Original manuscripts, 1763-1828, of Thomas Sumter and numerous contemporaries, preceded by a few clipped articles about Sumter, Francis Marion, Andrew Pickens, and the defeat of the Tories at Kettle Creek, Georgia (1779). Engraved portraits of these men and a scene depicting the battle of King's Mountain are interspersed among the printed articles.

The earliest manuscript is a letter by Sumter in 1763 to Joseph Martin, his friend since boyhood. A much later group of letters and receipts, 1821-1828, written or signed by Sumter and a memorial to the legislature by the citizens of Sumter District, South Carolina, in 1827 pertain to Sumter's business affairs and debts. There are also copies of a few Sumter letters Draper located elsewhere, including one from the collection of Simon Gratz.

Papers of Andrew Pickens include letters concerning plans for an expedition against the Cherokee (1782) and possible negotiations with the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw tribes (1792). His detailed reminiscences about his ancestry; his settlement in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina; his services in the Cherokee expedition of 1776 and in the Revolution against the Loyalists in Georgia; and his postwar career are contained in two letters (1811) to Henry Lee.

Papers of William Hill include a business letter (1793), a letter (1814) to Isaac Shelby about the battles of Musgrove's Mill and King's Mountain, and Hill's original manuscript narrative about the Revolution in South Carolina, which he finished about 1814-1815. In this account Hill sought not only to justify Sumter's actions but also to discuss the participation of South Carolina troops in the King's Mountain conflict. Returns and rolls for regiments in Charleston in 1780 compose one segment of the volume. Most pertain to General Charles Scott's brigade. Records are found for companies, battalions, and regiments commanded by Isaac Harleston, William Henderson, William Heth, Andrew Hopkins, Archibald Lytle, Francis Marion, Richard Parker, and William Thomson.

Other interesting documents contemporary or relating to the Revolution and the early years of the nation prior to 1815 include: an account for medicines and medical care, with the names of the recipients, submitted by Dr. George Ross for services during the Florida expedition (1778); a letter (1780) of Richard Call to Benjamin Lincoln; letters of Nathanael Greene to Thomas Nelson Jr. (1781) of Virginia and Thomas S. Lee (1782) of Maryland; letters of Wade Hampton (1785) and of D. Lyman (1786) to Wade's brother Richard Hampton; a certificate attesting to Christian Senf's service as captain in the Engineers Corps in 1777, issued and signed by Horatio Gates in 1784; a letter (1790) by Senf about companies to develop navigation on the Catawba and Wateree rivers; and letters (1796, 1801) of Minor Winn to John F. Grimke.

Also included are a letter (1798) of John Twiggs to John Sevier with comments on congressional western land policy and on the government's neglect of the Revolutionary War veterans; a letter (1806) by Senator John Adair of Kentucky to Mark Hardin concerning Kentucky land matters and United States relations with France, Great Britain, and Spain; and a letter (1814) by John Sevier to Isaac Shelby commenting on military and political facets of the War of 1812. A statement (1823) by Moses Shelby described the services of Isaac Shelby and John Sevier in the campaigns culminating in the battle of King's Mountain.

Numerous other manuscripts-letters, legal documents, and receipts-appear to have been records kept both personally and officially by William Bratton, sheriff of Pinckney District, South Carolina, in the late 1790s. Among signers of these letters and documents in addition to Bratton are Francis Adams, Robert Anderson, William Gaston, John G. Guignard, William Hanna, Edward Lacey, James and John Love, John McConnell, Richard Moore, William Moore, Minor and Richard Winn.

Descriptions of the volumes in contents list are copied from the Guide to the Draper Manuscripts by Josephine Harper.