USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 30
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I find it impossible at present on account of our marching to make a proper return of my whole regimt but will endeavour to do it as soon as I meet the Hon'ble M! Drayton I had issued orders previous to the recpt of you Letter for all returns to be dated and signed by the Commandg officr. of each Company but the omission of Capt! Wise's was owing to his not be- ing present at the time it was given in, nor did he join the Regt before yesterday his reason for not join- ing before he says was owing to orders he received from the Hon'ble the Council of Safety.
You may rest assured that I will to the best of my ability follow your own and Mr Drayton's Instructions & will give him all the Military aid in my Power when he shall think fit to demand it. I shall careful- ly review all your former instructions & give such or- ders with regard to the Post of Fort Charlotte & for the safety of our associated Friends at Augusta as long as I may think the most prudent at this alarm- ing time. I am extremely obliged to you for consent-
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ing to my leaving the Camps as I requested, which I shall do, when I can with propriety do it, but at pres- ent I have not the least thoughts of it.
The reappointmt: of Capt" Ez! Polk, I hope will be attended with very good consequences. & that he will endeavour to gain credid by his future behaviour. In- clos'd you will find a copy of his Letter to me which I just received, but shall not make any reply before I see Mr Drayton. Yesterday about noon when the sev- eral Companies were getting ready to proceed on their march for the Ridge we recd an Express from Capt" Paris informg: us that one Capt! Hendrick & several others of Colle Fletchall's party had stop'd him & 5 of the Cherokee Indians from coming down here at about Ten Miles distant from this, & hoped that we would come to their Assistance, the Companies were immedi- ately ordered to go & rescue them & take Hendricks & his Associates Prisoners. I arrived there just about night & took Capt! Hendricks, but the others escaped after he was taken & before any of the Companies came up to the House they were in.
I order'd the Prisoner under a Guard to the Camp- where he is now in confinemt. Capt Paris with the In- dians came along with us there this morning. I had a Talk with these Indians & informed them that Mr Drayton had desired me to conduct them to the ridge, as he expected I should see them before he did; they said they were tired of marching & would rather re- main here untill Mr: Drayton came to them. They gave me the talk from the Nation & desired me to send it to him directly which I have done.
I propose marching to morrow morning early for the Ridge where I expect to be with the Companies on Friday Evening.
I should have done it today had not the Horses been
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
fatigued Yesterday. We did not return before one of the Clock this morng:
I remn with great esteem Yrś- &c
W: T.
omitted . 2nd Sept! Camp Amelia To the Hon'ble Wm Henry Drayton:
Your orders I recd late last night, shall putt them in execution Immediately. I shall march from this Camp tomorrow morning I shall do my best endeav- ours to take as many of the Militia with me as possi- ble, tho I am afraid shall not be able to procure the Complimt you mentioned. The Water's being high obliges me to go by the Congarees where I shall be detained one Day in procuring Provisions & other ne- cessaries, as it was not in my Power to provide the same in this Place the Rivers being full the Waggons were not able to pass. I has dispd your orders to Col: Richardson & your Letter to the Council of Safety.
We have pretty certain accounts of the defeat of Gage. 9000 of his Men are said to have been slain & himself is dead of the wounds he recd . . . there is a Gent! lately arrived at Chas: Town from Virginia with 5 Letters, whose accounts agrees exactly I remn Sir, YF Most Obedt Servt. W: T.
The Hon'ble Wm Henry Drayton,
Camp at Fairchilds Branch.
6th Septr. 1775.
Dr: Sir,
Since I had the pleasure of writing to You under the 6th Inst: pr Mr Weatherford an Express to
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Augusta, I recd your kind Lettr. of the 5th Inst: at Mr Williams about 2 o Clock this after noon on our march hither. Inclosed you will please find Capt! Arthur's Letter to me, which I have answered desiring him that if he . believed the report he mentions to be true that he would meet me with Capt! Paris & the Indians at the Ridge on Sunday morn:g 10 oClock together with the Volunteers & drafted Men out of my Regmt of Militia: I am of opinion that was I to leave the Ridge before they arrived it wou'd make them un- easy therefore I think it best to wait for them, but for further particulars refer you to Major Mayson with whom I have consulted & who will deliver this with his own Hands.
I have deliv'ed him all the Commissions for the Vol- unteer Companies which I recd from the Hon'ble the Council of Safety, to be given to You I amn Sir
Yrs &c W= T.
To the Hon'ble Wm H: Drayton
Camp near the ridge 10th Sept 1775
Sir, I recd Yours of the 9th Inst early this morning I shall strictly observe the Contents thereof. this Inst Capt! Arthur and Capt Geiger with twenty Volunteers arrived here from the Congarees with whom I expected Captn Paris & the Indians, the alarm mentioned in Capt! Arthur's Lettr. forwarded to you yesterday proved Groundless. Capt! Paris endeav- oured to prevail on the Indians to accompany him to the Ridge, but they rather chose to stay at the Con- garees till your return, as they complain'd much as be- ing tired as before but Paris says they seem very anxious to see You. I expect Major Golson of my Regimt of foot with a draft of Men & the Volunteers
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
this day be it as it will, I shall march for Ninety six early tomorrow morning.
I am Dr Sir, Yr most obedt Servt W. T.
# Lieut Caldwell Capt, John Caldwell-12. May 1776 .- Fort Lyttelton Camp near the 10 Mile house
Sir : .
Yours of the 7th Instant is now before me & note the contents, Your Letter by Captain Purvis did not come to my hand before the Prisoners you sent were tried, received their Sentence & pardoned by His Excellency the President The reason of their being discharged I am entirely a stranger to-I am told Capt. Purvis applied to Colonel Gadsden to deliver them their attestations & said it was by your desire-
Your first Letter did not reach me untill lately-I herewith inclose you a Roster of the officers as they now are to do Duty & Lieut Caldwell will deliver You a list of Your Men now at Head Quarters- The Pay Master will write you with regard to Your Mens Pay- I should have wrote you more fully but as Your Brother can inform You any thing farther, I shall not add, save that I am
Sir Yours &c
His Excellency John Rutledge Esqr
President & Commander in Chief of ( in Charles Town the Colony of So Carolina
Camp near the Ten Mile house 7th May 1776. Sir
Having been informed a few days ago that Mr
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THE HISTORY OF
John Giles at Monck's Corner had some Oseuburgs for Sale. I desired one of my officers to send a person there & endeavour to purchase the whole of him in or- der to make Hunting Shirts for my men- The per- son returned without doing of it & informed me that Mr Giles asked 10/ hard money & 12 / 6 paper Curren- cy pr Yard-this morning I was informed he asks for the same Osnaburgs 10/ hard money & 15/ paper Ø yd which I think is a very great extortion-my on- ly reason for troubling Your Excellency with this, is to beg your advice in the matter, as the distinction made between hard & paper money is of very great diser- vice to the Province & I hope some example will be made of such persons-
I have the honour to be Your Excellency's Most Obedt humbe Serv.
His Excellency John Rutledge Esqr. in Charles Town Camp near the Ten mile house 1st June 1776 Sir
This morning early I had the other detachment of my Regiment ready to march down, but the weath- er proving rainy I thought it most prudent to detain them, as there are now Sick in Camp 46 Men; 40 of whom have the Flux & I am afraid many more would be laid up were they to get wet-as soon as the weath- er clears up Major Mayson will march down with said Detachment-I would have done myself the pleasure of waiting on Your Excell'cy last night had I not been unwell, but as soon as I am better will do it-
I am Your Excellency's &c
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
His Excellency John Rutledge Esqr in Charles Town Camp on Sullivant's Island 22d June 1776 Sir
As I have been credibly informed that the Rege of Artillery at Beaufort is now nearly compleated, I take the liberty of requesting the favour of your Ex- cellency to let the two Companies of Rangers there be relieved & ordered to join my Regiment here, could they be spared without prejudice to the Service, it would give me the greatest pleasure to have them present, as I have never once had the Regt together- The Men here are in the greatest spirits, the Enemy's Centinels & ours are so near to each other, that they might shake hands had we but boats & they chose to be Friendly-Two field pieces were fired by the Artil- lery here early this morning at a boat of armed Men which we apprehend was returning from reconnoiter- ing. last night-Could the Rangers be relieved once in two or three weeks by some other Troops it would be obliging both officers & men from whom I have had some hints to that purpose-I hope Your Excellency will not take amiss any thing I have mentioned.
His Excellency John Rutledge Esqr Charles Town
Camp on Sullivants Island 11th July 1776 Sir
Lieutenant Charlton of Capt. Kirshaws Company in consequence of a Letter which he received this morn- ing from Camden, did make application to me for leave to go there to secure his Family from a pre- sumed insurrection of the Indians in that Quarter which I did not comply with, & He returned His Com- mission into my hands-I hope Your Excellency will not take it amiss in having received said Commission.
Several of the officers & privates have received Let- ters from their Friends in the back Country on ac-
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THE HISTORY OF
count of the Indians breaking out, which give them a great deal of uneasiness in regard to their families- I for my part do not think that matters are half so bad as reported to be-
I have the honour to be
Your Excellencys &c
His Excellency John Rutledge Esgr Charles Town Camp on Sullivants Island 11th July 1776.
Sir
I received Your Excellency's Letter just now by Mr Calvert Jun, with Keg of Gun Powder for which I have given him a Receipt I am happy to hear that Cunningham & the other Prisoners have taken the Test oath &c- & I am of the same opinion with Your Excellency that their discharge will. have a good effect- The oared Barge shall be sent to Town as soon as Your Excellency shall be pleased to send Men capable of carrying her safe up as there are none in my camp fit for that purpose- I have not had any success as yet in sending the Deserters Letters to the Enemy; they now keep double the Centinels to what they formerly did, but nevertheless I expect to have them landed safe this night & I hope they will have the desired effect.
I received the Spy Glass Your Excellency has been so kind as to send me, which I shall take particular care of & return when I shall be ordered to quit this Island-
I have the honour to remain Your Excellencys &c
His Excellency John Rutledge Esqr- Charles Town Camp on Sullivants Island 15th July 1776. Sir
Your Excellencys favour I have just received
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
by Mr Calvert & am very sorry that the Snuff was blown in Mr Timothy's Eyes for he is very much mis- taken in saying that all the Troops have left Long Is- land & gone on board the Transports- Yesterday Morning we perceived only one Centinel on the Breast work opposite to our when they usually planted four & this morning we did not discover any Enemy there, about 11 oClock there appeared to be some of our Friends in Arms from the main in order as I suppose to reconnoitre the Enemys Entrenchments- They no sooner appeared to the Enemy on Long Island, than they began to fire on them & fired their Field Pieces ten times, but in my opinion without doing any damage. I could wish our men had not run so far when the Enemy fired-all their Tents are still stand- ing on the Beach & I observed just now that about 150 including Men Women & Children marching toward the East end of Long Island with their Field pieces & I think mean to embark- There are none of the Ene- my left on Goat Island & their flat bottomed Boats all disappeared Yesterday; as the naval force have made a move to push off this morning, the land force in my opinion will also do the same in a few days - I should have wrote to Your Excellency before now had not I expected the Commanding Officers here whom I generally informed, would have communicated every circumstance that has happened to Your Excellency- I have the honour to be Your Excellencys Most Obt &c
Major James Mayson Ninety Six
Chas Town 7 Aug 1776 ¥ Express
Sir
I have this moment received orders from His Excellency the President to march 130 Men out of my
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Regiment under proper officers on an Expedition into East Florida- You are therefore desired to proceed immediately to Savanna & take the Command of the Detachment which will be ready to set off from this place this Evening-You will receive further orders from General Lee at Savanna
I am Sir Yours & Cc W. T-
/ @ Post [
On the Service of the united States of America The Honorable John Han- cock Esqr. President of the Hon'ble the Representa- tives of the thirteen Uni- ted States of America in Congress, at Philadelphia
Charles Town So. Carolina 14th August 1776
Sir
As no greater honour can be confered on a faith- ful Servant of the public so next to a consciousness of having done his duty nothing can afford so much pleasure to such a Servant as the thanks of the peo- ple .--
I must confess Sir, I had not entertained the small- est expectation of such distinguished Notice as the Congress have been pleased to take of my endeav- ours to assist in Repelling the attempts of the Fleet & Army upon this State on the 28th of June last - ] was conscious of having acted honestly in the Cause according to the best of my poor abilities & there My Ideas rested -- however Sir I am not insensible of the very great honour which, for barely having done my duty, I have now received from the Congress - I beg leave to return you my particular thanks for the very polite manner in which you have transmitted their
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
Resolution of the 20th July in your favour of the 22nd which I have communicated to the Officers & Soldiers of my Regiment.
Permit me to request Sir, you will be pleased to pre- sent my humble respect & assurances to the Congress that my Life & Fortune are devoted to the Cause of the thirteen United States of America & to the gener- al propagation of Liberty & that while my health & Strength will permit me I shall hold myself at the Command of my Country-
I have the honour to be with great respect,
Sir
Your mo: obedt & mo: hum. Servt | Signed | Wm Thomson Lieut. Col. Commandr of the Regt. of Rangers, being the 3rd Regt in So.Carolina
General Robert Howe. In Charles Town Camp at the Congarees 6th October 1776. Sir
The detachment of my Regiment which went to Georgia have not yet come to Head Quarters, but I expect them here in the course of this week - There are now in Camp 161 Officers & Privates, seven of whom are sick, the remainder all fit for duty - there are numbers sick also at their homes, unable to join the Regiment at present, but I expect them as soon as they recover - I believe I shall not move from here untill towards the 1st next month, when I intend to encamp near Nielson's ferry unless I receive orders to the contrary - I have not any news this way worth Your notice - I have the honour to be Sir
Yours &cc W. T
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THE HISTORY OF
His Excellency John Rutledge Esqr In Charles Town Camp at the Congarees 6th October 1776.
Sir
Inclosed you have a Return of the Names & dates of the Commissions of the Officers now in my Regiment & likewise the names of the Gentlemen who stand next for preferment - Lieuts Brown & Hop- kins being the two first oldest Lieutenants & good Men, I beg you will be pleased to send Commissions for them as by the Return you will see there are two vacancies for Captains .- There are also vacancies for four second Lieutenants, & I shall recommend the first four Gentlemen now on the Recruiting service who shall raise ten men each- The bearer Capt. Richard Winn with a detachment & 2 waggons waits for Your Excellencys orders - You will please to ob- serve that the first Eighteen Officers in my Regiment Rank by number & not by the dates of their Commis- sions-
I have the honour to remain Your Excellencys &cc W. T.
General Robert Howe, In Charles Town Amelia 15th October 1776.
Sir
Inclosed you have a Return of the detachment marched to Georgia, a Copy of Your Letter concern- ing the Expedition is sent to the Officer Commanding said detachment with orders strictly to adhere to & punctually to obey your directions therein contained I have directed the officer to Cross Savanna River be- low Augusta & from thence to proceed to Fort Bar- rington on the Alatainaha. The detachment is very badly provided with ammunition.
I am sorry to inform you that I have been confined
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
eleven days with a severe fever. which has rendered me incapable of getting out of bed without help, & that a great many of the officers & Men are very sick with a disorder called the Mumps, which is very brief in Camp, besides those who were before afflicted with the fever, which occasions the Camp to be very thin both of officers & men who are fit for duty-
I remain with great respect . Sir Yours &Cc W. T.
A Return of the Detachment of Rangers Command- ed by Capt John Caldwell, which marched from Camp at the Congarees on an Expedition to Georgia. . The 14th October 1776-
Captains
Lieuts
Serjeants
Privates
Total
Marched from Camp
2
To March this Week .
1
1
93|101 7 9
24
4 100 110
General Robert Howe, In Charles Town Amelia 15th October 1776
Sir,
Your orders of the 12th I this moment received by Express, I shall do all in my power to get the Batallion together, tho' I am afraid it will be some days first - the detachment that went to Georgia un- der Major Mayson returned only last Thursday & the Major has given them leave of absence till the 6th of November, as they are at present much scattered & a
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THE HISTORY OF
great deal of sickness amongst them will make it diffi- cult to collect them together & I am afraid will not be effected so soon as you may want them or I could wish for & my not being in a condition to exert my self will be some hinderance, God knows when I shall be able to leave my room, but never-theless I shall give all necessary orders to collect them as quick as possible
I remain Sir Yours &ce W. T.
Capt. John Caldwell, on A march towards the South-
ward- Amelia 18th October 1776
Sir
By a Letter which I received from General Howe since I wrote You last, I have reason to think the remainder of my Regiment will be ordered to- wards Georgia should occasion require it, but should it be otherwise, I hope as soon as You have executed Your orders there You will join me with your detach- ment either at the Congarees or where you shall hear the Regiment is - I have ordered Lieut. Beames to join you immediately & to take with bim a sufficient number of Men to complete the detachment
I still continue confined to my room very sick, but hope to be soon better. when I may perhaps write you further- I wish you success & a Safe return to Camp - I remain
Sirs Yours &Ce W. T.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
General Robert Howe In Charles Town
y Capt Warley Amelia 1st December 1776. Sir
Please to receive inclosed a Return of my Regi- ment up to this day. I am extremely sorry it was not in my power to have sent You one sooner, but some of my Captains not coming to Camp agreeable to or- ders was the occasion of it, however you may rest as- sured that in future I shall transmit you Monthly Re- turns-
I should have done myself the pleasure of waiting ou you long before this, had not my Ill state of health prevented me, but as I find myself grow stronger daily shall endeavour to do it some time this week
I remain with great respect Yours &C. W. T.
Captain Richard Winn - going to Georgia
Camp near Nelson's Ferry 28th Decem 1776 Sir
You are to proceed from Camp early tomorrow morning with the detachment under your Command for Georgia, there relieve Captain Caldwell & his de- tachment & follow such orders as he or the Command- ing officer there may give you - You are to send me a Return of Your Detachment at least once a Month, in order that I may have it in my power to render in a monthly one to the General here -
I am
Sir
Yours &C
W. T.
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THE HISTORY OF
Captain Winn.
Captain John Caldwell, at Fort Barrington In Georgia
Camp near Nelson's Ferry 28th Decem 1777* Sir
I have sent Capt. Richard Winn & 2 Subalterns with 2 Serjeants & 50 Rank & File to relieve the De- tachment under Your Command with directions to follow such orders as you or the Commanding officer in Georgia may give him, after which You are to pro- ceed with Your said Detachment to the place of En- campment here where I shall be very glad to see you - Your several Letters did not come to hand untill three days after General Howe arrived in Town & then it was the first time that I heard from you since you left the Congarees - probably you could never meet with an opportunity to write me before however be that as it may I am very glad to hear that you & the other officers were all well, I wish you & them a happy new Year & a safe arrival in Camp-
I remain with great regard Sir Yours &Ce W. T.
Major Morgan Conner
In Charles Town Amelia 2d January 1777 # Lieut. Maskall.
Sir
Please to receive under cover hereof a Monthly Return of my Regiment up to the 1st Instant, as also one for General Howe, which I beg you will deliver to him - there are some of my officers, I am informed who will not take Continental Commissions - I ex- pect to be in Town in the course of four or five days,
*1776.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
when I shall do my self the pleasure of waiting on You and the General-
I am with great Esteem Sir Yours &Cc W. T.
His Excellency Jolm Rutledge Esqr-In Charles Town Camp near Nelson's Ferry 19th Jany 1777.
Sir
Agreeable to the request in Your Excellency's favour of the 17th Instant which I received last night + Express, I inclose a Return of my Regiment up to this day - Your Letter to Col. Sumter was forward- ed to him immediately as it came to hand, but his an- swer is not yet arrived - I would have wrote Your Excellency more fully by this opportunity, but as I propose being in Town in a few days, must beg leave to postpone adding any more untill I have the pleas- ure of seeing Your Excellency .-
I remain with much Esteem Your Excellency's mo: humb Servt W. T.
Major Samuel Wise - Camp near Nelson's Ferry Charles Town 25th April 1777.
Sir
In consequence of orders which I just received from His Excellency the President, I hope you will immediately on the receipt hereof, order 2 Captains 4 Lieutenants, 4 Serjeants 1 Drum & 1 Fife and 100 Rank & File well mounted with Twelve Waggons to Charles Town - Capt Warley is the first officer for Duty therefore You will please order the next Captain in turn, as also the Lieutenants - endeavour to pro- cure the Waggons without pressing if possible, but at
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any rate they must be had & with the greatest expedi- tion - Capt. Kirshaw is sick here & unfit for Duty - the Pay Master I expect will receive his Money this day & will meet the Detachment on the road & pay them -
I am Sir Yr mo: humbe Servt W. T-
General Robert Howe ~ ~ Charles Town Camp near Nelson's Ferry 9th June 1777
Sir
As I was necessitated to discharge those Men belonging to my Regiment who were enlisted to serve no longer than the 1st Instant, it has been the means of reducing the Regt to a certain number now on the Continental Establishment, which you will be made acquainted with by the inclosed Return, excepting 6 Serjeants & 45 Privates to serve upwards of Twelve Months longer who were enlisted upon the first estab- lishment of my Regiment - My sole motive for troubling you at present, is to beg Your opinion in what I shall take the liberty of proposing & receiving your advice thereupon -
As there seems to be not the least expectation of an Enemy shortly, I would propose sending all my offi- cers out on the Recruiting Service & giving Furlows to all the Men in Camp for two months (save about 30 or 40) to go home, with orders to Recruit as many men as they could possibly get; this method I presume would be of infinite service in procuring Recruits, as I am well convinced that many of the men have great weight & influence in & about where they live & that this indulgence might induce others to enlist -
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