USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 3
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STATE RECORDS.
shall appear to mne absolutely necessary that I should attend. When I was at Deep River, I wrote to Mr. Mallet on the subject of his department as Commissary, agreeable to your Excellency's request. He in answer informed me that by mistake he had made the second Application to your Excelleney for money without forwarding the Bond, which mistake he discovered by finding the Bond still among his papers, and had immediately on such discovery sent down the Bond.
As the Bearer will return to Camp immediately, your Excel- lency will be pleased to forward by him any dispatches you may have for me.
With Sentiments of the greatest regard and Esteem,
I have the Honour to be, Dr. Sir, Your Excellency's Most obedient & very humble Servt.,
R. CASWELL.
MAJ. WM. WILLIAMS TO GOV ABNER NASH.
HILLSBOROUGH, 1st August, 1780. His Excellency Abner Nash, Esq ..
SIR :
The necessity I am under of addressing your Excellency is the only apology I can offer for the liberty I take in making you acquainted with some circumstances relative to my present Situa- tion. I shall first premise that I have been an officer in the line of this State, and acted as Brigade Major from the first raising of Continental Troops till I had the misfortune to be (in an instant) struck speechless and motionless by the Palsy, at Valley Forge, in Pennsylvania, in the month of Febuary, 1778. I continued a considerable time in that situation. At length it pleased God to restore me in part to the use of my speech and Limbs, when application was made in my behalf to get me a Company in the Corps of Invalids,. in which I still continue; but in that Corps I only draw the bare pay, without having any title to Cloathing and some other immunities, to which the Officers of the Pennsyl- vania State (in that Corps) are entitled and receive. Next I beg leave to observe that I am informed a corps of Invalids is to be
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STATE RECORDS.
established in this State for the Support of such of their officers and Soldiers as have been disabled in the service, and humbly pray that your Excellency will be pleased to use your influence to have me appointed to the command thereof, being desirous of serving this State in preference to any other, even as an Invalid, but am still in hopes that I shall so far recover the use of my limbs as to have the happiness of serving again in the field.
I am, with respect, Your Excellency's most obedt. Servt.,
WM. WILLIAMS.
REV. MR. PURCELL TO GOV. ABNER NASH. -
BEAUFORT, N. C., August 2d, 1780.
SIR : .
After a little Respite from so general a Delnge & Bustle that a man ean open his Cabin windows & derive some satisfaction in looking around him, I thought I could not (meeting with an oppor- tunity) dedicate a few moments more usefully than in offering them up to Your Exeelleney, & more especially when anything relating to the common good & Interest of Country demanded such a Tribute at my hands.
Upon my first Arrival here on Saturday, Curiosity naturally induced me to reconnoitre the Beach & enquire who such and such vessels belonged to-what they were loaded with & where from. As my enquiries seemed only directed to satisfy an idle Curiosity, (tho' indeed I had other motives,) my Companion ean- didly answered them, & observed that such a Schooner belonged to a Person that in all Probability I might know in Chas. Town. I remarked to him, his Character I was perfectly well acquainted with from his first coming into the Country, & it had been no little matter of surprise to me, as well as my fellow Citizens in Charles Town, how a man from the lowest Class of Overseers should have arrived so shortly to such a Command of Cash & Interest. His name is James Wright, a fellow that has ever been skulking & avoiding his Duty, & was here during the Seige. The name you will find amongst the Worthies that addressed Sir II. Clinton. But Col.
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Easton, who did me the pleasure of calling on me yesterday P. M., & who I found I might unbosom myself to, acquainted me that it is not the identical Worthy, the Owner of this Vessel, but a Carpenter in Charles Town. Be that as it may, I have assur- ances of his going into Charles Town since the Capitulation- consequently can't partake of its priviledges, but must of Neces- sity have sworn Allegiance to procure a Reception. This, Sir, I apprehend, will amount to Seizure of his Property here, which is not inconsiderable. Yr. Excellency will be pleased to send me a Commission for that Purpose, & I'll speedily execute it. If any Resistance shou'd be made, You will be pleased to direct me where to apply for Military Assistance, & I'll let them see I will act in any Capacity when my Country calls.
The Schooner is loaded with Rum Arms, &c., part for the Pub- lic.
A Prisoner, Capt. Joiner, who was cast away in the Little Bob, (ber Cargo half the Public,) upon my Enquiries how he had fared and what he had saved, replied in the old and usual Stile, The Public Goods were nearly all lost. Poor America ! how art thou jilted & abused. A successful or saving voyage must ever be the Merchant's. Where Loss or Damage are sustained they must be charged on the Dr. side of the Book to thy Account. Besides the above, with another Schooner on the Beach, Capt. Dixon I find has Property to a great Amount on his hands belonging to the sd. Culpret Wright. How to come at the sight and Knowledge of this I must beg of your Excelly. some legal Instructions. And I won'd scortch every Siner of the law so as to almost make them crack, rather than suffer such Duplicity of Conduct in such dirty Villains to pass unnoticed. 'Tis a Debt we owe the virtuous few amongst us, & will in some Measure ease their Burdens. Should not Capt. Fernes leave Newbern so soon as yr. Excelly. may think it expedient that I shou'd have an answer, I presume some body will be sent to me on Purpose. A Delay may be attended with a total Loss.
With yr. Excelly's Leave I will with Pleasure take under Charge Capt. Joiner's Cargo-I mean the public part-& make him swear to the Loss of the remainder. And in every Instance during
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STATE RECORDS.
my residence here, tending to promote the public Welfare & hap- piness, no one shall more cheerfully engage than
Yr Excelly's most obliged & Humble Servt., PURCELL. BEAUFORT, Wednesday Morning.
P. S. My respectful Compliments to Mrs. Nash & the Family. A Copy of the Subscribers' Names to the Address might be of a Service to me here. Excuse my Scrall & Paper. Capt. Fernes called on me ready to start before I had begun, & seems now very impatient.
P.
CHRISTO LAKEY TO GOV. ABEER NASH.
TARBOROUGH, Angust 2nd, 1780. Ho. SIR :
You will Receive per John Lakey a Letter from Col. Benj. Seawell, which I should of waited on you myself with, but am very sick at present. I have been obliged to give very high prices for provisions, which has taken much Moore Money than yon might of Expected. I shall be much obliged to you to send me by the Bearer Some money, as I am Out, & now have here between forty & fifty Delinkwents that has Lane back to furnish with provisions to Camp ; they will March in two Days from this. I am, Hon'd Sir, Your most humble Serv't, CHRISTO. LAKEY.
REV. MR. PURCELL TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY :
Since I had the pleasure of addressing yon by Capt. Fernes, which thro' Hurry & teasing I fear was very imperfect & scarce legible, I have had Occasion to try the Effect & Valne of the State Money here, & find it beggars every Comparison we con'd make of Wilmington & Newbern. It has descended so low that the very Negroes, who I always entertained the Idea of possessing no Principle but Fear, are influenced by the infection. A morti-
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STATE RECORDS.
fying Instance of this presented itself this morning prior to my rising from Bed, otherwise the bronzed Front of the scoundrel should have felt the Effect of my Displeasure. There were a delicious variety of Fish & some chicken & Turtle brought to Town. A servant was dispatched to buy some, but the Fellow, brought up with Insolence amidst his scaly Tribe, refused to deliver any without hard Money, and andacionsly superadded, "Not a d-m'd Son of a B-ch in the Town shall have any with- out it." The Fellow belonged to Col. Easton ; I purpose riding to the Col's. this Evening & demonstrating to him, together with the Insolence, the heinousness of the fellow's Offence. If he Indulges him in the former, he may rest assured that, tho' the coming of the Saviour has abolished the Mosaical Institution, yet as a clergy- man and a Friend to all its Valuable Precepts, its Discipline & good order, I shall dare to inflict 40 Stripes save one ; And as for the latter I shall leave him to the Civil Power, who I hope will not bear the sword in vain, but be a Terror to the evil doers & a Rewarder of those who do well. Tho' indeed I always thought the latter useless, because virtue & honest dealing ever bear a heartfelt & self-approving Testimony, & are their own Reward. Apropos with Regard to the civil Magistrates, I fancy your Excelly's. Proclamation never made its appearance here ; It would not have been amiss. Pardon my Presumption in offering advice when amidst the Multitude of such Counsellors as your Excellency is surrounded with there must, as Solomon says, be safety, & ren- der the Hint tolerably insignificant ; but as Ignorance and Pre- sumption are such true Concomitants & rival Sisters, & your Excellency's goodness having fed & fostered me with the latter, will I hope move you not to make any unhappy Division between the Sisterhood, or pass any severe Censure on the former, when I say it won'd not have been amiss if your Proclamation had been inclosed in each of the Delegate's Letters. However, 'tis not, I fancy, too late ; if your Excelly. will send a few here I will post them at Convenient & Public Places, & watch their Effect. And if, when the law is thus brought home even to their very Doors, I shou'd find any of them tripping, there will be only this alterna- tive : They must drive or banish me from Beanfort, or I'll correct & reform them ; they are mostly cursed Tories.
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STATE RECORDS.
You will say, perhaps, this will be a happy Prelude & foretaste to a spiritual Reformation ; but its being so diametrically oppc- site to the system that every cunning & political Reformer has adopted, not to enslave the Mind first before he Subjugates the Body, that I know not whether I can flatter myself with any success in running Counter to it. It will be, however, pleasing to me, & I hope no less so to the Community, to work npon their temporals, for when once a Man is reduced even to make a Virtue of Necessity & to become, as it were, a good Member of Society, not from the directive Impulse of his own Mind, but from a strict hand & watchful Eye over him, 'tis great odds but the Pleasure of well doing will so forcibly work upon the Fancy as to make him revere & admire it. This is the Physic used only to have been applyed at Beaufort; and if those that should have admin- istered it had not been as torpid & lethargic as the Patients, rougher Methods wou'd be totally nseless.
By this time I fancy I have exhausted your Excellency's Patience in trying to read my Serall, & I think I almost have a wish that I had come & deciphered it myself. Begging leave, therefore, to recommend Mr. Bordeau, the bearer of this, Brother to a worthy & respectable Merchant in Charles Town, to yr. Excelly's. Notice,
. I subscribe myself your Excellency's
Most obliged Humble Servt., PURCELL. P. S. My best Respects attend Mrs. Nash & the little Folks, & my worthy Flock, that you may think worthy of them. A cast off News Paper won'd be a treat to me here-do take Pity.
MAJ. GENL. GATES TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
CAMP WEST BANK OF PEDEE, NEAR MASK'S FERRY, 3rd August, 1780.
SIR :
I had the Honour to address your Excellency from Hillsbor- ough the 19th Ultimo, by Genl. Huger, but have not as yet received any answer. The Distress this Army has suffered, and 15-2
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still continues to suffer, for want of Provisions has perhaps destroyed the finest Opportunity that could be presented of driv- ing the Enemy's advanced post, in all likelihood, even into Charles Town. Lord Cornwallis is believed to be gone to Savannah ; has weakened his Main Body at Camden, where Lord Rawdon com- mands, and withdrawn the troops from Augusta, Cheraws and Anson's Court House. I am astonished that I have not Intelli- gence of any Flour coming to me from the Interior part of the State. Your Excellency cannot believe this miserable Country, already ravaged by the Enemy and gleaned by the Militia under the Generals Caswell & Rutherford, can afford a Handful to me. I must believe your Excellency's Letter in answer to mine from Richmond, that you had then done all you thought necessary to provide ns. I am anxious that this Letter should find your Excel- leney and the Executive Council at Hillsborough exerting all your anthority and Influence to supply your almost famished Troops. Flour and Rum are the Articles the most in Request in this Climate, which Bad Weather contributes to render more unwholesome. Rum is as necessary to the Health of a Soldier as good Food. Without these, full Hospitals and a thin Army will be all your State or Congress can depend upon in the Southern Department. For my own part, I have never lost one Moment in pressing the Army forward from the Instant I joined it to this Moment, and when I can do more more shall be done. Depend not, Sir, upon Commissaries ; they will deceive you. Depend only upon honest Men, of sound Whig Principles, and whose souls are Superior to sordid Gain. Genl. Stevens, with the Virginia Militia, is halted at Buffaloe Ford, Fifty Miles in my Rear, and cannot proceed for want of Provisions. I March To-morrow at Day- break.
With Great Regard, I am, Sir,
Your Excellency's most Obedient Humble Servt., HORATIO GATES.
P. S. Genl. Rutherford's Division have no Tents. I hope those I wrote for to your Excellency are in a fair way to be sent for- ward.
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STATE RECORDS.
BRIG. GENL. JOHN SIMPSON TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
CHATHAM, August 3rd, 1780.
SIR :
The Pitt Volunteers, under the Command of Col. John Salter & Major James Gorham, Intend to be at Kingston on the 18th Inst., on their way to join Geul. Caswell. They will want guns and potts. If there is none at Kingston, should be glad if they could be sent up in time. I expect the Companies will Consist of one hundred horse & foot. I have sent inclosed my Bond for £1,000 for paying bounty to such as may want, forage for the horses, provisions, &c. Should be glad you'd send the money by Mr. Lockey.
I am, your Exce. most obed. Servt., JOHN SIMPSON, Brig. Genl.
Gov. Nash, New Bern.
GEN. R. CASWELL TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
SOUTH CAROLINA, CAMP NEAR ANDERSONS, 30 MILES WT. OF P.D., August 5th, 1780.
DEAR SIR :
I cannot omit so good an opportunity (by Col. Long) of writing yon, tho' I have little information to give you since my Letter of the 3rd Inst. by Capt. Arnold, whom I sent to Hillsboro with 34 British prisoners.
We are now thirty miles from the Cheraws on the Camden road, waiting for Genl. Gates' coming up with the Maryland line. He will be with us in a few hours. Fourteen miles from hence (Lynche's Creek) the Enemy have a post, and I am told intend to meet us from thence or wait our arrival & give us Battle ; their strength we cannot get an exact account of; our information is from 700 to 2,900 ; if the latter is true, I imagine they have Collected their whole force out of Charles Town ; here 'tis said they have not more than 1,000 men. They have also several Bodies of Tories on the Branchs of Lynch's Creek, & from thence 'tis thirty miles
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to Camden. A Major Davie, of Mecklenburg, has had two small Skirmishes within a few days past with the Tories near the Catawba, in which he was successful. That we shall be so I trust, if we come to action. Our men, tho' worn down with fatigue & in some measure want of Bread, are yet in Spirits, & I flatter myself will behave well on Tryal. Some Gentlemen of the Army will come into the Assembly ; by them, if I am in the land of the living, I promise myself the pleasure of giving you a more satisfactory account. You will guess my situation when I inform you that we have been for twenty Hours in full expectation of each Hour's producing an Action. I do not Sleep; of Course I am not well, But,
With great regard and Esteem, I have the Honor to be, Dear Sir, Your Excellency's most obedt. Servt., R. CASWELL.
BURGWIN TO GOVERNOR ABNER NASH.
MARSH CASTLE, August 5th, 1780. His Excellency Governor Nash, at the Palace, New Bern.
SIR :
The Lady of Richard Mercer, Esqr., (Purveyor Genl. at Charles- Town before its Capitulation,) two Daughters, young Ladys, & a son with their Servts., have been at my house ever since May, and having"lately heard that Mr. Mercer is Parolled to Geo. Town on Acct. of his health makes them very Anxious of returning there to him.
I must therefore take the Liberty of Soliciting your Excellency to Grant them a Flag or Pass for that purpose. They have a Stage Waggon & 5 Horses, But as Mrs. Mercer came into this State with Gov. Rutledge's Lady, it will be necessary for me to lend her a Chaise and a pair of Horses, with a servant, to fetch them back from Geo. Town, all which I must beg the favour May be included in the Pass, and as it will be loansome for the Ladies to go by themselves through the Woods from hence, If it meets Your Excel- ly's approbation I will send my Clerk, Mr. Bane, with them, for whose Integrity & Attachment to this State I can be Answerable.
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The Bearer, Mr. B. Stevens, will deliver this to your Excell'y, and has my directions to wait for an answer.
I have the Honor to remain,
With great Respect, & Sincere Regard, Sir,
Your Excelly's Mo. Obedt. & very hble. Servt., BURGWIN.
ADVERTISEMENT-IMSORTED GOODS FOR SALE.
[North Carolina Gazette, August 7, 1778.]
Imported in the last vessel from France, and to be sold at public vendue on Tuesday, 2d September next, by Savage & Westmore at Edenton for cash, or tobacco at the market price, to be delivered at Suffolk or South Quay, the following large Assort- ment of Goods :
Superfine and seconds, scarlet, white, blue, brown and drab cloths, narrow cloths and serges of different qualities and colours, black tamini for breeches, ready-made cloth jackets and breeches, quality binding, fine and coarse white linens, Britannias, Russia and other sheetings, oznaburgs, check linen and handkerchiefs, ready made shirts, cambricks, calicoes, chintz and cottons in pieces and gown patterns, fine tambour waistcoats, gauze of different qualities, gauze handkerchiefs, a large assortment of black and white blond lace, silks in pieces and gown patterns, ribbons, black and white silk stockings, thread, cotton and worsted stockings, men's and women's shoes, white and coloured thread, writing and printing paper, sealing wax, wafers and quills, black lead pencils in cases, gold epaulcts, ostrich feathers and sashes for officers, sword belts, an assortment of hardware, table knives and forks, pen-knives, razors, scissors, &c., &c., files, needles and pins, gilt and horn buttons, paper snuff boxes, looking glasses, and combs of different kinds, glass and earthen ware, pipes, fine and felt hats, tea in cannisters, black pepper, cotton and wool cards, steel, French brandy in hogsheads, quarter cask and three gallon kegs, claret in hogsheads, claret in bottles, Fontenac, Malaga and Muscadel wines, &c., French liquors of different kinds, and scented waters, orgeat in cases of 12 bottles each, hair powder in pounds, raisons in small boxes, currants in casks, ratisea in cases of 12 bottles each, cappalaire in ditto, essences in different quali- ties, linseed and olive oil in cask, fine Florence oil in cases of 12
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bottles, anchovies in ditto, olives in ditto, capers in ditto, truffels in ditto, olives with anchovies and capers, fruit preserved in brandy, white sope in boxes, mould candles in boxes, manna in boxes, senna, jalap, Jesuit's bark, glauber and epsom salts, sarsaparella, sail duck of different sorts and qualities, cordage, &c., &c., &c.
COL. W. RUSSELL TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
SIR :
HYDE COUNTY, Sth of August, 1780.
Your orders for the second draft did not come to hand tell the 28th of July; Since have used my utmost endeavours to march the men on, which I could not effect till the 8th of Angust. My ill state of health put it out of my power to act as first Col. of the County any longer ; therefore must beg leave of your Excellency and the honourable Council to resign that Commission.
Leiut. Colo. Buroage Silby is a Gentleman worthy of that Com- mand.
I am, your Excellency's Most obedient Humble Servt., W. RUSSELL, Colonel.
COL. JOHN PATIN TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
PASQUOTANK COUNTY, 9th August, 1780. DEAR SIR :
I take this opportunity to inforin your Excellency that when I wrote you before that I was in a bad state of helth. I had been almost at the point of Death, but seem to be somthing on the mend at that Time, but still have Constant feavers, and a fever fell in my leg, which renders me quite incapable of any Duty in the Army or Else where at this time; but if I am able to march the men at the Time they can be in Rediness, I will doe it with all Possible Expedition Emagineable, and, Sir, if I am not able at the Time They march, I should be glad to now your opinion on the Case. There is a man which is the olds Capt. in the County wold
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take the command of them at the Time if I wan't able, whos name is Thomas Reding, by your Consent Mr. Lynn can tell you what a condition I am in at this Time, for I don't make wors of it than it rely is, for I am as well a wisher to my Country as any man, and would doe all in my power to serve my Country. There wants three Captins' Commissions, Three Lieutenants' Commissions and fore Ensigns', which please to send by Mr. Lynn, and you will greatly oblige.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient & Humble Servant,
JOHN PATIN, Lieut. Colo.
N. B. The officers that is to goe out now wants their Commis- sions.
J. P.
HENRY YOUNG TO GOV. ABNER NASH. .
WILMINGTON, August the 9th, 1780. To His Excellency Abner Nash, Esqr.
SIR :
When Mr. Benj. Hawkins was in this town he advanced to me Twenty thousand pounds, to be laid out for the public use. I have transmitted to him my acct. agst. the Publick, amounting to £19,- 273, which with sundry accts. yet to commit for a Horse, 2 pr. Pistols & some Beef, which when paid, with two Horses more that I am to purchase by order of the General, for two Light Horse men of the last draft, which will far exceed the sum I rec'd from you & Mr. Hawkins. I would be much obliged to you to grant a warrant on the Treasury for Twenty thousand pounds; the sin I rec'd of Mr. Hawkins I delivered to him, to whom I have sent a Bond payable to your Excellency for the full amount of the Monies rec'd from yourself and Mr. Hawkins. You may be well assured I shall render a faithful account at the next meeting of the Assembly.
I am, with Respect, Sir,
Your Excellency's most Obedt. Servt., HENRY YOUNG.
P. S. I would be much obliged to your Excellency to send me some Blank Commission, as there is several officers in this County that have none.
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STATE RECORDS.
GENL. LINCOLN TO GENL. WASHINGTON.
[From " Letters to Washington," No. 40, pages 141-182.]
Endorsed : Major Genl. Lincoln's report of his Conduct as Com- mandt. of Charlestown-private.
(Private.) HINGHAM, August 11, 1780.
Could a consciousness of having the fullest intentions to serve my country, and a sincere attempt to have executed such inten- tions have so availed me as to have discharged the debt of respon- sibility to the public for my conduet while their servant, and especially to you, my dear General, as my Commanding Officer, I should have saved you the trouble of this long epistle ; but as it cannot, I do with the greatest chearfulness give your Excelleney the following short state of matters relative to Charlestown, which will in some measure point you to the causes of the loss of that place, and to the line of conduct pursued by me, as senior officer, before and at the time of its surrender.
Some questions on this subject I think will naturally arise in your Excellency's mind, and in order that I may write more intel- ligently I shall suppose and endeavor to answer such as follow :
First, why the defense of Charlestown was undertaken. Though I pretend not to plead an express order of Congress directing the defense of that place, yet I can say from the following resolutions, and the line of conduct pursued by Congress, it appeared to me to be their intentions that the measure should be adopted, and that, circumstanced as we were, it was right in itself.
As early as January 1st, 1776, when Congress were informed that an attack was intended upon Charlestown, they immediately recommended that a vigorous defense should be made. In the beginning of the year 1779, when it appeared that the subjugation of South Carolina was an object which claimed the attention of the enemy, Congress sent Lieutenant Colonel Cambray, an engi- neer, to South Carolina, for the express purpose of fortifying the town of Charlestown (in which business he was employed until its surrender). On the tenth of November following, when the designs of the enemy no longer remained a doubt, they ordered three of their Continental frigates to Charlestown for the defense of its harbour, and on my frequent representations to them that
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