Marion, Francis, 1732-1795 to John Saunders
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03332.01 Author/Creator: Marion, Francis, 1732-1795 Place Written: Georgetown, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 March 1781 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 24 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Marion as Brigadier General of militia and a well-known partisan to Saunders as a Royalist Captain in the British Army and commander of the garrison at Georgetown, South Carolina. Marion writes with anger that Captain John Postell was taken prisoner by Saunders. Postell was travelling under a flag of truce to work out details of prisoner exchange. Demands satisfaction and claims he will retaliate against any British prisoners of war. Also expresses dismay that Saunders is treating prisoners harshly. Says Captain Clark was held in circumstances where he could not stand up or stretch out his full length and that he was being given half rations. Says he needs to release Postell to avoid retaliation. Saunders held Postell because he was in violation of a parole he was given after the American defeat at Charleston in May 1780. Soon thereafter Marion captured Thomas Merritt of the Queens Rangers in retaliation. Merritt was imprisoned in a log hut, but managed to escape and traverse the 50 miles back to Georgetown where he was offered a promotion for his actions. Merritt turned down the promotion and stayed with his unit until the war ended. Written near Georgetown, South Carolina.
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