were destitute of artillery, they were prevented from attacking the enemy with success, when they had the advantage of numbers. Nothing now remained but to have recourse to a desperate exertion of their own personal valour; by dint of which they effected a retreat for eighty miles to Moore's creek, within sixteen miles of Wilmington. Could they have gained this place, they expected to have been joined by governor Martin, and general Clinton, who had lately arrived with a considerable detachment. But Moore, with his army, pursued them so close, that they were obliged to attempt the passage of the creek, on the opposite side of which was colonel Caswell with a considerable body of provincials posted to oppose his passage, with fortifications well planted with cannon. On attempting the creek, it was found not to be fordable. They were obliged, therefore, to cross over a wooden bridge, which the provincials had not time entirely to destroy.

They had, however, by pulling up part of the planks, and greasing the remainder, made the passage so difficult that the royalists could not attempt it.

In this situation they were, on the 27th of February, 1776, attacked by Moore and his superior army and totally defeated, with the loss of their general and most of their leaders, as well as the best and bravest of their men. Thus was the power of the provincials established in North Carolina. Nor were they less successful in Virginia, where Lord Dunmore, having long continued a predatory war, was at last driven from every creek and road in the province. The people he had on board were distressed to the highest degree, by confinement in small vessels. The heat of the season, and the numbers crowded together, produced a pestilential fever, which made great havoc, especially among the blacks. At last, finding themselves in the utmost hazard of perishing by famine, as well as disease, they set fire to the least valuable vessels, reserving only about fifty for themselves, in which they bid a final adieu to Virginia, some sailing to Florida, some to Bermuda, and the rest to the West Indies,

In South Carolina, the provincials had a more formidable enemy to deal with. A squadron, whose object was the reduction of Charleston, had been fitted out in December 1775, but by reason of unfavourable weather did not reach Cape Fear, in North Carolina, till the month of May 1776: and here it met with further obstacles to the end of the month. Thus the Americans had time to strengthen the works of Charleston in such a manner as rendered it extremely difficult to be attacked.

The British squadron consisted of two fifty gun ships, four of thirty guns, two of twenty, and an armed schooner, and bombketch, all under the command of sir Peter Parker. The land forces were commanded by lord Cornwallis, with generals Clinton and Vaughan. As they had yet no intelligence of the evacuation

of Boston, general Howe despatched a vessel to Cape Fear with some instructions; but it was too late; and in the beginning of June, the squadron anchored off Charleston bar. Here they met with some difficulty in crossing, being obliged to take out the guns from the two largest ships, which were, notwithstanding, several times in danger of sticking fast. The next obstacle was a strong fort on Sullivan's island, six miles east of Charleston, which, though not completely finished, was very strong. However, the British generals resolved, without hesitation, to attack it; but though an attack was easy from sea, it was difficult to obtain a cooperation of the land forces.

This was, however, attempted by landing them on Long Island, adjacent to Sullivan's island on the east, from which it is separated by a very narrow creek, not above two feet deep at low water. Opposite to this ford, the provincials had posted a atrong body of troops, with cannon and entrenchments; while general Lee was posted on the main land, with a bridge of boats betwixt that and Sullivan's island, so that he could at pleasure, send reinforcements to the troops in the fort on Sullivan's island.

There were so many delays occurred on the part of the British, that it was the 24th of June, 1776, before matters were in readiness for an attack; and, by this time, the provincials had abundantly provided for their reception. On the morning of that day, the bob-ketch began to throw shells into fort Sullivan, and about mid-day the two fifty gun ships and thirty gun frigates, came up and began a severe fire. Three other frigates were ordered to take their station between Charleston and the fort, in order to enfilade the batteries, and cut off the communication with the main land; but through the ignorance of the pilots, they all stuck fast, and though two of them were disentangled, they were found to be totally unfit for service; the third was burnt, that she might not fall into the hands of the enemy.

The attack was therefore confined to the five armed vessels and bomb-ketch, between whom and the fort, a dreadful fire ensued. The Bristol suffered excessively, the springs on her cable being shot away, she was for a time entirely exposed to the enemy's fire. As the provincials poured in great quantities of red hot bails, she was twice in flames. Captain Morris, her commander, after receiving five wounds, was obliged to go below deck, in or der to have his arm amputated: after undergoing this operation, he returned to his station, where he received another wound, but still refused to quit his place; at last he received a red hot ball in his belly, which instantly put an end to his life. Of all the officers and seamen who stood on the quarter deck of this vessel, not one escaped without a wound, except sir Peter Parker alone, whose intrepidity and presence of mind on this occasion, was very remarkable.

The engagement lasted until the darkness put an end to it. Little damage was done by the British, as the works of the enemy lay so low, that many of the shot flew over; and the fortifications, being composed of palm trees mixed with earth, were well cal culated to resist the impression of cannon. During the height of the attack, the batterries of the provincials were silent, so that it was concluded that they had been abandoned; but this was found to proceed from want of powder; for as soon as a supply of this article was obtained, the firing was resumed as brisk as before. During the whole of this desperate engagement, it was found impossible for the land forces to render any assistance to the fleet.

The enemy's works were found to be much stronger than had been imagined, and the depth of water effectually prevented them from making any attempt. In this unsuccessful attempt, the loss of the British in killed and wounded was two hundred. The Bristol and Experiment were so much damaged, it was thought they could not get over the bar: this they accomplished, however, by great exertion of naval skill, to the surprise of the provincials, who had expected to have made them both prizes. It was said the Americans lost considerable in this engagement.

In the beginning of March, commodore Hopkins was despatched by Congress, with five frigates to the Bahama islands, where he made himself master of the ordnance and military stores; but the gunpowder which had been the principal object, was removed. On his return, he captured several vessels; but was foiled in his attempt on the Glasgow frigate, which found means to escape, notwithstanding the efforts of the whole squadron.

Hitherto the Americans had been generally successful, they had now to experience misfortune, misery and disappointment; the enemy overrunning the country, and their own armies not able to face them in the field. The province of New York, being the most accessible by sea, was made the object of the main attack. The force sent against it, consisted of six ships of the line, thirty frigates, besides other armed vessels, and a vast number of transports. The fleet was commanded by lord Howe, and the land forces by his brother, general sir William Howe, who was now at Halifax. The latter, however, had set sail a considerable time before his brother arrived, and lay before New York, but without attempting to commence hostilities, until he should be joined by his brother.

The Americans had, according to custom, fortified New York, and the adjacent islands in an extraordinary manner. General Howe, notwithstanding, was suffered to land his troops on Staten island, where he was soon joined by a number of inhabitants. About the middle of July, lord Howe arrived with the grand ar mament, and being one of the commissioners appointed to receive the submission of the colonists, he published a circular letter to the

several governors, who had lately been expelled from their provin ces desiring them to make the extent of his commission and the powers he was invested with by parliament as public as possible.

Here, however, the congress saved him trouble, by order ing his letter and declaration to be published in all the newspapers, "That every one might see the insidiousness of the British ministry; and, that they had nothing to trust to, besides the exertion of their own valour."

Lord Howe next sent a letter to general Washington; but as it was directed"To George Washington, Esq." the general refused to accept it, as not being in a style suited to his station. To obviate this objection, adju ant general Patterson, was sent with another letter directed To George Washington, &c. &c. &c.” but though a very polite reception was given to the bearer, general Washington utterly refused the letter, nor could any expla nation of the adjutant induce him to accept of it. The only in teresting part was that relating to the powers of the commissioners, of whom lord Howe was one.

The adjutant told him, that these powers were very extensive; that the commissioners were determined to exert themselves to the utmost in order to bring about a reconciliation; and that he hoped the general would consider this visit as a step towards it. General Washington replied, that it did not appear that these powers consisted in any thing else than granting pardons; and as America had committed no offence, she asked no forgiveness; and, was only defending her unquestionable rights.

The decision being now left to the sword, no time was lost, and hostilities commenced as soon as the British troops could be collected. This was not done before the month of August, when they landed without opposition on Long Island, opposite to the shore of Staten island. General Putnam, with a large body of troops, lay encamped, and strongly fortified on a peninsula on the opposite shore, with a range of hills between the armies, the principal pass of which was near a place called Flat-Bush; here the centre of the British army, cosisting of Hessians, took post; the left wing under general Grant, lying near the shore; and the right consisting of the greater part of the British force, lay under ford Percy, Cornwallis, and general Clinton. Putnam had ordered these passes to be secured by large detachments, which was executed immediately with those that were near; but one of the most importance, that lay at a distance, was entirely neglected. Through this a large body of troops under lord Percy and Clinton, passed, and attacked the Americans in the rear, while they were engaged with the Hessians in front.

Through this piece of negligence their defeat became inevitable. Those who were engaged with the Hessians, first perceived their mistake, and began a retreat towards their camp; but the

passage was intercepted by the British troops, who drove them. back into the woods. Here they were met by the Hessians; and thus were they many hours slaughtered between two parties, no way of escape but by forcing their way through the British troops, and thus regaining their camp. In this attempt many perished; and the right wing, engaged with general Grant, shared the same fate. The victory was complete; and the Americans lost, on this fatal day, August the twenty-seventh, upwards of one thousand men, and two generals: several officers of distinction were made prisoners, with a number of privates. Among the slain, a regiment, consisting of young gentlemen of fortune and family in Maryland, was almost entirely cut to pieces, and of the survivors not one escaped without a wound.

The ardour of the British troops was now so great, that they could scarce be restrained from attacking the lines of the provincials; but for this, there was now no occasion, as it was certain they could not be defended; but had the ardour of the soldiers been seconded, and general Howe pursued his victory, it might have given such a blow to the Americans, and such a turn to their affairs, that they would not have been able to have regained that confidence in their own strength, which they had hitherto maintained.

Of the British and Hessians about four hundred and fifty were lost in this engagement. As none of the American commanders thought it proper to risk another attack, it was resolved to abandon their camp as soon as possible. Accordingly, on the twenty ninth of August, the whole of the continental troops were ferried over from Brooklin to New-York, with the utmost secrecy and silence; so that, in the moning, the British had nothing to do but to take possession of the camp and artillery which they had abandoned.

This victory, though complete, was far from being so decisive as the conquerors imagined. Lord Howe, supposing it would be sufficient to intimidate congress into some terms, sent general Sullivan, who had been taken prisoner in the late action, to congress with a message, importing, that though he could not consistently treat with them as a legal assembly, yet he would be very glad to confer with any of the members in a private capacity; setting forth, at the same time, the nature and extent of his power as commissioner. But the congress were not at all inclined to derogate from the dignity of character they had assumed. They replied, that the congress of the free and independent states of America could not, consistently, send any of its members in another capacity than that which they had publicly assumed; but as they were extremely desirous of restoring peace to their country upon equitable conditions, they would appoint a committee of their body to wait upon him, and learn what proposals he had to make. The committee appointed by congress was composed of Dr. Franklin, Adams, and Rutledge. They were very politely re