Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Allen Jones to Richard Caswell
Jones, Allen, 1739-1807
October 21, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 245-247

GEN. ALLEN JONES TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Halifax, October 21st, 1778.

Sir:

Agreeable to your Excellency's orders I have directed the several Colonels of this District to draft the men and send the several Companies on to Kingston to the Rendezvous the 10th of next month. I am apprehensive they will hardly get there by that

-------------------- page 246 --------------------
time, and I am sure they will be badly accoutred, as most of the guns in this District have been already purchased for public service. Mrs. Jones is in so low a state of health that I cannot absent myself at this time without cruelty or I assure you I should be happy in having a command under your Excellency. Should you go, as I cannot believe there is any real necessity for the March of the Militia at this time, I must frankly tell you Sir, that I think your going will be of no service to So. Carolina, and may be a prejudice to this State. Charles Town is too trifling an acquisition for the British Arms, should they abandon New York and Rhode Island—neither is it tenable or healthy after taken. Besides should they quit the North it must certainly be to protect their West Indian Settlements, so that unless the Commander should wantonly and merely in revenge for the former repulse fall on Charles Town the Inhabitants may sleep in peace. I hear it questioned here, as to your power of sending the Militia out of this State. There is no law for it. Can your Excellency apply any of our present funds or any of the money to be made to this service? I think not. Can you apply the money coming from Philadelphia this way? Certainly not, for we are debited with it on our own account. At least I think not, tho' I confess what I have said occurs to me without much reflection for I have been too busy to satisfy myself on the present subject. It galls me to think that the balance of your draft is to be paid up as soon as our assistance is wanted and that when we were really distressed for money it could not be had, tho' we had incurred the expense agreeable to the requisition of Congress. I am very far from thinking this State bound to comply with their requisitions, in all cases, and in the present, were the Assembly sitting, I am sure a single man would not march to the South. We have always been haughtily treated by South Carolina, till they wanted our assistance, and then we are sisters, but as soon as their turn is served, all relationship ceases. So. Carolina is so well aware of our resentment that they despaired of succeeding, should they apply themselves, therefore have got Congress to make a requisition, thinking no doubt that out of respect to that Body, we should overlook their former treatment. In short, Sir, our State either one way or other appears to be sacrificed to So. Carolina, and that we are of very little consequence in the eyes of Congress. Considering
-------------------- page 247 --------------------
the matter in every light the little service to be expected from marching the Militia, and the contempt with which we are treated, I cannot help saying that I am totally averse to sending one man out of the State on the present requisition. Excuse these crude thoughts and believe me

Yours, &c,
ALLEN JONES.