Major William Pierce Jr., Head Quarters, South Carolina, near Dorchester to St. George Tucker

Containers:

Box 9, Folder 8

Scope and content:

Please excuse my last letter. I will not join you in the abuse of our public measures. I find the more the military complain, the more opposed are the civil to their interest. We have just taken a position at Bacon's Bridge upon Ashley River within two miles of Dorchester and about 20 from Charles Town. This is meant as a challenge, and if I am not mistaken will shortly produce a fight. We hear that the enemy is making preparations for the field. We have the best troops in the world to fight them with, and the whole army puts such implicit confidence in General Greene. The loyalists in Charles Town and the Islands are very much dissatisfied with their situation. They desert every day to the American standard. The confiscation law and amercement (financial penalty) passed by the assembly of this state have put the Tories into a state of insanity. General Leslie has turned advocate for them and reasons in a letter to General Greene on the injustice and implicy of the law. General Greene in answer said he had no control over the civil power and referred him to the Executive of the State. Last Sunday a large fleet with some broken corps, a number of women and about 150 officers sailed for New York. At the same time a fleet of empty transports sailed for Europe. In a little excursion which the enemy made a few days ago over Cooper River, they captured Judge Pendleton and Major Hyrne. Every part of Georgia is still in our possession except Savannah. The Indians who favored the British interest are very much dissatisfied with their friends the Tories. Some have been put to death by them. 300 of the Creeks who were on their way to Savannah, finding themselves deceived, have returned home. Mrs. Greene arrived at Camp about a week ago. Published: Magazine of American History, 7 (December 1881), 431-445.

Access and use