USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 20
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In the month of September last I had the honor of offering you a memorial upon the raising of a corps of horse, which the gov- ernor countenanced so far as to render me very anxious to return instantly from Philadelphia to camp.
In the month of December General Smallwood, after the resig- nation of General Harrington, petitioned to the board of war my Employment to the Cheraws as a partisan. Colonel Martin promised to nse all of his power & influence in order that the appointment might take place instantly.
Flattering myself that the assembly would take a favourable notice of these different applications, & acceed to, I communica- ted it to General Greene, and in the mean time my opinion upon the essential services which a solid corps of horse would render in this critical moment.
The general approved perfeetly of it ; he wrote consequently to the assembly, and in order to accelerate the formation of a corps which might be armed expeditionsly when an immediate rein- forcement should be wanted. I had undergone the hardships & Extravagant Expences of a long journey, & I repaired to Halifax. I did myself the honour of transmitting to you the letter of Gen- eral Greene upon that subject, and addressed a skeeme for raising a corps of 390 Light horse, that any volunteer who will serve in that corps for six or twelve months, & furnish himself with a good horse, shall be free of being drafted for the continental serv- ice, and after his time expires shall enjoy. the privileges of a continental soldier.
As you intend to draft one of thirteen, these 390 volunteers would have diminished your continental Line only of 30 soldiers ;
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STATE RECORDS.
and I thought that 390 volunteers raised instantly would render, in this moment, greater services than 30 soldiers whose raising will yet encounter many obstacles.
With regard to the accoutrements, I beg Leave to make myself provisions for, if there was not a sufficient quantity of in your public stores.
Instead of agreeing to that plan, you were pleased to appoint me to the command of 300 Light horse, to march- instantly to the southward. I thought myself very happy in being in a situa- tion of rendering some services ; but in the next session you super- ceeded me, not by an officer of my rank, or next to, but by a captain who never discovered more activity than I did since the year 1776; and I am superceeded with the unfortunate objec- tion that I am a foreign officer.
Be pleased, gentlemen, to indulge the expression of my sensibil- ity ; that way of superceeding is deeply impressed in my breast.
As the resolve you passed yesterday Evening has no support at all with the object of General Greene, & Urge, I beg, to be excused ; and without departing from the respect I owe to the assembly & general Caswell, I shall not rely upon an unused provision, which might be rendered again unsettled by some intrigues or national prejudices.
If I do not quit instantly the southern department, even the American army, I shall return to the army where I came from.
From the candid mode of expressing my sentiments, it will be perhaps inferred that my attachment is Lessened. No, gentlemen, when the friendship which your soldiers and the well-affected peo- ple has showed me, in the field and at home, reccur to me, when I think that I am a Frenchman, I am begoed (?) upon any private resentment, and I as a patriot do wish with the utmost sincerity and warmness the success & prosperity of the State of North Carolina.
I had the honour to apply yesterday for a copy of the Letter of General Greene, of the report of your committee, & the three resolves covering my appointment, superceeded & directed to
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STATE RECORDS.
General Caswell. I beg that the honorable assembly would grant me that ultimate favour.
With dne respect, I have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your most obedt., Very humble servant, MALMEDY.
THE PETITION OF LE CHEVALIER DECAMBRAY.
To the Honourable Assembly of North Carolina.
GENTLEMEN :
When I first began to Establish a fort at Cape Lookont Bay I had no other design, no other view but the good of this State by the great advantages she may get from it. I don't intend to sett a price on my Labours ; self-interest cannot prevail nor even guide me.
If I prove successful in contributing to the public good, my reward far extendeth my desires and if this Honourable Assembly approve of my performances her Commendation is the only price I expect for my labours.
I am sorry to hear, Gentlemen, that ye intend to indemnify me by a sum of money for my stay untill now in the state for the publick service which detained me from joining the Continental army. My Delicacy is much offended by such a reward. Is it not possible to alter your Resolution ? If it is not, I beg that the sum appointed on the treasury should be destined to finish fort Hancock, or employed on other works which may be useful to the publiek good, for I declare to this Honourable Assembly that I will not receive the least thing on that account.
I submit to your knowledge, Gentlemen, the plan of Cape Lookont Bay, with the situation of Fort Hancock, together with a plan of the said fort.
I confess freely that the fort is not as I intended it to be, but as the Circumstances have permitted. Those Circumstances, to avoid a long tale of its particulars, are, in a few words, the cause of its not being as I should like it to be. The fort is not finished for want of help. What is done I have done it with almost nothing, and have put it in a manner of being finished according to the plan.
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STATE RECORDS.
I have sacrificed a very precious time, which I do not regret, having employed it for the service of this State. I cannot sacri- fice any more without proving myself reprehensible ; therefore I intend to make all the haste possible on purpose to join the con- tinental army. In Consequence, I beg the Honourable Assembly to give me some Letters for the Congress, and for his Excellency General Washington, justifying my zeal for the publick Good, and the uninterestedness with which I undertook a painful work, thongh common to every friend to humanity and natural to every trne citizen. All the reward that I desire from every American is to be known under that prospect.
I shall always do my best endeavours to prove useful to this state, but at this time I make my duty to fly to the Continental army and put myself under General Washington's Commands. I shall be flattered if I can prove useful to this State again.
I beg leave to represent to this Honourable Assembly that a fort cannot defend himself ifit is not defended by a good garrison, therefore Fort Hancock requires one of fifty or sixty men. It is even necessary to send some guns of about eighteen-pounders, for the more this fort shall be fortified the more he'll prove advan- tageous to the whole Continent. In going to Cape Lookout on purpose to establish the fort, I unfortunately broke a Chaise belonging to Mrs. Bartholomew, of Beaufort ; and as I should be afraid to offend the inhabitants of this state if I was to take this charge upon myself, I therefore leave it to your Disposition.
I finish by entreating the Honourable Assembly to look upon me as one of the greatest partisans of the Common cause. It is in hopes of Contributing to its success that I left my country. I do not desire anything so eagerly as to find some occasion to prove ye, Gentlemen, the ardour and sincerity of
Your most humble and most obedient Servant,
LE CHEV. DECAMBRAY, Cap. d'Artillerie.
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STATE RECORDS.
JOHN WALTON'S PETITION.
To the Honourable Assembly of the State of North Carolina. The Petition of John Walton, an inhabitant of Franklin County, HUMBLY SHEWETH,
That your Petitioner, in the month of May last, being informed of the surrender of Charlestown and of the rappid march of the Enemy through the Country, Conceived it the duty of every good Citizen to take up arms and stand forthwith in the defence of his Country. Your Petitioner turned out as a volunteer with Capt. Harrison Macon, under the command of Colo. Benjamin Seawell. Colo. Seawell being sent baek to take charge of the new Levies, your Petitioner was put under the Command of Colo. Benjamin Exum, & under his command was carried into action near Camden, where your Petitioner received a ball through His right Shouldoer, which shattered the bone in such a manner that your Petitioner has lost the use of his arm, it being Perrished away and the sinews Entirely Contracted, by which means your Petitioner is rendered unable to labour for h s Living ; and as your Petitioner is but a poor man, and no friends able to assist him, he submits his case to your Hon- ourable Body, trusting that yon, in your humanity & wisdom, will make such Provision for his support and maintenance as you in your wise deliberations shall think Expedient, and your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will Ever pray, &c.
JOHN WALTON.
STATE NO CAROLINA, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
I do hereby Certify that the within John Walton, the Petitioner, was a volunteer in Capt. Harrison Macon's Company belonging to my regiment. The said John Walton has always appeared very forward in the defence of his Country, as also the whole of his Brothers. He's scarcely seventeen years of age, but he has for near these three years been forward to turn out. He is very badly wounded, by no means able, nor do I believe he ever will be able, to Labour sufficient to maintain himself. He has, as it appears to me, lost the use of His Right arm. I believe the whole of the subject matter set forth in his Petition is truth.
BENJ. SEAWELL.
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STATE RECORDS.
PETITION OF JOHN EVANS.
To the Honourable the General Assembly for the State of North Carolina, Now assembled at Wake Courthouse.
The petition of John Evans, of Nash County,
HUMBLY SHEWETH,
That on a certain day a party of the Nash Light Horse came to his house, & took your petitioner into custody, & carried him to Nash Courthouse, there was put under guard by the Orders of Maj. Wood, then Comd't, & threatened your petitioner with hanging, A Gallows being erected on the spot, which Terrified your Petitioner to such a Degree that he consented to Enlist for Eighteen months. Your Petitioner inquired of the officers what his crime was. They answered that he wanted to take up arms & join the insurgents in Edgecombe, & went the length of Dun- can Lamon's, to take his advice what to do in Regard to taking up arms or not, which charge is quite false, as Col. Hunter and Clinch is since convinced of. Your Petitioner humbly prays that your Honours, in your great wisdom, will Take your Petitioner's Case under your serious Consideration, and Order your Petitioner to be Discharged from the duty of Eighteen Months, & your Petitioner, as in duty Bound, will ever Pray.
JOHN EVANS.
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STATE RECORDS.
POLL BOOK OF WILMINGTON, 1780.
VOTES FOR SENATOR.
VOTES FOR COMMONERS.
VOTES FOR A MEMBER FOR YE. TOWN.
John DuBois. John Cowan.
Alex. Wilson.
John DuBois. Duncan Nelson.
Charles Bishop.
Issaac Portewine.
James Mansfield.
Peter Batston.
James Devane.
James White.
James Evans.
Edmund Moore.
George Jacobs.
William Walker. John Jones. Alex. Wilson.
Peter Portewine.
Abram Roberts.
Thos. Rogers.
William Grant.
Thomas Moseley.
Jacob Powell.
William Evans. David Flowers.
10
Isaac Portewine.
James Hall.
Elias Howell.
James Devane.
Dan Atkinson.
Wm. Howard.
David Flowers.
George Moore.
John Gordon.
William Howard.
Charles Bishop.
John Ferguson.
Peter Portewine.
Peter Batston.
Thomas Graham.
John Gordon.
George Newton.
David Forbes.
David Forbes.
James Portwine.
John Downie. William Todd.
James Molpus.
Thomas Simmons.
James Henderson.
Jacob Powell.
Ewd. Spearman.
James Geekie.
20
Wanny McLammy.
John Simpson.
James Bradley.
Dan'l Atkinson.
Peter McLammy.
John Kirkwood.
George Moore.
John A. Campbell. James Kennear.
John Smith.
George Newton.
Henry Molpus.
Thos. Stead.
James Bradley.
James Hysmith.
James Bland.
James Portewine
Jeremiah Doan.
Henry Brooks.
Jacob Stoakley. John Kirkwood.
Wm. Sharpless.
Thomas Flere.
James Wright.
Dan'l Bernard. Richard Player. Wm. Maxwell.
30
James Middleton.
Thomas Scott.
Peter McLammy.
Dan'l MeKenney.
James Spiller.
John A. Campbell.
Henry Waters.
David Bassett.
Francis Harvey. Wm. Maxwell.
John Sykes.
Richard Bradly.
James Kinnear.
Mauris Jones.
John Gillard. John Drummond.
Henry Molpus. James Hysmith.
Walter Ross.
Martin Lenard.
Jeremiah Doan.
John Swan Jones ..
James Harper. Lee Dickeyson. 40
Wm. Hewit. James Wright. John Miller. Joel Parish.
John Miller. James Doty.
Thomas Harris.
Daniel Wheeton.
Alex. Rouse.
Petter Harris, sen.
James Middleton.
Daniel Wheeton,
James Mckinney.
John Nichols.
Francis Harvey.
Florence McCarthy.
Daniel McKenney.
John Wright.
John Hopkins. Robert Bannerman.
Thomas Davis.
John Averyson.
Francis Bruie.
Maurice Jones. Walter Ross. Henry Rooks.
Wm. Williamson.
Parker Quince.
Ezekiel Morgan.
Thos. Devane.
Jacob Williams.
William Player.
John Murphy.
William Wilkinson. James Tate.
Wm. Hill.
Thomas Mosely. Samuel Webb. James Bordeaux. John Devane.
Hugh Walker. Wm. Baker.
60
Richard Player. James Doty.
John Murphy.
Peter Harris.
William Hill.
George Smith. Henry McLorinan.
Henry Waters. John Sykes.
John New.
Isaac Lamb.
Thomas Henderson. 50
Phillip Rivenbark.
David Ross. John McKay. John Nutt. Thomas Brown.
John Swan Jones.
James Molpus.
James Walker.
James Hall.
Wanny McLammy.
Thos. Rogers.
Jacob Stoakley.
Thos. Stoakley.
James Geekie.
Joel Parish.
Thomas Simmons. Ewd. Spearman. John Simpson.
John Nichols.
Thomas Davis.
Ezekiel Morgan.
John Cowan.
·238
STATE RECORDS.
POLL BOOK OF WILMINGTON, 1780 .- CONTINUED.
VOTES FOR SENATOR.
VOTES FOR COMMONERS.
VOTES FOR A MEMBER FOR YE. TOWN.
Alex. Rouse.
Thomas Bloodworth.
James Spiller.
John Riley.
John Wright.
William Hooper.
Thomas Nichols.
John New.
William Mosely.
Arch. Ronaldson.
Isaac Lamb.
Geo. McCullock.
Barrier Stced.
John Averyson.
Sam'l Bunting.
Jacob Friout.
Phillip Rivenbark.
Robert Woodside.
Robert Johnston.
James Harper.
Thomas Woodside.
John Ringrose.
Lee Dickeyson.
Richard Miller.
Elijah Crandle.
Parker Quince.
Thomas Player.
John Moore. 70
Henry MeLoriman.
Edmund Corbin.
William Green.
Thos. Devane.
George Blythe.
Thomas MeLaine.
Jacob Williams.
Owen Kenan.
Henry Young.
Robt. Bannerman.
Caleb Grainger.
Thomas Wilson.
Francis Brice.
John James.
John Jas. Ward.
Thomas Cunningham.
John Larkins.
Andrew Thomson.
Sam'l Webb.
David Pollock.
Henry Toomer.
Thos. Henderson.
James Holland.
Alex. Hostler.
John Nutt.
James Bloodworth.
John Walker.
William Wilkinson. James Tate.
Sam. Ashe.
John Fergus. 80
James Bourdeaux.
And. Ronaldson. 83
John Devane.
Thos. Bloodworth.
John Riley.
Wm. Hooper.
William Mosely.
Arch. Ronaldson.
George MeCullock.
90
Samuel Bunting.
Robert Woodside.
Thomas Woodside.
John Ringrose.
Elijah Crandle.
William Green.
Richard Miller.
Thos. Player. Edm. Corbin.
George Blythe. 100
Henry Young.
Owen Kenan.
Caleb Grainger.
John James.
Hugh Walker.
And. Thomson.
Henry Toomer.
Alex. Hostler.
John Walker.
James Bloodworth. 110 John Gerrard.
John Fergus.
Sam. Campbell.
And. Ronaldson. James Ervin. 115
A true list of the poll.
Erasmus Hanson.
George St. George.
James Ervin.
Sam. Campbell.
John Gerrard.
Henry Gamellion.
Joseph Bland. James Jones.
THOS. JONES, Sheriff New Hanover County.
239
STATE RECORDS.
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LORD CORNWALLIS AND SIR HENRY CLINTON.
1780.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S "OBSERVATIONS."
No person can be more ready than I am to admit the difficul- ties Lord Cornwallis had to struggle with ; and I shall always acknowledge that I expected success (notwithstanding) from his Lordship's abilities. I left his Lordship in the Carolinas, with every power, civil and military, which I could give him, to carry on such operations as he should judge most likely to complete their reduction. Where I had hopes of success I studionsly sought to approve without reserve. And, as long as I imagined his Lordship to be in sufficient force, and in other respects pre- pared and competent to give the experiment of supporting our friends in North Carolina a fair and solid trial, I certainly approved. But after the unfortunate day of Cowpens, which diminished his Lordship's acting army nearly one-fourth, and after he thought proper to destroy a great part of his waggons, provant trains, &c., (whereby he was reduced, I fear, to some- thing too like a Tartar move,) had it been possible for him to have consulted me, he would have found that, could I have even consented to his persisting in his march into that province, that consent must have totally rested upon the high opinion I enter- tained of his Lordship's exertions, and not on any other flattering prospect I had of success.
Major Ferguson's misfortune was one of those untoward circum- stances which Lord Cornwallis says occurred during the four months succeeding the battle of Camden. His Lordship, imme- diately after the complete victory he there obtained, ordered onr friends in North Carolina to arm and intercept the beaten army of General Gates, promising them at the same time that he would march directly to the borders of that province in their support. About this time Major Ferguson was detached to a distance from his Lordship with a body of militia, (without being supported by
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STATE RECORDS.
regular troops,) under an idea that he could make them fight, not- withstanding his Lordship had informed me, some little time before,. that it was contrary to the experience of the army, as well as of Major Ferguson himself. The consequence was that the Major and his whole corps were unfortunately massacred. Lord Corn- wallis was, immediately upon hearing of this event, obliged to quit the borders of North Carolina, and leave our friends there at the mercy of an inveterate enemy, whose power became irresist- able by this necessary retreat. This fatal catastrophe, moreover, lost his Lordship the whole militia of Ninety-Six, amounting to four thousand men, and eveu threw South Carolina into a state of confusion and rebellion.
How nearly the force I left with Lord Cornwallis in the Southern district, and what I afterwards sent to him, might have been adequate or not to the success expected from it, I shall not now examine. It is all I could possibly spare. But for the satisfaction of the public I shall give, at the end of the Appendix, a view of the force first left with his Lordship, of what was sent him afterwards, and of what was finally under his Lordship's orders throughout the whole extent of his command, to contrast with which I shall add also another view of the force left under my own immediate orders at New York at different periods, giving, at the same time, as near a caleulation as I can make from the intelligence received of the number of regular troops which the enemy had opposed to each of us. I beg leave likewise to mention that before I sailed from Charlestown I offered to Lord Cornwallis all he wished, all he wanted, of every sort, and that his Lordship expressed himself to be perfectly satisfied with the troops he had, and wished for no more, as will appear from the letters annexed. What the exaet strength of the corps under his Lordship's immediate command may have been at any given period I cannot ascertain, as I had no regular returns of them ; but his Lordship did not make any complaint to me of the smallness of his force when he commenced his move into North Carolina, and I always thought it to be fully as large as I rated it at.
I cannot judge of the assurances of co-operation which Lord Cornwallis may have received from our friends in North Carolina but from his report; and his Lordship best knows whether he
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STATE RECORDS.
. received any after the effects of Major Ferguson's misfortune were known. But his Lordship cannot forget that our friends, who had risen by his order, were left exposed to ruin by retreat, and num- bers of them actually massacred. I am therefore at a loss to guess what may have been his Lordship's reasons for being surprised that they failed to join him after the victory at Guilford, as such efforts of loyalty could scarcely be expected of them after their past sufferings, when they saw his Lordship's army so greatly reduced after the action, and so scantily supplied with provisions, which, without doubt, was very far short of that solid support which they had been encouraged to expect from his Lordship's . promises. And indeed his Lordship might have supposed that these were their sentiments from what followed, as described by him- self: " Many of them rode into camp, shook me by the hand, said they were glad to see us, and to hear that we had beat Greene, and then rode home again," no doubt with aching hearts, from the melancholy scene his Lordship's camp, encumbered with a long train of sick and wounded, exhibited to their view.
LORD CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
December 3d, 1780.
(Extract.)
" Lord Rawdon, during my illness, informed your Excellency, in his letters of the 23th and 31st of October, of the various causes which prevented my penetrating into North Carolina. I shall not trouble you with a recapitulation, except a few words about poor Major Ferguson. I had the honour to inform your Excel- lency that Major Ferguson had taken infinite pains with some of the militia of Ninety-six. He obtained my permission to make an excursion into Tryon county, while the sickness of my army pre- vented my moving. As he had only militia, and the small remains of his own corps, without baggage or artillery, and as he prom- ised to come back if he heard of any superior force, I thought he could do no harmn, and might help to keep alive the spirit of our friends in North Carolina, which might be damped by the slow- ness of our motions. The event proved unfortunate, without any 15-16
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STATE RECORDS.
fault of Major Ferguson's. A numerous and unexpected enemy came from the mountains. As they had good horses, their move- ments were rapid. Major Ferguson was tempted to stay near the mountains longer than he intended, in hopes of cutting off Col- onel Clarke on his return from Georgia. He was not aware that the enemy was so near him; and in endeavoring to execute my orders of passing the Catauba, and joining me at Charlotte-Town, he was attacked by a very superior force, and defeated on King's Mountain."
SIR HENRY CLINTON TO EARL CORNWALLIS.
CHARLES-TOWN, May 17, 1780.
[Extract.]
Your Lordship has already with you (in the field) two thousand five hundred and forty-two rank and file; but if yon have the least reason to suppose the enemy to be in great number, yon shall be reinforced with the forty-second, the light infantry and any other corps you choose. As your move is important, it must not be stinted. I will give you all you wish of every sort. Let me but know what it is as soon as possible. In the mean time, I shall order the light infantry and forty-second regiment to prepare, depending upon it that as soon as you can spare them you will return them to me, for all operations to the Northward must be cramped without them. If you choose to keep the seventeenth dragoons, you are heartily welcome to them during this move.
EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
CAMP AT MANIGOLDS, May 18, 1780.
ŞIR : Lieutenant Colonel Webster arrived this morning and informed me of the message which you sent by him, relative to reinforcing the corps under my command." The service on which I am going is undoubtedly of the most important nature, and in my opinion; without some success in the back country, our success at Charles-
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STATE RECORDS.
town would but little promote the interests of Great Britain. But at the same time it is necessary that your situation to the North- ward should be respectable. It would be with great regret that I should see you leave behind any of that corps destined for your first embarkation. The garrison, then, of Charles-town and Sulli- van's Island will consist of three British regiments, two of them very weak, and two Hessian and one weak provincial, the latter of which, perhaps, will be sent to Fort Moultrie. This garrison will have charge of two thousand five hundred prisoners. The corps at present under my command is, in my opinion, fully equal to the purpose intended by it, unless some considerable reinforce- ment of Continentals should come from the Northward. I have not yet heard that fact ascertained by any intelligence which has come to my knowledge. If the troops are on their march, and not very near, your embarkation given out publicly for the Chesaa- peak will probably stop them. I think, therefore, Sir, if you please, with proper deference and submission to your opinion, that the business may be settled in the following manner: If no certain intelligence arrives before you are ready to sail of a con- siderable corps of Continental troops being far advanced, that the disposition should then remain the same which you mentioned when I had the honour of seeing you. If such intelligence arrives before that time, I should then wish to be joined by five or six hundred men, either British or Hessian, and to submit to your judgement on the spot from whence they could be best supplied. I think, at all events, Lieutenant Colonel Balfour's expedition should go immediately, as the season of the year makes it neces- sary that he should lose no time. The more pains that can be taken to establish the belief of your going to Virginia the greater will be the probability of stopping their reinforcements.
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