and militia, as they were proceeding to the relief of the town; they likewise secured certain posts which commanded the adjacent country, by which means they often prevented supplies of provisions from entering into the

town.

Tarleton, however, was defeated by colonel Washington, at the head of a regular troop of horse; which circumstance afforded the ladies in Charleston, who were warmly attached to the cause of their country, an oppor tunity of rallying the British officers, and Tarleton in particular, who affecting to make his court to one of them, by commending the bravery of colonel Washington, added he should like to see him; she wittily replied, he might have had that gratification, had he looked behind him when he fled from the battle of the Cowpens.

On the 18th of May, general Clinton again summoned the town to surrender, upon the same terms as he had offered before. General Lincoln then proposed articles of capitulation, but they were not agreed to by general Clinton. At length the town being closely invested, and preparations made for storming it, and the ships consisting of the Roebuck, Richmond, and Romulus, Blonde, Virginia, Raleigh, and Sandwich armed ship, and the Renown, all ready to move to the assault. General Lincoln, at the earnest entreaty of the inhabitants, surrendered it on such articles as had been proposed by the British general. This was on the 4th of May, the town having held out one month and two days, since it had first been summoned to surrender.

A large quantity of ordnance, arms, and ammunition, were found in Charleston, and according to Sir Henry Clinton's account, the number of prisoners amounted to five thousand six hundred and fifteen men, but according to the account transmitted to Congress by general Lincoln, amounted only to two thousand four hundred and eightyseven: to account for the great difference in the two statements, in the most satisfactory manner, must be, by sup posing that general Clinton included the militia and inhabitants of the town. Several American frigates were also taken, and destroyed in the harbour of Charleston.

After the surrender of the town, general Clinton issued two proclamations, and a hand bill was circulated among

the inhabitants of South Carolina; the design of which, was to induce them to return to their allegiance, and to be ready to join the King's troops. It imported, that the helping hand of every man was wanted to establish peace and good order, and that as the commander in chief, wished not to draw the king's friends into danger, while success remained doubtful, so now, as all doubts upon this head were removed, he trusted that one and all would heartily join to effect such necessary measures, as from time to time, might be pointed out for that purpose.

Those who had families, were to form a militia to remain at home, and assembled occasionally in their own districts, when required, under officers of their own chusing. Those who had no families, and could be conveniently spared for a time, it was presumed, would cheerfully assist his majesty's troops in driving their oppressors acting under the authority of congress, and all the miseries of war, far from that colony.

For this purpose it was said to be necessary, that the young men should be ready to assemble when required, and serve with the king's troops for any six months of the ensuing twelve, that might be requisite, under proper regulations. They might chuse officers to each company to command them, and were to be allowed, when on service, pay, ammunition, and provisions, in the same manner as the king's troops. When they joined the army, each man was to be furnished with a certificate, declaring, that he was only engaged as a militia-man for the term specified, that he was not to be marched beyond North Carolina and Georgia; and that when the time was expired, he was freed from all claims whatever of military service, excepting the common and usual militia duty where he liv ed. He would then, it was said, have paid his debt to his country; and be entitled to enjoy undisturbed, that peace, liberty, and property, at home, which he had contributed to secure.

The proclamations and publications of general Clinton produced some effect in South Carolina. A number of the inhabitants of Charleston, who were considered as prisoners on parole, signed an address to general Clinton and admiral Arbuthnot, amounting to two hundred and ten persons, soliciting to be re-admitted to the character

and condition of British subjects, declaring their disapprobation of the doctrine of American independence, and expressing their regret, that after the repeal of those statutes which gave rise to the troubles in America, the overtures made by his majesty's commissioners had not been regarded by congress.

Before we proceed any further with the transactions in South Carolina, it will be necessary to take a view of the war in another part of the continent. On the tenth of July, 1780, M. Ternay with a fleet-consisting of seven ships of the line, besides frigates and transports, with a large body of French troops commanded by count Rochambeau, arrived at Rhode Island; and the following day, six thousand men were landed there; a committee of the general assembly of Rhode Island was appointed to congratulate the French general upon his arrival: whereupon he returned an answer, in which he informed them, that the king, his master, had sent him to the assistance of his good and faithful allies, the United States of America. At present, he said, he only brought over the vanguard of a much greater force destined for their aid; and the king had ordered him to assure them that his whole power should be exerted for their support. He added, that the French troops were under the strictest discipline; and were to act under the orders of general Washington, and that they would live with the Americans as bre.thren.

A scheme was soon after formed, of making a combined attack with English ships and troops under the command of Sir Henry Clinton and admiral Arbuthnot, against the French fleet and troops at Rhode Island. Accordingly a considerable part of the troops were embarked at New York for that purpose. As soon as general Washington received information of their design, by a rapid movement, he passed the North River, and with an army of twelve thousand men proceeded to King's-Bridge, in order to attack New York; but learning that the British general had changed his intentions, and disembarked his troops on the twenty-first of the month, he re-crossed the river, and returned to his former station.

An unsuccessful attempt was also made about this time in the Jerseys, by general Knyphauzen, with seve

VOL. II.

FF

thousand British troops under his command, to surprize the advanced posts of general Washington's army. They proceeded with great expedition, towards Springfield, meeting little opposition, till they came to the bridge, which was gallantly defended by one hundred and seventy of the continental troops, for fifteen minutes, against the British army but were at length obliged to give up so unequal a contest, with the loss of thirty-seven men. After securing this pass, the British marched from place to place, and committed some depredations, but gained no laurels, and were obliged to return without effecting any thing material.

The royal arms were attended with more success in South Carolina. Earl Cornwallis, who now commanded the troops in that quarter, obtained a signal victory over general Gates on the sixteenth of August. The action began at day break: the Americans were much more numerous than the British, but numbers were of no advantage, as the ground, on which both armies stood, was narrowed by swamps on the right and left.

The attack was made by the British troops with great vigour, and in a few minutes it became general along the whole line. It was at this time a dead calm, the air was hazy, so that the smoke occasioned so thick a darkness, that it was impossible for either party to see the effects of a very heavy fire, and well supported on both sides. The British troops kept up a constant fire, or made use of bayonets as opportunities offered; and after an obstinate resistance of three quarters of an hour, the Americans were thrown into confusion, and forced to give way in every quarter. The continental troops behaved well; but the militia were soon broken, and left the former to oppose the whole force of the British troops. General Gates did all in his power to rally them, but without effect: the regular troops under general Gates retreated in good order; but the route of the militia was so great, that the British cavalry pursued them to the distance of twenty-two miles from the place where the action happened. The Americans lost one thousand in killed and wounded, and a like number, it is said, taken prisoners; but the accounts are not very accurate.

The British troops engaged in this action did not exceed two thousand men, while the American army is said to have amounted to six thousand, of which the greater part was militia. Seven pieces of brass cannon, a number of colours, and all the ammunition-waggons, were taken. The killed and wounded of the British troops amounted to two hundred and thirteen. Major-general Baron de Kalb, a Prussian officer in the American service, was taken prisoner, after he had been mortally wounded; he had distinguished himself in the course of the engagement by his gallantry, and received eleven wounds.

Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, who had greatly distinguished himself in this action, was detached the next day, with some cavalry and light infantry, to attack a party of Americans under the command of general Sumpter; he exccuted this service with great military address. He had received certain intelligence of Sumpter's movements; and by forced and concealed marches, came up with, and surprized him, in the middle of the day, on the eighteenth of the month, near the Catawba fords: the detachment under Sumpter was totally dispersed, amounting to seven. hundred men; one hundred and fifty were killed on the spot, and three hundred made prisoners; two pieces of brass cannon, and forty-four waggons, were likewise taken.

While the French fleet and army were blockaded at Rhode Island, by admirals Graves and Arbuthnot, with a fleet of ten sail of the line, and the Americans were brooding over their disappointments; the campaign of 1780 having passed away in the northern states in successive and reiterated distresses; the country exhausted, and the continental currency expiring; the army inactive for want of subsistence: while these disasters were openly menacing the ruin of the American cause, treachery was secretly undermining it.

General Arnold, a distinguished officer, a native of Connecticut, who had been among the foremost to take up arms against Great Britain, and widen the breach between the parent state and the colonies: his distinguished military talents had procured him every honour, a grateful country could bestow: he possessed, and was in the full enjoyment of substantial fame: Lis country had not