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Copy.- From Major-general Greene to Colonel Locke, dated camp at Beatty's ford, January 31st, 1781. SIR, THE enemy are laying on the opposite side of the river, and, from every appearance, seem determined to penetrate the country. General Davidson informs, he has called again and again for the people to turn out and defend their country. The inattention to his call and the backwardness of the people is unaccountable. Providence has blessed the American arms with signal success in the defeat of Tarleton, and the surprise of George town by Colonel Lee with his legion. If, after these advantages, you neglect to take the field and suffer the enemy to overrun the country, you will deserve the miseries ever inseparable from slavery. Let me conjure you, my countrymen, to fly to arms, and to repair to head quarters without loss of time, and bring with you ten days provision. You have every thing that is dear and valuable at stake: If you will not face the approaching danger, your country is inevitably lost. On the contrary, if you repair to arms, and confine yourselves to the duties of the field, Lord Cornwallis must be certainly ruined. The continental army is marching with all possible dispatch from the Pedee to this place; but, without your aid, their arrival will be of no consequence. I am, SIR, Your humble servant, NATH. GREENE. Colonel Locke. (From A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Province of North America?, by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, pp252-253.) Tarleton, Ch 4., [M], p. 252 1/31/1781 |
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URL: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/displays/RevWar/archives-online/Tarleton__Ch_4___[M]__p__252.html