186 BONHOMME RICHARD DEFEATS THE SERAPIS. position the fight was maintained for two hours-from 8:30 to 10:30. Before it commenced, however, the Bonhomme Richard had sprung a leak. Her tier of 12 pounders were rendered useless, while her six 18 pounders were practically of no service, they being fired but eight times altogether. During the succeeding action Jones used only three 9 pounders, the fire from which was ably seconded by that of his men in the round tops; large quantities of combustibles were also thrown from places of vantage into the hold of the Serapis, so that during the action she was afire nearly a dozen times in different parts. About 9:30 a powder box aboard the Serapis was accidentally set afire, the flames communicating from one powder box to another all the way aft and blowing up all the gunners, sailors and officers abaft the mainmast. In addition, the guns were also rendered useless for the remainder of the action. At times both ships were afire together and the spectacle was dreadful. Meanwhile the Alliance sailed round and round both ships, raking the Serapis fore and aft and killing many of her men. on the quarter and main decks. About 10 o'clock she again opened fire, but this time the Serapis and Bonhomme Richard were so close together that the fire was not only poured into the former but also into the latter, 11 of whose men beside an officer were killed. Perceiving that it was impossible to continue the contest, Captain Pearson struck his flag; not, however, until he had secured to his convoy the opportunity of saving themselves. The loss of both sides in killed and wounded was heavy. The Bonhomme Richard was a complete wreck after the battle and had nearly seven feet of water in her hold. The minute it was ascertained that the pumps could make no headway the wounded were removed and only the first lieutenant of the Pallas with some men were left on board to work at the pumps. On September 25 the water rose up to the lower deck and she finally went down. The Countess of Scarborough, after a two hour fight, had also been compelled to surrender to the Pallas. With these prizes, Jones now made for Holland and on October 3 anchored off the Texel. It is estimated that the prizes taken by the Bonhomme Richard during her cruise were valued at more than £40,000.* *For a more elaborate and carefully digested account of this renowned battle, see Cooper, Naval History, vol. i., pp. 98-114; Fiske, American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 120-129; Stedman, American War, vol. ii., pp. 163–166; and lives of Jones by J. S. C. Abbott, Buell, J. P. Frothingham, Hutchins Hapgood, J. O. Kaler, A. S. McKenzie, Henri Marion, M. E. Seawell. CLINTON ARRIVES IN THE SOUTH. 187 CHAPTER XXVII. 1780. CLINTON AND CORNWALLIS IN THE SOUTH: GATES DEFEATED AT CAMDEN: Clinton embarks for the South-Charleston put in a state of defense-Governor Rutledge invested with dictatorial authority - The siege and the capture of Charleston - Expeditions planned by Clinton - Colonel Buford defeated by Tarleton at Waxhaws - Clinton's proclamation Activity of the Americans Tyranny of the British - Partisan warfare - Sumter and Marion Gates placed in command of the southern army - Defeated at battle of Camden Sumter defeated-Greene supersedes Gates - Cornwallis orders rebels to be punished - Injustice of the proceedings - Ferguson defeated at King's Mountain British detachment - Patriotism of the women. As Count d'Estaing had departed with his fleet, Sir Henry Clinton made preparations to begin operations once again again in the South. Toward the close of December, 1779, leaving General Knyphausen in command at New York, he embarked for Savannah with about 7,500 troops, a corps of cavalry and large quantities of military stores and provisions.* On the voyage a severe storm arose and the fleet was dispersed; one of the ships foundered, another was captured by the Americans, and, in addition, nearly all the horses perished. On the last day of January, 1780, the fleet arrived at Tybee, Georgia. Clinton had hoped to attack Charleston before the inhabitants were aware of his purpose and had had time to properly defend it, but the necessity for repairing the ships on the coast of Georgia delayed - Defeat of the expedition the expedition sufficiently to afford the Carolinians opportunity to provide against the threatened invasion. General Lincoln and Governor Rutledge used their utmost endeavors to place the city in a state of defence, but the regular troops were few and the militia were poorly equipped; beside which there was a small-pox epidemic in the city, because of which the militia were unwilling to serve.* Funds were also deficient and Congress failed to send suitable reinforcements, so that it was almost impossible to fully provide against the British advance. Nevertheless, everything possible was done; several hundred negroes were set at work, under the direction of French engineers, to extend the fortifications, rendering them more formidable; and had Lincoln received the *McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, p. 430. Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., p. 557. Ibid, vol. ii., p. 557. 188 SIEGE OF CHARLESTON BEGUN. promised reinforcements and had he not been compelled to defend the city with less than 3,000 troops, undoubtedly he would have been able to resist the British attack successfully.* He On February 11 Clinton landed about thirty miles south of Charleston,† and probably had he made an immediate advance upon the city he would have been able to reduce it with little trouble, but remembering his repulse in 1776, he determined upon slow and sure progress. proceeded by way of St. John and St. James islands, sending part of the fleet to blockade the harbor. He also requested a reinforcement of 3,000 men from New York, directed General Prevost to join him with 1,100 men from Savannah,‡ and neglected nothing that would contribute to ultimate success. With all his reinforcements, Clinton had an army of about 13,000 men.|| In order to cope properly with the situation, Governor Rutledge had been invested with dictatorial authority and empowered to do everything necessary to make a proper defence, with the exception of taking away the life of a citizen, save by due McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 427-429, 507-510; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, vol. vi., p. 525. McCrady, p. 431; Lincoln's and Laurens' letters to Washington, in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 401-403, 413-415. Ramsay, The Revolution, vol. ii., p. 55; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iii., p. 353. Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iii., p. 357; Johnson, Life of Greene, vol. i., p. 274. process of law.* This power was to continue in force until ten days after the next session of the Legislature began. Rutledge exerted himself in every way to meet the emergency, but was only partially successful. While the Americans were thus preparing to defend Charleston, Clinton was constructing forts and magazines at the proper places, being particularly careful to secure com munication between these forts and the sea.† In order to provide himself with cavalry, he dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton into the neighboring country to secure horses. Partly by threat of confiscation and partly by the use of money, Tarleton obtained a considerable number of horses on Port Royal Island, on which the dragoons were mounted.‡ Thus, toward the latter end of March, 1780, preparations were far enough advanced to begin the siege of Charleston, for at the time only the Ashley River separated the British army from the city. On the night of April 1, Clinton began the construction of siege works about 1,000 yards from the American fortifications,|| which had been constructed under the direction of a French engineer named Laumoy. |