COLONEL A. WILLIAMSON TO GOVERNOUR RUTLEDGE

Camp two miles below Keowee, August 4, 1775.

SIR: I received your Excellency’ s favours of the 26th and 27th ultimo, by express. In my last letter to your Excellency, of the 31st ultimo, I informed you of my spies being returned with two white prisoners, who gave an account of Cameron’ s being arrived from over the hills with twelve white men, and that he, with the Seneca and other Indians, was encamped at Ocnore Creek, about thirty miles distant from Twenty-three Mile Creek, where I then lay encamped. This intelligence induced me to march immediately to attack their camp before they could receive any information of my being so far advanced.

I accordingly marched, about six o’ clock in the evening, with three hundred and thirty men on horseback, (taking the two prisoners with me to show where the enemy were encamped, and told them, before I set out, if I found they deceived me I would order them instantly to be put to death,) intending to surround their camp by daybreak, and to leave our horses about two miles behind, with a party of men to guard them. The riverKeowee lying in our route, and only passable at a ford at Seneca, obliged me (though much against my inclination) to take that road. The enemy, either having discovered my march or laid themselves in ambush with a design to cut off any spies or party I had sent out, had taken possession of the first house in Seneca, and posted themselves behind a long fence, on an eminence close to the road where we were to march, and to prevent being discovered, had filled up the openings betwixt the rails with twigs of trees and corn-blades. They suffered the guides and advanced guard to pass, when a gun from the house was discharged, meant, as I suppose, for a signal for those placed behind the fence, who a few seconds after poured in a heavy fire upon my men, which, being unexpected, staggered my advanced party. Here Mr. Salvador received three wounds, and fell by my side. My horse was shot down under me, but I received no hurt. Lieutenant Farar, of Captain Prince’ s company, immediately supplied me with his horse. I desired him to take care of Mr. Salvador, but before he could find him in the dark the enemy unfortunately got his scalp, which was the only one taken. Captain Smith, son of the late Captain Aaron Smith, saw the Indian, but thought it was his servant taking care of his master, or could have prevented it. He died about half after two o’ clock in the morning, forty-five minutes after he received the wound, sensible to the last. When I came up to him, after dislodging the enemy, and speaking to him, he asked whether I had beat the enemy. I told him yes. He said he was glad of it, and shook me by the hand, and bade me farewell, and said he would die in a few minutes. Two men died in the morning, and six more who were badly wounded I have since sent down to the settlements, and given directions to Doctors Delahowe and Russell to attend them.

I remained on the ground till daybreak, and burnt the houses on this side the river, and afterwards crossed the river, the same day, and reduced Seneca entirely to ashes. Knowing that the Indians would carry immediate intelligence of my strength to the place where Cameron lay encamped, who would directly move from thence; and having ordered the detachment from Colonels Neel and Thomas’ s regiments to attack and destroy Estatoe, Qualhatchie, and Toxaway, and join me this day at Sugar Town, obliged me to march that way; which, this day, a strong detachment, consisting of four hundred men, has totally reduced to ashes. An old Indian was found there, who said the enemy had deserted the town four days ago, on hearing, by a white man, that an army was advancing against them.

I am, respectfully, your Excellency’ s most obedient servant,
A. WILLIAMSON.

To His Excellency John Rutledge, President of South Carolina, Charlestown.