USA > South Carolina > Documentary history of the American revolution: consisting of letters and papers relating to the contest for liberty, chiefly in South Carolina, from originals in the possession of the editor, and other sources, V.1 > Part 12
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However, the voice of America thus describes the commencement of this unnatural war. About eight or nine hundred soldiers came in sight, just before sun rise, of about one hundred men, training them- selves to arms. as usual; and the troops running within a few rods of them, the commanding officer called out to the militia, " disperso you rebels, damn you, throw down your arms and disperse." Upon which the troops huzzahed-immediately one or two officers discharged their pistols -- and then there seemed to be a general discharge from the whole
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body. Eight Americans were killed upon the spot, and nine were wounded. The soldiers in a few minutes resumed their march to Con- cord; and there, speedily destroyed a considerable quantity of flour and other stores, belonging to the public. Another party of militia, about one hundred and fifty meu, alarmed at such violence, had assembled near a bridge at Concord. The soldiers fired upon them and killed two men. It was this repeated act of deadly hostility, that roused the Americans to repel force by force. They now returned the fire-beat the King's troops out of the town, and compelled them to retreat to Lexington, where they met a reinforcement of one thousand fresh men and two pieces of cannon. The militia being by this time increased in their numbers, they soon dislodged the troops from this post, who, during the remainder of the day, made a precipitate retreat through the American fire, and gained a place of safety under cover of the night. In this battle of Lexington, the Americans had thirty-nine men killed and nineteen wounded. The King's troops lost two hundred and sixty- six men, killed, wounded and missing; and by subsequent accounts it appears, that in consequence of that action, General Gage's army bas sustained a diminution of one thousand men, by death, wounds, prison- ers, desertion, surfeits, and other incapabilities of service. For, the troops being four-and-twenty hours on duty, marched-fought-and Hed forty-three miles in that time, without the least refreshment. Let it be remembered, that these eighteen hundred British regulars, consisting of the picked men of the whole army-grenadiers-light infantry, and marines carefully prepared for the expedition-were defeated and driven by about twelve hundred American militia, brought to repel an unex- pected attack, and marched in accidental parties upon the spur of the occasion. Let it be delivered down to posterity. that the American civil war, broke out on the 19th day of April, 1775. An epoch, that in all probability will mark the declension of the British Empire !
Such an important event as the actual commencement of civil war, caused the Convention of the Congress, on the first of June-in order, that some provision might be made against impending calamities. The Congress rose on the 22d instant; and it is our duty to inform you. and through you, the public at large, of the material transactions of this important session.
As a first step for our defence, it was thought expedient, to unite the inhabitants of the colony, "as a band in her defenco against every foe;" and to this purpose, on the fourth day of June, immediately after the celebration of Divine service in Congress, an association was signed by all the Members present, solemnly engaging their lives and
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fortunes. In the space of four days, the association was voluntarily subscribed by almost every inhabitant in Charles Town, and transmitted into the country.
For our more effectual defence, it was thought, a body of regular troops ought indispensably to be raised without delay-accordingly, the Congress voted two regiments of foot, consisting of fifteen hundred rank and file; and one regiment of horse, composed of four hundred and fifty privates. For this service, and contingent expenses for one year, the Congress voted the sum of one million currency. The levies are now raising, and the money is now issuing under the orders of the Council of Safety, in whom the Congress have not only vested the whole power over and direction of the regulars -- the militia, who when called into service will be entitled to pay, and the Treasury,-but have " author- ized" them "to do all such matters and things, relative to the strengthening, securing and defending the colony, as shall by them be judged and deemed expedient and necessary."
The militia have power to form select companies of horse and foot, and to officer them ; provided they have the approbation of the Council of Safety.
In order to form magazines of grain, an embargo has been laid upon all rice and corn.
To give proper force and effect to the resolutions, the respective Dis- trict and Parochial Committees are impowered to take cognizance of. and to question those persons, who shall presume to violate or refuse obedience to the authority of the Congress ; and to declare such persous "Objects of the resentment of the public." This effectually exposes them to be treated as-enemies to the liberty of America.
The names of those persons who shall refuse to associate, are to be laid before the General Committee, who are to enquire of the parties touching their refusal.
Several resolutions of the present Continental Congress, have been recognized; one of them declares, "that no bill of exchange, draught, or order of any officer in the army or navy, their agents or contractors, be received or negociated, or money supplied to them, by any person in America." And, that no provisions be furnished for the use of the British army in Massachusetts Bay, or for vessels transporting British troops or warlike stores for such troops to America, or from one part of it to another.
For the better defence of our liberties and properties, the absentees holding estates in this Colony are called home; and persons now in the Colony, are prohibited from departing without permission of the General Committee.
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To endeavor to obtain pardon for our past offences, and to procure the favor of Heaven, the 27th day of July is appointed to be observed as a day of solemn fast, prayer and humiliation before Almighty God.
Experience having demonstrated that a long continuance of a repre- sentation of a free people is dangerous to their liberties; a new General Election of members of Congress. and of District and Parochial Commit- tees, except for Charles Town, is ordered to be held on the eighth and ninth days of August next; the members are to serve during one year after their first meeting in Congress; and the present Committees throughout the Colony are to continue to exercise their functions, until the meeting of the new Congress.
And, to the end that his excellency the Governor might not receive any unfavorable impression of the conduct of the. Congress; and that their proceedings might "stand justified to the world ;" they presented to his excellency an address and declaration, that "the hands of the King's Ministers having long lain heavy"-and now presses us, "with intolerable weight "-" solely for the preservation and in defence of our lives, liberties and properties, we have been impelled to associate, and to take up arms." Your representatives in Congress, also, " conscious of the justice of our cause, and the integrity of our views," readily pro- fessed loyal attachment to our Sovereign, his Crown and dignity ; and sensible of the publie rights-the equal compact between King and peo- ple,-religiously determined to do their duty, and to trust "the event to Providence," "they generously and constitutionally declared, they preferred death to slavery.
Such have been the most weighty proceedings in the last session of Congress. They were " the result of dire necessity," and of cool, delib- erate counsels, of which, the public good was the only object.
Your Representatives having taken such important and justifiable steps to place your lives, liberties and properties, in a state of some se- · curity against the iron hand of tyranny-do you second their laudable endeavors, and exert every faculty of body and mind, to discharge the great duty you owe to yourselves and to posterity. To this end, vie with each other in your endeavors to cause the resolves of the Congress to be punctually obeyed; and to bring to condign punishment, those, who, like paricides, shall dare to attempt to contravane the measures, which are now formed, to defend the liberties of your country.
Having thus endeavored concisely to represent the commencement of this cruel civil war; and the situation of our domestic polity, as some barrier against impending calamites-allow us to draw your attention to the progress of the war near Boston ; and to the late advices from Eng- land.
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After the action of Lexington, the people of the four New England Governments assembled near Boston, to the number of fifty thousand men; but, as they soon found that General Gage was resolved to keep close in his intrenchments, and knowing the General Congress was about to sit, they sent home almost their whole army ; and reserved only about nine thousand men as a corps of observation ; which, by posting them- selves in lines near Boston, were sufficient to keep the General so much in awe, as to prevent his sending any more detachments into the couu- try. In these positions the General waited for his expected reinforce- ments from England; and the American army for directions from the General Congress. Neither seemed to have any design of attacking the other. But, the Americans did not misspend their time. They sent off two small detachments, in the most private manner, from two different quarters; and after a march of upwards of three hundred miles. they, at the same instant, on the 10th of May, together surprised, entered and took Ticonderoga, and soon after Crown Point ; two most important forts, that command the communication, by the great lakes, between Canada and the Sea Coast Colonies. By this expedition, the Americans have gained two hundred pieces of large cannon, five mortars, sundry howitzers, fifty swivels, and a considerable quantity of ammunition ; and to secure these passes, they have garrisoned them with one thousand five hundred men.
During this time, the state of the positions at and near Boston. had not undergone any material change; and the people in the country thought there could be no illegality in considering their property still as their own, and using it accordingly. But, it seems the law in this case had undergone a material alteration, since a military Governor com- manding a. large army, had taken post in the unfortunate town of Bos- ton. For now, to exercise the right of ownership over property, is to draw upon the party the fire of the King's troops. On the third day of this instant, about thirty men forded and landed upon Hog and Noddle's Islands, situated in Boston harbor, and about three miles from the town, in order to drive off some live stock which they had a right to remove. But they no sooner began to remove their property, than they were fired upon by an armed schooner and a sloop dispatched from Boston, and forty marines that were stationed upon the islands, to guard the stock against the lawful owners. However, the country people, notwithstand- ing this opposition, killed and removed part of the stock. By this time, they were attacked by a large number of marines sent from the men of war in the harbor; and during the action both parties received rein- forcements; so that it is said, the regulars had one thousand men, and
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the Americans seven hundred engaged. Notwithstanding such a dis- proportion, the Americans beat the troops off the islands, burnt the schooner, so disabled the sloop that they were obliged to tow her away- killed thirty of the enemy, wounded fifty-took four double fortified four pounders, and twelve swivels, and drove off the stock, without the loss of a man. having only five men wounded.
Flattering as the conduct of the brave men of New England has made the situation of the American cause ; it would be injustice in us, silently to pass by the conduct of New York and Georgia The first has now taken a decisive step. in support of the common cause. They have taken the spare arms from the regular troops that were there stationed-and they have put themselves in a formidable posture to receive about two thou- sand men daily expected to arrive there from England. The people of Savannah have just signed an Association ; they have formed a Com- mittee; and have summoned a Congress to meet on the 4th day of July-they have made generous collections for the relief of Boston-in short every appearance in that quarter prognosticates that Georgin will fully atone for her misconduct, owing to the little arts of a few misguided and unprincipled placemen.
If we state the substance of our advices from England, we need only say, that on one side stand our unfortunate and deceived Sovereign- his ministers of State-the profligate part of the nobility-and the corrupt majority of the House of Commons-these drag an army to blow up the blaze, of civil war. On our side, the favor of the Almighty stands confessed-a Prince of the blood royal-the most illustrious, powerful and virtuous among the nobility-the most eloquent and popu- lar men among the Commons-the City of London-the body of the English nation, are advocates for, and affectionate friends to the people of America -- and liberty.
In a former letter, we acquainted you, that notwithstanding Lord North's conciliatory motion, as he termed it, on the 20th of February, by which, to screen us from military execution, his Lordship in effect very friendly demanded, that we should engage to tax ourselves in such sums-at such times, and for such purposes, as should be agreeable to Parliament, that is, in plain English, the Minister. A demand, which Governor Martin in a late false and scandalous Proclamation, bearing date the 16th day June, glosses over, by fraudulently stating it, that we are "required to rax ourselves by our respective General Assemblies. only our contingent proportions (of which he cautiously took care not to inform the public that they are not to judge) towards defraying the charge of the general defence of the British Empire according to our 3
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circumstances and abilities (of which his excellency prudently avoided to mention, that the Parliament, or rather the Minister, was to be the only arbiter), and for our civil Government "-that is for such patriotic officers as his excellency : " The generosity and equity of which propo- sitions," he very modestly adds, "can never be denied" -- but which the Americans, with one voice, declare to be cruel, iniquitous, and inad- inissible. We say, that we informed you, notwithstanding this concili- atory motion (made without the least serious intention of a proper recon- ciliation ), a bill, on the eighth of March, passed the House of Commons, and received the royal assent on the thirtieth ; by which, the New Eng- land Governments were cut off from their Fishery; "the natural claimu of mankind to the gifts of Providence on their own coast. as especially entitled by their charters, which have never been declared forfeited ;" by which law those governments are so restrained in their exports and imports, that, if they persevere in their loyalty to the confederated Col- onies, they would be, as they now really are, cut off in effect from all manner of trade and be totally blockaded. We also told you, that "if the blockade of Boston alone. roused the whole continent to their rescue and support ; how vigorously ought we to exert ourselves, now that four entire Provinces are blockaded !" But, if you were filled with just resentment, because your distant friends and compatriots were so op- pressed with new injuries ; how must you feel now. when the oppression is brought to your own door, and this colony is cut off from all manner of trade, equally with New England ! By an Act of Parliament, passed the 13th of April, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, are deeply affected; and the British Parliament now attempt to compel the united Colonies to submit to slavery, not only by force of arms, but by a measure, which till now, has never disgraced the history of mankind. When the diabolical act respecting the New England Governments was in the House of Lords, the illustrious patriots there, made a protest against it, " because, to attempt to coërce by famine, the whole body of the inhabitants of great and populous provin- ces, is without example in the history of this, or perhaps any civilized nation ; and is one of those unhappy inventions, to which Parliament is driven by the difficulties which multiply upon us, from an obstinate ad- herence to an unwise plan of government." But, when this second famine Act passed the House of Lords, the patriots, now fully convinced of the inefficacy of argument, made their protest, without deigning to assign one reason-a silence more expressive and poignant than any form of words they could have arranged.
The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, on the 10th of
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April last. presented an address, remonstrance, and petition to the King, deelaring " their abhorrence of the measures which have been pursued and are now pursuing, to the oppression of our fellow-subjects in Amer- ica-measures big with all the consequences that can alarm a free and conunercial people." And they tell the King, " they plainly perceive, that the real purpose is, to establish arbitrary power over all America." But, the Throne being surrounded by evil Counsellors, and the Ameri- cans being by them traduced to the Sovereign, he gave the following unfavorable answer to the city of London :
" It is with the utmost astonishment that I find any of my subjects capable of encouraging the rebellious disposition which unhappily exists in some of my Colonies in North America. Having entire confidence in the wisdom of my Parliament, the Great Council of the nation, I will steadily pursue those measures, which they have recommended for the support of the Constitutional rights of Great Britain, and the protection of the commercial interests of my Kingdom."
But, the wicked Ministers, not content with hardening. yet again, the King's heart against his American subjects, they persuaded him to outrage the rights of the city of London, because she stood before the Throne in favor of America. For the very day after, his Majesty caused it to be notified to the Lord Mayor, that he "will not receive on the Throne any address, remonstrance and petition, but from the body cor- porate of the city." And thus was it designed to prevent the Lord Mayor, Alderman and Livery of London from speaking to the King upon the subject of American calamities. The Lord Mayor in "ex- treme astonishment and grief" at this violation of a most important right of the city, was indefatigable in his researches into the law and records upon that subject ; and in an excellent letter to the Lord Cham- berlain of the King's household, in answer to the above notification by him, the Lord Mayor thus expresses himself :
" And therefore. I presume to lay claim, on behalf of the Livery of London, to the ancient privilege of presenting, to the King on the Throne, aby address, petition, or remonstrance. In this manner have the addresses of the Livery constantly been received both by his present Majesty and all his Royal predecessors, the Kings of England. On the most exact research, I do not find a single instance to the contrary. This immemorial usage, in the opinion of the ablest lawyers, gives an absolute right; and is as little subject to controversy as any fair and just prerogative of the Crown. Other rights and privileges of the city have been invaded by despotic Monarchs, by several of the accursed race of the Stuarts, but this is no part of our history. It has not even
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been brought into question, till the present inauspicious era. I have an entire confidence, that a right left uninvaded by every tyrant of the Tarquin race, will be sacredly preserved under the Government of our present Sovereign, because his Majesty is perfectly informed, that in consequence of their expulsion, his family was chosen to protect and defend the rights of a free people. whom they endeavored to enslave.
" Important truths. my Lord, were the foundation of the last humble address, remoustrance, and petition to the King, respecting our brave fellow-subjects in America. The greatness as well as goodness of the cause, and the horrors of an approaching civil war, justified our applica- tion to the Throne. I greatly fear, your Lordship's letter immediately following his Majesty's unfavorable answer to the remonstrance, will be considered as a fresh mark of the King's anger against our unhappy brethren, as well as of his displeasure, against the faithful citizens of his capital."
Thus, fellow-citizens! it is evident, by the clearest demonstration, that our rights are not to be recovered by humble addresses, remon- strances, and petitions to the Throne. Meditate upon the King's late answer-reflect upon the immediate outrage to the City of London. Say, does not the one exclude every ray of hope of an equitable accom- modation by peaceable application -- is not the other a lesson in terrorem to such of our friends in England, as may be inclined to intercede in favor of America : But, difficulties ever animated and invigorated those who had virtue to stand up in defence of public rights; and success almost ever attended such a conduct. We are now to act in defence of all that is held dear and valuable-Americans ! let us at least approve ourselves worthy of enjoying the rights of mankind !
APPLICATION FROM OUR MEMBERS IN CONGRESS FOR GUN-POW- DER,-JULY 1ST, 1775,-ADDRESSED TO THE SECRET COMMITTEE, W. H. DRAYTON, A. MIDDLETON, C. C. PINCKNEY.
[Original MS.]
PHILADELPHIA, July 1st, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- By direction of the Continental Congress, we have sent the vessel by which this goes, to procure from you a quantity of gun-powder for the use of the armies actually in the field for the service of America. The frequent severe skirmishes in the neighborhood of
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Boston have so exhausted their Magazines that an immediate supply is absolutely necessary.
We entreat you to purchase all that can be bought in town, and to dispatch this vessel with it for this place as soon as possible : together with as much as can be spared out of the public stock without danger to your own safety.
Should there be any damaged powder on hand, please send it also, as it may be recovered here.
By one of the resolutions enclosed to the General Committee you will see that it is recommended to the southern colonies to secure all the saltpetre that can be got as well from the stores as from private persons. which, as you have no powder mills erected or persons skilful in making gun-powder, we would advise may be sent to be manufactured here.
Should you be able to send more than four thousand weight of pow- der we would wish the overplus may be sent by some other opportunity. In order to prevent suspicion we have sent bushels of indian corn in this vessel which may be sold or exchanged for rice, in which the casks of powder may be concealed so, perhaps, as to prevent suspi- cion, should she unhappily be unable to avoid being overtaken by a cruizer.
The utmost secrecy and dispatch are absolutely necessary.
As large quantities of powder will be wanted we strongly recommend that you continue to import all that you can, and think it probable that large quantities might be got from the government of the Havana, as we can find no application there from any of these Colonies.
We are, gentlemen, Your most obedient servants, HENRY MIDDLETON, THOS. LYNCH, CHRIST, GADSDEN, *J. RUTLEDGE, E. RUTLEDGE.
LETTER FROM W. H. DRAYTON.
[sIss. of C. Gadsden.]
CHARLESTOWN, S. C., July 4th, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- By direction of the Council of Safety, I dispatch a pilot boat to inform you of the good posture of our affairs, which it is to
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be hoped will encourage you to look upon us as fully resolved to exe- cute whatever shall be determined upon by the General Congress. Two Regiments of horse and foot are nearly completed. and make a good ap- pearance. The men are well sized, and their arms are in good order. and we have the pleasure to inform you that they are well supplied with ammunition. As to our apprehensions of the negroes and Indians, they have all passed over. Indeed, we now find that we had nothing to fear from the former, and the latter show the most friendly disposition towards us, and give us the strongest assurances of their fidelity to our interests. We do not wish you would send us any advices by sea, lest they should fall into the hands of enemies to the liberty of America, hut we hope you will continue to send your dispatches by land. Wish- ing success to your deliberations, I have the honor to subscribe myself. Gentlemen, your most obt. servt. WM. H'Y. DRAYTON.
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