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.3 > Part 16
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fer, nor yet would I wish my security to suffer. I have likewise agreed to give £2 6d. sterling for the sugar, to be paid in Indigo at £3 sterling. Capt. Putnam has 9 or 10 puncheons of rum now by him ; would be glad to know whether I shall impress that or purchase it, and what I shall allow per gallon.
I am, sir,
Yours to serve at all times, with due respect, WM. SWINTON.
P. S. I have taken one of your knives and a stick of sealing wax, as there was none other to be had ; I hope you will not take it amiss. There was but one cask of the wine, and that I kept for your own use, as there were but 26 gallons of it. Sir, I would be glad of one bushel of salt for my own use.
[No. 184] Gov. Rutledge to Col. Peter Horry. OCTOBER 10th, 1781. Sir :
Gen. Marion informs me that some of your officers have behaved very much amiss in impressing plow horses, breeding mares two years old, and yearlings. I should not have given a press warrant for procuring horses for your Regiment, if I could have conceived that the power would have been so abused by any of your officers, who certainly upon reading the warrant must have known better, if they did not before, as the warrant extends only to the horses fit for Dragoon service, which the creatures above described surely are not. I request that you will have them restored to the owners, and direct that in future no horses be committed under the head of impressment. I am, sir,
Your very humble servant, J. RUTLEDGE.
[No. 185.] Gor. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
Dear Sir :
OCTOBER 10, 1781.
Enclosed are several printed copies of the proclamation of
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which I have sometime ago sent you a written copy, offering pardon to the persons therein described. You will be pleased to have them as generally circulated as posssible, that all who may be desirous of taking the benefit may be apprized of it, and enabled to do so within the time limited for surrendering themselves ; as I have no intention of extending that time. You will have an exact account kept of all such as surrender themselves to you within that time, and as soon as it is expired have such account transmitted to me. I am, sir, your very humble servant, J. RUTLEDGE.
[186.] Gor. Rutledge to Gen, Marion.
OCTOBER 10, 17S1.
Dear Sir :
I received yours yesterday by Mr. Boone, and wrote in the most pressing terms to Col. Williams, Gen. Greene being not yet return- ed from Charlotte, for which place ho set off' last Friday for a sup- ply of ammunition, sending at the same time an extract of such parts of your letter, as were material on that head. I am sorry to find by Col. Williams' answer enclose.l, which he sent open for my perusal, that it is absolutely out of his power to comply with your request immediately. I wish to God it was within my power to send you ammunition instantly, but it is not. I shall not fail to have it sent to you as fast as any arrives at Head Quarters, and you ob- serve Col. Williams says he expects a sufficient stock every hour ; our situation in this respect being unknown to the enemy, they will not profit of it, nor can I say that I expect they will attempt any measure against us. I rather think they will be apprehensive for their own safety. However, I wish this circumstance had not intervened to prevent your crossing the river, as I think your doing with your people would have a good effect. This, I imagine, in the present situation of affairs, you can't attempt. However, I know you will do all that you can. If Mr. Withers had sent the schoon- er which was Patterson's to Havana, agreeable to my directions, which I sent to him immediately on receiving your letter by Patter- son, we should have bad a large stock of ammunition for you and
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others long ago, but he had delayed the matter I think very long ; however, I am taking, and shall continue to take steps, which I hope will be effectual in several directions for procuring ammunition for employ without depending on the Continental stock, which is I find in general small and often exhausted. You certainly may clothe all the Continental soldiers of our line who join you. From something I have lately heard about Dutarque, I am more anxious than formerly to have him taken, lest he should escape ; be pleased therefore to have this matter effectually and speedily attended to. I am also devising means for a supply of arms and have to obtain some soon ; I am sensible that some men are destitute of arms. Howev- er, you know it is an old trick of men coming to camp to pretend that they have none. I need not give you a hint, that it would be well to be sure that the men really have not, and that they can'tpro- vide arms, before they are discharged for want of them. Indeed, although men with arms are not of use in camp, yet they may oc- casionally be detached from it in service with the arms of some who remain in camp. Enclosed is a Brigadier's commission ; I don't re- collect the date of the former, but I dare say you do; be pleased therefore to insert it. I think Col. Horry's conduct very extraordi- nary, and have enclosed a letter to him on the subject you mention. I send the letter open for your perusal ; when you have read, be pleased to seal and forward it ; he is not yet a Continental officer, and his Regiment is not yet on Continental establishment, but if he was I know of no authority that any Continental officer, or any oth- er person (whomsoever he may be) has to impress in this State without a power from me. Gen. Greene, it is true, did before my return direct him to impress, but he has never (I believe and indeed I am well persuaded of it) since my return given any such power to any one. He knows better, so far from it, that he requested me if I approved the power which he had ordered Col. Horry to ex- ercise of impressing horses and articles necessary for the equipment of his Regiment, to confirm what he had directed. I accordingly sent him a press warrant in which the power was particularly con- fined to horses fit for the Dragoon service and not in public service, informing him also that your Regiment are to do duty on horse-back, this therefore would give him no power to take breeding mares and yearlings; in order to exchange them for horses, such not being fit
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for his Regiment, nor the only horse a man has who is required to do militia duty on horse-back ; I am afraid if all plow horses were exempted, an exclusion would prevent our getting any horses at all for all may be brought under the description ; however, it is cer- tainly extremely hard and ought not to be suffered, that the plough horses necessarily employed to raise bread for the poorer kind of people, who use horses as a substitute for negroes, should be taken ; this would be very oppressive. I find every authority may be abused, and perhaps that which I have given on this head may be, therefore, to cut the matter short, wherever you find that it is wan- tonly exercised and an oppressive and improper use of it made within the district of your Brigade, I give you full authority to or- der the officer attempting to impress such subjects, to cease from it or have them restored, if'impressed. It would give me pleasure to restore every encroachment on the liberties of the people and shall certainly do so, as far as my power extends in any of the cases which you say you will mention to me when we meet. Unluckily Col. Lee went to Virginia last Friday. If he was here I should have immediately enquired into Mr. Ravenel's case, and had it re- dressed. However, pray inform me if you can where the mare is, and I will endeavor to have her taken and restored. I shall, before I hear from you, as soon as I see Gen. Greene or any of Col. Lee's officers, enquire into this matter. I daily expect to hear officially of Cornwallis being reduced, and hope Charles Town will be the next object of the combined army. It is not improbable that Count De Grasse may have sent or send some ships to block up the harbor. Pray give us what intelligence you can from below, that you think may be depended on. I will send you that from Virginia if good, as it must be, as soon as we can get it.
I am, with great regard, dear sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
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[No. 187.] Gen. Marion to Col. Peter Horry.
OCTOBER 11, 1781.
Sir :
It was not my intention to prevent you from equipping your Reg-
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iment by issuing the order you allude to, but to prevent a number of idle men who make it a plea that they are working for you, and check the liberty some of your officers take in stopping any men they please from coming out on duty. Enclosed is permission for such workmen as I think are necessary for you. I gave a few days ago one Dukes, near Lenud's Ferry, who says he is preparing leather for you, a permit to continue to work for you. I think an agent to procure what you wanted from George Town may be ap. pointed from your corps, as you have a number of officers who must be idle at present. The time is lost when your Horse would have been of service to me. You will therefore send your men to Gen. Greene, agreeably to his orders.
I am your obedient servant,
F. MARION.
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[No. 188.] Gor. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
OCTOBER 11, 1781. Dear Sir :
Lest upon the construction of the militia Act of February, 1779, which makes offenders liable to pay a sum not exceeding what is therein mentioned and treble their last tax, a doubt should arise about what tax is meant, whether the last which was paid previous to the passing of the law, or what is paid since it passed, that being the last tax which has been paid, I think it necessary to intimate to you that the law must be continued to mean the last tax which was paid antecedent to the passing the act, and not that which has been paid since. You will therefore, have this explanation proper- ly made known throughout your Brigade, asa rule by which court martials are to be governed in their determinations.
I am, sir, your humble servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
[No. 189.] Gov. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
OCTOBER 12th, 1731.
Dear Sir :
The Captains of several vessels with commissions of Letters of
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Marque from Congress, have some time ago made a practice of landing on our Islands or sea coasts, and others of coming up the rivers and taking away from plantations, negroes and other proper- ty under pretence of their owners being Tories ; the several per- sons whose property have been so taken, were well known to be friends to the United States, and this practice being highly illegal and unwarrantable, even as to Tories whose property (if they have been guilty of a capital offence) is forfeited to the State, and not plundered to any freebooter who can lay hold of it, I desire that you will be pleased to give the necessary orders and have the most effectual measures taken (within the district of your Brigade) for having all masters of vessels and their crews, who shall commit or attempt to commit the offence above described, apprehended and sent under a sufficient guard to me with the witnesses to prove the fact, that they may be properly tried for it. You will have the ves- sels in which such captains and mariners come, with their cargoes, secured until you shall receive directions from me what is to be done with them, and make a report to me of what the cargoes consist.
Your most obedient servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
[No. 190.] Gov. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
OCTOBER 12, 1781.
Dear Sir :
Policy dictates our preventing the enemy, in Charles Town, from obtaining any supplies, which may either afford them subsistence or the means of making remittances to the British dominions. You will therefore be pleased to give the necessary orders and cause the most effectual measures to be taken (within the district of your Bri- gade) for that purpose, and for securing to the public use such ar- ticles as may be taken in going to the enemy. You will order a re- turn to be made to me of whatever may be seized, and the best care taken of it, until you shall receive my instructions in what manner it shall be disposed of. I am, sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
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[No. 191.] Gor. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
OCTOBER 13, 1781.
Dear Sir :
Mr. Joseph Allston has represented to me (by his son William) that his ill state of health will not permit his doing militia duty, but that he would gladly render any other service in his power to the State ; as my private instructions give you sufficient authority on this head, I have referred young Mr. Allston to you, as the person to whom application should be made; probably you may know- some line in which his father's services may be of much more benefit to the country than any other which he could render as a militia man, even if his health would enable him to say in a camp. You will, I am persuaded, use the discretionary power lodged with you with judgment and propriety. I am, dear sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
[No. 192.] Gov. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
OCTOBER 16, 1781.
Dear Sir :
The bearer, Mr. Edwards, (son of Mr. John Edwards, whom we all know was a staunch friend to America and a very worthy man) wishes to serve his country under you. I am persuaded that as well out of regard to the memory of his father as to encourage the zeal of this young gentleman, you will either take him (if you have a vacancy) into your family, or give him some proper appoint- ment which I would be glad that you would.
I am, with great regard, sir, Your most obedient servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
[No. 193.] Gov. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
Dear Sir :
OCTOBER 16, 1781.
I have just now received yours of the 13th inst., by the bearer
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You were misinformed with respect to young Allston's business with me; but had it been what you were told, the Waccamites would have been disappointed, for my sentiments correspond ex- actly with yours on the point you mention. The orders that no sub- stitutes be admitted will answer the end you propose, and make them, as well as others of the same stamp, either go into the British lines, de militia duty, or pay fines, as a court martial may inflict, unless you think proper to make use of my private instructions with respect to them. Iam told that an offer is to come from the Wac- camaw men, about furnishing a quantity of salt in order to be ex- cused from militia duty. If it should I shall refer it to you to fix the matter with them. Dr. Neufville was taken sick at Salisbury, on his way from the northward. He may probably be recovered ere now. I will write to him to come on directly in order to be your surgeon, and in the mean time will endeavor to get one for you from camp, though I fear I cannot, as the troops are exceeding sick and in want of doctors. Yours of the 15th is also just come to hand by Capt. Greene, with Mr. D -- , whom I have sent to Sheriff Kimball. You will be pleased to consider the directions re- specting B's. estate as extended to D., and give the same orders about the latter, as you have done about the former. You will eith- er confine Mr. W. where you think proper and he will be safe, or send him with the proofs of the charge you mention against him under guard to me, and send Mr. S., into the enemy's lines, and do the same with every man that is taken at home. I would make the rule general as to every man so taken, but it may happen that good men will sometimes be taken at their own houses, and it would be hard to send them in to remain with the enemy. This is no time to be trifled with, we must be in earnest. Therefore all men thus taken, who are reasonably suspected of not being friends to the State, are to be dealt with as above mentioned. I wish Mr. S. could- be immediately exchanged. Gen. Greene is to be here to-day, and will speak to him on the subject, though I fear it cannot be done as Major Barry is come up, for he cannot (though a favorite) get ex- changed for Washington ; and I presume from that circumstance the cartel suspended for the present. I have the pleasure to inform yon that Congress have at last, on the 1Sth ultimo, ordered the Board of War, to have the mines at Limsburg in Connecticut pre-
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pared for the reception of five hundred British soldiers, to remain there as prisoners unexchangeably, until the American soldiers who were forced into the British service at Charles Town and elsewhere are returned to the United States. This measure, or the putting these men on board the French fleet as mariners, is what I have often and strenuously recommended long ago, but it never could be ef- fected sooner. It is, however, better late than never, and though so long postponed, will, I hope, produce good corsequences. The General writes to me that he Ins received a letter from the Presi- dent of Congress, informing him that the French fleet had sunk a 74 gun ship, disabled five more, and drove the rest of the British fleet into the hook at New York. We have no later intelligence from Virginia than to the 25th ult., when Gen. Washington had twenty-six thousand inen, half of them regulars, and was to begin his operations by regular approaches on the 27th. God grant that he may be successful there and give us peaceable and quiet posses- * sion both of our town and country.
I am, dear sir, your humble servant.
J. RUTLEDGE.
[No. 194.] Gov. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.
OCTOBER 16, 1781.
Dear Sir :
As some of the wagons from George Town can bring the four boxes of Indigo of Mr. Sinclair's that you mentioned, I wish you would send it by them. They will pass by you in two or three days. I must also request the favor of you as soon as the situation of the enemy will admit of your so doing, to have all the Indigo brought from the South side of Santee to the North side, and lod- ged at Mr. John Cantey's or some other safe place, where Mr. Richardson will send for it. This will, I hope, add considerably to our supply, which falls much shorter from below than I expected. Our salt here is reduced to the last half barrel. Be pleased to think of us and forward the order to Swinton. The ammunition you wrote for, went down yesterday, I am, dear sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. RUTLEDGE.
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P. S. I will think of what you say about Putnam, and give you an answer in a day or two, being at present much hurried.
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[ No. 195.] Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
HEAD QUARTERS, HIGH HILLS SANTEE, October 16, 1781.
Dear Sir :
Your letter of the 14th, and the prisoners, have arrived. Col. Mayham's success is highly honorable to him and corps, and I hope will be followed by future strokes of good fortune. We have got a small supply of salt, but it comes on heavily from the northward, owing to the difficulty of obtaining transportation. I should be glad therefore to have it reduced to a certainty whether salt can be had at Waccamaw, and whether Putnam can supply us with that article, as well as rum and sugar, all of which we are in want of and will pay in bills for. Since I wrote you before, I have been up to Charlotte, where I expected to meet Cols. Shelby and Sevier with about 1000 militia, but they had not arrived. I am anxious to collect a force to drive the enemy into Charles Town, and for this purpose urged Gen. Sumter to collect his militia and State troops as soon as possible, but I am afraid it will be some time be- fore either the mountain militia or Gen. Sumter be ready to join us in the attempt. I am glad to hear the enemy are moving down into the lower country, and I wish it was more in our power to hasten them. The President of Congress writes me that the French fleet have sunk one British 74 and disabled five more, and drove the whole into the hook of New York. Gen. Washington's operations against Lord Cornwallis is carrying on with all imaginable dili- gence, and by the fifteenth or twentieth at farthest, it was expected the whole British army would be prisoners. Col. Lee has gone to solicit a Southern expedition, which I hope will take place, and re- lieve this unfortunate and distressed country.
I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
NATH. GREENE.
13
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[No. 196.] Gen. Marion to Lieut. Col. Mayham.
OCTOBER 18, 1781. Dear Sir :
I am not a little surprised to find you have refused giving up Mr, Jno. Oliver's horse, which you have impressed, when I sent an or- der for that purpose, and I am much more surprised to think that you believe I have assumed more power than I have a right to. To convince you, I have sent the Governor's orders to me, as I wish not to have any difference with a man whom I have long had the greatest regard for, but in the mean time, if you do not return Mr. Oliver that horse, which I now repeat the order to do, without any further hesitation, I shall and will try the matter in a general court martial, which would give me great pain and uneasiness, but must do through necessity. I have endeavored to do every thing to com- plete your corps, and shall still continue to do so, notwithstanding any difference of opinion may arise between us, but I think it high time that you and I should know whether I havethe power of com- manding you or not. This is so essential a point in our country's service that I cannot put it off while it is contested.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
F. MARION.
N. B. You will please send me the Governor's letter as soon as you have perused it, and your final determination about the horse.
[ No. 197.] Gor. Rutledge to Col. Peter Horry.
OCTOBER 22d, 1781. Sir :
I should have answered your letter (received about a week ago) sooner, but sickness prevented. I have revoked the order to the Brigadier of militia with respect to those who furnished men or money which procured them for your Regiment, but this is to ope- rate as to what is past. Ithink much more money might and should have been paid than I find was by many persons from exemption
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from militia duty, and I hope a much better method may be taken to recruit our Cavalry than the exempting men from milita duty for trifling sums. In my order to the officers of militia, a liberty is al- lowed to volunteers, to join any regular corps of Horse, provided the person so serving, do not merely pretend to do so, in order to skulk from militia duty, but that they actually remain with the corps which they join, and serve with them, under such articles, as the rest of the corps does and for a certain time. If you will men- tion McCormick's and Miller's cases to Gen. Marion, he will order what is proper to be done on the occasion. I have not the Continen- tal articles of war by me. I am, sir,
Your very humble servant, J. RUTLEDGE.
P. S. You will be pleased to make returns to me, of all per- sons to whom you have given exemptions from militia duty, in con- sequence of their having furnished men or money which procured them for your Regiment, distinguishing the several militia Regi- ments to which the person so exempted belongs, and the consider- ation for which such exemptions was given, and I shall expect to receive the returns within ten days. No other persons but such as are mentioned in them will be excused from militia duty ; and it is proper that the Brigadiers should be furnished with copies of these returns, which I shall order to be transmitted to them. You will also furnish me with a list of such as have joined your corps as volunteers.
[ No. 198.] Gen. Greene to Col. Peter Horry.
HEAD QUARTERS, Oct. 23d, 1781. Dear Sir :
I have received your favor of the 4th; the man that brought it did not wait for an answer. I am sorry you meet with such em- barrassment in procuring horses. I find a difficulty in accommoda- ting the prejudices of the people, the idea of stripping the mili- tia of their horses, for the regular corps, being necessary to promote the public service. Both the militia and regulars are necessary to support the service, and it seems to me like robbing Peter to pay
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Paul, to disqualify the militia for service to equip the regular force. I know of no other mode but the middle path, which is to take the horses of those only who do not go into the field. The Governor and myself have had several conversations on the subject of horses, and he appears perfectly disposed to do all in his power, but the means are small and the demand great. This is a crisis of affairs ; a few days and we can better tell what is best to be done with re- spect to the horses. I expect intelligence daily from Virginia, of the most interesting nature. You will please put yourself and corps under command of General Marion, and follow his orders. Such of your men as you cannot mount, you will have armed as Infantry to serve on foot. A large body of Riflemen are on their march to join Gen. Marion, and I am in hopes soon to drive the enemy into Charles Town.
With esteem, I am, dear sir,
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