The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-07-25 00:00:00, page 2

S I R,
The usage of war renders it necessary that we pre-
Tent you with an opportunity of avoiding the destruc
tion which impends your garrison.
We have referred our summons to this late date to
preclude the necessity of much correspondence on the
occasion, you fee the strength of the investing forces,
the progress of our works, and you may inform your
felf of the situation of the two armies, by enquiries
from Capt Armstrong of the legion, who has the ho
nour to bear this.
We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servants,
Augusta, ANDREW PICKENS, B. G. Mil.
May 31, 1781. HENRY LEE, jun. Lieut. Col.
Lieut. Col. Brown. Com. cont. troops.
Gentlemen,
What progress you have made in your works I am
no stranger to; it is my duty and inclination to de
fend this post to the last extremity.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
To B. G. Pickens THO. BROWN, Lieut. Col.
and Col. Lee. com. K. troops, Augusta.
S I R,
It is not our disposition to press the unfortunate.—
To prevent the effufion of blood, which mus t follow,
a perseverance in your fruitlefs resistance, we inform
you, that we are willing, though in the grasp of vic
tory, to grant such terms as a comparative view of
'our refoedtive situation can warrant.
Your determination will be considered as conclu
sive, and will regulate our future conduct.
We have the honour to be,
Your most obedient servants.
ANDREW PICKENS, B. G. M.
HENRY LEE, Lieut. Col. C. C. T.
Fort Cornwallis, June 3d, 1781.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your summons of this day, and to assure you that, as
it is my duty, it is likewifc my inclination to defend
the post to the last extremity.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and most humble servant.
THO. BROWN, Lt. Col. com. K. T. at Augusta.
S I R, Head-Quarters, June 4th, 1781.
We beg leave to propofc, that the prisoners in your
possession may be sent out of the fort, and that they
be conliJered yours or ours, as the siege may termi
nate.
Confident that you cannot oppose this dilate of
humanity and custom of war, we have only to lay,
that any icqueft of a similar nature from you will
meet our ready assent.
We.have the honour to be, &c.
Lt. Col. Brown. ANDREW PICKENS. B. G. M.
HENRY LEE, Jun. Lt. Col.
Gentlemen,
Though motives of humanity and a feeling for the
distresses of individuals, incline me to accede to what
you have propohd concerning the priioners with us,
yet many reaions to which you cannot be strangers,
forbid my complying with this requisition such
attention as I can constitute with good policy and my
duty shall be Ihewn them.
1 have the honour to be, &c.
THO. BROWN, Lt. Col. com. K. T. at Augusta.
Fort Cornwallis, June 5, 1781.
Gentlemen,
In , >ur summons of the 3d instant, as no particu
lar conditions were fpecified, I postponed the conli
dcrarion of it to this day.
From a desire to lessen the distresses of war to indi
viduals I am inclined to propose to you my accep
tance of the inclofed terms, which being pretty limi
lar to those granted by the commanding officer of the
King'stroops, to the commanding officers of the Ame
rican troops and garrison in Charleftown, I imagine
will be honourable to both parties.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and most humble servant.
To B. G. Pickens, and THO. BROWN, Lt. Col.
Lt. Col. Lee. com. K. T. at Augusta.
SI R,
There was a time when your proposals of this date
might have been accepted.—That period is now pal
fed. You had every notice from us, and must have
known the futility of your further opposition.
Although we should be juftified by the military of
both armies to demand unconditional submission, our
sympathy for the unfortunate and gallant of our pro
feffion, has induced us to grant the honourable terms
which we herewith tranimit.
We have the honour to be, &c.
ANDREW PICKENS, B. G M.
HENRY LEE, jun. Lt. Col. commanding
Continental troops.
Fort Cornwallis, June 5, 1781.
Gentlemen,
Your propositions relative to the officers of the
King's troops and militia being admitted to their
paroles, and the exclusion of the men, is a matter I
cannot accede to: The conditions I have to propose
to you are, that such of the different classes of men,
who compose this garrison, be permitted to march
to Savannah, or continue in the country, as to them
may be most eligible, until exchanged.
I have the honour to be, &c.
THO. BROWN, Lt. Col. com. K. T.
B. G. Pickens. at Augusta.
Lt. Col. Lee.
S I R,
In our answer of this morning we granted the most
generous terms in our power to give, which we beg
leave to refer to, as final on our part.
We have the honour to be, &c.
ANDREW PICKENS, B. G. Militia.
HENRY LEE, jun. Lt. Col. commanding
Augusta, June 5, 1781. Continental troops.
To Lt. Col. Brown.
Gentlemen,
As some of the articles proposed by you are gene
rally expressed, I have taken the liberty of deputing
three gentlemen to wait upon you for a particular ex
planation of the refpedive articles.
I have the honour to be, &c.
THO. BROWN, Lt. Col. commanding
June 5, 1781. King's troops.
Settled by a conference with Lt. Col. LEE.
ARTICLES of CAPITULATION proofed by
Lieut. Col. Brown, and answered by Gen. Pickens
and Lieut. Col. Lee.
Art. i. That all ads of hostilities and work fliall
cease between the besiegers and besieged until the ar
ticles of capitulation fliall be agreed on, signed and
executed, or collectively rejected.
Answered. Hostilities shall cease for one hour, 0-
ther operations to continue.
2. That the fort shall be surrendered to the com
manding officer of the American troops, such as it
now stands. That the King's troops three days af
ter signing articles of capitulation fliall be conducted
to Savannah with their baggage, where they will re
main prisoners of war until they are exchanged ; that
proper conveyances shall be provided by the com
manding officer of the American troops for that pur
pose, together with a fufficient quantity of good and
wholesome provisions till their arrival at Savannah.
Answered. Inadmissible : The prisoners to sur
render field prisoners of war. The officers to be in
dulged with their paroles; the soldiers to be con
ducted to such place as the commander in chief fliall
direct.
3. The militia now in garrison fliall be permitted
to return to their refpedive homes, and be secured
in their persons and properties.
Answer. Answered by 2d article, the militia mak
ing up part of the garrison.
4. The sick and wounded fliall be under the care
of their own Surgeons, and be fupphed with such
medicines and necessaries as are allowed to the Bri
tilh hospitals. Agreed.
5. The officers of the garrison, and citizens who
have borne arms during the siege, Ihall keep their
fide arms, pistols and baggage, which fliall not be
searched, and retain their servants.
Answered. The officers and citizens who have
borne arms during the siege fliall be permitted their
fide-arms, private baggage and servants; tide-arms
not ' 1 be worn ; and the baggage to be searched by
a perf>n appointed for the purpose.
6. The garrison at an hour appointed fliall march
out with shouldered arms and drums beating, to a
place to be agreed on, where they will pile their arms.
Answered. Agreed. The judicious and gallant
defence made by the garrison, entitles them to every
mark of military refped. The fort to be delivered
Up to Capt. Rudolph at twelve o'clock, who will take
possession with a detachment of the legion infantry.
7. That the citizens fliall be protested in their
persons and property.
Answered. Inadmissible.
8. That twelve months time be allowed to all such
as do not choose to reside in this country to dispose
of their effects, real and personal, in this province,
without any molestation whatever, or to remove to
any part thereof, as they may choose, as well them
selves as families.
Answered. Inadmissible.
9. That the Indian families now in garrison shall
accompany the King's troops to Savannah, where
they will remain prisoners of war, until exchanged
for an equal number of prisoners in the Creek or Che
rokee nations.
Answer. Answered in the 2d article.
10. That an express be permitted to go to Savannah
with the commanding officer's dispatches, which are
not to be opened.
Answered. Agreed.
11. Additional. The particular attention of Col.
Brown is expected towards the just delivery of all pub
lick stores, monies, &c. &c. and that no loans be
admitted to defeat the spirit of this article.
Signed at Head-Quarters, Augusta, June 5, 1781, by
ANDREW PICKENS, B. G. M.
HENRY LEE, jun. Lt. Col. Comdt.
THOMAS BROWN, Lt. Col. Command
ing the King's troops at Augusta.
RETURN of PRISONERS taken at Fort Cornwallis,
June 5, 1781.
King's Rangers, 1 Lieut. Col. 3 Captains,, 3 Sub
alterns, i Quartermaster, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant
Commissary, 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Drum-Major, 8
Sergeants, 4 Drums and Fifes, 136 Rank and File,
Weft-Florida Rangers, 1 Captain.
South-Carolina Royalists, 1 Captain.
New-Jersey Volunteers, 1 Subaltern.
Georgia Loyalists, 1 Surgeon.
Georgia Tories, 1 Colonel, 1 Major, 4 Captains,
I Adjutant, 2 Surgeons, 3 Serjeants, 100 Rank and
File.
South-Carolina Tories, 19.
Total, i Colonel, 1 Lieut. Col. 1 Major, 4 Cap
tains, 4 Subalterns, r Adjutant, t Quartermaster,
4 Surgeons, 1 Assistant Commissary, 1 Sergeant-Ma
jor, 1 Drum-Major, 11 Sergeants, 4 Drums and
Fifes, 255 Rank and File.
OFFICERS NAME S.
King's Ranger's, Lieut. Col. Brown, Captains,
Smith, Marshall, Cameron ; Lieuts. Brown, Came
ron ; Ensign Douglass, Quartermaster Cornish; Sur
geon Allen; Assistant Commissary Gernon. Welt-
Florida Rangers, Capt. Peairs. South-Carolina Roy
alists, Capt. Lieut. Black. New-Jersey Volunteers,
Lieut. Black, A. D. QM. G. Georgia Loyalists,
Surgeon Taylor. Georgia Tories, Col. Grierfon;
Major Williams; Capts. Philips, Alhton, Perkins,
Crawford; Adjutant Johnson; Surgeons, Folliot.
Begbie.
S I R, George-Town, 29th May, 1781.
In my last I acquainted you with my intention of
marching to this place. Yesterday l arrived, and im
mediately began to open an intrenchment, but the
enemy thought proper to flip on board their vessels
at 9 o'clock at night, and fall down towards the
bar. They had a galley, two gunboats, and an arm
ed fehooner. I immediately took possession of the
redoubt and town, In the firft were three nine poun
ders and a carronade, their trunnions knocked off
and spiked, and their baggage all carried off.
I shall only day to level the works, when I will im
mediately cross Santee river, take post near Monk's
Corner, and wait your orders.
The enemy's leaving this post has saved a great deal
of provisions, will prevent the tories from destroying
our friends, and leave them at leisure to pursue their
planting.
It cannot be conceived the joy this event has given
our friends.
I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
FRANCIS MARIAN.
The Honourable Major General Greene.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary,
JU LY 21.
Extract of a letter from Major General Greene, dat
ed camp at Little River, near Ninety-Six, June 20,
1781.
" In my letter of the ninth, I informed your Ex
cellency that the enemy had received a considerable
reinforcement at Charleftown, and that I was appre
hensive they would march out and interrupt our ope
rations. On the 11th I got intelligence that they were
advancing; I immediately detached all the cavalry
with orders to General Sumpter to collect all the
force he could and keep in their front, and by every
means in his power retard their march. The enemy
palled him at Congaree before he got his troops in
motion ; afterwards he found it impracticable to gain
their front. It was my intention to have fought them
before they arrived at Ninety-Six, could I have col
lected a force fufficient for the purpose.
We had pushed on our approaches very near to the
enemy's works, our third parallel was formed round
their abattis, a mine and two approaches were with
in a few feet of their ditch. These approaches were
directed against the Star fort, which stands upon the
left of the town, as we approached it from the Sa
luda. On the right our approaches were very near
the enemy's redoubt ; this was a strong stockade fort
with two block houses in it. These two works flank
ed the town which is picketed in with strong pickets,
a ditch round the whole and a bank raised near the
height of a common parapet. Besides these fortifica
tions, were several little slushes in different parts of
the town, and all the works communicated with each
other by covered ways. We had raised several bat
teries for cannon, one upwards of twenty feet high,
within one hundred and forty yards of the Star fort,
to command the works, and a rifle battery also within
thirty yards to prevent the enemy from annoying our
workmen. For the last ten days, not a man could
fliew his head but he was immediately foot down,
and the firing was almost incessant day and night In
this stage of the approaches, I found the enemy so
near us that it would be impossible to reduce the place
without hazarding a storm. This from the peculiar
strength of the place could only be warranted by the
success of a partial attempt to make a lodgement on
one of thecurtaihs of the Starredoubt, and a vigour
ous push to carry the right hand work. The dispo
sition was accordingly formed, and the attack made;
Lieut. Col. Lee, with his legion infantry, and Capt.
Kirkwood's light infantry, made the attack on the
right ; and Lieut. Col. Campbell, with the firft Ma
ryland and firft Virginia regiments, was to have storm
ed the Star redoubt, which is their principal work,
and stands upon the left: The parapet of this work
is near twelve feet high, and raised with sand-bags
near three feet more. Lieutenant Duvall, ofthe Ma
ryland line, and Lieutenant Selden, of the Virginia
line, led on the forlorn hope, followed by a party with
hooks to pull down the sand-bags, the better to ena
ble them to make the lodgement. A furious canno
nade preluded the attack. On the right the enemy
were driven out of their works and our people took
possession of it : on the left never was greater brave
ry exhibited than by the parties led on by Duvall and
Selden; but they were not so fuccefsful. They en
tered the enemy's ditch and made every exertion to
get down the sand-bags, which from the depth of
the ditch, height of the parapet, and under a galling
fire, was rendered difficult. Finding the enemy de
fended their works with great obstinacy, and feeing,