Charlestown, July 30 1780

Sir

I received this morning your Letter of the 28^th which gave me very great Concern. I cannot conceive how M^cArthur could have been so off his guard about his Sick. I dare say Col^l Mills has rather seen things in the blackest light, however there can be no hopes of Peace & Quiet untill we can advance; Nor can you in the present Situation of things do any good towards forming a Militia at George town: I cannot therefore approve of your making any longer Stay there. Your coming directly back here would certainly be disgraceful, & for a time at least would be attended with the worst of Consequences in that part of the Country, it would likewise endanger our water Communication with Camden; on which our whole preparation for acting depends. I therefore think that you should march with much Secrecy from George town, & take your Route up the [p2] Black River. If you could surprise any Rebel Militia it would have the best effect if not I should hope you & Col^l Mills might assemble a part of his Militia, & with their assistance seize & bring off some of the most violent & dangerous people in the country. The being in possession of their persons would be of the greatest Services to our Friends. I should then wish that you moved up the Black River, keeping it on your right, & took post for a few days at the Bridge or Ferry, I am not sure which it is, that is the nearest to Gaillard's house; who will probably be able to assist you with Intelligence & some Militia. He will likewise be able to inform you of the State of the Horses at Cooke's, & howfar the Navigation is secure. I am well aware that you must not stay long in a place; especially on the black River which is a very sickly Country. But I would have you keep moving by short & easy Marches, paying the greatest attention the whole time to getting Intelligence & guarding against a Surprise; untill you arrive at [p3] the High Hills of Santee, where I would have you take post on any convenient spot you may chuse. I have written to Lord Rawdon to send some Provincials to meet you there & to order a part of Col^l Moore's Militia to be embodied, & put themselves under your command: I shall order the Remainder of the 63^d to join you there; & when we are ready to move you shall join the Army. You will regulate your march by what you hear in the Country, & by the State of our boats on Santee, which are of such consequence to us that we must wish a great deal for their preservation: It is entirely owing to the perverseness of the elements that the Galley & Sloop are not at George town. They went from hence long since. Ten days at least. I cannot think that you will be distressed for flour or Rice, Cattle you will get in plenty: Rum will be the difficulty; If you cannot get any at George town, & hear nothing of the Sloop, of whose Arrival I despair whilst this [p4] Weather lasts, you must send a trusty Express to Gaillard at Murray's Ferry, & inclose [an] order to the Commissary at Cooke's Landing to deliver a Puncheon of Rum for the Use of your detachment. Gaillard will forward your order thither & get the Rum down at Murray's Ferry, from whence he can send it to you, when you are posted on the nearest part of the Black River to that Ferry. Harrison's new Corps is reported to me to be nearly compleat, they have been in the Country about Linche's Creek, & I should apprehend must have kept the Militia quiet in those parts: They are ordered to Camden to receive Arms & Cloathing, but I do not believe they are moved yet.

You must be sensible that in the execution of this plan, much must be left to your discretion, you must act from circumstances & Intelligence, you must even if necessary pass the Santee, but I would not have you do that unless you are well convinced that your danger [p5] is imminent. At all evens I must recommend it to you to put a good face on thigns & talk big. Threaten the plunderers with the most severe Retaliation, promise indemnification, as far as possible, to our friends out of their Effects, & try to give Spirits to our cause. You have only Militia to oppose you, who are often daring & troublesome in attack, always timid & panick Struck when attacked. I should therefore on all occasions in your situation act offensively; & if any part of them no matter how numerous take post within a possibility of a Night's March from you; let their position be what it will, it will be safest to attack them. Let me hear from you when you leave George town & as often as possible afterwards, & leave the best advice to the Galley & Sloop in case they do not get to George town before you go. It will probably be to come back again.

Give out that you expect great Reinforcements from hence, that a thousand [p6] Men are to join you to march to the Pedee, & are already on their way. That we can now spare them on account of the Arrival of some troops from Savannah, & some that came in the last Fleet from New York; to save your credit some Invalids are arrived from thence, & a Hessian Reg^t from Georgia. I shall trouble you no more but with my most sincere good wishes for your success & am

Your most obed^t
& most humble Serv^t

From what I recollect of the Country between B. River & Santee, I doubt whether there is a continued Road on the West bank of B. River. If not, you understand the general Idea of the Move being to cover the Santee, you may certainly take post for a few days on the passage of it that I mentioned; & if you cannot march on the West Bank of it you will pursue whatever Route you think most eligible & agreeable to the considerations & best [p7] suited to the purposes which I have so fully explained.

July 31.

Lt Col^l Tarleton is going to Camden with a detachment of the Legion & sets out this Evening. I have directed him to pass at Lenew's Ferry, & proceed up the Santee. He is informed fully of the State of things in those parts & will take any Steps in his power to contribute to the Security of your movement & to intimidate the Enemy. You will take Care to represent this detachment in the most formidable Light.

I shall order the Remainder of the 63^rd Reg^t: to march on the 5^th or 6^th from hence, & shall direct the Commanding Officer to remain at Nelson's Ferry, on this Side the River, untill he hears from you. The violent & continued Storm prevented my sending the Officer off last night. I hope the Boat will be able to get over this day.

Maj^r: Wemyss
63^rd Reg^t:
George town

[Source: Public Records Office, Kew, PRO 30/11/78/61-64.]