Letter from John Rutledge, May 24, 1780.

Letter from John Rutledge, May 24, 1780.

1780-05-24

Letters from John Rutledge, President of South Carolina, to the state delegates in the Congress of Philadelphia. Topics include the fall of Charleston, Thomas Sumter's victory at Hanging Rock, patriot and British troop strengths in South Carolina, battle of Eutaw Springs, execution of Isacc Hayne, John Laurens diplomatic activities in France, and election of J. Matthews to succeed Rutledge.

2019-07-08

600 dpi, 16-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.

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.

image/jpeg

StillImage

Ms. 140, John Rutledge letters, 1780-1788.

English

ms140_let01

1

Camden May 24th 1780

Gent -

I could not obtain a Copy of the Articles of Capitulation of Cha3. Town, until Yesterday - Gen'. Lincoln, did not, it seems, think it at all material, to inform me of it - As I judge it necessary to acquaint you, &, thro' you, Congress (to whom you will make the proper Representation of it,) with the Situation of Affairs here, at this period, I send, inclosed, a Copy of the Capitulation, less the flag which the Gen'. had Liberty to send, wth dispatches to Philadelphia, wd. - not have arrived - The Terms of the Capitulation are truly mortifying - The treatment of the Prisoners more so - the Contl.

Officers are Prisoners on Parole, at the Barracks on Haddrells-Point, & restricted to 6 Miles from them - The Seamen & Soldiers are Prisoners at the Barracks in Town - thus separated, with a danger to get 'em to enlist, & enter, into the British Service, which some have done already, & many, with1. doubt, will. I hope Congress will effect an Exchange, of those Troops, as soon as possible, (tho', it is probable, that Clinton will endeavor to avoid it,), otherwise, in a little Time, they may expect 'em henced agst. Us - On Saturday last, the Enemy took Post with a considerable force at Dupree's ferry on Santee river which they began to cross, that day, on their March to George-Town, whither they had sent some Vessels, from C:Town, & they are certainly in possession of Geo: Town which was not defensible - Gen'. Caswell, who lay a little below Dupree's ferry, wth. the No. Carolina
2

Brigades, & the Virginia Continentals, under Col. Buford, had luckily retreated this way, before the Enemy got to that ferry & thereby prevented their cutting off his Retreat, which was probably their first Schirmish - Those Troops, now under Command of Gen'. Huger are abt. 15 Miles below this place, & will be here today - Huger's Motions will be decided, by the Counter force of the Enemy - Sorry I am to say, his force is altogether inadequate to any offensive operation - The Enemy, according to Advices rec. last Night, were, the Evening before, at Black-mingo - but whether with Intention to take a Circuit, by way of the hanging Rock Road, in order to set in the Rear of our Troops, or, to proceed for No. Carolina

is, as yet, uncertain - The next Movemn'. they make will demonstrate which of those Points is their Object - Parties are gone to reconnoiter

However, I tho1. it advisable not to wait for their Return, but to give you the foregoing, & following, Intelligence, as soon as possible - We have no certain Accounts what the force advancement is, or, by whom commanded, but it is said, & I believe it, to be considerable, & under Lord Cornwallis - It is evident, that the Conquest of No. as well as of So. Carolina is the Enemy's plan - The Time for which they endeavor to enlist Men is until those Counties are conquered

&, a Junction with the disaffected at Cross-Creek, will probably, be attempted by the Body advancement who have, with them, a large Highland Regimn. I have good Reason to believe, that they will send Vessels, (some perhaps with Troops,) to possess


3

the Rivers, & the Towns on them, in No. Carolina - &, it is probable, that they will establish Magazines, of Provisions, at Brunswick, & Wilmington, whither they may send great Quantities of Rice, from the lower parts of our State. They can hardly, I think expect to penetrate far, into the back Country of No. Carolina, unless they depend, more than I hope they can wth. good grounds, on the disaffection of the People there

but, I presume they will extend their Course, along, & at some distance from, the Sea - I hope, indeed, that their progress will be soon checked, tho', their Numbers are really great, but, surely, Virginia will now be roused, & the forces of that

State of No. Carolina, powerfully supported by Congress, will make the Enemy repent of their Temerity
in attempting Conquests more Northwardly - I cannot account for the Backwardness of the Troops ordered hither by Congress, & Virginia, & for our want of Intelligence, respecting 'em. We know not where any of 'em are - I still hope, however, that a Combination of force, & better Fortune than our last, will soon oblige the Enemy to head back their Steps, &, tho' I have no hope of regaining Chas. Town, except by Treaty, that the Country will be preserved, & No. & So. Carolina, &, even Georgia, retained, in the Union, for surely our Brethren & Allies will never give up the Independence of either of those States, or suffer, such valuable Territories to be lopped off - Whether the Enemy will make any Attempts on our back Country, (except

4

by Tories & Indians,) is still uncertain - If they send up a regular force, I am convinced they will be joined by Numbers, & many Men will fall a Sacrifice to the Resentment of our domestick or internal Enemies - But, if regular Troops are not sent up, I think our People will manage the disaffected, & keep 'em from doing any considerable Mischief: However, expect no other Service, from the Militia - They are so apprehensive of their Families being killed, & their Properties destroyed, (by the Tories & Indians who daily threaten hostilities

) whilst they are absent from their districts, that I believe it will be impracticable to keep any Number worth mentioning, on duty, with

the Army, or at any distance from their own Houses - If I can get 'em to our body, in their own districts, & keep the Country quiet, it is, really as much as I expect they will do, at present

& until Troops arrive from the Northward - but Even this depends on the Enemy's not sending up regular forces, to take posts in the back parts of the State, for, if they do, the disaffected will certainly flock to them, & those who are not disaffected will either abscond, if they can, or, (which is more probable) be taken Prisoners, with1. Arms, In which Case they will expect to be treated, as those are who have been taken under Similar Circumstances, viz put on Parole - a piece of Policy which the Enemy have adopted, wth. respect to our Militia

for obvious Reasons - This is a
5

melancholy, but a faithful acc. of our affairs, at this time - However, we must not despair: I will still hope for great & speedy success, from our Brethren, to animate & support our Peoples for a Reverse of our late bad Fortune - But, immediate, &, the greatest Exertions of the Northern States, & of Congress, are (be assured,) indispensable, to prevent the Desolation & Ruin of this State & Georgia, & the Enemy's obtaining, (what they flatter themselves with shortly securing,) the three Southern most States - too valuable a Prize ever to be given up to them. I request the favor of hearing, fully, from you, as soon as possible, & of knowing what Aid we may expect, from you,

& when we may be assured of it - Gen'. Gates or some other able & experienced Gen'. with the Troops, who come, will be absolutely necessary - We have not a Cont. Gen. here but Huger, whose Health will scarcely suffer him to undergo any Kind of Fatigue - Col°. Hamilton is exchanged, & I suppose will do much Mischief, amongst his old Friends in No. Carolina - You will order the person by whom you write, to come the upper Road, & to proceed to Camp, wherever it may be - There, He will Either find, or hear of me -

I am with great Esteem,
Gent.,
Y'. most obed1. Servt.
J. Rutledge

P.S. Private

Be pleased to send, to me, as Soon as possible, a Copy of Lincoln's Letter, to Congress respecting the Capitulation - I want to know why, after the last reinforcem1. arrived, (of 2500 Men,) he did not evacuate the Town, &, Save his Troops, wch. I think
6 Private Private

he might Easily have done, with all his Artillery, & Stores, by crossing, in the Frigates, & other Vessels, over to Lempriere's, & coming thro' Christ Church Parish, before the Communication was cut off, which wd. have preserved the Country, or, at least the Army, & probably frustrated the Enemy's plan of Conquering this State, much less of going to No. Carolina - & why, even at the last, & when Cornwallis was posted near Wappolaw, wth. 2500 Men, Lincoln did not endv'. to make good his way, wth. all his Troops, (which he might have done, tho' with some less,) rather

than agree to So infamous a Capitulation, for, the Garrison are, in my Opinion, in Effect Prisoners at discretion - These Things appear mysterious to me, but, I will suspend a final Judgm1., on Them, till I hear what he says on the Matter - It is currently reported, & believed, here, that G. Britain will offer America, the Independence of all the States except No. & So. Carolina & Georgia - & perhaps even of No. C. - & that such a proposition will be accepted - I think it impossible, that Congress will leave Us in the Lurch - but, pray inform me, candidly, & fully, what may be expected, on that stead - If they never will give up the Independence of any one State (which I trust they will not,) it w. be best to declare it immediately, in the most pointed Terms, to satisfy the wavering &


defeat the Schemes of our Enemies - Such a declaration, generally made known with a good Number of Troops, wa. revive the Spirits of many of our credulous, dejected, tho' well meaning, People -

All your Friends who were in Town are well - not a Militia Man killed or hurt, but Peter Lord killed - & no Officer of the Continentals that Incident, killed or wounded except Col°. Parker of the Virginians, & Capt. Th°. Moultrie killed - also Phil: Neyle – I left Mr. Kinloch & Mr. Huger well, at Kensington, Yesterday Fortnight -

The Delegates of So. Carolina in Congress

P.S: Be pleased to make known to Major Harleston if wth, or near you the Contents of this Letter.

P:S: May 26: 1780.

Camden

Caswell's & Bufords Men are come up hither. Each Corps consists of ab1. 400 Effective -

Gen'. Huger proposes sending Caswell to Haly's Ferry on Pedee in No. Carolina - & Buford's to Charlotte - from there towards Hillsborough thinking this force too insignificant to resist the Enemy in this State, & that they will be of more Service in No. Carolina for the present where

he apprehends the Enemy will Endeavor to make an Impression. -

Our Intelligence from below is
that the Enemy had crossed Murray's ferry the day before Yesterday (abt. 85 miles from hence) on the March hither. -

Gov'. Rutledge
May 24th & 26. 1780. Camden

The Delegates of So. Carolina
in Congress