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Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion Head Quarters, Buckhead, Nov. 24, 1781. Dear Sir: Your letters of the 18th and 21st of this month I have received. The enemy complains of Col. Maham in attacking and dragging off a number of their distressed sick from their Hospital. I shall be obliged to Col. Maham to give me a particular report of the condition of the prisoners he made as well as the manner of making them, also of the special reasons which induced him to burn the Hospital. I have not the least doubt but that their charges are groundless as to inhumanity, and that burning the Hospital was to destroy the stores, which could not be effected any other way; but I wish to have materials to contradict their charges with. I am very sorry the Riflemen are going so soon; I understand from Cols. Shelby and Sevier that the men were engaged to stay until spring, or until Charles Town was reduced. In expectation of their cooperation with us, we are on our march to the Four Holes. If they leave us before our reinforcement arrives, it will both embarrass and expose us. They are on the march and will be here before many days. Tell them therefore that I beg them to continue with you until they arrive. Wilmington is evacuated, which will give the enemy here a reinforcement, and therefore we shall be more exposed if they leave us. Please to inform me how and on what terms Col. Sevier can enlist his men, and if on a consultation with the Governor and council I can think my self justifiable and the conditions are agreeable, I will take the matter under consideration. I am afraid the position you propose upon the enemy's right will expose our left when we move down. We must, if possible, endeavor to post our troops so as to be able to collect and continue our force upon the shortest notice. But if the enemy are gone as low as Goose Greek, the danger of your position will be less, at any rate you must keep patroles on the enemy's right to make as early discoveries as possible of any movements on our left, and let those patroles have orders to give us the earliest intelligence thereof. If you think the cattle of St. Thomas' parish in danger, I would not hesitate to have them drove off. Doubtless as the enemy find themselves straitened for provisions, they will push for cattle most under their command, and it appears the parish of St. Thomas is formidable for sudden descents, and the nearer they draw to town, the greater detachments may be made for this sort of service. You can best judge how far the swamps and thickets are to be depended on for a security to these cattle. I would not wish to remove them if they are not in danger, for they may serve by and by for our own subsistence. Have you heard of any action to the southward lately? Reports prevail of two; one at Port Royal, the other by Gen. Twiggs, in both of which we are successful. I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, N. GREENE (No. 220 From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 3, pp. 215-216) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 3, p. 215 Date: 11/24/1781 |
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