 
 * vity, than your letter afforded me : your gazette 
 4 has roused my mind from a lethargy into which it 
 ' was sunk by accounts so diametrically opposite, that 
 I supposed there was nothing on this continent, 
 
 Mon. Rochambeau to make any opposition : 
 ' indeed, to such a degree of apathy had I sunk, that, 
 
 * save yourself and two or three more, I cared not
 
 131 
 
 * if the whole world had betn perfectly annihilated : 
 5 it is truly a rascally world. 
 
 * LECH MORE our present commandant, you know, 
 { is my particular acquaintance ; besides, you kno\v> 
 
 * I am of a kind of placid disposition. Let me alone ; 
 
 * do not come in my way, and I will let you do as 
 ' you please; this is the reason I fancy why I have 
 1 not been ordered to Charlesto\vn. 
 
 * IT is certainly most convenient for me to be here, 
 
 * but it has exposed me to most severe trials ; figure 
 
 * to yourself an aged mother, a youthful sister, (all 
 ' that remains of a once numerous family) looking 
 1 up to me, the only male left of their line, and ad- 
 ' ding their entreaties to those who stile themselves 
 
 * my friends, to become a subject : we should sin- 
 ' cerely pray against temptation. I do heartily hope 
 c to be endowed with a sufficient degree of fortitude, 
 ' to withstand every attempt : should I not, with 
 c those who know my situation, I shall receive some 
 
 * degree of credit, that I have so lohg withstood 
 
 * such powerful persuaders. Remember CORIOLANUS 
 
 * fell in the most virtuous time of the- Romans : if I 
 c do, (which heaven forbid) it will be the most vir- 
 
 * tuous of my country. 
 
 ' ADIEU to serious subjects! live all the little 
 < amusements that enable us to pass away our pro- 
 
 * bationary stay in this transitory world. I sincerely 
 ( condole with you for your amazing loss, and, had 
 
 VOL. IT. 2 A
 
 182 
 
 I not bid farewell to serious subjects, I would tell 
 you of one that I have met with. 
 
 ' MY poetical genius has left me a long time ; the 
 ' mind ill at ease, cannot please, nor strike out any 
 ( gay thought. I have sent you a copy from a good 
 1 author, which, perhaps (as I imagine you have no 
 
 * library) may fill up a gap in your gazette. Re- 
 4 peat the dose monthly of your amusement, it will 
 f awaken my genius perhaps. 
 
 * Adieu my friend, &c. 
 
 < JOHN KKAN.' 
 
 THE court having duly considered the evidence 
 for and against Lieutenant Colonel Grimkie and 
 Major Habersham, both of the American army, 
 is of opinion they are guilty of a breach of their pa- 
 roles, in corresponding, by letters, with a man not in 
 the King's peace, and who is at Beaufort. 
 
 FROM LT. COL. GRIMKIE. 
 
 SlH, 
 
 1 IN obedience to your order of March the twen- 
 4 ty-third, I repaired to Charlestown, and attended 
 ' at Lieutenant Colonel Balfour's, for the purpose of 
 ' explaining the nature of a correspondence, which 
 ' I had held with Mr. Kean at Port-royal. Captain 
 
 * Barry's secretary informed me that a court of offi- 
 
 * CCTS had been ordered to investigate the matter.
 
 183 
 
 * and that I must attend thereon : I was much sur 
 ' prised at the mode of inquiry pointed out, and ex- 
 
 * pressed my sentiments accordingly ; concluding 
 ' with a desire that Colnel Balfour would suffer me 
 
 * to see him, as I was certain I could explain the 
 
 * whole occurrence to his satisfaction, without the 
 < mediation of a court : but this requ est was pe- 
 ' remptorily objected to; and Captain Barry demand- 
 
 * ed, in a very importunate manner, a specific 
 f answer, whether I would appear before the court 
 1 of officers, ordered to assemble on the occasion ? 
 
 * I reflected, as no other means of inquiry were left 
 
 V 
 
 ' to me but this court, that I should gratify my ene- 
 
 * mies in a most essential point, and with the most 
 
 * singular advantage. Had I continued to refuse the 
 
 * explanation, in the way it was demanded of me, 
 ' they might have represented, that, conscious of an 
 
 * intentional criminality in the correspondence allu- 
 
 * ded to, I had purposely avoided the inquiry, not 
 
 * daring to submit my conduct to the view of man- 
 kind ; and that I preferred laying under the suspi- 
 
 * cion only of being guilty, rather than confirm it 
 ' by my own examination : the natural consequences 
 
 * would have been, that I should have been conveyed 
 ' to some place of confinement ; and, under the se- 
 4 verest interdictions, have been precluded all mode 
 
 * of explanation and appeal : this conduct, I foresaw, 
 4 would have contributed to the pregnant suspicions
 
 184 
 
 ' of mankind, and to my own condemnation. The 
 subsequent part of their conduct towards me, evin- 
 ces the propriety of my behavior upon this occa- 
 ' sion, and the justice of this reflection : to remove, 
 
 * therefore, a calumny of the most illiberal kind, I 
 1 was compelled to listen to their proposals of a court, 
 
 * sensible that nothing criminal could be alledged 
 
 * against me, SUPPORTED BY FACTS. 
 
 4 CAPT. Barry laid before the court a letter written 
 4 by Mr. Kean at Beaufort to me. There are few 
 
 * sentences, which, even in the cooler hours of rea- 
 
 * son, considered abstractedly, and unsupported by 
 
 * the general tenor of the subject, may not be per- 
 
 * verted, and which may not admit of several modes 
 ' of construction. In the present precarious mo- 
 1 ments which awaken suspicion and tend to create 
 
 * jealousies and distrusts : the fears of an enemy may 
 
 * be alarmed by the most trifling incidents. Several 
 4 paragraphs of this letter were pointed out as ob- 
 
 * noxious, and which required an explanation. The 
 ' most natural, as well as the most immediate and 
 
 * ready answers were given to every exceptionable 
 
 * part ; but, nevertheless, words were deprived of 
 ' their intrinsic meaning, and a sense imposed upon 
 4 the different paragraphs foreign to the intention of 
 
 * the writer; for instance, the word amusement was 
 4 said to mean information, and the Latin word nugor, 
 4 which literally and properly signifies trifles, WAS
 
 185 
 
 * forced to assume the meaning of Jolly* This sus- 
 
 * picion I deemed excusable in people who had them- 
 
 * selves given such recent and notorious proofs, that 
 
 * they deemed themselves bound by no engagements 
 ' in infringing the articles of a most sacred capitula- 
 
 * tion. They could not but be of opinion that their 
 
 * conduct not only merited, but would have justified 
 1 any mode of retaliation. It is more than probable. 
 
 * that men devoid of the finer feelings of honor, would 
 
 * suspect a recrimination of injuries from a person 
 
 * whom they had also previously injured : such appre- 
 
 * hensions are natural to the weak, the base, and the 
 
 * guilty ; for they are incapable, from an irrecover- 
 
 * able badness of heart, to conceive a soul equal to 
 < the sufferings of injuries imposed on it ; and for a 
 
 * forbearance of its just resentment at the same mo- 
 1 ment. To remove, therefore, these plausible jea- 
 1 louaies, I candidly proposed to the court that they 
 
 * would permit me to write to Mr. Kean, whom I 
 
 * would request to send immediately the necessary 
 
 * papers to me ; and that they would defer the con- 
 
 * sideration of this matter until I could procure 
 ' them ; they were absolutely necessary for an elu- 
 1 cidation of the subject : they were absolutely ne- 
 
 * cessary for their information, and also for my de- 
 
 * fence and acquittal. So sudden and unexpected a 
 ' proposal gave the alarm of the consciousness of my 
 ' own innocence and the certainty of my acquittal ;
 
 186 
 
 * but this reasonable demand was not listened to by 
 < the court. I am yet in doubt to resolve, whether 
 
 * this neglect proceeded from the native propensity 
 of the court, or from the dictatorial mandate which 
 
 * was now delivered to them by captain Barry, and 
 ' which they said proceeded from Lt. Col. Balfour. 
 Capt. Barry told the court that the contents of the 
 ' letters were by no means an object of their con- 
 4 sideration ; that it was wholly out of their province 
 ' to judge of tne criminality of the expressions ; and 
 
 * that be the subject ever so innocent the fact alone 
 
 * of having corresponded constituted the guilt. He 
 ' added, that Mr. Kean's letter sufficiently indicated 
 4 that he was an enemy to the king, and that my pa- 
 
 * role provided that no correspondence or intercourse 
 ' should be hi-J-J with his enemies. I was astonished 
 i at this new doctrine and uncandid interpretation 
 
 * which was put upon the parole. I observed how 
 ' inequitable it was to adopt a literal construction of 
 4 the parole, and to assume a forced application for 
 4 the terms of Mr. Kean's letter. That my concep- 
 ' tion of the sense of the parole was very different ; 
 
 * I was, indeed, bound not to communicate any in- 
 telligence to an enemy of the king of Great Britain ; 
 
 * but did not appear to preclude my writing to a 
 ' friend, who was a prisoner upon parole, and within 
 < the enemy's lines as well as myself. Besides, the 
 ' correspondence was perfectly innocent, and did no
 
 187 
 
 * injury to the cause against which we were engaged. 
 
 < I had not endeavored to confirm Mr. Kean in the 
 4 principles which he had adopted, as I was sensible, 
 
 * from the strength of his judgment and the upright- 
 
 * ness of his heart, that he would persevere in so just 
 
 * a cause. If I had mistaken the parole, and been 
 too liberal in my construction of it, that the inten- 
 
 * tion ought to be weighed by the court. Supposing 
 1 it possible that the interpretation given to the pa- 
 1 role by Captain Barry should be thought the usual 
 
 * and received one, I must then confess that I had 
 1 been guilty of a breach of it ; but as it was without 
 
 * design, and without criminality, it could be deemed 
 
 * but an indiscretion, and, consequently, venial. 
 
 IN the course of this conference, you will be pleas- 
 
 < ed to observe that Mr. Barry changed his ground, 
 who strenuously endeavored to establish the crimi- 
 
 * nality of the correspondence, by pointing out such 
 ' passages as would bear a double meaning : but af- 
 *' ter I had offered to produce the papers, he conclu- 
 
 * ded with assuring the court that it was not neces- 
 
 * sary to consider whether the expressions were cri- 
 4 minal or not, but only whether a correspondence 
 
 * existed, for, in that alone the guilt lay. Upon 
 
 * the declaration of this positive command of Colo- 
 
 * nel Balfour, and the letters alone of Mr. Kean, was 
 ' founded the sentence of the court ; although I ob- 
 
 * serve that these proceedings positively declare an
 
 188 
 
 acknowledgement of a breach of my parole, arid 
 
 * that they pronounced their sentence upon that con- 
 
 < fession, without making any mention whatever of 
 
 < the doubts which had arisen in my breast, concern- 
 ing the propriety of their interpretation, or the con- 
 ' ditionality of the acknowledgement. 
 
 * I MADE application to Captain Bluck for a copy 
 
 * of the proceedings of the court, which was refused 
 
 * me : I must confess my uneasiness at this refusal, 
 
 * apprehending some omissions, and that on so deli- 
 
 * cate a subject, the text might be attended with a 
 
 * variety of constructions ; it ought, therefore, to 
 
 * have been as full as possible, and the instances of 
 ' misinterpretation, then before me, pointed out the 
 ' necessity : since you did me the honor of the peru- 
 
 * sal of the proceedings of the court, I am sorry to 
 
 * say, I find my suspicions confirmed ; I have, there- 
 
 * fore, taken the liberty of representing to you the 
 
 * facts as they happened ; and supplied tbose disin- 
 
 * genuous omissions which I have discovered. 
 
 * IN consequence of their opinion, I was detained 
 in the City-guard for ten days, without any allow- 
 
 * ance of provisions, fire, or candles* and it is proba- 
 
 * ble that if you had not interposed and represented 
 
 * the injustice of such proceedings, that the same 
 
 * injurious treatment would have existed to the mo- 
 1 ment of my dismission. Major Habersham who 
 was acquainted witii Major M'Atihur the president
 
 189 
 
 * of the court, had two interviews with him after 
 ' our confinement ; wherein that gentleman very 
 1 candidly disavowed the least suspicions of criminali- 
 ' ty in our intentions, and advised us to write to 
 
 * Colonel Balfour. This advice I had reason to think 
 ' was the result of a conference which he had held 
 
 * with that gentleman. lie told us also, that were 
 
 * the papers produced which we had sent to Mi\ 
 
 * Kean, it was more than probable we should imme- 
 
 * diately be dismissed. Such an inconsistancy of bc- 
 
 * havior, filled me with more astonishment, than 
 
 * the injurious treatment I had received. At first 
 
 * the papers are refused to be seen, and a court forms 
 
 * a solemn sentence without them, though offered : 
 
 * Col. Balfour sends them word it is not necessary to 
 4 consider the contents of the letters ; and afterwards 
 
 * he thinks it requisite that they should be laid before 
 4 himself. I treated this childish behavior with the 
 ' contempt it deserved, and would not take any steps 
 
 * to produce the papers required. The confinement 
 
 * in a public prison, and the charge of the crime, of 
 
 * the deepest die, left open no door of reconciliation 
 
 < or further explanation on my part. One day's im- 
 
 * prisonment drew upon me the suspicions of the 
 
 * people, and the continuance of the punishment 
 
 * could avail no more. I presumed that as soon as 
 ' Mr. Kean arrived in town, he would be able to ex- 
 
 < plain such matters as they were solicitous to make 
 
 2 B
 
 190 
 
 < appear mysterious. The consequence of his letter 
 
 * was, that on the 17th April we were informed, that 
 ' Col. Balfour was convinced that we had not inten- 
 
 * tionally been guilty of a breach of paroles, but that 
 4 he could not release us until he had heard from 
 4 Lord Cornwallis ; to whom he had written upon the 
 4 subject. This was a very extraordinary confession 
 4 of our innocence, indeed, since no new matter was 
 4 laid before Colonel Balfour which could have indue- 
 
 * ed him to have changed his opinion. I told Ma- 
 4 jor Fraser that I imagined Colonel Balfour had been 
 4 perfectly convinced of the purity of our intentions 
 4 ever since he had received the proceedings of the 
 4 court, which he candidly acknowledged ; whilst I 
 4 had reason to believe that Colonel Balfour was con- 
 4 vinccd of the propriety of his own conduct, I re- 
 4 mainecl satisfied, though I could not approve of it ; 
 4 nay, sir, I even acknowledged the justice of the 
 4 confinement I was suffering, whilst I was persuad- 
 4 ed that Colonel Balfour's conduct proceeded from 
 4 a mistaken principle, and not from the wanton ex- 
 4 crtion of a temporary power. It is difficult to judge 
 4 what were my feelings when I was informed that I 
 4 was acknowledged not to be guilty intentionally or 
 4 criminally, but that notwithstanding this declaration, 
 ' I had not only been punished, but was to experience 
 4 a continuance thereof : could language be more 
 4 insulting or could actions be more malicious. Is
 
 191 
 
 it possible that any man can have so base, so ser- 
 c rile a spirit, as to exercise an office whose charac" 
 
 < teristic function is an indiscriminate infliction 
 
 * of punishment, without the additional property of 
 4 dispensing justice or extending mercy ? At length, 
 1 after a confinement of five weeks, I was told by 
 ' Major Fraser, that letters had been received from 
 ' Lord Cornwallis, and that his lordship was of 
 ' opinion, that we had not been guilty of a breach of 
 ' parole ; this part of their behavior deserves as 
 
 * little attention as credibility, though it was not the 
 1 least extraordinary. It is well known that Major 
 ' Benson, who attended General Scott, did not see 
 ' General Greene, and that they did not know where 
 1 to find Lord Cornwallis,* and therefore returned 
 
 < without having executed that part of their com- 
 ( mission. 
 
 * I AM sorry, sir, that I was not acquainted with 
 
 * the opportunity you had of writing to General 
 
 < Greene, and of your intention of inclosing the 
 
 * The British in Charlestown, were very much at a loss 
 to know what was become of Lord Cornwaliis : after the battle 
 of Guildford, they could get no account of him ; they therefore 
 fell upon this expedient, which was, to let General Scott go to 
 Virginia upon parole, but that Major Benson should atetnd 
 him until they came to Lord Cornwallis or General Greene ; 
 but in this they were disappointed, as a part of General Greene's 
 army met them and would not let them pass, but ordered them 
 back again, and General Scott returned to us at Haddrell's* 
 point.
 
 192 
 
 ' papers relative to rae in your dispatches ; had this 
 ' explanation been included in your packet, it would 
 
 * have given a very different appearance to this affair 
 4 than will be the result of the perusal of the British 
 1 papers. I have therefore to request of you to 
 
 * communicate these facts to General Greene, before 
 ' whom the British papers have been laid, and you 
 ' will add to the obligations already conferred on me. 
 4 I should have represented my situation to you at 
 
 * an earlier period, but reflecting that I had been 
 f refused a copy of the proceedings of the court, I 
 ' did not imagine that permission would have been 
 
 * granted me to write to you ; I therefore declined 
 
 * it until I should be released from my confinement ; 
 ' and I take this early period to offer you my warm- 
 ' est acknowledgments for your interposition in my 
 ' favor, to assure you how sensibly I am obliged to 
 ' you, and that 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 
 4 J. F. GRINKIE.' 
 * Gen. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 FRM COL. GKIMKIE. 
 
 <SlH, 
 
 THE confinement I suffered, in the City-guard 
 of Charlestown, having rendered the parole which 
 4 I gave upon the surrender of that place null and 
 
 * void, and no other promise or parole having been
 
 c given by me since, I thought myself at liberty to 
 ' return to the duty of my country. I have inclosed 
 1 you a copy of a letter written to me by Major 
 ' Fraser the night before I left town, to which I re- 
 
 * turned no answer at all. The situation* in which 
 1 you are, precluded me from asking your opinion 
 ' upon a point of so much delicacy ; I have therefore 
 ' left my reasons for your perusal ; hoping that I shall 
 ' be vindicated in your opinion, which I highly 
 
 * esteem, and in that of the other officers, prisoners 
 
 * at Haddrell's-point. 
 
 1 I am, &c. 
 
 J. F. GRIMKIE.' 
 ' Gen. MOULTRIE-' 
 
 COLONEL Grimkie went off and joined General 
 Greene's anny. 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 < March 2 1st, 1781. 
 
 <SlR, 
 
 You cannot possibly be more tired with read- 
 ' ing my letters than I am of writing them ; yet I 
 
 * must intrude upon your multiplicity of business, and 
 < remonstrate against every violation of the capitula- 
 ' tion, and represent every grievance which occurs to 
 
 * us, whether they are attended to or not. What I 
 
 * A prisoner,
 
 194 
 
 1 am now to remonstrate against, is a most violent 
 ' and inhuman breach of the capitulation ; which is 
 ' the impressing the American soldiers from on board 
 1 the prison-ships, taking them away by violence, and 
 ' sending them on board the transports, to be carried 
 
 * from the continent of America ;* many of them 
 ' leaving wives and young children, who may possi- 
 
 * bly perish for want of the common necessaries of 
 4 life ; if I cannot prevail upon you to countermand 
 1 this violation altogether, let me plead for those un- 
 ' happy ones who have families to be exempted from 
 
 * this cruelty. I beg you will consider their situation 
 
 * and suffer your humanity to be partial in their favor. 
 
 * I am, &c, 
 
 * WILLIAM MOULTRIE.' 
 
 No answer to this letter. 
 
 To LT. COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 April 3d, 1781. 
 SIR, 
 
 I AM to acknowledge the receipt of your's of 
 
 * yesterday's date, and as I cannot be permitted to 
 1 Bend an officer to General Greene with my dis- 
 
 * patches, I have sent them down for your perusal, 
 
 * and request the favor you will forward them : I am 
 
 * Several hundreds of tlicrn were forced to inlist in Lord 
 Charles Montague's regiment, and were canicd to Jamaica.
 
 195 
 
 * also to request that I may be permitted to send to 
 
 < Congress your letter and my answer, relative to 
 
 < the sending the continental and militia prisoners of 
 ' war to the West-Indies ; which, if you agree to, I 
 4 have sent down to be put immediately on board the 
 
 * flag going to Philadelphia, that she may not be de- 
 
 * tained one moment. 
 
 < I am, 8cc. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 To GEN. GREENE. 
 
 ' April 3d, 1781- 
 
 < SIR, 
 
 * I DO myself the honor to transmit to you the 
 ' copies of two letters received from Lieutenant Colo- 
 
 * nel Balfour commandant in Charlestown and my 
 c answer thereto, relative to the sending the conti- 
 
 * nental and militia prisoners of war to the West-In- 
 ' dies ; and also the copies of the proceedings of a 
 
 * court of inquiry, ordered by Colonel Balfour, to ex- 
 
 * amine a charge against Lieutenant Colonel Grim- 
 4 kie and Major Habershatn, for a breach of parole : 
 1 the letters and papers are numbered as follows, 
 
 * which if you find right, I request the favor you will 
 
 * signify to me by the return of the bearer. 
 
 ' I am, Sec. 
 
 ' WM. MOULTRIE.'
 
 196, 
 
 FROM MAJ. FRASER. 
 
 April 29th 1781, 8 at night. 
 SIR, 
 
 4 I BEG leave to acquaint you that a boat will be 
 
 * ready at Wragg's-wharf to-morrow morning, at 
 1 half past eiiajht o'clock, for the purpose of carrying 
 ' you, Major Habersham, your servants and baggage 
 
 * to Haddrell's-point ; where you will consider your- 
 
 * selves on parole, in the same situation with the rest 
 
 * of the officers there. I will thank you to commu- 
 
 * nicate this to Major Habersham. 
 
 * I have the honor, See. 
 
 < C. FRASER. Town Major. 
 
 * Lieut. Col. GRIMKIE.' 
 
 To MAJ. BENSON. 
 
 April 30th, 1781. 
 < SIR, 
 
 * I R E c E IVE B your's at twelve o'clock, in which 
 ' you inform me, that the commandant wishes to see 
 
 * me on business of consequence. I must request 
 
 * you will make my compliments, and I will wait on 
 
 * him to-morrow morning. 
 
 * I am, 8cc. 
 
 ' W>r. MOUI.TRIE."
 
 197 
 
 To COL. BALFOUR. 
 
 * CHARLES-TOWN, May 2d, 1781. 
 < SIR, 
 
 1 AT your request, by letter from Major Benson 
 
 * I came to town yesterday, on some business of con- 
 
 * sequence, on which I was informed you would 
 
 * wish to speak to me ; on my arrival I sent my aid- 
 
 * de-camp, Captain Shubrick, to acquaint you, and 
 ' to know what hour you would wish to see me ; 
 ' you appointed this morning at ten o'clock ; I ac- 
 ' cordingly attended at your quarters, and after 
 t waiting some little time, was much surprised to 
 
 * find, instead of your speaking to me, a verbal 
 ' message delivered by Major Barry ; by whom I 
 
 * was informed that you were then so busy that you 
 
 * could not see me ; but that he had it in charge to 
 
 * acquaint me, " That the continental and militia offi- 
 " cers were to be sent to Long-Island, (instead * 
 ' the West-Indies, as had been threatened before) 
 " at the particular request of General Greene." 
 t However polite you may conceive this treatment, 
 ' I look upon it quite otherwise ; and hope for the 
 
 * future, when a matter of so much consequence, as 
 
 * the total dissolution of a capitulation is to be trans- 
 
 * acted, that it will be done by letter, when no mis- 
 
 * understandings can be pleaded on either side ; and 
 
 VOL. ii 2 e
 
 198 
 
 I therefore request that Major Barry's message 
 may be transmitted to me in writing. 
 I am, &c. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE.' 
 
 ARTICLES of a CARTEL for the exchange and relief 
 of prisoners of war, taken in the Southern depart- 
 ment; agreed to at the house of Mr. Claudius Pe- 
 gues on Peedee, the third of May, 1781 j between 
 Captain Cornwallis, on the part of Lieutenant 
 General Earl Cornwallis;; and Lieutenant Colonel 
 Carrington, on the part of Major General Greene. 
 1 I. THAT regular troops be exchanged for regu- 
 lars, and militia for militia. 
 
 * II. THAT men inlisted for six months and up- 
 wards in continental or state service be looked upon 
 as regulars. 
 
 III. THAT the mode of exchange be rank for 
 rank, as far as similar ranks shall apply. 
 
 * IV. THAT officers be exchanged by rotation, 
 according to date of captive ; but a reciprocal option 
 to be exercised as to subjects, in non-commissioned 
 and privates, by naming particular corps or particu- 
 lar persons. 
 
 ' V. THAT no non-commissioned officer or pri- 
 vate soldier admitted to parole, shall be considered 
 as a prisoner of war, but finally liberated, unless 
 paroled on the faith of a commissioned officer.
 
 199 
 
 < VI. THAT officers who cannot be exchanged 
 for want of similar ranks to apply, be immediately 
 paroled to their respective homes until exchanged ; 
 subject to be recalled for a breach thereof, or for a 
 violation of the cartel, by the party to whom they 
 belong. 
 
 1 VII. THAT passports be allowed for such sup- 
 plies as may be sent from either side, to prisoners 
 in captivity. 
 
 * VIII. THAT commissaries of prisoners be per- 
 mitted to pass from each side into the opposite lines, 
 and reside there, for the purpose of viewing and re- 
 presenting the situations of the prisoners ; but remo- 
 ved by the respective commanding officers. 
 
 * IX. THAT prisoners shall not be sent from the 
 continent whilst the articles of the cartel continue 
 to be observed. 
 
 ' X. THAT commissaries of prisoners shall im- 
 mediately put in practice exchanges on the above 
 principles, as far as the subjects on each side will 
 go ; and continue them in future as characters shall 
 apply. 
 
 * XI. THAT the first delivery of American pri- 
 soners shall embark at Charlestown, on or before 
 the fifteenth of June, and sail immediately for James- 
 town, in James-river, where the first delivery of Bri- 
 tish prisoners shall embark, on or about the first
 
 200 
 
 week in July, and sail immediately to the nearest 
 British port. 
 
 ' XII. THAT the flag of truce shall be sacred 
 going with the American prisoners, and returning 
 with the British to the port where they are to be 
 delivered.' 
 
 THIS cartel being agreed upon, Major Hyrne 
 the American commissary of prisoners, came to 
 Charlestown and proceeded upon the exchange of 
 prisoners, and where similar ranks could not apply, 
 the officers were paroled; some went to Philadelphia, 
 others to Virginia with what soldiers were left, and 
 the sick to the hospital. 
 
 I WAS allowed a small brig for myself and family, 
 and such others as I chose to take on board ; in con- 
 sequence- of which, by applications and intreaties 
 of my friends, we had upwards of ninety souls on 
 board that small brig ; we sailed some time in June, 
 and after a pleasant passage, arrived safe in Phila- 
 delphia ; the other vessels all arrived in Virginia, 
 
 As soon as Colonel Grimkie joined General 
 Greene's army, he solicited for a court of inquiry on 
 his conduct at leaving HaddreH's-pointj a court was 
 accordingly appointed, of which Colonel Harrison of 
 the Virginia line of artillery was president; and that 
 they were unanimously of opinion, that Colonel
 
 201 
 
 Grimkie had not broke his parole, and that he was 
 justifiable in quitting Haddrell's-point; which was 
 approved of by General Greene; and who was so 
 strongly impressed with the justice and propriety of 
 his conduct, that when he proposed to him to let him 
 have a party of troops to bring off all his brother 
 officers who were prisoners at Haddrell's-point, he 
 immediately consented to it, and gave him a letter 
 to General Marion on the subject, who was fully of 
 opinion that the officers were absolved from their 
 paroles; the general accordingly furnished him with 
 a detachment, with which he proceeded to Haddrell's- 
 point, and from which, he did not retreat, until he 
 had made the British commissary prisoner , within 
 sight of the town, and until he had possession of the 
 barracks and all the officers, and a number of the 
 officers had proceeded on their way off, as far as the 
 church, which was five miles from the barracks, and 
 near the quarters where General Pinckney and my- 
 self staid; there they halted, and sent to know 
 whether we would go off with them ; we refused to 
 go, though not one of us doubted the right or the 
 propriety of the measure, because we were convinced 
 that the British had violated the capitulation, against 
 which we had often remonstrated, but we expected 
 soon to be exchanged, and we thought it best to 
 remain, rather than run any risk. 
 
 THE circumstance of General Greene's giving en-
 
 202 
 
 couragement to those officers on parole to quit that 
 parole, if they could do it with security to their per- 
 sons, acknowledging thereby, as did every officer in 
 our army, who were not prisoners, that every officer 
 on Haddrell's-point, was freed from the parole which 
 he had given, by the excessive outrages of the 
 British, and their many and flagrant violations of 
 our capitulation. 
 
 DURING the siege of Charlestown, on the 25th of 
 April, Lord Cornwallis passed over to Mount-Plea- 
 sant with 2,000 men, by which movement we were 
 completely invested ; he soon afterward moved his 
 main body to Brabants.* 
 
 WHILE the siege of Charlestown was pending, a 
 French fleet under the command of Admiral Ter- 
 nay, of seven ships of the line and five frigates and 
 a number of transports, with five thousand as good 
 troops as any in France, on board, hastening to 
 our relief, but did not arrive in time ; they were so 
 near the coast as to take the vessel that was carrying 
 Sir Henry Clinton's dispatches to New- York, with an 
 account of the surrender of Charlestown. Their 
 plan was to have gone into Ball's-bay, landed the 
 troops at Sevee-bay, marched down to Haddrell's- 
 point, and from thence, to cross over to Charlestown ; 
 
 * Bishop Smith's scat.
 
 203 
 
 which they could very easily have done, and would 
 have effectually raised the siege and taken the British 
 fleet in Charlestown harbor, and in Stono-inlet and 
 in all probability their whole army. 
 
 COLONEL Buford was marching with a detachment 
 of the Virginia line, between three and four hundred 
 men, and a few of Washington's cavalry, to rein- 
 force the garrison of Charlestown ; but when he ar- 
 rived at Nelson's-ferry, he received information of 
 their surrender ; upon which he began his retreat 
 for N. Carolina. Lord Cornwallis who being in- 
 camped at Brabant's, in St.Thomas' parish some con- 
 siderable time before the surrender, on the 18th 
 May began his march for Huger's-bridge, with about 
 2500 men and 5 field pieces from thence to Leneau's- 
 fcrry, on Santee-river, where he found some difficul- 
 ty in crossing ; the Americans had destroyed most 
 of the boats ; some few were hid in the swamps, but 
 the negroes discovered them and the army crossed ; 
 from whence Colonel Tarleton was sent off to George- 
 town to drive off, or take any Americans that were 
 to be found there. Lord Cornwallis proceeded on 
 with the main body to Nelson's-ferry, where he was 
 joined by Tarleton, whom he immediately detached 
 with a body of about 700 infantry and cavalry in quest 
 of Colonel Buford, who had begun his retreat from 
 that place about ten days before. Colonel Tarleton 
 (who had discretionary orders) left the army on the
 
 204 
 
 27th, and the next day arrived at Camden, where he 
 got intelligence of Buford ; no time was to be lost to 
 prevent his junction with a detachment of Americans 
 that were incamped near the Catawba's. At two 
 o'clock in the morning," the British being refreshed, 
 continued their pursuit to Rugley's, and at daylight 
 they were informed that the continentals had retreat- 
 ed about twenty miles towards the Catawba settle- 
 ments to meet their reinforcements. In order to de- 
 tain Colonel Buford on his march Captain Kinlock 
 was sent off with a flag to summons him to surrender 
 upon the same terms as the continentals had in 
 Charlestown ; informing him at the same time, that 
 Colonel Tarleton had 700 infantry and cavalry : to 
 which Colonel Buford sent back a message of defiance? 
 at the same time continued his march while convers- 
 ing with the flag ; and at the near approach of the 
 enemy he drew up his men in open order in the 
 wood on the right of the road, his infantry in one 
 line, with a small reserve and his colors in the cen- 
 tre ; his artillery and waggons he ordered to continue 
 on their march. Colonel Tarleton drew up his men 
 in the following order at the distance of three hun- 
 dred yards. Major Cochran commanded his right 
 wing of sixty dragoons, and as many mounted in- 
 fantry with orders to dismount to gall the flanks: 
 Captains Corbet and Kinlock with the dragoons of the 
 1 7th and a part of the legion to charge the centre
 
 305 
 
 while Tarleton with thirty chosen dragoons and some 
 infantry, were to attack their flanks and reserve : 
 the dragoons, the mounted infantry, and the three 
 pounder, were ordered to form in the rear as a re- 
 serve, as they came up with their tired horses : as 
 the British approached, the Americans were within 
 about fifty yards; the officers called out * not to fire 
 until they were within ten yards,' which Tarleton 
 said himself < he was surprised to hear:' in my 
 opinion this was a great error. Colonel Buford 
 committed two very capital mistakes in this affair i 
 the first was his sending away his waggons and ar- 
 tillery, which ought to have been his chief depend- 
 ance. On the approach of the enemy he ought to 
 have formed them into a hollow square, with small 
 intervals between each ; in these intervals to have 
 placed platoons ; taking out the baggage and placed 
 ft a little in the front of each platoon, which would 
 have served as a breast- work, and would have discon- 
 certed the cavalry in their charge : his field-pieces 
 planted in the front angles of the square : an inter- 
 val in the rear of the square for the cavalry, who 
 should face outward asd be ready to sally when oc- 
 casion should offer : six men in each waggon : with 
 this disposition the enemy could have made no im- 
 pression upon him : nay, Tarleton would never have 
 attacked him. Another mistake was his ordering 
 
 VOL. II. 3 D
 
 2O6 
 
 his men not to fire upon the enemy (who were chief- 
 ly cavalry) till they came within ten yards of him. 
 
 A RETURN of rebels, killed, wounded, and taken, in 
 the aflair at Waxsaws, the 29th of May, 1781. 
 ONE lieutenant colonel, three captains, eight sub- 
 alterns, one adjutant, one quartermaster, ninety-nine 
 sergeants and rank and file, killed ; three captains, 
 five subalterns, one hundred and forty-two sergeants 
 and rank and file wounded, unable to travel and left 
 on parale ; one hundred and thirteen killed, and one 
 hundred and fifty-one so badly wounded as to be left 
 on the grotmd ; taken, three stand of colors, two 
 brass six pounders, two royals, two waggons with 
 ammunition, one artillery forge cart, fifty-five barrels 
 of powder, twenty-six waggons loaded with new 
 cloathing, arms, muskets, cartridges, new cartridge- 
 boxes, flints and camp equipage. 
 
 (Signed,) B. TARLETON- 
 
 Lieut. Col. Com. B. legion. 
 
 A BETURN of British killed and wounded in the 
 
 affair at Waxsaws, the 29th of May, 1781. 
 CAVALRY, two privates killed ; one subaltern and 
 eight privates wounded. Infantry, two subalterns one 
 private killed. 
 
 Lieutenant Pateschall of the seventeenth dra. 
 goons wounded ; Lieut. M'Donald and Lieut. Camp.
 
 207 
 
 bell of the legion killed. Eleven horses killed and 
 nineteen wounded. 
 
 (Signed,) B. TARLETON 
 
 Lieut. Col. Com. B. legion. 
 
 MARSHALL Saxe says, page thirty, ' At the battle 
 i of Belgrade I sa*v two battalions cut to pieces in an 
 ' instant; being surrounded by a thick fog, a strong 
 ' blast of wind suddenly arose and dispersed it, when 
 ' we immediately saw a battalion of Loraine and 
 
 * another of Neuperg upon a hill, separated from 
 4 the rest of our army ; Prince Eugine at the same 
 ' time, discovered a party of horse in motion up the 
 
 * side of the mountain, and asked me, if I could dis- 
 4 tinguish what they were I I answered, they were 
 1 thirty or forty Turks ; then, repeated he, those 
 4 two battalions are undone ; at which time I 
 
 * could perceive no appearance of their being at- 
 
 * tacked, not being able to see what was on the 
 ' other side of the mountain, but galloping up at full 
 
 * speed, I no sooner arrived in the rear of Neuperg's 
 ' colors, than I saw the two battalions present, and 
 
 * give a general fire upon a large body of Turks, at 
 ' the distance of about thirty paces instantaneously 
 ' after which the Turks rushed forward through the 
 
 * smoke without allowing them a moment's time to 
 4 fly, and with their sabres cut the whole to pieces 
 ' upon the spot. The only persons who escaped,
 
 ?os 
 
 4 were M. de Neuperg, who happened luckily to be on 
 * horseback, an ensign who hung to my horse's mane, 
 ' and two or three privates ; the Turks of their own 
 ' accord retired. Upon the arrival afterwards of 
 some cavalry and infantry, M. Neuberg desired a 
 ' detachment to secure the clothing ; upon which 
 ' sentries were posted at the four angles of the ground, 
 1 occupied by the dead bodies of the two battalions f 
 4 and their clothes, hats, shoes &tc, collected in heaps 
 < together; during which time I had curiosity enough 
 * to count the number of Turks which might be de- 
 4 stroyed by the general discharge of the two battal. 
 ' ions, and found it amounted only to thirty-two." 
 
 THESE two instances show the superiority which 
 cavalry have over infantry. 
 
 THIS victory of Tarleton's gained him the high- 
 est esteem and confidence of Lord Cornwallis, who 
 recommended him in a very particular manner to 
 his majesty's favor. The total destruction of Bu- 
 ford's detachment left South Carolina and Georgia 
 without a single continental soldier but what were 
 prisoners of war : in this situation all military ope- 
 rations and all opposition to the British army were 
 suspended for a time : after this the principal object of 
 the British was to secure the submission of the in- 
 habitants throughout the state, they accordingly sent 
 detachments, and took post at Camden, Georgetown,
 
 20 
 
 Cheraws, Beaufort, and Congaree, and the citizens 
 sent in flags from all parts, (some excepted who were 
 in the back parts of the state still kept out) with 
 their submission to the British government, praying 
 that they may be admitted upon the same terms as 
 the citizens of Charlestown. 
 
 EARLY in June Sir Henry Clinton goes to New- 
 York with the main body of the British army, and 
 leaves about 4,000 of the troops under the command 
 of Lord Cornwallis, who came to Charlestown to ar- 
 range the civil matters, and in July or early in Au- 
 gust returns to Camden, leaving Col. Nesbet Balfour 
 commandant in Charlestown. 
 
 ON the first of June Sir Henry Clinton and Admi- 
 ral Arbuthnot as commissioners for restoring peace 
 to America, issued their proclamation, offering ' to 
 ' the inhabitants, with a few exceptions, pardon for 
 4 their past treasonable offences, and a reinstate- 
 ' ment of the possession of all those rights and im~ 
 4 munities which they hitherto had enjoyed under a 
 ' free British government, exempt from taxation, 
 ' except by their own legislatures.' 
 
 THE people quite harrassed out and tired of war; 
 their capital fallen, and their army prisoners, no 
 place of safety for them to fly to with their families 
 and property ; the British troops in possession of 
 their whole country, and no prospect of relief from 
 Ihe neighboring states ; in this situation they thought
 
 MO 
 
 further resistance was useless, they therefore rea- 
 dily accepted of the pleasing offers, in hopes they 
 v/ould have been suffered to remain peaceably and 
 quietly at home with their families, and to have gone 
 on with their business undisturbed, as before ; but 
 how great was their astonishment three days after- 
 wards, on the third of June, to see a proclamation 
 from the British commander [See appendix, note 21.] 
 setting aside all paroles given to prisoners not taken 
 by capitulation, and who were not in confinement at 
 the surrender of Charlestown, ' To be null and void 
 ' after the twentieth of the same month ; and the 
 
 * holders of them were called upon to resume the 
 
 * characters of British subjects, and to take an active 
 
 * part in forwarding military operations, or to be 
 ' considered as rebels against his majesty's govern- 
 
 ' ment.' This violation of all faith, this ill-grounded 
 policy, enrolled into the American service, thou- 
 sands of their citizens, who had indulged themselves 
 with the pleasing hopes of remaining neuter until 
 the end of the war ; but they said, ' if we must fight 
 let it be on the side of America, our friends and 
 countrymen.' A great many exchanged their paroles 
 for protections, and remained with the British : some 
 few of them who were warm friends to the British 
 government, prepared an address, [See appendix, 
 note 22.} and carried it about town, to be signed 
 by the inhabitants ; many at first refused, some were
 
 211 
 
 persuaded, and others threatened that if they did 
 not sign, they would be informed against : this to 
 the timid was very alarming, lest they should be 
 put in the provost, or otherwise ill treated, which 
 obliged two- hundred and ten of the inhabitants to 
 sign the address. In answer to their address they 
 were promised the privileges and protection of Bri- 
 tish subjects, on subscribing a test oath to support 
 
 the royal government. 
 
 THE capitulation of Charlestown was of very little 
 benefit to the citizens who came under that compact, 
 especially those who refused to sign the address ; 
 the British found so many ways of evading or viola- 
 ting that contract, that it was rendered almost useless 
 to the citizens ; but they were a little more cautious 
 with the continental officers. 
 
 IF one or two citizens, in walking the streets of 
 Charlestown, should happen to look at a British offi- 
 cer and smile, they were sure to be abused and per- 
 haps sent to the provost. 
 
 GEN. Lincoln, during the siege of Charlestown, 
 continued writing to Congress, to Virginia, and 
 North Carolina, for reinforcements, representing the 
 we.ak state of his army, and the dangerous situation 
 that Carolina was then in, until we were completely 
 invested ; at length Congress determined that a con- 
 siderable reinforcement from their main army should 
 be sent; and Major Gen. Baron de Kalb with four-
 
 212 
 
 teen hundred continental troops of the Delaware and 
 Maryland lines were ordered to the southward ; they 
 marched from head-quarters at Morristown in New- 
 Jersey on the 16th April, 1780 ; embarked at the 
 head of Elk in May, and landed soon at Petersburgh 
 in Virginia, and from thence proceeded by land 
 through the country towards South Carolina. Vir- 
 ginia made great exertions to expedite the move- 
 ments of this little army. The South part of North 
 Carolina being so much exhausted of provisions by 
 the great bodies of militia armies of whigs and to- 
 ries that had been moving about, that it was al- 
 most impossible, when Baron de Kalb got into that 
 part of the country in July, to support his army ; for 
 many days they lived upon stewed peaches ; there 
 was scarcely food enough left to support the unhap- 
 py women and children that were obliged to stay at 
 home. 
 
 IN a letter from Baron de Kalb to Chevalier De 
 la Luzerne, minister from France in Philadelphia ; he 
 says * You may judge of the virtues of our small ar- 
 ' my, from the following fact : we for several days 
 ' lived on nothing but peaches ; and I have not heard 
 ' of a complaint : there has been no desertion.' 
 
 THE State of North Carolina ordered a large de- 
 tachment of their militia to take the field and to be 
 relitved every three months : this army was intend- 
 ed to raise the siege of Charlestown, but too late for
 
 213 
 
 that purpose : they were, however, a very great check 
 to the British and stopped their rapid progress over 
 North and South Carolina. Upon Colonel Tarleton's 
 near approach with his detachment to Mulinburgh 
 county, Gen. Rutherford took the field, and in three 
 days raised fifteen hundred men, which obliged Col. 
 Tarleton immediately to retreat, and the militia re- 
 turned to their homes : soon after, Lord Rawdon 
 took post at Waxsaws : General Rutherford again 
 raised a body of militia of eight-hundred men, and 
 obliged his lordship to retreat. 
 
 THE North Carolinians were always active and 
 ready to defend their country, but they were bad- 
 ly provided with suitable armor for defence ; they 
 were obliged to turn their implements of husbandry, 
 into those of war, by hammering up their scythes 
 and sickles, and forming them into swords and 
 spears : powder and lead was also scarce with them. 
 THE war was now carried from the lower, to the 
 upper part of South Carolina, and into North Caro- 
 lina, and the friends of independence were obliged 
 to retreat before them into North Carolina : among 
 the most conspicuous and useful of these, was Colo- 
 nel Sumpter, who had formerly commanded the 
 fifth South Carolina continental regiment ; a brave 
 and active officer, and well acquainted with the in- 
 terior parts of North and South Carolina ; the exiles 
 from South Carolina joined their friends in North 
 
 VOL II. 2 E
 
 214 
 
 Carolina, and made choice of Colonel Sumpter to 
 command them : at the head of this small body of 
 republicans, he returned into South Carolina, almost 
 without arms or ammunition, and no stores to sup- 
 ply their wants, and when most of the inhabitants 
 had given up the idea of supporting their indepen- 
 dence : in this situation did he oppose himself to 
 the victorious British army : they sometimes began 
 an action with not more than three rounds per man, 
 and were obliged to wait to be supplied with more> 
 by the fall of their friends or enemies in battle ; when 
 they proved victorious, they supplied themselves 
 with arms and ammunition, from the killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 AT this sudden irruption of Americans into South 
 Carolina, the British were greatly astonished, as all 
 military operations on the part of America had 
 ceased for upwards of six weeks, and they had re- 
 presented, * That the inhabitants from every quarter, 
 had repaired to the detachments of the royal ar- 
 
 * my, and to the garrison of Charlestown, to declare 
 
 * their allegiance to the king, and to offer their ser- 
 
 * vices in arms, to support his government ; and in 
 4 many instances they had brought in prisoners, their 
 ' former oppressors and leaders : and that there 
 were very few men in South Carolina that were 
 
 * not either their prisoners, or in arms with them.' 
 
 LORD Rawdon, who commanded at Camden, was
 
 215 
 
 exceedingly irritated, vexed and disappointed, to 
 find the Americans were again embodying and mak- 
 ing head against the British troops in South Caroli- 
 na, and encouraging the British troops to desert, and 
 conceal themselves amongst the inhabitants : he 
 wrote the following letter. 
 
 c To H. HUGELY, MAJOR OF BRITISH MILITIA. 
 
 * NEAR THEIR HEAD-QUARTERS AT CAMDEN. 
 < SIR, 
 
 * So many deserters from this army have passed 
 ' with impunity through the districts which are un- 
 
 * der your direction, that I must necessarily suspect 
 ' the inhabitants to have connived at, if not facilita- 
 
 * ted their escape. If attachment to their sovereign 
 ' will not move the country people to check a crime 
 ' so detrimental to his service, it must be my care 
 ' to urge them to their duty as good subjects, by 
 ' useing invariable severity towards every one who 
 ' shall show so criminal a neglect of the public in- 
 ' terest. I am, therefore sir, to request of you that 
 ' you signify to all within the limits of your com- 
 ' mand my firm determination in this case : if any 
 < person shall meet a soldier straggling without a 
 ' written pass, beyond the picquets, and shall not do 
 ' his utmost to secure him, or shall not spread an alarm 
 ' for that purpose, or if any person shall give shelter 
 ' to soldiers straggling as above mentioned, or shall
 
 216 
 
 * serve them as a guide, or shall furnish them with 
 4 passes or any other assistance ; the person so of- 
 4 fending, may assure themselves of rigorous pu- 
 4 nishment, either by whipping, imprisonment or by 
 ' being sent to serve his majesty in the West-Indies, 
 4 according as I shall think the degree of criminality 
 1 may require. I have ordered that every soldier 
 4 who passes the picquets, shall submit himself to be 
 ' examined by any of the militia who have a suspi- 
 4 cion of him : if a soldier, therefore, attempts to es- 
 ' cape, when ordered by a militiaman to stop, he is 
 4 immediately to be fired upon as a deserter.. .single 
 
 * men of the light horse need not be examined, as 
 4 they may be often sent alone upon expresses : nor 
 4 is any party of infantry, with a non-commissioned 
 officer at the head of it, to be stopped. I will'give 
 
 * the inhabitants ten guineas for the head of any descr- 
 4 ter belonging to the volunteers of Ireland ; and five 
 1 guineas only, if they bring him in alive : they 
 1 likewise will be rewarded, though not to that amount, 
 4 for such deserters as they may procure, belonging 
 4 to any other regiment. I am confident that you 
 
 * will encourage the country people to be more ac- 
 1 live in this respect. 
 
 * I am, sir, 
 
 4 With much esteem, &c. 
 
 (Signed,) RAWDON.'
 
 217 
 
 LORD Rawdon on the report of the American 
 army approaching, ordered all the inhabitants, in, 
 and about Camden, to take up arms and join the 
 British troops, and all those who refused were con- 
 fined in a jail, upwards of one hundred and sixty 
 persons were imprisoned ; twenty or thirty of the 
 most respectable citizens were put in irons, in close 
 confinement. 
 
 COLONEL Sumpter's little party soon increased 
 their number to one hundred and thirty-three, with 
 these few he attacked a detachment of British troops 
 and a large body of Tories, on the twelfth of July, 
 1780, at William's plantation, in Ninety-six district, 
 commanded by Captain Huck ; they were posted in 
 a lane, both ends of which, was entered by the 
 Americans at the same time. Colonel Ferguson 
 of the British militia, Captain Huck, and several 
 others were killed. Captain Huck did every thing 
 he could to distress the inhabitants, by insult and 
 injury ; his profanity shocked them to a great degree, 
 he had a particular hatred to the presbyterians, he 
 burnt their meetings and dwelling houses, and des- 
 troyed their property, wherever he could find it ; 
 he was often heard to say, ' that God Almighty was 
 * turned rebel, but that if there were twenty Gods on 
 < their side, they should all be conquered.' 
 
 Ow the twentieth of June, 1780, a large body of 
 the Tories collected together at Rumsour's, in North
 
 218 
 
 Carolina, under Colonel Moore, contrary to the ad- 
 vice of Lord Cornwallis, who had recommended to 
 them to remain quiet till he had advanced into their 
 settlements. General Rutherford marched against the 
 insurgents, but was so short of lead, that he could 
 arm only three hundred men ; he detached Colonel 
 Lock with these, twenty-five miles, to discover the 
 motions of the enemy, whilst he remained behind, 
 in expectation of lead from the mines of Virginia. 
 Colonel Lock, though greatly inferior to the enemy, 
 was under the necessity of attacking them, which 
 was done with great spirit and resolution. Captain 
 Falls, with a party of horse, charged the enemy and 
 threw them into great confusion, Colonel Lock had 
 twenty-two of his men killed and wounded, Captain 
 Falls and five oiher officers were killed; Colonel Moore 
 proposed to Colonel Lock, to cease from hostilities 
 for an hour, which was agreed to ; in the mean time 
 Colonel Moore went off with his party. Soon after 
 this party of Tories were dispersed, General Ruther- 
 ford received information that Colonel Bryan of Rowan 
 county, was at the head of another party, who were 
 inarching to join the British ; he went in pursuit of 
 them, but they effected their purpose by marching 
 down the east side of the Yadkin-river, and joined 
 them at Camden. About this time, the extremities 
 of North and South Carolina adjoining each other, 
 were in great commotions ; large armed parties of
 
 219 
 
 Whigs and Tories were continually moving about and 
 frequently falling in with each other and fighting se- 
 vere battles, so that the two countries were in one 
 general confusion; and the animosities between the 
 two parties were carried to great lengths; to enume- 
 rate the cruelties which were exercised upon each 
 other would fill a volume of themselves. The Bri- 
 tish detachments that were marching through these 
 two countries were not backward in their severities 
 against the unhappy citizens, many of whom they 
 hung up or otherwise cruelly treated or put to death 
 in a wanton manner ; in short the war was carried 
 on with great barbarity : this treatment of the 
 Americans by the British and their adherents, soon 
 increased Gen. Sumpter's number to six-hundred : 
 with these on the 30th of July, he made a spirited 
 attack on a British post at Rocky-mount, but failed 
 of success : however, in eight days after he made a 
 successful attack on the post at Hanging-rock, which 
 was defended by the Prince of Wales' regiment, and 
 a large body of Tories under Col. Bryan : in this at- 
 tack the Prince of Wales' regiment suffered exceed- 
 ingly, and the Tories were intirely routed and dispers- 
 ed : when Gen. Sumpter began this attack, he had 
 not more than ten rounds of ball to a man; but be- 
 fore the action was over, he was amply supplied with 
 arms and ammunition from the British and Tories 
 that fell in the beginning.
 
 220 
 
 IT was now well known that an American army 
 was marching from the northward for the relief of 
 the southern states ; this intelligence gave the Ameri- 
 cans great spirits ; they began to rear their heads 
 and look forward to a recovery of their country : 
 they first embodied in small parties, and chose their 
 officers ; with these they took the field, and often at- 
 tacked the detachments of the British army that 
 were moving about, and they were a very great 
 check to the Tories, who were collecting to join the 
 British. Col. Williams of Ninety-six district, a brave 
 and active officer, and warm in the American cause, 
 raised a large body of men, and frequently attacked 
 the British parties. On. the 18th of August, 1780, 
 he attacked a large party of British and Tories at 
 Musgrove's- mills on Enoree river, under the com- 
 mand of Col. Innis of the South Carolina royalists, 
 whom he defeated ; and wounded Col. Innis. 
 
 Is the summer of 1780, a report prevailed which 
 was much talked of among the officers, prisoners at 
 Haddrell's-point, that Congress had given up the idea 
 of contending any longer for the southern states, and 
 that a peace was to be made with Great Britain, and 
 that the two southern states were to be ceded to her : 
 this gave some uneasiness for a time, until we got 
 information of Congress haying entered into the 
 ing resolve.
 
 221 
 
 IN CONGRESS, June 25th, 1780. 
 
 < WHEREAS it has been reported, in order to se 
 
 1 duce the states of North and South Carolina and 
 
 * Georgia, from their allegiance to these United 
 
 * States, that a treaty of peace, between America and 
 
 * Great Britain was about to take place, in which 
 
 * those two states would be ceded to Great Britain. 
 
 * Resolved unanimously, that the said report is in- 
 
 * sidious, and utterly void of foundation, that this 
 ' confederacy is most sacredly pledged to support 
 
 * the liberty and independence of every one of its 
 ( members, and in a firm reliance on the divine bles- 
 ' sing, will unremittingly persevere in their exertions 
 for the establishment of the same, and for the re- 
 4 covery and preservation of any and every part of 
 these United States that has been or may hereafter 
 ' be invaded or possessed by the common enemy." 
 
 * Extracts from the minutes. 
 
 * CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry.' 
 
 ON the twenty-seventh of July, 1780, .General 
 Gates arrived from the northward, with orders from 
 Congress, to take the command of the continental 
 troops in North Carolina, hitherto commanded by 
 Major General Baron De Kalb. General Gates be- 
 ing a soldier of great reputation, and having had the 
 good fortune to capture General Burgoyne and his 
 
 army, much was expected from his military abilities; 
 VOL. ii 2 F
 
 222 
 
 it was not doubted that he would soon oblige the 
 British to break up all their posts and retire into 
 Charlestown, and that we should have possession of 
 the whole country again. On the fourth of August, 
 General Gates issued a proclamation which was very 
 much approved of by the inhabitants. [See appendix, 
 note 23.] 
 
 GENERAL Marion, who was lieutenant colonel 
 commandant of the second South Carolina continental 
 regiment, was in Charlestown at the beginning of the 
 siege by Sir Henry Clinton, by some accident sprained 
 his ancle, which rendered him unfit for service ; he 
 therefore came under that general order issued by 
 General Lincoln, ' That all supernumerary officers, 
 
 * and all officers who were unfit for duty, must quit 
 
 * the garrison and retire into the country.' Fortu- 
 nately for Carolina he went out, and when he went, 
 was so lame that he was obliged to sculk about from 
 house to house among his friends, and sometimes 
 hide in the bushes until he grew better ; he then 
 crept out by degrees, and began to collect a few 
 friends ; and when he got ten or twelve together he 
 ventured out, and upon hearing of General Gates' 
 army, he moved on and joined them: after the de- 
 feat of General Gates, he was obliged to quit the 
 state, and go into North Carolina for a few days ; 
 when he returned, he had about seventy volunteer 
 militia with him, but most of them quite unarmed ;
 
 223 
 
 he took the saws from the mills, and set the smiths 
 to work, to turn them into horsemen's swords ; he 
 frequently engaged when he had only three or four 
 rounds to a man ; his little party would sometimes 
 be reduced to five and twenty men. ..as is common 
 with the militia, they grow tired, and have a pretence 
 to go home, or sometimes without any pretence at 
 all : he was very troublesome to Major Wemys, who 
 had taken post on Peedee with a detachment of Bri- 
 tish troops, and had burned a number of the inhabi- 
 tants houses on Peedee, Black-river and Lynch's- 
 
 y 
 
 creek, supposing the owners had joined General 
 Marion. The British by their impolitic conduct, re- 
 cruited General Marion's little party very fast, who 
 always lay in the woods, in the most unfrequented 
 places, with nothing but their blanket to cover them- 
 selves ; he had his scouts out constantly, and when 
 they brought him intelligence (which they frequently 
 did) of any small party of the enemy, or any escorts 
 with stores, he sallied out, and was sure to have 
 them : Lord Cornwallis was heard to say, ' That hr 
 would give a good deal to have him taken.' And 
 always praised him, as a good partisan officer.* 
 
 * General Marion and myself, entered the field of Mars to- 
 gether, in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, under 
 the command of Colonel James Giant, in 1761 ; when I had 
 the honor to command a light infantry company, in a provin- 
 cial regiment ; he was my first lieutenant.^he was an active, 
 brave and hardy soldier, and an excellent partisan officer.
 
 224 
 
 EARLY in August, General Marion was detached 
 by General Gates with fifteen or twenty men, down 
 the country towards Georgetown, to inform the 
 well affected inhabitants of his arrival in South Caro- 
 lina, with a respectable and well appointed army, 
 and to shew them his proclamation, calling upon 
 them to join the American army: he was ordered 
 to destroy all the boats, flats and crafts of every 
 kind which he could find, quite down to the sea, to 
 prevent the enemy's army at Camden, from escap- 
 ing to Charlestown : on General Marion's arrival 
 near Georgetown, he was joined by Colonel Peter 
 Horry and Captain Logan of the continental line, 
 and some militia officers : the morning after Ge- 
 neral Gates' defc'at, which General Marion knew 
 nothing of for several days, nor until he had surpris- 
 ed at Sumpter's old field, near Nelson's-ferry, a 
 captain and forty British soldiers, on their way to 
 Chiulestown, escorting thirty American soldiers, 
 prisoners (part of General Gates' army) to Charles- 
 Jown : at this time Marion had but thirty militia with 
 him, with these he released the prisoners, and re- 
 treated to Briton's-neck, on Peedee-river, to be farther 
 from the enemy, and^ in hopes of being joined by 
 more of the militia, and to get the released prisoners 
 armed, but they absolutely refused to stay any long- 
 er with him : so gloomy were American affairs 
 at this time that very few would join him ; and the
 
 225 
 
 Tories were now gathering from all quarters ; the 
 nearest party of them were on little Peedee, under 
 Captain Barfield ; these were surprised in their 
 camp, some killed, wounded and taken prisoners, 
 with little or no loss to the Americans, and Marion 
 again returned to Briton's-neck : the enemy begin- 
 ning to perceive that he would be very troublesome 
 to them, determined upon a plan to drive him off: 
 two parties were sent after him from Santee and 
 Georgetown, and Tarleton it was said, was on his 
 way from Camden, on the same errand : on receiving 
 information that the two first parties were very near, 
 Marion with about fifty men, retreated to White- 
 marsh, in North Carolina ; the enemy did not pur- 
 sue far, which gave Marion a few days to reflect and 
 project further operations ; he was informed that a 
 number of Tories had assembled at Black-mingo, he 
 returned into South Carolina, and attacked them at 
 night, and both parties suffered considerably, Cap- 
 tain Logan and others were killed ; the enemy were 
 routed, and many escaped and got into Georgetown 
 much terrified : soon after this, another party of To- 
 nes was heard of, under Colonel Tines ; these were 
 completely surprised in their camp ; many were 
 killed and wounded ; their colonel and two other 
 officers taken prisoners ; when they were fired upon, 
 they could not but think it was their own men in di- 
 version ; several were killed with cards in their hands.
 
 226 
 
 THE enemy now began to see Marion's import- 
 ance, and that now was the time to force him out of 
 the country : General Gates defeated and gone, and 
 Sumpter at so great a distance, either at Ninety-six 
 or Mecklenburgh, North Carolina, that he could 
 receive no assistance, a plan was concerted in Charles- 
 town, which seemed to insure success ; it was made 
 no secret of, Col. Watson was sent from Charles- 
 town with a detachment, and on his \vay to Marion 
 was joined by another, under Colonel Small : they 
 came up with the General a little below Wibo-swamp , 
 on Santee-river, where a skirmish ensued ; a second 
 took place at the lower bridge, on Black-river, and 
 a third at Sampit bridge. Colonel Watson got into 
 Georgetown very much harrasscd and fatigued : 
 Colonel Small after the first skirmish, left Colonel 
 Watson near Wibo, and marched with his detach- 
 ment to Camden. Colonel Peter Horry had a de- 
 tachment of eighty picked men, all well mounted, 
 half riflemen, to hang on the enemy and harrass them 
 all in his power ; he frequently ambuscaded them, 
 made many feints and false charges on the line, 
 fired on their advance guards, centinels and videts, 
 and at night gave them constant alarms. Colonel 
 Watson was so perplexed and vexed, that he com-
 
 227 
 
 plained, and said it was unprecedented in war...* that 
 the Americans dared not come to battle. 
 
 GENERAL Marion retired to Lynch Vcreek, and 
 was soon informed that Colonel Watson and a 
 party of Tories were advancing fast upon him, the 
 first in his rear, the second on his right, and that 
 Colonel Doyle from Camden was in his front, three 
 detachments from different directions, and all point 
 ed towards Marion, with an intention to drive him. 
 out of the country. They knew he could get no 
 support or assistance, and that he had but very few 
 men with him : General Marion made known his 
 situation to Colonel Peter Horry, and said if the 
 enemy did drive him out of the country, he was de- 
 termined to retire over the mountains, with as many 
 as would follow him, and from time to time would 
 gather a party and sally down the country, and do 
 them as much injury as he could, until he was kill- 
 ed or they had left the country, he would not leave 
 off warring against tliem : he said he was afraid 
 that if he should be hard pushed, that many of his 
 men would not leave their families and fly with him. 
 General Marion desired Colonel Peter Horry to call 
 the field-officers together privately, and lay the cir- 
 cumstances of their situation, fully before them ; to 
 
 * It was a little extraordinary, that Colonel Watson, who 
 was said to be a good partisan officer, should complain of this 
 mode of harra$sing a patty.
 
 223 
 
 acquaint them of his determination, and to have 
 their's, in order that he might know how far he 
 could rely on them : he recommended that the offi- 
 cers should unite with him as a band of brother offi- 
 cers ; and that each should most solemnly pledge to 
 the other, his sacred word and honor, to be faithful, 
 and never submit to the enemy but with their lives. 
 
 THE field-officers then in camp, were Colonel Pe- 
 ter Ilorry, Hugh Ilorry, James Postell and Irvin: 
 Majors, Jumes Baxter and Swinton ; these met and re- 
 solved according to the wishes of the general, and with- 
 out hesitation, said they were bound in honor to adhere 
 to his fortune, whether good or bad ; and they all declar- 
 ed they would be faithful to each other, and would 
 carry on the war as the general should direct: these 
 determinations being made at a time when there was 
 the greatest prospect of distress, was truly honorable 
 to themselves and to their couHtry. On General Ma- 
 rion's being acquainted with their resolutions, he said 
 * he was satisfied, and that one of the enemy's de- 
 tachments should feel his force :' and in about an hour 
 
 > 
 
 he decamped, crossed Lynch's creek, and marched 
 up Peedee to meet Col. Doyle's detachment; pre- 
 ferring to attack this party because if he should be 
 defeated he had the country open for a retreat : the 
 next morning arriving at a house on the road, he was 
 informed that Colonel Doyle had encamped there 
 that night, and that he had received an express from
 
 229 
 
 Camden, informing him that General Greene was 
 advancing fast towards that post, that he marched 
 off before day in great haste for Camden, so fast that 
 it was impossible for Marion to overtake him ; he 
 pursued for several hours, but in vain ; he then wheel- 
 ed about to look for Colonel Watson, said to be 
 on little Peedee, but he had also received an express 
 the same night as Colonel Doyle had, with the same 
 information; and had immediately destroyed all his 
 stores, waggons, carts, and every species of heavy 
 baggage, and decamped early the next morning, and 
 
 crossed little Peedee : Marion judging they would 
 cross over to Georgetown and Santee, pushed on for 
 Manigault's-ferry, to intercept them on their way 
 to Camden : Watson crossed as Marion got to 
 Manigault's-ferry, on the south side ; he was inform- 
 ed that Watson had just crossed over to the north 
 side, a few miles above, and pushing fast for Cam- 
 den, he got safe in, without any further loss. The 
 scene was now reversed ; instead of Watson and 
 Doyle pushing Marion out of the country, he faces 
 about and pursues them towards Camden ; their 
 marches were too rapid for them to be overtaken. 
 
 GENERAL Marion in his pursuit of Watson, was 
 joined by Captain Conyers, with a small party of 
 dragoons, who informed him that he was sent by 
 Colonel Lee, to let him know that he was on his 
 way to join him, and that General Greene was ac- 
 
 VOL. II. 2 G
 
 230 
 
 tually advancing towards Camden : Marion retired 
 to Snow's-Island, -where he was joined by Colonel 
 Lee with his legion, who proposed to the general, 
 a plan to surprise the garrison at Georgetown, by 
 night; Marion agreed to it, and allowed the colonel 
 wholly to project and carry into execution. 
 
 JANUARY 25th, 1781, General Marion with his 
 brigade of militia, retired to Snow's-Island, and 
 was there joined by Colonel Lee with his legion. 
 Colonel Lee formed a plan to surprise Georgetown, 
 which was garrisoned with about three hundred re- 
 gular troops, and some militia, under the command 
 of Colonel Campbell : Captain Carnes and Captain 
 Rudolph, with about ninety (mostly of Lee's infan- 
 try) were sent down from Snow's-Island, about forty 
 miles from Georgetown, in a large boat, to drop 
 down the river, towards the town, while General 
 Marion and Colonel Lee were to have come down 
 with the main body by land : just before day-break, 
 on the second day, Captain Carnes with his party, 
 landed at Mitchell's-point, about a quarter of a 
 mile to the east of the town ; they landed and march- 
 ed on a bank through the rice field, and was in the 
 town a little before day-light ; the British knew 
 nothing of them, until they were alarmed by a few 
 popping shots, and then, very great confusion en- 
 sued ; the officers running about for the men, and 
 the men for the officers ; in this hurry and confu-
 
 231 
 
 sion, the guides got so alarmed and frightened, that 
 they lost their way to the fort, where the main body 
 of the British were quartered, or else the surprise 
 would have been complete. A party went to Colo- 
 nel Campbell's quarters, took him out of bed, and 
 carried him of, without any other clothes than his 
 shirt, to about a quarter of a mile on the back of the 
 town, through bushes and briers ; he begged and 
 in treated so much that they would allow him to go 
 back and be paroled to Charlestown ; after a little 
 time, they had compassion upon him, and suffered 
 him to go back upon parole : by this time the ene- 
 my began to embody, and the firing was heard from 
 different parts of the town, and General Marion and 
 Colonel Lee not entering the town at the same time, 
 Captains Games and Rudolph thought it adviseable 
 to retreat : had our guides not missed the ir way to 
 the fort, it is more than probable this little detach- 
 ment would have taken the whole garrison prisoners ; 
 some few men were killed on both sides. The ca- 
 valry under General Marion and Colonel Lee, did 
 not arrive, and as they met with a breast-work not 
 easily to be mounted, they proceeded no further, par- 
 ticularly, as the infantry had already retreated. 
 
 GENERAL Gates takes the command of the conti- 
 nental troops, and is joined by the North Carolina 
 militia, at the cross roads, forty-five miles from Cam- 
 den, on the tenth of August, 1780, and was joined
 
 255 
 
 1VV4V 
 
 by General Stevens on the fifteenth, with a brigade 
 of Virginia militia : the American army now amount- 
 ed to three thousand six hundred and sixty-three, 
 and not more than nine hundred continental infan- 
 try and seventy cavalry ; with this army General 
 Gates moved towards Camden, being possessed with 
 a belief that the British intended, and were prepar- 
 ing to retreat ; he therefore was determined to be 
 near at hand, to prevent them, or to be close in their 
 rear, to harrass them as much as possible. 
 
 LORD Rawdon who commanded at Camden, sent 
 an express to Lord Cornwallis in Charlestown, to in- 
 form him of the American army approaching : 
 Lord Cornwallis immediately sets out, and arrives 
 at Camden on the thirteenth of August, and takes 
 the command of the army, and at the same time, 
 four companies of light troops arrived form Ninety- 
 six ; they took three American soldiers, who inform- 
 ed that General Gates had given orders to move from 
 Rugley's, to attack next morning : at ten o'clock, 
 P. M. the British moved from their ground, and a 
 little after two o'clock, the advance of the British 
 charged the advance of the Americans, and a firing 
 commenced ; after some time they both retreated to 
 their main bodies. 
 
 LORD Cornwallis' army consisted of seventeen hun- 
 dred infantry and three hundred cavalry ; on the 
 right of the fifteenth he marched out to attack the
 
 2S3 
 
 American army ; at the same time General Gates put 
 his army in motion, to take a position on Sander's- 
 creek. 
 
 THE American army was drawn up on the sixteenth 
 of August, in the following order : the second Mary- 
 land brigade, commanded by Brigadier General 
 Gist, on the right of the line, flanked by a morass ; 
 the Virginia militia commanded by Brigadier Gene- 
 ral Stevens, on the left, flanked by the North Caro- 
 lina militia, light infantry, and a morass ; and the 
 North Carolina militia, commanded by Major Gene- 
 ral Caswell, in the centre : the artillery was posted 
 in the intervals of the brigades ; Major General Ba- 
 ron de Kalb commanded on the right of the line ; 
 Brigadier General Smallwood was posted as a corps- 
 de-reserve, two or three hundred yards in the rear 
 of the whole : General Sumpter was posted with a 
 strong body (one hundred continentals, seven hun- 
 dred militia and two field-pieces) on the opposite 
 side of the Wateree-river, to prevent their retreat 
 that way : in the morning a general engagement 
 took place : the British appeared at about two hun- 
 dred yards distant, all drawn up in front of the 
 North Carolina troops ; the artillery was ordered to 
 fire, and General Stevens to attack the column 
 which was displayed on the right ; he marched up 
 with great bravery, and advanced with his brigade 
 in good order, within fifty paces of the enemy.
 
 -34 
 
 who were also advancing) and called out to his 
 men, ' My brave fellows, you have bayonets as well 
 as they ; we'll charge them.' At that moment the 
 British infantry charged bayonet with a shout : the 
 Virginians threw down their arms, and run off as 
 fast as possible ; the North Carolina militia followed 
 their example, except a few of General Gregory's 
 brigade, who halted a little longer ; a part of Colonel 
 Dixon's brigade fired a few rounds ; but the great- 
 est part of the militia run off, without firing a sin- 
 gle shot : this dastardly behavior of the militia, 
 left the continentals to be attacked by the whole 
 British infantry and cavalry : they fought bravely ; 
 never did men behave better than the continen- 
 tals ; and a great fire of musketry was kept up on 
 both sides, with great obstinacy ; at length, Lord 
 Coruwallis ordered his cavalry to charge, which 
 soon put an end to the contest : General Gates en- 
 deavored to rally some of the militia, to cover the 
 retreat of the continentals, but in vain. The ca- 
 valry pursued the fugitive militia, upwards of twen- 
 ty-five miles, and made a dreadful slaughter 
 among them ; the road on which they fled, was 
 strewed with arms, baggage, the sick, wounded 
 and dead ; the whole of the baggage which was 
 ordered on the day before, fell into the enemy's 
 hands, and eight field-pieces. 
 GENERAL Sumptcr who was on the south side of the
 
 135 
 
 Wateree until the sixteenth, and had been fortunate 
 enough to take a small fort and a strong detachment 
 going up with stores for the British troops at Cam- 
 den when he heard of General Gates' defeat, he 
 was retreating with his prisoners and captured stores 
 up the river. Lord Cornwallis detached Colonel 
 Tarleton with his legion and a body of infantry after 
 him ; he was overtaken on the eighteenth, on Fishing- 
 creek ; the British horse was in their camp before 
 they knew, or had heard any thing of their being 
 near them ; it was a complete surprise, the greatest 
 part of his troops fled to the river, some were killed 
 and wounded, and others taken ; the whole of his party 
 were dispersed, and the British prisoners, about three 
 hundred, were retaken, and all the stores conducted 
 to Camden : Colonel Sumpter lost all his artillery. 
 
 THIS victory over General Gates, and the surprise 
 of General Sumpter, occasioned great rejoicings 
 and congratulations in Charlestown: [See appendix, 
 note 24.] the troops were turned out and fired a fuc 
 dejoye, whilst the poor prisoners were quite dispirit- 
 ed at the total defeat of their army ; they lost all 
 hopes of ever recovering their country again : most 
 of the officers who were taken at Camden and Fish" 
 ing-creek, were sent to Haddrell's-point, upon pa- 
 role with the officers taken in Charlestown, which 
 gave us an opportunity of knowing many particulars 
 relative to these two unfortunate affairs.
 
 235 
 
 THE situation of America in the southern depart- 
 ment was truly deplorable, their army dispersed and 
 taken. Lord Cornwalls, when he joined his army 
 at Camden, found himself in a critical situation, 
 and very difficult to retreat to Charlestown ; he had 
 been on the east side of Wateree- river, with but very- 
 few boats to cross his troops, and General Sumpter 
 on the opposite side with six or seven hundred men 
 to oppose his passage, and General Gates with three 
 thousand six hundred men, only eight miles distant : 
 Lord Cornwall!* knowing the number of General 
 Gates' army, and that they were mostly composed of 
 militia, determined to risk a battle, and he, unfortu- 
 nately for our cause, gained a complete victory. 
 
 GENERAL Marion always gave strict orders to his 
 men, that there should be no waste of the inhabitants 
 property, and no plundering : he was so conscious 
 of his not having injured any one, that when a bill 
 was brought before the legislature after the war, to 
 indemnify the officers and to prevent vexatious suits 
 against them, his name was inserted in the bill ; upon 
 which (being a member of the house) rose from his 
 seat, and moved ' that his name should be struck out ; 
 ' that if he had injured any person he was willing to 
 4 make them compensation.' 
 
 ABOUT this time General Sumpttr's and Marion's
 
 237 
 
 parties, and the inhabitants of the New Acquisition,* 
 were almost the only American force to oppose the 
 British troops in South Carolina : the inhabitants of 
 the New Acquisition had never been made prisoners, 
 neither did they take protection ; it was from them 
 that General Sumpter recruited many of his men ; 
 and after his defeat on the 10th of August, they went 
 back to their settlements, and kept in small parties, 
 for their own security: some of them joined Major 
 Davie, who commanded fifty or sixty volunteers 
 equiped as dragoons. 
 
 SOON after General Gates' defeat, the hot weather 
 and the unhealthy season came on, which put an end 
 to any further military operations by the British; nay, 
 they had no force to oppose them; the American 
 army was quite broke up and dispersed ; they there- 
 fore had nothing to fear. Colonel Ferguson, an. 
 experienced, brave, active partisan officer, made an 
 excursion near the mountains, with a few regular 
 troops, in hopes to have recruited a large number 
 of men for Lord Cornwallis' army, and to have 
 
 * The New Acquisition was a tract of country taken from 
 North Carolina in 1772 ; the line between the two states had 
 been long disputed, till by sn order of the king and council, it 
 was run, beginning at the corner tree, on the Salisbury road, 
 and which took fourteen miles of the south part of North Ca- 
 rolina into South Carolina, and run parallel with the old line 
 sixty-five miles. 
 
 VOL, II. 2 H
 
 23S 
 
 trained and fitted them for the field ; with these he 
 was to have joined the main army, and at a proper 
 season, to assist in reducing North Carolina. They 
 continued some time near the western mountain, in 
 hopes of intercepting Colonel Clark, on his return 
 from Georgia. 
 
 COLONEL Clark, in September, 1780, raised a 
 tody of riflemen, and marched through the upper 
 part of South Carolina, on his way to Georgia. Th6 
 inhabitants of Ninety-six endeavored to dissuade him 
 from his design of attacking the British post at 
 Augusta ; he persisted however, and made an attempt 
 In which he failed, and was obliged to make a pre- 
 cipitate retreat, and leave the country altogether. 
 This ill-timed attempt was of very great injury to 
 the inhabitants about Augusta : Colonel Brown, who 
 commanded there, treated the people with the great- 
 est severity. Many of those who had joined Colonel 
 Clark, and were supposed to have favored his design, 
 were obliged to resume their arms for their own se- 
 curity, and join the Americans. 
 
 THE British now began to exercise their cruelties. 
 In a few days after General Gates' defeat, Lord Corn- 
 wallis issued the following inhuman order, by which 
 he let loose the dogs of war upon the poor inhabitants, 
 and Tarleton, with his blood-hdunds, excelled in bru- 
 tality. Unfortunate men, who were found peaceably 
 and quietly at their homes, were cut to pieces: others
 
 229 
 
 taken out of the gaols and hung up without being 
 questioned, or even having a hearing, and every spe- 
 cies of cruelty was exercised throughout the country. 
 
 EXTRACT OP LETTER FROM GOVERNOR RUTLEDGK, 
 TO THE DELEGATES IN CONGRESS FROM SOUTH 
 CAROLINA, DATED THE 8th OF DECEMBER, 1780. 
 
 IT is really melancholy to see the desolate con- 
 4 dition of Mr. Hill's plantation in the New Acquisi- 
 
 * tion ; all his fine iron-works, mills, dwelling-houses, 
 
 * and buildings of every kind, even his negro-houses, 
 
 * reduced to ashes; and his wife and children in a 
 4 little log hut. I was shocked to see the ragged, 
 
 * shabby condition of our brave and virtuous men, 
 
 * who would not remain in the power of the enemy, 
 
 * but have taken to arms. This, however, is but a 
 
 * faint description of the sufferings of our country ; 
 4 for it is beyond a dpubt, the enemy have hanged 
 4 many of our people, who from fear, and the im- 
 4 practicability of removing, had given paroles, and 
 4 from attachment to our side, joined it. Nay, Tarle^ 
 
 * ton has since the action at Black-stocks, hung one 
 4 Johnson, a magistrate of respectable character : 
 4 they have also burnt a prodigious number of houses, 
 4 and turned a vast many women, formerly of affluent 
 4 and easy fortunes, with their children, almost naked 
 4 into the woods. Tarleton, at the house of General 
 1 Richardson, exceeded his usual barbarity ; for, hay.
 
 240 
 
 ing dined in his house, he not only burnt it after- 
 wards, but having driven into the barns a number of 
 
 * cattle, hogs, and poultry, he consumed them, toge- 
 ' ther with the barn and the corn in it, in one gene- 
 1 ral blaze. This was done because he pretended to 
 { believe, that the poor old general was with the rebel 
 { army ; though had he opened his grave before the 
 c door, he might have seen the contrary. Colonel 
 
 * Charles CotesAvorth Pinckney's family was turned 
 c out of his house : in short, the enemy seem deter- 
 { mined, if they can, to break every man's spirit, if 
 ' they cannot ruin him ; engagements of capitulations 
 ' and proclamations, are no security against their op- 
 ' pressions and cruelties.' 
 
 EXTRACT FROM LORD CORNWALIIS* ORDERS. 
 
 * I HAVE given orders that the inhabitants of 
 ' the province who have subscribed, and have taken 
 part in this revolt, should be punished with the 
 ' greatest rigor, and also those who will not turn out, 
 
 * that they may be imprisoned, and their property 
 taken from them, or destroyed. I have likewise 
 < ordered that compensation be made out of their 
 
 * estates, to the persons who have been injured or 
 
 * oppressed by them. I have ordered in the most 
 
 * positive manner, that every militia man, who has 
 1 borne arms with us, and afterwards joined the ene- 
 : my, shall be immediately hanged. I desire you
 
 241 
 
 ' will take the most rigorous measures to punish the 
 
 * rebels in the district in which you command, and 
 4 that you obey in the strictest manner the directions 
 
 * I have given in this letter, relative to the inhabitants 
 ' of this country.' 
 
 1 CORNWALLIS.' 
 
 THESE orders were sent to every post throughout 
 the country. 
 
 THE unfortunate Colonel Hayne was executed un- 
 der this general order, as appears by Colonel Bal- 
 four's letter to General Greene. 
 
 EXTRACT OF COLONEL BALFOUR'S LETTER. 
 ' I COME now to that part which respects Colonel 
 ' Hayne ; on which head, I inform you, it took place 
 ' by the joint order of Lord Rawdon and myself, in 
 4 consequence of the most express directions from 
 { Lord Cornwallis to us, in regard to all those who 
 * shall be found in arms, after being at their own re- 
 '* quest, received as British subjects, &c.' 
 
 COLONEL Hayne subscribed a declaration of alle- 
 giance to the king of Great Britain, but with an 
 express condition, that he never should be called 
 upon to take up arms against his country : notwith- 
 standing, he was soon called upon to take up arms 
 and join the British, and upon refusal, he was
 
 threatened with close confinement ; this induced him 
 to consider himself as released of engagements with 
 the British ; and he took the command of a regiment 
 of his countrymen ; he was soon after taken by a 
 party of British horse, carried into town, and in a. 
 little time, executed without a trial. 
 
 THESE were horrid times for poor Carolina I Th 
 loss of property was now of no consideration, whilst 
 the blood of their citizens was streaming down from 
 every pore. 
 
 IT was generally said, and t>elieved, that in the 
 district of Ninety-sis alone, fourteen hundred un- 
 happy widows and orphans, were left to bemoan the 
 fate of their unfortunate fathers, brothers and hus- 
 bands killed in the war. 
 
 THE mountaineers, a bold and hardy people, began 
 to be alarmed at Colonel Ferguson's near approach 
 to them with a large body of men, and being inform- 
 ed that they plundered all the Whig inhabitants and 
 treated them ill, (they had never yet felt the effects 
 of the war,) they spread the alarm throughout their 
 country, and immediately every man took up his 
 rifle* blanket and knapsack, saddled his horse, and 
 went in pursuit of Colonel Ferguson, leaving some 
 few in their rear to drive the cattle after them ; 
 and some hunters were kept out to supply them 
 jpaore plentifully with provisions. They soon fell in 
 with Ferguson's en.aampa&ent at the foot of King's
 
 243 
 
 mount,* the whole of their force making nine hun- / 
 dred and ten men. Though Colonel Campbell was 
 said to command, yet Colonels Cleveland, Shelby, Se- 
 vier, Williams, Laccy, and Brenan, each commanded 
 their own men, and an excellent disposition they 
 made, so that their attack would have disconcerted 
 the most experienced officer with the bravest troopi. 
 Colonel Cleveland, in going round the mountain, dis- 
 covered one of the enemy's pickets, upon which he 
 addressed his men : ' My brave fellows, We have beat 
 
 * the Tories, and we can beat them again ; they are all 
 
 * cowards : if they had the spirit of men, they would 
 
 * join their fellow-citizens in supporting the indepen- 
 ' dence of their country. When you are engaged, 
 
 * you are not to wait for the word of command from 
 
 * me : I will show you by my example, how to fight ; 
 
 * I can undertake no more : every man must consider 
 
 * himself as an officer, and act from his own judg- 
 
 * meht. Fire as quick as you can, and stand your 
 
 * ground as long as you can : when you can do no 
 4 better, get behind trees, or retreat ; but I beg you 
 
 * not to run quite off: if we are repulsed, let us make 
 
 * a point of returning and renewing the fight : per- 
 
 This took its name from one King, who lived at the foot 
 of the mount with his family : it is near the corner where the 
 North and South Carolina line intersects the Cherokee Indiana 
 boundary line.
 
 1 haps we" may VaVe better hick in the second attempt 
 "than the first; If any of you are afraid, such shall 
 f have leave to retire, and they are requested imme- 
 Ukitely to take themselves off.' 
 
 WHEN the firing began? the Americans were 
 Scattered about the woods.... They soon collected and 
 were all animated ; every one acted as he pleased: 
 the picket in a little time gave way and were pursu- 
 ed up the mountain to their main body : Colonel 
 Ferguson upon hearing the firing made ready his 
 men ; and upon the near approach of the Americans, 
 ordered his men to charge bayonets, which obliged 
 them to retire. Immediately after, Colonel Shelby 
 "came up with his party unexpectedly, and threw in a 
 heavy fire, which obliged Colonel Ferguson to face 
 about, and engage Colonel Shelby, who he drove 
 back with fixed bayonets ; 'at the same time, Colonel 
 Campbell came up from another quarter and renewed 
 the attack: Colonel Ferguson again faced about and 
 obliged him to fallback. By this time the men who 
 first begun and retreated, returned and made another 
 attack. In short, Colonel Ferguson was so beset 
 from every point by a number of active, brave, deter- 
 mined men, that it was impossible for him to retreat ; 
 and extricate himself, he could not ; and surrender, 
 he would not. At length he received his mortal 
 wound, and soon after, his party asked for quarters, 
 which was granted, and they surrendered themselves
 
 245 
 
 prisoners of war : ten of the most notorious, who ds- 
 scrved death by the laws of their country, were im- 
 mediately hang up, in retaliation for a number of 
 Americans whom the British hung at Ninety-six, 
 Camden, and other places. In this action, the enemy 
 lost, in killed, wounded, and taken, upwards of eleven 
 hundred men, amongst them nearly one hundred re- 
 gulars. The Americans lost very few, but amongst 
 them the brave Colonel Williams, of Ninety-six dis- 
 trict, and Major Cronicle; and it is easily accounted 
 for : the British made use mostly of the bayonet in- 
 stead of firing their pieces. It was impossible for 
 those heavy armed troops to come up with the 
 strong, active mountaineers, who were dispersed 
 about the woods. Had Colonel Ferguson dispersed 
 his men (who were equally acquainted with bush- 
 fighting) and fought his adversaries in their own way, 
 he would have had a better chance to make a retreat. 
 THIS battle, as well as many others under Generals 
 Sumpter, Marion and others, proves that the militia 
 are brave men, and will fight if you let them come to 
 action in their own way. There are very few in- 
 stances when they have drawn up in line of battle, 
 that they could be brought to stand and reserve their 
 fire until the enemy came near enough. Tlie charge 
 of the bayonet they never could stand, and it can ne- 
 ver be expected that undisciplined troops could stand 
 so formidable an attack: witness the affairs of Gene- 
 
 VOL. II. 2 I
 
 246 
 
 ral Gates, at Camden, and General Greene, at Guil- 
 ford Court-house. It was a maxim with the old king 
 of Prussia, that young troops should begin to fire at 
 two hundred yards distance ; by which he said < they 
 1 became animated, and enveloped with smoke, saw 
 * no danger, and rushed on like old soldiers.' 
 
 THIS afiair at King's mount revived the drooping 
 spirits of the Americans, and at the same time it was 
 u very severe blow to Lord Cornwallis, to lose a 
 brave, experienced and confidential officer, and eleven 
 hundred men, was a serious consideration to him ; 
 after which he was obliged to contract his plans into 
 very narrow limits, and he lost all hopes of recruiting 
 his army from that part of the country. 
 
 SOON after General Gates' defeat, when the hot 
 weather and unhealthy season was at an end, Lord 
 Cornwallis left a small guard at Camden, and march- 
 ed off with the main body of his army, and took post 
 at Charlotte, in North Carolina. This proved to be a 
 very uneasy position for him, as Generals Sumner 
 and Davison encamped in the neighborhood with a 
 large body of North Carolina militia ; and any de- 
 tachments that were sent out by him were sure to 
 be attacked and driven in, or taken. Major Davies' 
 party was considerably increased by volunteers from 
 the low country : he was very fortunate in frequently 
 falling in with their foraging parties and convoys, 
 and taking them. The riflemen would often creep
 
 near to their camp, and shoot down stragglers : none 
 dared to venture far from their guards. At lastj Lord 
 Cornwallis found his situation so very disagreeable, 
 and being apprehensive for the safety of his army, 
 marched off, and took post at Winnsborough. 
 
 THE defeat of Colonel Ferguson, and the retreat 
 of Lord Cornwallis to Winnsborough, encouraged the 
 American militia to collect and repair to the camps 
 of their respective commanders : their turning out 
 again obliged them to submit to strict discipline, and 
 fight bravely ; for, if they should be taken a second 
 time, they were sure to be hanged : their only place 
 of safety was with the army. The state of North 
 Carolina put their militia who were under General 
 Smallwood under martial law. 
 
 EARLY in October, General Gates detached Gene- 
 ral Morgan from Hillsborough, with three hundred 
 Maryland and Delaware troops, and eighty dragoons, 
 to aid and support the militia of Mecklenburgh and 
 Rowan counties ; from this ^detachment, Colonel 
 Washington made an excursion with a small force, 
 to Colonel Rugely's fort, about fourteen miles from 
 Camden ; in which he had collected one hundred 
 and twelve of the British militia : upon the appear- 
 ance of Colonel Washington's force befoi-e the forti 
 he immediately surrendered the whole of his partyj 
 to a pine-log which they had been accustomed to see 
 every day, elevated a few feet from the ground by its
 
 24* 
 
 branches ; but upon seeing a military force about it, 
 their fears converted it into a field-piece, ready to 
 fire upon them ; this occasioned their surrender. 
 
 AFTER General Sumpter's defeat on the eighteenth 
 of August, he again collected a number of volunteers, 
 and took the field ; and immediately after, thirty of 
 his former party rejoined him, and one hundred of 
 the militia, at his request, also joined him at Sugar- 
 creek, and the militia from all parts came in to him, 
 and put themselves under his command. General 
 Sumpter's active, martial spirit would not allow him 
 to lay still, whilst the British parties were roving 
 about the country unmolested) robbing and murder- 
 ing the inhabitants. 
 
 ALTHOUGH there was no continental army in 
 South Carolina for several months, it can never be 
 said she was a conquered country, whilst Generals 
 Sumptcr and Marion each kept a body cf men in the 
 fisld, in support of her independence. General 
 Sumpter's party increased every day ; he ranged 
 about Enoree, Broad and Tyger rivers ; often chang- 
 ing his ground which he could do with great facili- 
 ty and expedition, as his men were all on horseback ; 
 'by thus moving about from place to place, he fre- 
 quently fell in with the enemy, and skirmished with 
 them when they least expected it, which gave him 
 a great advantage. On the twelfth of November, 
 - 17SO, he had a smart action with Major Weyms,
 
 249 
 
 who commanded a body of infantry and dragoons ; 
 he defeated them, wounded their commanding offir 
 cer and took him prisoner ; and although this. man 
 had ordered some of the citizens to be hanged, and 
 attended ptrsonally at -their execution, burnt many 
 of their houses, and destroyed their property in a 
 wanton and cruel manner, yet he was treated po- 
 litely) and suffered to go to .Charleston upon his 
 parole! Soon after, this affair; with Major Weyms, 
 on the^ seventeenth of November, 1780, Colonel 
 Tarleton attacked General Sumpter at Black-stocks, 
 near Tyger-river,.with a considerable body of infan- 
 try and cavalry : this was a serious and severe con- 
 flict, in which the British lost three officers and a 
 great number of men ; the Americans lost but few ; 
 General Sumpter was among the wounded, by which 
 unlucky accident, we lest the service, for several 
 months, of a brave, active, and experienced offi- 
 cer, and one on whom the militia had the greatest 
 reliance ; his spirited and prudent conduct in the 
 several actions which he had had with the British, 
 procured him the entire confidence of his countryj 
 and the thanks of Congress. [See appendix, note 25.] 
 CONGRESS authorized and requested General 
 Washington to appoint an officer to command in the 
 Southern department, in consequence of which he 
 nominated Major General Greene, a native of Rhode- 
 Island : this appointment gave great satisfaction to
 
 crery one ; his military abilities, his active spirit^ 
 his great resources when reduced to difficulties in the 
 field, his having been quarter-master general to the 
 army under the commander in chief ; all these qua- 
 lities combined together, rendered him a proper offi- 
 cer to collect and to organize an army that was broken 
 up and dispersed. General Gates' army that had 
 been defeated near Camden, on the sixteenth of Au- 
 gust, in the latter end of the year 1780, moved down 
 to Charlotte. 
 
 GENERAL Greene immediately set off to take the 
 command of the Southern army, and arrived in Char- 
 lotte, on the second day of December, 1780 ; on the 
 eighth, the returns made to him of the army, amount- 
 ed to nine hundred and seventy continentals, and 
 one thousand and thirteen militia, and a respectable 
 cavalry, which was the security of his army ; most 
 of the continentals were the remainder of the Mary- 
 land and Delaware lines that had been defeated near 
 Camden on the sixteenth of August ; they had been 
 four years in service, and were as good troops as 
 any the British had ; they were half starved, unpaid, 
 and ill clad, and had been in this situation for seve- 
 ral months, yet there was no murmuring and no 
 desertion : with this army General Greene took the 
 field, against a superior victorious British army, ani 
 many other difficulties he had to encounter; the 
 clothing, the pay and feeding the troops, were al-
 
 251 
 
 most impossible to be effected : that country had al- 
 ready been so pillaged and robbed, that scarcely enough 
 was left for the inhabitants ; the difficulty he had in 
 procuring provisions for his army at Charlotte, in- 
 duced him to divide his force ; he accordingly de- 
 tached General Morgan with a strong body, to the 
 western extremities of South Carolina, and marched 
 on the twentieth of December, with the main body 
 to Hicks'-creek, opposite Cheraw-hill ; by this dis- 
 position, he covered the two extremities of the coun- 
 try, and gave encouragement to the militia in those 
 parts, to embody and join his troops. It was a very 
 wise measure in General Greene to divide his army 
 and separate them so far ; whereas, if he had kept 
 them together, they would have been an object for 
 the British to strike at, but in this detached, distant 
 situation, Lord Cornwallis could have no apprehen- 
 sions from them, of any successful operations against 
 his superior force. 
 
 THE British established a post at Ninety-six, which 
 they kept possession of thirteen months : moderate 
 measures were first pursued with the inhabitants ; 
 but some of the most notorious, infamous villians, 
 who called themselves king's men, by shirking, creep- 
 ing, and mean submission, insinuated themselves in- 
 to the confidence of the British so much, that they 
 were appointed officers of the militia : they then be- 
 gan to shew their resentment and take revenge upon
 
 252 
 
 their former friends and neighbors, for mere private 
 disputes which had subsisted between them, long 
 preceding this lime : they robbed, they plundered, and 
 even murdered the whig inhabitants : and, although 
 frequent applications were made for redress) no at- 
 tention was paid to them : this ill treatment, this 
 violent usage, soon alienated the new subjects from 
 their allegiance and obliged them to break their en- 
 gagements to the British, and to resume their arms, 
 and join the Americans. 
 
 LIEUTENANT Colonel Nisbet Balfour, a proud, 
 haughty Scot, carried his authority with a very high 
 hand ; his tyrannical, insolent disposition, treated 
 the people as the most abject slaves ; he even issued 
 an order * That every man who was not in his 
 house by a certain day, should be subject to military 
 execution. 
 
 THE inhabitants, tired of their ill treatment and 
 great oppression, and finding no security for their 
 lives or property, sincerely wished for an American 
 force to come among them. At this critical time, 
 General Morgan, on the twenty-fifth of December, 
 appeared amongst them with a body of troops ; and 
 on the twenty-ninth, detached Lieutenant Colonel 
 Washington with his own regiment and two hundred 
 militia horse, under Lieutenant Colonel M'Call, and 
 dispersed a body of Tories who were plundering the 
 Whig militia: Colonel Washington fell in with them
 
 253 
 
 near Hammonds' store ; he immediately charged, 
 and routed them ; many were killed, and about forty- 
 taken prisoners. The next day Colonel Washington 
 detached an officer with a small body of infantry and 
 cavalry to pursue the fugitives, and to surprise a fort 
 about seventeen miles from Ninety-six, in which Ge- 
 neral Cunningham commanded about one hundred 
 and fifty militia, in which was a great deal of plun- 
 der taken from the whig inhabitants, besides forage 
 grain, and other provisions for the British army. 
 The Americans, after destroying the fort and all the 
 provisions which they could not carry off, joined Co- 
 
 lonel Washington again. Lord Cornwallis could not 
 bear the idea of suffering-General Morgan to remain 
 in that part of -the country, and draw the militia over 
 to the Americans -i, he therefore detached Colonel 
 Tarleton with one thousand infantry and two hundred 
 
 : and fifty cavalry, th6 flower of his army, with two 
 field pieces, to dispossess General Morgan and drive 
 him quite off. General Morgan got intelligence that 
 Colonel Tavleton was in pursuit of him. The Ame- 
 ricans endeavored to avoid an action, and were re- 
 treating as fast as possible, because they knew that 
 Tarleton's force was greatly superior to theirs. The 
 British having left a part of -their baggage about 
 twenty-five miles in their rear, under a guard of one 
 hundred men to follow, pursued the Americans so 
 
 'closely that they could not get off without the loss of 
 VOL* ii. 2 K
 
 254 
 
 their baggage, which they were unwilling to part 
 vith. The last and best account which General 
 Morgan got of Tarleton, was by a horseman who left 
 them at about fifteen miles distance ; and before he 
 could have got to General Morgan, they must have 
 been within ten miles of him : he immediately called 
 some of his officers together to consult upon what 
 was best to be done, when it was determined to try 
 the event of a battle, and if they were not successful, 
 they could but retreat, and give up their baggage. 
 At their near approach, on the seventeenth of Janu- 
 ary, 1781, General Morgan drew up his men on an 
 open pine barren in the following order : (the ground 
 equal to both) the militia of about four hundred men 
 formed the first line under General Pickens ; the con- 
 tinentals of about five hundred (two hundred of whom 
 were six months men, very raw troops) formed the 
 second line, commanded by Colonel Howard, about 
 two hundred yards in the rear of the first. Colonel 
 Washington, with about seventy-five continental ca- 
 valry, and forty-five mounted militia, with swords, 
 under Colonel M'Call, in the rear of the whole : in 
 this disposition did they wait to receive the enemy. 
 Colonel Tarleton, as he drew near, saw the Ame- 
 ricans already formed : he halted and formed his 
 men ; they then advanced, and threw in a heavy fire 
 jpon the militia. General Pickens had ordered his 
 men to reserve their fire, till the enemy came within
 
 255 
 
 fifty yards, which they did, with great firmness and 
 success ; but they were soon obliged to give way and 
 retreat behind the second line. The British imme- 
 diately advanced upon the second line, who received 
 them very warmly, and a heavy fire commenced be- 
 tween them : at length, the second line began to give 
 way. Colonel Washington perceiving this, imme- 
 diately rode up close to the rear of the second line 
 with his cavalry, and spoke to Colonel Howard, ' that 
 
 < if he would rally his men, and charge the enemy's 
 * line, he would charge the cavalry that were got 
 
 < among our militia in the rear.' Colonel Washing- 
 ton, riding up so close to the rear of our second line, 
 stopped the British for a moment, which gave time 
 to Colonel Howard to rally his men, and charge with 
 fixed bayonets. This soon obliged the British to fall 
 back upon their second line, and our militia at the 
 same time recovered themselves and charged, which 
 threw them into the utmost confusion; and Colonel 
 Washington charged the enemy's cavalry, who were 
 cutting down our militia, and soon drove them off. 
 At the moment that the enemy were in this general 
 confusion, Colonel Howard called out to them, to 
 1 lay down their arms, and they should have good 
 t quarters. Upon this, upwards of five hundred laid 
 down their arms, and surrendered themselves prison- 
 ers. The first battalion of the seventy-first, and two 
 companies of light infantry, laid down their arms.
 
 256 
 
 Upwards of two hundred were left dead upon the 
 field, besides a great number wounded ; eight hun- 
 dred stands of arms, two field pieces, and thirty -five 
 baggage waggons fell into the Americans hands. 
 Colonel Washington pursued the British cavalry 
 twenty-five miles ; at fifteen miles, he came to where 
 they had burnt their baggage waggons. So great 
 was the consternation in which the British infantry 
 were, at seeing their cavalry gallop off, that, either 
 from pique or panic, numbers of them never fired a 
 gun. In this action, six hundred were made pri- 
 soners ; so that this large detachment of one thousand 
 infantry, and two hundred and fifty cavalry from 
 Lord Cornwallis* army, was almost entirely lost ; very 
 few got off, except the cavalry, and those who were 
 left in the rear with the waggons. 
 
 THIS victory was so complete, that the Americans 
 were astonished at it themselves. The Americans 
 had only twelve men killed, and sixty wounded. 
 
 THIS defeat of Colonel Tarleton's at the battle of 
 the Cowpens, chagrined and disappointed the British 
 officers and Tories in Charlestown exceedingly. I 
 happened to be in Charlestown at the time when the 
 news arrived. I saw them standing in the streets in 
 small circles, talking over the affair with very grave 
 faces. I knew the particulars as soon as they did. 
 Governor Rutledge sent in a person on some prtence 
 vith a Hag; but in fact, it was to inform the Ameri-
 
 257 
 
 can prisoners of our success : the person informed 
 me of the whole affair, which I communicated to the 
 officers at Haddrell's-point, on my return in the even- 
 ing. The news gave great joy, and put us all in high 
 spirits. Some of the old British officers who were 
 made prisoners, andparoledto Charlestown, when they 
 came down, were exceedingly angry indeed, at their 
 defeat, and were heard to say, ' that was the conse- 
 4 quence of trusting such a command to a boy like 
 1 Tarleton.' There is no doubt but Colonel Tarleton 
 was a brave man, and a good soldier, but in this affair 
 he displayed neither generalship nor courage, but 
 galloped off with his two hundred and fifty horse j 
 when pursued by about seventy continental cavalry? 
 and forty-five militia horse, and left his infantry to 
 be made prisoners of. Colonel Tarleton should have 
 requested a court of inquiry to have cleared himself 
 of any charge of misconduct in this affair, notwith- 
 standing his aquittal in a letter from Lord Cornwallis 
 to him. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM LORD CORNWALLIS 
 
 TO COLONEL TARLKTON. 
 
 ' You have forfeited no part of my esteem as 
 
 ' an officer, by the unfortunate event of the action 
 
 ' of the seventeenth instant ; the means you used to 
 
 ' bring the enemy to action, were able and masterly, 
 
 .and must ever do y ou honor ; your disposition was
 
 258 
 
 ' unexceptionable ; the total misbehavior of the troops, 
 could alone have deprived you of the glory which 
 ' was justly your due.' 
 
 THE thanks of Congress were given to General 
 Morgan and his officers and men. [See appendix, 
 note 26.] 
 
 THIS great victory at the Cowpens* changed the 
 face of American affairs, and raised the drooping 
 spirits of her desponding friends. In two actions 
 soon after each other, the British lost about two 
 thousand men : that at King's mount, on the seventh 
 of October, and that at the Cowpens of the seven- 
 teenth of January, 1781 : the latter was of more se- 
 rious consequence to Lord Cornwallis, because it 
 deprived him of nine hundred of his best troops. 
 
 COLONEL Tarleton having been successful in sur- 
 prising unguarded troops, and the more unguarded 
 militia, Lord Cornwallis had no doubt ef his being 
 a brave and active officer ; and having a mean opi- 
 nion of our militia, from their behavior at Camden, 
 he was, no doubt, flattering himself, that he would 
 receive accounts from Colonel Tarleton, of his hav- 
 ing defeated General Morgan ; while he was pos- 
 
 * An account of the affair at the Cowpcns, I had from an 
 American officer of great veracity and hiflli rank, and one that 
 was very conspicuous on that day in the action*
 
 259 
 
 sessed of this idea, to his utter astonishment, he 
 got the unwelcome and unexpected intelligence of 
 Tarleton's complete overthrow. What must his feel- 
 ings have been, when he received this account of 
 his favorite officer, and one in whom he had the 
 greatest opinion, in regard to his military abilities, 
 and who had with him upwards of twelve hundred 
 of the pick of his army, that he should be defeated 
 by about one thousand men, and half of them mili- 
 tia ? His chagrin and his disappointment must have 
 been great indeed, upon this occasion. 
 
 LORD Cornwallis, in hopes of retrieving the credit 
 of his troops, and recovering the prisoners taken at the 
 Cowpens, left all his baggage, and took only a few 
 waggons, sufficient to carry the necessaries for his 
 army, and went in pursuit of General Morgan ; his 
 long and rapid marches, soon brought him near to 
 General Morgan ; they came to the Catawba-ford 
 on the evening of that day when the Americans cross- 
 ed it ; and before the next morning, a heavy rain 
 made it impassable, by which fortunate event, Gene- 
 ral Morgan pushed on with his detachment and pri- 
 soners, and got off, and Major Hyrne proceeded 
 with the prisoners. The hasty marches after Gene- 
 ral Morgan, induced General Greene to retreat from 
 Hicks'-creek, lest the British should get between 
 the two divisions of his army. This affair of Colonel 
 Tarleton's, at the Cowpens, hurried Lord Cornwallis
 
 .260 
 
 into his. plan of subjugating Xorth Carolina : before 
 it was ripened into maturity, Major Hyrne, had 
 been previously dispatched to receive the prisoners, 
 and conduct them to Virginia. 
 
 GE-KERAL Greene left the main body of his army 
 under the command of General Huger, with orders 
 to proceed and rendezvous at Guildford Court-house. 
 To facilitate his march, all the heavy baggage was 
 ordered to Hillsborough, and he, himself, rode one 
 hundred and fifty miles, to join General Morgan on 
 the Catawba-river, who was at some considerable 
 distance before Lord Cornwallis, where he could 
 best command the two divisions of his army. 
 
 AT this time, General Greene joined General 
 Morgan (who intended to have gone over the moun- 
 tains, to avoid Lord Cornwallis) and directed the 
 movements of both divisions of his army, so as to 
 form a junction at Guildford Court-house. 
 
 As soon as the Catawba-river was fordable, Lord 
 Cornwallis prepared for crossing ; and, in order to 
 deceive the Americans, made several feints at difier- 
 ent fording places, and early in the morning, on 
 the first of February, he crossed over, near M'Gow- 
 ans, which was defended by a party of militia, un- 
 der General Davidson ; the British crossed the ri- 
 ver, under fire of the militia, with shouldered arms, 
 and formed on the opposite bank ; they then engag- 
 ed the militia, but General Davidson being killed
 
 26) 
 
 early in the action, his men were dispirited, and 
 made a precipitate retreat : the militia about the 
 neighborhood, although General Greene was amongst 
 them, could not be persuaded to take up arms : all 
 the fords were abandoned, and the British crossed 
 without any opposition. 
 
 THE British having possession of the two southern 
 states, began to extend their views to the conquering 
 Virginia and North Carolina; and the more easily to 
 accomplish their plan, Major General Leslie was 
 detached from New- York to Chesapeak, with three 
 thousand men. On his arrival there, Lord Corn- ' 
 wallis ordered him to march immediately to Charles- 
 ton, with fifteen hundred men, and then to join his 
 army : one frigate and two sloops of war, took pos_ 
 session of Wilmington ; and Major Craig was de- 
 tached with three hundred men, to take post there : 
 this position was extremely convenient for Lord 
 Cornwallis* army, from whence he could draw sup- 
 plies for his troops, without any risk. 
 
 ABOUT this time, a large detachment was sent from 
 New- York, under Major General Phillips and Briga- 
 dier General Arnold, the American traitor, who the 
 British gave, for his treachery, the rank of brigadier 
 in their army. 
 
 Now the British and American generals began to 
 display their military skill ; the one in pursuing, the 
 
 VOL. II. 3 L
 
 other in retreating; inarching and counter-marching, 
 and various manoeuvres \vere made; the one endea- 
 voring to join the main body of his army under 
 General Hnrjcr, whilst the other endeavored to bring 
 on an action before the junction could be made. Ge- 
 neral Greene crossed the Yadkin, partly in flats, and 
 partly by fording, on the second and third day of Fe- 
 bruary, and secured all the boats on the north side 
 of the river. Lord Cornwallis was close in his rear, 
 but the want of boats, and the rapid rise of the river, 
 from the excessive rains, rendered his crossing im- 
 possible. This was the second narrow escape General 
 Morgan's detachment had from Lord Cornwallis. 
 
 THE British, disappointed at not crossing the trail- 
 ing ford on the Yadkin, were obliged to march to the 
 upper fords, which are generally passable. This gave 
 time for the junction of the two divisions of the Ame- 
 rican army. Whilst Lord Cornwallis and General 
 Greene were opposed to each other in North Carolina, 
 General Marion was not idle in the lower parts of South 
 Carolina ; he had a small party of mounted militia, 
 and his principal range was between Santee and 
 Cooper-rivers ; his camp was in Santee-swamp, 
 sometimes on the south side, at other times on the 
 north of the river ; always in a safe position, where 
 lie never could be surprised ; from whence he sent 
 cut small parties, and frequently intercepted the 
 convoys of provisions. He perplexed the British
 
 263 
 
 very much, by moving his camp so often that they 
 could not tell where to find him ; and to hunt for 
 him in the swamps, they were afraid, lest they should 
 fall into an ambuscade. On the twenty-ninth of Janu- 
 ary, he sent out two small parties, under the com- 
 mand of Major and Captain Postell, to cross Santee, 
 and take different routs ; the first destroyed a great 
 quantity of stores at Manigault's-ferry ; the latter 
 did the same at some other place. Soon after this, 
 he got information of a number of waggons under a 
 convoy, near Monk's corner ; he immediately march- 
 ed off, surprised them, and destroyed fourteen wag- 
 gons loaded with stores, took forty prisoners, most 
 of them regular troops, without losing a man. 
 
 GENERAL Greene and General Huger formed a 
 junction atGuilford Court-house, on the seventeenth 
 of February, 1781, yet their numbers were so in- 
 ferior to the British, that General Greene could not 
 venture an action : he called a council of his officers, 
 and the result of their opinion was, that he ought 
 to retire over the Dan, and avoid an action as much 
 as possible, until he should be reinforced. 
 
 LORD Cornwallis, well knowing the inferiority of 
 the American army, endeavored to cut off General 
 Greene's retreat into Virginia ; and with this view, 
 he kept possession of the upper country, where the 
 rivers were fordable, which obliged General Greene 
 to keep below where the rivers were impassable ; and
 
 364 
 
 being informed that there were not sufficient num- 
 bers of boats to cross his army, was in hopes of fon> 
 ing General Greene to an action, before he could 
 cross the river. 
 
 GENERAL Greene, before he began his retreat from 
 Guilford Court-house, very wisely made two divisions 
 of his army. The light troops were composed of 
 Lee's legion, and Colonel Howard's battalion (conv 
 pleated) ; the cavalry commanded by Colonel Wash- 
 ington, and a corps of Virginia riflemen under Major 
 Campbell, the whole together making about seven 
 hundred men. These he put under the command of 
 Lieutenant Colonel Williams, commandant of the 
 Maryland line : he began his march from Guilford 
 Court-house on the tenth of February. The main 
 army and light troops took different routs t avoid a 
 pursuit. The next day, the latter had a reincountrc 
 with the advanced of the British army, in which an 
 officer and six or seven men of Tarleton's legion 
 were made prisoners, and some few killed. The light 
 troops manoeuvred and skirmished with the British in 
 order to deceive Lord Cornwallis with respect to the 
 route of the main army, which gave General Greene 
 lime to send off hii baggage. Lord Cornwallis by 
 his close pursuit obliged the American light troops 
 on the fourteenth, to retreat forty miles ; and Gene-r 
 ral Greene on that day crossed the whole of his army, 
 artillery and baggage Into Virginia, over Boyd's and
 
 265 
 
 Irvin's ferries, on the Dan, without any interruption, 
 and waited himself the arrival of the light troops, and 
 saw them all safe over that night. The pursuit of 
 the British was so close that the van of their army- 
 arrived at the river, as the rear of the Americans had 
 crossed. 
 
 THE British were extremely mortified and disap- 
 pointed at General Greene's escape into Virginia be- 
 fore they could have a blow at him : they had thought 
 it impossible. However, Lord Cornwallis consoled 
 himself with driving General Greene off, and having 
 entire possession of North Carolina. He dared not 
 to follow the American army into Virginia, as he 
 knew that state would be too powerful for him. He 
 contented himself with staying in North Carolina, and 
 calling upon the loyal inhabitants to make good their 
 promise of rising in favor of the British government ; 
 and to make it more convenient for them to join him, 
 he retired to Hillsborough, where he raised the royal 
 standard, and by proclamation called upon all his 
 friends to join him. General Greene, in order to 
 
 frustrate Lord Cornwallis' plan of embodying the 
 
 ' 
 
 Tories, re-crossed the Dan on the twenty-third, and 
 detached General Pickens with some light troops, and 
 Lee's legidn in pursuit of Colonel Tarleton, who, 
 with a considerable force of infantry and cavalry had 
 crossed the Haw-river to encourage and support the 
 
 Tories. Colonel Pyles, who, with three hundred
 
 266 
 
 and fifty Tories, was marching to join the British, 
 fell in with the American party : having no suspi- 
 cions of their re-crossing the Dan, he took them for 
 Tarleton's detachment. While they were under this 
 mistake, the Americans attacked them to great ad- 
 vantage, and even when they were cutting them 
 down, they were protesting their attachment to the 
 king. About the same time, a party who were go- 
 ing to join the British, fell in with Tarleton's detach- 
 ment, who took them for rebels, and cut them to 
 pieces, so that the poor Tories were between two 
 fires. Lord Cornwallis continued several days in 
 that part of the country were Pyles was defeated, in 
 
 hopes of picking up some of the stragglers belong- 
 ing to the loyalists; but in that he was disappointed: 
 he said himself, that he could find none but timid 
 * friends, or inveterate enemies.' 
 
 GENERAL Greene's re-crossing the Dan-river in- 
 to North Carolina, obliged Lord Cornwallis to quit 
 Hillsborough, a few days after he had issued his 
 proclamation, inviting his friends to join him at that 
 place, and was very much disappointed at not be- 
 ing reinforced by the loyalists, from whom he had 
 great expectations. A large body of them, had 
 marched to join him, but upon hearing that the 
 American army had returned into North Carolina, 
 and knowing the fate of their friends under Colonel 
 4 Pyles, they were terrified, and returned home, to 
 wait a more favorable time.
 
 267 
 
 GENERAL Greene's retreat into Virginia, awak- 
 ened the people of that state, and they began to be 
 alarmed for their own safety : a great number of 
 the militia turned out, but very few of them were 
 armed, and many of them declined going into 
 North Carolina. A small brigade of four or five 
 hundred men, commanded by General Stevens, was 
 all the reinforcements General Greene could get 
 from Virginia ; with these he re-crossed the Dan. 
 Although General Greene's army was greatly in- 
 ferior to Lord Cornwallis' yet he was obliged to go 
 into North Carolina, to be a check upon the Tories, 
 and to prevent, as much as possible, the British 
 from getting supplies for their army. General 
 Greene kept as close as he could, without coming 
 to an action, as his cavalry could always secure him 
 a safe retreat. For two or three weeks the two armies 
 were manoeuvreing, in marching and counter-march- 
 ing: Lord Cornwallis endeavoring to bring on an ac- 
 tion, whilst General Greene as studiously avoided it, 
 until his reinforcements should arrive from Virginia 
 and North Carolina. On the eleventh of March, Ge- 
 neral Lawson arrived from Virginia, with a brigade 
 of militia, and four hundred regular troops, raised 
 for eighteen months, besides two brigades of mili- 
 tia, commanded by Generals Butler and Eaton, from 
 North Carolina : these gave the Americans a great 
 superiority in numbers ; and General Greene began 
 now to prepare to give Lord Cornwallis battle, and
 
 268 
 
 broke up his corps of light troops, commanded by 
 Colonel Williams, with thanks to them for their 
 eminent services, while acting as a separate corps 
 from the main army ; he ordered them to fall in the 
 line, and join their respective corps ; and he then 
 inarched to Guilford Court-house, and issued the 
 following order : 
 
 * THE great probability of coming to a general 
 
 * action in a short time, must be a consideration 
 
 * that will induce every officer and soldier to do his 
 
 * duty ; and if order and discipline are maintained, 
 
 * so great a confidence has the general in the brave- 
 ' ry of the troops, that he flatters himself the efforts 
 c of his countrymen will be favored by heaven, and 
 ' crowned with success.' 
 
 Otf the fifteenth of March, 1781, the two armies 
 were drawn out near Guilford Court-house for action : 
 the Americans consisted of about four thousand, 
 five hundred men, in three lines : the North Caro. 
 lina militia under Generals Butler and Eaton, of 
 about one thousand men, formed the first line : the 
 second line was commanded by Generals Stevens 
 and Lawson, of about seventeen hundred Virginia 
 militia : the third line was of the Maryland and 
 Delaware continental troops, of about fifteen hun- 
 dred men, commanded by General Huger, on the 
 right, and Colonel Williams on the left : Colonel
 
 269 
 
 Washington with his cavalry, and a body of the De- 
 laware light infantry and some riflemen under Colo- 
 nel Lynch, covered the right flank: Colonel Lee, 
 with his legion, and some riflemen under Colonel 
 Campbell, the left. After the cannonade begun 
 the British advanced in three columns, and display- 
 ed the Hessians on the right, Colonel Webster's 
 brigade on the left, and the guards in the centre. 
 Webster's brigade attacked the front line, which 
 gave way when their adversaries were at the distance 
 of one hundred and fifty yards, many of them with- 
 out firing a gun : the Virginians kept up a smart 
 fire and did great execution, until they were ordered 
 to retreat. General Stevens had posted some rifle- 
 men in the rear of his line, with orders' to shoot 
 every man down that quitted his post. General 
 Stevens, when he saw the North Carolina militia 
 give way, ordered his line to open intervals, to let 
 them pass through, and gave out amongst his men, 
 that they had orders to retreat, which prevented it 
 having any bad effect upon them. The continental 
 troops were next attacked, and the business between 
 them and the British, became very serious. The 
 cavalry under Colonel Washington, supported by 
 the Maryland troops, commanded by Colonel Gunby 
 and Colonel Howard, made such a charge, that 
 they rode down the whole regiment of guards, in 
 which a great many of their officers and men were 
 
 VOL, II. 2 M
 
 270 
 
 killed and wounded. This heavy charge, being 
 vrell supported by the infantry, obliged the British 
 to fall back ; and when General Huger received or- 
 ders to retreat, the Americans were pressing close 
 upon them. This action lasted one hour and an 
 half, when the Americans retreated. Lord Corn- 
 wallis kept the field, and General Greene retired 
 over the Reedy-fork, about three miles. This vic- 
 tory cost the British dear : their killed and wounded 
 were upwards of six hundred;* amongst the first 
 were two colonels, three captains, and a number of 
 subalterns : of the latter, two brigadiers, one colo- 
 nel, and a number of other officers. The Ameri- 
 cans had three hundred continentals, and one hun- 
 dred of the Virginia militia killed and wounded, and 
 lost two field-pieces (six pounders) which had been 
 alternately in the possession of the two armies, dur- 
 ing the action. At this victory, there were great 
 rejoicings in Charleston, the troops were turned 
 out, and a feu-de-joye was fired ; though some of 
 
 * It is remarkable that whenever the British and Americans 
 came to fair firing in battle, the first always lost double the 
 number of men ; and the reason is, perhaps, because the 
 Americans are bred to arms, and accustomed to fire at single 
 objects, and were they blind-folded, would naturally level 
 their pieces well; whilst the British soldiers, who are taught 
 to fiie by platoons, always fire too bigb or too low*
 
 271 
 
 the British said that such another victory would ruin 
 them. Lord Cornwallis' conduct after this affair 
 proves that this victory gave him no advantage, and 
 that it left him in a much worse situation than be- 
 fore it happened. Three days after the battle, he 
 issued a proclamation, [See appendix, note 27.] set- 
 ting forth his complete victory, and calling upon all 
 the loyal subjects, to come forward, and take an 
 active part in restoring good order and govern- 
 ment, offering pardon to all who should surrender 
 themselves by the twentieth day of April ; and on 
 that day, his lordship destroyed all his baggage, left 
 his hospital and seventy-five wounded men, with a 
 great number of loyalists in the neighborhood of 
 Guilford, and marched off for the sea-coast, which 
 shows that he thought himself in no condition to 
 keep the field ; and thirte en days before the expira- 
 tion of his act of grace, he reached his shipping at 
 Wilmington, and left the whole of the upper coun- 
 try in the power of General Greene's army. Lord 
 Cornwallis was extremely mortified at not receiv- 
 ing some support from the Scotch Highlanders, 
 settled at Cross-creek: although he marched through 
 their settlements, and they were opposed to the 
 American measures, yet they kept aloof from the 
 British. On General Greene's being informed of 
 Lord Cornwallis' movements, he immediately de- 
 camped, and followed him, and continued his pur-
 
 suit as far as Ramsay's mill, on Deep-river, so ra- 
 pidly that the British had just crossed, when the 
 Americans arrived : they suffered much in this pur- 
 suit, for want of provisions. Lord Cornwallis re- 
 mained three weeks at Wilmington, with the Bri- 
 tish army ; then marched them to Hallifax, and 
 from thence to Petersburgh in Virginia, on the 
 lower route, where he met with no opposition ; and 
 on the twentieth of May he joined the British forces 
 in Virginia, under Major General Phillips and Bri- 
 gadier General Arnold. 
 
 GENERAL Greene, before he knew of Lord Corn- 
 wallis' determination to proceed to Virginia with his 
 army, resolved to re-commence military operations in 
 South Carolina, but first issued his general amnesty r 
 inviting the loyalists to join him, and sent orders to 
 General Pickens to collect the militia of his brigade, 
 and to prevent supplies from going to the British at 
 Ninety-six and Augusta: and Colonel Lee with his 
 legion and part of the second Maryland brigade, was 
 ordered to advance before the continental troops, to 
 co-operate with General Marion. General Sumpter 
 was now recovered of his wound, and as soon as he 
 was informed that Lord Cornwallis had quitted the 
 state in pursuit of General Greene, he collected a 
 body of men, and penetrated into the heart of the 
 country to encourage the friends of independence, 
 and early in February he crossed the Congaree-river
 
 273 
 
 in force, and appeared before Fort Granbee, and de- 
 stroyed all their stores. Lord Rawdon immediately 
 marched from Camden for the relief of that post 
 upon which General Sumpter retired, and appeared 
 before another British post near Colonel Thomson's ; 
 and the second day after, he attacked and defeated an 
 escort convoying some waggons going from Charles- 
 ton to Camden with stores: thirteen of the British 
 were killed, and sixty-six were taken prisoners: the 
 stores were sent down the river in boats, but were 
 retaken on their passage. General Sumpter with 
 three hundred horse, swam across Santee-river, and 
 marched to Fort Watson at Wright's-bluft' ; but on 
 being informed that Lord Rawdon was marching to 
 its relief, he retired to Black-river, and on his return 
 he was attacked near Camden by Major Fraser with 
 a considerable force of regulars and militia, who he 
 obliged to retreat after twenty of his men were killed. 
 GENERAL Sumpter hitherto performed all his emi- 
 nent services with militia, but finding them so uncer- 
 tain a body, and as the war was to be renewed in South 
 Carolina, it was thought proper to have a more per- 
 manent body ; therefore General Sumpter with the ap- 
 probation of General Greene raised three small re- 
 giments of regular state troops for ten months, in 
 March, 1781 ; with these and the continental troops, 
 the war was renewed in South Carolina with great 
 vigor and spirit, and more regularity. Colonel Har-
 
 274 
 
 den with his friends and neighbors from about Beau- 
 fort, and the south parts of Carolina, and Colonel 
 Baker from Georgia, with some of his friends and 
 neighbors, about seventy-six in all, who had been 
 with General Marion on the north side of Santee- 
 river, resolved to visit their settlements, and in their 
 way, fell in with about twenty-five of the royal mi- 
 litia at Four-holes, whom they took ; the privates 
 were paroled, the officers were carried off prisoners. 
 Colonel Harden was very active in the southern 
 parts of the state : he sent parties to the houses of 
 the royal militia j some were taken, whilst others 
 fled to Charleston ; he had several skirmishes with 
 the British, in which he was successful ; he took 
 Fort Balfour at Potataligo, he surrounded it, and 
 persuaded them that his numbers were many more 
 than they really were, which induced Colonel Fen- 
 wick, Lichmore and Rassal, to surrender the fort, 
 with thirty-two regular dragoons and fifty-six militia- 
 men, on the twelfth of April, 1781. Colonel Har- 
 den's friends and neighbors were extremely glad to 
 see him with a body of Americans; (hitherto there 
 had been none but British parties amongst them) 
 they turned out cheerfully and joined ; by which, 
 his party soon became very formidable : he carried 
 on the partisan war as Sumpter and Marion did, and 
 was very troublesome to the enemy. 
 
 GENERAL Greene marched with the main body
 
 275 
 
 of his army, on the seventh of April, from Deep- 
 river, in North Carolina, towards Camden : the 
 British were a good deal surprised, when they were 
 informed that Colonel Lee had gone through the 
 country and joined General Marion near Santee* and 
 that General Greene, with the Americans, had en- 
 camped on the nineteenth of April, near Camden. 
 
 THE British had established a line of forts on the 
 banks of the Santee and Congaree rivers, to secure 
 the provisions, and render their communication to 
 Camden more safe and easy. Fort Watson, at 
 Wright's-bluff, on Santee, was closely invested on 
 the fifteenth of April, 1781, by eighty militia, and 
 a body of continentals under Colonel Lee : the fort 
 was built on an Indian mount ; but Colonel May- 
 ham contrived to raise another within shot, much 
 higher, with logs and rails, filled in with earth, 
 which he raised, so that they could look down into 
 the fort, and the besieged were intirely exposed to 
 the fire of our riflemen. On the twenty- third, the gar- 
 rison consisting of one hundred and fourteen men, 
 commanded by Lieutenant M'Kay, surrendered by 
 capitulation. The American army of about seven 
 hundred continentals, took post at Hobkirk's hill, about 
 one mile from Camden, which lay in the fork of Wa- 
 teree-river and Wateree-creek ; was fortified with six 
 redoubts and a battery defended with nine hundred 
 men commanded by Lord Rawdon, who ordered
 
 276 
 
 every man in garrison that could carry a musket to 
 take arms; and on the twenty-fifth marched out to at- 
 tack General Greene. So little did the Americans 
 expect the British out of their lines, that the second 
 in command, General Huger, told me that they had 
 just come to their ground, and that a number of offi- 
 cers with himself were washing their feet, and a num- 
 ber of soldiers were washing their kettles in a small 
 rivulet that run by their camp, when their picket was 
 engaged with the enemy. They ran to camp as fast 
 as they could, and the British was soon after them, 
 when a general action took place, and it would pro- 
 bably hare been a serious surprise upon General 
 Greene, had it not been for Washington's cavalry, 
 which were saddled, and only the bits of their bridles 
 out of their mouths ; they were soon got ready, and 
 General Greene ordered them to charge the enemy's 
 right flank, which they did, and soon got in their 
 reaf; this threw them into the greatest confusion, 
 and gave General Greene time to make a good re- 
 treat to Gun-swamp, about five miles. Colonel 
 Washington paroled a number of officers upon the 
 field, and amongst them eleven surgeons who were 
 dressing their wounded. General Greene immedi- 
 ately sent them in to Lord Rawdon, (knowing they 
 would be wanted for the wounded) who was so pleased 
 with General Greene's liberal conduct, that he im- 
 mediately sent to the commandant in Charleston to
 
 allow General Moultrie to exchange the like number 
 of his medical line, such as he pleased, and that they 
 should be conducted to any American post that he 
 required. 
 
 AT one time Colonel Washington had made up- 
 wards of two hundred prisoners, but upon the Ame- 
 rican army retreating, he was obliged to relinquish 
 them all to about fifty, which he brought into camp, 
 and lost only three men. This gave me an oppor- 
 tunity of exchanging Doctor Fayssoux,* whom I had 
 several times proposed for exchange, but was always 
 refused : they did not like him, and threw every ob- 
 stacle in the way of his exchange, even his private 
 debts, although he told them he left a great deal 
 more in their hands than would satisfy them all. Their 
 principal dislike to Doctor Fayssdux was, that he was 
 too faithful to his friends, and wrote and spoke too 
 freely of his enemies, respecting tkeir conduct in 
 his department ; as a number of his letters to Doc- 
 tor Oliphant, director-general of the hospital, shows* 
 and one to Doctor Ramsay, which is an exact state- 
 ment of their conduct in our hospital at that time. 
 [See appendix, note 28.] 
 
 THJK Americans lost in this affair at Hobkirk's, 
 about two hundred killed, wounded, and missing. 
 
 * Doctor Fayssoux was surgeon-general in the hospital, 
 VOL. II. 2 if
 
 278 
 
 THE next day Colonel Washington went down 
 with fifty men, to reconnoitre the British lines ; he 
 showed but a few of his men, and kept his main bo- 
 dy concealed in the bushes. His scheme answered 
 very well; his intention was to draw out their cavalry. 
 As soon as they saw this small party, Major Coffin 
 sallied out in pursuit of them, with forty Irish vo- 
 lunteers : they immediately rode off and drew him 
 into an ambuscade, and as they passed, the Ameri- 
 cans rushed out from the bushes, and attacked them 
 in the rear, and killed about twenty of them. 
 
 SOON after the action of the twenty-fifth, General 
 Greene sent off a detachment to reinforce General 
 Marion near Nelson's-ferry, to prevent supplies go- 
 ing to Camden, from Charleston or the country ; 
 and sent parties to the Wateree to take a position, 
 to prevent supplies going in from that quarter. 
 
 ON the seventh of May, 1781, Lord Rawdon re- 
 ceived a considerable reinforcement, by the arrival 
 of Colonel Watson with his detachment ; and en- 
 deavored the next day to bring General Greene to 
 another action, but that could not be effected. Ge- 
 neral Greene knew that Lord Rawdon was so sur- 
 rounded, that he could not get supplies, and that 
 he must soon quit Camden ; he therefore declined 
 an action ; and Lord Rawdon knowing his situation 
 was growing more critical every day, by the in- 
 crease of the American forces, and that he would be
 
 279 
 
 the more closely invested, determined to evacuate 
 Camden, and retreat to Charleston; and on the 
 tenth, he burned the gaol, mills, and many private 
 houses, and destroyed a great part of his baggage, 
 and retired with his army to the south side of San- 
 tee-river, leaving his own sick and wounded, and 
 as many Americans, who they had taken on the 
 twenty -fifth of April : by which movement he gave 
 up the whole of South Carolina, that was on the 
 north side of Santee, Wateree and Congaree-rivers ; 
 a large extent of country. Most of the militia with- 
 in those limits, immediately joined General Greene. 
 
 LORD Rawdon invited the Tories to accompany 
 him to Charleston, and promised them every assist- 
 ance in his power ; but very few of them attended 
 him : the greater part chose to stay, and trust to 
 the mercy of their countrymen : those who went 
 down with the British, were cruelly neglected. Af- 
 ter their Arrival in Charleston, they built themselves 
 huts without the lines, which was called Rawdon- 
 town : many of these unfortunate women and chil- 
 dren, who lived comfortable at their own homes near 
 Camden, died for want, in those miserable huts. 
 
 THIS evacuation, and the enemy's posts falling in 
 such quick succession, and the British falling back 
 to the low country, gave great spirits to all Ameri- 
 ca. The day after Lord Rawdon left Camden, the 
 post at Orangeburgh, consisting of seventy militia,
 
 280 
 
 and twelve regular troops surrendered to General 
 Sumpter. After the surrender of Fort Watson, 
 General Marion and Colonel Lee crossed the Santee, 
 and moved up to Fort Motte, which lies about the 
 fork, on the south side of Congaree, where they 
 arrived on the eighth of May, and began their ap- 
 proaches, which were carried on very rapidly. They 
 informed Mrs. Motte, that they were afraid that they 
 should be obliged to set fire to her house, which 
 stood in the centre of the fort : she begged them 
 that they would not consider her house as of any 
 consequence in the general cause ; and with great 
 patriotism and firmness, presented them \yith an 
 African bow, and quiver of arrows, and requested 
 they would burn the house as quick as they could. 
 With the arrows, and skewers with combustibles 
 tied to them fired from muskets, they soon put the 
 house in a blaze ; and the garrison commanded by 
 Lieutenant M'Pherson immediately surrendered at 
 discretion. Mrs. Motte who had retired to a house 
 at a little distance from her own, was extremely 
 rejoiced at seeing the garrison surrender, although 
 at the expense of her own elegant house. 
 
 Two days after this surrender, the British quitted 
 their post at Nelson's-ferry, on the south side of 
 San tee-river, about sixty miles from Charleston, 
 blew up their works and destroyed a great part of 
 their stores. A few days after, Fort Granby, in
 
 281 
 
 Granby, on Congaree-river, (which had been much 
 harrassed by Colonel Taylor's regiment of militia) 
 surrendered to Lieutenant Colonel Lee. The gar- 
 rison commanded by Major Maxwell, consisted of 
 about three hundred and fifty men, most of them 
 militia : in all these different forts, the Americans 
 took a large quantity of stores. Lord Rawdon being 
 on the south side of Santee-river, marched immedi- 
 ately to the relief of Fort Granby, but after marching 
 fourteen miles, he met officers of that garrison on 
 their way to town as prisoners of war, and paroled to 
 Charleston ; upon which, he returnedt 
 
 GENERAL Marion with his brigade of militia, 
 marched to Georgetown. As soon as he begun his 
 approaches, the British left the place, and retreated 
 to Charleston by water : General Marion soon after 
 moved off, and left Georgetown under a small mili- 
 tia guard ; and one Manson, an inhabitant of the 
 country, came with an armed vessel, and demanded 
 leave for his men to land, which was refused : he 
 then sent some on shore, under the cover of his 
 guns, and set fire to the town, and burnt forty-four 
 houses in that small place. 
 
 THE British had now lost all their posts in the 
 three southern states, except that at Ninety-six, one 
 at Fort Golphan, and one at Augusta, in Georgia. 
 These were the only objects General Greene had 
 to contend against.
 
 MANY people from the upper part of Georgia, 
 crossed Savannah-river and went to the northern 
 states, and some over the mountains, and a great 
 number of Carolinians and Georgians had submitted 
 to the British, and were at first treated kindly, but 
 they were called upon to take up arms against their 
 countrymen, which they declined. 
 
 COLONEL Clark returned to Georgia at the head 
 of a party, in September, J 780, and laid siege to 
 Augusta, in which Colonel Brown commanded : Lieu- 
 tenant Cruger marched with a detachment from the 
 garrison of Ninety-six, to relieve Colonel Brown, 
 which obliged Colonel Clark to retreat : after this, 
 Colonel Brown treated all his adherents, and those 
 supposed to be so, with the utmost severity : this 
 ill treatment of the Americans was now become in- 
 sufferable, and parties in different parts of the back 
 country, were arming to oppose the British : Cap- 
 tain M'Koy marched with a large body, and posted 
 them along the banks of Savannah-river, and fre- 
 quently intercepted boats going up with supplies 
 for the British : upon this, Colonel Brown detached 
 an officer, twenty-five regulars and twenty militia : 
 Captain M'Koy attacked them at Mathew's-bluff, 
 killed the officer and fifteen of them ; the remainder 
 retreated in haste. 
 
 AGREEABLY to General Greene's plan at Deep- 
 river, of returning to South Carolina, General Pic-
 
 283 
 
 kens and Colonel Clark, with a body of militia, had 
 for some time harrassed the British about Augusta. 
 
 THE day after the surrender of Fort Granby, Co- 
 lonel Lee marched with his legion to Augusta : the 
 first place that surrendered to a detachment of his 
 legion under Captain Rudolph, was Fort Golphan, 
 with seventy men, a field-piece and valuable stores. 
 The next post that was invested, was Fort Corn- 
 wallis at Augusta, commanded by Colonel Brown. 
 Colonel Grierson who. occupied an out-work that 
 was dependent, relinquished his post, and endeavored 
 to throw his force into Fort Cornwallis : thirty of 
 his men were killed and many more taken prisoners, 
 but himself and a few others got off into the fort. 
 The approaches were carried on with great rapidity, 
 and Colonel Brown, an active officer, defended it 
 with great bravery : several batteries were erected, 
 two of which were within thirty yards, that over- 
 looked their parapet, and the riflemen shot into the 
 fort, with great success, and every man that attempt- 
 ed to fire at the besiegers was immediately shot 
 down. On the fifth of January, 1781, the garrison 
 consisting of about three hundred men, capitulated 
 after making a gallant defence. 
 
 THE Americans lost Major Eaton, and about forty 
 killed and wounded. Colonel Grierson, who was 
 very obnoxious to the Americans, was shot down by 
 an unknown hand, after he was a prisoner. One
 
 284 
 
 Hundred guineas reward was offered to any person 
 who would point out the offender, but in vain. No 
 doubt Colonel Brown expected the same fate from his 
 vindictive disposition towards the Americans, but he 
 was furnished with a guard, although he had hanged 
 thirteen American prisoners, and others he gave into 
 the hands of the Indians to be tortured. On his way 
 to Savannah he passed through the settlements where 
 he had burnt a number of houses, and hung some of 
 the relations of the inhabitants. At Silver-bluff, Mrs. 
 M'Koy obtained leave of the American officer who 
 commanded his safeguard to speak to him, when she 
 thus addressed him : Colonel Brown, in the late 
 
 * day of your prosperity, I visited your camp, and on 
 
 * my knees supplicated for the life of my son, but you 
 1 were deaf to my intreaties, you hanged him, though 
 ' a beardless youth, before my face. These eyes have 
 ' seen him scalped by the savages under your imme- 
 
 < diate command, and for no better reason than that 
 
 * his name was M'Koy. As you are now a prisoner to 
 
 * the leaders of my country, for the present I lay aside 
 ' all thoughts of revenge, but when you resume your 
 
 < sword, I will go five hundred miles to demand satis- 
 4 faction at the point of it, for the murder of my son.' 
 
 WHILE the detachments from General Greene's 
 army were reducing the small posts, General Greene 
 proceeded on with the main body to Ninety-six. This 
 was a post of ranch consequence to the British, it
 
 285 
 
 being situated in the middle of a fertile and populous 
 country : the fort was garrisoned by a large body of 
 regular troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel 
 Cruger, a brave and gallant officer. The garrison 
 made a gallant defence. On the left of the fort was a 
 work in the form of a star ; on the right was a strong 
 stockade fort, and two block-houses : within the town, 
 flanked by those two works and picquetted all around, 
 and surrounded by a ditch and a high bank. There 
 were also several flushes in different parts of the 
 town : to all the works was a communication by co- 
 vered ways. 
 
 ON the twenty-third of May, 1781, the main body 
 of the American army encamped within half a mile 
 of the British post, and that night threw up two 
 flushes within one hundred and fifty yards of the star- 
 fort ; the next morning the enemy made a sally, and 
 being supported by the artillery and musketry from 
 the star-redoubt, obliged the besiegers to retreat. The 
 next night two strong block-batteries were erected at 
 the distance of about three hundred yards, which were 
 opened in the morning : soon after two batteries of 
 twenty feet high ; one within two hundred yards, and 
 the other within one hundred yards of the main fort. 
 Approaches were carried on at the same time on 
 the left, under the direction of Colonel Kozinsco, a 
 young gentleman of distinction from Poland. On 
 the fourteenth of May, a third parallel within fifty 
 
 VOL. 11. 2 o
 
 586 
 
 yards of the ditch was completed, and a rifle-battery 
 upwards of thirty feet high, erected at the same dis- 
 tance. On the seventeenth, the abbattis were turned, 
 and two trenches and a mine were within six feet 
 of the ditch. Great perseverance and bravery were 
 exhibited on both sides ; riflemen were employed, 
 who immediately fired at any person that appeared, 
 and seldom missed their aim. Many severe skir- 
 mishes took place between the covering parties and 
 those from the garrison, who frequently sallied out, 
 ON the third of June, a fleet arrived at Charleston 
 from Ireland, having on board the third, nineteenth 
 and thirtieth regiments of British troops; a detach- 
 ment of guards, and a great number of recruits ; the 
 whole under the command of Colonel Gould. Lord 
 Cornwallis had left orders to detain those troops in 
 South Carolina if they should be wanted : according- 
 ly, on the seventh of June, 1781, Lord Rawdon 
 marched from Charleston with this reinforcement 
 for the relief of Ninety-six. This was a dreadful 
 prospect for these newly raised troops arrived from 
 Europe, immediately from on board ship, who had 
 not yet recovered the use of their legs, heavy armed 
 and thick clad, to be forced to undertake a march 
 of two hundred miles at this inclement season of the 
 year : it is not to be doubted that numbers of them 
 must have been left behind at the end of every day's 
 march. They had been amused with the idea, that
 
 287 
 
 on their arrival in Carolina, they would have nothing 
 to do but sit themselves down quietly, on some of 
 the forfeited estates of the rebels. 
 
 GENERAL Greene had carried his works so near 
 the British garrison, as almost to insure success ; 
 and the moment when he expected them to surren* 
 der, intelligence was received that Lord Rawdon 
 was near at hand with two thousand men. The wife 
 of a British officer (an American) then in the gar- 
 rison of Ninety-six, received a large bribe to convey 
 a letter to Colonel Cruger, to inform him of their 
 near approach, which she did : as she was well 
 known to all the American officers, she rode about 
 their camp, unsuspected of any ill design, and her 
 servant with her, conversing with one and then 
 with another, until she found an opportunity; gave a 
 signal to the fort, it is said, by holding up a let- 
 ter, upon which a man was sent out from the fort 
 upon horseback, who got the letter, and gallop- 
 ed back into the fort with it : he had several shot 
 fired at him, but without effect. General Greene 
 attempted to retard Lord Rawdon's march, but his 
 men were too few to carry on the siege, and stop 
 the progress of the British troops : their near ap- 
 proach obliged General Greene to raise the siege, 
 or attempt to carry the place by a coup-de-main ; 
 which last was agreed upon, and a disposition made 
 on the eighteenth of June. Lieutenant Colonel Lee
 
 288 
 
 with the infantry of his legion, and Captain Kirk- 
 wood's light-infantry, made the attack upon the 
 right : Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, with the first 
 Maryland and first Virginia regiments, were to have 
 stormed the star-redoubt, the ditch of which was 
 eight or nine feet deep, the parapet eleven or twelve 
 feet high, and raised with sand-bags near three feet 
 more. The forlorn hopes were led on by Lieute- 
 nants Duval and Sheldon, and followed by a party 
 with hooks and entrenching tools, to pull down the 
 sand-bags. Had this been effected, the besieged could 
 not have annoyed the assailants without exposing 
 themselves to the American riflemen. The artillery 
 soon made breaches in the redoubt on the right ; it 
 was therefore abandoned, and they took possession 
 without loss. On the left, great exertions of resolu- 
 tion and bravery were displayed, but without success. 
 The forlorn hopes entered the ditch through an inces- 
 sant fire, and made every effort to get down the sand- 
 bags. Both of the officers were wounded, and there 
 was not more than one in six of the forlorn hopes 
 but what were killed or wounded. 
 
 LORD Rawdon by his rapid marches was very near 
 to Ninety-six at the time of the assault, which obliged 
 General Greene to make a precipitate retreat over 
 the Enoree. Lord Rawdon pursued General Greene, 
 but finding it impossible to overtake the Americans, 
 and supposing they had .got to North Carolina or
 
 289 
 
 Virginia, contented himself with the idea of having 
 driven him quite out of the country. The arrival of 
 the British reinforcement, and the retreat from Nine- 
 ty-six, gave reason to suppose that the British would 
 re-establish their posts which they lost to the south- 
 ward of Santee. The destination of Lord Cornwallis' 
 army having been known for some time, the British 
 commanders in South Carolina were obliged to draw 
 in all their posts within the limits of Santee, Congaree 
 and Edisto rivers, and to confine their future opera- 
 tions within those bounds. The vicissitudes in war 
 are many, and it is the part of a good general to know 
 when to fight, and when to run away. See Lord 
 Rawdon at one time pursuing General Greene with 
 hasty strides, and he as hastily getting off; at another 
 time when Lord Rawdon divides his force, General 
 Greene faces about and offers him battle, whilst the 
 other retreats as precipitately to Orangeburgh, and 
 takes a strong position to secure himself from an at- 
 tack. 
 
 WHILST General Greene lay near Orangeburgh 
 endeavoring to bring Lord Rawdon to an action, he 
 got intelligence that Colonel Cruger was marching 
 the garrison of Ninety-six to join Lord Rawdon, 
 which in his situation he could not prevent; he there- 
 fore retired with the American army to the high hills 
 of Santee. 
 
 ON the post of Ninety- six being evacuated, the
 
 290 
 
 whole of the upper country was in the possession of 
 the Americans, except a few of their small panics 
 moving about, that often fell in with ours, who gene- 
 rally routed them, and made many prisoners. Cap- 
 tain Eggleston with a part of Lee's legion, came up 
 with forty-nine British horse, and took forty-eight of 
 them. Colonel Lee with his legion, took all the wag- 
 gons and horses belonging to the convoy of provisions. 
 Colonel Wade Hampton charged and routed a party 
 of British near Charleston ; he also took fifty prison- 
 ers at Strawberry, and burnt four vessels loaded with 
 stores for the British army. Generals Sumpter and 
 Marion appeared before the camp at Biggen Church, 
 which consisted of five hundred infantry, and one hun- 
 dred cavalry : their advance fell in with the enemy's 
 picquet, had a small skirmish, and were obliged to re- 
 tire : in the evening they set fire to the church, with 
 all their stores, and retreated over Wadboo-bridge 
 towards Charleston. Generals Sumpter and Marion 
 with their brigades, Lee's legion and Hampton's state 
 cavalry pursued them closely. The cavalry came up 
 with them near Quinby-bridge, and took their rear- 
 guard with their military chest and all their baggage. 
 Some of the plank of the bridge being taken up, re- 
 tarded the pursuit a little : however, the main body 
 came up with them at Quinby (Colonel Shubrick's 
 plantation) where they had possession of the negro- 
 houses and other out-houses. In this situation, they
 
 291 
 
 were attacked with great spirit, till upwards of fifty 
 Americans were killed and wounded ; and finding they 
 could not dislodge them from the houses, and hearing 
 that a reinforcement was coming from town, via Hob- 
 caw, they then ordered a retreat. Captain Arm- 
 strong with five of Lee's legion, rode into their camp, 
 while the officers and men were dispersed, and charged 
 several small parties, and came off with the loss of 
 only two men. 
 
 ABOUT this time, every thing seemed to run re- 
 trograde with the British : they were very much 
 perplexed and embarrassed, not knowing how to 
 conduct their affairs. If they kept their forces to- 
 gether in the upper country, the Americans were 
 sure to get between them and Charleston, and with 
 small parties, surprise and take their supplies going 
 up to them ; and if they divided their force, they 
 were beat ; and the people that went over to them 
 for protection, finding they could not be protected, 
 joined the Americans again, so that the British 
 interest declined daily. Disconcerted in all their 
 schemes, driven from all their posts, in despair 
 and vexation, to appease their wrath, the unfortu- 
 nate Colonel Hayne was executed without a trial. 
 At the time that Generals Sumpter and Marion were 
 detached down the country, the main army was on 
 the high hills of Santee, and the British returned 
 to the fork of Congaree and Wateree. In this situa-
 
 i 
 
 292 
 
 tion the two armies lay within fifteen miles of each 
 other, with a rapid river between them : they knew 
 that no sudden attack could be made on either side, 
 as no boats were to be had. General Greene, whose 
 martial active spirit would not allow him to remain 
 idle, formed a plan to drive the enemy again from 
 their post. As he could not procure boats where he 
 was, he took a circuit of about seventy miles, where 
 boats were to be had, and where the river was fordable 
 in some places. Soon after he had crossed the river, 
 he was joined by General Pickens with a body of the 
 Ninety-six militia, and by the state troops under Co- 
 lonel Henderson. General Marion with his brigade 
 had been to Pon-pon, to support Colonel Harden in 
 opposing the British, who had taken post near Com- 
 bahee-ferry, and had issued orders to the inhabitants 
 to bring their rice to the neighboring landings, that 
 it might be carried to Charleston. Colonel Harden 
 exerted himself to oppose their designs, and found 
 it necessary to call in some other militia of the 
 state: many skirmishes took place, in which the 
 enemy lost a number of men. After this, General 
 Marion joined General Greene. 
 
 THB American force being collected, marched 
 the next morning to attack the British army com- 
 manded by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart. The British 
 had retired from Congaree to Eutaw, about forty miles 
 nearer to Charleston. Tho advance of the Ameri-
 
 , 
 
 293 
 
 cans fell in with two parties of the British who were 
 rooting potatoes, about four miles from their main 
 body ; they were charged by the legion of state 
 troops, which obliged them soon to retire. It was 
 unfortunate they fell in with these parties, other- 
 wise their main body would have been completely 
 surprised. They had not the least suspicion of Ge- 
 neral Greene's being any where near them: they 
 immediately drew up their men, and General Greene 
 drew up his little army consisting of about two thou* 
 sand men, in two lines. The first consisted of the North 
 and South Carolina militia, commanded by Generals 
 Marion and Pickens, and Colonel Malmedy: the se- 
 cond consisted of the continental troops from North 
 Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, commanded by- 
 General Sumner, Colonel Campbell and Colonel Wil- 
 liams. Colonel Lee with his legion covered the right 
 flank, and Colonel Henderson with the state troops on, 
 the left. Colonel Washington with his cavalry, and 
 Captain Kirkwood with the Delaware troops, were 
 formed as a corps of reserve. The enemy was drawn, 
 up in a wood, their left among some scrub-oak trees. 
 The front began to fire, and advance upon the Bri- 
 tish, till the action became general, and they in their 
 turn obliged to give way. They were well supported 
 by General Sumner's brigade, most of whom were 
 raw troops, composed of militia-men, who were turned 
 
 over to the continental service for their precipitate 
 vet., ii. 2 p
 
 flight in former actions: Colonel Williams and Co- 
 lonel Campbell were ordered to march up with trailed 
 arms, and charge. Nothing could exceed the brave* 
 ry of the officers and men on this occasion: they 
 marched up through a heavy fire of musketry with 
 such intrepidity as obliged the enemy to fall back. 
 Colonel Henderson who commanded the state troops, 
 was wounded early in the action ; the command then 
 devolved upon Colonel Wade Hampton, who made a 
 very spirited charge, in which he took upwards of one 
 hundred prisoners. In this confusion, Colonel Wash- 
 ington brought up the corps de reserve, and charged 
 so briskly on the left as gave them no time to rally, 
 and upwards of five hundred were made prisoners. 
 Colonel Washington charged with his cavalry in a 
 thick scrub-oak wood, which was very unfavorable 
 for the horse: the British reserved their fire till the 
 cavalry was almost upon them. When they gave fire, 
 Colonel Washington's horse was shot under him, and 
 he fell into their ranks. He received a wound with 
 a bayonet, and would have been killed, but was saved 
 by a British officer, and made prisoner. Most of his 
 officers were either killed or wounded, and a great 
 many of his men. After this, the enemy retreated 
 to a strong brick-house and a piquetted garden at 
 Eutaw, where they renewed the action. Four field- 
 pieces (six-pounders) were brought up to fire upon 
 the house, from whence the British were firing: they
 
 295 
 
 sallied out and took the pieces. The Americans re- 
 tired out of the reach of their fire, leaving a strong 
 picquet upon the field. The next evening, Colonel 
 Stewart destroyed a great quantity of stores, and re- 
 treated towards Charleston, leaving upwards of se- 
 venty of his wounded, and a thousand stand of arras. 
 They were pursued several miles, but could not be 
 come up with. About fourteen miles below Eutaw, 
 they were joined by a strong detachment under Ma- 
 jor M ; Arthur; however, they retreated down to Wan- 
 toot, (Mr. Ravenel's) twenty miles below Eutaw, 
 where they encamped some time. After this battle, 
 the British were so alarmed that they burnt their 
 stores at Dorchester, and the gates of the town were 
 shut. A number of negroes were employed in felling 
 trees across the road on Charleston-neck. 
 
 THE loss of the British at Eutaw, was upwards 
 of eleven hundred men : the Americans lost about 
 five hundred, including about sixty officers : Colo- 
 nel Campbell of the Virginia line, was among the 
 slain, universally lamented. 
 
 AFTER the battle of Eutaw, the Americans retired 
 to their old camp on the high hills of Santee. 
 
 IN the latter part of the year 1782, General 
 Marion was encamped with his militia at Wadboo, 
 (a place belonging to Mr. Colleton) where he was at- 
 tacked by Major Eraser, with two or three hundred 
 dragoons: Marion got notice of his approach, and
 
 posted his men in the house and out-houses. They 
 came to the charge at full gallop, and were received 
 with such a warm fire from the houses, as obliged 
 them to retire very precipitately, leaving a captain 
 and several others on the ground, killed and wounded. 
 SHORTLY after, Colonel Maham appeared before 
 the post at Fairlawn (Sir John Colleton's place) with 
 a small party of cavalry, took upwards of eighty pri- 
 soners, and burnt the house, with all their stores : 
 and although the British were greatly superior in 
 force, yet they dared not to stir out of their works to 
 save their stores. Colonel Mayham was constrained 
 to burn the house, because his men were making too 
 free with the liquors. 
 
 CONGRFSS honored General Greene for his con- 
 duct in the action at Eutaw, with a British standard 
 and a golden medal. [See appendix, note 29.] 
 
 THE latter part of the year 1781, about two months 
 after the battle of Eutaw, General Greene moved his 
 army into the lower country, to secure provisions for 
 his army: during the winter, the main body of his ar- 
 my was put in motion under the command of Colonel 
 Williams. 
 
 GENERAL Greene with two hundred horse, and two 
 hundred infantry, appeared near Dorchester. The 
 British, believing his whole army was near at hand, 
 immediately abandoned their post, and retired to the 
 Quarter-house, at Charleston-neck. General Greene's
 
 297 
 
 army encamped on the west side of Ashley-river^ 
 about sixteen miles from Charleston, by which he 
 secured for his army all the provisions in the southern 
 parts of the state, except the sea-islands, on which 
 the enemy had collected a great number of cattle. 
 Very little of military operations were going on now, 
 except some excursions with cavalry and infantry : 
 one was made in February, 1782. While General 
 Marion was attending the legislature of Jacksonbo- 
 rough, his brigade was surprised near Santee, by a 
 party of British cavalry commanded by Colonel 
 Thomson, in which Major Benson, Mr. Broughton 
 and several others were killed. 
 
 ON the nineteenth of March, 1782, Captain Ru- 
 dolph and Lieutenant Smith, with twelve men, took 
 and burned a British galley, in Ashley-river, which 
 mounted twelve guns, and forty-three men. They 
 disguised themselves, and passed for negroes going 
 to market with poultry : they were allowed to come so 
 near that they boarded her with ease, the enemy not 
 suspecting them. Three or four were killed ; the 
 rest were brought off prisoners. 
 
 WHILE the American army lay on the south side 
 of Ashley-river, the greater part of the men were so 
 completely ragged, that their clothes would scarcely 
 cover their nakedness : every little piece of cloth was 
 taken up to tie about their waists ; and that was not 
 the worst of their grievances ; the want of provisions
 
 298 
 
 was severely felt by them. Sometimes they had 
 meat without bread or rice, sometimes bread and rice 
 without meat, and sometimes were without either. 
 In this situation did they continue for several months, 
 and only sixteen miles from Charleston, where the 
 British army was in garrison, with a greatly superior 
 force ; fortunately, Ashley-river was between them . 
 By their being encamped so long in one place at this 
 season of the year, (July, August, September and Oc- 
 tober) they began to be sickly, discontented and mu- 
 tinous. The long arrears of pay, and the want of 
 provisions and clothing, was truly distressing, and 
 very hard upon this brave little army, who had been 
 marching and counter-marching, and fighting, almost 
 the whole year round, that now they came to have 
 a little respite, that they should be in want of every 
 necessary ; but it could not be otherwise : it was the 
 unfortunate situation of the country at that time, 
 which made it so. It is not surprising that these 
 men were dissatisfied, and began to brood mischief : 
 a few of them had formed a plan to deliver General 
 Greene, their beloved commander, into the hands 
 of the British ; but the plot was discovered, and 
 prevented from being carried into execution. Only 
 twelve men were concerned in this wicked design, 
 and only one (sergeant) executed. 
 
 WHILE General Greene lay encamped at Ashley- 
 river, there were frequent communications between
 
 299 
 
 Charleston and the army. Flags were passing almost 
 every day upon public or private business. Governor 
 Mathews, by assistance of Mr. Joshua Lockwood, 
 got out a quantity of clothing and other necessaries 
 for the army, which quieted them, and restored good 
 order, and duty was cheerfully performed as before. 
 SOON after the British had taken possession of 
 Charleston, Brigadier General Patterson was ap- 
 pointed commandant to superintend the civil affairs 
 of the town : he conducted himself with politeness 
 towards the prisoners : he shortly after went for 
 New-York, and Lord Cornwallis nominated Lieute- 
 nant Colonel Nisbet Balfour to that office, with very 
 extensive powers in all civil matters. While he was 
 commandant, a board of police was established to 
 determine all disputes in a summary way, (but under 
 the control of the commandant, James Simpson, Esq. 
 intendant of the board) a depreciation table was 
 drawn up, ascertaining the value of the paper cur- 
 rency at different times. This had the appearance of 
 justice and civil authority ; but it created a great 
 deal of mischief and discontent ; many suits were 
 commenced, and great numbers ruined. 
 
 THE place allotted to confine their prisoners, was 
 a part of the cellar under the Exchange, and called 
 the Provost ; a damp, unwholesome place, which oc- 
 casioned amongst the prisoners much sickness, and 
 some deaths. It was a horrid place to confine citi-
 
 ; 
 
 300 
 
 v 
 t 
 rtns in. They had no respect to age or sex : they 
 
 were all huddled up together in one common room ; 
 American prisoners of war, and British felons. Two 
 young ladies of a respectable family, were confined 
 among the other prisoners, for several days, on a 
 groundless suspicion of giving intelligence to the 
 Americans. I had frequent applications from the un- 
 fortuna^e sufferers in the Provost, requesting I would 
 interest myself in their behalf, to get them released 
 from that loathsome place: in some of my applica- 
 tions I succeeded ; in others I could not. The un- 
 fortunate citizens of Charleston, who would not take 
 the British protection, on the slightest pretence 
 were hurried away to the Provost. The violent and 
 arbitrary administration of Colonel Balfour, lessened 
 the British party, and very much strengthened the 
 American interest, 
 
 THE first distinction of names in America at the 
 commencement of the revolution, was that of sub- 
 scribers and non-sabscribers ; the first were those 
 who signed the association agreed upon by Congress ; 
 the latter were those, who, from timidity, or attach- 
 ment to the British government, refused to sign ; 
 they were but very few, and were looked upon in a 
 very odious light; their former friends would scarce- 
 ly speak to them, or have any dealings with them : 
 these distinctions were made before we had any idea 
 of going to war.
 
 301 
 
 THE next distinction was, of a more serious na-^ 
 ture, that of Whig and Tory. This was after the 
 state had raised troops and established funds. The 
 Whigs were in favor of America, the Tories for the 
 British. Those in favor of Congress gave certificates 
 for such articles as they were obliged to impress 
 from their friends, which was paid for by the money 
 then in circulation, and was esteemed at first as 
 good as specie. What the Tories took, was looked 
 upon as a robbery, because they had no funds to 
 draw upon. Each party oppressed the other as 
 much as they possibly could, which raised their in- 
 veteracy to so great a height, that they carried on 
 the war with savage cruelty : although they had been 
 friends, neighbors and brothers, they had no feelings 
 for each other, and no principles of humanity left. 
 When the British party prevailed, after the surrender 
 of Charleston, they gave full scope to their interested 
 and malicious passions. Some of the most aban- 
 doned characters came from their hiding places, 
 called themselves king's men, and committed the 
 most violent acts of cruelty and injustice, which was 
 sanctioned by the British, provided they called them- 
 selves friends to the king, and the outrages were 
 committed on such as were called rebels. Many 
 houses were burnt, and many people murdered* 
 The unfortunate Whigs were obliged with their fa- 
 milies to quit their homes, and lie in the woods, as 
 
 VOL. II. 2 Q_
 
 302 
 
 the only places of security. I will here give one or 
 Uvo instances of their cruelties, which will suffice 
 for the whole. 
 
 V/HEN General Greene returned to South Caro- 
 lina in the spring of 1781, Major William Cunning- 
 ham, of the British militia, came out of Charleston 
 with a party, and kept bye-roads and private paths' 
 till he got in the rear of the American army undisco- 
 vered into the district of Ninety-six. The many acts 
 of cruelties which had been committed by the Tories, 
 induced the Whigs to associate in small parties, and 
 to arm in self-defence. Captain Turner and twenty 
 men, had taken post in a house, and defended them- 
 selves till their ammunition was expended ; they then 
 surrendered, upon a promise of being treated as pri- 
 soners of war; notwithstanding, they were instantly 
 put to death, by Cunningham and his party. Soon 
 after, this same party attacked a number of the Ame- 
 rican militia commanded by Colonel Hayes, and set 
 fire to the house in which they had taken shelter: 
 they were reduced to the sad necessity of surrender- 
 ing themselves prisoners, or be burnt. Colonel Hayes 
 and Captain Daniel Williams were immediately hung 
 upon a pole ; this breaking, they both fell : upon 
 which, Cunningham cut them to pieces with his own 
 hands, and continued his savage barbarity on the 
 others, till he was quite exhausted ; then he called to 
 bis men to kill which of them they pleased. They
 
 303 
 
 instantly fell to, and put to death such of thein as 
 they disliked. Only two fell in the action; fourteen 
 of them were deliberately put to death. 
 
 WHEN General Greene returned to South Caro- 
 lina, in 1782, every thing was reversed. In a few 
 weeks, the British were dispossessed of all their 
 posts in the upper country, and the injured and ex- 
 asperated Whigs had again the superiority. On 
 their return to their homes, they found starving fami- 
 lies, and desolate places. Sweet revenge comes now 
 to reek her vengeance on those infamous, merciless? 
 bloody villains that had gone before. The Whigs 
 began to plunder and to murder. 
 
 THE conduct of those two parties was a disgrace 
 to human nature, and it may with safety be said 
 that they destroyed more property, and shed more 
 American blood than the whole British army. 
 
 ABOUT this time, Governor Rutledge returned to 
 South Carolina, and exerted himself in re-establish- 
 ing good government: he issued his proclamation, 
 strictly forbidding all violence. [See appendix, note 
 30.] Magistrates were appointed in every part of 
 the state, not in the British possession : civil go- 
 vernment was restored, and property secured. [See 
 appendix, note 31.] A few weeks after, several 
 hundreds came out of the British lines, and greatly 
 reinforced the American militia. Many made their 
 excuses for remaining with the British, on account
 
 304 
 
 of the situation of their families : others who took 
 British militia commissions, said it was at the re- 
 quest of their neighbors, to keep them from having 
 officers put over them, who would abuse and ill treat 
 them. It is within my own knowledge, that several 
 gentlemen took militia commissions, to protect their 
 friends and neighbors from insult. Many of the ci- 
 tizens who had been lately exchanged and sent to 
 Philadelphia and Virginia, and some who had been 
 banished, returned to South Carolina ; among them 
 most of the civil officers of the state, and members 
 of the former legislature : and the American army 
 at Jacksonborough (a little village, about thirty-six 
 miles from Charleston) induced Governor Rutledge 
 to convene a new legislature ; accordingly, he issued 
 his writs for a new election, which was Bordered to 
 be held at the usual places, where it was practicable ; 
 and in other cases, as near as safety and other cir- 
 cumstances would permit. All those who had taken 
 British protection, were excluded from voting, or 
 having a seat in the legislature. 
 
 A GENERAL assembly was chosen, and met in 
 January, 1782, and were addressed soon after their 
 meeting, by Governor Rutledge. 

 
 305 
 
 THE SPEECH OF JOHN RUTLEDGE, ESO^. GOVERNOR 
 AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF Ot THE STATE OF 
 SOUTH CAROLINA, TO'THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 MET AT JACKSONBOROUGH, ON FRIDAY, 18th JANU- 
 ARY, 1782. 
 
 * Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate, 
 
 ' Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House 
 
 c of Representatives, 
 
 4 SINCE the last meeting of a general assembly, 
 4 the good people of this state have not only felt the 
 ' common calamities of war, but, from the wanton 
 4 and savage manner in which it has been prosecuted, 
 
 * they have experienced such severities as are un- 
 ' practised and will scarcely be credited by civilized 
 
 * nations. 
 
 * THE enemy, unable to make any impression on 
 ' the northern states, the number of whose inhabit- 
 4 ants, and the strength of whose country, had baffled 
 4 their repeated efforts, turned their views towards 
 
 * the southern, which, a difference of circumstances, 
 4 afforded some expectation of conquering, or at least 
 4 of greatly distressing. After a long resistance, the 
 ' reduction of Charleston was effected, by the vast su- 
 4 periority of force with which it had been besieged. 
 4 The loss of that garrison, as it consisted of the con- 
 4 tinentai troops of Virginia and the Carolinas, and 
 4 of a number of militia, facilitated the enemy's 
 ' march into the country, and their establishment of
 
 206 
 
 ( strong posts in the upper and interior parts of it ; 
 i and the unfavorable issue of the action near Cam- 
 1 den induced them vainly to imagine, that no other 
 ( army could be collected which they might not ea- 
 ' sily defeat. The militia, commanded by the bri- 
 ' gadiers Sumpter and Marion, whose enterprising 
 
 * spirit and unremitted perseverance under many dif- 
 1 ficulties are deserving of great applause, harrassed 
 
 * and often defeated large parties ; but the numbers 
 
 < of those militia were too few to contend effectually 
 ' with the collected strength of the enemy. Regarcl- 
 
 * less therefore of the sacred ties of honor, destitute 
 
 < of the feelings of humanity, and determined to ex- 
 
 * tinguish, if possible, every spark of freedom in this 
 
 * country, they, with the insolent pride of conquerors, 
 
 * gave unbounded scope to the exercise of their ty- 
 
 * rannical disposition, infringed their public engage- 
 ' ments, and violated the most solemn capitulations. 
 
 * Many of our worthiest citizens were, without cause, 
 
 * long and closely confined.. .some on board of pri- 
 
 * son-ships, and others in the town and castle of St. 
 ' Augustine. ..their properties disposed of at the will 
 
 * and caprice of the enemy, and their families seiu 
 
 * to a different and distant part of the continent wiilr 
 
 * out the means of support. Many who had stirrcn- 
 
 * dered as prisoners of war were killed in cool blood.... 
 
 * several suffered death in the most ignominious 
 
 * manner, and others were delivered up to savages
 
 307 
 
 * and put to tortures under which they expired. 
 Thus the lives, liberties and properties of the peo- 
 
 * pie were dependent solely on the pleasure of British 
 
 * officers, who deprived them of either or all on the 
 ' most frivolous pretences. Indians, slaves, and a 
 
 * desperate banditti of the most profligate characters, 
 
 * were caressed and employed by the enemy to exe- 
 
 * cute their infamous purposes. Devastation and 
 < ruin marked their progress and that of their adhe- 
 
 * rents.. .nor were their violences restrained by the 
 
 * charms or influence of beauty and innocence. ..even 
 
 * the fair sex, whom it is the duty of all, and the 
 ' pleasure and pride of the brave to protect...they, 
 
 * and their tender offspring, were victims to the in- 
 
 * veterate malice of an unrelenting foe. Neither the 
 1 tears of mothers, nor the cries of infants, could ex- 
 
 * cite in their breasts pity or compassion. Not only 
 
 * the peaceful habitations of the widow, the aged and 
 ' the infirm, but the holy temples of the Most High 
 ' were consumed in flames, kindled by their sacrile- 
 1 gious hands. They have tarnished the glory of the 
 ' British arms, disgraced the profession of a British 
 ( soldier, and fixed indelible stigmas of rapine, cru- 
 
 * city, perfidy and profaneness on the British name. 
 ' ...But I can now congratulate you, and I do so 
 { most cordially, on the pleasing change of affairs, 
 < which, under the blessing of God, the wisdom, 
 ' prudence, address and bravery of the great and
 
 S08 
 
 4 gallant General Greene, and the intrepidity of the 
 4 officers arid men under his command, has been hap- 
 
 * pily effected.. .a general who is justly entitled, from 
 ' his many signal services, to honorable and singular 
 4 marks of your approbation and gratitude. His suc- 
 < cesses have been more rapid and complete than the 
 ' most sanguine could have expected. The enemy, 
 
 * compelled to surrender or evacuate every post which 
 4 they held in the country, frequently defeated and 
 4 driven from place to place, are obliged to seek re- 
 
 * fuge under the walls of Charleston, and on islands 
 4 in its vicinity. We have now the full and absolute 
 
 * possession of every other part of the state ; and the 
 4 legislative, executive and judicial powers, are in 
 
 * the free exercise of their respective authorities. 
 
 4 I ALSO most heartily congratulate you on the glo- 
 ' rious victory obtained by the combined forces of 
 4 America and France over their common enemy. 
 4 When the very general who was second in com- 
 4 mand at the reduction of Charleston, and to whose 
 4 boasted prowess and highly extolled abilities the 
 4 conquest of no less than three states had been ar. 
 4 rogantly committed, was speedily compelled to ac- 
 
 * cept of the same mortifying terms which had been 
 4 imposed on that brave but unfortunate garrison, to 
 4 surrender an army of many thousand regulars, and 
 4 to abandon his wretched followers, whom he hud 
 4 artfully seduced from their allegiance by specious
 
 309 
 
 < promises of protection, which he could never have 
 
 * hoped to fulfil, to the justice or mercy of their 
 
 * country :...on the naval superiority established by 
 
 * the illustrious ally of the United States...a superi- 
 ority in itself so decided, and in its consequences so 
 
 * extensive, as must inevitably soon oblige the enemy 
 
 * to yield to us the only post which they occupy in 
 ' this state:. ..on the reiterated proofs of the sincerest 
 ' friendship, and on the great support which America 
 
 * has received from that powerful monarch...a mo- 
 
 * narch whose magnanimity is universally acknow- 
 
 * ledged and admired, and on whose royal word we 
 
 * may confidently rely for every necessary assistance c 
 
 * ...on the perfect harmony which subsists between 
 France and America...on the stability which her in- 
 
 * dependence has acquired.. .and on the certainty that 
 ' it is too deeply rooted ever to be shaken; for, ani- 
 
 * mated as they are by national honor, and united by 
 
 < one common interest, it must and will be main- 
 ' tained. 
 
 WHAT may be the immediate effects on the Bri- 
 1 tish nation, of the events which I have mentioned ; 
 
 * of their loss of territory in other parts of the world ; 
 
 * and of their well-founded apprehensions from the 
 
 * powers of France, Spain and Holland, it is impos- 
 
 * sible to foretel. If experience can teach wisdom 
 ' to a haughty and infatuated people, and if they will 
 
 ' now be governed by reason, they will have Jtearned 
 VOL. ii. 2 R
 
 310 
 
 < that they can have no solid ground of hope to con- 
 4 quer any state in the union ; for, though their ar- 
 
 * mies have obtained temporary advantages over our 
 
 * troops, yet the citizens of these states, firmly re- 
 ' solved as they are never to return to a domination, 
 4 which, near six years ago, they unanimously and 
 ' justly renounced, cannot be subdued. ..and they 
 ' must now be convinced that it is the height of folly 
 i and madness to persist in so ruinous a war. If, 
 6 however, we judge as we ought of their future by 
 
 * their past conduct, we may presume that they will 
 
 * not only endeavour to keep possession of our capi- 
 
 * tal, but make another attempt, howsoever improba- 
 ' ble the success of it may appear, to subjugate this 
 
 * country :...it is therefore highly incumbent on us to 
 
 * use our most strenuous efforts to frustrate so fatal a 
 
 * design. And I earnestly conjure you by the duty 
 
 * which you owe, and the sacred love which you bear 
 ' to your country ; by the constant remembrance of 
 
 * her bitter sufferings ; and by the just detestation of 
 
 * British government, which you and your posterity 
 
 * must forever possess, to exert your utmost faculties 
 ' for that purpose, by raising and equipping, with all 
 4 possible expedition, a respectable permanent force, 
 4 and by making ample provision for their comforta- 
 4 ble subsistence. I am sensible the expense will be 
 
 * gi*.at, but a measure so indispensable to the pre- 
 4 serva*:ion of our freedom, is above every pecuniary 
 1 considei^tion.
 
 311 
 
 THE organization of our militia is likewise a sub- 
 ' ject of infinite importance. A clear and concise 
 
 * law, by which the burdens of service will be equally 
 ' sustained, and a competent number of men brought 
 4 forth, and kept in the field when their assistance 
 ' may be required, is essential to our security, and 
 ' therefore justly claims your immediate and serious 
 attention. Certain it is, that some of our militia 
 < have, upon several occasions, exhibited instances 
 
 * of valor which would have reflected honor on vete- 
 
 * ran troops. The courage and conduct of the gene- 
 1 rals whom I have mentioned, the cool and deter- 
 
 * mined bravery repeatedly displayed by Brigadier 
 
 * Pickens, and indeed the behavior of many officers 
 
 * and men in every brigade, are unquestionable testi- 
 monies of the truth of this assertion ; but such be- 
 ' havior cannot be expected from militia in general, 
 
 * without good order and strict discipline. ..nor can 
 1 that order and discipline be established but by a 
 
 * salutary law steadily executed. 
 
 * ANOTHER important matter for your deliberation, 
 
 * is the conduct of such of our citizens as voluntarily 
 i avowing their allegiance, and even glorying in their 
 
 * professions of loyalty and attachment to his Britan- 
 
 * nic majesty, have offered their congratulations on 
 ' the success of his arms, prayed to be embodied as 
 
 * royal militia, accepted commissions in his service, 
 
 * and endeavored to subvert our constitution and esta-
 
 a 312 
 
 < blish his power in its stead...of those who have re- 
 
 < turned to this state in defiance of a law by which 
 4 such return was declared to be a capital offence> 
 ' and have abetted the British interest. ..and of such 
 
 < whose behaviour has been so reprehensible, that 
 
 * justice and policy forbid their free re-admission to 
 ' the rights and privileges of citizens. 
 
 ' THE extraordinary lenity of this state has been 
 remarkably conspicious : other states have thought 
 
 < it just and expedient to appropriate the property of 
 British subjects to the public use, but we have for- 
 
 * borne to take even the profits of the estates of our 
 ' most implacable enemies. It is with you to deter- 
 
 * mine whether the forfeiture and appropriation of 
 
 * their property should now take place. If such shall 
 
 * be your determination, though many of our firmest 
 1 friends have been reduced- for their inflexible attach- 
 ' ment to the cause of their country, from opulence 
 
 * to inconceivable distress, and, if the enemy's will 
 
 * and power had prevailed, would have been doomed 
 
 * to indigence and beggary, yet it will redound to the 
 f reputation of this state to provide a becoming sup- 
 
 < port for the families of those whom you may deprive 
 
 * of their property. 
 
 < THE value of paper currency became of late so 
 ' much depreciated, that it was requisite, under the 
 
 < powers vested in the executive during the recess of 
 
 * the general assembly, to suspend the laws by which
 
 313 
 
 c it was made a tender. You will now consider whe- 
 4 ther it may not be proper to repeal those laws, and 
 
 * fix some equitable mode for the discharge of debts 
 4 contracted whilst paper money was in circulation. 
 
 * IN the present scarcity of specie it would be diffi- 
 
 * cult, if not impracticable, to levy a tax to any con- 
 { siderable amount towards sinking the public debt ; 
 ' nor will the creditors of the state expect that such a 
 ' tax should, at this time, be imposed ; but it is just 
 and reasonable, that all unsettled demands should be 
 
 * liquidated, and satisfactory assurances of payment 
 { given to the public creditors. 
 
 * THE interest and honor, the safety and happiness 
 
 * of our country, depend so much on the result of 
 your deliberations, that I flatter myself you will 
 
 * proceed, in the weighty business before you, with 
 
 * firmness and temper, with vigor, unanimity and dis- 
 
 * patch. 
 
 * JOHN RUTLEDGE.' 
 
 To this speech the following addresses were re- 
 turned by the two branches of legislature. 
 
 * THE ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE THE SENATE IN 
 
 * ANSWER TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. 
 
 * May it please your excellency, 
 
 * WE beg leave to return your excellency the 
 
 * thanks of this house for your speech.
 
 314 
 
 * ANT words that we might adopt would convey 
 
 * but a very faint idea of the satisfaction we feel on 
 
 * the perfect re-establishment of the legislative, exe- 
 
 * cutive and judicial powers in this state. 
 
 * IT is with particular pleasure, that we take the 
 ' earliest opportunity to present to your excellency, 
 ' our unfeigned thanks for your unwearied zeal and 
 
 * attention to the real interest of this country, and 
 
 * to testify our entire approbation of the good conduct 
 of the executive since the last meeting of the gene- 
 ( ral assembly. 
 
 4 WE see and revere the goodness of Divine Pro- 
 
 * vidence in frustrating and disappointing the attempts 
 
 * of our enemies to conquer the southern states; and, 
 
 * we trust, that, by the blessing of the same Provi- 
 
 * dence, on the valor and intrepidity of the free citi- 
 c zens of America, their attacks and enterprises will 
 
 * continue to be repelled and defeated. 
 
 ' WE reflect with pleasure on the steady resolution 
 
 * with which Charleston was defended by a small 
 
 * body of brave men against such a vast superiority of 
 
 * force, and we gratefully acknowledge the meritori- 
 
 * ous conduct and important services of the officers 
 
 * and privates of the militia, who stood forth in the 
 
 * hour of danger, and whose coolness, perseverance 
 1 and ardor, under a complication of difficulties, most 
 
 * justly entitle them to the applause of their country. 
 
 * WE flatter ourselves that the blood which the
 
 315 
 
 ( enemy has inhumanly spilled, the wanton devasta- 
 ' tion which has marked their progress, and the ty- 
 
 * rannical system that they have invariably pursued, 
 
 * and which your excellency hath so justly and pa- 
 4 thetically described to us, will rouse the good peo- 
 
 * pie of this state, and will animate them with a spirit 
 to protect their country, to save their rights and li- 
 
 * berties, and to maintain, at all hazards, their hide- 
 
 * pendency. 
 
 ' IT is with inexpressible pleasure, that we receive 
 ' your excellency's congratulations upon the great 
 
 * and glorious events of the campaign, on the happy 
 { change of affairs, and on the pleasing prospect be- 
 
 * fore us ; and we assure your excellency, that we 
 
 * concur most sincerely with you, in acknowledging 
 
 * and applauding the meritorious zeal, and the very 
 
 * important services which have been rendered to 1 
 ' this state by the great and gallant General Greene, 
 
 < and the brave and intrepid officers and men under 
 
 < his command, and to whom we shall be happy to 
 
 * give the most honorable and singular testimonies 
 
 * of our approbation and applause. 
 
 * WE are truly sensible of the immense advantage 
 
 * which the United States derive from the magnani- 
 ' mous prince their ally : we have the most perfect 
 
 * confidence on his royal word, and on the sincerity 
 
 * of his friendship ; and we think ourselves much in- 
 deb ted to that illustrious monarch for the great and
 
 316 
 
 * effectual assistance which he hath been pleased to 
 give the confederated states, and by whose means 
 they have been enabled to humble the pride of Bri- 
 
 * tain, and to establish their independency upon the 
 
 * most permanent basis. 
 
 THE importance of the several matters which 
 
 * your excellency hath recommended to our consider- 
 
 * ation is so evident, that we shall proceed to delibe- 
 
 * rate upon them with all possible dispatch ; and we 
 
 * flatter ourselves that our business will be carried on 
 
 * with temper, firmness and unanimity. 
 
 J. L. GEHVAIS, President.' 
 
 < THE ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 'IN ANSWER TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPKECH. 
 
 WE, the house of representatives of the state of 
 
 * South Carolina, in general assembly met, return 
 ' your excellency our most cordial thanks for your 
 4 very interesting speech to both houses at the open- 
 
 * ing of this session, the language of which, evident- 
 ' ly bespeaks a heart glowing with ardent zeal for 
 ' the interest arid welfare of our common country. 
 
 * WK want words to express our heart-felt exulta- 
 4 tion on the pleasing reverse in our affairs. On 
 
 * this spot, but a few months past, a military despo- 
 
 * tism prevailed, and tyranny, with lawless violence, 
 
 * was desolating our fair possessions ; but we now, 
 
 * with ecstacy, behold a free government re-establish-
 
 31? 
 
 1 ed, liberty, that greatest of temporal blessings, re- 
 
 * stored, and every citizen secured in the possession 
 
 * of his property by the firm barrier of the law of his 
 ' country. This auspicious change is in a great de 
 ' gree owing to the prudence, firmness and good con- 
 
 * duct of your excellency. 
 
 ' IF any thing can add to the sublime and refined 
 ' enjoyment, which must arise from your excellen- 
 ' cy's own reflections on your persevering, unabated 
 ' and successful exertions towards rescuing your coun- 
 try from the iron hand of oppression, be pleased, 
 ' sir, to accept the most sincere and unfeigned thanks 
 1 of your grateful fellow-citizens. 
 
 * THE black catalogue which your excellency has 
 
 * given of British barbarities, forms but a small part 
 
 * of the whole. Whenever the historic page shall be 
 stained with their story, it will exhibit a nation de- 
 
 * void of faith ; with whom oaths, treaties, and the 
 ' most solemn compacts were considered ^s trifles : 
 
 * who, without scruple or remorse, had abandoned 
 
 * all regard to humanity, honor, justice and every 
 
 * ennobling sentiment of the human breast. It is 
 
 * hardly possible to conceive any circumstance that 
 
 * could aggravate the atrocious wickedness of their 
 
 * conduct. There is not left a step in the degrada- 
 
 * tion of national character to which they can now 
 
 * descend. The name of a Briton must hencefor- 
 
 ' ward be a term of reproach among all nations. 
 VOL. ii. 2 s
 
 318 
 
 ' WE should betray a great degree of insensibility, 
 
 < and be wanting in justice to his merit, should we 
 
 < omit this occasion of acknowledging, with the 
 1 warmest gratitude, our obligations to the great and 
 
 * gallant General Greene. His achievements in 
 
 * this state, while they rank him with the greatest 
 
 * commanders of ancient or modern date, will en- 
 
 * grave his name in indelible characters on the heart 
 
 * of every friend to this country. Our acknowledg- 
 
 * ments are also due to all the brave officers and 
 
 * men under his command, who have so often fought, 
 
 * bled and conquered for us. The Generals Sump- 
 
 * ter, Marion and Pickens, with the brave militia 
 
 * under their commands, those virtuous citizens who 
 ' did not despair of the commonwealth in her greatest 
 
 * extremity, are deserving of the highest commend- 
 
 * ation. The friendly, seasonable and effectual aid 
 ' recently afforded us by our great and illustrious 
 
 * ally, by means of which the General on whom the 
 1 British nation seemed most to have placed their 
 ' dependence, has been compelled to surrender the 
 
 * flower of the British army to our immortal com- 
 ' mander in chief, must greatly increase the flame 
 c of gratitude which had been before kindled In the 
 
 * breast of every American, and which it will not be 
 4 in the power of time or accident to extinguish. 
 We perfectly concur in sentiment with your excel- 
 
 * lency, that, from our connection with this powerful
 
 319 
 
 * and wise monarch, we may expect, with well. 
 grounded confidence, that our independence will be 
 shortly established upon an immoveable basis, nor 
 
 * need we harbor a single fear of its dissolution. 
 
 * AN union which originated from such liberal and 
 4 generous motives, and which is founded on mutual 
 ' interest, that best cement of nations, must and will 
 
 * continue. Whether the series of losses, disasters 
 
 * and defeats of the year past, will at length recover 
 
 * Britain from her delirium, time only can disclose ; 
 ' but as misfortune hitherto, instead of producing re- 
 flection and prudence, has operated to increase her 
 
 * insanity, we agree in opinion with your excellency, 
 1 that it is probable she will not only endeavor to keep 
 
 * possession of our capital, but make another attempt 
 
 * to subjugate the country. ..we shall therefore imme- 
 4 diately enter upon the prosecution of the measures 
 
 * recommended by your excellency, as necessary for 
 
 * its safety; and being fully sensible how much de- 
 
 * pends upon ths result of our deliberations, we will 
 
 * endeavor to proceed in the weighty business with 
 ' firmness and temper, with vigor, unanimity and dis- 
 
 patch, 
 
 By order of the house, 
 
 * HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker.' 
 
 ON the execution of Colonel Hayne, the regular 
 officers of the continental army petitioned General
 
 330 
 
 Greene that he \rould retaliate on the British officers. 
 [See appendix, note 32, 33.] 
 
 THK British emissaries had induced the Cherokee 
 Indians to commence hostilities against the Ameri- 
 cans. They, with a number of white men disguised, 
 made an incursion into the district of Ninety-six, 
 murdered some families, and burnt some houses. 
 General Pickens collected three hundred and ninety- 
 four men, and marched into the Cherokee country, 
 burnt thirteen towns, killed upwards of forty Indians, 
 and took a great number of Indians prisoners, and 
 returned in fourteen days ; not one of his party killed, 
 and only three wounded. This was the second time, 
 during the American war, that the Cherokees had 
 been chastised in their own settlements, and again 
 sued for peace, which they obtained upon a promise 
 not to listen to the British emissaries, and to deliver 
 up all who endeavored to instigate them to war 
 against the Americans. 
 
 IT now became necessary, agreeably to the con- 
 stitution, to choose a new governor; when the honor- 
 able Christopher Gadsden was chosen governor, who 
 delivered a short speech, which he concluded as fol- 
 lows : ' The present times require the vigor and ac- 
 tivity of the prime of life, but 1 feel the increasing 
 * infirmities of old age to such a degree, that I am 
 4 conscious I cannot serve you to advantage : I there- 
 ' fore beg, for your sakes, and for the sake of the pub-
 
 ' . I 32 1 
 
 4 lie, that you will indulge me with the liberty of de- 
 1 dining the arduous trust.' He was indulged in his 
 request. Then the general assembly elected the ho- 
 norable John Mathews governor : he filled up all va- 
 cancies in the civil departments, and re-established civil 
 government in all its branches. They also delegated 
 to the governor the same extensive powers with simi- 
 lar limitations, which they had entrusted to his pre- 
 decessor, * of doing all matters and things which were 
 ' judged expedient and necessary, to secure the li- 
 4 berty, safety and happiness of the state.' 
 
 THE legislature then proceeded to business. Laws 
 were passed for confiscating the estates and banishing 
 certain persons mentioned therein ; and for amercing 
 the estates of others, as a substitution for the per- 
 sonal services of which their country had been de- 
 prived. The reasons that induced the assembly to 
 adopt the measures of confiscation, &c. were stated 
 by themselves in the preamble to the act, which is in 
 the words following : ' Whereas the thirteen British 
 'colonies, now the United States of America, were, 
 
 * by an act of the parliament of Great Britain, passed 
 
 * in or about the month of December, in the year of 
 
 * our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and seventy- 
 
 * five, declared to be in rebellion, and out of the pro- 
 
 * tection of the British crown ; and by the said act 
 ' not only the property of the colonists was declared 
 
 * subject to seizure and condemnation, but clivers
 
 322 
 
 ( seizures and destruction of their property having 
 
 * been made after the nineteenth day of April, anno 
 ' Domini one thousand, seven hundred and seventy - 
 
 * five ; and before the passing of the said act, such 
 1 seizures and destruction were by the said act de. 
 ' clared to be lawful : and, whereas the good people 
 
 < of these states having not only suffered great losses 
 
 * and damages by captures of their property on the 
 ' sea by the subjects of his Britannic majesty, but by 
 ' their seizing and carrying off much property taken 
 
 * on the land : in consequence of such proceedings 
 4 of the British crown, and those acting under its 
 
 < authority, the honorable Congress of the United 
 1 States, after due and mature consideration, au- 
 ' thorized the seizing and condemnation of all pro- 
 
 * perty found on the sea, and belonging to the sub- 
 
 * jects of Great Britain, and recommended to the se- 
 ' veral states in which such subjects had property, to 
 
 * confiscate the same for the public use ; all political 
 
 * connection between Great Britain and the United 
 ' States having been dissolved by the separation of 
 
 * these states from that kingdom, and their dcclar- 
 
 * ing themselves free and independent of her : in 
 ' pursuance of which recommendation, most, if not 
 ' all, have disposed of such property for the public 
 ' use. And, whereas, notwithstanding this state has 
 
 * forborne even to sequester the profits arising from 
 ' Ihe estates of British subjects, the enemy, in viola-
 
 323 
 
 ' tion of the most solemn capitulations and public 
 
 * engagements, by which the property of individuals 
 
 * was secured to them, seized upon, sequestered and 
 1 applied to their own use, not only in several instances, 
 ' the profits of the estates, but in other instances 
 4 the estates themselves of the good citizens of this 
 ' state, and have committed the most wanton and 
 
 * wilful waste of property both real and personal, to 
 ' a very considerable amount. 
 
 ' AND whereas from a proclamation of Sir Henry 
 Clinton, declaring, that if any person should ap- 
 4 pear in arms in order to prevent the establishment 
 
 * of his Britannic majesty's government in this coun- 
 
 * try, such persons should be treated with the utmost 
 4 severity, and their estates be immediately seized in 
 1 order to be confiscated : and whereas, from a letter 
 ' of Lord Rawdon to Lieutenant Colonel Rugely, de- 
 
 * claring, that every militia-man who did not use his 
 '.utmost endeavors to apprehend deserters, should 
 
 * be punished in such manner as his lordship should 
 think adequate to such offence, by whipping, im- 
 ' prisonment, or being sent to serve his Britannic 
 majesty in the West-Indies. From Earl Cornwal- 
 < lis' letter to Lieutenant Colonel Cruger, bearing 
 date the eighteenth of August, 1780, declaring 
 1 that he had given orders that all the inhabitants 
 4 who had submitted, and who had taken part with 
 
 * their countrymen in the first action near Camden,
 
 324, 
 
 1 although such submission was an act of force or 
 
 * necessity, should be punished with the greatest ri- 
 
 < gor...that they should be imprisoned, and their 
 ' whole property taken from them or destroyed... and 
 
 < that he had ordered, in the most positive manner, 
 4 that every militia-man who had borne arms on the 
 1 part of his Britannic majesty, and who had after- 
 4 wards joined his fellow-citizens, although he had 
 4 been compelled to take up arms against them, 
 
 * should be immediately hanged ; and ordering the 
 i said Lieutenant Colonel Cruger to obey these di- 
 4 rections in the district in which he commanded, in 
 
 * the strictest manner. And, from the general tenor 
 ' of the enemy's conduct in their wilful and wanton 
 ' waste and destruction of property as aforesaid, com- 
 4 mitting to a cruel imprisonment, and even hang- 
 ' ing, and otherwise putting to death in cold blood 
 
 * and an ignominious manner, many good citizens 
 1 who had surrendered as prisoners of war, it is evi- 
 4 dent that it was the fixed determination of the ene- 
 4 my, notwithstanding their professions to the con- 
 4 trary, to treat this state as a conquered country; 
 4 and that the inhabitants were to expect the utmost 
 4 severities, and to hold their lives, liberties and pro- 
 4 perties, solely at the will of his Britannic majesty's 
 4 officers. 
 
 4 AND it is therefore inconsistent with public jus- 
 k i ire and policy to afford protection any longer to
 
 the property of British subjects, and just and rea* 
 * sonable to apply the same towards alleviating and 
 lessening the burdens and expenses of the war, which 
 must otherwise fall very heavy on the distressed 
 inhabitants of this state ; Be it therefore enacted'..* 
 
 THE Jacksonborough assembly was much censur- 
 ed by some, and thought to have been very severe 
 and cruel to their fellow-citizens, in passing the con- 
 fiscation, banishment and the amercement laws : but 
 when it comes to be considered, the very men who 
 composed that legislature were yet in the field, and 
 many of them had been fighting during the whole 
 war ; and some of them perhaps with their wounds 
 still bleeding ; and others just returned from capti- 
 vity and banishment, it is not to be wondered at, 
 that they should be in an ill humor, and displeased 
 with their countrymen, who had entered into a so- 
 lemn compact with them, to support the rights and 
 liberties of their country ; and that they should be at 
 that very time within the British lines, under their 
 protection, and some of them with British commis- 
 sions in their pockets. The taking protection, and 
 remaining quiet, was no great offence ; it was una- 
 voidable with many. I advised several of my friends, 
 after the fall of Charleston (who were not in the con- 
 tinental army) to take that step, and to stay with 
 their families, till we could come in force to release 
 
 VOL. II. 2 T
 
 526 
 
 them : but to take protection, then a commission, 
 and then to treat their countrymen worse and with 
 more rigor than enemies themselves, was unpardona- 
 ble; but for the honor of the Jacksonborough assem- 
 bly, the most of those very men were members at 
 the first meeting of the general assembly which met 
 in Charleston after the evacuation. When they had 
 got possession of their country again, and peace was 
 restored, they were softened with pity, and had com- 
 passion for their fellow- citizens, and listened with 
 cheerfulness to the prayer of their petitions. I had 
 the honor of being appointed chairman. to a large 
 committee from the senate, to meet a very large 
 committee from the house of representatives, to hear 
 the merits of their several petitions ; and after sitting 
 several weeks and giving every one a fair and im- 
 partial hearing, a report was made to the separate 
 houses in favor of a great majority ; and a great part 
 of those names which were upon the confiscation, ba- 
 nishment and amercement lists, were struck off; 
 and after a few years, on their presenting their pe- 
 titions year after year, almost the whole of them had 
 their estates restored to them, and themselves re- 
 ceived as fellow-citizens. 
 
 ABOUT the middle of January, 1782, General 
 Greene took post with the American army below 
 Jacksonborough, and in April moved down to Beach- 
 hill, near Bacon-bridge, where he remained till the 
 seventh of July, when he came down and took post
 
 32f 
 
 at Ashley-river, about sixteen miles from Charleston : 
 on the fourth of April he received the following let- 
 ter from General Leslie : 
 
 * HEAD-QUARTERS, April 4th, 1782. 
 SIR, 
 
 * IT was with deep concern I viewed, in the pro- 
 < ceedings of your last assembly, acts for amercing 
 ' the property of some persons, and confiscating that 
 of others, whose principles had attached them to 
 1 the cause of their sovereign. Yet, alarming as the 
 1 public resolutions appeared, I was in hopes hu- 
 
 * manity, as well as policy, would have arrested 
 { their execution, and that I should not have been 
 
 * compelled to take measures for their counteraction, 
 { injurious to the country, and therefore painful to 
 ' me. But when these hopes were disappointed, and 
 { I found the effects of the loyal and well-affected re- 
 1 moved from their estates, and carried to parts far 
 t distant from them, I could no longer remain the 
 
 * quiet spectator of their distresses ; but, in order to 
 f induce a juster line of conduct, I have employed a 
 
 * part of the force intrusted to my charge for their 
 ' protection, in seizing the negroes of your friends, 
 ' that restitution may be thereby made to such of 
 
 * ours as may suffer under these oppressive and ruin- 
 1 ous resolutions. This, sir, was the object of the 
 late excursion towards Santee, and these principles
 
 328 
 
 rill greatly mark the future operations of this army, 
 unless a relinquishment of this assumed right on 
 your part should justify less destructive measures 
 
 * on mine. 
 
 < To point out to you, or the world, the distinction 
 < between temporary sequestration and actual confis- 
 
 * cation, would be impertinent ; but it will by no 
 
 * means be so to observe on the opposite conduct 
 1 pursued by each party in carrying into execution 
 
 * these very different measures ; for whilst you have 
 
 * endeavored to involve, in perpetual ruin, the per- 
 1 sons and estates of those who have differed from 
 
 * you in political sentiments, I can safely appeal even 
 
 * to those whose violent opposition to the king's go- 
 ' vcrnment compelled the with-holding from them 
 
 * for a time their possessions in this province, for the 
 
 * great attention which has been invariably paid to 
 ' their property... the connected state in which it has 
 
 * been preserved... and the liberal allowances that were 
 
 * made to their families, insomuch, that, while other 
 
 * estates were running to waste by the distractions of 
 1 the country, these have greatly thriven at the ex- 
 
 * pense of government. 
 
 * THUS far I have deemed it necessary to urge the 
 ' motives of humanity, policy and example, for your 
 
 * suspension of such rigorous procedures ; and should 
 
 * you think a meeting of commissioners on each side 
 
 * might tend to lessen the devastations of war, and
 
 329 
 
 < secure inviolate the property of individuals, I shall 
 
 * have a peculiar happiness in embracing proposals 
 
 * that may accomplish such benevolent purposes ; 
 
 * but, if, notwithstanding this earnest representation, 
 
 * you should still persevere in executing these acts 
 of your assembly, I trust this letter will hold me 
 justifiable to the world for any measures which 
 
 * necessity may adopt in counteraction of steps unjust 
 1 in their principles and personally distressful in their 
 ( consequences ; and that, whilst I only endeavor to 
 ' secure to those, who with respectable steadiness 
 
 * have attached themselves to our cause, the full pos- 
 session of their effects, or, in case of losses, to pro- 
 ' vide an equitable restitution for them, I shall be 
 4 clearly exculpated from all the horrors and calami- 
 
 * ties which the road you now point out unavoidably 
 ' leads to. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, 
 ' your most obedient 
 
 4 and most humble servant, 
 (Signed) < ALEX. LESLIE. 
 
 To Major General GREENE.' 
 
 To this letter General Greene returned an imme- 
 diate answer, ' that he had the honor to command 
 the forces of the United States in the southern de- 
 ' partment, but had nothing to do with the iniernal 
 
 * police of any state.' On which Lieutenant General
 
 330 
 
 Leslie addressed himself to Governor Mathews, and 
 inclosed the letter which had been addressed to Ge- 
 neral Greene, to which Governor Mathews gave the 
 following answer : 
 
 April 12th, 1782. 
 Sia, 
 
 * I HAD the honor of receiving your letter of the 
 
 * eighth instant, inclosing one from you to Major Ge- 
 
 * neral Greene of the fourth, and his answer to you 
 ' of the same date. 
 
 * THK. manner in which you refer to your letter to 
 ' General Greene, obliges me to view that letter as 
 < now addressed to me. I must therefore beg leave 
 
 * to observe upon it, previous to answering the one 
 
 * immediately addressed to me. 
 
 * YOUR remaining so short a time in this state, af- 
 c ter the surrender of Charleston, and not returning 
 ' to it till most of the sequestered estates had been 
 
 * rescued from the hands of your sequestrator, has 
 
 * put it out of your power to speak of the manage- 
 1 ment of them in this country from your own know- 
 
 * ledge, consequently what has been said by you on 
 ' that subject must have been from information. The 
 ' character of General Leslie has always been repre- 
 
 * sented to me in so favorable a light, that candor 
 ' forbids me to entertain the most distant idea of his 
 
 * having intentionally represented matters so con-
 
 331 
 
 < trary to feet, to answer even the greatest political 
 purposes ; but it is evident that he has been most 
 
 < grossly imposed on by men in whom he had con- 
 1 fid ed, and that they have betrayed him into an as- 
 
 * sertion which must injure his feelings whenever he 
 f is possessed of a true state of the management of 
 f those estates that were put under sequestration by 
 ' order of Lord Cornwallis. 
 
 4 I WOULD not, sir, give an hasty answer to your 
 
 * observations on this subject, and thought myself 
 
 * well justified in deviating from the rule of polite- 
 1 ness in delaying an answer, that I might have an 
 
 * opportunity of investigating truth. I have taken 
 
 * much pains in my inquiries, the result of which has 
 
 * been the most indubitable proofs, that so far from 
 ' these sequestered estates " having had the greatest 
 " attention paid to them... being preserved in a con- 
 " nected state... and greatly thriven," most of them, 
 
 * while under the management of your sequestrator, 
 ' have been very greatly injured ; many have been 
 
 * nearly ruined, and others altogether so. What ex- 
 1 pense the British government has incurred on their 
 
 * account I know not, but, I can with confidence as- 
 ' sert, the sequestered estates have been very little be- 
 ' nefited thereby. 
 
 * I WILL now appeal to a fact within your own know- 
 
 * ledge. You know that great numbers of the ne- 
 ( groes, belonging to these esates, are now within
 
 332 
 
 * your lines, and lost to their owners. And on few 
 plantations is a four-footed animal to be found. How 
 then do you prove that the estates have been pre- 
 ' served in a connected state, -when one half of some, 
 ' two-thirds of others, and the whole of a few of the 
 
 * estates have been deprived of the negroes and stock 
 1 that were upon them when put under sequestration ? 
 
 * How do you prove that these estates have greatly 
 
 * thriven, and that the greatest attention has been 
 
 * paid to them? 
 
 ' As to the liberal allowance made to the families 
 1 of those persons whose estates were sequestered, 
 
 * this, sir, I must beg leave to say you have been as 
 
 * greatly deceived in, as the other parts of your in- 
 { formation. So far from the wives and children 
 having been allowed the stipulated sums out of their 
 1 husbands' and fathers' estates, the truth is, that 
 ' after much intrealy, and in many instances very 
 4 unbecoming treatment, some have obtained trifling 
 
 * sums compared with what they were entitled to, 
 
 * while others have been altogether denied. 
 
 1 ON this ground of investigation, I am ready to 
 
 * meet you, sir, whenever you think proper, when 
 
 * I will undertake to produce to you the proofs of 
 ' every thing I have here advanced. 
 
 ' YOUR observation on the opposite conduct of 
 1 each party in carrying into execution the measures 
 1 of sequestration and confiscation, so far from being
 
 333 
 
 < founded in fact, evidently shew the uniform decep- 
 
 * tion into which you have been led. In the common 
 
 * acceptation of the word, it is true, sequestration 
 
 * means no more than a temporary privation of pro- 
 
 * perty ; but your sequestrator general, and most of 
 4 his officers, have construed this word into a very dif- 
 
 * ferent meaning ; and. regardless of the articles of 
 4 capitulation of Charleston, as well as of the most 
 
 * sacred contracts contained in marriage-settlements, 
 
 * every species of property, negroes, plate, household- 
 furniture, horses, carriages, cattle, &c. have been 
 
 * indiscriminately torn from their owners by persons 
 
 * now under your immediate command, and have been 
 ( either sent beyond seas, for the benefit of those who 
 
 * had taken... I had almost safd plundered them, or 
 1 now remain within your lines, and in either case 
 
 * lost to their owners. 
 
 * Now, sir, let us for a moment view the conduct 
 t of the legislature of this state in their late session. 
 
 * The most sacred regard has been paid by them to 
 
 * private contracts, neither marriage-settlements nor 
 1 the faith of individuals have been violated, but left 
 ' to their full operation. A provision also was made 
 
 * for the families of those whose e&tates have been 
 ' confiscated. And although the property of British 
 ' subjects within this state has been confiscated, yet 
 1 the debts due to them from the citizens of this state 
 
 ' have been left untouched. And be assured, sir, 
 vol.. ii. 2 v
 
 334 
 
 < whilst I have the honor of holding the rank I 
 
 * do, it shall be my particular business to see that 
 
 < this, as well as every other law of the stale, is exe- 
 
 * cuted with lenity, fidelity and integrity. 
 
 'AFTER these observations, permit me, sir, to 
 
 * draw your serious attention to a candid and impar- 
 i tial view of the conduct of each party on the opera- 
 
 * tion of your sequestration and our confiscation acts, 
 
 * when I leave you at liberty and at leisure to judge, 
 whether you find any difference between them, and 
 
 * if you do, whether confiscation on our part is likely 
 to be productive of more ruinous consequences to 
 
 * those who are affected by it, than sequestration on 
 
 * your part has been to those unfortunate citizens of 
 
 * this state who have felt its effects. 
 
 * As to the assumption of a right on the part of 
 4 the state, to treat its citizens according to their de- 
 
 * merits, I must beg leave to observe such language 
 
 * is only calculated to irritate, and by no means to 
 
 * accomplish the ends you aim at. And, sir, if you 
 t conceive ours to be no more than an assumed right, 
 
 * 1 have reason to suppose that no convention that 
 
 * can be entered into in the negociation that you pro- 
 
 * pose can be looked upon by you as binding, after it 
 
 * has been in the most solemn manner concluded. 
 
 * And, did I not suppose the expression had inadvert- 
 ' ently escaped you, I should rest the matter here, 
 i and think no more about it. But the opinion I en
 
 * tertain of General Leslie forbids me to imagine him 
 < capable of deception. 
 
 * You entirely mistake my character when you 
 ' suppose me to be intimidated by threats, and there* 
 4 by deterred from executing the duties of the office 
 4 with which the state has honored me. For, be as- 
 4 sured, sir, the laws of this state trusted to me must 
 { and shall be carried into execution... maugre the 
 4 consequences. 
 
 4 THE powers vested in me by the state are very 
 4 extensive ; but I shall ever be extremely cautious 
 4 how I exercise them, and when I do I must be con- 
 
 * vinced that the exercise of my extraordinary powers 
 4 is calculated to produce some proportionate benefit 
 < to the state. 
 
 I WOULD recommend to you, sir, to consider well 
 4 the consequences before you carry into execution 
 
 * the threats you hold out ; for, remember, the estates 
 
 * reserved for marriage-settlements, and the debts 
 4 due to those who have attached themselves to your 
 1 cause, as well as the debts due to the subjects of 
 4 Britain, are in my power, and that I can, in an 
 4 hour's time, deprive them of every benefit to be 
 derived to them from the benevolent intentions of 
 
 * the legislature of this state. My sensibility would 
 4 be extremely wounded, should I be reduced to the 
 
 * painful necessity of exercising this power ; but it 
 
 * rests with you, sir, whether I do or not. And I shall
 
 336 
 
 c be as ready as you are to appeal to the world for the 
 c rectitude of my conduct. 
 
 < YOUR proposition for suspending the operation 
 < of the confiscation act, without offering any equiva- 
 lent, is inadmissable- If you have any thing seri- 
 * ous and solid to propose on this head, I am ready 
 1 to appoint commissioners on my part to meet those 
 4 of yours to confer on the business. 
 ' 1 have the honor to be, 
 * sir, your most obedient 
 ' and humble servant, 
 (Signed) ' JOHN MATHEWS. 
 
 * Lieutenant General LESLIE.' 
 
 AFTER the capture of Lord Cornwallis' army in 
 Virginia, the Pennsylvania line marched to South 
 Carolina and joined General Greene, which enabled 
 him to send a detachment to Georgia, under the 
 command of General Wayne. That country had 
 been entirely laid waste by the desolations of war : 
 the rage between Whig and Tory ran so high, that 
 what was calltd a Georgia parole, and to be shot 
 down, were synonymous. 
 
 ARMED parties were frequently making excursions 
 against the British detachments. Colonel Clark com- 
 manded a party of Georgia militia, and the twenty- 
 third of March, 1781, fell in with Major Dunlap, 
 near Ninety-six, with a detachment of British troops :
 
 337 
 
 the major and forty-three men were killed, and forty - 
 two taken prisoners. 
 
 IN January, 1782, General Wayne was detached 
 to Savannah-river with one hundred dragoons, under 
 Colonel White ; he crossed at the Two-sisters' ferry ; 
 having previously ordered the Americans at Augusta, 
 to join him at Ebenezer : he was afterwards reinforc- 
 ed by three hundred continental infantry under Colo- 
 nel Posey. The British commander hearing of the 
 Americans, sent orders to all the different posts, to 
 burn the provisions in the country, and retire within 
 their works at Savannah. The provisions were so 
 effectually destroyed, that the Americans were oblig- 
 ed to depend chiefly upon South Carolina for their 
 support. The garrison at Savannah consisted of 
 about one thousand regulars and some militia, under 
 the command of Brigadier General Clarke. Notwith- 
 standing, General Wayne appeared frequently be- 
 fore their lines, and attacked their picquets. Several 
 attempts were made to surprise the advance of the 
 Americans under Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, but 
 without effect. 
 
 ABOUT this time, Governor Martin, of the state of 
 Georgia, came with his council from Augusta to 
 Ebenezer, and re-established the American govern- 
 ment near the sea-coast. Soon after his arrival; he 
 issued his proclamation, offering every British and 
 Hessian soldier who would leave Savannah, two
 
 338 
 
 hundred acres of land and some stock ; which had a 
 very good effect. 
 
 ON the twenty-first of May, 1782, Colonel Brown 
 marched out of Savannah, with an intention of attack- 
 ing the Americans but General Wayne got between, 
 him and Savannah, attacked him at twelve o'clock at 
 night, and routed his whole party. Colonel Brown 
 had forty men killed and twenty taken prisoners- 
 The Americans had only five killed and two wounded- 
 
 ON the twenty-fourth of June, 1782, a party of 
 Creek Indians, with a British officer at their head, 
 made an attack on General Wayne in the night. 
 They conducted the affair with so much spirit, that 
 they got possession of two field-pieces that were in the 
 rear; the troops so rallied and recovered the two 
 pieces. This was a smart action, in which they 
 fought hand to hand with tomahawks, swords and 
 bayonets: the Indians were routed; they lost one of 
 their chiefs, and fourteen were killed. The Ameri- 
 cans took a British standard and a number of horses. 
 The American army interrupted the intercourse be- 
 tween the Indians and Savannah. A party of them 
 were on their way to Savannah with a large quantity 
 of skins and a number of horses, which were taken by 
 General W T ayne. Two of them were detained as 
 hostages ; the remainder were sent home with provi- 
 sions and a friendly talk. This kind treatment, with 
 the successes of General Greene and the surrender
 
 339 
 
 of Lord Cornwallis, detached the Indians from their 
 friends the British* 
 
 EARLY in 1782. Great Britain was induced to aban- 
 don all offensive operations in America ; and on the 
 twentieth of May, 1782, General Leslie proposed to 
 General Greene a cessation of hostilities, but this was 
 declined for want of instructions from Congress: how- 
 ever, nothing of consequence was attempted on either 
 side. 
 
 A SCHEME was now adopted of evacuating the 
 smaller posts in the United States; Savannah being 
 the first southern post which was evacuated. It was 
 evacuated on the eleventh of July, 1782. 
 
 WHEN the merchants and others came to be in- 
 formed of this determination, they obtained per- 
 mission to apply to General Wayne for the security 
 of their property. To their deputies he replied, ' that, 
 
 * should the British garrison eventually effect an evacu- 
 
 * atioa, the persons and properties of such inhabitants 
 ' and others, who choose to remain in Savannah, 
 will be protected by the military, and resigned in- 
 violate into the hands of the civil authority, which 
 
 * must ultimately decide.' The merchants and in- 
 habitants of Savannah, having sent out a second 
 flag, General Wayne, at the desire of the civil au- 
 thority of the state, sent them for answer, * that the 
 ' merchants, not owing allegiance to the United 
 < States, will be permitted to remain a reasonable
 
 540 
 
 * time to dispose of their goods and settle their af- 
 
 * fairs.' Major Habersham, who was charged with 
 this message, pledged himself that they might rely, 
 vith the utmost confidence, on the terms proposed 
 to them. 
 
 ON the eleventh of July, 1782, the British evacu- 
 ated Savannah, and the Americans took possession. 
 Peace -was restored to Georgia, after it had been 
 four years in the possession of the British. It was 
 supposed that state lost one thousand of its citizens, 
 and four thousand slaves. 
 
 EARLY in 1782, a report circulated that the Bri- 
 tish intended to evacuate Charleston very shortly. 
 The Americans were looking forward for that happy 
 event every week, which, however, did not take place 
 till the fourteenth of December. The moving such 
 a body of troops with their baggage and stores, the 
 property of the merchants and others, and the vast 
 property plundered from the Americans, was a work 
 of time, and required a great many vessels to take 
 them off which could not be easily procured. How- 
 ever, the Americans were in possession of the whole 
 country, except Charleston and about five miles with- 
 out the gates. Major Ganey was at the head of a 
 small party of Tories about Little Peedee, who 
 hid themselves in the swamps, and would frequently 
 sally out, and distress the people in that neighbor- 
 hood. On the twenty-eighth of April, a party of
 
 341 
 
 them came out tinder the command of Captain Jones, 
 and set fire to Colonel Kolb's house; he afterwards 
 surrendered himself, upon a promise of his being 
 treated as a prisoner. Notwithstanding, he had been 
 so notorious a villain, that he was immediately put 
 to death before his wife and children. Ganey was 
 so troublesome, that General Marion made a treaty 
 of neutrality with him in 1781. [See appendix, note 
 34.] Afterwards, the state gave them a fuli pardon 
 for all treasons which they had committed and a se- 
 curity for their property, on condition of their deli- 
 vering up their plunder. 
 
 AF ER ic was given out in general orders that 
 Charleston would be evacuated- General Leslie wrote 
 to General Greene, offering payment lor rice and 
 other provisions to be sent into Charleston ; [See ap- 
 pendix, note 35.] at the same time threatening, that 
 if it was not granted for money, that it should be 
 taken by force. 
 
 ON the proposed evacuation, the merchants and 
 others, who came with the British to Charleston, were 
 in a disagreeable situation : they had contracted large 
 debts with those without the lines, who were unable 
 to pay; they therefore applied to General Leslie, 
 for leave to negociate for themselves, which was 
 granted. A deputation irom them waited on Gover- 
 nor Mathews, WHO granted permission for them to 
 reside in South Carolina eighteen months, to col- 
 
 VOL. iz. 2 x
 
 343 
 
 lect their debts and settle their business. This in- 
 dulgence was extended to a longer time by the le- 
 gislature. ..,.,, 
 
 THE government refusing to send provisions to 
 Charleston, was the occasion of much specie being 
 carried away, besides losing the opportunity of sell- 
 ing a large portion of the produce at a very advanced 
 price. It was owing to their friendship for the 
 French nation, as it was believed, that the British 
 intended to supply themselves v ith a large quantity 
 of provisions, to carry on the war in the French 
 West-India Islands. General Leslie, finding that he 
 could not purchase, sent out large parties to seize 
 provisions near the different landings, and bring 
 them by water to Charleston. This was effected, in 
 some instances, before a body of men could be sent 
 to prevent it. 
 
 A LARGE party of the British were sent to Comba- 
 hee-ferry to collect provisions ; where they arrived 
 on the twenty-fifth of August, 1782. Brigadier Ge- 
 neral Gist was detached with about three hundred 
 infantry and cavalry to oppose them : he captured 
 one of their schooners, and prevented them, in a 
 great measure, from getting provisions. When the 
 two parties were near each other, Colonel John Lau- 
 rens, being advanced with a small party, fell in \\ ith 
 a superior force which he engaged : he was too far 
 advanced to be supported by the main body. In this
 
 543 
 
 affair he received his mortal wound, and died in the 
 field. Several of his men were killed and wounded. 
 The party were obliged to rstreat. Soon after this, 
 an atuck was made on a party of British on James- 
 Island, near Fort Johnson, by Captain Wilmot, who 
 was killed with some of his party ; the rest retreated. 
 This was the last blood which was shed in the Ame- 
 rican war. 
 
 WHKN the evacuation of Charleston drew near, it 
 was apprehended that the British army would carry 
 off some thousands of negroes which were within 
 their lines. To prevent this, Governor Mathews 
 wrote a letter to General Leslie, dated August seven- 
 teenth, 1782. in which he informed him, 'that, if the 
 1 property of the citizens of South Carolina was 
 
 * carried off from its owners by the British army, 
 
 * he should seize on the debts due to the British 
 
 * merchants.. .and the confiscated estates... and the 
 
 * claims on those estates by marriage-settlements... 
 < which three articles were not included in the conn's- 
 ' cation act.' This conditional resolution operated as 
 a check on some, so as to restrain their avidity for 
 plunder, and induced General Leslie to propose a 
 negociation, for securing the property of both parties. 
 The honorable Benjamin Gerard and Edward Rut- 
 ledjje, Esqrs. were appointed commissioners in behalf 
 of the state, and Alexander Wright and James John- 
 son, Esqrs. in behalf of the royalists. After sundry
 
 344 
 
 conversations, the commissioners on both sides, on 
 the tenth of October, 1 782, ratified a compact on thii 
 subject, of which the following are the principal arti- 
 cles: 
 
 * FIRST, That all the slaves of the citizens of South 
 ' Carolina, now in the power of the honorable Lieu- 
 
 * tenant General Leslie, shall be restored to their 
 
 * former owners, as far as is practicable, except such 
 
 * slaves as may have rendered themselves particularly 
 
 < obnoxious on account of their attachment and scr- 
 
 < vices to the British troops, and such as had specific 
 
 * promises of freedom. 
 
 * THAT the faith of the state is hereby solemnly 
 pledged, that none of the debts due to British mcr- 
 ' chants, or to persons who have been banished, or 
 
 * whose estates have been confiscated, or property 
 1 secured by family settlements faiily made, or con- 
 tracts relative thereto, shall now or at any time 
 4 hereafter, be arrested or with-held by the executhe 
 ' autnosity of the state...that no act of the legislature 
 
 * snail hereafter pass for confiscating or seizing the 
 ' same in any manner whatever, if it is in the power 
 of the executive to prevent it. .and that its whole 
 ' power and influence, both in its public and private 
 4 capacity, shall at all times be exerted for that pur- 
 4 pose. 
 
 4 THAT the same power shall he allowed for the re-
 
 * covery of the debts and property, hereby protected 
 and secured by the parties or their representatives, 
 ' in the courts of justice or otherwise, as the citizens 
 
 * of the state may at any time be entitled unto, not- 
 
 * withstanding any act of confiscation or banishment, 
 ' or any other disability whatever.. .and that the same 
 may b; remitted to whatever part of the world ihty 
 
 * may think proper, under the same, and na other 
 
 * regulations than the citizens of the state may be sub- 
 
 * ject to. 
 
 THAT no slaves restored to their former owners, 
 
 * by virtue of this agreement, shall be punished by 
 < authority of the state for having left their masters, 
 ' and attached themselves to the British troops ; and 
 4 it will be particularly recommended to their respect- 
 ' ive owners to forgive them for the same. 
 
 ' THAT no violence or insult shall be offered to the 
 ' persons or houses of the families of such persons as 
 ' are obliged to leave the state for their adherence to 
 ' the British government, when the American army 
 ' shall take possession of the town, or at any time af- 
 
 * terwards, as far as it is in the power of those in au- 
 ' thority to prevent it. 
 
 THAT Edward Blake and Roger Parker Saunders, 
 Esqrs. be permitted to reside in Charleston 01; their 
 
 * parole of honor, to assist in the execution of the first 
 article of this compact.'
 
 346 
 
 IK consequence of this agreement, Governor Ma- 
 thews gave a commission and a flag to the honorable 
 Thomis Ferguson and Thomas Waring, Esqrs. to re- 
 side near the B.itish lines, with instructions to receive 
 such negroes as should be delivered from the garri- 
 son. Edward Blake and Roger Parker Saunders, 
 Esqrs. had also a commission and a flag given them to 
 reside in Charleston, and forward the delivery of the 
 negroes to the gentlemen who were waiting to receive 
 them without the garrison. Governor Mathews re- 
 quested the citizens of the state to attend for the 
 purpose ot receiving their negroes, and earnestly in- 
 treated that they would forgive them for having de- 
 serted their service and joined the British. Great 
 were the expectations of the suffering inhabitants, 
 that they would soon obtain re-possession of their 
 property ; but these delusive hopes were of short du- 
 ration. Notwithstanding the solemnity with which 
 the compact had been ratified, it was so far evaded as 
 to be in a great measure ineffectual for the end pro- 
 posed. 
 
 EDWARD Blake and Roger Parker Saunders, Esqrs. 
 having waited on General Leslie, were permitted 
 to examine the fleet bound to St. Augustine ; but 
 were not suffered to examine any vessel that wore 
 the king's pendant. Instead of an examination' 
 the word of the commanding officer, to restore all 
 the slaves that were on board, in violation of the
 
 compact, was offered as an equivalent. In their search 
 of the Augustine fleet, they found and claimed one 
 hundred and thirty six negroes. When they attend- 
 ed to receive them on shore, they were surprised to 
 find no more than seventy-three landed for delivery. 
 They then claimed this small residue of the original 
 number, to be forwarded to the other commissioners 
 without the lines, but they were informed by Gene- 
 ral Leslie, that no negroes would be delivered, till 
 three soldiers were restored that had been taken by 
 a party of General Creese's army. On that occa- 
 sion, the following letter was written to Edward 
 Blake and Roger Parker Saunders, Esqrs: 
 
 HEAD-QUARTERS, October 18th, 1?82. 
 * GENTLEMEN, 
 
 * GENERAL Leslie was much surprised on finding 
 1 that a large patrole from General Greene's army, 
 ( two days ago, came down so near our advanced 
 < post on Charleston-neck, as to carry off three sol- 
 1 diers who were a little way in the front At the 
 1 time this act of hostility was committed, Mr. Fer- 
 4 guson and another person was at Accabee, where I 
 
 * believe they still remain, in expectation of receiving 
 
 * the negroes to be delivered up, wiihout any sanction 
 
 * but that of the agreement entered into. 
 
 ' I AM directed to observe, that if a line of conduc* 
 
 * on the part of General Greene so different from
 
 348 
 
 * otrrs, is adopted, that it must of course put an end 
 ' to the pacific intentions General Leslie means to 
 
 * follow in regard to this province, daring the short 
 ' time he is to remain in it. 
 
 HE wishes you will inform Governor Mathews, 
 
 * that he expects the soldiers taken away will be re- 
 4 turned, and that the governor will take proper 
 measures to have this requisition complied with. 
 
 * Until this is done, General Leslie must be under 
 
 * the necessity of putting a stop to the farther com- 
 ' pktion of the agreement. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 your most obedient, 
 * humble servant, 
 
 J. WEYMI, D. A. General. 
 ' ROGER P. SAUNDERS and 
 
 * EDWARD BLAKE, Esqrs.' 
 
 THIS letter being forwarded to Governor Mathews, 
 he replied to it in a letter to General Leslie, in the 
 following words : 
 
 1 October 19th, 1782. 
 'SIR, 
 
 * I WAS a few minutes ago favored with a let- 
 { ter from Messrs. Blake and Saunders, inclosing 
 ' one to them from Major Weyms, written by yoqr 
 * authority. As I do not like a second-hand corres-
 
 349 
 
 1 pondcnce, I therefore address myself immediately 
 
 * to you. 
 
 I ADDRESSED a letter to you this morning, by 
 ' which you will find, that I was not even then with- 
 
 * out some apprehensions of an intended evasion of 
 1 the compact entered into on the tenth instant: but 
 
 * on the Receipt of Major Weyms' letter, no room 
 
 * was left me for doubt ; which obliges me, without 
 ( giving farther trouble to those engaged in th busi- 
 ' ness, and introducing farther altercation between 
 
 * us, to declare, that I look on that agreement as 
 
 * dissolved, and have accordingly ordered my com- 
 
 * missioners immediately to quit your lines. But. be- 
 
 * fore I take my final leave of you, permit me to make 
 ' one or two observations on Major Weyms' letter, 
 
 * as probably the whole correspondence between us 
 1 may one day be brought to public view. 
 
 * ON the twelfth instant I wrote to you, to know 
 ' whether persons going to Accabee, to bring off 
 
 * their negroes when brought there, should be pro- 
 
 * tected from your armed parties ; and farther, to 
 
 * permit me to send a party of militia to guard the 
 4 negroes remaining unclaimed to some part of the 
 ' country where they could be supplied with provi- 
 ' sions. To this letter I have received no answer, 
 
 * which has obliged me to use the precaution of giv- 
 ' ing flags to all persons who have applied to go to 
 1 Accabee, as I could on no principle look on that 
 
 VOL. II. 2 T
 
 ( ground as neutral uutil it liad been mutually agreed 
 f on as such. Indeed, I was left to conclude the con- 
 
 * trary was intended on your part, both by your tedi- 
 ous silence, and detachments from your army mak- 
 4 ing excursions as far as Abhley-ferry, which was 
 
 * absolutely the case the morning of the day that th 
 ' party from General Greene's army took the soldiers 
 ' you so peremptorily demand of me. And, if I am 
 
 * rightly informed, hostilities were commenced by 
 4 your party. But, be, that as it may, I conceive it of 
 ' little consequence, as cither party had a right to 
 
 * commence hostilities on hostile ground, and be- 
 ' tween enemies every spot must be considered as 
 * such until mutually agreed upon to be otherwise. 
 ; Besides, it is a well-knovvn fact, that there is not a 
 ' day but some of your armed parties are on that very 
 1 ground which you affect to hold neutral. 
 
 k WITH regard to Messrs. Ferguson and Waring 
 1 remaining at Accabee unmolested ; I hold myself 
 ' untit- r no manner of obligation to you for this for- 
 ' bearance, as I informed you they were there under 
 the sanction of a fiag...tbat they were to remain 
 ' there for the purpose of receiving the negroes sent 
 out by the agents in Charlestown. They were there- 
 fore authorised to continue there till you signified 
 ' the contrary to them. Flags from you have re- 
 ' mained within half a mile of our lines for several 
 1 days, even on private business, without the least
 
 351 
 
 1 molestation whatever. Besides, sir, u your reason- 
 
 < ing, as far as it applies to those gentlemen, proves 
 ' any thing, it proves too much, because, on the same 
 ' principle, the other two commissioners, being in 
 ' Charlestown, ought to make that neutral ground also, 
 ' notwithstanding no stipulation for that purpose had 
 
 < been entered into. I never interfere with General 
 
 * Greene's military plans, therefore the paragraph 
 ' which relates to his operations ought to have been 
 f addressed to him ; but I believe he pays as little 
 
 * regard to threats as I do. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, 
 (Signed) < JOHN MATHEWS. 
 
 1 Lieutenant General LESLIE.' 
 
 THIS was the unsuccessful termination of a bene- 
 volent scheme, originally calculated for mitigating 
 the calamities of war. Motives of humanity, toge- 
 ther with the sacred obligation of the provisional ar- 
 ticles of peace, prevented the state of South Carolina 
 from extending their confiscation laws. Instead of 
 adding to the list of the unhappy sufferers on that 
 score, the successive assemblies diminished their 
 number. 
 
 THE prospects of gain, from the sale of plundered 
 negroes, were too seducing to be resisted by the offi- 
 cers, privates and followers of the British army. On
 
 552 
 
 their departure from Charlestown, upward* of eight 
 hundred slaves, who had been employed in the en- 
 gineer department, were shipped off for the West 
 Indies. It was said and believed, that these were 
 taken by the direction, and sold for the benefit of 
 Lieutenant Colonel Moncrieif. The professional abi- 
 lities of that distinguished officer cannot be too much 
 applauded, nor his rapacity too much detested. The 
 slaves carried off by the chief engineer were but a 
 small part of the whole taken away at the evacuation, 
 but their number is very inconsiderabla when com- 
 pared with the thousands that were lost from the 
 first to the last of the war. It has been computed by 
 good judges, that, between the years 1775 and 1783, 
 the state of South Carolina was deprived of negroes 
 to the amount of twenty-five thousand. 
 
 T*K evacuation, though officially announced by 
 General Leslie on the seventh of August, as soon to 
 be adopted, did not take place till the fourteenth f 
 December, 1782. 
 
 THE latter end of February, 1782, while I was at 
 Philadelphia, I received my certificate of exchange, 
 with my parole (cancelled) from Colonel Skinner : 
 as they come from the first authorities, I here insert 
 them that they may serve for precedents in future. 
 
 THESE are to certify, that Brigadier General
 
 353 
 
 < William Moultrie, in the service of the United 
 
 < States of America, and late prisoner of war to the 
 
 * British, was, on the ninth day of this month, re- 
 
 * gularly exchanged, with a number of other Ameri- 
 ' cans, by composition for Lieutenant General Bur- 
 ' goyne, of the British forces, and late a prisoner of 
 
 * war to the United States of America. 
 
 GIVEN under my hand this nineteenth day of 
 
 * February, 1782. 
 
 f ABRAHAM SKINNER, 
 * Commissary General of Prisoners. 
 ' To whom it may concern.' 
 
 * I DO hereby acknowledge myielf to be a prisoner 
 ' of war upon my parole, to his excellency Sir Hen- 
 
 * ry Clinton, &c. and that I am thereby engaged, 
 ' until I shall be exchanged, neither to do, or cause 
 ' any thing to be done, prejudicial to the success of 
 { the arms of his Britannic majesty : and I do further 
 ' pledge my parole, that I will not intentionally go 
 ' within twelve miles of any British garrison or post, 
 ' and that I will surrender myself when required, 
 ' agreeable to the terms of the cartel made on the 
 1 third of May, 1782, for the exchange and relief of 
 4 prisoners of war taken in the southern depart- 
 ' ment*. 
 
 For the Articles of a Cartel of Exchange, sec page 198, 
 vol. ii.
 
 354 
 
 * IN witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed 
 < my name this eighth day of July, in the year of 
 1 our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and eighty- 
 1 one. 
 
 * WM. MOULTRIE, 
 
 ' Brigadier General, 
 Charlestown, South Carolina. 
 ' JOHN BROWN, A. Commissary of Prisoners. 
 * GEO. GIBES, D. A. Commissary.' 
 
 GENERAL Burgoyne's exchange, released almost 
 a whole brigade of American officers, prisoners of 
 war. Only two of the South Carolina line were in- 
 cluded in this exchange, which were Colonel C. 
 Pinckney* and myself. 
 
 SOON after my being exchanged, I prepared to set 
 off with my family for South Carolina, and early in 
 April left Philadelphia, and arrived at Waccamaw 
 in South Carolina in June, where I was informed 
 that General Greene's army lay at Ashley-river, 
 quite inactive, and no military operations going on. 
 I remained at Winyaw till late in September, at 
 which time I paid a visit to General Greene. It 
 was the most dull, melancholy, dreary ride that any 
 one could possibly take, of about one hundred miles 
 through .the woods of that country, which I had 
 
 * General Pinckney.
 
 355 
 
 been accustomed to see abound with live-stock and 
 wild fowl of every kind, was now destitute of all. It 
 had been so completely checquered by the different 
 parties, that not one part of it had been left unex- 
 plored ; consequently, not the vestiges of horses, cat- 
 tle, hogs, or deer, &c. was to be found. The squirrels 
 and birds of every kind were totally destroyed. The 
 dragoons told me, that on their scouts, no living crea- 
 ture was to be seen, except now and then a few 
 camp scavengers,* picking the bones of some unfor- 
 tunate fellows, who had been shot or cut down, and 
 left in the woods above ground. In my visit to Ge- 
 neral Greene's camp, as there was some danger from 
 the enemy, I made a circuitous route to General Ma- 
 rion's camp, then on Santee-river, to get an escort 
 which he gave me, of twenty infantry and twenty ca- 
 valry: those, with the volunteers that attended me 
 from Georgetown, made us pretty strong. On my 
 way from General Marion's to General Greene's 
 camp, my plantation was in the direct road, where I 
 called and stayed a night. On my entering the 
 place, as soon as the negroes discovered that I was 
 of the party, there was immediately a general alarm, 
 and an outcry through the plantation, that * Massa 
 was come ! Massa was come !' and they were running 
 from every part with great joy to see me. I stood in 
 
 * Turkey buzzards.
 
 356 
 
 the piazza to receive them : they gazed at me with 
 astonishment, and every one came and took me by 
 the hand, saying, * God bless you, massa! vre glad for 
 see you, massa !' and every now and then some one 
 or other would come out with a < ky !' And the old 
 Africans joined in a war-song in their own language, 
 of * welcome the war home.' It was an affecting 
 meeting between the slaves and the master: the tears 
 stole from my eyes and run down my cheeks. A 
 number of gentlemen that were with me, could not 
 help being affected at the scene. Many are still 
 alive, and remember the circumstance. I then pos- 
 sessed about two hundred slaves, and not one of them 
 left me during the war, although they had had great 
 offers, nay, some were carried down to work on the 
 British lines, yet they always contrived to make their 
 escapes and return home. My plantation I found to 
 be a desolate place; stock of every kind taken off; 
 the furniture carried away, and my estate had been 
 under sequestration. The next day we arrived at 
 General Greene's camp ; on our near approach, the 
 air was so infected with the stench of the camp, that 
 we could scarcely bear the smell ; which shows the 
 necessity of moving camp often in the summer, in 
 these hot climates. General Greene expecting the 
 evacuation to take place every week, from the month 
 of August, was the reason he remained so long on 
 the same ground.
 
 BEFORE I conclude my memoirs, I must make my 
 last tribute of thanks to the patriotic fair of South 
 Carolina and Georgia, for their heroism and virtue 
 in those dreadful and dangerous times whilst we 
 were struggling for our liberties. Their conduct de- 
 serves the highest applause ; and a pillar ought to be 
 raised to their memory : their fortitude was such as 
 gave examples, even to the men to stand firm ; and 
 they despised those who were not enthusiasts in their 
 country's cause : the hardships and difficulties they 
 experienced were too much for their delicate frames 
 to bear j yet they submitted to them with a he- 
 roism and virtue that never has been excelled by 
 the ladies of any country ; and I can with safety 
 say, that their conduct during the war contributed 
 much to the independence of America* 
 
 FROM J. BURNETJ ESQ. 
 * ASHLEY-HILL, December 13th, 1782. 
 SIR, 
 
 * THE general commands me to say, that 
 
 * his excellency the, governor, intends passing the 
 
 * river at Cedar-grove, and to meet him on tke 
 
 * other side of Ashley-ferry, at 13 o'clock to-mor- 
 ' row. 
 
 GENERAL Greene wishes to leave this place be- 
 
 VOL* ii. 2 z
 
 * fore 10 o'clock ; when he hopes to have the plea- 
 ' sure of seeing you here. 
 
 * I have the honor to be, SEC. 
 
 J. BURNIT, 
 
 * The honorable Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 1 Major Gen. MOULTRIE, 
 1 Middleton-place.' 
 
 EVACUATION. 
 
 ON Saturday, the fourteenth day of December, 
 1782, the British troops evacuated Charlestown, af- 
 ter having possession two years, seven months, and 
 two days. 
 
 THE evacuation took place in the following manner : 
 Brigadier General Wayne was ordered to cross Ash- 
 ley-river,* with three hundred light-infantry, eighty of 
 Lee's cavalry, and twenty artillery, with two six- 
 pounders, to move down towards the British lines, 
 which was near Colonel Shubrick's, and consisted of 
 three redoubts. General Leslie who commanded in 
 
 town, sent a message to General Wayne, informing 
 him, that he would next day leave the town, and for 
 the peace and security of the inhabitants, and of the 
 town, would propose to leave their advanced works 
 
 * General Greene's army by on the west side of Ashley- 
 river, above the ferry.
 
 
 359 / 
 
 next day at the firing of the morning gun ; at which 
 time, General Wayne should move on slowly, and 
 take possession ; and from thence to follow the Bri- 
 tish troops into town, keeping at a respectful dis- 
 tance (say about two hundred yards ;) and when the 
 British troops after passing through the town gates, 
 should file off to Gadsden's-wharf, General Wayne 
 was to proceed into town, which was done with 
 great order and regularity, except now and then the 
 British called to General Wayne that he was too fast 
 upon them, which occasioned him to halt a little. 
 About 1 1 o'clock, A. M. the American troops march- 
 ed into town and took post at the state-house. 
 
 AT 3 o'clock, P. M. General Greene conducted 
 Governor Mathews, and the council, with some other 
 of the citizens into town: we marched in, in the 
 following order: an advance of an officer and thirty 
 of Lee's dragoons ; then followed the governor and 
 General Greene ; the next two were General Gist and 
 myself; after us followed the council, citizens and 
 officers, making altogether about fifty : one hundred 
 and eighty cavalry brought up the rear: we halted in 
 Broad-street, opposite where the South Carolina 
 bank now stands ; there we alightedj and the cavalry 
 discharged to quarters: afterwards, every one went 
 where they pleased ; some in viewing the town, 
 others in visiting their friends. It was a grand and
 
 360 
 
 pleasing sight, to see the enemy's fleet (upwards of 
 three hundred sail) laying at anchor from Fort John- 
 son to Five-fathom-hole, in a curve line, as the cur- 
 rent runs ; and what made it more agreeable, they 
 were ready to depart from the port. The great joy 
 that was felt on this day, by the citizens and soldiers, 
 was inexpressible : the widows, the orphans, the aged 
 men and others, who, from their particular situations, 
 were obliged to remain in Charlestown, many of 
 whom had been cooped up in one room of their own 
 elegant houses for upwards of two years, whilst the 
 other parts were occupied by the British officers, ma- 
 ny of whom where a rude uncivil set of gentlemen ; 
 their situations, and the many mortifying circum- 
 stances occurred to them in that time, must have 
 been truly distressing. I cannot forget that happy 
 day when we marched into Charlestown with the 
 American troops; it was a proud day to me, and I 
 felt myself much elated, at seeing the balconies, the 
 doors, and windows crowded with the patriotic fair, 
 the aged citizens and others, congratulating us on 
 our return home, saying, God bless you, gentle- 
 men ! you are welcome home, gentlemen !' Both ci- 
 tizens and soldiers shed mutual tears of joy. 
 
 IT was an ample reward for the triumphant soldier, 
 after all the hazards and fatigues of war, which he 
 had gone through, to be the instrument of releasing 
 his friends and fellow citizens from captivity, and re-
 
 261 
 
 storing to them their liberties and possession of their 
 city and country again. 
 
 THIS fourteenth day of December, 1782, ought 
 never to be forgotten by the Carolinians ; it ought to 
 be a day of festivity with them, as it was the real 
 day of their deliverance and independence. 
 
 [The following orders should have been inserted in the preceding 
 part of this volume, but was omitted by mistake.] 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF CONGRESS A\D ORDERS FROM 
 GENERAL WASHINGTON. 
 
 4 HEAD-QUARTERS, SHUTT'S-HILI., 
 
 June 18th, If 80. 
 
 As it is at all times of great importance, both 
 for the sake of appearance and for regularity of ser- 
 vice, that the different military ranks should be distin- 
 guished from each other, and more especially at the 
 present, the commander in chief has thought proper 
 to establish the following distinctions, and strongly 
 recommends to all the officers to endeavor to conform 
 with them as speedily as possible. 
 
 ' THE major generals to wear a blue coat with buff 
 facings and lining, yellow buttons, white or buff under 
 clothes, two epaulets with two stars upon each, and a 
 black and white feather in the hat. 
 
 * THE brigadier generals the same uniform as the 
 major generals, with the difference of one star instead 
 f>f two, and white feather. The colonels, lieutenant
 
 362 
 
 colonels and majors, the uniform of their regiments, 
 and two epaulets; captains, the uniform of their regi- 
 ments and an epaulet on the right shoulder ; the sub- 
 alterns, the uniform of their regiments and an epau- 
 let on the left shoulder. 
 
 1 THE aid-de-camps, the uniform of their rank and 
 corps; or, if they belong to no corps, the uniform of 
 their general officers: those of the major general 
 and brigadier generals, to wear a green feather in 
 their hats; those of the commander in chief, vrhite 
 and green. 
 
 ' THE inspectors, as well sub, as brigade, the uni- 
 form of their ranks and corps, with a blue feather in 
 the hat. 
 
 * THE corps of engineers, and that of sappers and 
 miners, a blue coat with buff facings, buff under 
 clothes, and the epaulets of their ranks: such of the 
 staff, as have military rank, to wear the uniform of 
 the rank, and the corps to which they belong in the 
 line; such as have no military rank, to wear a plain 
 blue coat, with a cockade and sword. 
 
 * ALL officers, as well warranted as commission- 
 ed, to wear side arms, either swords or genteel bay- 
 onets. 
 
 By order of his Excel. General WASHINGTON. 
 
 * SCAMMEL, Adjutant General.*
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 NOTE I. 
 
 LITTER FROM THE PRESIDENT. 
 SlR > April 6th, 1778, 
 
 I HAVE received letters and information from the 
 Congarees, which give good grounds to suspect that 
 some design is formed to disturb the tranquility of the 
 interior parts of this state. Several of the inhabitants 
 have suddenly and secretly withdrawn themselves 
 from their habitations, and have manifested, by other 
 parts of their behavior, that some enterprise is in 
 agitation, that may, if not timely attended to, sur- 
 prise us at a disadvantage. I have ordered Colonel 
 Beard to keep a good look out, and to raise a proper 
 number of his militia, so as to be in readiness to op- 
 pose any sudden attempt that may be undertaken by 
 those people called Tories. I have taken the liberty 
 to direct him in case the matter should wear a serious 
 aspect and require a greater force than he can rea- 
 dily draw from his regiment, to apply for aid and suc- 
 cor to Colonel Thomson, who, I believe has a detach- 
 ment of his regiment near those parts, as I intended 
 to apply to you to give the required assistance. I 
 wish the present appearances which have given this 
 alarm may blow over without producing any ill con-
 
 sequences. Perhaps the late incursions of the Florida 
 scouts in those parts, may have afforded an opportu- 
 nity of tampering with the ill-affected, and of exciting 
 ill humours amongst them. However this may be, 
 it is prudent to be prepared against the worst. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 RAWLINS LOWNDES. 
 The honorable General MOULTRIE. 
 
 HITHERTO the state had paid and clothed the troops, 
 and furnished every article that was necessary for 
 military operations from their own stores, the conti- 
 nent having nothing here at the time, which blended 
 the civil and military so much together, as brought on 
 disagreeable altercations, and made it quite a hetero- 
 geneous command, because it constrained the com- 
 manding officer of the troops to apply to the president 
 for the smallest article for the use of the army. In 
 consequence of the above letter from the president, I 
 wrote the following. 
 
 NOTE II. 
 
 LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT. 
 SIR, April 11, 1778. 
 
 As there are disturbances in this and the neighbor- 
 ing states, and as the matter may grow more serious, 
 I shall frequently have occasion for different articles 
 from the public stores, for the use of the continental
 
 365 
 
 troops in this state. I have daily applications from the 
 different commanding officers, sometimes for trifling 
 articles, which I am sorry to trouble you with at 
 every call; I shall therefore be obliged to you, to or- 
 der the public store-keeper to deliver to my order, or 
 to the deputy quarter-master general on his giving a 
 receipt for the same, such articles as may be wanted 
 for the troops or forts, in times of alarm or actual 
 invasion* It is impossible I can have time to send 
 to you by letter or otherwise for every article ; should 
 I be under that necessity, it would retard our busi- 
 ness, and perhaps be the loss of the whole. 
 
 The deputy quarter-master general informs me, 
 he is in want of twenty thousand pounds to pay the 
 debts already incurred, and for future services: I 
 shall be much obliged to your excellency for an or- 
 der on the treasurer in favor of the deputy quarter- 
 master general for that sum, for the use of the troops 
 in this state. I am, &c. 
 
 WILLIAM MOULTRII. 
 
 To his Excellency RAWLINS LOWNDES. 
 
 NOTE III. 
 
 LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 
 SlR? April 19th, 1778. 
 
 THE honorable Major General Howe being now 
 in Georgia, the command of the continental troops in 
 VOL, n. 3 A
 
 366 
 
 this state devolves upon me : I therefore tlo myself 
 the honor of writing you to inform you of such 
 matters as fall within the line of my duty. 
 
 ANOTHER matter which occurred the other day, 
 was this : requesting the favor of the president to or- 
 der the treasurer of this state, to advance to the deputy 
 quarter-master general, twenty thousand pounds for 
 the use of the continental troops in this state, he re- 
 fused, until he could first see the quarter-master's ac- 
 counts ; I desired the deputy quarter-master general 
 to send him his books for his perusal, which he ac- 
 cordingly did, by his clerk, but the president was not 
 well pleased on his not waiting upon him himself: 
 the deputy quarter-master general said, he had no 
 business with the president ; his business was with 
 the commanding officer: the president also desired 
 the accounts to be drawn out and placed in the hands 
 of the auditor of this state. I told him I thought the 
 auditor had no business with the accounts; that he 
 was not a competent judge whether they were right 
 or not; that the accounts were transmitted to the 
 board of war and to General Mifflin, who were the 
 proper judges, and .who laid them before Congress. 
 
 THE president apprehended, by a resolution of Con- 
 gress, passed February the ninth, 1778, that he had 
 the power of suspending Colonel Huger, but I differ- 
 ed entirely with him, and told him, that officer had 
 his commission immediately from Congress: he re-
 
 plied, thai { he was only a deputy of General Miff- 
 ' lin's.' I shall be much obliged to your honor to 
 represent these matters to Congress and have them 
 cleared up, as I should be extremely unhappy to 
 have any difference with the executive authority dur- 
 ing my command. I yesterday received letters by- 
 express from General Howe, acquainting me that he 
 is apprehensive of an invasion on the state of Georgia, 
 but does not mention any particulars ; but, from flying 
 reports, the insurgents from our back country are 
 gone off, to the number of five or six hundred, to join 
 Kirkland, who has a body of men at Pensacola, and 
 Brown, at St. Mary's. They are to be supported by 
 troops from Augustine, with some Indians. Ge- 
 neral Howe has ordered me to send him two hundred 
 and fifty continental troops, and thirty matrosses with 
 two field-pieces. The president has ordered three 
 hundred men from Bull's, and four hundred from 
 Williamson's regiment, to rendezvous at Purisburgh, 
 ready to support them, which I think will be quite 
 
 sufficient, &c. 
 
 I have the honor to be, yours, &c. 
 
 WILLIAM MOULTRII. 
 The Honorable HKNRY LAUKBNS.
 
 368 
 
 NOTE IV. 
 EXTRACTS OF A LITTER FROM GENERAL Howf. 
 
 SAVANNAH, April J4th, 1778. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 THE situation of affairs here, makes it ne- 
 cessary to desire that the men under marching or- 
 ders, repair, with all possible expedition to Puris- 
 burgh, where they will receive directions as to their 
 further conduct. You will take care that they are pro- 
 vided with every military requisite, as this state can- 
 not furnish them. You are, however, not to delay 
 the march of the men, for any preparations of this 
 sort, as I am exceedingly anxious for their arrival, 
 and shall continue to be so, till they do arrive. 
 
 I HAVE written to the president, requesting the 
 favor of him to supply you with such stores, or other 
 requisites as the continental agent cannot furnish you 
 with, and inclose you a memorandum of what just 
 now occurs to me. When I wrote you before, though 
 I thought it eligible to prepare for the worst, yet I 
 had hopes that things would not have been so serious ; 
 but the aspect they now wear, induces me to believe, 
 that this state, deplorably weak in itself, will need 
 every support yours can give it : I am therefore un- 
 der the necessity of ordering fifty men from the first 
 regiment, and also thirty men from the artillery,
 
 369 
 
 with two field-pieces, with every thing proper for 
 action. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROBERT How*. 
 Brig. Gen. MOULTRIB. 
 
 NOTE V. 
 LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 CHARCESTOWN, April 18th, 1778. 
 SIR, 
 
 MAJOR General Howe has ordered me to send a 
 detachment of two hundred and fifty men, and thirty 
 matrosses with two field-pieces, from this state, to 
 march immediately to Georgia : he has also sent me 
 a list of military stores much wanted there, and has 
 desired me to request the favor of you, to let us have 
 such articles from the arsenal of this state as can be 
 spared, and that we cannot be supplied with from 
 the continental agent here. I herewith send you a 
 list of the articles wanted, and also sixty tents for the- 
 detachment, and three hundred havre-sac. He de- 
 sires me, by all means, to have the commissary, the 
 pay-master and the deputy quarter-master general to 
 be well provided with money ; all of which he must 
 know cannot be done without the favor of this state 
 lending the money, as we have no military chest 
 here. I am sorry to be under the necessity of re- 
 quiring a loan from the treasury, as I know the great
 
 370 
 
 demands upon it, and the little money in bank ; 
 however, if we cannot be supplied, I fear it will be 
 of very dangerous consequences to Georgia, as well 
 as to this state, if not soon relieved by us. I have 
 shown you General Howe's letter, in which you see 
 how pressing he is to expedite the marching of the 
 troops. 
 
 1 have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 WiLMAM MOULTRIE, 
 
 Brigadier General. 
 To his'Excellency RAWLINS LOWNDBS. 
 
 NOTE VI. 
 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 SIR, April 17th, 1778. 
 
 SEVERAL gentlemen being out of town, I am 
 not able to make a council. Such part of the articles 
 which you mention in your list that we can spare, 
 consistent with a proper attention to our own safety, 
 you shall have ; but I cannot ascertain the quantity or 
 species, until I make further inquiry. The tents, 
 the iron and the lead, we shall be obliged to curtail, 
 as also the cartridge-paper. The most difficult article 
 is the cash, which we certainly are not in a condition 
 to supply in any considerable amount. 
 I am Sir, &c. 
 
 RAWLINS LOWNDES. 
 
 Brig. Gen. MOULTRIE.
 
 371 
 
 NOTE VII. 
 LETTER TO GENERAL HOWE. 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, April 18th, 1778. 
 DEAR SIB, 
 
 I RECEIVED yours by express, last night, and 
 shall order the first detachment off to-morrow morn- 
 ing ; the remainder of the first regiment and the 
 artillery will march off on Monday, under the com- 
 mand of Colonel Charles C. Pinckney ; he, I think 
 you. will be glad to see with the detachment. I ap- 
 plied to the president for the articles you wanted, as 
 by your list sent me. He says, ' what we can spare } 
 1 consistent with a proper attention to our own safety, 
 
 * you shall have, but I cannot ascertain the quantity 
 
 * or species, until I make further inquiry. The tents, 
 ' (I applied for sixty,) the iron and the lead, we shall 
 ' be obliged to curtail, and also the cartridge-paper. 
 4 The most difficult article is the cash, which .we 
 
 * certainly are not in a condition to supply, in any 
 
 * considerable amount.' The treasury, I know, is at 
 a very low ebb just now, owing to the many large 
 draughts for our navy. They are almost tired of ad- 
 vancing for the continent. I wish you had been 
 more particular in your letter, relative to your ap- 
 prehensions of Georgia. You have left us to guess 
 at the number, situation and posture of the enemy. 
 A part of our unfortunate fleet is returned... the Gene- 
 ral Moultrie and Morgan. They give us the parti-
 
 372 
 
 culars of the unhappy fate of the Randolph. She blew 
 up in about fifteen minutes engagement, fighting 
 at a most infernal rate. The ship she engaged was 
 the Yarmouth of sixty-four guns. They were so 
 near as to throw their hand granades from their tops 
 upon each other's decks : in short, during the time 
 of the action, it was one continual bla.ze of fire, 8cc. 
 I am, Sec. 
 
 WILLIAM MOULTRIE. 
 
 NOTE VIII. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GENERAL HOWE'S 
 AID-DE-CAMP. 
 
 SAVANNAH, April 18th, 1778. 
 SIB, 
 
 I am directed by General Howe to request of 
 you, that you would have the remaining part of the 
 continental troops, amounting to one half the number 
 and allowed by the president and council of your state, 
 in immediate readiness for marching, upon receiving 
 the general's orders. The general is extremely anxi- 
 ous to have the stores he wrote for forwarded with 
 all possible expedition, and which he trusts your di- 
 ligence will exert itself not to permit to be delayed at 
 a vime of such critical danger. 
 I am, Sec. 
 
 J. F. GRIMKIE, Aid-de-Camp. 
 To Brig. Gen. MOULTEIE.
 
 373 
 
 NOTE IX. 
 LETTER FROM MAJOR GRIMKIE. 
 
 SAVANNAH, April 21st, 1778. 
 SIR, 
 
 INCLOSED you have the deposition of a person 
 arrived in Savannah this evening, in three days from 
 St. Augustine, which is of the utmost importance. 
 I am sure, sir, lhat you will not only see the necessity 
 of ordering up the remainder of the troops allowed 
 by the governor and council, but that you will, 
 without delay, execute the orders I inclosed you this 
 morning. You will therefore be pleased to order 
 them to rendezvous at Savannah as soon as possible. 
 The person who makes this affidavit, is a gentleman 
 of reputation, and has traded to Savannah ten or 
 twelve years. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 T. F. GRIMKIE, Aid-de-Camp. 
 'Brig. Gen. MOULTRIE. 
 
 NOTE X. 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 
 CAPTAIN James Mercer at Savannah, being duly 
 sworn, maketh oath and saith, ' that the deponent 
 about the seventeenth day of April, sailed from St. 
 t Augustine with a French lad, and set sail from 
 < thence with intent to come to this state, where he 
 * is now happily arrived; after mentioning to the peo- 
 
 voi. ii* 3 a
 
 374 
 
 ' pie in Augustine that the deponent was bound to 
 1 St. John's, the better to secure his safe passage and 
 ' prevent suspicions of his coming to Georgia...That 
 ' a number of troops under the command of, and with 
 General Provost, had left Augustine, and were des- 
 
 < lined towards the Alatamaha, as the deponent was 
 ' informed...That he believes about three hundred 
 1 men, regular troops, were left to garrison at Augus- 
 tine, as was said.-.That the deponent, on his arrival 
 ' in Augustine, was informed there were about four- 
 4 teen hundred men in Augustine; and the deponent 
 4 saw some of the battalions reviewed.. .That about 
 4 three hundred men from the back parts of South 
 Carolina had arrived and encamped at St, Mary's ; 
 ' and that seven hundred more were expected, and on 
 
 < their march to join them ; and that advice of the 
 4 three hundred had been sent to Augustine. ..That an 
 ' express had come from the Creek Indians, inform- 
 ' ing, that they, the Indians, were coming down to join 
 ' the people of St. Augustine, as was reported...That 
 1 it was generally believed that an expedition was on 
 
 < foot against Georgia...That a number of French 
 prisoners had been sent off, and that two cartels 
 4 bound to Charlestown or to Georgia, were ready to 
 
 < sail, with a. number of prisoners on board the vessels 
 
 < appointed for that purpose; and that no ships of war 
 
 < were off the bar of Augustine when he the deponent 
 ' left the place, other than Bachop's sloop of twelve
 
 375 
 
 { guns, in the harbor, bound on a cruize...That the 
 < deponent further said, that he saw and partook of 
 plenty of salt provisions, but very little fresh, &c. 
 
 * JAMES MERCER.' 
 Sworn before me, 21st April, 1778. 
 
 WM. STEPHENS, Attorney General. 
 
 NOTE XI. 
 
 LETTER FROM COLONEL ELBERT TO GENERAL 
 HOWE, INCLOSED TO ME. 
 
 FREDERIC A HARBOR, on board the Sloop Rebecca. 
 DEAR GENERAL, April 19th, 1778. 
 
 I HAVE the happiness to inform you, that about 
 ten o'clock this forenoon, the Brigantine Hinchen- 
 brook, the Sloop Rebecca, and the prize brig, all 
 struck the British colors, and surrendered to the 
 American arms. Having received intelligence that 
 the above vessels were at that place, I put about 
 three hundred men, by detachments, from the troops 
 under my command at Fort Howe, on board the 
 three gallies...the Washington, Captain Hardy ; the 
 Lee, Captain Braddock; and the Bullock, Captain 
 Hatcher; and a detachment of artillery with two 
 field-pieces, under Captain Young, I put on board at 
 boat. With this little army we embarked at Darien, 
 and last evening effected a landing at a bluff, a mile 
 below the town ; having Colonel White on board the 
 Lee, Captain Melvin on board the Washington, and
 
 376 
 
 Lieutenant Petty on board the Bullock ; each with a 
 sufficient party of troops. Immediately on landing, 
 I dispatched Lieutenant Ray and Major Roberts with 
 about one hundred men, who marched directly up to 
 the town, and made prisoners three marines and two 
 sailors belonging to the Hinchenbrook. It being 
 late, the galley did not engage until this morning. 
 You must imagine what my feelings were, to see 
 our three little men-of-war going on to the attack of 
 those three vessels who have spread terror on our 
 coast, and who drew up in order of battle. But the 
 weight of our metal soon damped the courage of 
 those heroes, who took to their boats; and as many 
 as could, abandoned their vessels, with every thing 
 on board...of which we immediately took possession. 
 What is extraordinary, we have not one man hurt. 
 Captain Ellis is drowned, and Captain Mawberry made 
 his escape. As soon as I can see Colonel White, 
 who has not come up with his prize, I shall consult 
 with him and the others on the expediency of attack- 
 ing the Galatea, now laying at Jakyl. 
 I am, &c. 
 
 SAMUEL ELBERT. 
 
 NOTE XII. 
 
 LETTER TO GENERAL HOWE. 
 DEAR SIR, April 24th, 1778. 
 
 I RECEIVED yours by express, last night, and
 
 377 
 
 heartily rejoice at your success under Colonel Elbert, 
 and hope soon to hear of their taking the Galatea. I 
 doubt not but this will rouse the drooping spirits of 
 the Georgians, and I think it will stop General Pro- 
 vost's further progress. Our first detachment march, 
 ed off a few days ago, and Colonel Charles C. Pinck- 
 ney with the second, went off yesterday. I have the 
 use of the state galley to send to Georgia ; I shall 
 man her with some soldiers, and in her send you ten 
 thousand pounds of powder, and the cannon-shot, with 
 some cartridge-paper, &c. with some of your stores. 
 I think they might getto Savannah sooner than if they 
 went by land. I have ordered the remainder of Thom- 
 son's and Sumpter's regiments to be ready to march 
 on my receiving your further orders. I cannot send 
 you a general return of the troops by the express, but 
 1 will have them ready to send you by the next op- 
 portunity. Our number of continental troops be- 
 longing to this state, amount to about fifteen hundred. 
 I doubt not but that you will have boats ready to 
 convey the troops from Purisburgh to Savannah. I 
 am much hurried in getting the stores on board the 
 
 galley. I therefore refer you to Colonel Charles C. 
 Pinckney for particulars, &c. 
 I am, 8cc. 
 
 WILLIAM MOULTRIE. 
 
 Brigadier General.
 
 Sf8 
 
 ,.:. :.-.,. NOTE XtIL 
 
 LETTER FROM MAJOB GRIMKIE. 
 HEAD-QUARTERS, SAVANNAH, April 26th, 1778. 
 SIR, 
 
 I HAVE to request your excuse if I did not de- 
 liver myself so explicitly as I was ordered to do in 
 the last letter I wrote you by desire of Major Gene- 
 ral Howe. As I did not keep a copy, not having 
 time to write it over again, I cannot refer to the or- 
 der, nor do I at present recollect in what mode of ex- 
 pression I delivered myself. The order, sir, that it 
 VMS my intention to transmit you, should have posi- 
 tively declared the necessity for the immediate march 
 of the troops, forming the remaining part of the 
 continental battalions in the state of South Caro- 
 lina. You will please, therefore, to order the troops 
 you refer to, whom you say you have directed to 
 be ready to march at a moment's warning, and 
 consists of the other parts of Colonel Thomson's 
 and Sumpter's regiments. They are to proceed 
 to Fort Howe, by the shortest road upon the Ala- 
 tamaha, without touching at Savannah, &c. 
 
 By order of the General, 
 
 I am, Sec. 
 
 J. F. GRIMKIE, Aid- de-Camp. 
 Brier. Gen. MOULTRIE.
 
 ST9 
 
 NOTE XIV. 
 
 LITTER TO MAJOR GRIMKIE. 
 SIR, ' CHARLESTO-WN, May 1st, 1778. 
 
 THE excuse you request should rather be asked 
 by me, as I neglected to inform you, that your orders 
 were very explicit, and I accordingly put them in ex- 
 ecution, excepting for Thomson's, in lieu of which I 
 sent the first regiment, as they are better clothed and 
 disciplined. I hope this last detachment will reach 
 you by Sunday next. I can scarcely have time to or- 
 der them to the Alatamaha: their orders were to pro- 
 ceed immediately to Purisburgh. I think it will still 
 be the best way, as I have sent the galley round to 
 Savannah, with a quantity of stores and officers' bag- 
 gage. I am sending a schooner with about two hun- 
 dred barrels of pork ; if more should be wanted, we 
 can spare it very well. I wish General Howe would 
 order the galley back as soon as she has delivered 
 her cargo, that she may be here ready, in case he 
 should want any other assistance. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 ..)*/ia&Mfjfp$itf|!tfi: WILLIAM MOULT R IE. 
 
 Brigadier General. 
 
 NOTE XV. 
 
 LETTER FROM GENERAL HOWE. 
 DEAR Sis, SAVANNAH, May 3, 1778. 
 
 As the quantity of medicines, &c. sent up are by 
 no means proportioned to the troops already here,
 
 580 
 
 and, consequently, must be very inadequate to the 
 wants of the army, when the other detachments ar- 
 n\c, I must desire that a surgeon from the general 
 hospital, with medicines and every necessary appa- 
 ratus very liberally proportioned to the men sent, 
 may, without the least delay, and by the shortest 
 route, be ordered to join the army at Fort Howe. 
 
 I am, Sec. 
 
 ROBERT HOWE. 
 Brig. Gen. MOULTRIE. 
 
 NOTE XVI. 
 
 LKTTER FROM COLONEL CHARLES C. PINCKNEV* 
 SAVANNAH, May 4th, 1778. 
 DEAR GENERAL, 
 
 FROM every appearance here, it is probable we 
 shall have something to do. The design of the Hinch- 
 enbrook, Rebecca, and the other vessels that were 
 lately taken, was to attack Sunberry, while General 
 Provost with some Augustine troops, penetrated into 
 and ravaged the interior parts of this state ; but the 
 capture of those vessels has, I believe, considerably 
 damped their ardor : they, however, yet maintain their 
 advanced post on St. Mary's, and, from a letter of 
 Brown's, mean to maintain it. On board the Hinch- 
 enbrook was found three hundred suits of clothes be- 
 longing to my regiment, which were taken in Hatter : 
 these, I presume, were intended for the insurgents. 
 We have been in daily expectation of the arrival of
 
 381 
 
 the row-galley with the ammunition and stores, but 
 it is not yet come. The General has countermanded 
 your order relative to the waggons ; has ordered 
 me to take them on with me ; indeed, we could no 
 possibly do without, for they will be as necessary to 
 us from Savannah to Alatamaha and St. Mary's, as 
 they were from Charlestown to Savannah. 
 I am, Sec. 
 
 CHARLE s COTESWORTH PINCKNEY. 
 Brig. Gen. MOULTRIE. 
 
 NOTE XVIL 
 
 JL.ETTER FROM GENERAL HoWE. 
 
 CAMP AT FORT HOWE, May 23d, 1778. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 THE strange delay of the Carolina galley with 
 
 the military stores, has detained me much against mjr 
 
 jnclination, and to the great injury of the service. 
 
 The enemy are determined to give us something to 
 do at St. Mary's, where they are pretty well posted, 
 and assisted with cannon. Had I not been detained, 
 I should have prevented their being quite so well pre- 
 pared; but, upon the whole, perhaps.it is for the best, 
 for should they exhaust their strength in out postSj 
 the ultimate result may be much more important 
 than at first we hoped. St. Johns, also, they are 
 preparing to render formidable to us by posts on 
 both sides of the river. We have sanguine hopes of 
 VOL. ii* 3 c
 
 382 
 
 success upon these posts, that if we obtain, any fur- 
 ther progress will depend intirely upon circumstances: 
 nothing too extensive, or risk, will be undertaken you 
 may depend upon it. It is, however, absolutely neces- 
 sary to dislodge the enemy from those advanced 
 posts, or Georgia may as well be given up to the ene- 
 my. As I have been under the necessity of taking 
 on the schooner with the provisions, I would wish 
 you to procure another vessel, and forward to us at 
 least one hundred and fifty barrels of pork, or two 
 hundred if possible ; and 1 recommend that expedi- 
 tion should be used upon this occasion. I have to 
 lament that you did not furnish the men with more 
 kettles, canteens and tents, when so many were in the 
 arsenal. I assure you the men suffer exceedingly, for 
 the canteens, particularly, in a country like this, when 
 a whole day's march may be made without one drop 
 of water. I would wish a row-boat with five hundred 
 canteens, two hundred kettles, and as many tents as 
 could be got, be dispatched with them, with orders to 
 proceed, both by night and by day, to Sunberry, where 
 they will receive orders, &c. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROBERT HOWE. 
 Brig. Gen. MOUI.TRIE.
 
 383 
 
 NOTE XVIII. 
 
 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 
 YORK-TOWN, May 18th, 1778. 
 DEAR GKNERAL, 
 
 ON the thirteenth instant, I was honored with 
 your favor of the twentieth of April ; the next morn- 
 ing I presented it to Congress, and it was ordered 
 with his excellency President Lowndes' dispatches, 
 to a select committee. When a report is made, and 
 I receive commands, you shall be immediately in- 
 formed : in the mean time, I may safely assure you, 
 the deputy quarter-master general is liable to sus- 
 pension by the president, should he, which I hold 
 to be impossible, give cause by improper conduct. 
 I shall this day return thanks to Governor Living- 
 ston, for his attention to public interest, by suspend- 
 ing many staff-officers... among them, a person ex- 
 actly upon a line with Colonel F. Huger, a depu- 
 ty quarter-master, appointed by General Mifflin. I 
 may as safely add, the president, refusing to grant 
 money before preceding grants had been accounted 
 for, is generally applauded, and, I presume, will be 
 more especially noticed by the committee, &c. 
 I am, &c. 
 
 HENRY LAURBNS. 
 Brig. Gen, MOULT R IE.
 
 384 
 
 NOTE XIX. 
 
 LETTER FROM GENERAL HOWE. 
 CAMP AT FORT HOWE, STATE OF GEORGIA, 
 DEAR SIR, May 15th, 1778. 
 
 I WAS obliged to draw upon the president for 
 money to pay for waggons which the deputy quarter- 
 master general of your state was by necessity of ser- 
 vice obliged to purchase, and which, however, are a" 
 cheap bargain. I therefore wish you to wait upon 
 the president, and exert yourself to have the orders 
 paid, as the case of the men will be deplorable indeed, 
 should they be disappointed; and the credit of conti- 
 nental officers so injured, that they will not be able 
 to obtain any thing the service may require, however 
 necessary it may be, &c. I am, &c. 
 
 ROBERT HOWE. 
 Brig. Gen. MOULT R IE. 
 
 ' 
 
 NOTE XXI. PAGE 210. 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 PROCLAMATION by his Excellency Sir HENRY CLIN- 
 TON, Knight of the most honorable order of the 
 Bath, General and Commander in Chief of all his 
 Majesty's forces within the colonies lying on the 
 Atlantic ocean, from Nova Scotia to West Florida 
 inclusive, &c. &c. 
 WHEREAS, after the arrival of his majesty's forces 
 
 under my command in this province in February
 
 385 
 
 last, numbers of persons were made prisoners by the 
 army, or voluntarily surrendered themselves as such, 
 and such persons were afterwards dismissed on their 
 respective paroles : and whereas, since the surrender 
 of Charlestown, and the defeats and disperses of 
 the rebel forces, it is become unnecessary that such 
 paroles should be any longer observed ; and proper 
 that all persons should take an active part in settling 
 and securing his majesty's government, and deliver- 
 ing the country from that anarchy which for some time 
 hath prevailed ; I do therefore issue this my proclama- 
 tion to declare, that all the inhabitants of this pro- 
 vince, who are now prisoners upon parole and were 
 not in the military line (those who were in Fort 
 Moultrie and Charlestown at the times of their capitu- 
 lation and surrender, or were then in actual con- 
 finement, excepted) that, from and after the twenti- 
 eth day of June instant, they are freed and exempt- 
 ed from all such paroles, and may hold themselves 
 as restored to all the rights and duties belonging to 
 citizens and inhabitants. 
 
 AND all persons under the description before men- 
 tioned, who shall afterwards neglect to return to their 
 allegiance, and to his majesty's government, will be 
 considered as enemies and rebels to the same, and 
 treated accordingly. 
 
 GIVEN under my hand, at head-quarters in Charles- 
 -
 
 3S6 
 
 town, the third day of June, 1780; and in the twen- 
 tieth year oi his majesty's reign. 
 
 (Signed) H. CLINTON. 
 
 By his Excellency's command, 
 
 (Signed) PETEB RUSSET,, 
 
 Assisting Secretary. 
 
 NOTE XXIL PAGE 210. 
 
 To their Excellencies Sir HENRY CLINTON, Knight 
 . ol the Bath, General of liis Majesty's Forces, and 
 MARIOT ARBUTHNOT Esq. Vice-Admi r al of the 
 Blue, his Majesty's Commissioners to restore Peace 
 and good Government in the several Colonies in 
 rebellion in JNorth- America. 
 
 The humble ADDRESS of divers Inhabitants of 
 Charlestown. 
 
 / THE inhabitants of Charleslown, by the articles of 
 capitulation, are declared prisoners on parole ; but we 
 the under-written, having every inducement to return 
 to our. allegiance, and ardently hoping speedily to be 
 re-admitted to the character and condition of British 
 subjects, take this opportunity of tendering to your 
 excellencies our warmest congratulations on the re- 
 storation of this capital and province to their politi- 
 cal connexion with the crown and government of 
 Great Britain ; an event which will add lustre to your
 
 387 
 
 excellencies characters, and, we trust, entitle you to 
 the most distinguishing mark of the royal favor. Al- 
 though the right of taxing America in parliament, 
 excittd considerable ferments in the minds of the peo- 
 ple of this province, yet it may, with a religious ad- 
 herence to truth, be affirmed, that they did not en- 
 tertain the most distant thought of dissolving the 
 union that so happily subsisted between them and 
 their parent country ; and when, in the progress of 
 that fatal controversy, the doctrines of independency 
 (which originated in the more northern colonies) 
 made its appearance among us, our nature revolted 
 at the idea, and we look back with the most painful 
 regret on those convulsions that gave existence to a 
 power of subverting a constitution, for which we al- 
 ways had, and ever shall retain the most profound 
 yeneration, and substituting in its stead a rank de- 
 mocracy, which, however carefully digested in theory, 
 on being reduced into practice, has exhibited a sys- 
 tem of tyrannic domination, only to be found among 
 the uncivilized part of mankind, or in the history of 
 the dark and barbarous ages of antiquity. 
 
 WE sincerely lament, that after the repeal of those 
 statutes which gave rise to the troubles in America, 
 the overtures made by his majesty's commissioners 
 from time to time, were not regarded by our late 
 rulers. To this fatal inattention are to be attributed 
 those calamities which have involved our country in
 
 388 
 
 a state of misery and ruin, from which, however, we 
 trust, it will soon emerge, by the wisdom and cle- 
 mency of his majesty's auspicious government, and 
 the influence of prudential laws, adapted to the na- 
 ture of the evils we labor under ; and that the peo- 
 ple will be restored to those privileges, in the enjoy- 
 ment whereof their former felicity consisted. 
 
 ANIMATED with these hopes, we entreat your ex- 
 cellencies interposition in assuring his majesty, that 
 we shall glory in every occasion of manifesting that 
 zeal and affection for his person and government, 
 with which gratitude can inspire a free and joyful 
 people. 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, June 5th, 1780. 
 
 [SIGNED by two hundred and ten of the principal 
 inhabitants.] ; tHtotiMKMPfr 
 
 NOTE XXIII. PAGE 222. 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, August 29. 
 
 COPY of a PROCLAMATION issued by General GATES 
 at PEEDEE, the fourth instant. 
 
 By HORATIO GATES, Esq. Major General and Com- 
 mander in Chief of the Army of the United States 
 in the Southern Department of America, &c. 8cc. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 THE patriotic exertions of the virtuous citizens of 
 
 America, having enabled me, under the protection
 
 ,: 389 
 
 of Divine Providence, to vindicate the rights of Ame- 
 rica in this state, and by the approach of a nume- 
 rous, well-appointed, and formidable army, to com- 
 pel our 'late triumphant and insulting foes to retreat 
 from their most advantageous posts, with precipita- 
 tion and dismay ; I have judged it most expedient) 
 at this period of my progress, to give assurances of 
 forgiveness and perfect security to such of the unfor- 
 tunate citizens of this state, as have been induced by 
 the terror of sanguinary punishments, the menace of 
 confiscation, and all the arbitrary measures of military 
 domination, apparently to acquiesce under the British 
 government, and to make a forced declaration of al- 
 legiance and support to a tyranny, ' which the indig- 
 nant souls of citizens resolved on freedom, inwardly 
 revolted at, with horror and detestation. 
 
 AND in order to afford an opportunity to the real 
 friends of America to testify their affection and at- 
 tachment to the cause of liberty, an invitation is 
 hereby held out to them to assert that rank among 
 the free and independent citizens of America? in 
 which their former exertions and zeal had deservedly 
 placed them, and to join heartily, when called upon, 
 in rescuing themselves and their country from an 
 opposition of a government imposed on them by the 
 ruffian hand of conquest. Nevertheless, I cannot at 
 present resolve to extend these offers of pardon and 
 security to such, as in the hour of devastation, have 
 
 VOL. II. 3 D
 
 390 
 
 exercised acts of barbarity and depredation on the 
 persons and property of their fellow-citirens ; nor to 
 such, as being apprized of the security afforded to 
 them by the army under my command, shall be so 
 lost to a sense of honor and the duty they owe to 
 their country, as hereafter to give countenance and 
 support to that enemy, who, but for the disaffection, 
 of many of the apostate sons of America, had long 
 ere this been driven from the continent. 
 
 THE inhabitants of this state may rely on the as* 
 surahce that an army composed of their brethren and 
 fellow-citizens cannot be brought among them with 
 the hostile vices of plunder and depredation. Such 
 triumphs, under the color of protection and support, 
 are left to grace the British arms alone : but they 
 may rest satisfied, that the genuine motive which has 
 given energy to the present exertions, Is the hope of 
 rescuing them from the iron rod of oppression, and 
 restoring to them those blessings of freedc-m and in- 
 dependence which it is the duty and interest of the 
 citizens of these United States, jointly and recipro- 
 cally, to support and confirm. 
 
 GIVEN at head-quarters, on thfr river Peedee, this 
 fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand seven hundred and eighty, and in the fifth 
 year of our independence. 
 
 HORATIO GATES. 
 
 By the General's command, 
 
 CHRIST. RICHMOND, Secretary.
 
 391 
 
 NOTE XXIV, PAGE 2^5. 
 To the right honorable CHARLES EARL 
 LIS, Lieutenant General of his Majesty's Forces, 
 &q. &c. 
 
 The humble ADDRESS of divers loyal Inhabitants of 
 CHARLESTOWN. 
 
 WE, his majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, in- 
 habitants of Charlestown, finding ourselves disap- 
 pointed in the expectation we entertained of your 
 lordship's returning shortly to this capital, whereby 
 we are precluded of personal access to your lordship, 
 take this opportunity, through the intervention of the 
 commandant, of tendering to your lordship our joy- 
 ful congratulations on the total defeat and dispersion 
 of the rebel army, by his majesty's forces under 
 your command. 
 
 WHEN we reflect on the desolation and ruin with 
 which this province was threatened by the unrelent- 
 ing cruelty of a formidable and menacing enemy, 
 we think ourselves fortunate that we had no idea of 
 our danger, until we were effectually relieved from 
 it by the glorious victory obtained by your lordship, 
 wherein the interposition of a protecting providence 
 is evident; which inspires us with gratitude to the 
 Supreme Ruler of the universe ; and at the same timp 
 excites in our minds a due sense of the manifold ob- 
 ligations we have to your lordship, for your #*
 
 392 
 
 tinguished conduct and courage, so eminently con . 
 spicuous in the accomplishment of that great event, 
 which has rescued this province from impending 
 destruction, and is no less advantageous to our most 
 gracious sovereign and the British empire, than ho- 
 norable to your lordship; and which fame will trans, 
 mit to the latest posterity, with that tribute of praise 
 and admiration your lordship has so justly merited 
 on this important occasion. 
 
 ALTHOUGH a prevailing faction subverted our ex- 
 cellent constitution, and established a democratic 
 kind of government in its stead, yet, as that arbitra- 
 ry system of rule was annihilated by the surrender of 
 this capital, and submission of the country, every 
 member of the community had an indubitable right 
 to consult his own happiness; and as the people 
 in general, induced by their predilection and venera- 
 tion for the old constitution, have made an expli- 
 cit declaration of their allegiance, and availed them- 
 selves of the protection of that government under 
 which they formerly enjoyed the highest degree of 
 civil and political liberty, as well as security in their 
 properties, we cannot but consider the late attempt 
 of Congress to subjugate the freemen of this province 
 to their tyrannical domination, an additional proof of 
 their restless ambition, and of the wicked machina- 
 tions of the contemptible remains of that expiring 
 faction, who have so recently exercised a despotic
 
 393 
 
 and lawless sway over us; and we trust that every 
 other hostile experiment, by the goodness of God, 
 and your lordship's vigilance and animated endeavors, 
 will be rendered equally futile. 
 
 THAT Heaven, propitious to your lordship's active 
 zeal in the service of your king and country, may 
 crown your future exertions with success, and incline 
 our deluded sister colonies to partake of those bles- 
 sings of which we have so fair a prospect, are the 
 sincere and ardent wishes, not only of us, but we are 
 persuaded of every other loyal inhabitant of Charles- 
 town. 
 
 September 19th, 1780. 
 
 [SIGNED by one hundred and sixty-four persons.] 
 
 NOTE XXV. PAGE 249. 
 
 Saturday, January 13th, 1781. 
 
 THE committee, to whom was referred the letter 
 of December seventh from Major General Greene, 
 delivered in a report ; whereupon, 
 
 CONGRESS taking into consideration the eminent 
 services rendered to the United States by Brigadier 
 General Sumpter, of South Carolina, at the head of 
 a number of volunteer militia, from that and the 
 neighboring states, particularly in the victory ob- 
 tained over the enemy at the Hanging-Rock, on the 
 sixth of August ; in the defeat of Major Weyms and 
 the corps of British infantry and dragoons under his
 
 command, at Broad-river, on the ninth day of No- 
 vember, in which the said Major Weyras was made 
 prisoner; and in the repulse of Lieutenant Colonel 
 Tarleton, and the British cavalry and infantry under 
 his command, at Black- Stocksj on Tyger-river, on 
 the twentieth day of November last ; in each of which 
 actions the gallantry and military conduct of General 
 Sumpter, and the courage and perseverance of his 
 troops, were highly conspicuous : 
 
 RESOLVED, therefore, that the thanks of Congress 
 be presented to Brigadier General Sumpter, and the 
 militia aforesaid, for such reiterated proofs of their 
 patriotism, bravery and military conduct, which en- 
 title them to the highest esteem and confidence of 
 their country; and that the commanding officer of 
 the southern department dp forthwith cause the same 
 to be issued in general orders, and transmitted to 
 General Sumpter. 
 
 NOTE XXVI. PAGE 258. 
 IN CoNCRtss, MARCH, 1781. 
 
 Friday, March 9th, 178U 
 
 ON the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 Burke, Mr. Varnum and Mr. Bee, to whom were 
 referred sundry letters from Major General Greene 
 and Brigadier General Morgan, the followig reso- 
 lutions were passed : 
 
 THE United States in Congress assembled, con-
 
 395 
 
 sidering it as a tribute due to distinguished merit to 
 give a public approbation of the conduct of Brigadier 
 General Morgan, and of the officers and men under 
 his command, on the seventeenth day of January last ; 
 when, with eighty cavalry and two hundred and thir- 
 ty-seven infantry of the troops of the United States, 
 and five hundred and fifty-three militia from the 
 states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina 
 and Georgia, he obtained a complete and important 
 victory over a select and well-appointed detachment 
 of more than eleven hundred British troops, com- 
 manded by Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton ; do there- 
 fore resolve : 
 
 THAT the thanks of the United States in Congress 
 assembled, be given to Brigadier General Morgan 
 and the men under his command, for their fortitude 
 and good conduct displayed in the action at the Cow- 
 pens, in the state of South-Carolina, on the seven- 
 teenth day of January last: 
 
 THAT a medal of gold be presented to Brigadier 
 General Morgan, and a medal of silver to Lieutenant 
 Colonel Washington, of the cavalry, and one of silver 
 to Lieutenant Colonel Howard, of the infantry, of the 
 United States, severally, with emblems and mottoes 
 descriptive of the conduct of those officers respectively 
 on that memorable day : 
 
 THAT a sword be presented to Colonel Pickens 
 of the militia, in testimony of his spirited conduct in 
 the actwn before mentioned :
 
 306 
 
 THAT Major Edward Giles, aid-de-camp of Briga- 
 dier General Morgan, have the brevet commission of 
 a major ; and that Baron de Glasbeck, who served 
 with Brigadier General Morgan as a volunteer, have 
 the brevet commission of captain in the army of the 
 United States, in consideration of their merit and ser- 
 vices. 
 
 ORDERED, that the commanding officer in the 
 southern department communicate these resolutions. 
 in general orders. 
 
 NOTE XXVII. PAGE 271. 
 
 By CHARLES EARL CORNWALMS, Lieutenant Ge- 
 neral of his Majesty's Forces, &c. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 
 WHZRSAS by the blessing of Almighty God, his 
 majesty's arms have been crowned with signal suc- 
 cess, by the complete victory obtained over the rebel 
 forces on the fifth instant, I have thought proper to 
 issue this proclamation, to call upon all loyal subjects 
 to stand forth, and take an active part in restoring 
 good order and government: and, whereas it has 
 been represented to me^ that many persons in this 
 province, who have taken a share in this unnatural 
 rebellion, but having experienced the oppression and 
 injustice of the rebel government, and having seen 
 the errors into which they have been deluded by 
 falsehoods and misrepresentations, are sincerely de-, 
 sirous of returning to their duty and allegiance, I do^
 
 397 
 
 hereby notify and promise to all such persons (mur- 
 derers excepted) that if they will surrender them- 
 pelves, with their arms and ammunition, at head- 
 quarters, or to the officer commanding in the district 
 contiguous to their respective places of residence, on 
 or before the twentieth day of April next, they will 
 be permitted to return to their homes, upon giving a 
 military parole ; and shall be protected in their per- 
 sons and properties from all sorts of violence from 
 the British troops; and will be restored, as soon as 
 possible, to all the privileges of legal and constitu- 
 tional government. 
 
 GIVKN under my hand at head-quarters, this 
 eighteenth day of March, A. D. 1781, and in the 
 twenty-first year of his majesty's reign. 
 
 (Signed) CORNWALLIS. 
 
 NOTE XXVIII. PAGE 277. 
 LETTER FROM DR. FAYSSOUX TO DR. RAMSAT. 
 CHARLESTOWJJ, March 26th, 1785. 
 SIR, 
 
 IN compliance with your request, I now send you 
 some of the most remarkable facts relative to the 
 treatment the American prisoners, the sick in parti- 
 cular, received, during their captivity in Charlestown, 
 from the British. The director general having been, 
 confined by the British, the immediate charge of the 
 American hospital devolved on me, I can therefore 
 
 VOL. II* 3 E
 
 399 
 
 answer for the truth of this account, as every circum- 
 stance was within my own knowledge. From the 
 surrender of Charlestown to the period of General 
 Gates' defeat, I do not think we had any material 
 cause of complaint. 
 
 Tnt regulations f6r the government of the hospi- 
 tal, the supplies of medicine and diet, were in gene- 
 ral prescribed by ourselves and acceded to by the 
 British. 
 
 AFTER the defeat of General Gates, our suffer- 
 ings commenced. The British appeared to have 
 adopted a different mode of conduct towards their 
 prisoners, and proceeded from one step to another, 
 until they fully displayed themselves, void of faith, 
 honor or humanity, and capable of the most savage 
 acts of barbarity. 
 
 THE unhappy men who belonged to the militia, 
 and were taken prisoners on Gates' defeat, experien- 
 ced the first effects of the cruelty of their new system. 
 
 THESE men were confined on board of prison-ships, 
 in numbers by no means proportioned to the size of 
 the vessels, immediately after a march of one hun- 
 dred and twenty miles, in the most sickly season of 
 this unhealthy climate. 
 
 THESE vessels were in general infected with the 
 small-pox i very few of the prisoners had gone through 
 that disorder. A representation was made to the 
 British commandant of their situation, and permis-
 
 399 
 
 sion was obtained for one of our surgeons to inocu- 
 late them. ..this was the utmost extent of their hu- 
 manity.t.the wretched objects were still confined on 
 board of the prison-ships, and fed on salt provisions) 
 without the least medical aid, or any proper kind of 
 nourishment. The effect that naturally followed) was 
 a small -pox with a fever of the putrid type ; and to 
 such as survived the small-pox, a putrid dysentery... 
 and, from these causes, the deaths of at least one 
 hundred and fifty of the unhappy victims. Such were 
 the appearances, and such was the termination of the 
 generality of the cases brought to the general hospi- 
 tal after the irruption of the small-pox.. .before the 
 irruption, not a single individual was suffered to be 
 brought on shore. If any thing can surpass the above 
 relation in barbarity, it is the following account : 
 
 THE continental troops, by the articles of capitula- 
 tion, were to be detained prisoners in some place 
 contiguous to Charlestown ; the barracks were pitch- 
 ed on as the proper place ; this was agreed to by 
 Jboth parties....Thc British, in violation of their so- 
 lemn compact, put these people on board of prison- 
 ships....Confined in large numbers pn board of these 
 vessels, and fed on salt provisions in this climate in 
 the jnonths of October and November, they natural- 
 ly generated a putrid fever from the human miasma- 
 This soon became highly contagious. The sick 
 brought into the general hospital from the prison-
 
 400 
 
 ships, generally died in the course of two or three 
 days, with all the marks of a septic state. Applica- 
 tion was made by Mr. de Rosettee, th British 
 commibsary of prisoners ; the vast increase of the 
 numbers of deaths was pointed out, and he was re- 
 quested to have proper steps taken to check the pro- 
 gress of a disorder that threatened to destroy the 
 whole of the prisoners. 
 
 IN consequence of this application, Mr. Fisher, 
 our commissary of prisoners, and Mr. Fraser, who 
 formerly practised physic in this country, but then 
 acted as a British deputy commissary, were ordered 
 to inspect the state of the prisoners in the vessels. 
 This report confirmed the truth of what had been ad- 
 vanced... this can be proved by a very particular cir- 
 cumstance....My hopes were very sanguine that some- 
 thing would be done for the relief of those unhappy 
 persons, but they were entirely frustrated by a per- 
 son from whom I did not, and ought not to have ex- 
 pected it. Dr. John M-Namara Hays, physician to 
 the British army, a person who had been taken by 
 the Americans on the capture of Burgoyne, who had 
 received the politest treatment from the Americans 
 when a prisoner, and who had the generosity to ac- 
 knowledge the usage he had met with...this person 
 was ordered to report on the state of the prisoners... 
 to my astonishment, I was informed his report was, 
 that the prison-ships were not crouded, perfectly
 
 wholesome, and no appearance of infectious disor- 
 ders amongst the prisoners. 
 
 I THEN determined to make one more effort for 
 the relief of these unhappy persons...for this purpose 
 I had two of the dead bodies kept in the area of the 
 hospital, and, upon Doctor Hays' daily visit to our 
 hospital, I marked to him the appearances of the sub- 
 jects, whose bodies were highly tinged with a yellow 
 suffusion, petechied over the breast and trunk, with 
 considerable ecchymosis from extravasated or dis- 
 solved blood about the neck, breast and upper extre- 
 mities. I inquired if it was possible a doubt could re- 
 main respecting the nature of their disorder, and ex- 
 pressed my surprise at the report he had made. The 
 words of his reply were, ' that the confinement of the 
 ' prisoners in prison-ships was the great eye- sore, 
 1 and there was no help for that, it must be done.' 
 The disorder in consequence continued until the 
 cold weather ; the number of deaths, joined with the 
 number that were compelled by this treatment to in- 
 list with the British, removed in a great measure the 
 cause. Hitherto a number of our prisoners who were 
 tradesmen had been permitted to remain in the bar- 
 racks, or in the city, where they were employed by 
 the Britishabout the month of January, 1781, they 
 were all confined to the barracks, and there British 
 emissaries were very busy amongst them, to persuade 
 them to inlist in their new corps. About the same
 
 403 
 
 time a strpply of clothing, and some money to pro- 
 cure necessaries, arrived from the Congress for the 
 use of the prisoners. 
 
 MR. Fisher, our commissary, was prevented from 
 distributing the clothing, and the prisoners were in- 
 formed it was a deception, for no supplies had arrived 
 for thtir use. Their motive \vas, that by the com- 
 plicated distress of nakedness and imprisonment, 
 tn eir patience would be exhausted, and inlistment 
 with them would ensue. 
 
 To prevent this, means were found to have se- 
 veral bales of the clothing brought to the picquets 
 which inclosed the barracks, and in sight of our sol- 
 diers ; this measure established the fact. 
 
 DISAPPOINT fcD from this quarter, the British 
 commandant or his ministers determined to observe 
 no measures but what would accomplish their own 
 purposes. All the soldiers in the barracks, includ- 
 ing the convalescents, were paraded, and harangued 
 by Fraser, the British deputy commissary, and one 
 Low, a recruiting officer for one of the British corps. 
 The conclusion of the affair was, that such as chose 
 to inlist with the British should leave the ranks, and 
 the remainder go on board of the prison-ships. A 
 few who had been previously engaged withdrew from 
 the ranks ; the large majority that stood firm, after 
 three different solicitations without effect, had this 
 dreadftil sentence pronounced (by Fraser, that they
 
 403 
 
 ' should be put on board of the prison-ships, where 
 ' they could not expect any thing more but. to perish 
 * miserably ; and that the rations hitherto allowed 
 * for the support of their wives and children, from 
 4 that day should be withheld ; the consequence of 
 1 which would be, they must starve in the streets.* 
 
 HUMAN nature recoiled from so horrid a declara- 
 tion. ..for a few seconds the unhappy victims seemed 
 stupified at the dreadful prospect ; a gloomy and uni- 
 versal silence prevailed. ...This was followed by a loud 
 huzza for General Washington ; death and the pri- 
 son-ships was the unanimous determination. 
 
 THE hospital at this time was reduced to the great- 
 est distress imaginable.. .the sick without clothing, 
 covering, or any necessary but one pound of beef and 
 bread.. .very little sugar, no wine, and rarely a small 
 allowance of rum. 
 
 WE had no resources, and the British would only 
 furnish the absolute necessaries of life. The officers 
 of the hospital, on the mildest representation, were 
 threatened and insulted, frequently prohibited from 
 risking the sick, once I remember for three days. 
 
 IT was scarcely possible for men to support such an 
 accumulated load of misery ; but when least expect- 
 ed, a relief was administered to us. A subscription 
 for the support of the sick was filled by people of 
 every denomination with amazing rapidity. Several 
 of the ladies of Charlestown, laying aside the distinc-
 
 401 
 
 tion of Whig and Tory, were instrumental and assi- 
 duous in procuring and preparing every necessary of 
 clothing and proper nourishment for our poor, worn- 
 out and desponding soldiers. 
 
 THUS, sir, I have furnished you with some of the 
 most material occurrences of that unhappy time. I 
 have not exaggerated or written a single circumstance 
 from hatred or prejudice. I could furnish you with 
 a long detail of cruelty and distress exercised on in- 
 dividuals.... Major Bocquet's case, exposed in an open 
 boat for twelve hours in a violent fever, with a blister- 
 ing plaster on his back, extended at length in the bot- 
 tom of the boat, then put into the dungeon of the pro- 
 vost with the vilest felons and murderers, 1 left to lan- 
 guish under his complaint until his death seemed 
 morally certain, only released from his confinement 
 from the dread of a just retaliation. ..the moment his 
 recovery seemed probable, again hurried back to the 
 provost, there to remain until the general exchange 
 released him from their power. 
 
 THIS instance of severity exercised on an indivi- 
 dual, whose only crime was a steady attachment to 
 the cause of his country, and a determined resolu- 
 tion to keep sacred the solemn oath he had taken in 
 its cause, would appear as nothing, were I to enu- 
 merate the scenes of woe and distress brought on 
 many citizens of this once happy country, by British 
 cruelty and unnecessary severity. I am sure every
 
 405 
 
 breast would be softened, even tears would fall from 
 British eyes. 
 
 I am, sir, with esteem ; yours, Sec. 
 
 P. FAYSSOUX. 
 
 NOTE XXIX. PAGE 296. 
 BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, 
 
 October 29th, 1781. 
 
 RESOLVED, that the thanks of the United States in 
 Congress assembled, be presented to Major General 
 Greene, for his wise, decisive and magnanimous 
 conduct in the action of the eighth of September last, 
 near the Eutaw Springs, in South Carolina ; in which, 
 with a force inferior in number to that of the enemy, 
 he obtained a most signal victory. 
 
 THAT the thanks of the United States in Congress 
 assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the 
 Maryland and Virginia brigades, and Delaware bat- 
 talion of continental troops, for the unparalleled bra- 
 very and heroism by them displayed, in advancing to 
 the enemy through an incessant fire, and charging 
 them with an impetuosity and ardor that could not 
 be resisted. 
 
 THAT the thanks of the United States in Congress 
 assembled, be presented to the officers and men of 
 the legionary corps and artillery, for their intrepid 
 and gallant exertions during the action. 
 
 THAT the thanks of the United States in Congress 
 vol.. XL 3 F
 
 406 
 
 assembled, be presented to the brigade of North Ca- 
 rolina, for their resolution and perseverance in attack- 
 ing the enemy, and sustaining a superior fire. 
 
 THAT the thanks of the United States in Congress 
 assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the 
 state corps of South Carolina, for the zeal, activity 
 and firmness by them exhibited throughout the en- 
 gagement. 
 
 THAT the thanks of the United in Congress assem- 
 bled, be presented to the officers and men of the mi- 
 litia, who formed the front line in the order of battle, 
 and sustained their post with honor, propriety, and a 
 resolution worthy of men determined to be free. 
 
 RESOLVED, that a British standard be presented to 
 Major General Greene, as an honorable testimony of 
 his merit, and a golden medal emblematical of the 
 battle and victory aforesaid. 
 
 THAT Major General Greene be desired to present 
 the thanks of Congress to Captains Pierce and Pen- 
 dleton, Major Hyrne and Captain Shubrick, his aids- 
 de-camp, in testimony of their particular activity and 
 good conduct during the whole of the action. 
 
 THAT a sword be presented to Captain Pierce, who 
 bore the general's dispatches, giving an account of 
 the victory, and that the board of war take order 
 herein. 
 
 RESOLVED, that the thanks of the United States in 
 Congress assembled, be presented to Brigadier Ge-
 
 4or 
 
 neral Marion, of the South Carolina militia, for his 
 wise, gallant and decided conduct, in defending the 
 liberties of his country, and particularly for his pru- 
 dent and intrepid attack on a body of the British 
 troops, on the thirtieth day of August last, and for 
 the distinguished part he took in the battle of the 
 eighth of September. 
 
 Extract from the minutes, 
 
 CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary. 
 
 NOTE XXX. PAGE 303. 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 By his Excellency JOHN RUTLEDGE, Esq. Governor 
 and Commander in Chief of the said State. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 
 WHEREAS many persons taking advantage of the 
 late disturbed and unsettled condition of the state, 
 and hoping in the confusion and disorder occasioned 
 by the calamities of war to escape punishment, have 
 committed the most wanton and rapacious acts of 
 plundering ; some under color of indemnifying them- 
 selves for losses they have sustained ; others, under 
 pretence that the persons to whom such property be- 
 longed are Tories or enemies of the state; and others, 
 from a wicked and inordinate desire of acquiring 
 vrealth by any means, however unjustifiable, and 
 from any persons, whether friends or foes : and 
 whereas the public safety requires that the most ef*
 
 408 
 
 fcctual measures should be taken for suppressing 
 such an unwarrantable and pernicious practice, inas- 
 much as good and faithful subjects should be secured 
 and protected in the full and free enjoyment of their 
 property, and no man, although criminal, should be 
 despoiled of his estate but by due course of law : I 
 have therefore thought fit to issue this proclamation, 
 strictly forbidding all persons from plundering, tak- 
 ing, or holding the property of others under any 
 pretence, or for any cause whatever; warning per- 
 sons possessed of such property, of the danger which 
 they will incur by continuing to withhold it, and 
 charging them immediately to restore such property 
 to the owners of it, unless such owners are with the 
 enemy ; and in that case, to deliver it to the briga- 
 dier general of the district in which it is, as they 
 will answer the contrary at their peril ; for speedy 
 and effectual punishment shall be inflicted on the of- 
 fenders : and I do direct all justices of the peace di- 
 ligently and faithfully to execute their office, and to 
 use all lawful means that may be necessary for ap- 
 prehending, securing, and bringing to justice such 
 persons as are or may be accused of the above-men- 
 tioned, or any other criminal offence. I do more- 
 over command all military officers of this state to 
 give such aid and assistance to the civil magistrates, 
 as they may require for that purpose: and I do ex- 
 hort all those who know, or have reason to believe,
 
 409 
 
 where any plundered property is concealed or se- 
 creted, or by whom it is possessed, to make discovery 
 and give information touching the same to the near- 
 est magistrate, in order that proper steps may be 
 taken for the recovery thereof. 
 
 GIVEN under my hand and the Great Seal, at the 
 High Hills of Santee, this fifth day of August, 1781 } 
 and in the sixth year of the independence of America. 
 
 JOHN RUTLEDGE. 
 By his Excellency's command, 
 
 JOHN SANDFORD DART, Pro. Secretary. 
 
 / 
 NOTE XXXI. PAGE 303. 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 By his Excellency JOHN RUTLEDGE, Esq. Governor 
 and Commander in Chief of the said State. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 
 WHEREAS the forces of the United States having 
 compelled the troops of his Britannic majesty to 
 surrender or evacuate the several strong posts which 
 they held in the upper and interior settlements, and 
 retreat to the vicinity of Chaiiestown ; and the enemy, 
 being therefore unable to give that protection and 
 support which they promised to their adherents, left 
 many inhabitants of this state, who had taken up 
 arms with them, induced so to do by their artful re- 
 presentations, to become victims to their injured 
 country; whereupon, such persons, to escape or avoid
 
 410 
 
 the effects of its just resentment, followed and remain 
 with the British army, or lurk and conceal themselves 
 in secret places: and whereas the commandant of 
 Charlestown having sent beyond sea the wives and 
 families, which were in the said town, of all the 
 avowed friends of America; the several brigadiers 
 of militia were ordered, as a retaliation of such treat- 
 ment, ^o send the wives and families, within their 
 respective districts, of all persons who had joined or 
 adhered to, and remained with the enemy, into their 
 lines : and whereas it is represented to me, in behalf 
 of the unhappy men who are with the British troops 
 or secreting themselves as aforesaid, that they are 
 now convinced, being reduced with their families to 
 great distress and poverty, that they relied on false 
 and specious engagements, and were flattered with 
 vain expectations and delusive hopes, and that they 
 are therefore anxious, if they may be admitted, to 
 return to their allegiance, and use their utmost ex- 
 ertions to support American independence. On 
 duly weighing and considering the premises, I have 
 thought fit, by and with the advice and consent of 
 the privy council, to issue this proclamation, offer- 
 ing, and I do hereby offer, to all persons who have 
 borne arms with the enemy, and who now adhere 
 to or arc with them in this state, or are lurking or 
 concealing themselves in secret places in any par t 
 of the state, a FULL and FREE PARDON and
 
 OBLIVION, for such their offence of having borne 
 arms with, or adhered to the enemy, upon the con- 
 ditions following: that is to say, that such persons 
 do, and shall, within thirty days after the date here- 
 of, surrender themselves to a brigadier of the militia 
 of this state, and engage to perform constant duty as 
 privates, in the militia, for six months next ensuing 
 the time of such surrender, and that they actually per- 
 form such duty. And I do further offer to the wives 
 and children of such persons, upon their husbands 
 or parents complying with the condition first above- 
 mentioned, license and permission to return to their 
 habitations, and to hold and enjoy their property in 
 this state without molestation or interruption. Pro- 
 vided always, that if such persons shall desert from 
 the militia service within the time above limited, their 
 families shall be immediately sent into the enemy's 
 lines, and neither they or their husbands or parents, 
 suffered to return to, or reside in this state. Never- 
 theless, I do except, from the pardon hereby offered, 
 and from every benefit of this proclamation, all such 
 persons, as having gone over to, or joined the ene- 
 my, were called upon by me in and by two several 
 proclamations, to surrender themselves to a magistrate 
 within forty days after the respective dates of those 
 proclamations, in pursuance of an ordinance, entitled, 
 * An ordinance to prevent persons withdrawing from 
 the defence of this state, to join the enemies there-
 
 412 
 
 ' of:' all such as were sent off or obliged to quit the 
 state for refusing to take the oath required of them 
 by law, who have returned to this country ; all those 
 who subscribed a congratulatory address, bearing 
 date on or about the fifth day of June, one thou- 
 sand seven hundred and eighty, to General Sir 
 Henry Clinton, and Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, or 
 another address, bearing date on or about the nine- 
 teenth day of September, one thousand seven hun- 
 dred and eighty, to Lieutenant General Earl Corn- 
 wallis; all such as hold or have held any commis- 
 sion, civil or military, under the British government, 
 and are now with the enemy; and all those whose 
 conduct has been so infamous, as that they can- 
 not, consistently with justice or policy, be admitted 
 to partake of the privileges of Americans. Notwith- 
 standing which last mentioned exception, such per- 
 sons, if they should be deemed by me, or the gover- 
 nor and commander in chief for the time being, inad- 
 missable to the rights and privileges of subjects, will 
 not be detained as prisoners, but shall have full and 
 free liberty, and a pass or permit to return. At a 
 juncture, when the force of the enemy in this state, 
 though lately considerable, is greatly reduced by the 
 many defeats which they have suffered, and particu- 
 larly in the late important action at Eutaw; when 
 they are dispossessed of every post and garrison ex- 
 cept Charlestown; when the formidable fleet of his
 
 413 
 
 most Christian majesty, in Chesapeak-bay, and the 
 combined armies of the king of France and of the 
 United States, under the command of his Excellency 
 
 General Washington, in Virginia, afford a well- 
 grounded hope, that, by the joint efforts of their ar- 
 mies, this campaign will be happily terminated, and 
 the British power in every part of the confederate 
 states, soon totally annihilated ; it is conceived, that 
 the true and real motive of the offer hereby made, 
 will be acknowledged. It must be allowed to pro- 
 ceed, not from timidity, to which the enemy affect 
 to attribute every act of clemency and mercy on our 
 part, but from a wish to impress, with a sense of their 
 error, and to reclaim misguided subjects, and give 
 them once more an opportunity of becoming valuable 
 members of the community, instead of banishing 
 them, or forever cutting them off from it ; for even 
 the most disaffected cannot suppose that the brave 
 and determined freemen of this state have any dread 
 of their arms. 
 
 WITH the persons to whom pardon is thus offered, 
 the choice still remains, either to return to their alle- 
 giance, and, with their families, be restored to the 
 favor of their country, and to their possessions, or 
 to abandon their properties in this state forever, and 
 go with their wives and children, whither, for what 
 purpose, on whom to depend, or how to subsist, they 
 
 know noU.most probably to experience^ in some 
 VOL. ii. 3 G
 
 414 
 
 strange and distant country, all the miseries and hor- 
 rors of beggary, sickness and despair....This alterna- 
 tive is now, for the last time, submitted to their judg- 
 ment.. .it will never be renewed. 
 
 GIVEN under my hand and the Great Seal, at the 
 High Hills of Santee, this twenty-seventh day of Sep- 
 tember, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven 
 hundred and eighty-one, and in the sixth year of the 
 independence of America. 
 
 J. RUTLEDGE. 
 
 By his Excellency's command, 
 JOHN SANHFORD DART, Sec'ry. 
 
 NOTE XXXII. PAGE 320. 
 CAMP, SOUTHERN ARMY, HIGH HILLS OF SANTEE, 
 
 August 20th, 1781. 
 
 THE subscribers commissioned officers serving in 
 the southern army, beg leave to represent to the 
 honorable Major General Greene, that they are in- 
 formed, not only by current reports, but by official 
 and acknowledged authority, that contrary to express 
 stipulations in the capitulation of Charlestown, signed 
 the twelfth day of May, 1780, a number of very re- 
 spectable inhabitants of that town and others were 
 confined on board prison-ships, and sent to St. Au- 
 gustine, and other places distant from their homes, 
 families and frie'nds. That notwithstanding the ge- 
 neral cartel settled for exchange of prisoners in the
 
 415 
 
 southern department, and agreed to the third of May 
 last, several officers of militia and other gentlemen, 
 subjects of the United States, have been, and still 
 are detained in captivity ; that the commanding of- 
 ficer of the British troops in Charlestown, regardless 
 of the principles, and even the express tenor of the 
 said cartel, hath not only presumed to discriminate 
 between the subjects of the United States prisoners 
 of war, partially determining who were and who 
 were not objects of exchange, but hath even dared 
 to execute in the most ignominious manner, Colonel 
 Hayne, of the militia of the state of South Carolinai 
 a gentleman amiable in character, respectable in his 
 connections, and of eminent abilities: and this violent 
 act, as cruel as it was unnecessary and unjust, we 
 are informed, is attempted to be justified by the im- 
 puted crime of treason, founded upon the unfortunate 
 sufferer's having, in circumstances peculiarly dis- 
 tressing, accepted of what is called a protection from 
 the British government. 
 
 IF every inhabitant of this country, who, being 
 bound by the tender ties of family-connections, and 
 fettered by domestic embarrassments, is forced to 
 submit to the misfortune of falling into the hands of 
 the enemy, must therefore become a subject of such 
 inhuman authority, and if such subjects are liable to 
 be tried by martial law for offences against the said 
 civil government of the British nation, their situation is 
 truly deplorable j but we conceive forms of protection
 
 416 
 
 which are granted one day, and retracted, violated, 
 disclaimed or deserted the next, can enjoin no such 
 condition or obligation upon persons who accept 
 them. We consider the citizens of America as 
 independent of the government of Great Britain as 
 those of Great Britain are of the United States, or of 
 any other sovereign power, and think it just the 
 severities and indulgences to prisoners of war ought 
 to be reciprocal. We, therefore, with submission, beg 
 leave to recommend, that a strict inquiry be made 
 into the several matttrs mentioned, and if ascertained, 
 that you will be pleased to retaliate in the most 
 effectual manner by a similar treatment of British 
 subjects which are or may be in your power. 
 
 PERMIT us to add, that while we seriously lament 
 the necessity of such a severe expedient, and com- 
 miserate the sufferings to which individuals will 
 necessarily be exposed, we are not unmindful that 
 such a measure may in its consequences, involve our 
 own lives in additional dangers ; but we had rather 
 forego temporary distinctions, and commit ourselves 
 to the most desperate situations than prosecute this 
 just and necessary war upon terms so unequal and 
 so dishonorable. 
 
 We are, sir, with the greatest regard, 
 
 and most respectful sentiments of esteem, 
 your most obedient and most humble servants. 
 
 [Signed by all the officers of the army.] 
 The Honorable Major General
 
 417 
 
 NOTE XXXIII. PAGE 320. 
 
 PROCLAMATION. 
 
 By NATHANIEL GREENE, Esq. Major General, com- 
 manding the American Army in the Southern 
 Department. 
 
 WHEREAS Colonel Isaac Hayne, commanding a 
 regiment of militia in the service of the United States, 
 was taken prisoner by a party of British troops, and 
 after a rigorous detention in the Provost's prison at 
 Charlestown, was condemned and executed on the 
 fourth of this month, in the most cruel and unjustifi- 
 able manner, in open violation of the cartel agreed 
 upon between the two armies, for the release and 
 exchange of all prisoners of war; and it being no 
 less the duty than the inclination of the army to re- 
 sent every violence offered to the good citizens of 
 America, to discountenance all those distinctions 
 which they have endeavored to establish, in making 
 a difference in various orders of men, fonnd under 
 arms for the support of the independence of the 
 United States ; and further considering that these vir 
 olences are committed with a view of terrifying the 
 good people, and by that means preventing them 
 from acting in conformity with their political interests 
 and private inclinations ; and that this method of trying 
 and punishing, in consequence of those distinctions, is 
 no less opposite to the spirit of the British, than it is 
 inclusive of an unwarrantable infringement of all the
 
 418 
 
 laws of humanity, and the rights of the free citizens 
 of the United States ; from these considerations I 
 have thought proper to issue the present proclama- 
 tion, expressly to declare, ' that it is my intention 
 * to make reprisals for all such inhuman insults, as 
 often as they shall take place.' And whereas the 
 enemy seems willing to expose the small number of 
 the deceived and seduced inhabitants, who are attach- 
 ed to their interests, if they can but find an opportu- 
 nity of sacrificing the great number that have stood 
 forth in defence of our cause ; I farther declare, ' that 
 ' it is my intention to take the officers of the regular 
 ' forces, and not the seduced inhabitants who have 
 ' joined their army, for the objects of my reprisals.'... 
 But while I am determined to resent every insult that 
 may be offered to the United States for having main- 
 tained our independence, I cannot but lament the ne- 
 cessity I am under of having recourse to measures so 
 extremely wounding to the sentiments of humanity, 
 and so contrary to the liberal principles upon which 
 I wish to conduct the war. 
 
 GIVEN at the head-quarters at Camden, twenty- 
 sixth of August, 1781, in the sixth year of American 
 independence. 
 
 (Signed) NATHANIEL GREENE.' 
 

 
 v' 
 
 419 
 
 NOTE XXXIV. PAGE 341. 
 
 ARTICLES of TREATY between General MARION, in 
 behalf of the State of South Carolina, and Major 
 GANEY, and the inhabitants under his command, 
 which were included in the Treaty made the seven- 
 teenth day of June, 1781. 
 
 ARTICLE I. Major Ganey and the men under his 
 command to lay down their arms, as enemies to the 
 state, and are not to resume them again until ordered 
 to do so, in support of the interest of the United 
 States, and of this state in particular. 
 
 II. WE will deliver up all negroes, horses, cattle, 
 and other property that have been taken from this or 
 any other state. 
 
 III. WE will demean ourselves as peaceable citi- 
 zens of this state, and submit ourselves to be go- 
 verned by its laws, in the same manner as the rest of 
 the citizens thereof. 
 
 IV. WE do engage to apprehend and deliver up all 
 persons within our district, who shall refuse to accede 
 to these terms, and contumaciously persist in rebel- 
 lion against this state. 
 
 V. WE will deliver up as soon as possible, every 
 man who belongs to any regular line in the Ameri- 
 can service, and every inhabitant of North Carolina, 
 of this, or any other state, who have joined us since 
 the seventeenth of June, 1781, when the former treaty 
 was made, or oblige them to go out of the district,
 
 420 
 
 and whenever they return, to take and deliver them 
 into safe custody in any gaol within the state. 
 
 VI. EVERY man is to sign an instrument of writ- 
 ing professing his allegiance to the United States of 
 America, and the state of South Carolina in particu- 
 lar ; and to abjure his Britannic majesty, his heirs, 
 successors and adherents, and promise to oppose all 
 the enemies of the United States, and the state of 
 South Carolina in particular. 
 
 VII. ALL arms, ammunition, and other warlike 
 stores, the property of the British, to be delivered up. 
 
 VIII. THE above seven articles being agreed on, 
 they shall have a full pardon for treasons committed 
 by them against the state, and enjoy their property, 
 and be protected by the laws thereof. 
 
 IX. SUCH men who do not choose to accede to these 
 articles, shall have leave to go within the British 
 lines, and to march by the twenty-fifth instant, and 
 be safely conducted with such of their wives and 
 children as may be able to travel, and carry or sell 
 their property, except cattle, sheep and hogs, which 
 they may dispose of^ but not carry with them. Such 
 women and children who cannot be removed, may 
 remain until the first day of September next. The 
 officers to keep their pistols and side-arms ; all other 
 arms to be disposed of, and not carried with them. 
 Each field-officer and captain to retain one horse, not 
 exceeding twelve in the whole, and no other person
 
 421 
 
 to take with him any more horses that may be fit for 
 dragoon service within the British lines. 
 
 WE have agreed to the before-mentioned nin^e ar- 
 ticles, and have signed the same at Birch's-mill, on 
 Peedee, this eighth day of June, 1782. 
 
 FRANCIS MARIOK, 
 
 Brigadier General, 
 State of South Carolina. 
 MICAJAH GANEY, 
 Major Loyalists, Peedee. 
 
 NOTE XXXV. PAGE 341. 
 
 HEAD-QUARTERS, August 13th. 
 SIB, 
 
 THE measure which I lately adopted, of send- 
 ing a force to collect provisions on the Lower Santee, 
 for the use of this garrison, was a necessary conse- 
 quence of the conduct your party had thought pro- 
 per to observe, in the prohibitions which prevented 
 our receiving supplies of the kind from the country. 
 FROM the respect which I owe to the sentiments 
 which appear to govern the present conduct of Great 
 Britain towards America, I should have given a will- 
 ing preference to any means less distressful to the 
 country, by which this necessary purpose might have 
 been obtained ; I am equally desirous to forbear the 
 further prosecution of these measures ; and am rea- 
 dy to enter with you into any composition to that ef- 
 
 YOL. II* 3 H
 
 422 
 
 feet, which may, I think, be established on terms to 
 the mutual advantage of both parties, affording to us 
 a supply to our future necessities, and to you securi- 
 ty from further depredation, and a voluntary com- 
 pensation for what the force of arms has already given 
 us in possession. The success which has attended 
 this enterprize must convince you, that principles of 
 benevolence and humanity are the true motives of a 
 conduct, the moderation of which must appear strik- 
 ing to you. 
 
 I HOPE these considerations will induce you to ac- 
 cept a proposal so evidently advantageous to the in- 
 terests of your own party ; and that you will in con- 
 sequence order rice and other provisions to be sent 
 into town, in quantities proportioned to our demand, 
 which will be considerable, from the necessity of sup- 
 plying the king's subjects wh may think proper to 
 remove from hence to the province of East-Florida. 
 
 IF, notwithstanding these offers, you think proper 
 to adhere to your former line of conduct, the neces- 
 sity which constrains will justify the measures which 
 I shall be forced to take. 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 ALEX, LBSLII. 
 
 To Major General GREENE. 
 
 THK END.
 
 423 
 
 [As the author of the Memoirs has not arranged bis 
 work under any particular divisionary beads or chap- 
 ters, but has pursued bis work through one unbroken 
 narrative, the publisher, to facilitate tbe turning to any 
 particular passage rf conscqu, nee tbe reader may occa- 
 sionally wish to peruse, has annexed tbe following table 
 of contents, referring to tbe pages, and pointing out inhere 
 tbe relations of tbe most prominent events may be exa- 
 mined,'] 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 FACE 
 
 BOSTON resolutions for a general non-im- 
 portation received at Charlestown Pro- 
 ceedings thereupon A provincial Con- 
 gress appointed in South Carolina Jour- 
 nal of their proceedings Bill of rights 
 Association of the delegates of the 
 twelve provinces Their resolutions 
 Address of the South Carolina Provin- 
 cial Congress to Governor Bull His 
 
 answer Resolutions thereupon Con- 
 
 9 5i 
 gress adjourns, 
 
 Meeting of the Provincial Congress 
 Bishop Smith's discourse on the occa- 
 sion Formation of the militia uniform 
 Lompanies Scarcity of arms and am- 
 munition The committee take posses*
 
 sion of the public mail from England WAGE 
 The Provincial Congress summoned to 
 meet Their resolution to raise a regi- 
 ment of cavalry rangers Arrival of 
 Lord William Campbell His conversa- 
 tion with Captain M'Donald Charac- 
 ter of the latter His visit to St. Augus- 
 tine His narrow escape Lord Wil- 
 liam Campbell goes on board the Tamar 
 sloop-of-war Meeting of the Council 
 of Safety William Moultric, Esq. ap- 
 pointed Colonel of the 2d regiment 
 of provincial troops Meeting of the 
 Georgia Congress The provincials take 
 1 7000 Ibs. powder from a vessel off St. 
 Augustine Recruiting parties sent into 
 Virginia and North Carolina, 56 80 
 
 The Council of Safety send a talk to the 
 Catawba Indians Dorchester made an 
 armed post Fort Johnson taken posses- 
 sion of Public stores, records, &c. 
 sent to Dorchester Presents sent to 
 the Cherokees to prevent an Indian 
 war Taken by the Tories Hostilities 
 began by sinking two British schooners 
 near Hogg-Island Charlestown blocked 
 up by British ships of war All supplies 
 from the city denied them The Ame-
 
 ricans take possession of Sulli van VIsland PAGE 
 Colonel Gadsden takes command of 
 the Carolina troops Institution of the 
 South Cantlina General Assembly. 
 Their constitution Mr. Rutledge's ad- 
 dress. General Armstrong takes com- 
 mand of the South Carolina troops A 
 British fleet arrives off the coast of South 
 CarolinaGeneral Lee arrives from the 
 northward, 80 144 
 
 General Lee's orders to attack the British 
 on Long-Island 'Countermanded Or- 
 ders to detach a body of troops to the 
 main General Lee's particular orders 
 to Colonel Moultrie, relative to mili- 
 tary discipline Letters to Colonel 
 Moultrie on the projected bridge be- 
 tween Sullivan's-Island and the main, 
 and other occupations in that quarter 
 Letter from President Rutledge From 
 General Lee Returning thanks for the 
 brave defence of Sullivan's-Island Let- 
 ters to and from General Lee, General 
 Gadsden, and Colonel Moultrie, rela- 
 tive to the military transactions on Sul- 
 livan's-Island Account of the British 
 naval attack on the fort at Sullivan's- 
 Island Sergeant Jasper presented with
 
 426 
 
 a sword The declaration of indepen- PAGE 
 dence received at Charlestown The 
 siege of St. Augustine projected An 
 expedition against the Cherokee In- 
 dians, 144184 
 The Cherokee Indians sue for peace Con- 
 ditionally granted General Lee's expe- 
 dition against St. Augustine Set aside 
 by his recal to the northward British 
 attempt to attack Savannah Retreat 
 They summon Sunbury fort, but de- 
 cline an attack South Carolina troops 
 recalled from Georgia Captain Biddle 
 sent on a cruize with the Randolph fri- 
 gate, &c. And a small expedition or- 
 dered for the relief of Georgia Captain 
 Biddle's squadron sails for the West In- 
 dies The event The British cruizers 
 quit the South Carolina coast Dread- 
 ful fire in Charlestown New state con- 
 stitution framing Tories embody, and 
 alarm the state- The Georgians in dan- 
 ger, and request assistance from Soulh 
 Carolina Alexander Gillon, Esq. and 
 others, commissioned to build or pur- 
 chase three frigates in France for the de- 
 fence of the coast His failure Hires 
 a large frigate from the Duke of Lux-
 
 427 
 
 emburgh Sails on a cruize Reduces, PACE 
 on a junction with a Spanish force, the 
 Bahama Islands Arrives at Phila- 
 delphia Refits The frigate taken by 
 the British Her immense loss to South 
 Carolina, 184211 
 
 Distress for salt Means used for procur- 
 ing supplies Calamitous situation of 
 the Carolina troops in Georgia Colo- 
 nel Pinckney requests supplies Grant- 
 ed Reduction of the American army 
 in Georgia, by sickness Relinquish the 
 expedition against St. Augustine Re- 
 turn to Savannah Rumors of a naval 
 expedition at New- York, against Georgia 
 The fleet arrives off Tybee, and me- 
 nace a descent upon Savannah Resolu- 
 tion of the Americans to defend the 
 town Reflections on that determina- 
 tion Defeat of the American troops at, 
 and loss of Savannah General Lincoln 
 arrives from the northward, and takes 
 command of the troops Marches them 
 for the relief of Georgia Arrive at 
 Purisburgh Further observations on 
 General Howe's endeavor to hold Sa- 
 vannah, 211256 
 
 Condition of the American troops at Pu-
 
 rUburgh Distressed situation of the PAGE 
 Georgia refugees Sunbury taken De- 
 sertions of the Georgia militia De- 
 signs of the British troops on South 
 Carolina Letters relative to the opera- 
 tions of the campaign Instance of the 
 licentious conduct of the militia The 
 consequent difficulties of the commander 
 in chief West-India prizes brought in- 
 to Charlestown by American cruizcrs 
 The legislature of South Carolina grant 
 bounties for the inlistment, and raising 
 the pay of the military Election of ci- 
 vil state officers The law ratified for 
 filling the continental regiments, 256 288 
 
 Various letters from military officers rela- 
 tive to military operations and events 
 in Soutlt Carolina Engagement near 
 Beaufort The Americans retire, from 
 want of ammunition General Moultrie 
 thanks the troops for their gallant be- 
 haviorThe enemy penetrate to Augus- 
 ta Discontents in the provincial army, 
 and its weak condition The British re- 
 treat from Augusta A body of five hun- 
 dred American cavalry from the back 
 country approach Augusta Different 
 stations of the American army Panic
 
 429 
 
 of the Americans under General Ash at PACE 
 Brier-creek, who fly from seventeen 
 hundred of the enemy, and are totally 
 routed Probable consequences of this 
 defeat Attempts to set fire to Charles- 
 town A deserter hanged Description 
 of the British posts in Georgia, 288 S39 
 
 A court of inquiry held on the affair at 
 Brier-creek Particulars of the trial and 
 examinations The opinion of the court 
 Opinion of a court of inquiry on the 
 evacuating Port- royal-Island fort In- 
 teresting letters from Colonel Charles 
 Pinckney on the pending events Gene- 
 ral Moultrie's answer Governor Rut- 
 ledge's orders to General Williamson 
 respecting incursions into Georgia Co- 
 lonel Provost's propositions relative to 
 a partial Georgia neutrality Captain 
 Morgan arrives from Eustatia with a 
 supply of arms and ammunition Colo- 
 nel Marion stationed at Fort Moultrie 
 General Lincoln marches two thousand 
 men for Augusta His orders to Gene- 
 ral Moultrie Indian incursions into 
 South Carolina, at Yamasaee The ene- 
 my collect their principal force at Ebe- 
 nezer The Americans retreat from Pu- 
 
 VOL. II. 3 I
 
 430 
 
 risburgh in consequence of the British PAGE 
 
 
 marching to that place General Moul- 
 
 trie retreats from Black-swamp, and 
 takes post at Coosohatchie, in conse- 
 quence of fifteen hundred British reach- 
 ing Purisburgh, 336392 
 Two thousand of the enemy encamp at 
 Black-swamp General Moultrie addres- 
 ses General Provost in favor of Ameri- 
 can sick prisoners Barbarity of the Bri- 
 tish and Indians General Provost an- 
 swers General Moultrie in behalf of the 
 prisoners, sick and wounded The lat- 
 ter moves his camp to Tullifinny-hill 
 Colonel Laurens wounded His military 
 characterGeneral Moultrie arrives at 
 Ashepoo, the enemy in his rear Their 
 devastations General Lincoln detaches 
 a body of troops from Georgia to Ge- 
 neral Moultrie's assistance General 
 Moultrie reaches Charlestown Conster- 
 nation of the citizens .The militia 
 march into the town from different parts 
 of the country Disposition and order 
 of the troops General situation of 
 South Carolina at this period Count 
 Paulaski's infantry arrive at Charlestown 
 from the northward He attacks the ad-
 
 431 
 
 vance of the British near Charlestown 
 Overpowered General Provost's army 
 appears at the gates of Charlestown 
 Their progress stopped Major Huger 
 killed, and others His character, 392424 
 
 Military orders from the privy council of 
 Charlestown disputed by the command- 
 ing generals The command devolves 
 on General Moultrie He sends a flag 
 to General ProVost, and requests his 
 terms of capitulation General Provost's 
 reply Th privy council summoned to 
 meet Number of American troops at 
 this time in Charlestown, and the num- 
 ber of the besiegers General Moultrie 
 disagrees to Provost's terms, and re 
 quests a conference Proposals in the 
 privy council for giving up the town on 
 conditions of neutrality A message to 
 that effect sent to the British command- 
 erHe refuses to treat except on a sur- 
 render of the garrison as prisoners of 
 war The American army determined 
 to defend the town The retreat of the 
 enemy, who cross Ashley-river in the 
 night Followed by Paulaski's cavalry , 
 General Lincoln advances with four 
 thousand men from Georgia for the re-
 
 432 
 
 Hef of Chariestown, of which the enemy PAGI 
 had been informed by an intercepted letter 
 General Lincoln reaches Edisto-mills 
 The enemy at Ashley-river and James'- 
 Island Four hundred troops detached 
 to General Lincoln The British army 
 wholly encamped on James'- Island Ap- 
 prehensions of the Americans for Fort 
 Johnson The garrison withdrawn and 
 guns spiked up A party on this busi- 
 ness.made prisoners Disposition of the 
 armed shipping to prevent the enemy 
 crossing to Chariestown Other milita- 
 ry land dispositions Guards posted 
 round Chariestown to prevent surp_rise-r- 
 General Lincoln moves to Parker's-fcr- 
 ry General Provost passes Stono* Fur- 
 ther movements of General Lincoln 
 General Provost proposes an exchange 
 of prisoners An exchange of prisoners 
 agreed to, 424456 
 
 The enemy's main body continue on James'- 
 Island Arrangements respecting ex- 
 changes of officers, Sec. A plan of at- 
 tack on the enemy at Stono-ferry 
 Which is set aside on finding the strength 
 of their works General Lincoln deter- 
 mines to retire from the service, from,
 
 433 
 
 ill health Congress appoint General PAGE 
 Mouhrie in his steadAmerican breach 
 of verbal paroles The enemy move 
 to John's-Island General Moultrie ar- 
 rives at Wappoo, with 700 men Ge- 
 neral Lincoln attacks the British lines 
 at Stono -ferry Retires Particulars of 
 his attack and retreat An attack on the 
 enemy's bridge of boats at Stono-ferry 
 Partial success The enemy abandon 
 their post at Stono-ferry, 456506 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 PACK 
 
 THE British establish a strong post at 
 Beaufort The Americans unable to 
 prevent them for want of boats General 
 Moultrie re-lands his troops from James'- 
 Island at Charlestown Takes th"e com- 
 mand of the southern troops at Stono 
 Various proceedings relative to the mi- 
 litia, stores, Sec. A general exchange 
 of prisoners contemplated Obstruc- 
 tions Distress of the Americans for 
 men and money Particulars of Ser*
 
 434 
 
 geant William Jasper Disposition of PAGE 
 the British forces at Port-royal- Island- 
 Appearances of their leaving it Count 
 D'Estaing's fleet arrives off Savannah- 
 bar His cannon and military stores 
 landed Dispositions made for an attack 
 on Savannah Particulai's of that unfor- 
 tunate affair, 136 
 Military orders for the attack on Savan- 
 nahRepulse and defeat of the Ame- 
 rican and French troops Retreat of the 
 Americans to Ebenezer-heights Count 
 D'Estaing re-embarks and leave s the coast 
 of America The British army to the 
 northward turn their views to a reduc- 
 tion of the southern states- Admiral 
 Arbuthnot's fleet arrives off Savannah, 
 from New-York, and land an army 
 The enemy approach Ashley-ferry Ge- 
 neral MouUrie returns to Charlestown on 
 account of ill health The enemy throw 
 up fortifications at the mouth of Wappoo- 
 creek Seven of the BritisJt ships pass 
 over Charlestown-bar The body of the 
 fleet approach Fort Moultrie Disposi- 
 tions for opposing them Admiral Ar- 
 buthnot takes possession of Fort Moul- 
 trie The British land-army advance to-
 
 435 
 
 wards Charlestown On April Sd, 1780, PACE 
 they approach the American lines and 
 throw up works A skirmish The Bri- 
 tish fleet anchor off Fort Johnson The 
 town blocked up The disposition of the 
 artillery intrusted to General Moultrie 
 Journal of the siege of Charlestown, 
 (page 65) Sir Henry Clinton's sum- 
 mons to General Lincoln to surrender 
 the town The General's rcply The 
 British open their batteries on Charles- 
 town A flag sent to Sir Henry Clinton 
 General Lincoln's proposals for a ces- 
 sation of hostilities for six hours Gene- 
 ral Lincoln's proposed articles of capitu- 
 lation A council of war called They 
 recommend a capitulation The British 
 approaches on the land side continue 
 They receive a reinforcement from New- 
 York American sortie on the British 
 The American works not tenable against 
 the besieging force Exertions of the 
 Americans to defend Charlestown A 
 second summons from Sir Henry Clin- 
 tonGeneral Lincoln's reply Articles 
 of capitulation, with subsequent letters 
 on the occasion Alterations, &c. 3692 
 
 General Lincoln's proposed alterations of
 
 436 
 
 the articles of capitulation Inadmissible PAGE 
 on the part of the British commanders 
 Conduct of the people of Charlestown on 
 this occasion The place capitulates 
 General Lincoln's motives for that step 
 Articles of capitulation as finally 
 agreed to, between General Clinton, 
 Admiral Arbuthnot and General Lincoln 
 Return of the military stores taken in 
 Charlestown The Americans pile their 
 arms Treacherous conduct of several 
 Americans during the siege A British 
 guard blown up by an accidental explo- 
 sion General Moultrie remonstrates to 
 the British on the neglect and ill usage 
 of American prisoners British returns 
 of prisoners An interview between Ge- 
 neral Moultrie and General Patterson 
 The American officers sent to Haddrell's- 
 point A return of all ranks of the pri- 
 soners General Lincoln sails for Phila- 
 delphia Situation and treatment of the 
 American officers at Haddrell's-point 
 Their disorderly conduct Interview be- 
 tween General Moultrie and Lord Corn- 
 wallis General Moultrie's letter to Con- 
 gress on Mr. Pendleton's parole Um- 
 brage taken by the British officers on the
 
 437 , 
 
 American prisoners at Haddrell's-point, PAGE 
 celebrating the fourth of JulyGeneral 
 Moultrie justifies their conduct, 92132 
 
 British restrictions on the American prison- 
 ers Commandant's orders to enforce the 
 restrictions General Moultrie's requi- 
 sition of certain American officers sent 
 on board the prison-ships The com- 
 mandant's refusal to reply General 
 Moultrie's letter to Colonel Balfour on 
 the same subject An abrupt verbal an- 
 swer Mortality among the American 
 prisoners at and near Charlestown Ge- 
 neral Moultrie remonstrates to Colonel 
 Balfour on the occasion The Colonel's 
 answer List of general officers of the 
 American army Breach of the general 
 articles of capitulation on the part of the 
 British General Greene requests a re- 
 turn of the prisoners from General Moul- 
 trie His answer Colonel Balfour 's pro- 
 posals to a son of General Moultrie 
 Holds forth inducements to their re- 
 linquishing the American cause ^At- 
 tempts of the enemy to inlist prisoners 
 in the hospital General Moultrie trans- 
 mits a return of prisoners at Haddrell's- 
 point to General Greene Physical aid 
 
 VOL. II. 3 K
 
 438 
 
 refused the hospital prisoners Balfour's PAG* 
 apology A partial exchange of prison- 
 ersSituation of the remainder Letter 
 from Lord Charles Montague to Gene- 
 ral Moultrie, in which he endeavors to 
 detach General Moultrie from the Ame- 
 rican service Offers to resign the com- 
 mand of his regiment in Jamaica in his 
 favor General Moultrie's noble and 
 spirited reply Colonel Balfour threatens 
 to send the American prisoners to the 
 West Indies, in case of an exchange not 
 being speedily agreed to, 132 172 
 
 Colonel Grimkie and Major Habersham 
 committed to prison for a supposed 
 breach of parole, in corresponding by 
 letter Proceedings of a court of inquiry 
 on that affair Copy of the letters of cor- 
 respondence The correspondents found 
 guilty Colonel Grimkie's letter of ex- 
 planation to General Moultrie Joins 
 General Greene's army General Moul- 
 trie remonstrates with Colonel Balfour 
 on the impressment of American sol- 
 diers from the prison -ships -Receives 
 no answer General articles for an ex- 
 change of prisoners General Moultrie 
 sails for Philadelphia in a cartel Ad-
 
 439 
 
 miral Tornay's fleet arrives off Carolina PASK 
 after the surrender of Charlestown- 
 Their intentions thereby frustrated 
 Transactions in the interior country of 
 Cornwallis and Tarleton The battle at 
 Waxsaws, with a return of the killed 
 and wounded Historical instances of 
 the supei'iority of cavalry over infantry 
 Colonel Tarleton in high reputation for 
 his success The British endeavor to se- 
 cure the submission of the country Sir 
 Henry Clinton returns to New-York 
 with the main body of his army, but 
 previously offers a pardon to all who 
 would join the British arms Many ac- 
 cept the offer British perfidy Baron 
 De Kalb ordered to the southward by 
 Congress with fourteen hundred troops 
 Distresses on his march, 172212 
 
 The state of North Carolina detach bodies of 
 militia to the southward Check the Bri- 
 tish in South Carolina Colonel Tarle- 
 ton compelled to retreat The war car- 
 ried into the upper parts of South Ca- 
 rolina by the British The Americans 
 retreat to North Carolina Colonel 
 Sumpter takes the command of them- 
 Returns to the southward and opposes
 
 440 
 
 the enemy His success Astonishment PAGE 
 of the British at this event Lord Raw- 
 don's severe orders with regard to de- 
 serters from the militia Confines in jail 
 all Americans in his power refusing to 
 join the British arms Dispersion of the 
 Tory insurgents from North Carolina- 
 Animosity between the Whigs and To- 
 ries Cruel excesses on both sides Ge- 
 neral Sumpter with 600 men attacks a 
 British post at Rockey-mount, but fails 
 of success Soon after defeats a British 
 regiment and Tories at Hanging-rock 
 Intelligence arrives of an army being 
 on its march from the northward for the 
 relief of the southern states Small par. 
 ties embody in the Carolinas and check 
 the British and Tories Colonel Wil- 
 liams' success at Enoree-river, 212220 
 Congress resolve to support the liberty 
 and independence of the thirteen statef 
 General Gates takes command of the 
 continental troops in North Carolina, and 
 issues his proclamation General Ma- 
 rion/ with a small force mores from South 
 Carolina to join General Gates Annoys 
 the British on several occasions His 
 great exertions in the American cause
 
 441 
 
 His excellent character as a partizan of- PAGE 
 ficer He routs a party of the enemy 
 and their adherents near Georgetown- 
 In junction with Colonel Lee's legion he 
 surprises Georgetown Their retreat- 
 General Gates joined by the North Ca- 
 rolina militia Moves towards Canaden 
 Lord Cornwallis arrives at Camden 
 Takes command of the royal army 
 The two armies mutually advance and 
 charge Retreat Order and disposition 
 of the American army on the 16th of 
 August They engage the British Pa- 
 nic and retreat of the Virginia and North 
 Carolina militia Slaughter of the Ame- 
 ricans And disastrous event of the bat- 
 tle General Sumpter defeated Rejoic- 
 ings of the British at Charlestown, in 
 consequence of this affair Deplorable 
 situation of the southern states, 220236 
 
 Outrages and cruelties exercised by Lord 
 Cornwallis through the country Letter 
 from Governor Rutledge to Congress on 
 this subject Lord Cornwallis' orders in 
 respect to the inhabitants who had taken 
 oaths of allegiance Condemnation and 
 execution of Colonel Isaac Hayne under 
 those orders Particulars relative to Colo-
 
 442 
 
 nel Hayne Devastations in Ninety-six 
 district -Colonel Ferguson marches to- 
 wards the western parts of South Caro- 
 linaThe back country inhabitants arm 
 to oppose him Battle at King's-moun- 
 tain Ferguson mortally wounded, and 
 his troops surrender Account of the 
 enemy's loss, and cause of their disaster 
 Observations on militia-men in general, 
 and what only should be expected from 
 them Maxim of the old king of Prussia 
 Influence and effect of this defeat on 
 the plans of Cornwallis The American* 
 roused by this fortunate event Corn- 
 wallis retreats to Winnsborough Colo- 
 nel Washington takes a fort near Cam- 
 den and one hundred and twelve prison- 
 ers General Sumpter's activity with 
 militia companies through South Caro- 
 linaHis lenient conduct to Major 
 Weyms His advantage over Colonel 
 Tarleton Wounded General Greene 
 appointed to command in the southern 
 department Character of this officer- 
 He arrives at Charlotte Takes com- 
 mand of an ill provided and dispirited 
 army Divides it, and intrusts one half 
 to General Morgan Which are detach-
 
 443 
 
 . 
 
 ed to the western parts of Carolina PAGE 
 The British establish a post at Ninety- 
 six Despicable behavior of part of the 
 inhabitants to their countrymen Lord 
 Balfour's insolence and tyranny Gene- 
 ral Morgan reaches the western parts of 
 the state, and disperses a body of To- 
 ries, 236 252 
 Cornwallis detaches Tarleton with one 
 thousand infantry against General Mor- 
 gan Morgan determines to fight them. 
 Tarleton 's troops defeated and five 
 hundred lay down their arms The vic- 
 tory completed with a trivial loss to the 
 Americans The British in Charlestown 
 much disconcerted at this news Corn- 
 wallis stigmatizes the conduct of Tarle- 
 ton's troops Cornwallis sets out in pur- 
 suit of General Morgan Menaces North 
 Carolina General Greene joins Morgan 
 and forms a junction of their troops at 
 Guilford Court-house The British cross 
 Catawba-river Their plans of attack on 
 North Carolina and Virginia Detach- 
 ments of British sent from New- York to 
 the southward Military manoeuvres of 
 both armies General Greene passes the 
 Yadkin General Marion's activity to
 
 444 
 
 the southward General Greene re- PAGE 
 treats his army from Guilford Court- 
 house in two divisions Re-crosses the 
 Dan, and defeats several bodies of Tory 
 
 insurgents The Virginians send troops 
 into North Carolina Battle of Guilford 
 Court-house, 252 26f 
 
 Lord Cornwallis marches towards the sea- 
 coast, and reaches his shipping at Wil- 
 mington Proceeds to Halifax, (N.C.) 
 To Petersburgh General Greene, re- 
 commences hostilities in South Carolina 
 Lord Rawdon marches to oppose him 
 Engagement at Hobkirk's hill Lord 
 Rawdon retires from Camden Orange- 
 burgh surrenders to General Sumpter 
 Surrender of Fort Motte Of Fort 
 Granby The British leave Georgetown 
 Augusta capitulates General Greene 
 marches to Ninety-six A fleet arrives 
 at Charlestown from Ireland, with troops 
 Lord Rawdon marches to relieve 
 Ninety-six The siege raised General 
 Greene's retreat Ninety-six evacuated 
 by the British Various parti zan ex- 
 ploits Battle of Eutaw Congress pre- 
 sent General Greene with a British 
 1 standard and gold medal The British
 
 445 
 
 abandon Dorchester General Greene PAGE 
 encamped at Ashley-river Tyranny of 
 Nesbit Balfour -Treachery of the tory 
 Cunningham The Whigs retaliate 
 Governor Rutledgc returns to South Ca- 
 rolina and re-establishes r.ivil govern- 
 ment Ilia proclamation and speech- 
 Answer of the two branches, 268 .316 
 The military officers petition General 
 Greene to retaliate for Colonel Haync 
 General Pickens marches to the Chero- 
 kee country, and burns thirteen to\rns 
 General Gadsdcn chosen governor of 
 South Carolina Session and proceed- 
 ings of the legislature General Greene 
 changes his position- General Leslie's 
 letter to him Reply Leslie's letter to 
 Governor Mathews The Pennsylvania 
 line join General Greene General 
 Wayne detached to Georgia ^American 
 government re-established in Georgia 
 General Wayne defeats Colonel Brovm 
 Conflict with a party of Creek Indians 
 The British abandon offensive opera- 
 tionsEvacuation of Savannah The 
 Americans in possession of all South Ca- 
 rolina except Charlestown and its vi- 
 cinity Preliminary steps for evacuat- 
 
 VOL. II. 3 L
 
 446 
 
 ing Charlestown Articles -Correspon- PACK 
 dence between the governor and Gene- 
 ral Leslie Evacuation of Charlestown 
 announced Takes place on the 14th 
 December, 1782 General Moultric re- 
 ceives his certificate of exchange at Phi- 
 ladelphiaSets out for South Carolina 
 Arrives at Winyaw, and visits General 
 Greene Desolate state of the country 
 Pays a visit to his plantation and slaves 
 Their fidelity Their joy to see him, 
 The devastations made of his proper- 
 ty The General's tribute of respect to 
 the patriotic fair of South Carolina Ce- 
 remonial of proceedings on the Ameri- 
 cans taking possesoion of CUarlestown 
 Resolutions of Congress and orders from 
 General Washington, 316 362 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 Containing letters and public papers, referred to in 
 the course of the Memoirs.

 
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