MONTAIENT I N VEILED.
?occ?tinued from Page 1.
^s^tions, adapted in the reign of ter?
ror, the proceedings and protest . of
~heir own and other legislatures on
58& tft^xdulent tariff of 1S2S, and last,
:?eeaase latest, the abie exposition
C?ust - j?fered t9 them by the second
?cifSeer <of the general government (Mr.
-Cbslfe?'iin) of the principles, the policy,
*3?e powers, an'd the limitations, as?
cribed in the constitution to the fed
<9?*? authority as distinguished from
^3b? residuary rights and powers re
'earned by the State authorities of
^iae- same government when the}
formed.the constitution out of the
. ^ld-confederation."
* J
* Tims bis last public utterance
""aaadfe m the great age of 94, was but
?at irene wed" expression of his faith in
?ocai .self rgo vern ment, which he had
ixeld since the pre-revolutionary days,
and of his unqualified approval of
^is State's interpretation of the doc?
trine o? "State rights." Rugged, in
* ?ease, -steadfast, and intrepid, he still
"was, as the darkness of nearly a cen?
tury of years was closing in upon his
Safe.
^ut bis. life must end. He has long
?i?ij here among the hills he loved so
T*-<eIL bard by the Santee's soft re
<?a3erm and we come this day after
.dany charging years to exalt his
oame and ourselves that we have not
forgotten him. The ashes from the
?*erce fires through which he" passed
rath so much glory to himself and to
isis race are now cold and blown far
and about. Cornwallis and Tarleton,
iSf iiiiirg, wo.uid congrat?late South
V-.^3snxSiria in this her commemoration
x*f their old and tireless foe; and we
'She children of the long after years.
S grov- aaily in reverence for our
**strong. mother of a. Li on-line,"
Creeping home and traditions in her j
sough blown island across the seas, '
^2-nd we make daily covenant absout
? th& altar of liberty that upon these
*r*?w found shores
*T*he single note ?
' ^roo that deep chord which' Hamp?
den smote
/ ; Wm vidrate to the doom."
*Bht this monument is yet more to
?is. It is a symbol of the dear old
menestranged days,-days happily af
rser bloody interruption now come
back to stay forevermore. Here the
'children of* a perfected Union, may
gather to drink not of the blood of j
, "scar ont of rho cup of peac*. and to J
Si'.^ar not the tocsin of strife but the j
?musse fraternity. Here we can I
, * i^.rv to revive ic tho day- of our j
strength that religious patriotismJ
"which we relied upon without fail in
' the days of our weakness. Here we
can come for those nourishing tradi?
tions of self-sacrifice that subordinate
-self to the community, the communi?
sts? to the State, and the State to the
vKa^ion. Here we can come ;to gain
" Strength io Uve above rhe ties o<
^friendship ai d ; the allurements of
. "place for the welfare of all the pee?
ble. Here we can come to our dying
selves touched with a quickening life
.of scorn for all disorder, lawlessness,
"corruption and political uncleanliness.
"Sere we can come, les* we forget, to
" ^>eg of the God of all peoples to give
tas>i<> us humble and ' contrite hearts
"?fv^r zse may strive to promotes :'us
tic?^ peace, fraternity, culture and
.?comfort among al! our countrymen.
JtTtd here we can conie to learn that
'ib<* liber ry those of old fought to
. .achieve is but as dost in the balance
Vii??ess we. their sons, supplement it
^y an educated sense of responsibil
^nd, now. fellow citizens of this rb
.SEuantic State. I imperfectly but sin?
cerely bring you the greetings of
of your older and most loving sister,
^abo through the spirits of Campbell
?and Morgan, of William Washington
scad Light Horse Karry Lee. comrades
2? arms up-m your with the great
iStiVrirrr. would bless this occasion
?~.-. lY?s deed which you have as
Siint)V-;j io honor.
33IS LIFE AND HIS PUBLIC SKR
Y.I CES IX WAR AND PEACE.
THir Hist?rica] Address Delivered By
^QB. IL A. M. Smith, of Charleston,
<rn the Occasion of tin? Unveiling of
.iO>c .Monument at Stateburg
We are met together t" day to un
?apejl a monument, to, and thereby to
U*nor to the memory of one to
.dehorn the State of South Carolina
<*sreces a debt of deepest gratitude.
""When I first received the honor of
zssn xawiiaiion to take part in this j
Ncerrrrnenial. and turned my attention
^ter the matter and subject of any es
rsay ? should deliver there was
brought forcibly back lo my mind \
many years ag-. I uad discover- ;
a<t-i. X is, the exceedingly rc: nt} tn- j
y<?rma?3on we possessed of much of j
Tine hie cf Gen. Sumter. He is an |
-abject lesson of how a man may1 at- j
'.iain wide and enduring fa uv :m? rep
^itarji.n during his life and yet leave
behind bim at his d--ath nothing to
t?.U future generations ?>f th? >.' tai?s
& ?. life that has passed away. While.
ZvfcSg everything is taken for granted, j
rs*> &n? supposes it possible that ig- |
aenmce can exist concerning one
?whost* narrie and deeds are on the
*?ps and in the minds of every one.
But that generation passes. Nt
ures on the stage play to new
enees and it comes to pass that
one of a later generation turi
enquire of the details upon wi
fame was founded that has co
him in the shape cf a genen
recognized tradition, he is pertur
find that there is nothing bu
general recognition and traditio
on which he can lay hold.
"So has it been with Gen. Si
There does not exist a single ;
even of his life worthy of the ti
a life of him.
"His contemporary in time,
though subordinate in rank.
Francis Marion, .has three biog
erg-Weems, James and Sims,
contemporary and commanding
cer. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, ha:
bulky two-volumed life of him
Johnson. Sumter has had literal
biographer, and to find out any
about him it has been necessary
pick it out of the histories o:
events of the day. Concerning
earlier life prior to the Revolutk
war and his later years after
close there does not exist a singl
count of him worthy the nan
even a sketch.
"Around Marion there has g
and clustered a wealth of rom;
Both fiction and poetry have jc
to paint him with all the alluring
ors of admiring description, ye
venture to say that there is not
in Marion's life more romantic
filled with more adventure than S
ter's early struggles in frontier In
warfare, or his intrepid and ga
contests with Tarleton, the das
and conquering commander of ]
i*h cavalry.
It has seemed to me, there:
that the most appropriate wa:
which I could testify our admira
for his character and do honor to
memory would be today as fully
possible in the narow limits of
public speech, repair the indiffer*
of the past by giving as full and
thentic an account of his life and
ploits as it lay in my power to do
"As in many other cases of ?
who have become famous thro
their worth and abilities, but 1
have been too modest to be their <
biographers, there is very little :
terial from which to write the hist
of Sumter's early life. The date ;
place of his birth are alike uncerta:
Date and Place of His Birth.
"McCradv. m hie HicfrkTV<- <~>f
Carolina, states that he was born
14th of July. 2 736. in Han ver i XUJ
Virginia, and adds that his rath)
family were from Wales, but had
movea to England tum thence c
grated to Virginia, and that
mother was a Virginian of Engl
stock. He refers to no authority
this, but it has always been und
stood that his information was i
rived from Gen. Sumter's descei
ants. As to date of birth this is cc
firmed by Mills, whose statistics
South Carolina were . published
1826, when Gen. Sumter was s
alive, and who states that he v
then ?0.
"Also Gen. Sumter's son. Thorr
Sumter, Jr.. writing to his. daugh'
in December. Is25. mentions that 1
father was then in his SSth . ye;
which would carry the year of ?
birth back to 17." 6. There is, ho
ever, in the possession of Gen. Sui
ter's. lineal descendants an oid le;
which is traditionally said to be
leaf from tho family Bible. This o
lea^f has written upon it in qui
archaic script the following entries:
" 'Wm. Sumter was born in Ha
over county, in Virginia, on the
October. 1731.'
" 'Thomas Sumter was born in sa
county r,n August 14. 17:>4.*
"From the reminiscences of Jol
Redd, later referred to, we learn 1
had a brother, William. Taking in
consideration the family tradition ?
to the leaf in question being from tl
family Bible, the appearance f,f tl
entries upon it and their particularit
corroborated by the fact that he ha
a brother William, evidently the or
referred to in the past entry, it wouJ
seem most likely that the exact dal
of his birth was as stated in the er
try, 14th August. 1734. and that h
was born in Hanover county.
"He was. therefore, two year
younger than his great contemporary
Francis Marion, who was born i
17"2.
Early ^Reminiscences.
"Since the publication of McCrady'
History some more material concern
ing the birthplace and early life o
Gen.. Sumter has been made availabl
by thp publication of the Virginia
Historical society. In a leter writtei
by John Redd of Henry county, Vir
ginia. to Dr. Lyman C. Draper am
dated 13th Jun-' 1KT.0. giving Mr
Redd's recollections and reminiscen?
ces of people in his section, h*
states:
" '4th. Gen. Sumter's mother wai
a widow when I first knew her;
'which was when ? was quite small
boy. When I left Orange county in
1V74 the old lady was then living. I
think she. lived several years after?
ward and died in Orang? . I know
nothing of Gen. Sumter's boyhood
days nor of his father. His educa?
tion was ?nly such as could be obtain?
ed in history neighborhood schools.
I don't know when or whom he mar?
ried. I think, though, he married
some ki ay of South Carolina. Dur
? the hitter part of the Revolution
j brother. William, moved to Soi
I Cai ulina. I don't know what fine
became of him.' And again:
'"The greatest intimacy always
: isted between Gen. Martin. G
Sumpter and Col. Cleveland. Tl
: were very wild in their youn?h
j days. Cleveland I don't think v
! hardie as wild as thc other two.
recollect a circumstance which i
only shows the intimacy between G
Sumter and Martin and their foi
ness for pleasure, but also G0i. Sun
j tor's strict honesty. The first yeai
j think it was that Gen. Sumpter \>
j elected to congress from South Ca:
lina, while he was on his way
Washington he stopped at Richmoi
As soon as he stopped at^a hotel
sent up to the capitol for Martin a
myself, who were members of t
legislature there. He was higl
pleased at meeting with us-partie
larly his old companion, Mart
whom he had not seen for some
years. They called eacn other by t
familiar names Joe and To
Time passed rapidly and pleasam
while they talked of the events
their ' youthful days. Just befo
Sumpter started (for he stayed only
few hours) he asked Martin if
recollected the last frolic they had
Johnson's. Martin said that they h;
really so many he could not. Sum
ter said he recollected it wei., ai
should never forget it, for, said he,
lost all my money playing cards ai
you loaned me five pounds, Mart
said he had no recollection whatev
of the transaction, and Sumter mu
be mistaken. S?mter said he kne
he owed the money, and. putting h
hands In his pockets, he pulled 01
ten guineas and said he should tal
it.*
'Tn the reminiscences of the san
John Redd, published as separa
from his letter to Dr. Draper. I
, again states concerning Gen. Sun
ter: 5
" 'Gen. Thom Sumpter was als
born and raised in the upper end <
Orange county, near the Blue Jfcidg
I never nev.' his father, for he die
before my reckollection. His mot!
er lived to be quite an old woman, b<
loved and respected by all who kne
her. The father of Gen. Sumpter wa
not wealthy, though in easy circum
stances. I do not know how man
brothers or sisters Gen. Sumpter ha<
I new his brother, William, who wa
! not of much note. 1 also new
j sister of his. who married a man
Kthe name of Len. Gen. Sn npter,
j think -.had only one son. who was sen
ras mini .-if r --r ?....-; sui to som^ toxj :-?:
court and there died.'
"And again:
" 'Gen. Sumpter was born and rais
ed in the county of Orange, in th
State of Virginia. Some years befor
the Revolutionary war Sumpter wa
sent by order of the government ii
charge of several Indians of note t<
England, where he remained fo
some time, and then returned hom*
with his red companions. I suppose
the object of his mission to Englant
was that the Indians might see th<
power and resources of the Britisl
government, and thereby learn th(
folly of raising their army agains
their white brethren on this side ? o:
the Atlantic. After Sumpter return?
ed from England he removed to Sou tr
Carolina and ther~ established foi
himself a reputation which is obtain?
ed by but few.'
"In the same magazine is published
a sketch <?f thc distinguished Virgin
ion. Cen. Joseph Martin, written b>
his son. William Martin. Gen. Jo?
seph Martin was born in 1740. in Al?
bemarle county, Virginia, and died in
Henry county, Virginia, in 1S0S. This
. sketch of him is contained -in tho
[form of a letter from William Martin
. to Dr. Lyman C. Draper, dated 1st
June, 1842.
"in this sketch Mr. Martin states
j that his father ran off from his ap?
prenticeship during the war in 1756,
and joined the army at Fort Pitt, now
Pittsburg, and adds:
" 'My father, in his raising among
other boys of the same temperament,
became associated with Tom-Gen.
Sumpter. who so distinguished him
self as the partisan chief in South
Carolina during the war of the Revo?
lution, and went with him to the war.
Eelrold these two hapless youths:
those turin lent spirits that could not
be tamed with ordinary pursuits of
civil life, rushing along, like wat? r
j seeking its own level, 400 or 500 miles
j through mostly a wilderness. inter?
spersed with hostile savages, in quest
of aliment that might satisfy their
craving appetites. Little did they or
anybody else think at the time that
j i
j these were some of the rising spirits
j that were to lead in the Revolution,
' which afterwards gavei liberty to this
country. How long thev remained in
j the army or the part they acted there
lis not known, though it is thought
good while. Sumpter reported first.
My father on his return found him in
i j;ill at Staunton. Virginia, for debt,
j
j He obtained permission to lodge a
?night in prison with his friend. In
the morning, when he went out, he
j left with Sumter his tomahawk and
ten guineas, and with on.? or both of
which he escaped from prison. Soon
[afterward- he wem t-- South Carolina;,
! changed his course of lit" and be?
came distinguished, as is known t" all
who have read the history of the
Revolution. Thus were they sepaiat
ed for many years: and until at
It-nsiik my father was at Richmond.
Virginia, a member nf the legislature.
Sumpter was a member of congress
and on his way h??me called at Rich?
mond, where they met for the first
time in "more than 30 years. What a
meeting this must have beeil to talk
over old matters and things.' They
had bo ch now become old and highly
elevated in the temple of fame. Whac
proud satisfaction they must have
felt in the retrospection! Before they
separated Sumpter handed my father
2" guineas-having reference to the
prison.'
Wars With Indians.
"Appleton's Encyclopaedia of Amer?
ican Biography scates: 'Sumter was
present at Braddock's defeat in 1755,
and seems afterward to have been en?
gaged in military service on the
frontier.'
"McCrady, in his history, states
that he served in the Virginia provin?
cial corps in the French and Indian
wars, and was present at Braddock's
defeat in 1755, and that he was sent
by Gov. Dinwiddie of Virginia on a
mission to the Cherokees and accom?
panied the Indian chiefs to England
in 1762.
".Neither gives any reference or au?
thority for these statements.
"The family tradition as contained
in a manuscript sketch of Cen. Sum- ]
ter by his granddaughter. Miss j
Brownfield, is to the effect as stated
by McCrady. who obtained his infor?
mation from her. The same tradi?
tion is stated in an obituary- of Gen.
Sumter, published in the Sumter Ga?
zette for June 9, 1S32-probably ob?
tained from some one of Gen. Sum?
ter's descendants at the time.
"Great weight, however, should
fairly be attached to the recollec?
tions of John Redd and William Mar?
tin. Mr. Redd personally knew both
Gen. Sumter's mother and his brother.
William, and was himself present at
the interview between Sumter and
Gen. Joseph Martin at Richmond,
where Sumter paid his old friend 20
guineas.
"There is nothing directly from
Gen. Joseph-Martin, who died in 1S0S,
but the account b5' his son, William
Martin, who wrote in 1842, but who
had been old enough in 1775 to ac?
company his. father on an expedition
to Tennessee-is an acocunt by one
who wa? in a nosirion to hear, and
ii?*? -J JL?* il ?.<-> ir?cl?i.i<_?j.l XL. Xit. JO
they joined the army in 1756, whereas
Earddcck's defeat took place in 1755.
"The authenticity of the Martin re?
miniscences is strengthened by the
circumstance that the earliest known
letter of C?en. Sumter in existence is
dated 7th December, 1763. and is ad?
dressed : o Mr. Joseph Martin, whom
he addresses as 'Friend and Loving
Comrade,' and mentions a debt he
owes him.
Did He Go to England?
"The following manuscript notes,
made by Dr. Lyman C. Draper, have
been. furnished by a descendant of
Gen. Sumter:
"*2Sth November, 1761. Thomas
Sumter, with Lieut. Timberlake, left
Great Island, on Tennessee river, to
go- to the Cherokee nation.
" 'On tile 15th May Thomas Sum?
ter embarked at Hampton Roads. Va..
f-?r England and arrived at Ports?
mouth on the 16th June, 1762. with
three Indians. Ortinaco, the Indian
chief, among them* and Lieut. Tim
berdake. The sloop Epreuve. Capt.
Peter Blake, was the ship which took
them to Bngland.
"'About the 25th August. 1762.
Thomas Sumter embarked with the
three Indian chiefs and without Lieut.
Timberlake. for Charleston on the
same ship which had taken him to
Engiar.d.'
"Dr. Draper's notes as furnished
give no reference for these statements,
but in the SOutb Carolina Gazette: Xo.
1.455. lor 5th June, 17<.7. rho state?
ment is made that Judd's friend, one
of the principal headmen of the Che?
rokee nation, had gone to Virginia
and hall permission to go to England
in one o? the king's ships.
"In the Gazette, Xo. 1.476. for 30 th
October. 1762. under the head of the
local Charles Town news, it is stated:
'Thursday last arrived here his ma?
jesty's Snow Epreuve, commanded
by Capt. Peter Blake, with Ju.hi's
friend and the other two Cherokee
Indians on the said Snow in June
last.'
"And in Xo. 1.4*1 for December 4.
1762. 'Judd's friend and tho two
other Cherokees that returned with |
him fr.on England in his majesty's
Snow, the Eapreuve, set off from |
Xinety-Six rh- ISth ulto. for the
Cherokee nation well pleased.'
"Xo mention ls made of Thomas j
Sumter or Ortinaco; unless the sam-* j
indian chief was intended by the j
nam- 'Judd's friend.'
"Fron; all which we can infer that
he was horn in Virginia, probably in
Honorer county, on 14th August.!
1734: that he received only such edu- j
cation as could be obtained from the
ordinary country school of the time ;
(as is evidenced by his spelling, j
grammar and vocabulary in his later
letters): that he served in the
: against the French and Indian.--.
! tht-r at or just after Braddock's
! feat: that he accompanied in ?
I capacity the Indian chiefs sent
! Gov. Dinwiddie to England in :
; and on his return went to South
j olina in October. 1 702. We hav
account of his movements from (
i
ber. 1762. to March. 1763.
Career in South Carolina.
I
I "From this date, in 1763. we
j the record evidence of his pr^-s
and life in South Carolina. On
March. 1763. the South Carolina
zette of that date mentions tha
Frenchman had been lately deliv
up by Mr. Sumter to. Lieut. Chi
Taylor, commander at Fort Pr
George Keehowee-adding: Tf
great warrior had been in the na
'tis thought Mr. Sumter would
have been suffered to bring
away.'
j "In the Gazette of 23d April, 1
it is stated that the French pris?
taken by Mr. Sumter in the Chere
nation in February had been
week brought to town.
"It is not stated in what capa
Mr. Sumter was in the Cherokee
tion, nor is his personal name gn
he is styled Mr. Sumter: In the li
of what follows there is little roon
doubt is was Thomas Sumter. In
letter to Joseph Martin, before
luded to. dated 7th December, 1'
Sumter says: 'If you intend out r
spring. I wish you good success
all your Partention, and if I go i
self I shall have a Company, wi
by the promises that I have had
have Great Reason to Expect it.'
"This would appear to refer
some expectation he had of being
painted to command a company
some proposed Indian expedition.
1761 the expedition from South Ca
lina, under the command of. (
Grant, had so thoroughly humb
the Cherokees that no expedit
against them was in contemplatioi
at least from South Carolina. Th
may have been, however, from i
more northern provinces.
"In 1766 he purchased from Aqui
Miles a tract, of 200 acres of land
the south side of Santee river, in 1
eastern part of what is now Ora*ni
burg county. He was here earl
than that, for in 1765 he mortgag
slaves to William Fludd o.f St. Joh:
parish, Berkeley.
.'On October 25, 1768. in a bill
sale describing himself as Thom
?-he sohl a fem?le -dave t.; M
On the Zlst June. th? md?
I fr " -5
the le?an of 1,050 pounds, currency
the province.
"On ISth November, 1769. descri
ing himself.as Thomas Sumter, stor
keeper, of St. Mark's parish. Crav<
county, he mortgaged 16 men, thr
boys. 10 women and three girl slav
to seeure a loan of 5,000 pounds, cu
rency of the province.
"For explanation it should be sta
ed that St. Mark's parish was creab
in 1757. and included what is no
Sumter and Clarendon counties.
"On 1st June, 1771, we find Thom;
Sumter and Mary, his wife, of tl
parish of St. Mark conveying to San
uel Dubois the 200 acres he had pu:
chased from Aquilla Miles.
Marriage in South Carolina.
?
"Exactly when the marriage <
Sumter took place cannot be said, z
tlv-re appears to be no record r(
maining. Some time, evidently |b?
tween 1763 and 1771.
"He married a widow-Mrs. Mar
j Jameson, who had been Miss Mar
Cantey. she was the daughter of Jo
seph Cantey, of st. Mark's parish, an
j the granddaughter of Capt. Williar
Cantey. originally of Ashley river, am
a.pparently the same Capt. Cantey wh<
at the siege of Charleston by th
French and Spaniards in 1706 distin
guished himself, with Capt. Fenwicke
by defeating a party? of the enemy
j who had landed on Wando neck an<
?who in November. 1711. aecompanie?
?Col. John Barnwell in his expedition
j to North Carolina against the Tusca
. roras.
j "Sumter continued in. St. Mark's
parish end the following grants of
land to him. prior to r775. appear to
record.
"one thousand acre- on the north
side of Santee, granted 27th Novem
! ber. 1770.
j "Four hundred and fifty acres in
St Mark's parish, granted Ith May,
! 1771.
? "Seven hundred and fifty acres on
i Ta wea w creek, srranted 2'-:rd January.
?T7S.
"Five hundred and fifty acres on
Potatoe creek, granted 30th Septem?
ber, 177 1.
"1775 we find him a prosperous
'avid prospering planter and merchant
'of St. Mark's parish, in which he had
j bo< n resident for ten years, anal mar?
ried to a member of one of tho ohlest
families in the province.
? 'Tn that year. 1 775. he entered
I upon tho sphere of public life in the j
j service of South Carolina, in which he
?was to continue for near 40 years."
Beginning ol' Revolution,
j "The first organized meeting of the
inhabitants of the provine- of South
Carolina he'd, as in arr- way repre?
senting the province as a whole
to consider measures to act in
allison with the other provinces in
resistance to the arbitrary actions of
the British ministry, was . held in
Charles Town in Juiy. 1774. This
meeting, although sometimes styled
a. provincial congress, was in no sense
such. It was practically the congre?
gating together of whoever chose to
come to the meeting. It originated
in a cali issued by the inhabitants of
Charles Town to the rest of the pro?
vince for a general provincial meet?
ing. The people were at liberty to
elect a? many deputies as they chose,
or. if they saw fit. to attend in per?
son without sending deputies.
"The meeting was held in Charles
Town on the 6th July, 1774. One
hundred and four deputies attended
from all parts of of the province. It
was, however, determined that votes
should be given by each person pres?
ent, and not by representation of the
section, and that whoever chose to
attend might do so and give his vote.
"This general meeting sat for three
days, adopted certain resolutions,
elected deputies, to represent the pro?
vince in the general congress to be
held in Philadelphia and appointed a
general committee of 99 persons to
continue in authority until the next
general meeting.
"It is not known if Sumter- attend?
ed this meeting. There is.no known
list of the persons who did attend,
and the informal character of the
meeting itself would seem to have
precluded any such list being made.
"In November, 1774, this general
committee of 99 persons arranged for
a general meeting of the inhabitants
of the province by representation-:
the number of representatives from
the different sections of the province
being appointed to an aggregate of
1S4 members. To the district lying
eastward of the Wateree river were
allotted ten representatives and the
congress was to meet in Charles Town
on the 11th January*. 1775.
Members of First Provincial Congress.
"The convention met on the day set
and " is generally known as the . first .
provincial congress. Thomas Sumter
was elected as one of the cen dele?
gates from the district east pf the
Wateree river. Among the other
nine delegates were:. Col. Richard
Richardson, Joseph Kershaw, Eli
Kershaw. Matchew Singleton, William
Richardson, William Wilson. {
"The journals of this congress are
not :n existence in any extended form,
and it is not possible, therefore, to
liberations: That he was present and
did take part would appear from his
bi ing selected as one of the commit?
tee for the district eastward of the
Wateree river to carry into execution
the Continental association, which
had been approved and resolved upon
by the congress.
"This congress adjourned on the
17th January-, 1775, but on receipt of
the news of the battle of Lexington
lin May, 1775. the general committee
(summoned the provincial congress to
meet again on the 1st June, 1775.
j "On the fourth day after its meet
i ing the provincial congress determin?
ed to provide eff?c?ye means for the
military protection of the colony, and
? to that end resolved to raise three
! regiments-*two regiments of foot
and one regiment of rangers, or cav?
alry:
"The militan.- system of the pro- .
vince at the time was based upon a
j militia system. The whole province
?was divided into separate military dis?
tricts, in which each regiment and
i company was composed of the arms
bearing population residing in a de?
fined area. The officers had - their
commissions-as colonel, major, cap'
iain, etc., as the case might be. in this
militia. The system was comDUIsory
-i. e.. upon the exigencies provided
for by law this militia was summoned
out and was bound to appear and do
military duty, but only for a limited
time. Like all militia serving with?
out pay and in pursuance of a legal
duty, it represented a more or less un?
certain quantity, and the determina?
tion of the congress to raise these regi?
ments was to provide for a certain
fixed military establishment under
military discipline to meet the emer?
gency of the impending conflict. The
orficers of these regiments were then
. leered by the provincial congress.
Sumter was not elected an officer at
that time. Francis Marion was elect?
ed a captain in the Second regiment,
of which William Moultrie was elect?
ed colonel. William Thomson was
?.le*.'ed lieutenant colonel of the regi?
ment of rangers and Mos? Kirkland
was elected one of the captains in
Thomson's regiment of rangers.
"The provincial congress adjourned
on 22d June, 1775, but after adjourn?
ment elected a council of safety, com?
posed of 13 members. To this coun?
cil of safety were given the most am
td?- and enlarged powers for the con?
dun of the government and the pros?
ecution of the province's defense.
That Sumter was an applicant for a
military position at the time would
appear from the following circum?
stances:
Tirst Commission in the Army.
**In July. 177.".. William Henry
Drayton and the Rev. Wm. Tennent
were sent by the council of safety as
commissioners to the hack country to
endeavor to quiet and appease the
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