USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1780-1783 > Part 30
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" Mr. Moultrie, your father's character and your own have been represented to me in such a light that I wish to serve you both ; what I have to say I will sum up in a few words. I wish you to propose to your father to relinquish the cause he is now engaged in, which he may do without the least dishonor to himself; he can only enclose his commission to the first general officer (General Greene, for instance) ; the command will devolve on the next officer, which is often done in our service; any officer may resign his commission in the field if he chooses ; if your father will do this he may rely on me he shall have his estate restored to him, and all damages paid him; I believe you are the only heir to your father. As for you, sir, if your father con- tinues firm I shall never ask you to bear arms against him. These favors you may depend I shall be able to obtain from my Lord Corn- wallis, and you may rely on my honor this matter shall never be di- vulged by me."
Mr. Moultrie refused to make any such proposal to his father.1 Thereupon Lord Charles Montagu himself under- took the matter, and thus addressed Moultrie under the
-see Hist. of So. Ca. in the Revolution (McCrady), 299, 300, 301, 302- 309, -it is not surprising to find them willing to exchange service from Congress to the King, or vice versa, as indeed did many of those who re- mained, without the excuse which these could plead.
1 Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 149, 150.
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guise of disinterested friendship. On the 11th of March, 1781, he wrote : 1-
"SIR : A sincere wish to promote what may be to your advantage induces me now to write. The freedom with which we have often conversed makes me hope you will not take amiss what I say.
"My own principles respecting the commencement of this unfortu- nate war are well known to you, and of course you can conceive what I mention is out of friendship: you have now fought bravely in the cause of your country for many years, and in my opinion ful- filled the duty every individual owes to it : you have had your share of hardships and difficulties; and if the contest is still to be continued, younger hands should now take the toil from you. You have now a fair opening of quitting that service with honour and reputation to yourself by going to Jamaica with me. The world will readily attrib- ute it to the known friendship that has subsisted between us, and, by quitting this country for a short time, you would avoid any disa- greeable conversations, and might return at leisure to take possession of your estates for yourself and family. The regiment I am going to command, the only proof I can give you of my sincerity is, that I will quit that command to you with pleasure and serve under you. I earnestly wish I could be the instrument to effect what I propose, as I think it would be a great means towards promoting that recon- ciliation we all wish for. A thousand circumstances concur to make this a proper period for you to embrace: our old acquaintance : my having formerly been governor in the province : etc., etc., the interest I have with the present commander.
"I give you my honour what I write is entirely unknown to the commandant, or to any one else, and so shall your answer be if you favour me with one. Think well of me.
" Yours sincerely, " CH : MONTAGU."
No further comment need be made to this letter than that contained in the temperate but admirable reply of General Moultrie. He wrote : 2_
"MY LORD : I received yours this morning by Fisher ; I thank you for your wish to promote my advantage, but am surprised at your proposition ; I flattered myself I stood in a more favourable light with
1 Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 166. 2 Ibid., 168.
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you : I shall write with the same freedom with which we used to con- verse, and doubt not, you will receive it with the same candour: I have often heard you express your sentiments respecting this unfor- tunate war, when you thought the Americans injured; but am now astonished to find you taking an active part against them; though not fighting particularly on the continent; yet seducing their soldiers away, to enlist in the Britishi service, is nearly similar.
" My Lord, you are pleased to compliment me with having fought bravely in my country's cause for many years, and in your opinion, fulfilled the duty every individual owes to it ; but I differ widely with you, in thinking that I have discharged my duty to my country while it is still deluged with blood and overrun by the British troops, who exercise the most savage cruelties. When I entered into this contest I did it with the most matured deliberation, and with a determined resolution to risk my life and fortune in the cause. The hardships I have gone through I look back upon with the greatest pleasure and honour to myself : I shall continue to go on as I have begun, that my example may encourage the youths of America to stand forth in the defence of their rights and liberties. You call upon me now, and tell me I have a fair opening of quitting that service with honour and reputation to myself by going with you to Jamaica. Good God ! Is it possible that such an idea could arise in the breast of a man of honour. I am sorry you should imagine I have so little regard for my own reputation as to listen to such dishonourable proposals. Would you wish to have that man, whom you have honoured with your friend- ship to play the traitor ? Surely not. You say by quitting this country for a short time I might avoid disagreeable conversations, and might return at my own leisure and take possession of my estate for myself and family ; but you have forgot to tell me how I am to get rid of the feelings of an injured honest heart, and where to hide myself from myself. Could I be guilty of so much baseness I should hate myself and shun mankind.
" This would be a fatal exchange from my present situation, with an easy and approving conscience of having done my duty and conducted myself as a man of honour.
"My Lord, I am sorry to observe, that I feel your friendship much abated or you would not endeavour to prevail upon me to act so base a part. You earnestly wish you could bring it about, as you think it will be the means of bringing about that reconciliation we all wish for. I wish for a reconciliation as much as any man, but only upon honourable
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terms. The repossessing of my estate, the offer of the command of your regiment, and the honour you propose of serving under me, are paltry considerations in the loss of my reputation. No. Not the fee simple of that valuable Island Jamaica should induce me to part with my integrity.
" My Lord, as you have made one proposal, give me leave to make another, which will be more honourable to us both. As you have an interest with your command I would have you propose the withdrawing of the British troops from the continent of America, allow the inde- pendence, and propose a peace. This being done I will use my interest with my commander to accept the terms, and allow Great Britain a free trade with America.
"My Lord, I could make one more proposal, but my situation as a prisoner circumscribes me within certain bounds; I must, therefore, conclude with allowing you the free liberty to make what use of this you may think proper. Think better of me.
"I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, " WILLIAM MOULTRIE." 1
Failing thus to seduce the chief of the imprisoned offi- cers, another course was now adopted to compel their submission. Under the flimsy pretext that Lieutenant- Colonel Grimké and Major Habersham had been corre- sponding with the enemy, because they had written letters to an adherent of the American cause in Beaufort, - within the British lines, - there being nothing improper in the let-
1 Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 166-171 ; Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 289-294 ; Garden's Anecdotes, 13-16.
Mrs. Ravenel, in her Eliza Pinckney, 296-297, states that similar ad- vances were made both to Major Thomas Pinckney and to Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, both of whom were prisoners. Family legend pre- serves a few of the answers of the latter to such overtures. To one Colo- nel Pinckney wrote : " I entered into this cause after reflection and through principle ; my heart is altogether American, and neither severity nor favour nor poverty nor affluence can ever induce me to swerve from it." To another he answered: "The freedom and independence of my country are the Gods of my Idolatry. I mean to rejoin the American army as soon after my exchange as I possibly can. I will exert my abilities to the utmost in the cause I am engaged in, and to obtain success will at- tempt every measure that is not cruel or dishonourable."
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ters themselves, these officers were placed in close confine- ment until the pleasure of Lord Cornwallis, who was then in North Carolina fighting Greene, should be known. In com- municating the imprisonment of these officers to General Moultrie, Colonel Balfour also took occasion to add: 1-
"I am now to address you on a subject with which I am charged by Lord Cornwallis, who, having in vain applied to General Greene for an equitable and general exchange of prisoners, finds it necessary, in justice to the King's service and those of the army who are in this disagreeable predicament, to pursue such measures as may eventually coerce it; and his Lordship has consequently ordered me to send all the prisoners of war here forthwith to some of the West India Islands, which I am particularly directed to inform you cannot be delayed beyond the middle of next month; and for this purpose the trans- ports are now allotted, of which an account will soon be transmitted to you."
Colonel Balfour added complaints against the treatment of British prisoners by Marion.
Moultrie replied with his usual spirit. He declined to discuss the matter of the treatment of Colonel Grimké and Major Habersham, as he was himself a prisoner, and must leave that to those who were more at liberty. He addressed himself with vigor to the subject of the transpor- tation of the Continental officers.2
" The subject of your next clause," he wrote, " is of a very serious nature and weighty consequences indeed. Before I enter particularly into that, I must request you will be so kind as to inform me whether you deem the capitulation dissolved? You tell me Lord Cornwallis has frequently applied to General Greene for an equitable exchange of prisoners. I can also assure you that General Greene, in a letter to General McIntosh, mentions that he proposed such a measure to Lord Cornwallis; and I can assure you that by a letter from a delegate in Congress we are warranted to-day that Congress has proposed a plan for a general exchange, which Sir Henry Clinton approved, and signified to General Washington his readiness to proceed on it, and for ought
1 Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 171. 2 Ibid., 173.
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we know is at this moment taking place. However, the sending of us to the West Indies cannot expedite the exchange one moment; neither can the measure alleviate the distresses of those of your officers who are prisoners, as you must be well assured such treatment as we receive. will be fully retaliated by General Washington."
This remonstrance met with no respect further than that General Moultrie was allowed to send copies of Balfour's notice and of his reply to General Greene. Preparations for the transportation continued through the month of April. On the 2d of May Moultrie was informed " that the Continental and militia officers were, at the particular re- quest of General Greene, to be sent to Long Island instead of the West Indies, as had been threatened."1 The day after this, however-that is, on the 3d of May, 1781- a cartel for a general exchange of prisoners was agreed to at the house of Mr. Claudius Pegues, on the Pee Dee, between Captain Cornwallis on the part of Lord Cornwallis, and Lieutenant-Colonel Carrington on the part of Major- General Greene, and this put an end to the proposed removal of these prisoners.
As soon as Colonel Grimke was released from confine- ment he made his way at once from the British lines to the American army, and reported himself to General Greene, from whom he solicited a court of inquiry upon his con- duct. This court was unanimously of opinion that he had not violated his parole in corresponding with one within the lines to which he was confined, and that, on the con- trary, his arrest having been in violation of the terms of his surrender, he was justified in escaping. This finding was approved by General Greene, who was so strongly im- pressed with the justice and propriety of Colonel Grimke's conduct, and further that the conduct of the British had absolved the paroled officers, that he readily consented to
1 Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 171, 198.
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let him have a party of troops to bring off all his brother officers at Haddrell's Point. To this end General Greene gave Colonel Grimké a letter to Marion, who, also fully approving, furnished him with a detachment. With this Colonel Grimké proceeded forthwith to Haddrell's Point, made a prisoner of the British commissary within sight of the town, and took possession of the barracks and all the officers. A number of these had proceeded on their way as far as the church, five miles from the barracks, near Snee Farm, where General Moultrie and Colonel Pinckney were quartered, where they halted and sent for these officers to join them. They, however, refused to do so, not doubting the right or propriety of the measure, as they too held that the terms of their capitulation had been violated by the British, but because they were now soon to be exchanged, and thought it best to remain rather than run any risk.1
The terms of this cartel included political as well as mili- tary prisoners of war. It is well, therefore, at this time briefly to relate the treatment of the former, both of those remaining at home on their paroles and of those exiled to St. Augustine. The citizens of the town who adhered to their paroles, rather than renew their allegiance to the king and accept protection, were treated with great severity. Though they were not allowed the rations of military pris- oners, they were debarred from trade and employment, and the exercise of any profession of whatever kind to procure subsistence. On the 25th of March, 1781, Balfour issued the following order : 2-
"Whereas, divers persons who are prisoners on parole in Charlestown do exercise their professions trades and occupations and avail them- selves of their emoluments and advantages incidental thereto which should be enjoyed by those only who have returned to their allegiance
1 Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 200, 201.
2 The Royal Gazette, March 28, 1781.
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and are desirous of supporting his Majesty's government which affords them protection. For prevention whereof in future it is ordered that no person now a prisoner on parole in Charlestown shall have the liberty of exercising any profession trade mechanick art business or occupation. And his Majesty's subjects are hereby strictly enjoined not to employ such person or persons on any pretence."
Upon the application of one thus deprived of the means of living, for rations, the valiant officer replied in the fol- lowing order : 1-
" All difficulties with regard to provisions ought to have been con- sidered before the people entered into rebellion or in the course of these twelve months, while they have been allowed to walk about on parole. All militia officers and others on parole are to keep their paroles and remain in their houses."
But as the sequestration of their property and the dep- rivation of their means of support did not quell the spirit of these people, resort was again had to the prison ships. On the 17th of May, that is, just after the fall of Forts Watson and Motte and the post at Orangeburgh, and while Granby was besieged, one hundred and thirty militia officers, pris- oners on parole in Charlestown, were seized and sent on board these ships.2 In justification of this measure Balfour
1 Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 295, 296.
2 Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 541; Gibbes's Documentary Hist. (1781-82), 75-76.
LIST OF PRISONERS ON PRISON SHIPS
On Board the Prison Ship Torbay. - William Axon, Samuel Ash, George Arthur, John Anthony, Ralph Atmore, John Baddeley, Peter Bounetheau, Henry Benbridge, Joseph Ball, Joseph Bee, Nathaniel Blundell, James Bricken, Francis Bayle, William Basquin, John Clarke, Jr., Thomas Cooke, Norwood Conyers, James Cox, John Dorsus, Joseph Dunlap, Rev. James Edmonds, Thomas Elliott, Joseph Elliott, John Evans, John Eberley, Joseph Glover, Francis Grott, Mitchell Gargie, William Graves, Peter Guerard, Jacob Henry, David Hamilton, Thomas Harris, William Hornby, Daniel Jacoby, Charles Kent, Samuel Lockhart, Nathan- iel Lebby, Thomas Listor, Thomas Legare, John Lesesne, Henry Lybert. John Michael, John Minott, Sr., John Moncrief, Charles McDonald, Johr
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addressed the prisoners a communication which he required Messrs. R. Wells & Son, printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, to publish in The Royal Gazette, in which, charging ill treatment of the prisoners taken by the Americans, and declaring it his duty to try how far a more decided line of conduct would prevail, and whether the safety of avowed ad- herents to their cause might not induce the American troops to extend a proper clemency to those whose principles armed them in defence of the British government, he wrote : -
" Induced by these motives I have conceived it an act of expediency to seize on your persons and retain them as hostages for the good usage of all the loyal militia who are or may be made prisoners of war resolving to regulate in the full extent your treatment by the measure of theirs, and which my feelings make me hope may hereafter be most lenient.
" And as I have thought it necessary that those persons who some time since were sent from thence to St. Augustine should in this respect be considered in the same point of view as yourselves I shall send notice there that they be likewise held as sureties for a future propriety of conduct towards our militia prisoners.
Minott, Jr., Samuel Miller, Stephen Moore, George Monck, Jonathan Morgan, Abraham Mariette, Solomon Milner, John Neufville, Jr., Philip Prioleau, James Poyas, Job Palmer, Joseph Robinson, Daniel Rhody, Joseph Righton, William Snelling, John Stevenson, Jr., Paul Snyder, Abraham Seavers, Ripley Singleton, Samuel Skottowe, Stephen Shrews- bury, John Saunders, James Toussiger, Paul Taylor, Sims White, James Wilkins, Isaac White, George Welch, Benjamin Wheeler, William Wilkie, John Welch, Thomas You.
On Board the Schooner Pack Horse. - John Barnwell, Edward Barn- well, Robert Barnwell, William Branford, John Blake, Thomas Cochran, Joseph Cray, Robert Dewar, H. W. De Saussure, Thomas Eveleigh, John Edwards, Jr., John W. Edwards, William Elliott, Benjamin Gue- rard, Thomas Grayson, John Gibbons, Philip Gadsden, John Greaves, William H. Hervey, John B. Holmes, William Holmes, Thomas Hughes, James Heyward, George Jones, Henry Kennon, John Kean, Stephen Lee, Philip Meyer, George Mosse, William Neufville, John Owen, Charles Pinck- ney, Jr., Samuel Smith, William Wigg, Charles Warham, Thomas Waring, Sr., Richard Waring, John Waters, David Warham, Richard Yeadon.
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" Reasons so cogent and which have only the most humane purposes for their objects will I doubt not be considered by every reasonable person as a sufficient justification of this most necessary measure even in those points where it may militate with the capitulation of Charles- town, though indeed the daily infractions of it by the breach of paroles would alone warrant this procedure."
Admitting thus that the measure was a violation of the terms of their capitulation, he added : -
" Having been thus candid in stating to you the causes of this con- duct I can have no objections to your making any proper use of this letter you may judge to your advantage and will therefore should you deem it expedient grant what flags of truce may be necessary to carry out copies of it to any officer commanding American troops in these parts, and in the mean time the fullest directions will be given that your present situation be rendered as eligible as the nature of the circumstances will admit."
To this communication Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Moore, of North Carolina, Major John Barnwell, Samuel Lockhart, John Baddeley, Benjamin Guerard, and Charles Pinckney, Jr., on the 19th addressed the following tem- perate and admirable reply : -
. "SIR : Yesterday we transmitted to you a letter enclosing a copy of yours, with a list of one hundred and twenty-nine prisoners of war confined on board this ship which we hope is forwarded to Major- General Greene agreeable to your promise, and make no doubt but that your feelings as a gentleman will upon this occasion induce you to do everything in your power to liberate from a most injurious and disagreeable confinement those against whom there can exist no charge of dishonor, and whose only crime if such it can possibly be termed by men of liberal ideas is an inflexible attachment to what they conceive to be the rights of their country, and who have scorned to deceive you by unmeaning professions.
"In justice to ourselves we must say that if the Americans have at any time so far divested themselves of that character for humanity and generosity which ever distinguished them we feel ourselves most sensibly mortified, but are induced from the generous treatment of Colonels Lechmere, Rugeley, Fenwicke and Kelsall and their parties
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and from a number of other instances which might easily be adduced to believe that the outrages which you complain of must be the effect of private resentment (subsisting between British subjects and those who after having availed themselves of the royal proclamation, have resumed their arms in opposition to that government), and totally un- sanctioned by any American officer, and which we are well convinced they would reprobate and would punish in the most exemplary manner could the perpetrators of such horrid acts be detected.
" In a war circumstanced as the present there will be some instances of enormities on both sides. We would not wish to particularize, but doubt not there are acts of cruelty frequently committed by the irreg- ulars of your army and are convinced that on your part as well as our own they are generally to be attributed to an ignorance of the rules of warfare, and a want of discipline; but the idea of detaining in close custody as hostages a number of men fairly taken in arms and entitled to the benefits of a solemn capitulation is so repugnant to the laws of war and the usage of civilized nations that we apprehend it will rather be the means of increasing its horrors than answering those purposes of humanity you expect.
" As a most strict adherence to the terms of our paroles and a firm reliance on your honor, have been the only reasons of our being in your power at present, we trust that upon equitable proposals being made for our exchange by General Greene, no objections will be raised but every thing done to bring the matter to the most speedy issue."
To General Greene these officers wrote, inclosing a copy of Balfour's letter, and saying that should it fall to the lot of all or any of them to be made victims agreeable to the menaces therein contained, they had only to regret that their blood could not be disposed of more to the advance- ment of the glorious cause to which they had adhered.1
The cartel for the exchange of prisoners which had been agreed on on the 3d of May was very general in its terms. It provided that regular troops should be exchanged for regulars, and militia for militia. That men enlisted for six
1 Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 535; Gibbes's Documentary Hist. (1781-82), 72-77 ; The Royal Gazette, May 19, 1781.
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months and upwards in Continental or State service should be looked upon as regulars. But the practical working of the exchange was left to the commissaries of prisoners on either side. The first delivery of American prisoners were to embark at Charlestown on or before the 15th of June for Jamestown on the James River, where the first delivery of British prisoners should embark on or about the first week in July, and sail immediately to the nearest British port.1 This arrangement was no doubt made for the benefit of the Virginia and North Carolina Continental troops, who had been imprisoned since the capitulation of Charlestown. Upon the execution of the cartel Major Hyrne, the Ameri- can commissary of prisoners, proceeded to Charlestown, where he met Major Fraser, the British commissary.
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