USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 23
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
"Though there were some royalists in every part of the province, the only settlement in which they out- numbered the friends of Congress, was in the country
331
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
between the Broad and Saluda rivers .* When it was determined to raise troops, the inhabitants of that part of the province could not be persuaded that the measure was necessary. Feeling themselves happy and free from present oppression, they were averse from believing that any designs, inimical to American liberty, had been adopted by the British government. Instead of signing the association, they signed papers at their general musters, declaring their unwillingness to concur in the measures recommended by Congress. The council of safety sent the hon. William-Henry Drayton, and the rev. William Tennent, into their set- tlement, to explain to them the nature of the dispute, and to bring them over to a co-operation with the other inhabitants. They had several publick meet- ings, and much eloquence was exerted to induce them to sign the association. Some were convinced and subscribed that bond of union; but the greater num- ber could not be persuaded that there was any neces- sity for congresses, committees, or a military estab- lishment. Suspicion, that bane of society, began to exert her mischievous influence. The friends of the old government doubted the authenticity of all pamph- lets and newspapers, which ascribed to the British troops in Boston, or to the British government, any designs injurious to the rights of the colonists. They believed the whole to be an imposition by artful men, who wished to excite storms, that they might shew their skill in pilotage. The friends of Congress sus- pected the leading men of the royalists to be in the
* "Excepting in that part of the country included between the Broad and Saluda rivers the non-subscribers were comparatively few. In Charleston, where the general committee sat, their number amounted to about forty."-Ramsay, page 42. The Chicago paper that accused Senator Tillman of uttering a falsehood, when he said that South Carolina had "stood to the front in 1776", was evidently better acquainted with the falsehoods of the Sabines and Sumners than with the truths of the Ramsays.
332
THE HISTORY OF
pay of governor Campbell. Reports were circulated by one party, that a plan was laid to seize the com- missioners sent by the council of safefy; by the other, that the third provincial regiment was brought up to compel the inhabitants to sign the association. Mo- tives and designs were reciprocally attributed to each other of the most ungenerous nature and mischievous tendency. The royalists embodied for reasons similar to those which had induced the other inhabitants to arm themselves against Great-Britain. They suspect- ed their adversaries of an intention to dragoon them into a compliance with the measures of Congress; and they, in their turn, were suspected of a design to com- mence hostilities against the associators for disturbing the established royal government. Camps were formed in opposition to each other, and great pains were taken to increase their respective numbers. Moderate men employed their good offices to prevent bloodshed. After some days, the leaders on both sides met in con- ference. Several explications having taken place, a treaty was reciprocally agreed to, by which it was stipulated, that 'the royalists should remain in a state of neutrality.' Both parties* retired to their homes. and a temporary calm succeeded. Mr. Robert Cun- ningham, who had been a principal leader among the royalists, continued to encourage opposition to the popular measures, and declared that he did not con- sider himself as bound by the treaty. Suspicion again began to spread her poison. This declaration was con- strued as an evidence of a fixed intention to disturb the peace, by another insurrection. To prevent his
*This treaty was signed at Ninety-Six on Sept. 16, 1775, by William Henry Drayton on behalf of the Whigs, and by Thomas Fletchal, John Ford, Thomas Green, Evan McLaurin and Benjamin Wofford on behalf of the Tories. The witnesses to the agreement were William Thomson, Ely Kershaw and Francis Salvador.
333
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
attempting any thing of that kind, he was apprehend- ed, brought to town, and committed to gaol. Patrick Cunningham instantly armed a party of his friends, and pursued, with the expectation of rescuing his brother. The party collected on this occasion seized a thousand pounds of powder, which was at that junct- ure passing through their settlement. This was pub- lick property, and had been sent by the council of safety as a present to the Cherokee Indians. To in- flame the minds of the people, some designing men among the royalists propagated a report, that the powder was sent to the Indians, accompanied with in- structions to them, to kill every man who should re- fuse to sign the association .* This charge, entirely false in itself, was not believed by any of the well-in- formed inhabitants; nevertheless it answered the pur- poses of party among some of the ignorant multitude. It was confidently asserted that some private marks had been agreed on by the popular leaders and In- dian chiefs, to distinguish the associators from the non-associators; the former of whom were to be spared, and the latter sacrificed. Great pains were also taken to exasperate the inhabitants against the council of safety, for furnishing the Indians with powder at a time when the white people could not be supplied with that necessary article.
"Major Williamson, who commanded the militia in
* "Thus Pearis swears, that he 'is assured, from what I said to the Indians, I intended to employ them against the white men, for the committee', although it is notorious, at the great store at the Conga- rees, that I never saw the Indians but in public, and that the speech I made to them was by an interpreter, in a crowded room, and that several copies were taken from the original draught of it, now deposi- ted emong the public papers, in which draught and copies there is no foundation for Pearis' oath and charge in this particular."-Dray- ton's "address to the inhabitants of the frontier settlements", Jour- nal of Council of Safety, Dec. 6th, 1775, Collections S. C. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, pages 55, 56. '
334
THE HISTORY OF
favour of Congress, went in quest of the party which had taken the publick powder, but was soon obliged to retreat before their superior numbers. The royal- ists, irritated by the capture of Cunningham, and flushed with success in seizing the powder, were at this time more numerous than at any other period. Major Williamson was reduced to the necessity of re- treating into a stockade fort, in which he and his par- ty were confined without any water, till, after three days, by digging they obtained a scanty supply. The royalists possessed themselves of the gaol at Ninety- Six, and from that station fired into the fort. Mon- sieur St. Pierre, an ingenius French gentleman who had settled there some years before, and had made considerable progress in the cultivation of vineyards. was killed by the fire of the royalists, and some others were wounded; but on the whole, very little execu- tion was done. After some days the assailants hoisted a flag, and proposed a truce. Reciprocal permission was given to forward expresses from the royalists to the governor, and from major Williamson to the council of safety. Both parties once more dispersed, and retired to their homes.
"Domestick division at this time was particularly to be dreaded. An invasion from Great-Britain was soon expected. A British fleet and army in front, and disaffected inhabitants in rear, threatened destruction to the friends of Congress. Lord William Campbell had uniformly recommended to the royalists to re- main quiet till the arrival of a British force. The ad- vice, so well calculated to distract the views of the popu- lar leaders, had been providentially frustrated. Similar reasons of policy to those which induced the royal governor to recommend inaction to the royalists. operated with the council of safety to crush their in- testine foes before that force should arrive. Their
335
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
late insurrection, in violation of the treaty of Ninety- Six, gave ground to doubt of the sincerity of their en- gagements to continue in a state of neutrality. From their past conduct it was feared, that, as soon as a proper opportunity should offer itself, they would throw their weight into the royal scale. It was there- fore judged necessary, for the publick safety, to march an army into their settlements before that event should take place."
"The provincial congress did not rest their cause on reasoning alone, but enforced their measures with an army sufficiently numerous to intimidate opposition. They sent a large body of militia and new raised reg- ulars, under the command of colonels Richardson and Thomson. They were also joined by seven hundred militia of North-Carolina, commanded by colonels Polk and Rutherford, and two hundred and twenty regulars commanded by colonel Martin. In a little time Congress had an army of several thousand men under their direction, with instructions 'to apprehend the leaders of the party which had seized the powder, and to do all other things necessary to suppress the present and prevent future insurrections'. Colonel Richardson proceeded in the execution of these or- ders with great moderation and propriety. A demand was made that the persons who had seized the powder should be delivered up to the justice of their coun- try. Assurances were publickly given that no injury should be done to inoffensive persons, who would re- main quietly on their plantations. The leaders of the royalists found great difficulty in persuding their followers to embody. They were cut off from all com- munication with governor Campbell. Unconnected with their brethren in other parts, there was no union in their measures. They were 'a rope of sand' with-
336
THE HISTORY OF
out order and subordination, and without that en- thusiasm which inspired the friends of Congress. Their leaders were destitute of political knowledge and without military experience. The unanimity of the whigs, and the great numbers which, from all sides, invaded the settlements of the royalists, disheartened them from facing their adversaries in the field of bat- tle. They saw resistance to be vain, and that the new government had much greater energy than they had supposed. The whigs acted by system, and in concert" with their brethren in the adjacent states, and were directed by a council of safety composed of the great- est and wisest men in the province. They easily car- ried every point-seized the leaders of the royalists- and dispersed their followers. In erecting this busi- ness they did not lose a single man, and only one of their number, major Polk, was wounded. This de- cided superiority gave confidence to the popular lead- ers, and greatly strengthened their hands. The van- quished royalists retired to their plantations; but on all occasions discovered as much obstinacy in oppos- ing their countrymen, as their countrymen did firm- ness in opposing Great-Britain. Several of them, and of others who were averse from fighting, retired over the mountains, where, remote from the noise and bus- tle of war, they enjoyed that independence for which so many were contending. In the year 1778, when every inhabitant was called on to take an oath of al- legiance to the state, many of them voluntarily aban- doned their country for the barren sands of East- Florida. In the same year, when the alliance between France and the United States of America was publish- ed, others of them nominally joined the Congress. Mr. Robert Cunningham and two or three more of their leading men, were elected members of the legis- Iature. After the reduction of Savannah, a consider-
337
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
able party rose a second time in favour of royal gov- ernment; but they were completely routed on their way to the British encampments in Georgia .* They afterwards remained quiet till the British obtained possession of Charleston.
"Excepting these ill-concerted insurrections; no pub- lick body in the province, prior to the British con- quests in the year 1780, gave avowed evidence of their disapprobation of the popular measures."
* *
*
"Vigorous decisive measures characterized the pop- ular party; while their opposers either acted without system, or from timid counsels which were feebly ex- ecuted.
"No revolution was ever effected with greater una- nimity, or with more order and regularity. The lead- ing men in every part of the province, with very few exceptions, from the first moments of the contest, ex- erted themselves in the cause of their country. Their abilities and influence gave union and system to the proceedings of the people. A few persons in the col- ony hated republican governments, and some ignor- ant people in the back country were induced to be- lieve that the whole was an artful deception, imposed upon them for interested purposes, by the gentlemen of fortune and ambition on the sea coast. But among the independent enlightened freemen of the province, who loved liberty, and had spirit to risk life and for- tune in its support, there were very few to be found who took part with the royalists."
We have it, therefore, from Dr. Ramsay, an eye-wit- ness, that the only place in South Carolina where the Tories outnumbered the Whigs, was in that little tri- angle between the Broad and Saluda rivers-the great-
*At Kettle Creek, by Col. Andrew Pickens.
338
THE HISTORY OF
er part of which was in Ninety-Six District and the lesser part in Orangeburgh District. And that little triangle constituted a very small part of South Caro- lina, and the people there dwelling constituted a very small portion of the population of South Carolina, and we further have it from Dr. Ramsay that they were either ignorant, or selfish. republic haters, or timid- and we might add-or criminals, and that it was not a difficult matter for the well organized Whigs to con- trol them, as they had no organization, system or ability. We have already seen how they were thrice brought into line, the first time by Drayton's per- suasion, although he had Col. Thomson's regiment along-the second time by Richardson and Thomson, and the third time, just after the fall of Savannah in 1778.
And the fact is that nowhere else in South Carolina did the Tories attain any strength, and if the State was ever overrun by Tories it was in 1780, after the fall of Charleston, and it was not South Carolina To- ries that did the overruning. but it was Clinton's over- whelming army of regulars, assisted by Tories direct from the Northern States: those from East Florida, who were the offscourings of the whole thirteen colo- nies; those of Georgia, where there were many set- tlers only lately from Great-Britain: and the few fur- nished by South Carolina. And with all of these odds against them-to say nothing of the bad management of Lincoln and Gates-the people of South Carolina were fighting their own battles and driving out and defeating the enemy at the very moment that General Greene was sent down to their assistance.
Toward the close of 1775, the Council of Safety in Charletown received intelligence of the approach of a powerful British fleet and army destined for the re-
339
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
duction of Charlestown. The Council immediately be- gan to make preparations for defending the coast. With that object in view the following letter was ad- dressed to Col. Richardson:
"Charles-Town, Dec. 30th, 1775.
"Sir -- We have judged it necessary to detain your messenger Newton. upon an information which we have received by express from the Committee at George-Town, of a fleet of ships having been seen sail- ing southerly on Christmas evening, said to be eighteen sail, five of which are very large-the weather has ever since been boisterous and thick, in which no ship could with safety approach the land-the first clear day will probably confirm or remove our apprehen- sions. In the mean time we shall direct Col. Thom- son to march his Regiment of Rangers immediately to Monck's Corner, and if you can prevail upon a body of volunteer foot, from 500 to 1,000 men, under proper officers, also to march to the same place, we desire you to do so. The commanding officer, upon his ap- proach, will give notice to this board, and we will transmit the necessary orders for his further proceed- ings, and we shall give orders after their encampment that payments be regularly made to the troops, and rations of provision duly served to the companies. We confine our application wholly to volunteers, be- cause we would not harrass the militia who have al- ready been engaged in a severe service, nor call upon them out of turn but by their own consent.
"By order of the Council of Safety.
"Henry Laurens, President."
On the same day the following letter was addressed to Col. Thomson:
"Sir-If Col. Richardson from some unexpected oc- currence shall not find it necessary to detain you in
340
THE HISTORY OF
his army for the service of the colony, you are direct- ed to march that part of your regiment of Rangers now with you, with all expedition to Monck's Corner, and upon your approach to that place. to give notice to this board.
"By order of the Council of Safety.
"Henry Laurens, President. "Col. Thomson."
Col. Thomson was next placed in charge of the fort at Dorchester, as will be seen by the following extract from an order from the Council of Safety, dated Jan- uary 3rd, 1776, to Col. Joseph Glover, then command- ing at Dorchester: "You will, at the end of the sta- ted time for service of the draughts now upon duty, discharge the whole, and have the command with the officer of the Regiment of Rangers."
Next we extract from the Journal of the Council of Safety for January 12th, 1776 :* "Col. Huger, Col. Motte, Col. Thomson and Col. Roberts, being ordered to attend, and attending accordingly, were conferred with.
"Ordered, That Col. Thomson do cause a detach- ment of fifty or sixty of such of his rangers as are good riflemen and will volunteer to go on the service, to proceed to Sullivan's Island, immediately, for the better securing the possession thereof.
"Ordered, That Col. Thomson be immediately sup- plied with twenty-five pounds of gun-powder and one hundred pounds of lead, for the use of the said detach- ment.""}
*Collections S. C. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, pages 170 and 171.
t "Ordered, That one quarter of a hundred more of gunpowder be issued immediately to Col. Thomson.
"Ordered, That fifty weight more of lead be immediately issued to Col. Thomson."-Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 13th, 1776.
341
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
The next day the following order was sent to Col. Thomson:
"In the Council of Safety, "Jan. 13th, 1775.
"Sir-You are to detach as many of your regiment of rangers with rifles and other good guns, in failure of rifles, as will voluntarily go,* to Sullivan's Island, un- der the command of Major Mayson; who must apply to Capt. Edward Blake early to-morrow for proper means of transportation; which will be provided by him.
"By order of the Council of Safety.
"Henry Laurens, President. "Lieut. Col. Thomson."
On January 14th, "Col. Thomson of the Rangers, re- ported, that sixty-six rank and file, and eight officers, of his regiment, had embarked for Sullivan's Island, together with twenty-eight of the prisoners under his charge, who declared themselves willing to give all possible assistance in forwarding the works to be erected there."+
*In a letter, of the same date as the above, to Dr. Oliphant, Henry Laurens wrote: "The rangers are heartily disposed to the service".
+Journal of the Council of Safety, Jan. 14, 1776.
"Col. Thomson also reported the names of some other prisoners less criminal than the rest, having been misled, as objects of the council's mercy, and fit to be discharged."-Journal of the Council of Safety, Jan. 14th, 1776. Six prisoners were discharged on this recommenda- tion.
"Col. Thomson acquainted the board, that he had brought down all such of those prisoners sent to town by Col. Richardson, as had not been already discharged, or gone to work on Sullivan's Island." -Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 15, 1776. The last of the prison- ers were thereupon discharged. :
"To Col. Thomson, to pay '49 days wages of rangers employed as carpenter's on Sullivan's Island, at 15s., ..... 36 15 00" .- Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 29, 1776.
"To Col. Thomson, for discharging the pay allowed to prisoners from the back country, who have laboured for the public, on Sulli-
342
THE HISTORY OF
In the midst of all of these preparations for war, Col. Thomson was obliged to turn his attention to a matter of discipline in his regiment. for, from the Journal of the Council of Safety, for January 23rd, we learn that on that day Colonel Thomson "applied for a warrant to hold a general court martial". which was granted. From the Journal of the Council of Safety for January 29th we learn that William Morris was tried by this court-martial for mutiny, and that he was convicted, and sentenced by the court-martial to receive two hundred and fifty lashes and be sent a prisoner on board the ship Prosper. This sentence was approved by the Council, except as to sending Morris on board the Prosper.
At this time Col. Thomson's regiment was very much divided up. About one hundred of his men were on duty in Charlestown ;* Capt. Caldwell, with his com- pany, was stationed at Fort Charlotte:+ Capt. Purvis,
van's Island, and are now discharged, ... £118 00 0."-Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 23, 1776.
*Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 26, 1776.
t "To Capt. John Caldwell, the pay-bills of his company of rangers from September 26th, to 1775, Jan. 20th, 1775, ..... £3525 11 8" .- Jour- nal of Council of Safety, Jan. 25, 1776.
"We desire you will augment the number of militia now on duty in Fort Charlotte to the full number of militia and rangers which are there at present, and put them under the command of an officer in whom you can confide." * * * * "When this order is carried into effect, Capt. Caldwell will withdraw the rangers and march to Charlestown; we therefore recommend it to immediate exe- cution."
*
*
*
"Capt. Caldwell has presented to us an account for work done at the Fort by certain Carpenters, in which the charges appear to be ex- tremely high, and the Captain has nothing to say in support of them, and declares himself a bad judge of such matters; the amount moreo- ver is neither certified nor attested. We therefore take the liberty of enclosing it under this cover, and we desire you will cause a proper inquiry to be made, and give us the needful information."-Council of Safety to Maj. Willamson, Jan. 25, 1776.
343
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
with his company, was stationed at Dorchester ;* and perhaps other detachments were serving elsewhere, but from the headings of the letters in Col. Thomson's order book we are led to conclude that his headquar- ters during the spring of 1776, were about the Ten Mile House. The following is a copy of one of Col. Thom- son's orders during this period of preparation for a British attack:
"March 17, 1776.
"To Capt. Robert Goodwin, Congarees.
"Dear Sir :- I expect to see you at Nelson's Ferry by Friday next, or Saturday at farthest, with your old Company and all your new recruits. If you will call on me Thursday or Friday, I will go to Nelson's Ferry. Please to order Lieut. Liles to recruit men for Capt. Donaldson .* as he is in his Company. I hope your Company will be full very soon.
"I am. dear sir, your humble sert .. "Wm. Thomson."
On the first of June advices were received in Char- lestown that a fleet was at anchor off Charlestown bar. The next day orders were sent to the country troops to repair to the defense of Charlestown. Col. Thom-
"In the Council of Safety, Į Jan. 27th, 1776.
"Sir-We desire you will order C'apt. Caldwell to return to Fort Charlotte; and as soon as Major Williamson shall have put into that post as many militia men as will replace Capt. Caldwell's company, he is to march to Charles-Town, with that company, and report his arrival to the Congress or this board.
"By order,
"Henry Laurens, President.
"Col. Thomson."
*See letter to Capt. Purvis, dated Jan. 30, 1776 .- Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 31, 1776.
"Read a return of the gunpowder and other stores at Dorchester, received from Capt. Purves, dated 1st inst."-Journal of Council of Safety, Feb. 3, 1776.
344
THE HISTORY OF
son's regiment was marched down from the Ten Mile House, and the 2nd and 3rd regiments of regulars, un- der Colonels William Moultrie and William Thomson, respectively, were stationed on Sullivan's Island. On June Sth, Gen. Charles Lee, who commanded all the forces in and about Charlestown, issued the following order to Col. Moultrie:
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.