Letter to Nathaniel Green from William Moultrie, January 30 & February 2, 1781
Dublin Core
Title
Letter to Nathaniel Green from William Moultrie, January 30 & February 2, 1781
Creator
Date
January 30, February 2, 1781
Subject
Description
Letter of prisoner exchange
06/27/2019
600 dpi, 24-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs
Contributor
Greene, Nathaniel
Cox, Danielle
Silberberg, Jules (Metadata)
Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Charleston Library Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Special Collections Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Charleston Library Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Format
image/jpeg
Type
StillImage
Source
Ms. 113, William Moultrie letters, 1779-1781.
Language
English
Identifier
ms113let05
Text Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Christ Church parish January 30th 1781
Sir
I did myself the honour to write you on the 1st instant in which I inclosed you a return of the officers prisoners of was at Haddrells point. I now send you a return of all the prisoners in this State that I can get information of as well Militia as Continental, and those sent to Augustine. I shall be much obliged to you for some Direction relative to the Exchange of Prisoners. I have made some partial Exchanges and shall be glad to know whether I shall continue to exchange as I have done hitherto if so be pleased to favour me with a list of such British prisoners as you have upon Pawle that I may know how to guide myself in that Business when tis proposed to me, about fifty privates have been proposed for Exchange but that I postponed till I should hear from you as you may give me some directions upon a more enlarged Scale.
I herewith inclose you a Return of such articles as have been sent by the states of Virginia and North Carolina, and am sorry to say they are very insufficient for the purposes intended, the state of So. Carolina & Georgia have had nothing sent them Except six Casks of Taffia Rum & Two Barrell Coffee sent from No. Cawlina by a Flag without letter or Invoice or directions to any persons here the Captain of the vessell said they were for the So. Carolina troops, and were delivered accordingly, the run was given to the Soldiers & the Coffee to the Officers.
Yesterday I recived information by a person immediatly [sic] from Philadelphia that a Flag had sailed from that place two days before he left it, with Cloathing money and other necessaries for the prisoners of war in this state, the Cloathing & are very much wanted, we are in dayly expectation of her arrival.
By the Resolutions of Congress of the 15t & 13t of August last I am authorized to appoint a Suitable person to act as Commissary of Prisoners in Charles Town, and am directed
to return the name of the person so to be appointed to the Commander in Chief of the Southern Departement.
In pursuance of which resolutions I have nominated Mr James Fisher for that office & acquainted General Gates of the same for his approbation. I beg leave to recommend him to you as a Gentleman who will exert himself to the utmost in the punctual and faithfull performance of his Duty.
Lieut Colonel Henderson of South Cawlince & Lieut Colonel Mebane of No. Carolina have a point in Dispute relative to their superiority in Rank. Lieut Col. Hendersons commission is senior but Colonel Mebane thinks he has the prior Right as being Lieut Coll. Commandant. The Opinion of General Officers in Charles Town has determined in favour of Colonel Henderson, but Col. Mebane request of me to write you on the Subject to know your Opinion thereupon, as he thinks that it was the custom in the army at the Northward that Lieut Coll Commandants, commanded all other Lieut Colonel.
February 2d. 1787
Sir
Since writing the above I am honoured with your favour of the 13th of last month, and observe your Consent to the Exchange of Capt. Smith of the Maryland line for Captn. Smith of Delancey’s Com as also your approbation of Mr. Fisher to the Office of Commissary of Prisoners. I am happy to inform you, that by a letter from Mr. Mathews a Delegate for South Carolina, that a General Exchange is agreed upon between their Excellencies General Washington and Sir Henry Clinton and that it will soon take place. I am sorry I cannot give you an account of the arrival of the Flag from Philadelphia, we are in hourly expectation of seeing her.
I have exchanged Capt. De St. Maria Levacher for Captain Roberts of the 63 British Regiment which I doubt not will meet with your Approbation.
The Officers of the South and North Carolina line have requested
requested of me to forward to you their wish & plan of changing their uniform for your approbation which if approved of they request may be forwarded to the Board of War.
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most Obediant & very hble servant
Willm. Moultrie
Brig. Gen
That part of the Letter respecting the alteration of the Uniform of the Carolina Officers, is already answered.
Honble. Major General Greene
From Genl. Moultrie
Jan 30t. 1781
Rec’d March 5th.
Capt. [unreadable] of the Maryland Line exchanged. He was taken at Galen, defeat.
Honble. Major General Greene
Examd. Lewis [unreadable] Comdr. Insr.
Sir
I did myself the honour to write you on the 1st instant in which I inclosed you a return of the officers prisoners of was at Haddrells point. I now send you a return of all the prisoners in this State that I can get information of as well Militia as Continental, and those sent to Augustine. I shall be much obliged to you for some Direction relative to the Exchange of Prisoners. I have made some partial Exchanges and shall be glad to know whether I shall continue to exchange as I have done hitherto if so be pleased to favour me with a list of such British prisoners as you have upon Pawle that I may know how to guide myself in that Business when tis proposed to me, about fifty privates have been proposed for Exchange but that I postponed till I should hear from you as you may give me some directions upon a more enlarged Scale.
I herewith inclose you a Return of such articles as have been sent by the states of Virginia and North Carolina, and am sorry to say they are very insufficient for the purposes intended, the state of So. Carolina & Georgia have had nothing sent them Except six Casks of Taffia Rum & Two Barrell Coffee sent from No. Cawlina by a Flag without letter or Invoice or directions to any persons here the Captain of the vessell said they were for the So. Carolina troops, and were delivered accordingly, the run was given to the Soldiers & the Coffee to the Officers.
Yesterday I recived information by a person immediatly [sic] from Philadelphia that a Flag had sailed from that place two days before he left it, with Cloathing money and other necessaries for the prisoners of war in this state, the Cloathing & are very much wanted, we are in dayly expectation of her arrival.
By the Resolutions of Congress of the 15t & 13t of August last I am authorized to appoint a Suitable person to act as Commissary of Prisoners in Charles Town, and am directed
to return the name of the person so to be appointed to the Commander in Chief of the Southern Departement.
In pursuance of which resolutions I have nominated Mr James Fisher for that office & acquainted General Gates of the same for his approbation. I beg leave to recommend him to you as a Gentleman who will exert himself to the utmost in the punctual and faithfull performance of his Duty.
Lieut Colonel Henderson of South Cawlince & Lieut Colonel Mebane of No. Carolina have a point in Dispute relative to their superiority in Rank. Lieut Col. Hendersons commission is senior but Colonel Mebane thinks he has the prior Right as being Lieut Coll. Commandant. The Opinion of General Officers in Charles Town has determined in favour of Colonel Henderson, but Col. Mebane request of me to write you on the Subject to know your Opinion thereupon, as he thinks that it was the custom in the army at the Northward that Lieut Coll Commandants, commanded all other Lieut Colonel.
February 2d. 1787
Sir
Since writing the above I am honoured with your favour of the 13th of last month, and observe your Consent to the Exchange of Capt. Smith of the Maryland line for Captn. Smith of Delancey’s Com as also your approbation of Mr. Fisher to the Office of Commissary of Prisoners. I am happy to inform you, that by a letter from Mr. Mathews a Delegate for South Carolina, that a General Exchange is agreed upon between their Excellencies General Washington and Sir Henry Clinton and that it will soon take place. I am sorry I cannot give you an account of the arrival of the Flag from Philadelphia, we are in hourly expectation of seeing her.
I have exchanged Capt. De St. Maria Levacher for Captain Roberts of the 63 British Regiment which I doubt not will meet with your Approbation.
The Officers of the South and North Carolina line have requested
requested of me to forward to you their wish & plan of changing their uniform for your approbation which if approved of they request may be forwarded to the Board of War.
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most Obediant & very hble servant
Willm. Moultrie
Brig. Gen
That part of the Letter respecting the alteration of the Uniform of the Carolina Officers, is already answered.
Honble. Major General Greene
From Genl. Moultrie
Jan 30t. 1781
Rec’d March 5th.
Capt. [unreadable] of the Maryland Line exchanged. He was taken at Galen, defeat.
Honble. Major General Greene
Examd. Lewis [unreadable] Comdr. Insr.
Collection
Citation
Moultrie, William, “Letter to Nathaniel Green from William Moultrie, January 30 & February 2, 1781,” Charleston Library Society Digital Collections, accessed May 19, 2024, https://charlestonlibrarysociety.omeka.net/items/show/1408.