Letter from John Rutledge, October 4, 1781.
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from John Rutledge, October 4, 1781.
Creator
Date
1781-10-04
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_Let21
Text Item Type Metadata
Transcription
High Hills of Santee Oct. 4th. 1781.
Gentlemen.
I received by Mr. Wilkinson, the day before yesterday, your Letters, of the 14th August and of the 4th. ult. - In consequence of what you mention, in the last, I have made, & you will receive herewith, a new appointment of Delegates: that matter had not escaped my attention, but, I did not conceive it necessary, within a year after the Confederation was finally ratified - I am glad to hear of Col°. John Laurens's Success - it will convince many, of what I have often said to you, that our not having reco. more powerful support & effectual aid, from France, is to be attributed solely, to the want of proper application for it - I think it next to an impossibility, that the combined Forces in Virginia should fail in the attempt on Cornwallis, &, if Charles-Town should, as it ought, & I hope will, be, their next object, a short time will restore tranquility to the southern States, &, in all probability, honorable terms of Peace be speedily offered by Great Britain.
Several Persons are now employed in procuring Indigo, on public account, (but keep this matter to yourselves) - it is impossible, as yet, to tell, with any degree of certainty, what Quantity will be obtained -
I have hitherto postponed a call of the Legislature, for the reasons heretofore mentioned to you, and, shall do so, until the arrival of the Council - when I know, (which I shall from them,) within what time the Gentlemen who were members of the last House may be expected here, the expediency of an Election may be better judged of, than at present - But, if the Forces
Forces now in Virginia should come against Charles-Town, it is most likely that the first meeting of an Assembly will be held there - I wish, much, however, to have the earliest Information (& therefore I repeat the requests contained in my former Letters, that you will not fail to transmit to me, by the speediest conveyance, what Intelligence you may Receive,) respecting the meeting of the proposed Congress in Europe, the result of their deliberations, or if they should actually meet, what it is supposed that result will be.
Commodore Gillon, in his Letter of the 28th April, forwarded in your last, desires that my orders for him might be sent to Philadelphia, as He should not, on his arrival in America, take any step without them, but, really, He has made such a strange disposition of his Cargo, by giving up to Col°. Laurens, at the first cost, two thirds of it, to be chosen by him, and obliging himself to reland the bulky articles of naval Supplies, in order to afford as much freight as possible, & that fee, for what Mr. Laurens should chose to Ship, on continental accounts, that I expect He (Gillon,) will bring a very inconsiderable Cargo - for, I presume, He will dispose of the naval Supplies, & that, tho' they would have yielded the greatest profit in America, they will not, in his situation, fetch, in Holland, what they first cost- that money I dare say will be all expended before He sails, &, I should not be surprised, if the pittance of the Cargo then remaining should be broke in upon, for raising a further sum - I shall therefore, give no Orders, until I know what He does really bring I hope, however, that the Vessel will not, on her arrival, be kept in port, an hour longer than may be necessary to fit her for such a Cruise, as, if successful, may compensate for what is past.
Nothing material has happened, between us
& the Enemy, since the battle of Eutaw - their main body is, at present, in St. Stephens Parish, at & about Murrays Ferry & our Army is at this place.
issued.
I enclose, for your information, a Copy of a Proclamation which I have lately issued.
I am with great Regard
Gent.
Yr. most hble Servt.
J: Rutledge
The Delegates of So. Carolina in Congress
Gover. Rutledge
Octobr. 4th. 1781. Santee
Makes a new appointment of Delegates.
Geller gives up to Colo. Laurens ab first Cost that he chases to late of the Congress of his Prizes &c.
Gentlemen.
I received by Mr. Wilkinson, the day before yesterday, your Letters, of the 14th August and of the 4th. ult. - In consequence of what you mention, in the last, I have made, & you will receive herewith, a new appointment of Delegates: that matter had not escaped my attention, but, I did not conceive it necessary, within a year after the Confederation was finally ratified - I am glad to hear of Col°. John Laurens's Success - it will convince many, of what I have often said to you, that our not having reco. more powerful support & effectual aid, from France, is to be attributed solely, to the want of proper application for it - I think it next to an impossibility, that the combined Forces in Virginia should fail in the attempt on Cornwallis, &, if Charles-Town should, as it ought, & I hope will, be, their next object, a short time will restore tranquility to the southern States, &, in all probability, honorable terms of Peace be speedily offered by Great Britain.
Several Persons are now employed in procuring Indigo, on public account, (but keep this matter to yourselves) - it is impossible, as yet, to tell, with any degree of certainty, what Quantity will be obtained -
I have hitherto postponed a call of the Legislature, for the reasons heretofore mentioned to you, and, shall do so, until the arrival of the Council - when I know, (which I shall from them,) within what time the Gentlemen who were members of the last House may be expected here, the expediency of an Election may be better judged of, than at present - But, if the Forces
Forces now in Virginia should come against Charles-Town, it is most likely that the first meeting of an Assembly will be held there - I wish, much, however, to have the earliest Information (& therefore I repeat the requests contained in my former Letters, that you will not fail to transmit to me, by the speediest conveyance, what Intelligence you may Receive,) respecting the meeting of the proposed Congress in Europe, the result of their deliberations, or if they should actually meet, what it is supposed that result will be.
Commodore Gillon, in his Letter of the 28th April, forwarded in your last, desires that my orders for him might be sent to Philadelphia, as He should not, on his arrival in America, take any step without them, but, really, He has made such a strange disposition of his Cargo, by giving up to Col°. Laurens, at the first cost, two thirds of it, to be chosen by him, and obliging himself to reland the bulky articles of naval Supplies, in order to afford as much freight as possible, & that fee, for what Mr. Laurens should chose to Ship, on continental accounts, that I expect He (Gillon,) will bring a very inconsiderable Cargo - for, I presume, He will dispose of the naval Supplies, & that, tho' they would have yielded the greatest profit in America, they will not, in his situation, fetch, in Holland, what they first cost- that money I dare say will be all expended before He sails, &, I should not be surprised, if the pittance of the Cargo then remaining should be broke in upon, for raising a further sum - I shall therefore, give no Orders, until I know what He does really bring I hope, however, that the Vessel will not, on her arrival, be kept in port, an hour longer than may be necessary to fit her for such a Cruise, as, if successful, may compensate for what is past.
Nothing material has happened, between us
& the Enemy, since the battle of Eutaw - their main body is, at present, in St. Stephens Parish, at & about Murrays Ferry & our Army is at this place.
issued.
I enclose, for your information, a Copy of a Proclamation which I have lately issued.
I am with great Regard
Gent.
Yr. most hble Servt.
J: Rutledge
The Delegates of So. Carolina in Congress
Gover. Rutledge
Octobr. 4th. 1781. Santee
Makes a new appointment of Delegates.
Geller gives up to Colo. Laurens ab first Cost that he chases to late of the Congress of his Prizes &c.
Collection
Citation
Rutledge, John, “Letter from John Rutledge, October 4, 1781.,” Charleston Library Society Digital Collections, accessed November 10, 2025, https://charlestonlibrarysociety.omeka.net/items/show/1455.