[Charleston, September 15]2
[Extract]
Dear Sir Tho' jaded, sleepy, & stupified I cannot help acknowledging the receipt of your favour from head Quarters of the 11th inst. You put me in mind of Cicero Parthiens after the Surrender of Pindenissum, you may say with him "take it however as a Certainty, that no one could do more than I have done with such an Army." I hope you will do great matters with your great Guns, & I wish your Second in Command was not quite so sleepy, it is a pity you had not roused him with a discharge3 ー If you should not find it hot enough up your way, pray hasten down for in all probability we shall have warm work here 'ere long ー It is confidently said Transports & Frigates will be here soon ー Colo [Henry] Laurens writes you & I suppose will acquaint you with our late Transactions ー Fort Johnson is in our hands, & garrisoned with 150 men, which will be re'inforc'd this night. I wrote out a curious dialogue which Laurens will inclose you, it was the production of a Trick plaid upon our Solomon. Your friend K[irkland] is actually on board the Tamar, I yesterday moved that the Gov. by whose Assistance he escaped, should be taken into Custody & offered in Exchange for K. but could not carry the point, it is not however improbable that he may yet be nab'd, if he does not take care of himself.
Three Schooners are to be armed for the defence of our Trade, &c. and this is only a beginning to our Marine, & I do not despair of our getting Batteries, & very soon provided you will come & give us a little Assistance; so the Tamar must be upon her good Behaviour ー I do not write you explicitly but wish to awaken your Curiosity & make you hasten your Business & hurry down to lend us a hand
[Alexander] Innes has followed his sword on board the man of war, & [William] Wragg has actually taken Physick at his Country retreat. I am told [Dr. Alexander] Garden made him up plenty of Febrifuge ー Some of our Thunderers marched to the Bastions this day, & more will move off Tomorrow, so that we may have one or, two Batterys compleat in a day or two in a word we begin to seem in earnest at last. How long the Spirit will continue I know not.
[Addressed] The Honble William Henry Drayton Esq at the Camp By Express