USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 28
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The earnestness of the Council upon this important service impels me in conclusion of the subject again to repeat, it is their order, you take possession of the Fort and Stores without delay & also without delay you transmit a return of your proceedings including a complete Inventory.
I must also this occasion particularly refer you to the Councils orders which I delivered you Yesterday
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for direction in case of opposition by any person either openly or otherwise were presumptive evidence is strong. And this moment when I cannot receive the Instruction of the Council & when I dare not delay the messenger, it occurs to me that Capt! Whitfield how- ever chearfully he may shew an inclination to serve the Colony by resignation, may not be content with a subcommand / if he is a man of spirit he will not/ in such case I recommend that you advise him to come to Charles Town & apply to the Council which I add from a Zeal for the Public service as well as from a feeling for a Gentleman, in the circumstances which he will be reduced to therefore if he follows my advice & does not succeed in This application to the Council, I shall hold myself answerable to reimburse if he de- sires it) the expence of his extra journey in conse- quence of my recommendation.
I have the Honour to be president to the Council & Sir
Your most obedt Servt:
Henry Lawrens
PS: in Council, by order, the Letter which comes inclosed with this is to be delivered to Capt White- field after he has signed the association otherwise not for some Days after You have taken possession of the Fort.
Col William Thomson H L*
Null. Granby near Friday's Ferry, 22d July 177 The Honourable the Council of Safety Gentlemen. I have+
*"The Council having approved the letter, agreed with Thomas Singelton to deliver it to Col. Thomson, for forty pounds currency."- Journal of Council of Safety, July 16, 1774.
+The rest of this letter was not copied into the order book.
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P: S to the Letter dated 22d July 1775 to the Council of Safety.
P. S: Mr: Chesnut informs me that King Prow, with about 50 of the Catawba's are now at Cam- den on a friendly visit. Mr: Kirshaw & I myself are both at a loss what to do with regard to taking some of them into pay for want of Your Instructions .*
W T.
Granby near Friday's Ferry 22d July 177 Colo Henry Lawrens,
Dr Sir, I berewith send you In- closed Copy of orders I sent to Major Mason with the order of the 26th ulto from the Council of safety I am sorry Major Mason, has so unfortunately lost the Gun- powder, & cannot tell why he brought it out of the Fort, perhaps the Council of Safety order'd him to do so, as he told me when on his way up from Town, that he had orders relative to Fort Charlotte, but did not
* "The following letter was written by the President to Joseph Ker- shaw, esq., laid before the Council and approved of:
"Charles-Town, July 25th, 1775.
"Sir-The Council of Safety have ordered me to acknowledge the receipt of your fovour of the 8th instant, and to return their thanks for your assiduity in treating with the old men and head warriors of the Catawba Indians.
"Your assurances that those people are hearty in our interest, and your hopes that forty or fifty of them will cheerfully enter into the service of the Colony, affords the Council additional satisfaction, and the design of uniting them to the Regiment of Rangers is a measure which they altogether approve of, but to be under the particular direc- tion of a white man, agreeable to a resolution of the Congress in their late session.
"The Council request you to give them immediate notice when any body of the Catawbas are ready to march in order to join the Ran- gers, and that you will recommend a white man well qualified to lead them in scouts, and in action. Transmit your notice by the hands of such a one. The Council will give him a commission, and dispatch him with a letter to Col. Thomson, in whose camp he will meet the Indians."-Journal of Council of Safety, July 26, 1775.
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inform me what they were, and kept it a secret from me, as I could wish he had done from all others. I am doubtful that the officers in that Quarter are not the persons esteem'd among their neighbors, & that they have not told the men their duty at the time of their Enlisting them, however you will be better able to Judge when you Peruse the inclosed papers, by which you will also see how Fletchall. Cunningham & Robin- son has deceived and deluded the poor people, in the Fork, Between Broad & Saluda Rivers I am Clearly of opinion if some Gentlemen of the Council of Safety, or of the most noted Character together with Collo Richardson (as many of these People formerly be- longed to his Regiment) could be prevailed on to go up among them that could these unhappy disputes between Great Britain & the Colony's in a proper Light that most of them might be brought over by fair means. I do not mean Fletchall Cunningham & Robinson, if they was Cherokees Chiefs or Leaders I would venture to loose my life or send their Scalps to the Council of Safety But the poor people they have deluded, I am of opinion might yet be convinced of their Error. I think Mr Tennent would be a good hand to send up as a great many of those people are of his - Religion. I sent Lieut: David Hopkins with association Col. Fletchall, & expect him Back on Tuesday or Wednesday next, & will immediately let you know what success he had.
When I was left in Town I apply'd to the Council of Safety for a warrant for our Doctor Alexander Rogers, which I did not then get, and a Blank appointment for his Mate, I likewise apply'd to have an Adjutant appointed would be glad to know if the Council made any order for one.
I am Dr Sir &c
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NB
I would Just beg leave to mention that I am well informed of there being a private *eak & great resentment between Mayson, Kirkland, & this Cun- ningham the latter with some more of his Neighbours think they have not been taken proper notice of; I only throw out those hints for your information.
Camp near Congaree Creek. 29 July 1775. Gentlemen,
My last to You was the 22nd Instant by Capt! Woodward since which I have reed the In- closed Letter from Lieut David Hopkins who I sent with the Association from the President to Col. Fletchall,¿ You likewise have inclosed a Letter hand- ed me last night from Capt: Wise I have recd a Let- ter from Major Mason dated the 22d Inst: wherein he informs me of the arrival of Capt: Purvis with the Day before & that he had only Enlisted eleven Men he farther informs me that he had expected Capt: Polk within Ten Days, from whom I have never yet re- ceived any account therefore cannot inform you with regard to the state of his Company, & neither Cald- well nor Kirkland have yet made me a return of their Company's. Captains Kirshaw, Goodwyn Woodward & Richardson are now in Camp with me & have all their Companys compleat except the Latter who wants four Men yet, which I hope to get in a few
*Torn.
+So, after all, this "chivalrous gentleman of the old school"', of whose "duty to his king" we have heard so much, was nothing but a "sorehead".
¿Letter from Henry Laurens, President of the Council of Safety, to Col. Thos. Fletchall, dated July 14th, 1775: "This letter will be pre- sented to you by an Officer in the Colony Regiment of Rangers, who will be dispatched by Col. Thomson for that special service, and who will wait for your answer."
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Days tho' I find some difficulty in raising Men, as the Enemies to the cause, take great Pains to progagate different reports that the Money they are to be Paid with will not pass &c.
The men with me are chiefly well armed with Rifles what few are wanted I expect to collect in a few Days but their Horses in General appear but low in flesh. about 50 Men are already clothed with their Regimen- tals & shall get the remainder ready as speedy as pos- sible I can as I have a number of Taylors employ'd for that Purpose, but find it little difficult to procure a sufficient Quantity of low priced Blue Broad Cloth.
My Men that rides express, expects that their Ex- pences will be paid by the publick, as their Wages will not be sufficient to support themselves & Horses, & pay traveling charges &c as I never had any Instruc- tion in this matter shall be glad of Yours on that head.
I have order'd Major Mason, if he found that Capt! Caldwells company was sufficient to guard Fort Char- lotte to rendezvous the other three Company's near the ridge, until I reed farther orders. from the mov- ing the Gunpowder first out of the Fort to ninety six, the different accounts of Captain Kirklands behavior in that occasion, Capt: Purvis only having enlisted eleven Men, and not having any intelligence from Polk, together with the minds of the back People be- ing so much agitated at this time that I am really at a loss in what manner to act in regard to the conduct & Behaviour of the different officers in that Quarter, shall therefore be extremely glad of your direction and am with due regard.
Gentlemen Your most obedt Humble Serv! Wm Thomson I am under the necessity of being rather trouble-
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some to you, as the Secretary has not yet furnished me with a Copy of the resolves of the Provincial Con- gress.
Camp near Granby 29 July 1775. Collo Henry Lawrens,
Honour'd Sir, Inclos'd I send you a Copy of a Letter from the Revd Mr Cresswell to Major Mason which with the Letters now inclos'd to the Council of Safety will farthur inform you of the con- fusion in the different parts of the Frontiers of this Colony. from these & the many different accounts that I daily have from up the Country I am at a Loss to say any thing on that subject but as I know it to be my duty to have my small Regiment Trained & complete as soon as in my Power, and to have the , minds of the small Part I have with me as quiet as possible, as they seem rather disatisfied at present oc- casioned me to solicit your Friendship in the follow- ing application.
It was agreed to in Provincial Congress that the Regiment of Rangers which I have the Honour to command was to be upon as good a Footing as the Provincial Rangers in the late Indian War, which I allow they would be at 20€ ₺ month, provided, pro- visions Blanketts, Horses & Ammunition were to be purchased as reasonable as at that time, and that wild Game was as plentiful in the Back Country as they were then, & our Duty to be there, but am sorry to inform You that Goods in the Back Country are be- come scarce & dear, as is also Provisions of all kinds- I have four Companys of my Regiment encamp'd near the Congrees, & I find it extremely difficult to keep them from suffering for want of Provision, which causes much murmuring amongst my Men .. I am convine'd it will not be in my Power to make my Men
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perfect in their Exercise, as it takes them off their duty a great part of their time providing provisions. You are sensible that our duty in the late war, was chiefly in the back - - Country were Provisions were very reasonable, and plenty of Wild Game to be met with, and we were never call'd to this place or lower down, Except when we were ordered to join the Regu- lars, & then we were found in Provisions at the Ex- pense of the publick and all Detachments that were sent below this place were always found in Provisions, which I make no doubt you'll remember on recollec- tion If you'll please to consider a few moments the expence a Person must be at at this time to maintain himself & his Horse, and furnish himself with a Rifle Gun suitable for the occasion I make no doubt but you'll find them on a much worse footing than our Rangers formerly were. If you think any step could be taken to have the privates found in Provision at the expence of the Colony am convinced it would an- swer a good purpose, & quiet the minds of the few I have with me that I can depend upon, and I heartily wish the first resolve of the Congress, respecting the number of Men in each Company had been carried in- to Execution, which number would have been easily rais'd had the Men been found in Provision, even had their pay been something less .- However, this I leave entirely to You. and shall be much oblig'd to you for your advice on the subject. And if you think it proper & Judge it a reasonable request should Es- teem it a favour if you'll communicate it to the Coun- cil of Safety & use your Influence in favour of my Regt or if you think a petition from all the officers setting forth the Inconveniencys the Men labour un- der would answer a better Purpose, should be glad to be informed tho I am persuaded You can be of more service to the Regt than any Petition they can send
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down, as you are well acquainted with the Circum- stances these men must be in being oblig'd to pur- chase Provisions at whatever prices the People where they happen to be stationed at Choses to set upon them
I am very respectfully, Hond: Sir True Copy Your Most obed't Hble Servt
Wm Thomson
Charles Town 3rd Augt 1775.
Dear Sir,
The Council of Safety having fully consid- ered the contents of your three Letters reced by the Hands of Gilbert Gibson have order'd me to reply in the following Terms.
Respecting the movement of your Regt: under your command You are to be govern'd by their late orders untill you shall receive further Instructions. Con- cerning an additional allowance to Your Men, when employ'd as express messengers, the Council Concur in your opinion that somewhat more than the ordinary daily pay ought to be granted, You may be the most competent Judge in this this article & therefore you are requested to adjust & signify what will be suffi- cient and satisfactory, in consideration of Gibson's having been detained in Charles Town he has been al- lowed and paid 15 / pr Day taking all days together, with which he is extremely well satisfied in the ordi- nary course -- perhaps 10s pr Day will be full enough.
The report which has been spread in order to depre- ciate the value of our new paper Currency is equally nugatory and malicious. That Paper stands upon the same foundation on which all our paper Currency is establish'd, the faith and credit of the representatives of the People.
You are particularly enjoyned by the Council to be
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diligent & circumspect in placing to the bottom the late conduct of Capt: Kirkland, as well with respect to the disbanding his Company, as in the affair of the Gun Powder said to have been taken from Major Ma- son by his contrivance. if he has been faulty take the surest evidence of facts and acquaint the Council mi- nutely, of your discoveries on this Head, But as the Character & Honour of an officer is at stake, secrecy will be necessary in order to save both from slander if he is innocent. John Adam Summers after a conver- sation fair & candid on the part of the Council of Safe- ty acknowledged his conviction of the rectitude of the measures taken by the people in opposition to Minis- terial tyranny. & as a proof of his sincerity he signed the general association & promised to obtain the sub- scription of other Men in his Neighborhood to a paper which was delivered to him for that purpose. This Man's deportment before the Council gave no room to suspect him guilty of double dealing but should he de- ceive us You will soon discover it and give proper in- struction* The revd Mr: Creswell's endeavours on the part of American Liberty are laudable & the Council request You to signify to him their sense of his Zeal & good Service.
That part of your dispatches which treats of the dif- ficulty which the Rangers labour under in the article of Rations or daily provisions has had particular re- gard paid to it in Council. there is nothing before the Board of more importance than to concert proper means for keeping that Regiment compleat in number, well disciplined, & perfectly satisfied. It is therefore a matter of great concern to the Council to find that Body now expressing their discontent with terms, which each man must have been fully apprized of be-
*Judge O'Neall says, in his Annals of Newberry District, that Sum- mer fought on the Whig side at the Battle of Stono.
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fore he enlisted, & which the principal officers de- clared in Congress were sufficient for engaging as many Men, as might have been required in these cir- cumstances what other judgment can be formed but that they are disposed to distress the Council in order to force a compliance with exorbitant demands. If after the repeated assurances given in full Congress by the Collo & Major together with concurrent decla- rations of several of the Captains that upon such Pay & such conditions as were stipulated, there was no room to doubt of filling the Regt with proper Men & in a very short space of time. If after the fair & eager Enlisting in the service upon terms previously declared & universally known murmurs are heard amongst the men, against those very terms, what rule can the Council of Safety adopt for their guide It is not likely that if the present attempt should be allow- ed to succeed new demands would thereby be created & somewhat else would be found wanting to pacify Men who have mark'd no limits to their desires.
If they are in earnest & mean to serve their Coun- try the pay to the Rangers is ample & when compared to the No pay of the Militia in Charles Town who per- form daily & nightly service in the same cause, it is superabundant. If they are not in Earnest, if they do not serve from Principle, 'tis impossible to know what will be satisfactory to them. It merits the attention of the Regiment of Rangers that they are paid for holding themselves in readiness to fight their own Battles, & that their fellow subjects who are to bear the principal burthen of Taxation on that account also hold themselves in readiness to join, & in the mean time receive no consideration such reflections if they are Patriots and Lovers of Liberty will stimu- late them to duty & diligence. If they are void of such sentiments, how shall we depend upon them to
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Act with us as Brethern & fellow sufferers in one uni- ted struggle, against the Power which now bears hard upon the general Liberty of all America.
Upon the whole the Council of Safety admonish the officers & Men of the Regt: of Rangers to reflect seri- ously upon the cause & nature of their establishment upon the distressed state of the Colony Finances, to consider that their Brethern the Inhabitants of Charles Town & the adjacent country have chearfully embark'd in the same general service, at a vast ex- pence to Officers & Men without any Kind of Pay or reward. And the Council have further ordered me to signify to you Sir, that they have no legal authority to allow a seperate Pay for provision to your Regimt: a fact which you cannot be ignorant of, nor can they make any alterations except such as shall be mention- ed below in the appointment by the Provincial Con- gress, & they are of opinion that the Honour of the of- ficers are much concerned in this case.
If the following proposition will benefit the service by saving the Men the trouble of seeking their Pro- vision and giving more leisure for perfecting them in Military discipline. You are desired to carry it into execution Vizt to appoint proper Persons to provide & to Issue the necessary supplies of Provision both in Camp and upon march the expence to be deducted from the monthly Pay of the Rangers until the meet- ing of the next provincial Congress before whom a proper representation will be laid & their determina- tion had thereupon. In the mean time the Council have great confidence in your discretion and integrity in the right management of this important concern, & desire to hear from you fully thereupon & and upon every other branch of public business within your de- partment by some early opportunity. Nothing more at present need be said concerning Collo Fletchall as
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Mr. Drayton & the Gentlemen with hin are to take up that affair. You will receive by the Bearer, of this a Packet of Articles of War which were to have gone by Mr. Drayton, & also four Copys of Extracts from the Journals of the Provincial Congress I have the hon- our to be Sir
Your most obed! Servt Henry Lawrens President of the Council of Safety.
Collo Thomson
Congrees 7th Augt 1775./
Gentlemen
I herewith send you inclosed a return of the four Companys now encamped at this place. Capts Wise, Caldwell & Purvis have not yet furnished me with the return of their Companys, and as to Kirk- land and Polk, you'll see by their own Letters of their having deserted the cause as has also their officers and Men except Lieut Mitchell of Kirkland's Compy who I have desired to recruit more Men, & have also desired the other officers now with me to list Men in order to have the two Companys compleated again. shall be much oblig'd to You to appoint Moses Vance Lieut: instead of one of those who deserted, he has been upon duty since the first of last month and as to the other vacancies hope they will be filled up with Gen- tlemen who may be depended upon. for further par- ticulars beg leave to refer you to the Letters from the Honble Wm Henry Drayton & am with due respect
Hond Gentlemen Yrs &c
Wm Thomson
To the Honble the Council of Safety. Gentlemen Congree Store Augt 9th 1775
Yesterday I reed a Letter from the Presi-
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dent written by your orders and in answer to. it I beg leave to inform you, that the late orders mentioned in the letter, by which I am to regulate my future movemts until further Instructions, I have not re- ceived I apprehend those late orders are those Mr. Drayton told me, he himself had drawn up by orders of the Council to be signed by the President conter- manding my first intended march down the country, & directing me to remain where I was encamped & to regulate my future motions & directions from Mr. Drayton & Mr. Tennent. :
These orders have never come to Hand but by Mr Drayton's representation of them and the Papers in his hands signed by the president, I have regulated myself in pursuance of directions from Mr Drayton & Mr Tennent & according to those directions, which perfectly agree with my own Judgment, I have bro- ken up the Camp near this place and shall form a new one in Amelia on the 10th Instant.
As to the affairs of Provisions Mr Drayton has set- tled it I believe to the full satisfaction of the Rangers the terms are these, The officers will give all possible encouragement for People to supply the Camp with Provision & when the Troops are able to purchase Provisions in Camp they are to be restrained in the practice of going abroad to seek any. I will remem- ber my declarations in Congress respecting the pay. Had I officers of My own Choice I should never want Men perfectly satisfied with such an allowance & even the Men now listed would have been content but from the folly of some officers who have in a great degree been the foundation of the late almost fatal uneasi- ness in the Camp on Sunday night last with the par- ticulars of which Mr. Drayton & Mr Tennent have I believe acquainted You. Mr Drayton's discourse to the Troops on this occasion has been of great service,
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as well as his discourse the Evening before from the Effects of which I expect a more punctual obediance than I have hitherto experienced. The Rangers now I am firmly of opinion are content, & perfectly dis- posed to do their duty.
Sign! W Thomson
In the Council of Safety. Charles Town 20th July 1775. Sir,
Our orders to You of the 13th Instant respecting your March to Charles Town, are hereby Counter- manded, as at this Juncture the Presence of the Rangers is necessary in the interior Parts of the Coun- try. You will therefore remain at the Post you now Occupy, unless some unforeseen cause should occasion you to remove, & for your further Proceedings, we re- fer You to the Honble Wm Hen: Drayton, & the Revd Wm Tennent, who are authorized to make a progress into the back Country, to examine into the present uneasiness & disturbances in those parts of the Colony.
For our sense upon your Letters, of the 22nd of July, one to the Council of Safety the other to the President, & Major Mason's Letter of the 10th of July to the Council we refer you to the Gentlemen above men- tioned to be authorized to make a Progress, and we inform you that, by the Hands of Capt: Woodward we have sent the Sum of Five Thousands Pounds for the Payment of the Rangers under your command.
By order &c H. Lawrens Col: Wm Thomson. Copy
Charles Town 11th August 1775.
Sir,
I wrote to You the 4th Inst: by order of the Council of Safety by the Hands of G: Gibson, since
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which the Council have been inform'd by a private Letter that Capt: Polk & his Company of Rangers had renounced the cause of Liberty & abandoned their Duty - - affairs of such moments should be communi- cated by Special Messingers & with out delay, your silence would have induced the Council to suspend their belief of that report had it not been made in pos- sitive terms by one of your officers to Mr Gervais. Great are the difficulties which the true friends of Liberty & their Country have to encounter, but we trust that by perseverance, patience & resolution every obstacle will be surmounted.
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