SOUTH-CAROLINA COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Charlestown, Saturday, July 23, 1775.

Present: Colonel Henry Laurens, President; Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Middleton, Honourable Mr. Lowndes, Honourable Mr. Drayton, Colonel Pinckney, Mr. Brewton, Mr. Bee, Captain Benjamin Elliot, Mr. Heyward, Col. Parsons.

On motion, Resolved, That the Hon. William Henry Drayton, and the Reverend William Tennent, be the two gentlemen to make a progress into the back country, to explain to the People the causes of the present disputes between Great Britain and the American Colonies.

Resolved, That the following commissions and powers, be given to the Honourable William Henry Drayton and Reverend William Tennent:

SOUTH-CAROLINA:

In the Council of Safety, July 23, 1775.

The Council of Safety, elected and chosen by the Provincial Congress, begun to be holden the first day of June last, by these presents testify, that they have nominated, appointed, and commissioned the Honourable William Henry Drayton, and the Reverend William Tennent, to go into the interiour parts of this Colony, at the publick expense; there to explain to the people at large the nature of the unhappy publick disputes between Great Britain and the American Colonies; to endeavour to settle all political disputes between the people; to quiet their minds, and to enforce the necessity of a general union, in order to preserve themselves and their children from slavery.* And that the said William Henry Drayton, and William Tennent may proceed in this business with safety and advantage to the publick, all the friends of the liberties of America are hereby requested to afford them every necessary aid, assistance, and protection. By order of the Council of Safety:

HENRY LAURENS, President.

SOUTH-CAROLINA:

In the Council of Safety, Charlestown, July 23, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: In order to give you every necessary and proper support and protection in your progress into the country, in execution of our commission of this date, you are hereby authorized to call upon all and every officer of the militia and rangers, for assistance, support, and protection; and they and each of them are hereby ordered to furnish such assistance, support, and protection, as you shall deem necessary. By order of the Council of Safety:

HENRY LAURENS, President.

To the Honourable W. H. Drayton, Reverend William Tennent, Commissioners, &c.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation for Prince George’s County, at the house of Richard Carnes, in Piscataway, on Monday the 24th of July, 1775, were present: Josias Beall, Chairman; William Diggs, Enoch Magruder, Thomas Dent, William, Jr., William Beanes, Jr., Nathaniel Nawton, Richard Carnes, Edward Edelin, Jonathan Bink, Thomas Clagett, Hezekiah Wheeler, and James Hawkins. In consequence of information being lodged with the Committee, that Josias Lanham and John Lindsay had purchased Shoes imported contrary to the American Association, they proceeded to inquire into the charge, and find, that Wm. Mc Craight and William Blair, Mariners, on board the Ship Janney, Captain Cochran, from Glasgow, had sold to the said Josias Lanham and John Lindsay, four pair of Shoes, imported into this Province since the first day of February last, for the sum of thirty-four shillings and six pence, current money. The parties were summoned to attend the Committee; whereupon the said Lanham and Lind-say appeared, and confessed the charge, and produced the above-mentioned pairs of Shoes. The aforesaid Mc Craight and Blair likewise appeared, with the money received for the said Shoes.

The Committee, on considering the premises, unanimously resolve such proceedings a violation of the Continental Association. The said Mc Craight and Blair declared they made sale of the Shoes inadvertently, and are sorry they should have acted so as to give offence; that they will for the future pay strict regard to what they are now informed to be the General Association as to goods imported; and they cheerfully give up the money received

* On the 14th of July, Major Mayson arrived at Ninety-Six Court-House, with a portion of the gunpowder and lead, which he had taken in Fort Charlotte. At this time, Colonel Thomas Fletchall was holding the general of his Militia Regiment at Ford’s, on the Enoree River And Captain Moses Kirkland, who had accompanied. Major Mayson with his troop of Rangers to Ninety-Six Court-House, and who had thought himself overlooked by the Provincial Congress in the military appointments; and besides, having an old grudge against Major Mayson, his superiour officer, both of whom were rivals for military rank and back-country influence; knowing that Colonel Fletchall had assembled a number of men, and supposing the whole back-country disaffected, resolved to change sides. Under this impression, he despatched Major Terry, of the militia, who was with him in opinion, to Colonel Fletchall; ardently requesting, that he would send; a force, and recover the powder and lead, which had been taken from the King’s ford; and was then at Ninety-Six. He, at the same time, assured Fletchall, that the force sent by him to retake the ammunition should not be opposed; and that the Rangers meant to force him, and every other person in the back-country, to sign the Association. Having expedited these advices, he proceeded to fulfill his part of the proffered agreement, and commenced inducing his Troop to desert; in which he was so successful, that in a few hours they withdrew to a man.

In the mean time, Terry having arrived at Colonel Fletchall’s. muster-field, at Ford’s, at the fork of Cedar Creek and Enoree River; where he, continued the assemblage of his men for three days, and seeing Fletchall about to tender the Association of the Congress for the natures of the individuals of his Regiment, he concealed his business, until he saw what turn that affair should take. And accompanying Fletchall through the companies, the Association was tendered under such discouraging expressions, as gave the people to understand. Fletch all’s mind on the subject, not a man signing the same. And passing from one extreme another, Fletchall having previously caused Major Robinson. to prepare another Association more suitable to his opinions, and the part he intended to act in favour of the King, it was offered to the men for signatures, and the people very generally subscribed it. Terrry seeing The multitude in this disposition, now communicated his mission from Kirkland to Fletchall’s, in presence of Major Robinson and the Cunninghams; when Fletchall declined to appear publickly in the affair: but the three others declared they would go, and seize the powder and lead. At. this, Fletchall showed no disposition to prevent them; and they immediately rode off the, field, with two hundred men on horseback. They arrived at Ninety-Six Court House on the 17th July, about noon; and had little trouble in possessing them selves of the ammunition, as Major Mayson had only an officer or two left with him, beside Captain Kirkland. Robinson and his party then committed the Major to the District jail; where, having continued some hour, they admitted him to bail, to answer at the ensuing Sessions, for having as they charged, robbed the King’s fort. In a few days afterwards, Captain Kirkland put the seal to his treuohery, in joining Fletchall’s party openly: in addition to which, act of perfidy, he also induced Captain Purvis and his Troop of the same Regiment, to quit the service.

The number of men collected at Fletchall’s muster-field, amounting to fifteen hundred at least—the spirit they displayed, the seizure of the powder and lead, the treatment of Major Mayson and the desertion of Kirkland and Purvis, encouraged and increased the disaffection of the people, from Broad to Savannah Rivers. The million voted by the Provincial Congress was an endless theme to harangue upon, for the purpose of stating, that the Congress would ruin them; and the paper money was cried down as of no value. But, above all, their spirits and cabals were kept up, by correspondences with Lord William Campbell, the Governour, in Charlestown; who, through Colonel Fletchall, commended the loyalty of Robinson and the Cunninghams: promising them rewards for perseverance in duty. This being circulated, gave these men real consequence among the disaffected; tied them fast to the Royal interest, and threw out a lure of recompense to every leader of the party. From this state of things, the most fatal consequences were apprehended; and it was then supposed, that if Lord William Campbell had gone up among the disaffected, had collected Fletchall and his men. around him, and had conducted himself with promptnees and efficiency, the whole proceedings of the Provincial Congress would have been overthrown. However, for wiser purposes, Providence had not so directed his actions; but left him in Charlestown, to experience the daily loss of his executive powers; and the little consideration in which he was holden, as well by the publick authorities as by the citizens at large.

Accounts of these circumstances frequently arriving in Charlestown; and through Lord Williams plots, affairs becoming more critical every day in the back parts of the Colony, the Council of Safety took into consideration the urgency of the case, and the necessity which existed of reconciling the people to the publick measures; but it was opposed. However, on the 23d day of July is 1775, it was resolved, “that the Honourable William Henry Drayton, and the Reverend William Tennent, be the two gentlemen to make progress into the back-country, to explain to the people the causes of the present disputes between Cheat Britain and the American Colonies; and they were accordingly commissioned on the same Jay for that purpose: “to go into the interiour parts of this Colony at the publick expense, there to explain to the people at large the nature of the unhappy publick disputes between Great Britain and the American Colonies; to endeavour to settle all political disputes between people; to quiet their minds, and to enforce the necessity of a general union, in order to preserve themselves and their children from slavery.” Beside this, they were privately armed with authority “to call upon all and every officer of the Militia and Rangers, for assistance, support, and protection,” to act “as you shall deem necessary.” Colonel Richard Richardson. Joseph Kershaw, and the Reverend Mr. Hart, were desired to accompany them; and to complete the arrangement, the whole Militia were ordered to be classed in three divisions; and to hold themselves ready by turns, to march at twelve hours notice, —Drayton.