The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-08-01


Carolina:
Chapel Hill, June Is.
DEAR SIR: | have ayailed myself of my
earliest leisure, since my return from New
York, to look into your Documentary History
of the Revolution in South Carolina, and am
much pleased with it. These letters, da-
guerreotypes of the times that tried mems
souls" present history in its most authentic,
and not unfrequently in its most attractive
form. Some OF them are important to the
historian OF the Union, and many of them
are as interesting to the people OF North as
of South Carolina.
will be glad to hear Of the early compile
tion Of your work, and am particularly anxious
10 see the details OF the Snow Camp cam
paign, aud General Williams0n's account Of
the expedition against the Cherokees in l776.
General Rutherford, at the head Of 1850 mi-
litia from this State, co-operated with VIII
Hanson in the expedition against the Chero-
KEGS. We were fully represented in the
Snow Camp campaign, and subsequently, in
deed, in all your principal Revolutionary bat
tie fields.
In connection with your book, | have spent
a few hours in turning over the leaves Of
| Gov Caswell's Letter Books, two folios of
\ GAO and $50 pages, which are at present in
my possession, by the courtesy OF our Co.
vernon. Gov. CasNell was called the Ex-
ecutiye chair on the 18th OF December, 1776,
and remained in office until about the begin
ming Of NAV, 1880. These volumes contain
numerous letters from Governor Rutledge,
Henry I.aurens, President of the Congress,
Rawllns Lowndes, Generals Asie, Howe and
Ellington, which will serve quite as efectu,
ally to illustate your annals as ours.
To one incident beg leave to call your
attention. On the Goth September, 197S,
Cornelius Harnett, one of our delegates to
Congress, writes TO Coy. Caswell as follows
\" The South Carolina and Georgia delegates
are 50 incensed against Gen. Robt Howe,
that he is directed Immediately to join Gen.
Washington at head quarters, and 0en. Lin.
coin is to command in the Southern depart.
ment. This gentleman is a valuable and ex-
perlenced of!icer-hc is ordered TO repair i'm
mediatey to Charleston"
:" By the resolve Of Congress, enclosed to
you by his Exccllcncy the President, YOU will
lind il is tho desire Of South Carolina that
son should take the command of the North
NdiOllHd lIOupsp Win the ialh alu plF " q
Major General in the Continental service"
On the 29t ut September, John Penn
writes: "Thc high opinion entertained OF
your Exccllency here, and the very great de-
sire that the delegates Of that State South ia
rolinal had that you would accept the com
mand, was the reason If the resolve relative
To YOU but in this YOU will, no doubt, con-
slider the interest Of North Carolina, and the
proprie'y Of being absent from your govern
mcnt.'
Governor caswel, il seems, declined the
command at that time, and called John Ashe
as Major General, Bryan, Butler, Lillington
and Rutherford, as Brigadicrs, into service
In 1880, Immediately upon the expiration oi
his gubernatorial term, he went Ii the head
OF our troops, with tie rank aud promised pay
Of Continental Major General, and served
as such under Gen'l Gates in the disas;rOu;
defeat at Camden.
: To return to liowe-Gn tie 9th Noycm.
ber. llarnett again writes To Caswell, com
planning in general terms, that liowe's recall
had been produced BY small and unworthy
motives, personal and perhaps feminine IN
trigues, aud that although Congress had yield
ed TO those influences, has abilities were adj
miied. aud fair opportunity would in due
time be afforded for their display.
The late 4. VI. Hooper, Esp, in a binsra-
phieal sketch, recently polished in the Uni.
versity Magazine, intimatts that the pride d
the two States was touched by tie election
ii North Caroliniau 10 tie command Of the
Southern Department. when these States and
not his own were the Theatre Of war; and thai
Howe from the beginning to tie close uf hi:
. career, was never cordially sustained by ci.
/. ther Of our Southern sisters.
II seems that on the 18th Of August, H. s
there was hostile meeting az Cannuusburg
10 your State. between Howe aud Genera
I Christopher Gadsdrn; tie latter having re-
fused 10 retraet injurious reflections upon ,h,
4 conduct Of the former BarHardiBec was ~,
second Of Gadsden, aud Gen. Charles Pinek
, ney Of Howe. llUwe's ball greeted Gads
/ deii's ear, the former was uutUIChed, aud the,
subsequently became warm friends. Ih,
. celebrated Major Andre made this duel III,
D subject Of satlfica poem Of eighteen .tanzas
! which is preserved III J0hnsDn's Traditions
! aud "reminiscences u tie Revolution, pp
1Oi. 3, q.
liarne,t had the best possible reasons 20
i sustaining and cherishing the reputation .
/. Howe. The latter was not merely gliian
. soldier, but ia polished gcntlcman ~ fare at
. tainments. lie is understood u have beef
1 scion Of the noble stock that bears his name
= aud 70 have enjoyed extensive intercours,
{ with good society AZ homes and abroad. Th
/. lnay have been one reason for the extraorii
: nary attention which lie received ai tie hand
4 of Sir Henry Clinton. Tie proclamation q
/. the latter, issued "On board The Pallas, il
!. Capc Fear river, in the province Of Mort;
/. Carolina" !" On The 9Th Of Nav. ire, oiIrrC,
I. free pardon 60 al such as shnuld lay dnwi
9 their arms aud submit to the laws, "except
a IL L y