USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
I have the Honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedt. Servt., THOS. BENBURY, B. G.
138
STATE RECORDS.
LIEUT. COL. HARDY MURFREE TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
MURFREE'S LANDING, 1st November, 1780. To His Excellency Abner Nash.
DEAR SIR :
The Enemy landed at Old N. Town 500 men; 250 Marched to Suffolk Friday Morning, and the Other 250 Marched to Milners; since that they have had a reinforcement from Portsmonth, but of how many I could not hear. They are very Active in Collecting Horses, Saddles & Bridles & Provisions. Our Army is but small. We retreated without firing a shott ; only the Advance Guard gave Two or three fires. It was on Sunday, 8 Miles above Jo. Scott's, on the road Towards Southamton Court house. We had then in field 250 Men, and Genl. Muhlenburg was at Cabin Point with 1,500 men, 27th Oct., and on his way down. From the best information could be got from Deserters, &e., the Enemies' whole force is Only 2,200 men at Portsmouth, Suffolk & Milners, and between 50 & 60 Sail of Shipping, and between 30 or 40 of which are Top Sail Vessels. I was down near Suffolk and with our Army on Satur- day and Sunday last, and the above is what I had from the Com- manding Officer and Gentlemen who are Inhabitants of that part of the Country. A great many Negroes goes to the Enemy.
I have enlisted a party of Volunteers to go to Virginia. The most of them are the principle Gentlemen in this County, and the County Light Horse men have agreed to go. These Volunteers have no Swords nor Pistols ; if you have any Swords and Pistols, should be glad you will send by the bearer sixty Swords and sixty brass Pistolls, or as many as you ean spare, and they will be returned after Expedition is Over. The Volunteers are Light horse men and Musketts are very unhandy. I have only forty men as yet. There is to be a General Muster and a Draught to day, and expect to have a good many more turn out as Volunteers. I shall March to mor- row over the River at Winton, and shall wait within a few miles of that place until I hear from you.
I heard that upwards of 200 Volunteers are marched from Edenton towards Suffolk, which party I expect to join in a few days.
I am, Dear Sir, your most Humble Servant,
HARDY MURFREE.
139
STATE RECORDS.
GEN. H. W. HARRINGTON TO THE BOARD OF WAR.
CAMP NEAR KERSHAW'S FERRY, EAST SIDE P. D., November 3rd, 1780.
The Honble. The Board of War, Hillsborough.
GENTLEMEN :
Your favor of the 28th Ulto. came to hand in due time, but I have not as yet been favoured with an answer to my Letter by Col. "T. Wade and I have not heard for some time from Col. Brown a (torn out) two Expresses to Bladen County, but from his thorough honesty and attachment to the Cause I am sure He has not been, but then the Cattle he has collected must go by the way of Cross Creek & to Hillsborough. where I apprehend onr Friends from Virginia and Maryland will want them. I have a consider- able Body of Horse on the West side of the Pedee, with the triple view of alarming or harassing the Enemy on their Retreat, gain- ing intelligence, and on their return, collecting of Beeves for the use of our Army near Salisbury or Charlotte, which Beeves I shall send by the Anson Militia. I have ordered out the So. Militia for the collection of Cattle, which from the information I have received, I am in hopes will be in tolerable plenty. Fat hogs are to be had here in great numbers ; Barrels and Salt are all that are wanted, and as the first eannot be made in an instant, for the Tim- ber must be seasoned. My zeal for the Cause we are all equally engaged in induced me to give more than my orders from the Board, and to appoint a young gentleman, a resident of these parts as Purchasing Commissary on this River and So. Carolina, and gave him orders to engage Staves and Barrels, to be got, seasoned and made with the greatest expedition : also Barrels to hold Corn- meal, of which the greatest abundance may be had here, provided it ean be gathered in time. My friend, Wm. Pegues (?) Esquire, will, I am certain, act in the most npright and conseientious manner. I have had the pleasure of his acquaintance many Years. He always accompanied me in the field against the Enemy whilst I was a citizen of So. Carolina, & behaved like a virtuous Christian and good officer ; in short I will be his security in any Sum for the right discharge of the trust reposed in him & shall esteem myself obliged to the Hon. Board to confirm his appointment. Mr. Pegue's Certificates will be sufficient for the Beef, Pork and corn, but money must be had to pay the workmen who get the staves and
140
STATE RECORDS.
make the Barrels. At the time I first heard of Brig. Gen. David- son's appointment, the Enemy were advancing towards the Che- raws, and it was expected would attempt to Invade this State by the way of Cross Creek, where I then had the Honour to Command; and altho' I was determined, from the moment I heard of the said appointment to resign, yet I could not think of so doing until our insolent Enemy were obliged to Retreat. I acquainted His Excel- Jeney the Gov. and the Hon. Maj. Gen. Gates with my Intentions & determination. The time I waited for is now arrived, and I have the happiness to know that the last of our Foe has been obliged to retreat, and that by our own exertions. With regard to my said early Determination, I now beg leave to be permitted to resign my Commission of Brigadier General of Salisbury District, Pro tem., which the Last Session of Assembly were not willing I should hold, as clearly appears by Gen Davidson's Appointment. For my part, I am content, and I ean assert with the strictest regard to Truth that, so this my Country is but faithfully Served, it is equal to me whether it be by me or by another. Colo. Kenan's Regiment of Cavalry are but weak in regard to numbers ; they are fine fellows and well officered, and have near three months to serve. Col. Thomas Taylor's Cavalry is much more numerous, the Officers exceeding well disposed to do every service to their Country, the men fine fellows, but too much inclined to plunder, tho' restrained by their Officers. They are entitled to their dis- charge by the 20th Inst. One of the Nine Companies of Infantry now with me must have theirs by the 17th, four other Companies by the 24th, and the three last by the 2nd of December, Add to this that it is with difficulty and slowly that I collect the Draughts from Anson, Montgomery & Richmond ; those from the first are almost all gone to the Enemy, as are many from the other two counties, yet I shall, with the utmost cheerfulness & assiduity, con- tinue to collect the said Draughts and to answer the Views of the Board of War in other respects, until the time of these last Compa- nies of Infantry is expired, by or before which time I hope the Board of War will instruct me with whom to leave the Command. Col. James Kenan, of Duplin County, who commands the first Reg- iment of Horse, is a good & spirited officer, and in my poor opin- ion would answer well the Intentions of the Board at this Post, but this must be left to your good judgment. I would now
141
STATE RECORDS.
inclose my Commission, but will continue acting in this advanced Post without it till the General Assembly speaks (torn out) however I will wait on the Board at Hillsborough and leave it, on my way to my family on Roanoke.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedt. Humble Servt., H. W. HARRINGTON.
COL. ISAAC SHELBY TO HIS FATHER, GEN. EVAN SHELBY.
[From Virginia Gazette, November 4th, 1780.]
I have herewith the pleasure to acquaint yon that on Saturday, the 7th inst., in the afternoon, we came up with Ferguson and his crew, who lay encamped on top of King's Mountain. The day was wet, and that Providence who always rules and governs all things for the best, so ordered it that we were close around them before we were discovered, and formed in such position so as to fire on them nearly about the same time, though they heard us in time to form, and stood ready. The battle continued warm for an hour ; the enemy, finding themselves so embarrassed on all sides, surrendered themselves to us prisoners at discretion. They had taken post at that place with the confidence that no force could rout them. The mountain was high and exceedingly steep, so that their situation gave them greatly the advantage ; indeed, it was almost equal to storming a battery. In most places we could not see them till we were in twenty yards of them. They repelled ns three times with charged bayonets, but being determined to conquer or die, we came up a fourth time and fairly got posses- sion of the top of the eminence. Our loss I have not exactly col- lected, as the camp has been in such disorder but believe the killed to be about thirty-five men, and between fifty and sixty wonnded.
A list of the killed, wounded and prisoners of the British : Killed, Maj. Ferguson, one Captain, two Surgeons and twenty- six privates ; Wounded, one Lientenant and twenty-seven pri- vates ; Prisoners, one Captain, five Lieutenants, one Surgeon and fifty privates.
1
142
STATE RECORDS.
Tories Killed : Two Colonels, two Captains and one hundred and twenty-five privates. Wounded : One hundred and twenty- five ; Prisoners, one Colonel, one Major and twelve Captains, eleven Lieutenants, two Ensigns, two Adjutants, one Commissary, one Quarter Master, eighteen Sergeants and six hundred privates: Total, one thousand and sixteen ; and seventeen baggage wag- gons and twelve hundred stand of arms taken.
Our loss of killed and wounded : Col. Williams, of South Caro- lina, Capt. Edmonson and five Lieutenants of Virginia and twenty-three privates of the different States. Wounded fifty-four of the different States.
GEN. THOS. BENBURY AND OTHERS TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
His Excellency Abner Nash, Governor, &c., Newbern :
CAMP AT NORFLEET'S MILL, November 4th, 1780.
SIR :
At a Council of War held this day at Head Quarters, at which all the field Officers of the Camp assisted, the Council, among other things, took into Consideration the Conduct of Col. James Blount, of the County of Chowan, and are unanimously of Opin- ion that, as he formerly resigned his Command to Genl. Gregory, & for some time Refused and Desisted to Act as Col. of the s'd County, he has no right to resume it at pleasure, & that his attempt- ing so to do is Injurious to those who have steadily persevered in their duty, and ought therefore to take the rank of one who has often, if not always, Neglected to do his. We therefore Beg your Excellency will take this matter under your Consideration & Comply with the request made by Colo. Blount to Genl. Gregory by appointing some other Person Colo. of the County of Chowan in his Room.
.Charles Blount is Lieut. Colo.
We are, Sir, Yr. Excellency's mo. obedt. Servts., THOS. BENBURY, B. G. THOS. HARVEY, Colo. LAW. BAKER, Colo. THOS. HUNTER, S. M. (Torn out) S. M. (Torn out) Capt. Comd.
143
STATE RECORDS.
LIEUT. COL. H. MURFREE TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
SUFFOLK, November 5th, 1780. To His Excelleney Gov. Nash SIR :
The Enemy, supposed to be in number between seven and Eight hundred, Marched on the 27th of Last Month to Suffolk, & a Party likewise came to the western Branch, Collected all the stock they possibly con'd, took & Destroyed a nunther of Vessels, & then they retreated towards Portsmouth on the 30th Inst., as far as Doct. Hall's, 16 miles from this, where their advanced Guard is. When I was down on the Enemy's Lines, the 28th & 29th of last month, the Enemy's whole force was 2,200 Men at Portsmouth, Suffolk & Milner's, & between 50 & 60 Sail of Shipping, but this Moment one Mr. John Giles came in & left Portsmouth this Morn- ing ; he reporteth that he saw One Thousand Men land at Ports- mouth last Thursday ; like wise there is more Troops on Board the Shipping. He says they intend going up some of the Rivers & March to Halifax, if possible, with some of the Troops. They intend Leaving some at Portsmouth. Some of them are now at the Great Bridge. They are now intending Portsmouth, & he believes there is 3,000 Troops in that Town, & 80 or 90 Sail of Shipping at Portsmouth & Hampton Road. Gen. Muhlenburg is at Mackey's Mills, 18 miles from this, 3 Miles from Smithfield, with 1,900 Men, which is all the Men that is now in the Field in this State. I rec'd your Excellency's Favour the 2ud Inst. & marched the 3rd from Winton, with 30 Gentlemen Volunteers from Hertford Co'nty, to join Genl. Benbury at Norfleet's Mill, 35 Miles from Edenton, on the road to Suffolk, but on my coming to that place yesterday found the Militia Discharged & the Genl. Gone. In the Evening I rec'd a Letter from Genl. Gregory, a Copy of which is inclosed. My party is on their way to Camden County. I rode down here to-Day to get the latest Intelligence from General Muhlenburg, but not finding him here shall follow - my party To-morrow. There is a great number of the Negroes goes into them. This is all I know, from the best Intelligence, & believe it to be True ; so conclude with saying,
I am, with all due respect,
Your Excellency's Humble Servt.,
H. MURFREE.
144
STATE RECORDS.
N. B. Mr. Giles heard nothing of the Enemy's moving towards Currituck, in Carolina. He is a man generally thought to be an Honest, good Meaning Man, who unfortunately Lost & Negroes, & has been to Portsmouth after them, & has got only 5.
H. M.
N. B. Major General Darlie Commands the Whole. The Scotch Refugees who left this Country is now with him at Portsmouth, Goodrich, Parson Agera & sundry others.
H. M.
COL. JN. CHRISTN SENF TO BRIG. GENL. BENBURY.
CAMP AT GREAT SWAMP, November 5th, 1780.
DEAR GENERAL :
Through the neglect and slow movements of these Gentlemen, Officers and Inhabitants, your express ordered to join me, and by the superiority of the Enemy am likewise drove off from N. W. River Bridge, the 3rd, in the morning at day break. The Enemy, with. (torn out). their way at a passage over logs called the Burn -(torn ont). where I had stationed 50 Virginians. They attacked them suddenly, and, having good Guides, they passed that defile before I cou'd have notice of it. Of course all that I could do was to quit the other post, which, when dispersed of eight miles distance, draw them together, march and oppose them if possible ; but hardly cou'd I get together 140 men of Virginians and No. Carolinians, and was liable of being cut off from the great Swamp. I sent off 40 Men to that Pass. Few of the Volunteer Light Horse and some on Foot skirmished with the Enemy. The Enemy advanced, and the greatest part of the Men were looking for their Retreat. I hardly cou'd muster 60 Men in all at the Great Swamp, And since that Time I have become less, by Desertions. I hardly have 30 men in all. Yester- day I was at the County of Currituek & Indian Town, which is 28 miles from here. I have ordered the Militia of Currituck
and ........ (torn out) ....... of Camden to make a stand at Tulley's Creek, but I don't know if they can muster 40 Men with arms, and the Inhabitants are much discontented by reconnoitring the
-
145
STATE RECORDS.
County. I think with 300 Men the County still Con'd be defended against a considerable force. If you have any Men, you'd best send them immediately, or I am afrade it will be attended with bad consequences. I likewise beg to order another Officer to take Command of this Place, that I may join the Army again where I may be of more use than at present at this Sta- tion. By all Information, the Enemy has between 3 or 400 Men at No. W. River, in different places. None of our Men got Hurt except Capt. Pain, who Commanded the Volunteer Light Horse. He had his arm broke by a shot. Two of the Enemy were killed and several wounded. As I have no more paper, I beg you'l inclose this to his Excellency Governor Nash.
I am, with due respect, Yonr Most Obedt. Servt., JN. CHRISTN SENF, Colonel Engineers.
CHARLES MOORE AND JOSHUA CAMPBELL'S RESIGNATION.
[From the MS. Records in the Office of the Secretary of State. ]
November 6th, 1780.
DEAR SIR :
I am informed there is a necessity for a draft of officers to turn ont immediately. I understand you draft for officers on Saturday next. I am in such a poor State of health that I am not able to do the public the service I would wish, but Capt. John Harvey is will- ing to turn out as a volunteer on my Resigning my Commission to him, which will save the trouble of drafting a first major, on which terms I Resign in favour to Captn. John Harvey.
I am, Sir, Your very Humble Servt., CHARLES MOORE.
15-10
146
STATE RECORDS.
PETITION OF CERTAIN INHABITANTS OF CARTERET COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA.
CARTERET COUNTY, Nov. 6th, 1780.
To His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Council of the State of No. Carolina.
The humble petition of the few remaining Inhabitants of the said County.
HUMBLY SHEWETH :
That for the following reasons they request that their Quota of drafted men may remain in the County.
Ist. Nearly all the young and able-bodied men belonging to the said County have gone to Sea, and the remainder being either aged or infirm, when absence from their families would be their total ruin.
2nd. That Beaufort Inlet, being one of the best in the State, it is therefore the most likely to be infested with small Picaroons of the Enemy, and the Petitioners having information of one or more boats fitting out against the town and vicinity of Beaufort, they humbly conceive and request that their number of drafted men may continue in the said County under such rules & regulations as your Excellency & Honors may think proper, and are determined to check the violence of the Enemy, and prevent their depreda- tions on a very extensive part of the Sea Coast which, without such a guard, must fall a prey to those piratical robbers, and afford them a Harbour.
4th. Col. Ward we have begged to present this petition, and desire Your Excellency & Honours may be pleased to refer to him concerning the truth of the above premises, who can give a just information respecting our present situation.
5th. That if our present Quota of Men are taken from us, we shall be entirely disabled to withstand the weakest effort of our Enemy, and left to the mercy of the most trifling plunderers.
147
STATE RECORDS.
You Petitioners, relying in the Wisdom and diseretion of your Exeelleney & Honours, thus represent their unhappy Situation, and pray relief, which, if it should meet with your approbation. They, as in duty bound, will ever pray, ce.
WILLIAM BORDEN. ZACHARIAH STARKER.
ZEPH. PINKHAM. JAS. PARRATT.
DIDRICK GIBBLE.
DAVID COOPER.
JOHN LOVETT.
THOMAS CHADWICK.
MALACHI BELL.
JOSEPH BELL.
LEWIS WELSH. ROSSILAR SIMPSON.
LORD GEORGE GERMAIN TO GOV. JOS. MARTIN.
[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind., Vol. 434, P. 97.] WHITEHALL, 9th Novr., 1780.
Govr. Martin.
SIR :
I received by Captn. Ross, who arrived here the 9th of last month from Charles Town, your letter of the 18th of August, dated at Campden and Duplicate of one mark'd Private of the 10th of June, the Original of which had not come to hand.
If any Proofs were wanting of your zeal for the King's Service and ardent desire to forward His Majesty's measures for restoring the Constitutional Dependence of America upon Great Britain the honorable & repeated Testimony Lord Cornwallis has given in His Dispatches of your constant and ardent endeavours to pro- mote the attainment of that great object, and especially your spirited Exertions at the Battle of Campden, would be sufficient to place you high in His Majesty's favour, and I Trust you will believe me that it would give me particular pleasure to forward the wishes of so meritorious a servant of the Crown. I have there- fore much satisfaction in acquainting you that His Majesty is graciously pleased to accept of your Recommendation of Mr. Lewis de Rosset to be Secretary of North Carolina ; and as soon as I am informed that Province is restored to Peace, which I hope will not be long, I shall lay the proper Instrument for his Appoint- ment before His Majesty for His Royal Signature. His Majesty was apprized of Sir Henry Clinton's Intention, as His Majesty's
148
STATE RECORDS.
Commissioner, to appoint you Governor of South Carolina, when that Province should be recovered, and His Majesty would undoubtedly have confirmed your appointment, but the power of appointing Governors and other Civil Officers was only given in that Commission which the Earl of Carlisle was at the Head of, and was not continued in that which appointed Sir Henry Clin- ton Sole Commissioner, any more than in the one he now acts under. It is, however, extremely agreeable to the King that you should continue Governor of North Carolina, as you prefer it to the other.
You have certainly an equal claim to compensation for your losses by the Rebellion with other Governors of the revolted Provinces, but I understand that no compensation has been made by the Treasury to any Governors but for losses in Things attached to their public capacities, and not on account of what they suffered in their private property as individuals, it being intended that compensation for such losses should arise out of the Rebels' Estates which may be confiscated and applied to that pur- pose by the legislatures of the respective Provinces when their antient constitutions are restored.
I am much obliged to you for the detail you have given me of Military Affairs in South Carolina preceding the glorious event at Campden, as there are many particulars in your letter which I could not have otherways known, but which concur with all other accounts in extolling Lord Rawdon's able conduct, and doing justice to His distinguished Military Talents. I impa- tiently expect to hear of Lord Cornwallis' further progress in con- sequence of His decisive victory. The exemplary punishment he so judicionsly inflicted on some of those who had broken their paroles and violated their Oaths by joining the Rebels after hav- ing made their submission must have the best effects in deterring others from being guilty of the like duplicity in hopes of receiv- ing, if detected, that indiscriminate Lenity which has unfortu- nately been so long extended to all, and, by shewing those still in arms that we are not afraid to punish Rebellion, must operate to induce them to bethink betimes of their own Safety and with- draw from a cause which is evidently declining, before their Sit-
149
STATE RECORDS.
uation becomes desperate. I am therefore not without hope your next dispatch to me will be dated from the Capital of your province.
I am &c., GEO. GERMAIN.
GEN. ISAAC GREGORY TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
To His Excellency Gov. Nash.
CAMP GREAT SWAMP, 10th November, 1780.
SIR :
I am now at this place with a few men, trying to secure this pass. On the Sth Inst. the Enemy attacked our works at this pass but was repulsed with some loss on their side; the next day they came down with two field pieces and paraded their men with these pieces, burnt a few houses, went off without trying to attack our works. The situation that I am in is a bad one at present. Very few men then as volunteers turned out before I Returned home, and thinks themselves at large to act as they think proper. The Drafts that Genl. Benbury had ordered is not come to Camp. The Enemy is strong; from the best Intelligence I can get their strength when first landed was upwards of two thousand & a Gentleman of undoubted veracity who was at Portsmouth about eight days agoe says he saw one thou- sand, which makes upwards of three thousand. It's believed that they intend to Secure Edenton ; if so the trade of this State is nearly completely stoped. You may judge the forlorn situation. I am distressed 1.ot only for men alone, but what men we have got their arms is by no means fit for use ; we have very few of any sort. I shall do every thing in my power to frustrate them in every pass I can till such times I am enabled with men, aud had I 300 men well pointed I should be able to take the pass, they possess, but Expect every day they will be Reinforced, which will make a great deal of Difference.
I am without money even to pay Expresses or any other neces- sary thing that is wanting. I refer you for further particulars to Mr. Hervey, as he can inform you.
I am, Sir, very Respectfully yr. most obedt. Srt.,
ISAAC GREGORY, Brig.
150
STATE RECORDS.
PETITION OF JOHN BROWN AND OTHERS TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
To His Excellency, Abner Nash, Esquire, Governor of the State of North Carolina, & The Honourable the Members of the Coun- cil for the State aforesaid.
The Petition of John Brown, Alexander Mitchell, John Johnson, John McKenzie, & James Provand,
HUMBLY SHEWETH.
That your Petitioners were captured in the Brig Aggy, Prince of Wales, & Kattie by the private Ship of War, the General Nash, & brought into this Port;
That the allowance by Law to Prisoners is so inadequate to the Expences daily incurred that without the assistance of indi- viduals they could not obtain the necessaries of Life.
Your petitioners therefore pray that they may be permitted to proceed in the first Flag to Charles town, to be exchanged for an equal number of the citizens of that State, or any other of the United States. And as in duty bound Your Petitioners will ever pray.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.