USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 29
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To the disagreeable tiding above mentioned we have just now received the intelligence from Savan- na which you will find at large in the Copies of those Letters here inclosed- Viz: one from the Council of Safety for Georgia, dated Savanna 1st Augt: 1775./ one from the Committee at Augusta dated 6th Augt & the other from Moses Kirkland dated 31st July to Capt! Middleton to which you are particularly refer- red. the Council of Safety desire you will immedi- ately consult the Hon'ble Mr Drayton if he is in your neighborhood & pursue such measures, relative to the dangerous attack threaten'd upon Augusta as shall ap- pear most likely to suppress the Insurgents & restore peace & Quietness to our friends, Should Mr: Dray- ton be at any considerable distance you will act in this very important & alarming circumstance as shall seem best in your own opinion without delay - - - if our Enemies should succeed in this attempt their hands will be strength'ned & the work of suppressing them will be doubled.
You will, if it sball appear necessary apply to the Commanding officer of the Regiment of Militia & raise as many Volunteers as may be necessary to join the rangers & assure the officers & Men who may give you
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their assistance that the Council of Safety will make immediate order for, paying them for the time which they may be on duty & also for their Provisions when accounts properly certified shall be sent in. In a word the Council rely upon your Zeal & good conduct in this dangerous conjuncture, when it is impossible for them to give explicit orders. and they will expect to hear from you by return of this Messenger (Philip Hill) & as frequently afterward as there shall be occa- sion.
I am Sir Your Most Obedt Servt Henry Lawrens President of the Council of Safety.
You know what will be proper to be done with Capt! Kirkland when practicable & safe meantime the secre'cy formerly enjoyned will be necessary.
Charles Town 13th August 1775./
Sir,
We refer to the contents of our Letter of the 11th Instr which will accompany this. from the total silence of yourself and M! Drayton upon the expected attack opon Augusta we are willing to hope, that our friends have been cautiously alarmed, nevertheless we must not loose sight of an object of such importance. We therefore Confirm our late orders & here inclose a Letter for Capt! Hammond which we request you to dispatch by a special Messinger, unless some other safe & immediate opportunity shall offer. We have applied assistance in Case of need, both as an Officer of Militia & a friend to the Cause of the united Colo- ny's Under Cover with this You will receive Eight Commissioners. Sign'd by us Viz: 1 for J L Peyer Im- hoff Esq! to be a Capt! of Rangers.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
1 for Ch: Heatly, Esq! to be a Capt" also. 1 for Moses Vance to be a Lieutenant dated the 1st July the day on which you say he entered the Service. 5 to be appointed & the Blanks to be properly filled up by you in which we trust you will consult solely the Interest of the service - this is an extraordinary measure which we have consented to in the present unsettled state of your Regiment, hoping that by a discreet dis- tribution of these Commissions the Company's will be filled up by good Men & that the Public. may reap some advantage from the vast charge which has al- ready been incurred by that establishment, but it must not be drawn into Precedent.
We think it is now necessary to distinguish in each Company first & second Lieutenants, Seniority will be determined hereafter by the respective dates of Your Commission which in these you must vary for that purpose being careful not to antidate. When you have filled up these Commissions you will trans- mit to us immediately the names & dates .- We can not account for the miscarriage of our Letter which You say had not reach'd You, if our Secretary can write a Copy of it in time you will receive it under this cover.
It affords us some satisfaction to learn by Your Let- ter of the 9th that the remaining Rangers were Con- tent & perfectly disposed to do their duty, we hope that disposition will be lasting, the effect of a true sense of their Duty & not the transient product of an harrangue.
You will find the Copy above mentioned under this Cover the original we believe went by the Hands of Captn Woodward & ought to be inquired for.
By order of the Council of Safety.
Coll: William Thomson ..
Henry Lawrens President.
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Hon: Wm H: Drayton Esq! Granby 10 Augt 1775. Sir,
Yester morning I recd the Inclosed Letters from Town, and immediately sett out for this place in order to forward them to You, Inclosed You have a Copy of Letter I recd from Coll: Lawrens, shall be glad of your advise or order on the matter, I cannot think of proceeding on any account whatsoever as long as you are continued in ye Back parts without Your order, which shall be Immediately put in Exe- cution I expect all the Companys that had leave will meet this day in Amelia. I am to meet Capt! Theius' Company tomorrow & will do all in my Power to have them to sign and settle other matters as you have desired. Sunday I shall return to Camp where I shall remain untill I hear from You. I recd from the Council of Safety Capts Commissions, for Imhoff & Heatly. 1 Lieut: for Vance, and 5 Blank Lieut: Com- mission I shall not dispose of any of the Blanks untill I hear from You, I recd from the Council of Safety Copies of three Letters from Savannah, which has alarm'd them.
I send off this day to Major Williamson to see if there is any Body of Men collected in that part, be it as it will I cannot act with Propriety without your or- ders as long as you are in the Back.
Sign'd Wm Thomson.
Amelia, 21st August 1775.
Capt! John Lewis Peyer Imhoff.
. Sir,
You are requested as soon as possible to Inlist 30 private Men-2 Sarjeants, and a Drummer. as soon as you have listed ten Men, you will send or fetch
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them to Camp or Elsewhere if ordered. List good Rifle Men with as good Horses a possible.
Your Humble Servt
Wm Thomson.
Mr Godfrey Drehers August 11. 1775. Dr Sir,
Captain Shrams has not attended here today, neither has any of his Company come to us, altho this place was of the Captain's own chusing. This diso- bedience to Military orders ought not to go unnoticed for fear others seeing so criminal a Conduct pass with impunity, they should be encouraged to imitate a be- havior that may lead to ruinous consequences. I therefore think it would be proper immediately let you let Captain Shrams know that you recall his Commission & discharge him from his command & take measure to call the company together & induce them to elect a Captain, who will receive a Commis- sion from the Council, Your presence will greatly fa- cilitate this work, & their chosing a Captain will naturally I hope lead them to sign the association. But do not mention this last affair to them till after they have chosen their Captain.
We have had very bad success here today & I de- clared that no Mills shall grind for & no dealings shall be had with any nonsubscriber.
I am Sir Your most humble St- Wm Hy Drayton
I am in hopes this letter will get down to you some time to night. And I shall be glad that tomorrow You will come up here & discharge the Captain & call the Company together, because this vigorous step being done out of hand will spread abroad immediately &
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may be of good consequence in the Fork while I am there.
Sir,
I have received the Letter you sent by the Ranger, & I most readily excuse your breaking the seal of my Letter, indeed Colonel I should have had no objection if you had read it.
The Council of Safety mention their having sent me some blank Commissions for six Volunteer Companies. I have not received them. If you have them pray keep them till I see You.
I find the Council have been much alarmed by the report of an attack upon Augusta. there is no founda- tion in it I believe, at least ... the heads of the par- ty I am persuaded will not attempt anything of that sort while I am in this part of the Country. I more fear an attack upon Fort Charlotte. However of this I have sent proper information & direction to the Fort & to Major Williamson.
As I do not therefore see any occasion for any im- mediate movement by You, I cannot give directions for any. But I think you had best remain in your new Camp, & make the Huts snug & comfortable for the Men, and besides this, I think it advisable that you immediately build other Huts, as perhaps there may be occasion for to assemble in your Camp about 500 Militia .. In the mean time you will look out so many of the Militia who may be depended upon, & who may hold them selves, in readiness to march if they should be called upon. For these Men, will be wanted a supply of Ammunition.
Be so good immediately & in the .... most private manner to send to Fort Charlotte for a moderate Quantity of Powder & Lead. I shall hold a meeting with Fletchall's People at Fords upon Enore on Wed-
ORANGEBURG COUNTY. 423
nesday & after that I shall pass through ninety six, & join you with all dispatch. Above all things endeav- our to have the Camp plentifully supplied with Pro- visions, especially if there should unfortunately be oc- casion to call out such a Body of Militia to join the Rangers. You will take care Colonel, that your ap- plication respecting the Militia be as private as possi- ble.
I have the pleasure to subscribe myself Sir Your most humble Servt Wm Hy Drayton.
Lawson's fork Augt 25th 1775.
PS. this is a paragraph in the Council of Safety's letter to me, Pray shew it to Mr: Charlton, & write the Council about it.
"We do not understand whether you mean to ask for a Commission as Surgeons Mate for Lieutenant Charlton, in lieu of, or in addition to his Lieutenancey. If the former, altho we are not expressly authorized, yet for the good of the service we might find means to accomodate him, but you know that a double Com- mission would be directly contrary to a resolution of the Provincial Congress. this Article therefore must . unavoidably wait for explanation."
White Hall. 22nd Augt : 1775.
Dear Gentlemen.
I received your favour of the 10th Instant. the' express to Mr: Hammond from the Council of Safety, I immediately sent to him, also at the same time wrote to Captain Caldwell advising him to be on his guard.
I have heard nothing of any Body of Men going to attack Augusta shall acquaint Mrs Mayson that you
-
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are well. I this day heard from M! Drayton directing me to reinforce Fort Charlotte with Militia, which I am now giving orders to do. and I intend immediately to throw a Quantity of Provision in. M! Drayton is to have a Meeting to-morrow with Fletchall's People at same Ford's, Enoree. & has some opinion that they may use violence to his person. If that should be the Case I shall endeavour to have the Militia under my Command, to march whenever he may be carried a prisoner. I have sent this day a Young Man whom I can well depend upon to be at the Meeting tomorrow. and will return immediately & inform me what is done there. Excuse haste. I am
Dear Gentlemen Your most obt humble Servt A WmSon.
Camp Amelia Fuquett's old Field 25th Augt 1775./ Hon'ble Sir,
The express sent to Mr Drayton is not yet return'd, I am now camp'd at this Place with five Companys-Capt: Wise, Kirshaw, Goodwyn, Richard- son & Woodward; Capts Imhoff and Heatly, are out recruiting as is Capt: Kirshaw in behalf of them & likewise. some of the Lieutenants, I am in hopes in a short time to have their Companys Compleated. Ma- jor Mason who has been some time at the Congrees waiting for them I expect at the same time to join the Camp, from all the Intelligence I have had there was not much reason for our Friends in Georgia being so much alarm'd, the first certain accounts I had of Capt: Polk's disobedience, I recd by a Letter from Major Mason the day before Mr. Drayton came to the Con- grees, & on his arrival I deliver'd it to him. I did not chuse to write from report, where the reputation of a Gent: was at Stake. my officer, who wrote to Mr
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Gervais / yet unknown to me / had he acquainted me, I should have had it in my power to have wrote facts. Whatever certainties might come to my Hands of con- sequence, either for or against the cause of Liberty, You may depend upon I shall / both as a point of my Duty & my strictest regard, for the welfare of the Country / make immediate report of.
I have reason to believe the Nonsubscribers will be but few in a short time. I have the Promise of a Vol- unteer company of Sixty good Men out of Fletchall's Company near to where he lives. I have taken away the Commissioners from some of the Capts of my regi- ment of Foot, who was disobedient & disaffected.
I should be glad to know if it would be proper to fill up those places with good Men by giving them Volunteer Commissions, if not proper should be glad to know if I could be supply'd with blank Commissions from the Gov! for them I inclose You a list of Capt! Wise's officers & Men. Capt! Imhoff petition'd for a 2nd Lieuts Commission, for, in the choice of which, depended the raising of Men to the number of 14 or 15. The other blank Commissions I shall not fill up untill my regiment are together, except those in the Fort, untill which time it will not be in my Power to make you a proper return of the regt of Horse. The Company's now with me are Compleat, And I have the vanity to make mention, that the Men are very forward in their Military discipline I remain
Yr most obedt Servt
Wm Thomson
NB:
Please to observe that Captn Wise himself is in No: Carolina, his Men came with Lieut: Donaldson. Captn Wise I presume will be in Camp in a few days. ยท
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The Hon'ble the Council of Safety.
Gents
I Yesterday returned from 96. & think it un- necessary to write of particulars, as I make no man- ner of doubt Mr. Drayton has already given you the same. I have left seven companies behind at 96. in order to take a Tour farther back in the Country. An alarm has been given that an Indian of the Cherokees had been killed & two wounded in Georgia which has disturbed the minds of the back Inhabitants much. And Mr. Drayton's opinion in this case concurs with my own, it is that as the Rangers were raised in de- fence of the Country the back settlers would think hard if they were not with them in case of danger.
We have therefore order'd them to March for some time up amongst them but not to proceed within 15 Miles of the Indian line, for fear of alarming the In- dians, & in order to appease the minds of the Inhabi- tants in those parts After which we have given them leave of absence for a few days in order to recruit themselves & Horses, which is really requisite, when they are to meet at the Camp in Amelia which will be on the 24th Octr.
After Mr. Drayton had finish'd with Col. Fletchall, I took a ride to Fort Charlotte; & examined the whole: I think it is in very good order for defence & that there is a very good Company in it.
While I was there I had the pleasure of seeing Fort James on the Georgia side, taken possession of by some of the Georgians & Carolns at my return to 96. I met with Mr. Wilkinson from the Cherokee Nation who informed me that one of the Indians was killed & two wounded by some of the Georgia People. I im- mediate gave orders to Lieut Taylor of Fort Charlotte to take a party of Men with him & go in search of the Persons whom the Indians mistrusted had |killed|
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
committed the fact & whose names this Mr Wilkin- son mentioned to me.
Inclosed you have a General return of my Regt of Rangers from the time of enlisting to the 20th Inst which is as correct as I could possibly make it from the returns given in by the different Captns Captn Wise on that same day resign'd his commission to Mr. Drayton & as he will inform you more particular on that & every other Head I think it unnecessary to add any more.
I remain
Gent
Your Most Obedt Hble Servt W.m T:
Dear Sir. Amelia 29th Sept !. 1775.
Your very kind favr. of the 17th Instr was . deliver'd to me on the road home between the Ridge & the Congarees which afforded me the greatest Pleas- ure.
You may depend that I shall always make a proper Distinction in my Private & Public Letters to You. Your present situation of President & Chairman I am convinc'd must be very fatigueing, & tho I cannot but think it is high time that you ought to be relieved of your burthen Yet I am afraid they will not find a Person to supercede You, who will act in both capaci- ties & be of as much Service to the Country as you have been. I heartily wish that General Kirkland may be taken & lodged in the Barracks or Fort John- ston & that he may be severely punished for his Vil- lainy, & am happy to hear that Fort Johnston is in our possession & that you are making every necessary Preparations for defence. I have no doubt but you have heard before this that Col Drayton has had a Meeting with Col Fletchall & some of his Head Men &
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that He has in a great measure quieted him & his par- ty. they seem to be disatisfied at first about the de- claration that he had sent over to their Camp desiring them to give up their Leaders, but after a little expos- tulation they appeared very ready to make & sign his Treaty, which I suppose you have seen. I was inform- ed that Cunningham & Brown were not well pleased with Fletchall for what he had done & that they had parted, not upon the best terms. However it may work a good end in time, which I heartily wish. Cole Drayton had a long talk with the Indians at the Con- grees, they are very well pleased, but wishes much to have the ammunition that was promis'd them as soon as possible. Capt: Peyer imhoff I left sick at 96, but I expect to see him at the Congarees next Monday when I will present your Complimt to him. I have given him every assistance in my Power to make up his Company & I dare say that it will be filled up in a few days. I intend going to Town some time next Week, when I will do myself the Pleasure of waiting on you to converse more fully on the news of the Country, unless I should receive new orders to the contrary from the Hon'ble the Council of Safety
I remn Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt. H'ble Servt Wm Thomson
General orders.
Gentlemen,
17 Augt. 1775 Amelia
Captain Charles Heatly will shew you Your place of Encampmt near Fuguetts old Field & the form you are to camp in.
It is hereby order'd that the Men makes good Camps to Shelter themselves from the weather.
You will order out of each Company every Day suf-
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.ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
ficient Grass Guards & Fitague Men. As soon as your Camps are Compleat, You are as usual to be very dili- gent in Training the Men. , I am order'd on a Tour to the Beaver Dam near little Saluda, hopes to be at your Camp by Tuesday next.
To the sev! Captns Yr hble sevt
of the Regt of Rangers.
Wm T: 1
Amelia 17 Augt 1775
Sir,
Please to send the inclos'd to Capt! Peyer im- hoff. I am order'd on a Tour up Saluda, hopes to re- turn & find you all in Camp at Fuguetts old Field, areeble to Your last orders You recd from me. In my absence Capt! Chas Heatley will shew You Your place of Encampment & the Form of the Camp.
As You will be the oldest Captn on the Spot you will see that the orders left with him are put in Exe- cution. I hope to be in Camp on Tuesday I am To Sir Yr humble Servant W. T.
Capt! Eli Kirshaw.
Amelia 17 Augt 1775 /
Sir,
This day I'rec'd from the Council of Safety a. Captns Commission for You. On recpt hereof you will wait on me in Amelia in order to receive the same. In the Interim & on your way, you may Enlist Men for yourself; Let them be good rifle Men with good Horses. please to fetch the date of the Commission of the 2nd Lieut. of Captn Wise, & the date of Lieutt Don- aldson's Commission. I am
Your h'ble Servt W. T.
To Capt! Lewis Peyer Imhoff.
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To the Hon'ble Henry Lawrens, President of the Hon'ble the Council of Safety.
Camp Amelia 2nd Septr. 1775./ Sir,
Last night I recd a Letter by an Express from the Hon'ble Wm Henry Drayton ordering me to march my Regt: of Rangers immediately to the ridge, which I shall do tomorrow morning & will endeavour to march as many of my Regt of Foot* as I can make up agreeable to his orders
Inclosed is a Letter recd by said Express to the Hon'ble the Council of Safety. I remain
with great respect Sir Yr most hum'ble Servt W. T.
To Camp Amelia 2d Sept! 1775.
Lieut: Coll: Rowe &
Major Golson . .
Gentlemen .
You are hereby ordered to meet me ou Saturday next the 9th Instr. at the Ridge, with two hundred Men well armed, out of our Regimt of Foot, if you cant raise them as Volunteers, You must draft them, & assure them that they will receive Pay as the other Provincials in this Province from the day they leave home to they day they return. I am Gentn
Yr humble Servt W. T.
*This was the regiment of provincial militia that Col. Thomson had commanded before being selected to command the regiment of regu- lars known as the Rangers.
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Camp at the Congrees
The Hon'ble Wm
6 Sept: 1775.
Henry Drayton at Augta Wetherford: Expss
Sir, Yesterday just when the several Companies were about marching from hence, there came an Ex- press from Captn Paris informing us that himself and five Cherokee Indians were stopt from coming down by Captn Hendrick & some others belonging to Fletch- alls regt of about 10 Miles distant from the Congarees. The Companies here immediately got themselves in readiness and marched to rescue them, which they did & took Hendrick Prisoner, who is now confined in Camp, his associates made their escape a few minutes after he was taken, Captn Paris is now here with the Indians who will inform You with the Particulars. I have order'd the Companies to march early tomorrow morning for the ridge where I expect to be with them on Friday Evening & where I shall stay untill I receive your further orders. The. Men that are to be drafted out of my Regimt of Foot & the Volunteers I have order'd to meet me at the Ridge by Saturday next Your orders to Coll: Richardson I have sent, but I have not heard from him since, only that he is very much hurt from a fall* from his Indico Vatts, which
*The following, heretofore unpublished, letter will be of interest here:
[Direction on cover. ]
On the Colony Service
To
The Honble Henry Laurens Esqr
Charles Town
Sir
I have to beg the favour of you to Communicate to the Council of Safety, that two days ago I receiv'd a line from Colo Wm Thomson, accompanied by Copy of a letter from the Hon'ble Wm Henry Dray-
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I am afraid will deprive him from meeting us himself, but have not the least doubt of his complying with your Instructions the Express from the Hon'ble the Council of Safety arrived here last night with the in- closed Letter for your Honor, also two Bundles which I expect are for the Indians. Paris has just deliver'd me the Indians talk, which he desired me to forward by this same Express.
Our detention here today arrises from the Fatigue
ton, wherein he desires me to March 300 men of my Regiment to Broad River & co
I had the misfortune to get a fall which renders me unable to get out of my Bed, having Broke two or three of my Ribs and am other- ways much bruised. however am hopefull shall get out in some short time.
I have sent the necessary orders to Major Cantey to assemble the Regiment, and Collect the above number of men which hope will soon be carried into execution. but beg leave to represent to Council of Safety that I do not believe there are 300 loads of Powder in my Regiment, and therefore hope some speedy method will be fallen of lodging a supply to be in readiness upon any emergency that may happen; and if Possible about 200 Stand of armes, as a great number, (particularly the new Irish settlers) are distitute and many unable to provide themselves was they to be purchased for money, which at present is not the Case.
There are several Volunteer Companys assembling in different quarters of my Regiment. some of which I am informed are nearly compleat Commissions will be wanting to officer them -
As my Lieut Colo has left this Province a new arrangement of Field Officers will become necessary. to fill up by Seniority will not answer, for sundry reasons; which I hope soon to have opportunity of communicating to the Council of Safety ~
I have the Honour to be Sir
Your most Hump Servt: Richd Richardson
St Marks -
6th: Septmr 1775
To Henry Laurens Esqr
President of the Council of Safety
[Endorsement on back. ] Collo R- Richardson 6th. Septr 1775 Read in Council 10th-
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the Horses had yesterday. we did not return to Camp until one o Clock this morning. I rem! with great Esteem Hond Sir
Yrs &c
W: T.
Henry Laurens Esqr.
Camp at Congarees 6th Sept !. 1775./ Sir,
Since I wrote you from Camp Amelia the 2nd Inst I received your favour of the 31st Ulto which gives me great satisfaction. You may depend that I will as soon as possible exert myself for raising Volun- teer Comp'ys & inform you of my progress therein.
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