Letter from John Rutledge, September 8, 1781.

Letter from John Rutledge, September 8, 1781.

1781-09-08

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

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

English

ms140_let18

Mrs. Mottes Congaree Sep. 9. 1781

Gent.

As reports will, probably, give you before, or about, the Time, this may get to Hand, a confused, &, perhaps, a false, Account of the Battle which was fought, Yesterday, at Eutaw between Gen'. Greene, & the British Army, under Colo. Stuart, to prevent an undue impression from those reports, & as, without Doubt, Congress will be desirous to have the best, & Earliest Intelligence of this glorious Victory, I think proper to give you what Information We have of it, but, you'll be pleased to observe, that I do so, merely, for the Satisfaction of Congress, yourselves, & our Friends, & therefore you will take Care that, it be not printed, or published - This I must insist on, because, you will shortly receive an authentick official acc. of the Affair.
No. 1 is a Copy of the Generals Letter, which I rec. this Afternoon - Col°. Otho Williams, in a Letter dated at Burdells, this day, at Noon, says, "Lee's" "Marion, & Maham's Horse, are," "maneuvering about the Enemy, who,” “have drawn into their Part, at Eutaw," "a strong Picket, which had been" advanced a Mile from it -" The action began Early Yesterday Morning, & lasted about 2 Hours & a half - The Militia, under Marion, & Pickens, fired 17 Rounds p Man No. 2 is such a List as we have obtained, of the killed & wounded, but, I believe there are some Names to be added to it - I don't hear of the Enemy's having taken any other prisoners than Colo. Washington - whose Corps charged, thrice, thr'o their Infantry, whilst unbroken - all Washingtons Officers were wounded, except Capt. Parsons - all our wounded are brought off - 260 of the Pris". have just passed this Way, & are Sent over McCords ferry - The rest are so badly wounded, that they must come on, slowly – the force was pretty nearly equal, on both sides - if any Surprise - The Enemy had it - a British officer, Prisoner, tells me, they had 2000 - all Regulars - a considerable part of ours were Militia - ab'. 180 of them, No. Carolinians, under Col°. Malmedy, 360 under Marion, 280 under Parsons, & ab'. 200 State Troops (in the Action) under Colo. Henderson, who commanded them in the illness & absence of Gen'. Sumpter - our Men it is said have suffer'd amazingly, but that must have been expected in such a Conflict

However, they are in the highest Spirits, & ready for another action - I am in hopes the Gen'. will be able, if he can draw the Enemy out of their strong Hold, (the large brick House at Eutaw wch. they certainly can't occupy long) to follow up, & improve this Victory, & give the finishing Stroke, to their possessing the Country, by destroying the Remains of Their Army, at Eutaw, who must be exceedingly dispirited at any rate, however, if they sho. be so fortunate as to set off, by a rapid Moon-Light March, they must commit their numerous wounded, to his Mercy - you will hear from the General, as
soon as he has closed the scene with Mr. Stuart - in the mean Time, this may serve the purpose above mento.-

I am, Gent.
Yr. very hble. Servt.
J: Rutledge

P.S. Mond'. Morning 8 o'clock – I've just seen a Man who left the ground on which the Battle was fought, at 3 PM. Yesterday – He says the Enemys dead & wounded were then on the field & that our Horses were close to it - I don't know how far, however, this may be Fact.