|
COL. BULL TO MR. LAURENS. (Original MS.) To Col. Henry Laurens, President of the Council of Safety in Charles Town. HEAD QUARTERS SAVANNAH, March 14th, 1776. Sir: I last night wrote you a letter, which you will receive by this same opportunity. I had forgotten to acquaint you, in the letter I wrote by Col. Wills, that the troops that are here are two hundred, who were brought from St. Augustine, in the man-of-war schooner St. John, and when she came from thence left two hundred more there; and yesterday I was informed, by the Council of Safety, that Capt. Carney in the Continental battalion here, has enlisted forty-eight out of those two hundred, and now has them at his plantation, about fifty miles from this place; and the men enlisted say all the rest would gladly desert, but they are afraid to trust each other. If this comes to be know at Cockspur, I imagine, they will decline making another attempt to take post at this town, as they were made to believe they would not meet any opposition here. But as they are now fully convinced that their friends and our enemies were mistaken, perhaps they may return to St. Augustine to secure that post, lest more of their men should desert, though some more troops are still expected there. It is said, and generally credited, that a gentleman in this Provice has received a letter from Mr. Forbes, a clergyman at St. Augustine, who just received one from a brother of his (of a very late date), informing him that a French and Spanish fleet, and upwards of twenty thousand troops had laid siege to Port Royal, in Jamaica; the fleet canponaded the fortifications eight-and-forty hours before the town surrendered. A vessel arrived at Sunbury, from the Indies, bringing the same accounts; if true, then, our business is done, and we shall soon have peace. This in my own hand. If the Congress is still setting, no doubt my letters will be read in Congress, if so, I hope the Council will think as I do; that is, not to have this last paragraph read to so large a number of people, but to be known only to the Council, for no one does, at least ought not to know, anything of the following matter, but the members of the Council of Safety of this Province and myself. The matter is this;: It is far better for the public and the owners, if the deserted negroes on Tybee Island, who are on Tybee Island, be shot, if they cannot be taken, if the public is obliged to pay for them; for if they are carried away, and converted into money, which is the sinew of war, it will only enable an enemy to fight us with our own money or property. Therefore, all who cannot be taken, had better be shot by the Creek Indians, as it, perhaps, may deter other negroes from deserting, and will establish a hatred or aversion between the Indians and negroes. Some of the Council of Safety are timid, particularly one Mr. Andrews, from St. John's Parish, Sunbury, who has influence, and through whose means Gov. Wright has been enabled to carry on his plans of late. There are a few others in the same way, but, notwithstanding that, you may depend the business shall be done agreeable to the orders of Congress; but it will be best the Council of Safety here should give the orders, at least, if they have not men of their own to do the business. I am told my coming here, with my command and orders from our Congress, had great good effect. I have just this moment had proper and certain assurance, that a good leader and party of the Creek Indians are willing and desirous of going to take the runaway negroes upon Tybee Island, if I choose it; but as I have no authority from you to send the Indians on such an errand, I must decline it, but still think the Council of Safety will do it. The two of that board, who I a few minutes ago had a private interview with, seem to doubt whether they will have a majority form it. But is must be kept a profound secret, least the negroes should move off, or they should ask for arms, and so lay an ambuscade for the Indians. I have something farther to say on this subject, but defer it until I come to Charles Town. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, STEPH'N. BULL. (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 1, p. 2267-269 ) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 1, p. 267 Date: 5/14/1776 |
Last modified: 7/10/03/CLN.
URL: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/displays/RevWar/archives-online/Gibbes__v__1__p__267.html