Letter from John Rutledge, January 24, 1781.

Letter from John Rutledge, January 24, 1781.

1781-01-24

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.

2023-05-11

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

English

Ms140_Let13

Jany. 24 Cheraw - 1781.

Cheraws Jan. 24: 1781

Gent -

Inclosed, you'll receive an accot. of the late action, between Col. Tarlton & the brave Gen'. Morgan, in which, the former was totally defeated - The Genl. will send a more circumstantial one, & the Bearer, Major Giles, who was in the Engagemt., will give you any particulars, which I may, in Haste, have omitted - I hope this fortunate affair will produce some good Effects, but, our friends must not be too sanguine, & conclude that we have, now, no Need of assistance - Certainly, this is a very handsome Check, but nothing decisive - We have still many to fight & great difficulties to encounter - This Country must be recovered, (if ever it is regained,) Inch by Inch - The Enemy's Pride will prevent their yielding it,
in any other Manner - Their Interest wa. also hinder them, for they have experienced, & know full well, its value - I am persuaded, that Lord Cornwallis will, immediately, call hither the Troops which are in Virginia - but, what Success we may have, from that State, to oppose them, is uncertain - probably very trifling - I am convinced, that the Enemy will not abandon the Country, & retreat to Charles-Town, until it is, or about to be, besieged - nor, will they quit the Town, until they can hold it no longer - They are building a large, strong, Fort, at Hampstead, 2 Redoubts, one on each Side of the main Road, to be commanded by the Fort, & a Fort on Hangman's Point - To give the finishing Stroke to the Business, we must have considerable Support, both naval & military, from our Ally - pray use your utmost Influence & Endeavors, to obtain it speadily - why do the French Fleet & Army remain at Rhode Island? What is become of the Second Division? I wish a Minister had been sent to France, last November or October - I cant. account for such Cond ts. & delays - & fear much, that this year will pass away as the last did with. any thing of Consequence being done by us - I rec:, on Saturday last, your Letters of Dec'. 20 & 24th, & observe what you mention, abt. a proclamation, but, I wd. have any which it might be proper to issue, carried into Effect, & the Time for so doing is not yet quite arrived - you will receive, by this opportunity, Copies of the Letters which have passed between Gen'. Green & Lord Cornwallis - I can'. see any material difference
between the Letter which we charge him with writing to Balfour, & what he acknowledges writing to Cruger - &, if his Copy is genuine, the differences between that & our copy are probably only clerical Errors, without design, for they certainly do not vary tho' Since I think his Lordship avows sufficient to establish his Character to be very different from what Sir H. Clinton declares it to be - However, pray have the Letters published, by order of Congress - his Lordship's Letters to Smallwood & Genl. Green are so open to Comments, that, without doubt, they will not escape many striking ones - I wish you would send on Cloathing for the Troops now here soon as possible, & a Quantity of spare Cloaths, wch, would, perhaps, procure Recruits - it is useless to send Men, naked, into the field,
many present are literally so, & consequently, unfit for any service - I have no Expectation that the Garrison of Charles Town, (the Citizens at least, & particularly such as have been sent to St. Augustine,) will be relieved, by any Exchange here - I am told, by good Authority, that Lord C. has declared he will not exchange 'em - you will, therefore, endeavor to affect an Exchange, thro' the Negotiation between Gen'. Washington & Clinton - tho' the prospect of that's terminating appears very distant, - Especially if it is to depend on the Settlement of the Accounts for prisoners on both Sides - This will [bottom of page cut away]
delay - If both parties are in Earnest, the Exchange need not be delayed, till a Settlement of Accounts - (for the delay will only add to the Expense), but, Hostages might be given, to Secure payment, of whatever Ballance - Comm's to be now appointed sho. liquidate - you will attend to, (& press this matter,) & also to having our Prisoners, in C.-Town, well supplied, during their Captivity, if a release from it cannot be Soon affected - sha. Overtures for Peace be made, (of wch. I confess I have no Idea, in any short Time,) I assure myself that the Proposition of uti possidetis will be absolutely rejected, without a Moments consideration. [bottom of page cut away]