Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/769

AhtUification in South Carolina, i8jo-iSj^ 759 P. S. Could you not in time make an arrangement with Col. ^Vardlav for keeping a part of the 200 kegs of Powder which have been forwarded to J. P. and B. Benson at Hamburgh at that place? XX. James H. Hammond to Robert Y. Hayne. Silver Bluff 14'" January 1833 Sir. Your Orders in explanation of your Orders to recruit a Company of Mounted Minute Men reached me to-day. I am one of those who mis- apprehended your former orders and all of my subscription papers have been given out with erroneous explanations of your views. I thought, as it would be almost impossible to collect a body of men so scattered over the district, at the distance of thirty, forty, and even sixty miles apart, unless under the urgent circumstances of a call for immediate ac- tion, that you merely intended they should remain in their unorganized state until that call was made. I thought too that as you stated they were to be kept in the field only until the militia could come up, your object was to have in them nothing more than an advanced guard composed of the elite of the Volunteers who would fall back into their places as soon as their respective companies arrived ; and I was further confirmed in this view by the reflection that you scarcely intended to establish on a permanent footing mounted corps of ununiformed men, promiscuously armed and without training. In giving out subscription papers there- fore I stated that a person might be a minute man and also a member of a Volunteer Corps. The effort to form a Company of minute men upon any other system than this in so large a District as Barnwell will be at- tended with great difficulty ; but I will endeavour to do it, though it will occasion much loss of time and in some places where the people are divided, prevent the formation of Volunteer companies. If it be not too inconsistent with your general plan I should be glad to be allowed to pur- sue the course I have marked out : as best suited to this District. I take the liberty of making this suggestion to your Excellency and in the mean time shall proceed to obey your Orders unless otherwise instructed at Barnwell where any communication will reach me on the 18'". I have received your Orders to establish depots for provision. 1 have written to Col. Pickens to know his arrangements that I might make mine accordingly. Without waiting on him longer than I remain at home I shall while in the lower part of the district make one depot and soon after another above, of which you shall be duly advised. Your other instructions will be promptly obeyed. With great respect I am, your Excellency's most Obedient Servant James H. Hammond