Letter from John Rutledge, January 10, 1781.
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from John Rutledge, January 10, 1781.
Creator
Date
1781-01-10
Subject
Description
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.
2023-05-11
600 dpi, 16-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.
Contributor
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. 140, John Rutledge letters, 1780-1788.
Language
English
Identifier
Ms140_Let10
Text Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Thomas's Plantn. Cheraws Jan.10: 1781
Gent.
My last Letter to you was, pr Express, about the 30th. ult. - I have not recd. one from you, since yours of the 27 Nov'. & I find, that the Flag, which, by that Letter, you say was expected to sail in a few days, for C:Town, had not arrived there, the 2d. Instant, when Gen!. du Portail who is now here, left that place - I understand there were, at that time, about 600 Sail of square - rigged Vessells, in C:Town Harbour - These will carry off a considerable Supply of Rice, Indigo, Tobacco, Naval Stores, Lumber, for the W. Indies, & the British Market & Navy - Indeed, I look upon two years Crops already secured, to the Enemy, by the fall of C:Town - Some Tories embodied last week on Little-Pedee - Col°. Kolb has dispersed such of 'em as he could find collected, but I fear a Storm is gathering in that Quarter, & will burst, if the Enemy should advance, in force, this way, for I am well informed, that they have several British officers, in disguise, & other Emissaries, recruiting in No. Carolina, & on the Borders of this & that State - abt. the 31st ult., Gen!. Morgan detached Col: Washington, wth. 300 regulars
& Militia Horse, to attack Col: Vance, & 200 Tories, (who set out to attack him, but had retreated) - He did so, killed abt. 160, & took 35 Prisoners, with 40 Horses & some Baggage - But, such affairs are trifling - nor will any thing, in my opinion, be of Consequence, until we have a sufficient force to regain the whole State, both Town & Country - This, I imagine, we might soon have, on a proper Representation, to France, of our Situation - I therefore hope, it has been already made, & a satisfactory Answer received - if not, pray don't fail to press it continually, until it has the desired Effect - The Enemy's force is so far superior to what we are likely to bring into the Field that I have no hope of any Thing, material, except from that Quarter - I fear No. Carolina will adhere to the old plan of draughting Militia, for 3 Months - you know the Futility of that System - or, if they should resolve to raise Men, for the War, the Resolve will never be carrd. into Execution - Virginia, it is said, intends to raise 6000 Men, for the War, by a Bounty of 10,000 dollars, & a Promise of a Negroe at the Expiration of their Service - but, you will readily judge, what may be relied on, from that Plan, when you reflect, that, in June last, they resolved to raise Men, for 18 Months only, at an amazing price, & expected to have at least, 3500 Men, in the Field - Instead of which, they have had, only abt. 250, (in Rags-) abt. 400, under Col°. Greene, are on the March, near us, who, by Baron Steuben's Means, are pretty well cloathed - We have no Certainity, that more will come, tho', it is said, & probably, about the same, Number may - However, supposing we get even as large a proportion of the 6000, as we have, & are to have, of the 3500, how small will there Number be, &, if these are in the field, no sooner, from the Time of resolving to raise 'em, than those, when shall we have them - I will say nothing abt. their being cloathed, because, I put all Chance of that, out of the Case -
I hope, therefore, that neither you, or any Members of Congress, will be amused with, or give any Credit to, the false Intelligence which I frequently see, in the Northwa. Gazettes, recounting Battles which are never fought, & Marches which were never made - placing the Enemy in the most forlorn, & ourselves in the most advantageous, Situation - Lessening their, & exaggerating our, Numbers, & magnifying every little affair which really happens, in our favour - I fear, that our flashes of success now & then, agst the Tories, or, Small Parties of British
Gent.
My last Letter to you was, pr Express, about the 30th. ult. - I have not recd. one from you, since yours of the 27 Nov'. & I find, that the Flag, which, by that Letter, you say was expected to sail in a few days, for C:Town, had not arrived there, the 2d. Instant, when Gen!. du Portail who is now here, left that place - I understand there were, at that time, about 600 Sail of square - rigged Vessells, in C:Town Harbour - These will carry off a considerable Supply of Rice, Indigo, Tobacco, Naval Stores, Lumber, for the W. Indies, & the British Market & Navy - Indeed, I look upon two years Crops already secured, to the Enemy, by the fall of C:Town - Some Tories embodied last week on Little-Pedee - Col°. Kolb has dispersed such of 'em as he could find collected, but I fear a Storm is gathering in that Quarter, & will burst, if the Enemy should advance, in force, this way, for I am well informed, that they have several British officers, in disguise, & other Emissaries, recruiting in No. Carolina, & on the Borders of this & that State - abt. the 31st ult., Gen!. Morgan detached Col: Washington, wth. 300 regulars
& Militia Horse, to attack Col: Vance, & 200 Tories, (who set out to attack him, but had retreated) - He did so, killed abt. 160, & took 35 Prisoners, with 40 Horses & some Baggage - But, such affairs are trifling - nor will any thing, in my opinion, be of Consequence, until we have a sufficient force to regain the whole State, both Town & Country - This, I imagine, we might soon have, on a proper Representation, to France, of our Situation - I therefore hope, it has been already made, & a satisfactory Answer received - if not, pray don't fail to press it continually, until it has the desired Effect - The Enemy's force is so far superior to what we are likely to bring into the Field that I have no hope of any Thing, material, except from that Quarter - I fear No. Carolina will adhere to the old plan of draughting Militia, for 3 Months - you know the Futility of that System - or, if they should resolve to raise Men, for the War, the Resolve will never be carrd. into Execution - Virginia, it is said, intends to raise 6000 Men, for the War, by a Bounty of 10,000 dollars, & a Promise of a Negroe at the Expiration of their Service - but, you will readily judge, what may be relied on, from that Plan, when you reflect, that, in June last, they resolved to raise Men, for 18 Months only, at an amazing price, & expected to have at least, 3500 Men, in the Field - Instead of which, they have had, only abt. 250, (in Rags-) abt. 400, under Col°. Greene, are on the March, near us, who, by Baron Steuben's Means, are pretty well cloathed - We have no Certainity, that more will come, tho', it is said, & probably, about the same, Number may - However, supposing we get even as large a proportion of the 6000, as we have, & are to have, of the 3500, how small will there Number be, &, if these are in the field, no sooner, from the Time of resolving to raise 'em, than those, when shall we have them - I will say nothing abt. their being cloathed, because, I put all Chance of that, out of the Case -
I hope, therefore, that neither you, or any Members of Congress, will be amused with, or give any Credit to, the false Intelligence which I frequently see, in the Northwa. Gazettes, recounting Battles which are never fought, & Marches which were never made - placing the Enemy in the most forlorn, & ourselves in the most advantageous, Situation - Lessening their, & exaggerating our, Numbers, & magnifying every little affair which really happens, in our favour - I fear, that our flashes of success now & then, agst the Tories, or, Small Parties of British
(in the words of C: Fox) are like an Ignis fatuus, continually misleading our Friends & Well Wishers, but, be persuaded, that, unless, We have a respectable French Fleet & Army, well appointed, & sufficiently furnished, with Supplies of military Stores, & Provisions, there is no probability of regaining the Country, much less the Town - for the Enemy will not quit the former, until the latter is besieged, or abt. to be so - but, if, ever the Country should be recovered, & could be held, (which will be attended
with much difficulty,) of how little avail will that be, while the Enemy possess the Town, & all the Sea-Islands - My Anxiety occasions my dwelling so much on this Point, & pressing it, by every Letter to your closest Attention - I conjure you by every tie of duty & Affection to our unhappy Country, to labour, incessantly to obtain it.
I am with great Regard
Gent.
Yr. most obedt. Servt.
J: Rutledge
P.S. Col. Lee arrived Yesterday, with his Legion - abt. 260 - I like him much, & expect great Service from his Corps - Cornwallis has sent orders to Cruger, at Ninety-Six, to enlarge the Works there, (which he is now doing) promising to reinforce, & support him - His Lordship declares, that he will shortly send every disaffected person, out of the State, with - his family, & apply his property to publick use - Pickens & Bowie have joined Morgan, with. abt. 70 Men - but they can promise that many more will follow - Indeed it is almost amazing, that any will come out, when there is such a disparity
with much difficulty,) of how little avail will that be, while the Enemy possess the Town, & all the Sea-Islands - My Anxiety occasions my dwelling so much on this Point, & pressing it, by every Letter to your closest Attention - I conjure you by every tie of duty & Affection to our unhappy Country, to labour, incessantly to obtain it.
I am with great Regard
Gent.
Yr. most obedt. Servt.
J: Rutledge
P.S. Col. Lee arrived Yesterday, with his Legion - abt. 260 - I like him much, & expect great Service from his Corps - Cornwallis has sent orders to Cruger, at Ninety-Six, to enlarge the Works there, (which he is now doing) promising to reinforce, & support him - His Lordship declares, that he will shortly send every disaffected person, out of the State, with - his family, & apply his property to publick use - Pickens & Bowie have joined Morgan, with. abt. 70 Men - but they can promise that many more will follow - Indeed it is almost amazing, that any will come out, when there is such a disparity
between the Enemy's force
& ours - So little prospect of the latter increasing & the Consequence of their coming off is, at least the destruction of their property, & reducing their Families to Beggars - Gen'. [du] Portail will give you, & Congress, (if desd., which I hope he will be,) such Information, of the Condition of the Prisoners of War in So. Carolina, as will, I think, induce 'em to effect their Exchange, if possible, witht. further delay, as well as to supply 'em, & keep 'em supplied, with such articles as may render their Captivity less irksome, until they are relieved from it - I can'. conceive what Excuse can be made, for not having the Prisoners relieved, by the 2o. Jan., when the Resolve for that purpose was passed, ab. the 20th of August - The Board of War, I think, can give no Reason for this, but the grossest Inattention on their part – I am sorry to find, that Congress is so indifferent ab: the Conduct of that department, as to suffer 'em to trifle in such a Business - I must again, however, press these Points of Relief & Exchange, to your particular Notice - If the Weather will admit of the Virginia 18 Months Men being reviewed, before Genl. [du] Portail leaves us, he will be able to inform you, from occular demonstration, of their tattera. Condition.
Genl. Rutledge
Pedge
Cheraw
Jan. 10. 1781 & Jany. 14.
Great Allen [illegible] to this [illegible] copy of the State and the [illegible]
& ours - So little prospect of the latter increasing & the Consequence of their coming off is, at least the destruction of their property, & reducing their Families to Beggars - Gen'. [du] Portail will give you, & Congress, (if desd., which I hope he will be,) such Information, of the Condition of the Prisoners of War in So. Carolina, as will, I think, induce 'em to effect their Exchange, if possible, witht. further delay, as well as to supply 'em, & keep 'em supplied, with such articles as may render their Captivity less irksome, until they are relieved from it - I can'. conceive what Excuse can be made, for not having the Prisoners relieved, by the 2o. Jan., when the Resolve for that purpose was passed, ab. the 20th of August - The Board of War, I think, can give no Reason for this, but the grossest Inattention on their part – I am sorry to find, that Congress is so indifferent ab: the Conduct of that department, as to suffer 'em to trifle in such a Business - I must again, however, press these Points of Relief & Exchange, to your particular Notice - If the Weather will admit of the Virginia 18 Months Men being reviewed, before Genl. [du] Portail leaves us, he will be able to inform you, from occular demonstration, of their tattera. Condition.
Genl. Rutledge
Pedge
Cheraw
Jan. 10. 1781 & Jany. 14.
Great Allen [illegible] to this [illegible] copy of the State and the [illegible]
Collection
Citation
Rutledge, John, “Letter from John Rutledge, January 10, 1781.,” Charleston Library Society Digital Collections, accessed November 10, 2025, https://charlestonlibrarysociety.omeka.net/items/show/1443.