USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 31
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Lieut. Col. Mayson who is the bearer of this will in-
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
form you of every particular relative to the Regiment to whom I beg leave to refer you -
I remain with great respect Sir Yr Mo: humb Sevt: W. T.
His Excellency Jobn Rutledge Esqr Charles Town
Camp near Nelson's Ferry 9th June 1777 Sir
I take the liberty of informing Your Excellen- cy that I have discharged all those men belonging to my Regiment, who were enlisted to serve this State untill the 1st Instant - The Regt is now reduced to a certain number on the Continental Establishment & 6 Serjeants & 45 Privates enlisted on the first Estab- lishment of My Regt to serve for three Years, as you will perceive by the inclosed Return-
I am of opinion that were these men at present in Camp given Furlows to, for two months, to go home, with orders to Recruit for My Regt it would be of in- finite service, as I am very certain many of them have great weight & influence in & about the neighborhood where they live & this indulgence might be of great benefit to the Recruiting service; I also purpose send- ing the greatest part of my officers on the same duty & I make not the least doubt of my Regiment being tolerably forward before many months-
I shall be very happy in receiving Your Excellencys Advice & Instructions as soon as possible - the bear- er Lieut Col. Mayson can give you any intelligence relative to the Regiment, in the mean time, I beg leave to add that I am with great respect
Yr Mo: humb. Servt
W. T --
452
THE HISTORY OF
Sir By Major Wise please to receive a re- turn of my Regiment you will see by it that my offi- cers has not returned from Recruiting I do not expect them until the 1 Septr Please to let Major Wise have 200 Muskets and Bayonets Flints and Carteridges paper I intend to have Muskets and Bayonets for my men except 100 which I would have complete Rifle men with good Horses and spears I would be much obliged to you for advice in remodeling my Regiment so as to make them of most service to the State I would have waited on you before this time had it not been for a Fall from my Horse which broke my brest Bone so that as yet I am not fit to Ride as soon as the officers Comes in will wait on you then I will be able to Judge how many Muskets I shall want
I am Sir Your Most Hbl Servt W. T
P. S I have mentioned my intentions of new model- ing my Regiment to his Excellency the president hope to obtain his approbation with yours-
Amelia 13th Augt 1777 To General Robert Howe
Sir
By Major Wise you will receive a return of my Regiment you will see by it that my [officers] are not yet returned from recruiting Please to let Major Wise have 200 Muskets and Baynets Flints and Car- teridge paper If you think it proper I will have Muskets for all my men except one hundred of the most expert to be Rifle men with good Horses and Spears I should be glad to receive your approbation and advice on new modeling my Regmt to make them of the most service to the State I should have waited on you my self before this Time had it not been for a
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
Fall from my Horse which broke my brest Bone and am not yet able to Ride I expect all my officers in by the first of Sept then I shall be able to make proper Return and know how many Muskets I shall want I am Sir
Amelia 13th Augt, 1777 Your Most Hble Servt W. T.
To His Excellency John Rutledge Esquir
Sir
Inclosed you will Receive Copy of orders I re- ceived from his Excely you will do all in your power to have them complyed with especially Capt Lyle 2 lieuts 2 Serjents & 50 men will call on you Capt Cald- well, Capt Brown 4 Lieuts 4 serjents and 100 men well guard the goal they will acquaint Col Williamson as soon as arrive at 96 of there being there Please to order all the men that is on Furlow all new recruits to Camp immediately do let any Joyn the 100 at the Goal or Capt Lyles detachmen they may if you think proper a few if there should be any up there that would rather stay and send some of them down that went from Camp Capt Caldwell Brown and Lyle will send to me their pay Bill by the first of Sept
I am Sir Your Hmble Servt W. T-
Col James Mayson
Augt 16th 1777
Sir
You will proceed to Congarees and out of the detachment that is on their March with Capt Brown take 2 Lieuts 2 serjeants and 50 Men and March them to Col Mayson and there you will exert the best measures with him to take James Lindley Richard
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THE HISTORY OF
Pearce and John Parker and on good Evidence any that is concerned with them and send them to Charles- town under a Good Guard
I am
To Capt Lyles
Sir Your Hble Sevt W: T.
17th Augt 1777
Sir
As soon as you arrive at Congarees with the Detachment under Your Command You will Detach off Capt Lyall 2 Lieuts 2 Serjeants and 50 men Capt Lyall has his orders where to march them then you will proceed with the remainder of your Detachment 96 where you are to Guard the Goal as soon as you ar- rive there you will acquaint Col Andw Williamson with your arrival and orders Please be careful to march the Men early in the morning that their March may be over before the heat of the Day I am Sir Your Hble Sevt W. T.
I have sent 20 1b of my own Powder and 50 Mb Lead And some Flints of the publicks to your Detachment You will divide with Capt Lyalls
To Capt Brown.
23 August 1777
Sir
Inclosed you will receive a Copy of orders I this moment received from his Excelency the President please to peruse it observe the contents and do all in your power to have them immediately comply'd with if in your power take the Command your self if not give great Charge to the Commanding officer of the Detachment to be careful of the Indians. If Mrs May- son is not Delivered I can not expect you to go I
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
hope Capt Caldwell will exert himself on this occasion as I make no doubt he will let him know the Governs orders on that head and my earnest request to have them comply'd with &c- Inclosed you have a News paper I this moment recd from our Major. I am much better then when I wrote to you last Please to order all the officers and men (that does not belong to the Detachment brown gave up) to repair to Camp with all convenient speed Lieut Crowders and Mascal is both very sick at Camp I am
-Sir Yours Hble Servt
To Colonel James Mayson near
W. T.
Ninety Six
Sir
15th September 1777
You will please order 50 horse men & 50 foot men Properly officer'd to Guard Ninety Six goal or any other service that may be required of them, all the Remainder of the Two Detachments you will or- der to Camp with the officers, Please to order Lieut Thomson down as I have Provided a Place in Town for him (that is School) Please send after any De- serters you hear of Belonging to our Regiment or any other of our States Regiments
I am Sir Your most Huble
W. T.
Lt Colº James Mayson Sen!
15th September 1777~
Sir
I came yesterday from Town after being there 8 days in the hottest weather I ever felt Endeavouring to get Cloths for my men. Bought cloth a £15 ৳ yd
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THE HISTORY OF
& Scarlet De a £25 ? yd hope to be able to Clothe them Compleatly as soon as Capt Hatten Arrives, who went to France for Clothing for the Soldiers - the Assem- bly has Voted that the Soldiers should have 1 Coat 1 Jacote 1 ֏ Breeches 2 Shirts 2 P Stockings 2 { Shoes 1 Black Cravat and 1 Blanket each year. I hope this Ample Provision for Soldiers will make some that are like to Lay cold this winter list in our Regiment- I saw the Pay Master in Town he told me he had but seven Returns, I am sorry to see that my request to the officers has been treated with Disreguard I saw an order from you on the same head as Little Noticed I should be sorry to See in my Orderly Book any orders that would not be a credit to them whom I so much Esteem - John James Haig is appointed Our Pay Master. I shall send to Town with the other Returns as soon as they come to hand and the Money shall go up as soon as Posible, Pray excuse me in answering your Letters in full as I am very unwell I had the fever Friday with heat & Fatigue Lt. Crowther has been very sick but is recouverd & is well Mr. Richard- son told me he had sent you the Papers or I Should
I am Sir Yr Huble - Sevt W. T.
To Lt- Colo James Mayson
Camp at Orangeburgh 2 Octr 1778
Sir
In consequence of a copy of your Orders for- warded to me by Colo Huger dated 17th September - I joined the first Detachment under Capt F Warley the 24th at this Place - on the 25th Capt Browns De- tachment arrived at the same place from Nelsons Ferry - On the 1st Inst: arrived Colo Mayson with the Remainder of my Regt all safe - & at 10 oclock
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
yesterday evening Your orders { Express of 26th Septr came to hand which I shall immediately Comply with
I am with Esteem Sir Yours &Cc
P. S.
I am sorry to acquaint you that from the be- haviour of Lt Taggart to and at this place I have been under the Necessity of Putting him under arrest
To
The Houble M. G. Howe
Camp at Orangeburgh 20 N 1778 Sit
On the Cover of M General Howes orders I Re- ceived a line from you of the 27th Ins Informing me 1 should Renew Orders from You & General Howe - the Latter is come to hand Perhaps the Express may have lost your orders to me as they are not as yet ar- rived
The River in our Neighborhood has been Exceeding high and done as much Damage The Particulars of which I have not time at Present to Mention
I am Sirs Yrs &Ce
To Colo Isac Huger
Camp Orangeburgh 3d October 1778
Sir
You are to take post with the Detachment un- der your Command at or near the Place where Capt Smith lately encamp'd fully empowered to remove that post to one that may keep the inhabitants & their monys secure from the inrodes & Deprodations of such unlawfull Banditty as may cross Savannah River keeping out scouting parties to Aid the Disaffected,
458
THE HISTORY OF
and Protect those citizens who are well affected in their Persons & Propertys You will use every effort in Your Power to cut off all Intercourse & Connection between the inhabitants of this State and those of East Florida, and should such persons fall into your hands, or into the hands of those under Your Com- mand you will in that case act agreeable to the Laws of the land & articles of war You will give such aid to the Civil Authority & to the Militia as may Crush & subdue at every Hazzard Those Publick Disturbers of Peace & good order You will keep up the strictest Dicipline & take the greatest care of the arms of those Men under Your Command & see they Do not want or Destroy their Clothing and amunition Those crimes are not to Escape Your Notice or go unpunish'd you are to take great care you are not surpris'd in Your encampment having always your Arms & accoutre- ments Ready & well prepared fit for action
Should you Receive any Intellegence of Consequence You are immediately to Transmit it to head Quarters & I should strongly recommend that once in Ten days the parties from Captns Browns & Smiths Detach- ments may meet & give each other such Intelligence as may Contribute much to the advantage of the Ser- vice You are sent upon, and at the same time inform- ing me or the Command:g officer in Camp, that I, or he may give orders accordingly You will keep an Exact Jurnal of Your proceedings which will accon- pany your letters in order that Government may be guarded against such applications as will be made by Persons who in Corse of Service will Complain
I am Sir Your Most Obt W. T-
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
Orangeburgh 3d Octr 1778
Sir
Inclos'd You will please receive the Commis- sions of Lieutenants Hart & Thomson the Two Eldest Lieutenants in my Regiment whose Resignation is owing to the new Establish't taking place in the army which Deprives them of Captains Rank according to the old one allso Lt Crowthers Commission who is going into Trade Capts Brown and Hopkins with 2 Lieuts 4 Sergts & 65 Rank & file March this morning for Silver Bluff on Savannah River & Capts Smith & Jas: War- ley with the same number of officers & men for Sa- vannah River near Mathews' Bluff with such orders to them Respectively as you have ordered - - I shall Indeavour to send the Return of the Military Stores in a few Days.
I am wth great Respect Sir Yours &Cc
To
His Excellency M G Howe
Town
Orangeburgh 3d Octr. 1778-
Sir
By the inclosed Roster of my Regiment you will find that I have now only ten Companies the Compys of the Late having Distributed Captns R Goodwyn & Maskall 1 agreeable to the new Establishment, I have sent off this Morning two Detachments consisting each of 2 Capts 2 Subalterns 4 Sergs & 65 Rank & file one for Silver Bluff & the other for Matthews Bluff on Savannah.
You will please observe that in several of the Pay Bills now sent Down that there have been many men omitted to be Return'd for, owing entirely to some off
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THE HISTORY OF
ours being so offen Detach'd from their Companies
I am wth Great Respect Yours &Cc
To
His Excellency
Rowlen Lownds Esqr
President & Comme in chief
in & for the State So Carolena
Orangeburgh 3d Octr 1778
Sir
This morning agreeabe to Gen !. Howes Orders [ sent off Two Detachments each of 2 Captains 2 Subns 4 Sargeants & 65 Rank & file for Silver Bluff & Mat- thews Bluff on Savannah River. Capt Richd Brown Commands one & Capt John Carraway Smith the other - in a few day I shall make you a Monthly Re- turn of the Regiment also a Return of the Military Stores belong to it -
To
Colo Isaac Huger
Camp Orangeburgh 19 Octr 1778
Sir
Inclos'd you have a Monthly Return of my Reg- iment up to the 16th Instant allso a Return of the arms & accoutrements with a Return of the Stores as far as it is in my Power to make it at Present -- one of the Villians who Rob'd this place is now in goal - If I am Rightly inform'd Seven More of the Same gang will never do any more Mischief - I have Like- wise Inclosed the Charge against Lt Taggart. I should be glad you'd lett me know whether the Dochester guard is to be Returned from Town or from here
I am Sir Your Most · To
Col I Huger Humble Servt: W T
461
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
Orangeburgh 19th October 1778
Sir
Inclos'd You have a Return of my Regt up to the 16th Inst: Chavis one of the Villians who was at the Robery of this place is now in goal, & If I am Rightly inform'd then Seven more of the same gang will never do, commit any more Roberys, which has Pritty well Quieted the Disturbances at Present, when I came to this place it seemed to be in great Confu- tion it was hard Judging between. Whigg & Tory, which was best
My Orders when I came here was to Protect the Civill Power, but I could find more to Protect, on the whole thing Seem to be more Settled in these Parts than ever they were Since our Troubles First began I hope to be in Town Next Week, when I will do myself the pleasure of waiting on You & giving you further Particulars
To His Excellency R Lowns
Sign'd W. T-
Amelia 23d Octr 1778
Dear Sir
I gladly Recd Yours of 20th Inst: I ani Sorry to find, that heathen like Principle Still Re- maining in the inhabitants of the frontiers knowing to be the beginners of all Comotions wth the Indians, Save that of 76 with Cherokees, I have sent orders to Capt Brown to furnish you wth as great a number of men, as he can spare only leaving a small guard at the Passes - & Should Capt Brown not be able to Spare you a sufficient number you will Please apply to Capt Smith at or near Matthews Bluff for 20 men having wrote to Capt Smith, that should you apply for that number to Send them immediately - I should think
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THE HISTORY OF
myself happy in Corresponding with you when ever it may be Convenient
I am DS Your Most Hmbl Servt: W T-
Geo Golphin Esqr:
Amelia 23d October 1778
D. Sir
I Recd Yours of the 19th Inst: wth the Return of Your Detachment. & am Exceeding glad to hear you are well --- If Mr Golphin should apply for a Guard to go to Ogeechie with him youl Please furnish him with all you can Spare leaving a sufficient num- ber to guard the Passes - My complements to all the officers
C. R. Brown
I am DS Yrs &Ce W. T --
Amelia 23d October 177S
Sir
I have not had the Pleasure of hearing from you Since you left Camp, tho Expect to hear by the Pay Master Should Mr Golphin apply to you for any number of men not Exceeding 20 Youl Please send them Immediately My compliments to all the officers
I am Sir Yrs &Cc W T
Capt Jno C Smith
Camp at Orangeburgh 21st October 1778-
Sir
You will Proceed with the party under Your Command to Morrises Ford on North Fork of Edistoe River, when there, You will do your utmost indeav- ours to Cut off all Intercourse & Communication be-
463
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
tween the inhabitants of this State & those of East Florida and take up & send to me all Suspected Per- sons at or near your Post likewise to inform me of any Matter that is going on any where else, or any thing else that may come within Your Knowledge besides Your Post that will be of any Service or Disservice to this State - If any of the above mention'd Persons should fall into Your hands, you will send them here under a strong guard, You will Remain at or near Sd Post until further Orders
Sign'd W T
To Lt Chas M Genney
Amelia 29th October 1778 1
Sir
You wrote me some time past that the Blank- etts & other Clothing the Remainder of what is Due. to the 3d Regiment was Ready for them I have Sent a waggon for them - Please to deliver them to Corpor- al Daniel Shannon
I should have come to Town but hear it is very Sickly in town I shall Refir coming untill Froast Please to Send me a Bill of what you Deliver to the corporal - If there is any thing more than what I have had from you, due or that I may have a right to Receive out of the Publick Store
Please to Receive it for me and You will much oblige
To
Your Most Obdt Servt Sign'd W. T-
Jno Sandaford Dart Esqr
Clothes Gen! for State of So Carolina
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THE HISTORY OF
Amelia 3rd November 1778
Sir /
I Received Yours of the 30th this day about one Oclock with the dispatches from the Governor & Ma- jor Gen! How, I am much obliged to you for Comply- ing with part of them in Sending the Men with Can- non; Please to Enquire amongst the Men & Know who of them has Horses within one or two days Travel of the Camps, send them for them that we may be able to comply with the other Order in Gent. Hows Dis- patches.
I should have been at Orangeburgh on Monday, but one of my Children has been Ill with the fever, which has never Intermitted this Eight days, as soon as She gets bettor I shall be at Camp.
Please to send a man with the Inclosed to Captains Brown & Smith as soon as Possible and the one to Lieut. McGines
I am Yours &C (True Copy) William Thomson
To
Capt" John Donaldson
Amelia 3rd November 1778
Sir
When Colonel Williamson Requires, you and The detachment (or any part of them) under Your Command You are to aid & Co operate with him.
I am Yours &Cc
(A True Copy)
Wm Thomson
Amelia 3rd November 1778 Sir
When Colonel Williamson Requires, you and
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
the detachment (or any part of them) under Your Command, you are to aid & Co operate with him.
A True Copy
I am Yours &C:
Sign,d William Thomson To
Captain John C: Smith
Amelia 3rd Novr. 1778.
Sir /
On Receipt of this You are to March The Men Under Your Command to Camp having A Guard of a Sergant & five Men in as private a place as possible, let them be men that you can depend upon, with or- ders to follow you to Camp in six days after you leave them, if they make no Discoveries, leave with the Ser- gant the same orders you received upon that Com- mand.
I am Yours &C: Signed Wm Thomson A True Coppy
To Lieutt McGines*
Section 4. Other Continentals from Orangeburgh Dis- trict.
It has been stated that the 3rd regiment (Thom- son's) of regulars contained many Orangeburgh men. The 1st regiment (Gadsden's, C. C. Pinckney's) also contained some Orangeburgh men, for Rev. C. C. Pinck-
*The foregoing is a copy of Colonel William Thomson's Order Book, owned, and loaned to me, by Judge A. C. Haskell. With the excep- tion of several pages, it was copied by me, and I certify that this is a true copy of said book.
Columbia, S. C.,
Jan. 28th, 1898.
Susan Richardson Guignard,
Member D. A. R.
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THE HISTORY OF
ney, D. D., says, in his "Life of Thomas Pinckney", page 27, that as soon as Captain Thomas Pinckney was authorized to enlist men, in July, 1775: "He at once determined to fill up the ranks of his company, and went to Orangeburg to gather recruits. As soon as he had obtained the requisite number of fifty men, his military knowledge was put into requisition", &c. And again, on page 48, Dr. Pinckney says: "Recruit- ing formed a large part of his duty during these earlier years of the war. He had already visited Orangeburg, and enlisted three fourths of his own company in that district."*
And, in passing, it is well to relate that when Gen- eral Armstrong visited the South in 1776 to inspect the Continental troops, his brigade-major (Conner) "pronounced the first South Carolina regiment the best disciplined on the continent."
When the first three regiments of regulars were formed in June, 1775, Isaac Huger, who owned a plan- tation in St. Mathew's Parish, and had several times represented that Parish in the Colonial Assembly, was, on June 3rd, elected lieutenant-colonel of the 1st regi- ment. It is likely that his influence took some Orange- burgh men into that regiment.
*And here it may be interesting to add that he visited Orangeburgh District several times before the war ended, for in 1779 he attended Court in Orangeburgh, and successfully defended some prisoners who had erred through ignorance of military law. And we should also judge that he had been attending court at the Motte plantation, since in the same year he was married to Miss. Elizabeth Motte. And again, after the battle of Camden, where he was wounded and cap- tured, he repaired, under parole, to the Motte place to recuperate and be nursed.
GEN. ISAAC HUGER.
FROM AN OLD PRINT.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
In addition to the four regiments raised in 1775, two regiments of riflemen were voted in February, 1776. Lieut. Col. Isaac Huger, of the 1st regiment, was made Colonel of the first regiment of rifles, which was, in July of that year, taken into the Continental service, and thenceforward known as the 5th regiment of South Carolina Continentals. It is also likely that Col. Huger* had some Orangeburgh men with him in that regiment.
Although we have not been able to find any of the rolls of any of the companies of the Continental line, we have extracted from a pension roll, dated as late as 1840, the following names of Revolutionary soldiers of the Continental Establishment from Orangeburgh Dis- trict:
Orange Parish. Leven Argrove, Hugh Phillips, Andrew Houser, Erasmus Gibson.
St. Mathew's Parish.
Adam Garick.
Barnwell. Tarleton Brown, Jesse Griffen, Daniel O'Dom, Henry B. Rice.
*Col. Huger was appointed brigadier general January 9, 1777.
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THE HISTORY OF
Section 5. The Local Militia.
Besides those who fought in the regular service, Orangeburgh District furnished many men to the mili- tia branch of the service. In the early days of the war militia companies were formed in every section of the Colony. Their rolls were sent down to the Coun- cil of Safety by whom they were generally approved and their officers commissioned, and the companies assigned to regiments.
In 1775 the militia of the Province consisted of thir- teen regiments, nearly every officer of which, and the large majority of the men of which, signed the Associ- ation.
The Orangeburgh District regiment had William Thomson for its colonel, Christopher Rowe for its lieu- tenant-colonel, and Lewis Golson for its major .* The lower district between the Broad and Saluda rivers, the greater part of which was in Orangeburgh Dis- trict, had a regiment of which Robert Starke was colonel, Moses Kirkland, lieutenant-colonel, and - Tyrrel, major. After Colonel Thomson was made col- onel of the 3rd regiment of regulars (Rangers), the command of the Orangeburgh District regiment de- volved upon Rowe, though Col. Thomson seems to have exercised a sort of supervision over it, and, in the back country expeditions in 1775, spoke of it as, "my regiment of militia."} And during the siege of Charlestown, and after his exchange, he probably re- sumed command of the regiment.
On November 21st, 1775, the Provincial Congress adopted the following resolution: "That all corps of
*Drayton's Memoirs, Vol. I, page 353.
+In a letter to the Council of Safety, dated Nov. 28, 1775, Col. Thom- son stated that three of the militia companies existed in his immedi- ate neighborhood.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
Regulars take precedence of all corps of Militia, and that the regiments of Militia shall take precedence in the following manner: 1. Berkeley County. 2. Charles Town. 3. Granville County. 4. Colleton County. 5. Craven County, the lower part. 6. Orange- burg. 7. Craven County, the upper part. S. Camden. 9. Ninety-Six, north of the Fish Dam Ford and be- tween Enoree, Broad and Saluda Rivers. 10. The New Acquisition, south of the Fish Dam Ford and be- tween Broad and Saludy Rivers, north of Enoree and between Broad and Saludy Rivers."
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