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The following letters were published by order of Congress: Burk county, Oct. 2, 1780 SIR, I AM at present about seventy miles from Salisbury, in the fork of the Catawba, with about four hundred and fifty horsemen, in pursuit of Colonel Ferguson. On my crossing the Catawba river, I dispatched to different quarters for intelligence, and this evening I was favoured with this news, which you may depend on: That Colonel Clark, of the state of Georgia, with one hundred riflemen, forced his way through South Carolina into Georgia. On his route thither, being joined by seven hundred men, he proceeded to the town of Augusta, and has taken it with a large quantity of goods; but not finding it prudent to continue there, he has retreated to the upper parts of South Carolina, in Ninety-six district, and made a stand with eight hundred brave men. This moment another of my express is arrived from Colonels M'Dowell and Shelby: They were on their march, near Burk court house, with one thousand five hundred brave mountain men, and Colonel Clevland was within ten miles of them with eight hundred men, and was to form a junction with them this day. I expect to join them to-morrow, in pursuit of Colonel Ferguson, and, under the direction of Heaven, I hope to be able to render your honour a good account of him in a few days. I am, &c. JAMES WILLIAMS Major-general Gates. Published by order of Congress, Charles Thompson, Sec. (From A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Province of North America?, by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, pp193-196.) Tarleton, Ch 3., [F], p. 196 10/2/1780 |
Last modified: 7/13/01/PLW.
URL: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/displays/RevWar/archives-online/Tarleton__Ch_3___[F]__p__196.html