The Virginia Gazette

Charlestown, South-Carolina, November 2.

The repeated Advices that we have received of the Designs of Spain against this Province, and the Certainty of the Accounts of the great Armament that was making last Year at the Havannah, and which we are assured is still continued there, determined several Gentlemen of Worth and Distinction in Charlestown, to accept Commissions in the Militia, and to make themselves Masters, the best Manner they could, of Military Discipline, that they might be the better enabled to act vigorously in Defence of the Province, and to repel the Attacks of any invading Power. To this End, his Honour the President has been pleased to form the Town Militia (which about 6 Years, consisted only of two Companies, and since of four) into the first Regiment of this Province; of which, the Hon. John Fenwick, Esq; one of the Members of His Majesty's Council, is Colonel; the Hon. John Braithwaite, Esq; also one of His Majesty's Council, is Lieutenant-Colonel; the Hon. Charles Pinckney, Esq; Speaker of the Commons House of Assembly, is Major. This Regiment is divided into 6 Companies, consisting in the whole of 600 Men, exclusive of Officers; and on Monday last, being his Majesty's Birth-Day, appeared for the first Time under Arms, and made a very gallant and genteel Appearance.