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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from James Williams to Horatio Gates
Williams, James
October 02, 1780
Volume 15, Page 94

COL. JAMES WILLIAMS TO MAJ. GENERAL GATES.

Burke County, Oct, 2d. 1780.

Sir:

I am at present about seventy miles from Salisbury, in the fork of the Catawba, with about four hundred and fifty horsemen, in pursuit of Col. Ferguson. On my crossing the Catawba River, I dispatched to different quarters for intelligence, and this evening I was favoured with this news, which you may depend on: That Col. Clarke, of the State of Georgia, with one hundred riflemen, forced his way from South Carolina to Georgia. On his route thither, being joined by seven hundred men, he proceeded to the town of Augusta, and has taken it with a large quantity of goods; but not finding it prudent to continue there, he has retreated to the upper parts of South Carolina, in Ninety Six district, and made a stand with eight hundred brave men. This moment another of my expresses is arrived from Cols. McDowell and Shelby; they were on their march, near Burke Court House, with fifteen hundred brave mounted men, and Col. Cleveland was within ten miles of them with eight hundred men, and was to form a junction with them this day.

I expect to join them to-morrow, in pursuit of Col. Ferguson, and under the direction of heaven I hope to be able to render your honor a good account of him in a few days.

I am, &c.,
JAMES WILLIAMS.
Major General Gates.