| Citation |
FJ.782.049
12 Jun 1782:23, 31 (2/60)
London. . . March 30. Copy of a letter from Charlestown,
South Carolina, dated January 23, 1782.
My dear friend, Ever since my last of the 20th of
September, the game has been running against us; things have
been going from bad to worse--it is too late in the day, and
it would not only be in vain but wicked to deceive you any
longer by flattering accounts. . . [12 lines] Our whole
number does not amount to 4000 men; of these about one half
are Hessians, . . . who, if they were to be trusted a mile
beyond the lines would desert to a man; and I really believe
many of their officers would go with them. . . [30 lines]
Is it necessary to say any thing more to convince you that
we are cooped up in Charlestown, and that the rebels have
complete possession of all the rest of the country? and
that they are as merry as grigs; for I am assured, that
their officers had a very large dancing assembly, about a
fortnight ago, at one of Ferguson's plantations, about 20
miles from this town, at which there was a great shew of
polite company of ladies and gentlemen of the neighborhood.
In short, I cannot say that we have a single American heart
on our side; the few who are within the town have heretofore
dissembled, but in the present appearance; they begin to
speak a pretty plain language, and discover the sentiments
of the heart; . . .
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