Naval Documents of The American Revolution, Volume 1 ... - Ibiblio

1122 AMERICAN THEATRE
Supplys & even in that case the officers of our Custom House refuse to cleer out
vessels (agreeable to the restraining Act) either to Bennuda or [New] Providence
Saying that they are particularly designd, by themselves Somrner & Bohamas
Islands & not any of His Majestys West India Islands but Surely they never mean't
to exclude these Islands from having Provisions; but I am in hopes that the
Congress will consider you, as Americans that wish well to their Cause & Supply
you - if not you must open a Trade with Canada and the fforida's & a little
smugling, into the out Ports & Bays of the different Colonys. . . .
Archd Campbell
P S. Since writting the above the Convention have opend the Ports till the
10th of Septr as Merriland woud not move in to the plann -
1. Tucker-Coleman Papers, CW.
[Extract] Charles Town, August 11, 1775
I cannot let this opportunity slip without giving you a piece of intelligence,
which I am sure will please you. Our Admiral and his crew have behaved
like heroes; they have lightened Capt. Loftres of six tons of the needful; they
surprised a superior crew, and took it out of the vessel lying at anchor within
a mile of the castle of [St.] Augustine; ten soldiers were on *board, but luckily
they had no arms with them; in short, Providence favored us in all points of
winds, seas, tides, &c.
A. Middleton
1. R. W. Gibbes, ed., Documentary History of the American Revolution, 1764-1776 . . .
(New York, 1855), vol. I, 135, 136. Hereafter cited as Gibbes, ed., Documentary
History. Middleton was a member of the South Carolina Council of Safety, and Drayton
was at Ninety-Six, on a mission involving the Cherokee Indians.
2. Clement Lempriere; see instructions to him of July 24, 1775.
Sir Charles Town 11. August 1775
Inclosed you will find Copies of three Letters the Contents of which are
very alarming. - one dated 6th Inst from the Committee of Augusta to the
Council of Safety at Savanna - one from that Council dated the 8th to the
Council of Safety in Charles Town & the third from Capt Moses Kirkland to
his late Lieutent [Hugh] Middleton, which are recommended by the Council
of Safety to your particular attention.
I have by order of the Council & by the bearer of this written to Collo
[William] Thomson & inclosed to him Copies of the abovementioned Letters.
Collo Thomson is enjoined to exert his utmost endeavours for the Interest
of the general Cause in this dangerous conjuncture & to avail himself if possible
of your advice - If you are in the neighborhood of his Camp he will lay before
you his Instructions, which from necessity are general, & the Council of Safety
being perfectly satisfied that you will leave nothing undone that shall appear to
be necessary have not charged me with any particular direction to trouble you with.