PETITION FROM SC BACKCOUNTRY PRISONERS - January 1776

These 33 petitioners were backcountry men captured by Col. Richard Richardson during the "Snow Campaign" of December 1775 and sent by him for incarceration to Charles Town (Charleston). The petition is not dated. However, the editors of The Papers of Henry Laurens have dated it on the basis of a report in the Journal of the Council of Safety that a petition from Robert Cunningham, Thomas Fletchall and others was read Jan. 20, 1776.  [See The Papers of Henry Laurens, Volume 11, Jan. 5, 1776 – Nov. 1, 1777, pages 51-52, published by the South Carolina Historical Society.]

January 20, 1776

We The Subscribers Humbly Sheweth, that whereas there has Been Diversity of Opinions, and Disturbances, in the Frontier parts of this province.  Which grieves us to heart that we ever Should have Been at Variance, with our Countrymen, and good Neighbors.  Hon. Gentlemen - We Therefore, find the Greatest Freedom, to Enter into any Honorable Terms of Unity, to preserve the peace in this Disturbed province, and the peace of good Neighborhood. Gentlemen - We Your Humble Petitioners here in Common Goal, a Few of Whom You Do call Leading persons of the Party that was Against you. And According to Your Honorable Articles that [may] be Agreed on.  We shall on any Forfeit Promise to Endeavor to Settle Peace to Your Satisfaction, And the Unity of the different Settlements, in the Frontiers Gentlemen - We Wait With Leisure on Your Call And Forsodoing it will be Always Esteemed by us Your Humble Petitioners.