Cornwallis's Answer to the Narrative of Clinton [2/7]

Cornwallis's Reply to Clinton's "Narrative"

[continued]

[p1] CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
AND
Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.

Sir,
In my letter of the 6th of this month, I had the honour to inform your Excellency, that I was ready to begin my march for North Carolina, having been delayed some days by a diversion made by the enemy towards Ninety-six. General Morgan still remained on the Pacolet; his corps, by the best accounts [p2] I could get, consisted of about five hundred men, continental and Virginia state troops, and one hundred cavalry under Colonel Washington, and six or seven hundred militia: but that body is so fluctuating, that it is impossible to ascertain its number, within some hundreds, for three days following.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, with the legion and corps annexed to it, consisting of about three hundred cavalry and as many infantry, and the first battalion of the seventy-first regiment, and one three-pounder, had already passed the Broad River for the relief of Ninety-six. I therefore directed Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton to march on the West of Broad River, to endeavour to strike a blow at General Morgan, and at all events to oblige him to repass the Broad River; I likewise ordered that he should take with him the seventh regiment and one three-pounder, which were marching to reinforce the garrison of Ninety-six, as long as he should think their services could be useful to him. The remainder of the army marched between the Broad River and Catawba.

As General Greene had quitted Mecklenburgh-county, and crossed the Pedee, I made not the least doubt that General Morgan would retire on our advancing. The progress of the army was greatly impeded by heavy rains, which swelled the rivers and creeks; yet Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton conducted his march so well, and got so near to General Morgan who was retreating before him, as to make it [p3] dangerous for him to pass Broad River, and came up with him at eight o'clock of the morning of the 17th instant. Every thing now bore the most promising aspect: the enemy were drawn up in an open wood, and, having been lately joined by some militia, were more numerous; but the different quality of the corps under Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton's command, and his great superiority in cavalry, left him no room to doubt of the most brilliant success. The attack was begun by the first line of infantry, consisting of the seventh regiment, the infantry of the legion and corps of light-infantry annexed to it; a troop of cavalry was placed on each flank; the first battalion of the seventy-first, and the remainder of the cavalry, formed the reserve. The enemy's line soon gave way, and their militia quitted the field; but our troops having been thrown into some disorder by the pursuit, General Morgan's corps faced about and gave them an hearty fire: this unexpected event occasioned the utmost confusion in the first line; the first battalion of the seventy-first and the cavalry were successively ordered up; but neither the exertions, intreaties, or example, of Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, could prevent the panic from becoming general. The two three-pounders were taken, and I fear the colours of the seventh regiment shared the same fate. In justice to the detachment of the royal artillery, I must here observe, that no terror could induce them to abandon their guns, and they were all either killed or wounded [p4] in the defence of them. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton with difficulty assembled fifty of his cavalry, who having had time to recollect themselves, and being animated by the bravery of the officer who had so often led them to victory, charged and repulsed Colonel Washington's horse, retook the baggage of the corps, and cut to pieces the detachment of the enemy who had taken possession of it; and, after destroying what they could not conveniently bring off, retired with the remainder unmolested to Hamilton's ford, near the mouth of Bullock's creek. The loss of our cavalry is inconsiderable; but I fear about four hundred of the infantry are either killed, wounded, or taken; I will transmit the particular account of the loss as soon as it can be ascertained.

It is impossible to foresee all the consequences that this unexpected and extraordinary event may produce; but your Excellency may be assured, that nothing but the most absolute necessity shall induce me to give up the important object of the winter's campaign.

I shall direct Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour to transmit a copy of this letter, by the first opportunity, to the Secretary of State.

My Lord,
I was honoured with your Lordship's dispatches dated the 18th of November, the 3d, 4th, 6th, seventh, 22d, and 29th of December; and 3d, 6th, and 18th of January, by the Halifax sloop of war, on the 16th ultimo. And, by the Mercury packet, which will sail in a day or two for Europe, I propose to transmit copies of such of them to the Minister as may be necessary for his Majesty's information.

What your Lordship observes, in your letter of the 4th December, I am very sensible of; and am fully persuaded that no representation I can make will have any effect upon men lost to every sense of humanity.

I am sorry to say, my Lord, that I have the same reason to lament the want of safe conveyances for my dispatches, which your Lordship regrets in your letter of the 6th January, having had several prepared for your Lordship ever since the beginning of that month. And I am even now obliged to trust them by the precarious conveyance of a merchant vessel, as I have in vain applied for a ship of war for these two months past for the purpose.

[p6] I request your Lordship's forgiveness for the omission I was guilty of, in not answering the paragraph of your letter of the 30th June, relative to Lieutenant-governor Graham. As there are now no Refugees in Georgia, and of course no occasion for such an office as that to which he was appointed; and as he is now in full possession of his property, and does not seem to wish for a continuance of the employment, it is very proper that it should cease -- and but reasonable that Mr. Graham should be re-imbursed for the sums he has advanced, as well as paid his salary of twenty shillings per day for himself and clerk, from the 3d of March to the period he ceased to act.

It gives me very great pleasure to learn from your Lordship, that the army under your command is now perfectly healthy, and in good order.

I am sorry the oat-ships met with an accident off Charles town bar. It is a risk, in my opinion, which every fleet runs that anchors there. Surely it would have been better for them to have stood off, and [illegible]; -- but of those sea matters I am, of course, not a competent judge.

I am glad to find that your Lordship intends to send the victuallers, and all such transports, to England, as are unfit for service; their speedy return being most earnestly desired. I would wish to have all such invalids, whose times of service did not entitle them to Chelsea, and though unfit for service in [p7] the field, may be able to do duty in garrison, sent there from time to time, that they may be placed in the garrison battalion, which will finally insure to them his Majesty's royal bounty.

As I understand the Chatham has brought out fifty thousand pounds in specie to Charles-town, your Lordship's difficulties with regard to money will have been removed. But I cannot say so much for ours.

Lord George Germain having informed me, "As Major Ross was of opinion that many of the prisoners in our hands in Carolina might be induced to serve on board the King's ships, or in privateers, or inlist in the regiments serving in the West Indies, or go as volunteers upon expeditions in that quarter, he had recommended to your Lordship to get rid of all you could in those several ways, or in any other your Lordship should think fit to be adopted;" it is unnecessary for me to add any thing upon that subject, but to say, that I leave them entirely to your Lordship's disposal.

I wish it had been possible to have procured the horses for General Vaughan; as I fear the troops may suffer from the drudgeries they were intended to perform.

I know not at present how it is possible, my Lord, to avoid the expence of quartering the troops at Charles-town, consistent with the terms of the capitulation; [p8] but I will endeavour to find some means of doing it, if it be practicable.

I am most exceedingly concerned, my Lord, at the unfortunate affair of the 17th January. From the account your Lordship gives me of it, I fear Morgan has been in very great force, that our first line has been too impetuous, and that the reserve has sustained the other too nearly, and probably in too loose order; and that the enemy has moved against them in that critical situation. I confess I dread the consequences; but my hope is, as it ever will be, in your Lordship's abilities and exertions.

I shall always be happy in paying every attention to your recommendations in filling up the vacancies in the thirty-third regiment, as I shall be constantly guided by your Lordship's wishes with respect to the promotions of your own regiment. I have already had an opportunity of fulfilling my intentions respecting Colonel Webster; but this is too unsafe a conveyance to trust the commission by.

Sir,
I am just informed that I have a chance of sending a few lines to New York by the Amphitrite, but as it depends upon my being expeditious, I cannot attempt to give your Excellency a particular account of the winter's campaign, or the battle of Guildford. I have however the satisfaction of informing you, that our military operations were uniformly successful; and the victory of Guildford, although one of the bloodiest of this war, was very complete. The enemy gave themselves out for nine or ten, and undoubtedly had seven thousand men in the field, upwards of two thousand of which were eighteen-months men, or Continentals.

Our force was one thousand three hundred sixty infantry, rank and file, and about two hundred cavalry. General Greene retreated the night of the action to the Iron-works on Troublesome Creek, eighteen miles from Guildford, leaving us four six-pounders, being all the cannon he had in the field. The fatigue of the troops, and the great number of wounded, put it out of my power to pursue beyond the Reedy Fork in the afternoon of the action; and the want of provisions and all kinds of necessaries [p10] for the soldiers, made it equally impossible to follow the blow the next day. I, therefore, issued the enclosed proclamation; and, having remained two days on the field of battle, marched to Bell's Mill on Deep-River, near part of the country where the greatest number of our friends were supposed to reside. Many of the inhabitants rode into camp, shook me by the hand, said they were glad to see us, and to hear that we had beat Greene, and then rode home again; for I could not get one hundred men in all the regulator's country to stay with us, even as militia.

With a third of my army sick and wounded, which I was obliged to carry in waggons or on horseback, the remainder without shoes and worn down with fatigue, I thought it was time to look for some place of rest and refitment; I, therefore, by easy marches, taking care to pass through all the settlements that had been described to me as most friendly, proceeded to Cross-Creek. On my arrival there, I found, to my great mortification, and contrary to all former accounts, that it was impossible to procure any considerable quantity of provisions, and that there was not four days forage within twenty miles. The navigation of Cape Fear, with the hopes of which I had been flattered, was totally impracticable, the distance from Wilmington by water being one hundred and fifty miles, the breadth of the river seldom exceeding one hundred yards, the banks [p11] generally high, and the inhabitants on each side almost universally hostile. Under these circumstances I determined to move immediately to Wilmington. By this measure the Highlanders have not had so much time as the people of the upper country, to prove the sincerity of their former professions of friendship. But, though appearances are rather more favourable among them, I confess they are not equal to my expectations.

General Greene marched down as low as the mouth of Deep-River, where he remained four days ago; he never came within our reach after the action, nor has a shot been since fired, except at Ramsay's-Mill on Deep-River, where Colonel Malmedy, with about twenty of a gang of plunderers that are attached to him, galloped in among the centries and carried off three iagers.

I cannot sufficiently commend the behaviour of both officers and men under my command. They not only shewed the most persevering intrepidity in action, but underwent with cheerfulness such fatigues and hardships as have seldom been experienced by a British army, and justly merit every mark of favour and reward. The great assistance which I received from Generals Leslie and O'Hara, and Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, deserves my warmest acknowledgments and highest commendations.

I am now employed in disposing of the sick and wounded, and in procuring supplies of all kinds, [p12] to put the troops into a proper state to take the field. I am, likewise, impatiently looking out for the expected reinforcement from Europe, part of which will be indispensably necessary to enable me either to act offensively, or even to maintain myself in the upper parts of the country, where alone I can hope to preserve the troops from the fatal sickness which so nearly ruined the army last autumn.

I am very anxious to receive your Excellency's commands, being as yet totally in the dark as to the intended operations of the summer. I cannot help expressing my wishes that the Chesapeak may become the seat of war, even (if necessary) at the expence of abandoning New York. Until Virginia is in a manner subdued, our hold of the Carolinas must be difficult, if not precarious. The rivers of Virginia are advantageous to an invading army, but North-Carolina is, of all the provinces in America, the most difficult to attack, (unless material assistance could be got from the inhabitants, the contrary of which I have sufficiently experienced) on account of its great extent, of the numberless rivers and creeks, and the total want of interior navigation.

In compliance with your Excellency's general directions, I shall dispatch my Aid-de-camp, Captain Brodrick, to England, with the particular accounts of the battle of Guildford, of the winter's campaign, and the present state of the province, copies [p13] of which I shall have the honour of transmitting to your Excellency with my next dispatch.

My Lord,
Captain Biggs, of His Majesty's ship Amphitrite, who arrived here the 22d, has delivered to me your Lordship's two letters from Wilmington, of the 10th instant, informing me of your having obtained a compleat victory over the rebel General Greene, near Guildford, on the 15th ult. on which occasion I beg leave, my Lord, to offer your Lordship my most hearty congratulations, and to request you will present my thanks to Major-General Leslie, Brigadier-general O'Hara, and Lieutenant -colonel Tarleton, for the great assistance you received from them, and to the officers and men under your command, for their great exertions on the march through Carolina, and their persevering intrepidity in action.

[p14] The disparity of numbers between your Lordship's force and that of the enemy opposed to you, appears to be very great: and, I confess, I am at some loss to guess how your Lordship came to be reduced before the action to one thousand three hundred and sixty infantry, as, by the distribution sent to me in your letter of the 6th of January, I am to suppose it was your intention to take with you the regiments mentioned in the margin,¹ which (notwithstanding the loss of the seventy-first and legion, in the unfortunate affair of Cowpens) I should imagine must have amounted to considerably above three thousand, exclusive of cavalry and militia.

Before I was favoured with your Lordship's letter, the rebel account of the battle of Guildford had led me, indeed, to hope, that its consequences would have been more decisive, and that Greene would have re-passed the Roanoke, and left your Lordship at liberty to pursue the objects of your [p15] move into North Carolina. Under the persuasion, therefore, that you would soon be able to finish your arrangements for the security of the Carolinas, I submitted to you in my letter of the 13th instant, (a duplicate of which I have the honour to enclose) the propriety in that case of your going in a frigate to Chesapeak, and directing such corps to follow you thither as you judge could be best spared. But, as it is now probable that your Lordship's presence in Carolina cannot be so soon dispensed with, I make no doubt that you will think it right to communicate to Major-general Phillips, without delay, the plan of your future operations in that quarter, together with your opinion how the Chesapeak army can best direct their's to assist them. That General-officer has already under his orders three thousand five hundred men, and I shall send him one thousand seven hundred more, which are now embarked, and will sail whenever the Admiral is ready.

With these, my Lord, which are rank and file fit for duty, and great part of them taken from the elite of my army, General Phillips is directed by his instructions to act in favour of your Lordship, to the best of his own judgment, until he receives your orders, and afterwards in such manner as you may please to command him &c. But I shall be sorry to find your Lordship continue in the opinion that our hold of the Carolinas must be difficult, if not precarious, until Virginia is in a manner subdued, as [p16] that is an event which, I fear, would require a considerable space of time to accomplish, and, as far as I can judge, it might be not quite so expedient at this advanced season of the year to enter into a long operation in that climate. -- This, however, will greatly depend upon circumstances, of which your Lordship and General Phillips may probably be better judges hereafter.

With regard to the operations of the summer, which your Lordship is anxious to receive my directions about, you cannot but be sensible that they must in great measure depend on your Lordship's successes in Carolina, the certainty and numbers of the expected reinforcement from Europe, and, likewise, on your Lordship's sending back to me the corps I had spared to you, under Major-general Leslie, which Colonel Rawdon, in his letter of the 31st of October, told me you could return in the spring. For until I am informed of the particulars of your Lordship's march through North Carolina, the effective strength of your moving army, your plan of operations for carrying those objects you had or may have in view, into execution, as well by the corps acting under your own immediate orders, as those acting in co-operation under Major-general Phillips, it must be obviously impossible for me to determine finally upon a plan of operations for the campaign.

[p17] I was indeed in great hopes that your successes in North Carolina would have been such as to have put it in my power to avail myself of a large portion of your Lordship's army, the whole Chesapeak corps, and the entire reinforcement from Europe, for this campaign's operations to the northward of Carolina: but I observe with concern, from your Lordship's letter, that so far from being in a condition to spare me any part of your present force, you are of opinion that part of the European reinforcement will be indispensably necessary to enable you to act offensively, or even to maintain yourself in the upper parts of the country.

Had I known what your Lordship's further offensive measures were intended to be for the remaining part of the season, I might now have given an opinion upon them, as well as upon the probable cooperation of the corps in the Chesapeak, without having which it will be scarce possible for me to form any; for as I said before, I fear no solid operation can be carried on to the northward of Chesapeak before those to the southward of it are totally at an end, either from success, or the season; and my letter to your Lordship of the 6th of November will have informed you what were my ideas of the operations proper to be pursued in Chesapeak, and my expectations from them, had circumstances admitted of my pursuing the plan to its full extent. But I must now defer fixing ultimately on a plan for the [p18] campaign, until I am made acquainted with the final success of your Lordship's operations, your prospects and sentiments, and I can judge what force I can collect for such measures as I can then determine upon.

My Lord,
As it appears, even from the Rebel account of the action, that your Lordship has gained a victory over Greene; and it is probable he may in consequence have repassed the Roanoke, I beg leave to submit to your Lordship, the propriety of your coming to Chesapeak Bay in a frigate as soon as you have finished you[r] arrangements for the security of the Carolinas, and you judge that affairs there are in such a train as no longer to require your presence, directing at the same time such troops to follow you thither, as your Lordship is of opinion can be best spared.

[p19] By Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce's arrival I am made acquainted that six British regiments are intended as an immediate reinforcement to the army under my command; should therefore any of these corps stop at Carolina your Lordship may probably direct them either to replace such troops as follow you, or to proceed immediately to the Chesapeak.

Agreeable to what I have already said to your Lordship in my letters of the 1st of June and 6th of November, it is my wish that you should continue to conduct operations as they advance northerly: for, except as a visitor, I shall not probably move to Chesapeak, unless Washington goes thither in great force. The success which has hitherto attended your Lordship excites the fullest assurance of its continuance; and as it is my inclination to assist your operations to the utmost extent of my power, I am convinced, from your disinterestedness, that you will not ask from me a larger proportion of troops than I can possibly spare.

As this goes by an unarmed vessel to Chesapeak, Major General Phillips will add what he thinks necessary to it, and forward it to Cape Fear.

The Admiral has at last consented that the Medea shall sail for Cape Fear, as soon as she is ready. Perhaps your Lordship may take that opportunity of returning in her; and, if we can prevail upon the Admiral, or Commanding Naval officer here, to spare Captain Duncan to conduct the naval part of our [p20] business in the Chesapeak, I think we shall have gained a great point.

Sir,
I have the honour to inclose to you a duplicate of my letter of the 10th, sent by the Amphitrite, and copies of all my letters to the Secretary of State; as they contain the most exact account of every transaction of the campaign, of the present state of things in this district, of my great apprehensions from the movement of General Greene towards Camden, and my resolutions in consequence of it, I have nothing to add to it for your Excellency's satisfaction. Neither my cavalry or infantry are in readiness to move; the former are in want of every thing, the latter of every necessary but shoes, of which we have received an ample supply; I must however begin my march to-morrow. It is very disagreeable to me to decide upon measures so very important, and of such consequence to the general conduct of the war, without [p21] an opportunity of procuring your Excellency's directions or approbation; but the delay and difficulty of conveying letters, and the impossibility of waiting for answers, render it indispensibly necessary. My present undertaking sits heavy on my mind; I have experienced the distresses and dangers of marching some hundreds of miles, in a country chiefly hostile, without one active or useful friend; without intelligence, and without communication with any part of the country. The situation in which I leave South Carolina adds much to my anxiety; yet I am under the necessity of adopting this hazardous enterprise hastily, and with the appearance of precipitation, as I find there is no prospect of speedy reinforcement from Europe, and that the return of General Greene to North Carolina, either with or without success, would put a junction with General Phillips out of my power.

My Lord,
Your Lordship's dispatch No. 1, dated the 9th of November ult. was delivered to me by my Aid-de-Camp, Major Ross. The officers and soldiers who fought so gallantly on the 16th of August received with the warmest sense of gratitude the royal approbation of their behaviour; and it is particularly pleasing to me, that my conduct has given satisfaction to his Majesty and to his Ministers.

By the long interruption of our communication with South Carolina I have not been informed whether Lieutenant-Governor Bull, and the other civil officers, have arrived in that province.

I shall pay proper attention to your Lordship's directions upon that subject, as well as relating to the prisoners of war confined at Charles-town. There are at present some hopes that a negotiation now on foot, between me and General Greene, will terminate in a cartel for their exchange: if it fails, I shall endeavour to dispose of them in the manner recommended by your Lordship, the expence and inconvenience of keeping them being intolerable.

State of the TROOPS that marched with the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis.

Rank and File Present and Fit for Duty

	Jan. 15, 1781	Feb. 1, 1781	Mar. 1, 1781	Apr. 1, 1781
British
Brigade of Guards	690	690	605	411
7th Regiment	167	--	--	--
16th Regiment, 3 Companies	41	--	--	--
23d Regiment	286	279	258	182
33d Regiment	328	334	322	229
71st Regiment, 1st Battalion	249	--	--	--
71st Regiment, 2d Battalion	237	234	212	161
71st Regiment, Light Company	69	--	--	--
German
Regiment of Bose	347	345	313	245
Yagers	103	97	97	97
Provincials
British Legion, &c.	451	174	174	174
North Carolina Volunteers	256	287	232	224
Total	3224	2440	2213	1723

Notes:

¹ † Brigade of Guards,
Twenty-third,
Thirty-third,
Seventy-first, two Battalions,
Iagers,
Regiment of Bose,
Light Infantry, Seventy-first, and
Legion,
North-Carolina Regiment. [ back ]

Cornwallis's Reply to Clinton's "Narrative"

[p1] CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.

Notes:

[p1] CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
AND
Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.