USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 21
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I am, &c., CORNWALLIS.
244
STATE RECORDS.
EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
CAMP AT MANIGOLDS, May 19, 1780.
(Extract.)
SIR :
I received very early this morning the favour of your letter by Lientenant-colonel Innes, to which the letter I had the honour of sending to you yesterday by Major Dansey will serve as an answer. I can only add that I have received no intelligence whatever of reinforcements coming to the enemy from the Northward, or of their being in force in this province.
SIR HENRY CLINTON TO EARL CORNWALLIS.
(Extract.)
CHARLES-TOWN, May 20, 1780.
The light infantry and forty-second regiment march this even- ing to Goose-creek, and thence to Monk's-corner, where they will remain at your Lordship's call, in readiness either to join you or to return and embark, as shall become expedient.
SIR HENRY CLINTON TO EARL CORNWALLIS.
CHARLES-TOWN, May 20, 1780.
(Extract.)
Every jealousy has been and will be given on my part, as a blind to our real intentions.
And now, my Lord, having entered into everything that occurs to me as necessary to be thought on at present, I heartily wish success to your important move. I cannot doubt of your having it, for as much as I agree with you that success at Charleston, unless followed in the back country, will be of little avail, so much I am persuaded that, by taking that place in the advantage- ons manner we have done it, insures the reduction of this and the next province, if the temper of our friends in those districts is such as it has always been represented to us.
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STATE RECORDS.
EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
CAMP AT LENEWS, EAST SIDE OF SANTEE,
May 21, 1780.
(Extract.)
The march of the light infantry and forty-second to Monk's- corner will be of use to those corps, and will help to spread alarm through the country ; but from what I hear, I do not believe that there can be any necessity for detaining any part of the first embarkation a moment after the ships are ready for them.
SIR HENRY CLINTON TO EARL CORNWALLIS.
CHARLES-TOWN, June 1, 1780. (Extract.)
We shall probably leave this in a day or two. I dare not be so sanguine as to suppose that your business will be compleated in time for us to mect before I sail, and our communication will become precarious. I think it necessary to give your Lordship outlines of my intentions where your Lordship is likely to bear a part. Your Lordship knows it was a part of my plan to have gone into Chesapeak-bay, but I am apprehensive the information which the Admiral and I received may make it necessary for him to assemble his fleet at New York, in which case I shall go there likewise. When your Lordship has finished your campaign, you will be better able to judge what is necessary to be done to secure Sonth and recover North Carolina. Perhaps it may be necessary to send the galleys and some troops into Cape Fear, to awe the lower counties, by far the most hostile of that province, and to prevent the conveyance of succors by inland navigation, the only communication that will probably remain with the northern parts of North Carolina and Virginia. Should your Lordship so far succeed in both provinces as to be satisfied they are safe from any attack during the approaching season, after leaving a sufficient force in garrison, and such other posts as you think necessary, and such troops by way of moving corps as you shall think sufficient, added to such provincial and militia corps as you shall judge
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STATE RECORDS.
proper to raise, I should wish you to assist in operations which will certainly be carried on in the Chesapeak as soon as we are relieved from our apprehensions of a superior fleet, and the season will admit of it in that climate. This may happen, perhaps, about September, or, if not, early in October. I am clear this should not be attempted without a great naval force ; I am not' so clear there should be a great land force. I therefore propose that your Lord- ship, with what you can spare at this time from your important post, which is always to be considered as th. principal object, may meet the Admiral, who will bring with him such additional force as I can spare into the Chesapeak. I should recommend, in the first place, that one or two armed ships, vigilants, should be pre- pared, and that as many gallies as can go to sea may likewise accompany you from hence. Our first object will probably be the taking post at Norfolk or Suffolk, or near the Hampton Road, and then proceeding up the Chesapeak to Baltimore. I shall not pre- sume to say anything by way of instruction to your Lordship, except in articles where you wish it ; and if you will do me the honor to inform me of your wishes by the first safe opportunity, I shall pay every attention to them, upon that subject or any other. The Admiral assures me that there will be ships enough left for con- voy, ready by the 24th of June. Your Lordship will be the best judge what use can be made of them. Correspondence may, and I hope will, be kept up by the cruizers, which the Admiral and offi- cer stationed here will have ; but if you find it necessary, you will be so good to press or hire armed vessels.
INSTRUCTIONS TO LIEUT. GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS.
HEAD QUARTERS, CHARLES TOWN, 1st June, 1780. My Lord,
Upon my departure from hence you will be pleased to take the Command of the Troops mentioned in the inclosed Return, and of all other Troops now here, or that may arrive in my absence. Your Lordship will make such change in the Posi- tion of them as you may judge most conducive to His Majesty's Serv- ice for the defence of this important Post and its dependencies. At
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STATE RECORDS.
the same time it is by no means my Intention to prevent your acting offensively, in case an opportunity should offer consistent with the Security of this place, which is always to be regarded as a primary object.
All Provision and Military Stores of every Denomination now here, or which may hereafter arrive, are submitted to your Lordship's orders, together with every Power you may find necessary to enforce, in my absence, for the promotion of the King's Service. To this end the Principals in Departments, and the Inspector- General of the Provincial Forces, who has the charge of the Stores designed for their use, are directed to give in returns to you of the States of their several Departments, so far as respects their Stores in possession, and of every other particular relative to their Trusts which can tend to your fullest Information, Communicat- ing to you at the same time their general Instructions from me. I am persuaded I need not recommend the utmost Economy in the Issne of Ordnance and other Stores, and particularly of the Arms, of which there are two thousand Stored in Boxes, and about Eight Hundred Serviceable, and as many more repairable, which were saved out of the Magazine that was blown up.
Your Situation in respect to the two Floridas and Georgia will naturally engage you in a correspondence with the Officers Com- manding his Majesty's Troops in each of those Posts. Wherefore it is my desire that all Letters directed for me from thence should · be opened by your Lordship, and that you may give such orders thereupon as the Exigencies of the Service may require, forward- ing to me the Letters so received, and a report of your orders in consequence, to which, of course, those Officers will pay due obedience.
Mr. Newton, Assistant Deputy Paymaster General, has orders to receive your Lordship's Warrant for Pay or Subsistence in all cases as final, and to furnish Money upon your Warrants on the requisition of the Publick Departments, or on account of Contin- gencies, the Vouchers for the Disbursements of the first of which, after being submitted to your Lordship's Inspection, will, of course, remain with the Principals, as they are amenable to Government. And your Lordship will be pleased to transmit to me, at the close of every Quarter, a list of the Warrants you have issued for Extraordinaries within that Period.
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STATE RECORDS.
A number of Blank Warrants for Presidents, and Deputations for Judge Advocates, will be delivered to you for holding General Courts Martial. And .I do hereby authorize and appoint you to approve of the Sentences of such Courts in all Cases not Capital, if in your Judgement the necessity of the case should require it, excepting only the reduction of Commissioned Officers, unless under very favorable Circumstances.
Major Moncrief, of the Corps of Enginers, will communicate to you the Orders he has received for the Services required for that Department, which are, however, Submitted to your Lordship's future Instructions.
It is my Intention that the Troopers belonging to the Detach- ment of the 17th Light Dragoons now here shall follow me as soon as the Service will admit of it, and proper vessels under a Convoy provided for Transporting them. I am therefore to desire that they may be held in readiness to Embark accordingly.
Having Judged it to be for the good of His Majesty's Service that some fit and qualified persons should be appointed to superin- tend the Militia in the Southern Provinces, I have made choice of Major Ferguson of the 71st Regiment and Captain Hanger of the Corps of Jagers for that Service. And I have accordingly given them Commissions appointing Major Ferguson Inspector of Militia and Major Commandant of the First Battalion of Militia to be raised, and Captain Hanger Deputy Inspector with the Brevet Rank of Major of Militia, with Orders to Major Ferguson to lay his Instructions before your Lordship, and pay all due obedience to such Regulations and Commands, in everything respecting his Department, as you may think proper to give Him.
Whenever any Packet or advice Boat may arrive here from Europe, your Lordship will be pleased to order them to proceed to the Army, having first taken from the Mails all Letters for the Troops under your Command. These Packets will return with my Dispatches, without touching at any Port after the receipt of them. But care will always be taken to give your Lordship the earliest account of the Time intended for their Sailing, that your Dispatches and all Letters from hence may arrive in time to go by them.
In order that I may be furnished with every Information neces- sary to be Communicated to the Secretary of State for His Maj-
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STATE RECORDS.
esty's Information, or to the other Departments of office, I am to request you will, from Time to Time, communicate to me such Intelligence as you may think Interesting to His Majesty's Service ; that you will report the arrival of all Stores and Troops from Enrope; and more particularly I beg to be informed of every thing relative to your own immediate Situation, with a full assur- ance of a like Communication on my part.
I understand that Captn. Henry is to remain here in the Com- mand of the Naval Force. His zeal for the Service will, of course, lead him to Co-operate with your Lordship in every measure that can promote it. Your applications to him for the Conveyance of your Dispatches at any time will, I am persuaded, be readily Complied with.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
H. CLINTON.
Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis.
EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
CHARLESTOWN, June 30th, 1780.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B , dated June 30th, 1780. Received by Lieut. Gordon, of the 16th Foot, Angust 1st. No. 66.
SIR :
In my letter from Camden, of the 2d instant, I had the honor to inform you that I was employ'd in regulating the Militia & establishing some kind of government in this Province; and I likewise mentioned the state, & the steps that I had taken rela- tive to our friends in North Carolina. I will first proceed with the affairs of S. Carolina. As the different districts submitted I, with all the dispatch in my power, formed them into Militia & appointed Field Officers, according to the old divisions of the Province : I invested these Field Officers with civil as well as Military power, as the most effectnal means of preserving order & re-establishing the King's anthority in this Country. I divided the Militia into two classes, the first to consist of men above 40, & of certain property, family or service, this Class to be depended
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STATE RECORDS.
upon for the preservation of order in their respective districts & to do the Patrole Duty, but never to be call'd ont except in case of an insurrection or an actual invasion of the Province. The second Class, composed of the younger men, not only to assist in the home duties, but liable to be call'd ont for six of each twelve months to serve in either of the Carolinas or Georgia, Prom- ising, however, to call upon this Class in such proportions as to occasion the least distress possible to the Country. This Militia, both Officers & Soldiers, is composed of Men either of undoubted attachment to the cause of Great Britain, or whose behaviour has always been moderate; And the Field Officers of the Rebel Mili- tia, Members of their Council, Assembly Men & acting Magis- trates were ordered to go on their Paroles to the Islands on the Coast between Charlestown & Beaufort, to remain there untill their Conduct & Character could be inquired into, & that their Presence in the Country might not awe those that were inclined to return to their dnty, & our friends from assuming the Authority necessary to give Vigour to our Government. The rest of those that were notoriously disaffected I ordered to be dis- armed & to remain at Home on their parole, but subject, in lieu of personal services, to furnish moderate contributions of provis- ions, waggons, horses, &c., towards carrying on the War. Abont this time I readily agreed to a proposal made by a Mr. Harrison to raise a Provincial Corps of 500 Men, with the Rank of Major, to be composed of the Natives ot the Country between the Pedee & Wateree, and in which it is at present extremely probable that He will succeed.
I had advanced thus far when I was met on the 11th of this month by two Gentlemen, one of whom had been in an high station, & both principally concerned in the Rebellion, who said that they were come to surrender upon the Proclamation of the Commissioners of the 1st of June. However extraordinary it might appear to them, I was forced to acknowledge that no Proelamation of that date had been communicated to me, & that consequently I could not acquiesce in the terms of their proffer'd submission ; and indeed, when I saw that Proclamation, as well as your Excellency's of the third of June, which was soon after transmitted to me, I found that those Gentlemen had overstrained the meaning of the first ; For upon considering both, I thought
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STATE RECORDS.
myself at liberty to persevere in sending on Parole to the Islands the Field Offieers of Militia, the members of Council, Assembly men, Aeting Magistrates, &e., the first as falling under the excep- tion of the Military line in your Excellency's Proclamation, & the remainder as under the description of those polluted with the blood of their fellow subjects, excepted by the Proclamation of the Commissioners. This measure appeared absolutely necessary for the security of the Province, especially as our hold is much loosen'd of a considerable number of People who, being notori- ously disaffected, eannot with prudence be trusted with arms & admitted into the Militia, but are disengaged from their Paroles by the Proclamation of the third instant. The submission of Gen. Williamson at Ninety-six, whose Capitulation I inclose with Capt. Paris's Letter, & the dispersion of a Party of Rebels who had assembled at an Iron work on the North West border of the Province, by a detachment of Dragoons & Militia from Lt. Col.
Turnbull, put an end to all resistarce in South Carolina. After having made the following dispositions of the troops, I arrived in Town on the 25th : Major MeArthur with the 71st Regt., a Troop of Dragoons & a six-pounder on the Cheraw Hill, with orders to cover the raising of Majr. Harrison's Corps & to establish the Militia in the districts on the Pedee; The remainder of Lt. Col. Webster's Brigade, & the Provincials that marched with me & Brown's Corps remain at Camden, and Lt. Col. Turnbull's, with some Cavalry, at Rocky Mount, The whole under the command of Lord Rawdon. Lt. Col. Balfour's detachment is dispersed from the forks of Santee, by the Congarees, to Ninety-Six, whilst He & Lt. Col. Innes & Majr. Graham are giving orders for the Militia of those districts. I have ordered Major Ferguson to visit every district in the Province, as fast as they can get the Militia establish'd, to procure lists of each & to see that my orders are carried into execution. I apprehend that his Commission of Major Commandant of a Regiment of Militia can only take place in case a part of the 2d Class should be call'd out for service, the home duty being more that of a Justice of the Peace tha of a Soldier. I have given to the Militia Regts. temporary Co n :- missions, which perhaps your Exeelleney will find more con- venient to confirm by a line in your next dispatch than to take the trouble of signing, as the number for the whole Province
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STATE RECORDS.
will amount to some hundreds. I have had some conversations with B. Genl. Paterson & Mr. Simpson, & have made a little Progress in the arrangement of this Place.
In regard to North Carolina I have establish'd the most satis- factory correspondence, & have seen several people of credit & undoubted fidelity from that Province; They all agree in assur- ances of the good disposition of a considerable Body of the inhab- itants, & of the impossibility of subsisting a Body of Troops in that Country till the Harvest is over. This reason, the Heat of the Summer, & the unsettled state of South Carolina, all con- curr'd to convince me of the necessity of Postponing offensive operations on that side untill the latter end of August or begin- ning of September, and in consequence I sent Emissaries to the leading Persons amongst our friends, recommending in the strong- est terms that they should attend to their harvest, prepare pro- visions, and remain quiet untill the King's Troops were ready to enter the Province; Notwithstanding these precautions I am sorry to say that a considerable number of the loyal Inhabitants of Tryon County, encouraged and headed by a Col. Moore, whom I know nothing of, & excited by the sanguine emissaries of the very sanguine and imprudent Lt. Col Hamilton, rose on the 18th Instant without order or caution, & were in a few days defeated by Genl. Rutherford with some loss. I still hope this unlucky busi- ness will not materially affect the general Plan, or occasion any commotions on the frontiers of the Province. The force of the enemy in North Carolina consists of about 1,000 Militia at Cross Creek under Genl. Caswell; 4 or 500 Militia, under General Rutherford, at or near Salisbury, and 300 Virginians in that neighborhood under Col. Porterfield. Monsr. Treville returned with informa- tion that he saw 2,000 Maryland and Delaware troops at Hills- borough under Majr. Genl. de Kalb, other accounts have corre- sponded with his, but I have since heard that the greatest part of the last have returned to Virginia.
After having thus fully stated the present situation of the two Carolinas, I shall now take the liberty of giving my opinion with respect to the Practicability and the probable effect of further operations in this quarter, and my own intentions, if not other- ways directed by your Excellency. I think that with the force at present under my command (except that there should be a con-
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STATE RECORDS.
siderable Foreign interference) I can leave South Carolina in security, & march, about the beginning of September, with a body of Troops into the back part of North Carolina with the greatest probability of reducing that Province to its duty ; And if this be accomplished, I am of opinion that (besides the advantage of possessing so valuable a Province) it would prove an effectnal Barrier for S. Carolina & Georgia, and could be kept, with the assistance of our friends there, by as few Troops as would be wanted on the Borders of this Province, if N. Carolina should remain in the hands of our Enemies. Consequently if your Excellency should continue to think it expedient to employ part of the Troops at present in this Province in operations in the Chesapeak, there will be as many to spare as if we did not possess N. Carolina. If I am not hononr'd with different directions from your Excellency before that time, I shall take my measures for beginning the execution of the above Plan about the latter end of August or beginning of September, & shall apply to the Officer Commanding His Majesty's Ships for some Co-operation by Cape Fear, which at present would be burdensome to the Navy, & not of much importance to the service.
I have seen a letter from St. Augustine which mentions that two Officers had arrived there from Pensacola, who reported that Don Galvez was at Mobile when they came away, & short of provisions, & that the Mentor had taken three Spanish Vietuallers on their passage from the Havannah to Mobile, & brought them into Pen- sacola.
I shall immediately, in compliance with the directions contained in your letter of the 8th of June, order proper people to examine the receipts granted for cattle previous to the taking of Charles- town, & to certify such as they think ought to be paid ; a great number of Claims are likewise made for provisions deliver'd to the troops through the Commissary of Captures, and for which no receipts were given ; These Claims shall undergo the same exami- nation as the receipts, & shall depend upon similar certificates ; yon will be pleased to direct from what fund the whole sum when ascertained is to be paid.
I opened the enclosed letter from Governor Tryon, but as the point appears to me to be out of the common line of Indian busi- ness, and the service suffers no inconvenience from a little delay,
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STATE RECORDS.
I herewith send Mr. Moore's letter to Genl. Patterson on the sub- ject, and have likewise directed Mr. Moore to transmit his other papers to N. York for your Excellency's determination. Mr. Graham, Lt. Governor of Georgia, has presented an account of money advanced to Refugees, to which is added a charge of twenty shillings per diem to the 24th of June as Inspector of Refugees in Georgia ; But as He informs me that his Commission for that office is not sign'd, I beg to know your pleasure whether this account is to be allow'd. I must likewise beg to know whether the Pay is to be continued to the Commissaries of Captures, & if it is to what fund it is to be charged ; or if your intention is that it should cease whilst the Troops are inactive ; whether you wish that when the Troops take the field the office should be revived in the Persons of the present Commissaries.
Judge Pendleton, who, in his Judicial character, committed a number of barbarous Murders on the Persons of His Majesty's loyal subjects, has escaped from his Parole, and I find by Returns which I call'd for that not less than 500 Continental Prisoners "have made their escape since the Town was taken. I have now taken measures which I hope will enable us to keep those that remain untill an exchange can take Place.
B. Genl. Paterson shewed me a letter which He received from Majr. Andre relative to the Genl. Court Martial, left with him, in which He expressed your desire that I should give my opinion of the proper objeets of mercy or severity. I must lament the fate of those unhappy people who have been & must remain so long con- fined, but as all those under sentence of death are convicted of desertion & carrying arms against their country, I cannot bring myself to say that they are proper objects of mercy.
The Morning that I left Camden I had the honour to receive your Excellency's Dispatches & Instructions that had been left in charge of B. Genl. Paterson. Your Excellency may depend on my utmost attention to them, and on my zeal in fulfilling your wishes in every respect. The Detachment of the 17th Dragoons will sail for New York with the first Convoy, which Capt. Henry informs me will be in a week or ten days ; and now I think, having eom- pleatly tired both your Excellency & myself, I shall only add that,
I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient and most Humble Servant,
CORNWALLIS.
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STATE RECORDS.
P. S. The letters & papers, said to be inclosed, were sent with the 1st copy, & unluckily it was omitted to take copies of them.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, Kt. B., &e., &c., &c.
LORD CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
CHARLESTOWN, 14th July, 1780.
SIR :
About the time that the Beaumont sailed with my last letters, Lieut. Gordon of the 16th Regt. arrived with Dispatches from General Campbell at Pensacola, which he will have the honour of delivering to Your Excellency. I was extremely sorry to learn that the State of the Place, & that of their Enemies in the Neigh- bourhood of it, were very different from what I had heard a few days before, through the Channel of a private Letter from St. Augustine ; And I am the more concerned, as the relative Situa- tion of this Place, the State of the Naval Affairs here, & the pres- ent condition of the province, render it utterly impossible for me to give Assistance. For to attempt it with any degree of prudence, and to do it effectually, a Convoy would be wanted, of more con- siderable Force than could be given from hence, and a greater detachment of Troops than could be spared, consistent with the security of this important Province ; and indeed I think it right to take this opportunity of remarking to Your Excellency that, if even Pensacola should escape the present danger, the Navigation of a Fleet of Transports from North America must always be tedious and difficult, and much exposed to the Cruisers from St. Domingo. I should therefore be of opinion that it would be for- tunate if His Majesty's Ministers would think proper to annex it to the Jamaica Command, to which it is contiguous, & from which it might be speedily supported.
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