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Deputy-Adjutant General Stapleton to Gen. Marion [Horry MS.] Charlestown, September 3, 1782. Sir: I am directed by the honorable Lieut.-General Leslie to acquaint you, that in consequence of a requisition made by you some time ago, he gave permission for provisions and necessaries to be sent here for the prisoners captured at different times from the party under your command, and that such supplies might be forwarded under sanction of a flag of truce, whenever you should judge necessary to send them. But the Lieut.-General is sorry, sir, to find that such indulgence, instead of being confined to the humane uses intendedthat of feeding and clothing your prisonersis made to answer the most improper purposes; for the boat which last arrived here was loaded with stock and provisions for private families in town, and on its return some negroes were conveyed away from town in that very boat. This being the case, and in order to prevent such abuses in future, the General desires, sir, whenever any provisions, &c., are sent for your prisoners, the boat that brings them shall be with that sole intention; that a proper flag-master shall take charge of them, and deliver to our Commissary of prisoners an account of the quantity of every thing entrusted to his care, that no article of any sort shall be suffered to be put into the boat except provisions, clothing and necessaries for the prisoners, under pain of having the whole seized; and, finally, that no person, white or black, or any goods, merchandise, &c., shall, on any pretence, be taken from hence, without express leave of the General. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obdt. and most humble servant, JOHN STAPLETON, Dep.-Adj. General (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 2, pp. 220) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 2, p. 220 Date: 9/03/1782 |
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