groes employed in felling trees across the road on the neck. The number of Greene's force actually engaged, was 1400 regulars and 500 militia, in all 1900'; of these 547, including 72 subalterns and sergeants, were killed or wounded. Such was the heat of the action, that the officers on each side fought hand to hand and sword to sword. The British could not compel the continentals to give way, though the militia were obliged to retire. Greene however, has a high opinion of the British and their valor, and says "They fight a devilish hard battle, as every one who fights them will know." On October the 29th, congress resolved to honor him with a British standard and a gold medal; and voted their thanks to the different corps and their commanders. After the action the Americans retired to their former position on the High Hills of Santee, and the British took post in the vicinity of Monk's Corner. While they lay there a small party of American cavalry took upward of 80 prisoners within sight of their main army. They no more acted with their usual vigor. On the slightest appearance of danger, they discovered a disposition to flee, not much inferior to what was exhibited the year before by the American militia.

Such were the promising prospects prior to the battle at Eutaw, that John Rutledge, esq. set out from Philadelphia on the 28th of June, to resume the reins of government in South-Carolina. As soon as circumstances would admit after his arrival, in retaliation for Balfour's conduct in exiling such numbers from their homes, he ordered the brigadiers of militia to drive the families of all who adhered to the royal cause, within the British lines. The wifes and children of those inhabitants who had retreated with the retreating British, to avoid the resentments of their countrymen, were now compelled to take shelter within their posts. In exchange of their comfortable plantations in the country, many of them were reduced in a little time to the necessity of living in clay huts in the vicinity of Charleston. In this forlorn situation numbers speedily perished, being destitute of the comforts of life, and overwhelmed with diseases.

While gen. Greene's troops were on the High Hills of Santec, a dangerous spirit made its appearance among the Maryland soidiers. They were uneasy that some of the old officers had been sent away, and wished for an opportunity of seeing their friends at home. They sent several petitions to Greene, complained of want of clothing, and recapitulated their services. In one of them they mentioned, that out of seven regiments there were scarce two hundred remaining, and that they had never received any pay. They became discontented, left off their usual sports, talked seri

ously

ously in squads, and of their pay. All this did not pass unno ticed by the officers, who watched their conduct and endeavored to sooth them, but ineffectually. On the evening of the 21st of October, numbers were seen to go privately out of camp, with their arms, &c. The officers, alarmed at the circumstance, ordered their corps to parade, and called over their rolls. Old soldiers manage dexterously among themselves. They had put spies upon their officers while they were making an experiment, and the moment they discovered that they were likely to be detected and apprehended for mutiny, they stole into camp as secretly as they went out; some of them were observed, but suf fered to pass unnoticed. It is not always best to punish intended faults before actually committed. A luckless accident which happened to a Timothy Griffin, of the only South-Carolina company then in the army, set all this affair right. While the offcers were calling their rolls, and admonishing some of the men for apparent irregularities, Timothy came on the parade drunk; and having heard what the soldiers had previously whispered among one another, and supposing the officers were altercating with the men on that subject, very imprudently cried out "Stand to it boys. D-n my blood if I would give an inch," and other words to the same effect. Capt. M'Pherson, of the Maryland line, knocked him down, knowing the evil tendency of such language. He was instantly sent to the provost; the next day tried by a general court-martial for encouraging mutiny and desertion; was found guilty; sentenced to suffer death; and shot about five o'clock in the afternoon, in presence of the whole army. Examples are never more necessary in an army than upon such dangerous occasions; and no example was ever more effectual. The general-orders of Greene, in consequence of this, represented the crime of the sufferer in such striking colours as fully to justify the sentence of the court. Greene at the same time passed over the conduct of the Maryland troops (which was not public) in such a manner as to exonerate them from any participation of the crime. Speaking of unworthy characters, he said-"One or two of artful dispositions are sufficient to betray hundreds of well disposed men into errors. But the general is happy to find that the Maryland line has nobly withstood the secret machinations of such as have attempted to mislead them; nor can he believe that soldiers who have fought so bravely, and whose character is universally admired, will ever tarnish their glory by an improper conduct."

The gen. wrote on the 9th of November to gen. Gould-"I should betray my trust, and fail in my duty, was I to be silent upon the barbarous custom which prevails in your army, of burning

houses

wish

houses and dosolating the country. I am informed that a party under col. Brown and major Maxwell lately burnt all the buildings upon Hilton Head. The instances of burning which have taken place are no less savage than unnecessary, and cannot be justified by the general principles of modern war, nor by the particular circumstances that mark your military operations.-You have endeavored to persuade the world, that the body of the people are in your interest. The cartel was an appeal to them, and it is from your disappointment, that the inhabitants feel the cruel strokes of pointed resentments.—I have made it my study to conduct the war upon the most humane principles, and it is my to continue it so; but if your people continue in the practice of burning, I will change that plan, and let savage cruelty rage in all the horrors of war.-It is painful to contemplate the miseries incident to giving no quarters; but shocking as it may be to humanity, we had better expose ourselves to this cvil, where our enemies will feel it in common with us, than to suffer them to inflict a punishment, little less severe, from which they are secure.-I wish you, Sir, to consider this matter seasonably, and put a stop to the evil we complain of, and not drive us to the disagreeable necessity of adopting measures, no less repugnant to our feelings than our wishes."

The American army was too weak needlessly to risk another general action; but it was necessary to move into the lower country, to cover the collection of provisions for subsistence through the winter; and to improve any accidental opportunities. Greene therefore quitted the High Hills on the 18th of November.Three days after, he wrote to gen. Washington-"I wish something decisive may be done respecting col. Hayne. I wish your excellency's order and the order of congress thereon; the latter trave signified their approbation of the measures I took. But as retaliation did not take place immediately, (nor did I think myself at liberty on a matter of such magnitude, but from the most pressing necessity) and as the enemy did not repeat the offence, I have been at a loss how to act, with respect to the original, not having any officer of equal rank with col. Hayne in my possession. I am ready to execute whatever may be thought advisable." On the 27th he left col. O. Williams to command the main army, and marched with all the cavalry, 200, and a detachment of 200 infantry, toward Dorchester, through private roads. On the 29th The went to reconnoitre the British works at that place, which induced the enemy's cavalry to sally forth. A rencounter ensued, or 10 men were killed or wounded, and a subaltern and four or Hive men of the South-Carolina state troops were taken prisoners. VOL, IM,

G g

The

The general made such appearances of a serious attack, that the garrison consisting of about 150 horse, 500 regular infantry, and about 200 royalists, abandoned their works the night following, and retreated to the Quarter-house on Charleston-neck. By this mean all the rice between Edesto and Ashley rivers was saved to the Americans. The manoeuvre induced O. Williams to write to Greene on December the 4th-" Your success at Dorchester would make your enemies hate themselves, if all circumstances were generally known; and the same knowledge would make your friends admire the adventure even more than they do. I am very happy that you have obtained your wish, without risking a general action, and I hope you will be able to keep what you have gotten, till the reinforcement under general St. Clair will enable you to take more." The main army continued marching under Williams till it arrived at Round O on the 7th, where it encamped, and was joined by Greene two days after.

We shall close the operations in South-Carolina with the fol lowing narration.

Early in the year Greene concluded a treaty with the CherokeeIndians, by which they engaged to observe a strict neutrality. This was attended with the beneficial effects of saving the frontier settlements of both the Carolinas from their incursions, while the inhabitants were left at full liberty to concentrate their force against the army under lord Cornwallis. When the co-operation of the Indians could be of the least service to the British forces, they were induced to break their engagement. They, with a number of disguised white men, calling themselves the king's friends, made an incursion into the district of Ninety-Six, massacred some families, and burned several houses. Gen. Pickens collected a party of the American militia, and penetrated in to the settlements of the Cherokees. This he accomplished in fourteen days at the head of 394 horsemen. In that short space he burned 13 towns and villages, killed upward of 40 Indians and took a great number of prisoners. Not one of his party was killed, and only two were wounded... None of the expeditions against the Cherokees had been so rapid and decisive as the present. Pickens did not expend three pounds of ammunition, and yet only three Indians escaped, after having been once seen. On this occasion a new and successful mode of fighting the Indians was introduced. Instead of firing, the American militia rushed forward on horseback, and charged with drawn swords. This was the second time since the commencement of the American war, that the Cherokees were chastised in their own settlements, in conse quence of their suffering themselves to be excited by British e missaries

1

missaries to commence hostilities against their white neighbors. They again sued for peace, in the most submissive terms, and obtained it after promising, that instead of listening to the advice of the royalists instigating them to war, they would deliver to the authority of the state, all who visited their settlements on that errand.

The return of gen. Arnold to New-York from Virginia, did not fix him in a state of inactivity. He was sent on an enterprise against New-London, with a sufficient land and marine force.The embarkation having passed over from Long-Island shore in the night, the troops were landed in two detachments on each side of the harbour, at ten o'clock in the morning of the 6th of September; that on the Groton side being commanded by lieut. col. Eyre, and that on New-London side by the general, who met no great trouble. Fort Trumbull and the redoubt, which were intended to cover the harbour and town, not being tenable, were evacuated as he approached, and the few men in them crossed the river to Fort Griswold on Groton-Hill. Arnold proceeded to the town without being otherwise opposed than by the scattered fire of small parties that had hastily collected. Orders were sent by the general to Eyre for attacking Fort Griswold, that so the possission of it might prevent the escape of the American shipping. The militia, to the amount of 157, collected for its defence, but so hastily as not to be fully furnished with fire arms and other weapons. As the assailants approached, a firing commenced, and the flag-staff was soon shot down, from whence the neighbouring spectators inferred, that the place had surrendered, till the continuance of the firing convinced them to the contrary. The garrison defended themselves with the greatest resolution and bravery; Eyre was wounded near the works, and major Montgomery killed immediately after, so that the command devolved on major Bromfield. The British at one time staggered; but the fort being out of repair, could not be maintained by a handful of men against so superior a number as that which assaulted it. After an action of about 40 minutes, the resolution ofthe royal troops carried the place by the point of the bayonet. The Americans had not more than half a dozen killed,before the enemy entered the fort; when a severe execution took place though resistance ceased. The British officer enquired on his entering, who commanded; col. Ledyard answered" I did, Sir, but you do now ;" and presented him his sword. The colonel was immediately run through and killed. The slain were 78, the wounded between 30 and 40, and about 40 were carried off prisoners. Soon after reducing the fort, the soldiers loaded a waggon with

the