USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 7
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
That your Excellency be requested to issue a Proclamation requiring all Deserters & Refugees belonging to this State to repair to Head Quarters, & that the Commanding Officers of the respective Counties exert themselves in carrying the purport of such proclamation into Effect in apprehending & forwarding such persons immediately to Head Quarters.
We shall continue a few days at this place for the purpose of forming an Assembly, in which Time we will gladly and cheer- fully advise with your Excellency in any matter that may tend to the Defence of the State.
In the present Critical Conjuncture we submit to your
60
STATE RECORDS.
Excelly's prudence all other matters respecting the Defence of this State.
By order & in behalf of the Members present,
ALEX MARTIN. THOS. BENBURY.
GOV. ABNER NASH TO DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.
[North Carolina State Papers, 1776-1788, Book No. 72, Page 97.] HILLSBOROUGH, August the 23d, 1780.
Letter from Gov. Abner Nash to the N. C. Delegates in the Con- tinental Congress. Extract.
GENTLEMEN :
Since our late defeat near Camden, I delayed writing to you till I could give you some certain account of that unhappy affair, and of its effects. Genl. Gates, I presume, has acquainted Con- gress of the total loss of the Artillery & Baggage, and of most of the muskets that were in the hands of the Militia; these, except one North Carolina Militia Regiment, commanded on the occa- sion by Col. Dixon of the Regulars, behaved in the most shame- ful manner. They were drawn up in close order, two deep ; the Enemy who opposed them, from a defect in numbers, were only a single file five feet apart, yet the Militia, tho' so much superior in numbers, gave way on the first fire, and fled with the utmost precipitation, notwithstanding every endeavour of their officers to keep them to the charge. I cannot as yet learn what particular Corps fled first ; however, the field was soon cleared of all our Army, except the Regulars and the Militia Regiment I men- tioned, who bravely stood and pushed bayonets to the last.
* * * *
With the highest respect and most sincere esteem, I am, Gen- tlemen,
Your Obedt. & very Hble. Serv't, .A. NASH.
61
STATE RECORDS.
WALTER GIBSON TO HON. JOS. LEECH.
Wednesday Evening, Aug. 20th, 1780.
To the Honble J. L. Leich, Esqr.
SIR :
The following Memorandum I beg you to look over when you are writing to Gen. Lillington :
1st, advise him of the two different sums I have drawn from the Treasury, making the distinction for what has been drawn for the Department of New Hanover, 8 rgt., 50 M. pounds, and the 10 Thousand for the Brigade now preparing to march to the South. I'm conscious.it would give the Genl. particular satisfaction to have from under your hand the particulars with respect to the arrival of the Marquis of Bretigny, and with regard to the French and Spanish fleet, supposed to be intended for Jamaica ; likewise the intelligence from the Flag with the prisoners, the intelligence that Mr. Crsth. Prill has brought from our friends in So. Caro- lina. I would be glad you would mention your approbation of allowing this Brigade the same allowance of Liquors as was allowed to the 8,000 which composed the two former draughts. I hope you'll likewise give instructions for the proper mode of obtaining the warrants for the above sums, that the matter may be adjusted with regularity. Your own kind condescension is the reason I have taken the liberty to present you with these Minutes, which you'll observe as you see proper.
I am, Sir,
With all due regard,
Your obdt. humble servt., WALTER GIBSON.
DOCTOR HUGH WILLIAMSON TO DOCTOR HAY.
(Extract of Letter from Doct. Williamson to Doct. Hay, the Brit- ish Physician Genl., who is also called Inspector of Rebel Hos- pitals.)
CAMBDEN, 24th August, 1780.
SIR :
" The Articles you was so kind as to order have not been
62
STATE RECORDS.
received. Our Hospital patients are near 250, many of them dan- gerously Wounded. They are lodged in six small wards, without straw or Covering. Two of them have not any Cloaths besides a Shirt and pair of trowsers. In the six Wards they have only 4small Kettles, and no Canteen, Dish, or Cup, or other Utensil. We have hardly any Medicine, not an ounce of Lint, Tow, or Diges- tine ; not a single Bandage or Poultice Cloath, nor an ounce of meal to be used for Poultices. In a word, nothing is left for us but the painful Circumstance of viewing wretches who must soon perish if not soon relieved."
DOCTOR HUGH WILLIAMSON TO MAJOR ENGLAND.
-
(Extract of Letter from Doct. Williamson to Major England, Adjutant General.)
CAMBDEN, 30th August, 1780.
" I presume that Lord Cornwallis is informed that of the N. Carolina Prisoners lately sent to Charles Town, who I apprehend are from 3 to 400, hardly a single Man has had the small Pox. There is, I presume, the utmost danger of those Men taking the Disease in the Natural way, unless they are inoculated. Be so kind as to inform me whether Lord Cornwallis is willing those Troops should be inoculated, and by whom he wishes it should be done. You will excuse the mention I have made of this subject, but having the chief Medical Care of the Troops of that State, I conceive it is my duty."
(Extract from Answer from Major Despond.) -
CAMBDEN, Sept. 1, 1780.
SIR :
" I have Lord Cornwallis's orders to acquaint yon that, with respect to the American prisoners sent to Charles Town being inoculated, his Lordship will give proper orders."
63
STATE RECORDS.
COLO. GEO. HICKS TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
DEEP RIVER, RAMSAY'S MILL, 24th August, 1780.
SIR :
Capt. Ramsay will Deliver to your order Twenty-one British Prisoners, which I have this Day delivered to him to Convey to Hillsborough. Those prisoners were part of one hundred & three that was taken in flats on the River P. D., on their Passage from the Cheraw Hill to George Town, part of which was sent to Hillsborough by Capt. Arnold, and part was so sickly that they were not able to march, and was left at Long Bluff Gaol in Cheraw Distriet, South Carolina (which I am afraid is released). Those twenty-one is part of thirty-nine that was Intended to be sent by Capt. Tho's, but on hearing the unhappy Defeat of Genl. Gates, his Guard left him, and he gave them into the charge of Col. Jarvis ; but they not being able to march so fast as his nien Retreated, he was under the Necessity of leaving them on the Ront near Coles Bridge, at which place I came up with them and took them into my charge.
I am, Sir, Your Excellency's most Obedient, and most Humble Servt., GEO. HICKS, Colo. of the Cheraw District, S. Carolina.
COLO. BENJAMIN HAWKINS TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
Ang. 24, 1780.
DEAR SIR :
We have had the unfortunate defeat of our Army near Camden too well confirmed to admit a doubt to the contrary. It is also reported and believed that we have lost all our Waggons and Baggage.
I have in consequence thought proper to have a list taken of all the waggons in this County and the Vicinity of it, and shall immediately send round to all the principal farmers, requesting them to furnish their proportion of Horses for the same. I shall send the proportion round to them and have a return by Monday.
This I conclude to be the only practicable method in our
64
STATE RECORDS.
present situation. I believe we are all whigs, and I hope we shall not complain at complying with any requisition for the good of our country should it be greatly- more than our proportion. I am impatient to be well, and anxions for to be doing what I can for the common good.
Pray command me freely in every thing that you judge proper. I repeat, I am entirely devoted to your service.
I have some young men here who would gladly execute any command from your Excellency.
I have collected the courses and deeds for your Roanoke land, but decline sending them, as I suppose you will be too much engaged to attend to it. I will have a plan of it taken here.
I am, with respect, Dear Sir, Your Excellency's Humble Servt.,
BENJAMIN HAWKINS. Gov. Nash.
.
COLO. P. MALLETT TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
Thursday Morning, 26th Aug., 1780.
SIR :
The hurry of business may have taken up your Excellency's attention towards the supplies necessary for the troops here, and for the very inconsiderable number that will be in this night. The feeling I have for those in distress induced me to remind you that there is not one day's rations. Mr. Henderson, of Granville, offers 50 Cattle for money ; they can be here in 4 or 5 days.
I am, your Excellency's most obedient Servt.,
P. MALLETT.
65
STATE RECORDS.
COL. JOHN BANISTER TO COL. BLAND.
[ From Bland Papers, Vol. 1, Page 33. ]
September, 1780.
MY DEAR SIR :
I wrote you by the last post, to give you an account of our late misfortunes in South Carolina, since which we are certainly informed that the defeat was not so fatal as was apprehended. Instead of all the Maryland line being killed and taken, near five hundred are come in, with most of the officers, particularly Small- wood, Cist and Gunby, who were said to have been slain.
This veteran corps, after having sustained the attack of the enemy, with the assistance of only one regiment of North Caro- lina Militia, by a bold and well conducted attack on the enemy forced a passage through their main body and retreated. On their retreat they totally demolished a party of horse sent to harass them, except two only that escaped by flight. The militia are collecting at their places, Charlotte, Salisbury and Hillsborough, and Gov. Nash informs me that the defeat is by no means so dis- astrons as was at first represented ; and adds that in a few days they should be able to face about and confront their enemies, who have been severely handled in this action, and had not advanced from their post at Camden.
I was yesterday at Cawsons ; the family well.
MAJR. GEN. GATES TO GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON.
[ Extract of letter from Genl. Gates to Genl. Washington, Sept. 3, 1780. In Letters to Washington, No. 41, p. 247. ]
HILLSBOROUGH, 3rd September, 1780.
SIR :
I had, the Day before yesterday, the honor to receive your Excel. lency's letter dated the Sth August, from Orange Town. It gave me infinite satisfaction to find you had baffled Sir Harry Clin- ton's designs, and was to all appearance in so prosperous a situa- tion. Heaven grant you the greatest Honor and Success. As to the situation of affairs here since my last letter to your Excellency of the 30th ultimo, I can only say no considerable alteration has taken place, the Enemy remaining still and the Disaffected 15-5
66
STATE RECORDS.
doing nothing of Consequence to disturb us. 1,400 of the Sec- ond Dranght of the Militia of this State are marched to cover Salisbury and the country from thence to Charlotte, where Col- onel Sumpter has a command, which occasionally acts npon the West Side of the Wateree, and has hitherto given such a jealousy to the British in Camden as to keep them at Home. Three hundred Virginia Riflemen under Colonel Campbell and Militia from the back Counties are marching to the East Bank of the Y'adkin at the Ford, and Genl. Stevens, with what have not run home, of the other Virginia Militia, is at Guilford Court House. The Maryland division and the Artillery are here, to be refitted. The former will be put into one strong Regiment, with a good Light Infantry Company under Colo. Williams. The Rest of the Officers will be sent immediately to Maryland for the purpose directed by your Excellency in your letter to the Baron de Kalb the 27th June, which came to my hands only yesterday from Rich- mond in Virginia. General Muhlenberg acquaints me that near Five Hundred Regulars are upon their march from Petersburgh to this place ; these, with the Marylanders above mentioned, will make ns stronger in Continental troops than I was before the action. The Cavalry under the Colonels White and Washington and Major Nelson are not quite equipped so as to be able to march to Rock Fish in the neighborhood of Cross Creek as I directed, but I hope they will soon be in a condition to obey my orders.
Col. Dulyson, Aid de Camp to the Baron de Kalb, a most amia- ble young officer, will wait upon your Excelleney. He was wounded and taken, but Lord Cornwallis has permitted him to go to Phila- delphia on parole. All the Baron's baggage and Papers are saved ; they are delivered to Colonel Dulyson, who will be respon- sible for them.
Too much honor cannot be paid by Congress to the Memory of the Baron de Kalb, who was every thing an Excellent Officer should be, and in the Cause of the United States has sacrifieed his life.
*
*
* *
HORATIO GATES.
67
STATE RECORDS.
COL. JOSEPH LEECH TO GOVERNOR NASH.
GENL. CASWELL'S, Sept. 3d, 1780.
DEAR SIR :
I was on my way with Mr. Joseph Speed for Hillsborongh, but unfortunately hurt my Horse so much that it's impossible to pro- ceed with him, and so improbable of geting another on the Road that I am obliged to return to Newbern, which gives me inneh nneasiness that I cannot attend your Excellency in the Service of my Country at this alarming Crisis, when the Enemy is at our door, and requires the assistance of every individual allmost in the State for its defence.
I have sent what money I had with me bringing up by Mr. Jos. Speed. £480,000 Is all I could bring out of £700,000 I re'ed for one of Mr. Hawkins' warr'ts. The other Col. Cogdell told me he had not money Left to pay any part of it, the remain- der being small Bills, besides what I paid to the Cols. of Several Counties, for the pay of the Militia volunteers & drafts. I could not find room to bring it with me. I Ventured to pay Mr. Walter Gibson £60,000 for Genl. Lillington, & as Mr. Gibson & the others told me they could not march their men without the money, made me venture to pay it, as I sayed before, rather than the militia should not go, as the Col. sent their bonds to be ac- countable to the Assembly. If your Excelleney should not come immediately down, and think it advisable to send another flag to Charles Town with necessaries for our Prisoners there, before your Excellency comes down please to advise me what to do, and I'll endeavor to comply with your directions, & if you should think it proper to send before you come yourself.
I Remain, with the greatest respect,
Your Excellency's most obedt. Servt., JOSEPH LEECH.
68
STATE RECORDS.
GOVERNOR NASH TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Referred to the Comm. app'd. to take under con. the Resolves from Congress.
Messrs. Coor, McLaine, Davis, Bryan, P. Hawkins, Green, Smith, J. Williams, Winslow, Wilson, J. Hawkins,
To the Honorable the General Assembly.
GENTLEMEN :
In providing magazines for the support of the army, I wish to call the attention of the General Assembly to an Event which, it is more than Probable, will happen-I mean the arrival of the French on our Coast to co-operate with the Land forces in the Southern department. Of this I have had no official accounts, either from our Delegates or the Pres. of Congress. The channel through which I have my intelligence of them is such as does not admit of any further explanation at this Time; and, Gentle- men, if this desirable Event should take place, as I have reason to believe will, we ought to be in readiness to answer any demands of supplies that may be wanted by our Friends and Allies, and I confide in the wisdom of the General Assembly to make such pro- vision as may be thought necessary in such Emergency. I have also the honour to lay before you, Gentlemen, a Letter which I rec'd from Mesrs. Brier Walker & Craik, respecting a quantity of Goods in their hands, the property of a certain Thomas Buckle, and which I had ordered to be seized and detained until the sense of the General Assembly should be had thereon. I conceived that this Buckle had forfeited his effects by his criminality in signing an address to Sir H. Clinton at Charlestown, the Particu- lars of which I am ready to give an account of to such Gentle- men as you will be pleased to appoint for that Purpose.
A. NASH.
Sept. 4, 1780. COL. R. COGDELL TO GOVERNOR NASH,
NEW BERN, 4th Sept., 1780.
To His Excellency Abner Nash, Governor of North Carolina. SIR :
The inclosed I rec'd on Saturday last by post, which made it
69
STATE RECORDS.
necessary to send Express, as they may contain matters of conse- quence which you would chuse to lay before the Assembly. I also send you your last Nense papers, & I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that the private Ship of war, Gen. Nash, has brought safe into Port at Cape Fear two Valuable Briggs-prizes- one from a Port in Scotland, with the best assortment of every nec- essary. I have seen the Invoices of both prizes, the one from Scot- land £10,800 prime lots sterling, the other from St. Christopher, with Rum and Sugar and many other valuable Articles, to Amt. of £40,000. Both were bound to Augustine or Charles Town. The best prize was taken four days after the ship got ont to Sea, the other in a day or two after, about 12 leagues from Charles Town Bar, without firing a gun. As Cape Fear is not a safe Harbour, Contrary winds drove them in, but Capt. Deshon is gone to convey his prizes into Ocracock or Old Topsail. Everything that can be named for the use of the Army is on board ; 300 bls. Flour, besides the Invoice.
I have the honour to be
Your Excellency's obedt. Servt., R. COGDELL.
COL. JOSEPH LEECH TO GOV. ABNER NASH. . NEWBERN, Sept. 5th, 1780. DEAR SIR :
On my coming home yesterday from Kingston, saw Col. Cog- dell, who told me he had dispatches from Congress for your Excel- leney, but could not get an Express to carry them to Hillsborough. Not knowing but they might be of Considerable Consequence just at this time of the Assembly's siting, have got one of the drafted Militia, Elijah Fisher, to carry them immediately up, promising also to keep him employed on his return, going up & down to Kingston with corn and such other articles as are wanted to be carried by water for the Army. As hands are not to be hired at this time for that purpose, I am obliged to employ some of the decrepped for that purpose, as there is constant employ for one boat, and hope your Excellency will approve of it. I have sent up 9 hhds. of rum & 14 Casks Coffee already to Kingston for the use of the Army, and shall send more rum, Coffee & Corn by the
70
STATE RECORDS.
boat this trip, (as she is now in town,) with the remainder of the 400 stand of arms and Pistols that come from Martinique with the Marquis of Britany ; upwards of three hundred stand were sent up with the Saddles, (& I think the bridles,) in 4 waggons that went from Collins yesterday Morn, that are at Kingston, I suppose, by this time. The + waggons had just returned from Duplin Court House, where they left their corn & rum that they were carrying from Newbern for our Army, not knowing where further to Carry it. Doct. Guion's Schooner, Capt. Church, has just come up to town from St. Enstatia, which place he left the 24th of August ; says Capt. Gurling's Schooner was taken out of St. Martins, with 2 Ships, Capt. Brown & Lewis mounting 29 guns each,two brigs, and 2 Schooners, all Americans, by 7 Sail of English Frigates, and that the Americans in St. Eustatia were in daily Expectation of the same fate, and were in great confusion, getting their Effects ashore, & some stripping their Vessels upon sight of some English passing by. I am sorry for your Loss in Capt. Curling, but he had got all his cargo on shore at St. Martins, except his Lumber, and was in some hopes of buying his Vessel again of the St. Kitts Merchant that bought her, when Capt Church Left her at St. Kitts. By the proceedings of the English at the Dutch ports, & church sayed the same is Expected at St. Croix, the Dutch certainly must declare war agst. England. Capt. Church says that he heard in Staten that the Dutch in Europe demanded every third man from the Merchant ships, before they would be cleared out, to fit out their men of war. Eight or ten prisoners, that were mostly the tory's from Bladen, & Mr. Gordon & Mr. Vail's negroes, made their escape last Night from our Gaol; amongst the Tory's one by the name of Lewis, that a Lieut. Commission was found on him, was one. I shall keep sending up to Kingston the remainder of what the Mar- quis brought in, with the remainder of the rum, Coffee, &c., for the use of the Army, as fast as I can, as the further it is up the country the less land Carriage it will take to the Army.
I am, Your Excellency's most obedt. Hum. Servt.,
JOSEPH LEECH.
P. S. The Bearer carries up Letters from Staten for Mr. Haw- kins, in which perhaps there may be the News of the times therc. Capt. Church carried out a quantity of tobacco & stock for Mr. Hawkins.
71
STATE RECORDS.
Before I got to town yesterday Capt. Moore had gone back to Core Sonnd, and had stoped 12 six weight of powder for the freight of 42 bbls or Cask, & 2 horn Saddles he brought in his Vessel from Martinique of the Marquis's stores, saying that he was enti- tled to 25 pc. Cash for his freight, which I think is too much, which is more than even 25 per Cask for the powder, but he says that 2 of it he kept for his part of the Saddles. The Bills of Lading says he is to have Customary freight ; if he is not gone before this Express comes back, I should be glad your Excellency would direct me what to do. I have some thoughts of sending a writ to Core Sound for the powder, in your Excelleney's name. As it is shipped on act. of the United States, I am told he said he wanted a draft on Congress or continental money for the freight, but that would have been out of my power to have given him had I been at home.
The rest of the Marquis' articles were brought by the Eagle packet, Capt.G. Honse ; no freights to be paid, as she belongs to the United States.
MICH. GORMAN TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
NEWBERN, 5th September, 1780.
SIR :
I took the liberty of addressing you a few days ago by Col. Leech, then bound to Hillsborough, but since returned, his horse having met an accident near Kingston. This day arrived Capt. Church, in a vessel belonging to Doet. Guyon & others, from St. Eustatia. By her we are certainly informed that 7 British frig- ates have cut out of the Road of St. Martin's 2 Ships of 20 guns, 2 Brigs and 2 Schooners, and sorry I am to hear the Sally & Betsy is of the number. However, this Event took place after she had landed & sold the whole of her job. (So much safe,) but the Lumber was on Board and lost. Capt. Gurling went to St. Kitts to purchase her again.
Stanley's Ship has arrived in Wilmington & bro't in two Armed Brigs, one from Grenock, in Scotland, with the most valuable Cargo ever imported into this State, & a Genl. assortment ; the other from St. Kitts, with dry goods, Rum, Sugar & Fruit.
e
72
STATE RECORDS.
Stanley is gone to Wilmington, & I expect the vessels here every day. It hurts me that we are doing nothing with our Brig, & in want of nothing for the outfit but Cordage. However, there is now in these prizes a large Quantity of Cordage, & I beg you will urge & make it a point with Mr. Hawkins to give directions to some person to purchase that article ; or, should he think proper to give me an order for money, I will do the needful in his Behalf. I shall have many matters to purchase that will sink all the money I can muster against the Sale. I am sorry Mr. Hawkins does not join me in opinion respecting the large ship. Stanley now has Canvass and Cordage for two such, & between them she might be soon ready for Sea. She w'd be a Compleat European Vessel. Our trade to the West Indies, I think, is at an End, at least to Windward. I wish you could lend me your assistance in recommending the matter to Mr. Hawkins. You may depend the Outfit may be Effected Expeditionsly.
It has been proposed in town to petition the Assembly to have the ship purchased for the defence of this River, to be Stationed near Hanging Point. She w'd then command the Channel Effect- ually & be a protection for the Men, from which they c'd not make a Shameful retreat from the fort. They might, & I really think they w'd. Sho'd Mr. Hawkins totally decline my offer, I w'd rather dispose of her in this manner than undertake her Outfit between Stanley & me alone. I sho'd be happy in having a line from yr. Excellency on this subject per return, & beg your atten- tion to Mr. Hawkins respecting the purchase of this Cordage. The Brigs have 14 guns on Board & large Qy. Ozanburgs & their Canvass. I hope to hear matters wear a more favourable aspect at Camp than is here reported,
& am, respectfully, yr. most Hum. Servt., MICH. GORMAN.
In the Prize from Scotland a large Qy. of bottled porter, 150 Hampers of Cheese, (Eng.,) a large Qy. of Teas & Sugar, all sorts of Drygoods and hardware, 3 or 400 bolts of Canvass, a large Qy. of Oznaburgs, Claret, Red port, and Old Hoe Sadlery, &c., &c., to the Amt. of £15,000.
My compliments to Mr. Maclaine.
73
STATE RECORDS.
EXTRACT FROM-A General Return of the Men now in Camp under the Command of Genl. Harrington at Forks Creek, near Cross Creek, Sept. 5th, 1780.
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.