[v. 3, No. 124.] Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion

HEAD QUARTERS NEAR SANDY RIVER, June 25, 1781.

Dear Sir:

I am favoured with your letter dated at the Congaree. The enemy have obliged us to raise the siege of Ninety-Six, when it was upon the eve of surrendering. It was my wish to have fought Lord Rawdon before he got to Ninety-Six, and could I have collected your force and that of Gen. Sumter and Pickens, I would have done it, and am persuaded we should have defeated him, but being left alone, I was obliged to retire. I am surprised the people should be so averse to joining in some general plan of operations. It will be impossible to carry on the war to advantage, or even attempt to hold the country, unless your force can be directed to a point; and as to flying parties here and there, they are of no consequence in the great events of war. If the people will not be more united in their views, they must abide the consequences, for I will not calculate upon them at all, unless they agree to act conformably to the great law of recovering all parts of the country, and not particular parts. Gen. Sumter is preparing for a manoeuvre down in the lower part of the State, and he will require your aid to bring it into effect. You will therefore call out all the force you can, and co-operate with him in any manner he may direct. Count De Gresse has defeated Admiral Rodney in the West Indies, and taken St. Lucia. These are facts, and you may propagate them.

With esteem and regard, I am dear sir,

Your humble servant,

NATH. GREENE

(From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 3, p. 100)

Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 3, p. 100
Date: 6/25/1781


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