To George Washington from James Duane, 9 May 1780
From James Duane
Philadelphia 9th May 1780
My dear General.
I Judge of your Excellency’s Anxiety for the Fate of Charles Town by my own. When we have much at Stake Events, tho’ not very important, are interesting: I shall not therefore fail to give you every Intelligence which comes well authenticated from that Quarter tho’ it may probably often happen to be no more than a Repetition of your official Information. The President yesterday receivd dispatches with a Copy of a Letter from Mr Jervois, who is either paymaster or Commissary for the Detachment of the Army to the Southward, dated the 16th Ultimo;1 and it appear⟨s⟩ that our Cavalry under General Huger was surprized by the Enemy & sustaind a Loss of 20 men & 30 Horses:2 That this Success enabled the Enemy to head Cooper River, and take post on the North side, and that it will eventually compleat the blockade of the Town: That the Injury from their Operations against the Garrison is very inconsiderable; from the Land side having killed only a Woman & a Child and two Privates of the Virginia Line; & set on Fire three Houses: from the Water they have made no Attack. It is the Letter writer’s opinion that if the expected Reinforcement from North Carolina arrives in any Season, the Party of the Enemy posted on the North side of the River—separated as they are from their main body—must fall into our Hands: Mr Lawrence the late President to whom this Letter is addressed, observes that what Force cannot, Famine may effect3 But if the Town, as it is reported, is supplied with provisions for a Six Month’s Siege, and the Fire of the Enemy shoud not become much more formidable; the danger of a Reduction seems to be very remote. The Account adds—and it gives me pleasure—that Governour Rutledge & five of the Council have been prevailed on to quit the Town, in order to support a legal Government in the Country, and enforce Measures for opening and preserving a Communication with the Garrison; and that Mr Gadsden the Lieut. Governour with five of the Council remain in the Town. Sir Henry Clinton seems to have put every thing to the hazard in this Enterprize, and from the deliberate Caution of his Motions to bid defiance to the whole power of the Southern States. God grant that he may have Reason to repent his Temerity.
I am much concerned at the want of money in the military Chest and other Departments: Nothing in our power will be left undone to obtain a competent Supply: but it is to be feared that some distress is necessary to rouse the States to more decisive Exertions. We learn since my last that the new plan of Finance will be supported in Virginia as it already is to the Eastward.4 This ought to be the Endeavour of every Friend to our Cause. It is unavailing and fruitless to examine into its’ policy, or even to exclaim against the Injustice it may do to Individuals. Private opinion and private Interest must give way to publick Councils & the publick Safety; & it ought to be rememberd that in a Case of such difficulty and Embarrasment while some Remedy seemed to be indispensably necessary, None coud have been devised which woud not have been objectable.
The Arrival of a Packet at New York we are informed has produced many dejected Countenances; but as this has been an invariable Remark on every such Event for three years we cannot be much elated. We have however All the Reason to be wished for this Reflectio⟨n⟩ that the Distresses of our Enemies bear a full proportion to our own; and that they cannot but feel the Strongest Apprehensions that the War must terminate in our favour.
I congratulate your Excellency on the Arrival in Europe of Mr Jay & Mr Gerard; & of our gallant Friend the Marquiss La fayette in America.5 Mr Telfare and another Gentleman are Just arrived, & Col. Walton daily expected, as Delegates from Georgia.6
Be pleased to present my most respectful Compliments to Mrs Washington, the Gentlemen of the Committee, & of the Family:7 and to be assured that I am with all possible Esteem Respect and Attachment Dear Sir Your Excellency’s very Affectionate & most Obedient Servant
Jas Duane
ALS, DLC:GW. GW answered Duane on 13 May (PP).
1. Duane is referring to South Carolina privy council member John Lewis Gervais and his letter to Henry Laurens dated 17 April (see Samuel Huntington to GW, this date, and n.3 to that document).
2. For the Battle of Monck’s Corner, S.C., see Abraham Buford to GW, 6–8 May, n.5.
3. Duane means Henry Laurens, former president of Congress (see n.1 above).
4. Duane is alluding to his letter to GW of 4 May. For the financial reforms recently adopted by Congress, see Philip Schuyler to GW, 12 March, and notes 3 and 4 to that document.
5. GW informed Congress of Major General Lafayette’s arrival from France in the postscript of his letter to Samuel Huntington dated 5–6 May.
6. William Few joined Edward Telfair and George Walton as delegates to Congress from Georgia. Their attendance began on 15 May (see , 17:426–27). For Few’s recollections of his initial congressional term, see 350–51.
Edward Telfair (1735–1807), born in Scotland, came to Virginia as a commercial agent in 1758 and eventually settled in Savannah. A committed Patriot, he served multiple terms in Congress during the Revolutionary War and later won elections as governor of Georgia. Telfair greeted GW during his presidential tour of the southern states (see GW to Telfair, c.20 May 1791, in 8:201). For a biographical sketch, see E. Merton Coulter, “Edward Telfair,” Georgia Historical Quarterly 20 (1936): 99–124.
William Few (1748–1828), born near Baltimore and raised in North Carolina, began a law practice in Augusta, Ga., in 1776. He served as a state legislator and militia officer prior to his election to Congress in 1780. Few was a delegate from Georgia at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and became a United States senator from that state in 1789. Few moved to New York City in 1799 and subsequently held various local and state offices.
7. Duane acknowledged the “Committee at Headquarters” from Congress and GW’s military secretaries and aides-de-camp. For the committee, see GW to Huntington, 3 April, source note.