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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Stephen Drayton to Richard Bennehan
Drayton, Stephen, 1736-1810
October 25, 1781
Volume 15, Pages 657-658

COL. S. DRAYTON TO RICHARD BENNINHAM.


Nutbush, 25th October, 1781.

Various have been the reports from Virginia since my coming to Nutbush, nothing certain, all hoping and very anxious, for so signal an event, as must lead to a happy termination of our troubles in the Southern States or on a reverse of Fortune create new, & encrease present troubles. Thus situated, I have delayed writing to you for I would wish, what I wrote, should be depended on, this happened not before last night; when we were acquainted with the certainty of prevailing reports by the arrival of a Trooper, from York, who left that place on Saturday last. He brings the glorious news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis & his whole army to General Washington. The Capitulation was signed on Wednesday the 17th Instant, at 11 at Night, & on Friday the garrison grounded their arms & were marched for Winchester; his Lordship is to be sent to England. The man says further, that Genl. Wayne, Guest & Mulhenburg are coming on with 6000 Troops, that the French troops are gone by sea to Charles town & that Genl. Washington marches the rest Northwardly. Permit me, my good Sir, to congratulate you & Mrs. Benninham on this happy occasion. My servant brings several other letters, some for Mr. Johnston, others for Hillsborough. The latter I suppose Mr. Johnston will forward; as I suppose the good folk of that town will not be a little elated at the prospects that must now appear by which they may enjoy peace in their beds; without a dread of Mr. Fanning or his adherents.

If you have any news respecting the operations of the X Creek Army, or Craigs situation, be pleased to communicate to me. I shall be happy to hear from you with Mrs. Benninham & the children are well. However so great a Specific as I now send, will enliven

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you all so much as to bid defiance to future sickness at least for this year. God bless you.

I am Dear Sir Yours most obliged,
S. DRAYTON.

P. S. If it is possible that the Express who may go up to Hillsborough and return on to-morrow so as that my servant can be here on Sunday—he may stay—perhaps we may hear from thence perhaps something of the Tories, &c.