Sir:
I this day received a letter from Governor Rutledge, a copy of which I enclose to your Excellency, also a copy of an intercepted letter from Genl. Clintons' secretary to a German minister in one of our back countries. This letter, Sir, will give your Excellency
and the Honourable Congress a proper Idea of the distresses of South-Carolina. Should Charlestown fall, 'tis fairly to be concluded from Governor Rutledge's letter that South Carolina will fall with it. This State, then, immediately becomes the Barrier: and I can assure you, Sir, we are in no condition at present to repel such a force as the enemy have. We have about 1,500 militia in South Carolina, and are now embodying four thousand more to march immediately to the relief of that much-distressed State; but 'tis yet uncertain whether it will be possible for us to arm this last aid.I have an express waiting at Georgetown to obtain a certainty of the fate of Charlestown. When I am made acquainted with this important event I shall not fail to give your Excellency the earliest intelligence of it, being
[Endorsed]
Letter from Gov. Nash, of North Carolina, May 25, 1780.