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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from David Olyphant to Abner Nash
Olyphant, David
November 06, 1781
Volume 19, Pages 881-882

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DAVID OLYPHANT TO ABNER NASH.


Halifax, November 6th, 1781.

Dear Sir:

I have the honour to congratulate you on the late important success of our Arms in Virginia & to acquaint you that at last I am relieved from a Cruel & painful Captivity in the hands of our inveterate foes; I believe history & now I am convinced by experience, that I am warranted to declare the English Tyrants in prosperity, mean and abject in adversity. I left head quarters ten days ago, & am now on the road to join General Greene, had it been safe travelling through yr. Country I should have had the pleasure of calling on you at New Bern. The Pennsylvania, Maryland & Virginia Lines with 400 horse are ordered to the S. ward; when I left Camp it was undetermined whether the Infantry should not go by water to Wilmington, this depended on the Count de Grasse, whose orders will not permit him to remain longer on the American Coast; he proceeds immediately with the whole of the line battle ships in the West Indies. Count de Rochambeau with all his troops is to be quartered in Virginia ready to give his assistance wherever the exigence of war demands it. The day I left Camp Genl. Washington was informed by express from Philadelphia, that Ld. Henry Clinton had sailed the 18th of last month from New York with 5,000 Troops on board & all his Ships of War, the English gave out for the relief of Ld. Cornwallis; but people are generally of Opinion he was bound for Charles Town, this being the case it is pretty certain more of the forces will be immediately ordered Southerly.

When I saw you last at New Bern I left in your possession several original papers relating to the transaction between the Messrs. Hamiltons & myself. I hope you have preserved them, & that you will be so kind to take care of them till you hear further from me. I make no doubt you have heard how ungenerously and cruelly I have been treated by John Hamilton, on a future day I may have an opportunity to explain this more fully to you.

With my most respectful Compliments to Mrs. Nash.

I have the honor to be, Dr. Sir,
yr. much obliged & most obedt. Servt.,
DAVID OLYPHANT.

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P. S. Please present my compliments to Col. Cogdale. I shall esteem it a favour to have a line from you, Colo. Long will forward it to me at Genl. Greene’s Camp.