Beschreibung:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION, SOUTHERN CAMPAIGNS]. BEE, THOMAS, South Carolina delagate to Congress. Autograph letter signed ("Thos.Bee"), to an unidentified correspondent, Philadelphia, 9 February 1781. 1 page, folio, minor marginal stains. A fine letter reporting on the military situation in the southern theater mentioning most of the principal military figures including: Benedict Arnold (now in British uniform), Charles Cornwallis, Nathanael Greene, Francis Marion, and Henry Lee. He passes on news of an American victory and sends "Gov. Rutledge's account" of this "Great stroke, but still our affairs in that quarter are far from being in so good a train as I wish...Leslie has joined Cornwallis...Virginia by Arnold's expedition...[is] prevented from sending on other supplies or reinforcements...North Carolina seemingly asleep...Genl Green[e] if Cornwallis advances must retire before him. [Henry] Lee's Corps have joined the Southern Army...Genl. Greene has detached Col. Marion (now a Militia Brigadier) with 300 Infantry & his horse to attack the British Post at George Town [South Carolina] ...I believe there are very few of the Old Inhabitants [of the Carolinas] that will not be good whigs & join heartily in driving them [the British] out, whenever they can have an opportunity -- the whole Garrison of Chas. Town is about 500 Hessians and the Militia of the Town who do constant duty -- between 300 & 400 Sail of Vessels were in the Harbour collecting everything of Produce to carry off -- a fine opportunity for a French Fleet & army to secure the whole but alas when will they arrive..."