254 BATTLE OF HOBKIRK'S HILL. had been also necessary to maintain garrisons at several other unimportant places, for the inhabitants were so disaffected that the British were compelled to divide their forces in order to maintain communication between the various posts and to secure supplies for their subsistence. The disaffection of the people was still more noticeable when news was received of the defeat of Cornwallis. Hundreds of the inhabitants flocked to the standards of Sumter and Marion, who by bold and prudent movements continually gained advantages over the royalists. So numerous and so powerful did these partisans become that they were able to hold in check the whole of lower Carolina, while Greene with his army faced Rawdon in the highlands. Finding himself in a dangerous position, Rawdon called in the troops from the surrounding outposts and prepared to make the best defence possible. While Rawdon awaited the arrival of reinforcements under Colonel Watson, General Greene entrenched at Hobkirk's Hill, about a mile north of Camden. On April 25 Rawdon received information from a deserter which induced him to venture an attack upon Greene's forces. He therefore marched by a circuitous route and gained the American left before his approach was discovered.* Thus the American troops were sur * F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, p. 239. prised, but before the British could gain material advantage Greene had the army in battle array and eager for fight. He quickly perceived that the British were advancing in a solid but not extended column, and he therefore ordered a simultaneous attack on both flanks and in front. The engagement soon became general and was furiously fought throughout. The superior discipline of the British troops prevailed, however, and Greene was compelled to order a retreat, though all the baggage artillery, provisions, etc., were saved. The British loss in killed, wounded and missing was 258, and the American 271.* The victory at Hobkirk's Hill was of no permanent advantage to the British, for Rawdon, lacking cavalry, was unable to pursue Greene. Greene retreated only about twelve miles to Rugeley's Mills, and from that position very closely watched Rawdon. He also dispatched troops to Marion, so that the latter might obstruct the progress of Watson in every way possible. Watson reached Camden on May 7 and Rawdon thereupon determined to attack Greene, but after a careful reconnaissance of Greene's position, he abandoned this Bancroft, vol. v., pp. 498-499; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 570-574; Lee's Memoirs, vol. ii., pp. 54-67; Tarleton, Campaigns, pp. 460-470; G. W. Greene, Life of Greene, vol. iii., pp. 239-260; Johnson, Life of Greene, vol. ii., pp. 72-95; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iv., p. 81 (ed. 1788); F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 239-241; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolu tion, vol. ii., pp. 472-474. 256 RESULTS OF AMERICAN SUCCESS. against Fort Mott on the other side of the Congaree, a little above its confluence with the Wateree. On May 8 this place was invested by Marion and Lee, and so vigorously was the siege conducted that on the 12th the garrison, consisting of 140 men, capitulated.* A detachment of Marion's corps then attacked and reduced Georgetown, on the Black River, and on the 15th Lee captured Fort Granby, a post at Friday's Ferry on the south side of the Congaree, which at the time was garrisoned by 350 men.‡ As a result of the successes of the American army, the inhabitants, who had hitherto favored the British cause, now openly revolted against British authority. In this critical emergency, therefore, Rawdon retreated to Monk's Corner so as to be better able to cover those districts from which Charleston secured its supplies; where also he might be secure from sudden attack, and be ready to seize any favorable opportunity to defeat the American forces. Greene, however, did not deem it expedient to pursue Rawdon, but instead turned his attention to the western parts of the province and to the upper posts in Georgia. He ordered Pickens to assemble the militia of Ninety-Six, and after. Fort Granby had surrendered, sent Lee to join him.* In 1780, when the British had overrun Georgia and South Carolina, the greater part of the Americans in those sections retreated across the mountains or fled into North Carolina. The others submitted to the victorious British in the hope that they would be allowed to live in peace and to enjoy the fruits of their labors. But, to their disgust, they were treated with overbearing insolence, mercilessly plundered and even forced to bear arms against their countrymen. As a result, a feeling of bitter hostility was engendered against the British. When the British army marched northward, this spirit soon manifested itself. In September, 1780, Colonel Elijah Clarke, at the head of a band of these discontented persons, marched against the British garri OPERATIONS IN GEORGIA; FORT CORNWALLIS CAPTURED. numerous armed parties prowled about the vicinity, keeping the garrisons at the various British posts in a constant state of fear and alarm. One of these bands under Captain McCoy infested the banks of the Savannah River and captured the supplies intended for the garrison. Colonel Brown sent a body of soldiers against McCoy, but these were defeated. Shortly afterward, however, Colonel Brown sent a force sufficient to completely annihilate the troops under McCoy, and for a time thereafter the band was dispersed. McCoy was afterward mortally wounded in a combat, and his son was captured by Brown and hung.* These desultory encounters were followed by more regular movements. General Pickens arrived in the vicinity and took charge of the troops about Augusta. Soon after the fall of Fort Granby, Lee marched towards Pickens' camp, and four days later joined him. Almost immediately an attack was made on Fort Golphin or Dreadnought, at Silver Bluff, on the south side of the Savannah. On May 1 the garrison of 70 men at that place surrendered to Lee's troops, under command of Captain John Rudulph.† Pickens and Lee now made a joint attack upon Fort Cornwallis, at 257 Augusta, where Colonel Brown made While Lee and Pickens were reducing the British posts in Georgia, Greene was besieging Ninety-Six, S. C., where Colonel Cruger was in command with 550 men. Rawdon had sent messengers to Cruger with orders directing him to abandon the post and to retire to Augusta, but by some misfortune these messengers did not reach Cruger, and he deter * Ibid, pp. 510-513. Lee, Memoirs, vol. ii., pp. 88-118; F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 250-251, 258 GREENE AT NINETY-SIX; BRITISH RETREAT. mined to hold out at Ninety-Six.* Greene began the investment of the city toward the latter end of May. On June 3, after his approaches had been made in regular order, Greene summoned the garrison to surrender, which was refused. Greene then pushed the siege with vigor, but before he could compel the capitulation of the garrison, Rawdon marched from Charleston with 2,000 men to Cruger's relief. On June 18 Greene ordered an assault, but failed to capture the fort. On the 20th, therefore, learning that reinforcements were approaching the city, Greene crossed the Saluda and began his retreat. Rawdon set out in pursuit, but did not follow for any length of time. When Greene perceived that the pursuit was abandoned by Rawdon, he immediately stopped his retreat. Rawdon then evacuated Ninety-Six and drew in the garrisons from the surrounding outposts. The loyal inhabitants of the district considered it wise to follow Rawdon's army, as they feared the vengeance of the Americans should they fall into their hands. Rawdon therefore left about half of his force from their homes.* After a few day's stay at Ninety-Six, the British began their march to the Congaree with 800 infantry and 600 cavalry, expecting to be there joined by reinforcements forcements from Charleston. The reinforcements, however, had been delayed in their departure, but as the messenger had been intercepted, Rawdon did not receive word of this delay.† It was evident that the British commander thought that Greene had been driven out of South Carolina, though as a matter of fact he had simply retreated behind Broad River; and when he heard of the division of the British forces, he faced about and returned toward the Congaree. Congaree. Shortly after Rawdon he under Cruger to escort the Loyalists joined by 1,000 men under Marion * F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, p. 249; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., p. 484. Johnson, Life of Greene, vol. ii., p. 139; G. W. Greene, Life of Greene, vol. iii., pp. 301-319; F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 251–259; Tarleton, Campaigns, pp. 479-502; Lee's Memoirs, vol. ii., pp. 96-99, 119-131; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iv., pp. 92-96 (ed. 1788); Lossing, pp. 484488. and Sumter, and on July 11, deeming his force sufficiently strong to attack the British, marched toward Orangeburgh with that intention; but when he arrived at that post, he found the Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 436-438. F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, p. 260. |