January 19, 1776

Moses Kirkland, a South Carolina loyalist, became infamous in Philadelphia, where he was jailed in January 1776. George Washington sent Kirkland under guard to be interrogated by the Continental Congress. As described in the Staatsbote, Kirkland had been “ein rädelsführer” or ringleader of a band of Tories in the South Carolina backcountry. Then, he had joined Lord Dunmore, known for his offer of freedom to enslaved laborers who joined the British side of the conflict. Dunmore had tried to send Kirkland to Boston but the ship was intercepted by Captain John Manley.

On May 7, less than five months after he arrived in Philadelphia, Moses Kirkland escaped from jail. Speculation spread that he had crossed the Delaware River and headed north to join the British forces at New York and advertisements in the newspapers offered a significant reward of $100 to anyone who could bring him back to the city jail. Between the initial reports of his arrival in January and the announcement of his escape in May, fear of Kirkland’s potential influence as a loyalist “rädelsführer” can be clearly felt.

Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote
Printed by Henry Miller

Letztern Samstag wurde der Oberste Kirkland von Cambridge unter einer wacht nach dieser stadt und am Montag in das hiesige gefängniß zur verhaft gebracht. Dieser mann war ein rädelsführer einer bande Tories in den hintern gegenden von Süd-Carolina; von dannen gieng er zu dem Hauptman der Neger in Virginien, welcher ihn zum General Howe nach Boston schicken wolte, in einem wartschiffe das durch Capitain Manly in dem privater Lee genommen wurde; in eben demselben wartschiffe wurden genommen Herr Robinson und Capitain Matthews von Virginien, welche Dunmore als gefangene nach Boston senden wolte, unter der wacht des obgemeldten Obersten. Diese Herren langten gleichfalls Sonntag abends in dieser stadt an, nachdem sie das vergnügen gehabt hatten, den Obersten Kirkland zu begleiten.