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BRITISH SECURE POSSESSION OF GEORGIA.

Ashe said to Elbert, the commander of the continentals, 66 Sir, you had better advance and engage them." The Continentals, though not more than 100 rank and file, advanced thirty yards in front of the enemy and began a sharp fire upon them; this continuing for about fifteen minutes. Ashe and the North Carolina militia, however, remained about one hundred yards in the rear entirely inactive, and instead of supporting the advance party were so panic stricken that they fled in confusion without even discharging their muskets. The Georgia regulars, therefore, finding themselves deserted and being almost surrounded by the enemy, abandoned the conflict and used their utmost endeavors to escape. Elbert exerted all his influence to rally them, but it was in vain. He and the survivors of his brave corps were made prisoners. The American loss was 150 killed and 227 captured. None had any chance of escaping except by crossing the river, in attempting which many were drowned; of those who reached safety, a large number returned home and never afterward rejoined the American army, the number that did so being not more than 450.* Thus the British secured possession of Georgia, establishing communication with the Indians Indians and the the Tories of North and South Carolina.† Sir

McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 343-345; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 507-508.

Bancroft, vol. v., pp. 368-369.

163

James Wright was then reëstablished in his former office as royal governor. *

The people of South Carolina were determined not to abandon the struggle without a supreme effort in behalf of their liberty. John Rutledge was elected governort and endeavored to send reinforcements to the army and to place the State in a condition to defend itself against British invasion. A reinforcement of 1,000 men was sent to join Lincoln, who on April 23 marched up the Savannah with the main body of his army. This movement was made chiefly for the purpose of protecting the Georgia Legislature, which was to assemble at Augusta on May 1. At this time the river was in full flood, the marshes. and swamps along its banks were completely inundated; and it was believed that a small body of troops would be able to defend the country against an invading army. General Lincoln, therefore, left only 200 Continentals and 800 militia under Colonel McIntosh, the whole commanded by General Moultrie, who, it will be remembered, had distinguished himself at Sullivan's Island in 1776. It was supposed that if the British should invade the territory, the militia would probably take the field in defending their homes. General Prevost, however, pursued a different

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164

MOVEMENTS OF LINCOLN, PREVOST AND MOULTRIE.

course than that which the Americans expected. Instead of marching up the river and attacking Lincoln in the interior, Prevost endeavored to compel the return of Lincoln from his expedition by making an irruption into South Carolina.* On April 29, after Lincoln had gone a long distance on his way toward Augusta, General Prevost, with 2,500 troops and a considerable force of Indians, suddenly passed the river near Purrysburg, compelling McIntosh, who was there stationed with a small force, to retreat to General Moultrie at Black Swamp.t Prevost made a rapid march into the interior and compelled Moultrie to retire hastily before him, destroying the bridges on his way. The militia showed little courage in the field and could not be prevailed upon to defend the passes in the face of large numbers. Moreover, many of those under Moultrie's command deserted, and the State government was not as successful in recruiting the militia as had been expected; consequently, Moultrie's force was rapidly diminished.

Immediately after the British had passed the river, Lincoln was informed of the movement; but as he was then nearly opposite Augusta, he considered Prevost's movement as a feint to recall him from the upper

*This evidently was Prevost's original intention, but as the way to Charleston was open he determined to pursue it. See Stedman's Amertcan War, vol. ii., p. 110.

McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, p. 352.

parts of the river.* He therefore determined to continue in his project, and, instead of being recalled himself, compelled the British general to return to the defense of Augusta. Dispatching a body of 300 light troops to Moultrie's assistance and crossing the river at Augusta, he continued upon his way on the south side toward Savannah. Meanwhile, the British had suffered little opposition, as Moultrie's force was insufficient to make a successful resistance. More over, the troops were in a state of panic because of the plundering tactics of the British, who seemed determined to desolate the country in a most uncivilized manner. The citizens of Charleston made every preparation to defend the city: the houses in the suburbs were destroyed; cannon were mounted at intervals along the peninsula between Ashley and Cooper rivers; and 3,000 troops were assembled to repel the threatened attack.+

On May 11 a detachment of Prevost's army crossed the ferry at Ashley River and appeared before Charleston. Lincoln in the meantime had sent word that he was re

*Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. 1i., p. 553.

† See McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolu tion, pp. 392-395; Ramsay, Revolution in South Carolina, vol. ii., pp. 30-34.

Moultrie in his Memoirs, vol. i., p. 429, estimates the force at 3,180 but McCrady says that Rutledge's estimate of 2,500 is nearer the truth.South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 363-364.

|| Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 553-554.

PREVOST RETREATS FROM BEFORE CHARLESTON

turning toward Charleston, and Governor Rutledge, knowing this, desired to gain time. He therefore entered into negotiations with the British and used every obstructive tactic with which he was acquainted. The commissioners from the American garri

son

were instructed to "propose neutrality during the war between Great Britain and America, and that the question whether the state belong to Great Britain or remain one of the United States, be determined by the treaty of peace between these powers."* Prevost refused to consider such a proposal and insisted that, as they were in arms, the people of the city must surrender as prisoners of war.† Rutledge refused to surrender on such terms, and it was expected that an assault would be made immediately. But as Prevost had learned that Lincoln was rapidly approaching, he deemed it expedient to retreat, as he had no hope of capturing the city by assault.‡

In his retreat, however, Prevost did not take the direct route by which he had advanced, for Lincoln was near at hand with his army and in Charleston there was a considerable garrison. Instead, after passing Ashley Ferry, he turned to the left and proceeded

* McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 366-370; Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 433; Ramsay, Revolution in South Carolina, vol. ii., p. 27; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iii., p. 257; Moore, Diary of the American Revolution, vol. ii., p. 162. McCrady, pp. 373-375.

Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii.,

p. 555.

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to the coast, which, because of its numerous islands, afforded him the easiest and safest means by which he could transport his baggage to Savannah. As the British possessed great naval superiority over the Americans, pursuit of Prevost was practically out of the question, for the British naval forces in the vicinity were able to give Prevost all the protection necessary. tection necessary. Having reached the coast, Prevost first went to St. James Island and then to St. John, where he awaited the arrival of provisions sometime previously sent from New York. In spite of all difficulties, General Lincoln arrived at Dorchester from Charleston before Prevost had passed the Ashley Ferry, and upon learning the direction taken by the latter, immediately set off in pursuit. He soon came within reaching distance of the British and placed his army in encampment, the two armies then being about thirty miles from Charleston.* The opposing forces remained in their respective positions until June 20, when a detachment of about 1,200 Americans attacked 700 British and Hessians at Stono Ferry. For over an hour the contest raged and probably would have resulted in victory for the Americans, if the force under Moultrie had succeeded in passing over to James Island in time so as to attack the British from a different point. But Lincoln decided that it was best

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BATTLE OF STONO FERRY; RESULTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

to retire and draw off his forces in good order.* The British loss was 23 killed and 103 wounded;† the American loss was 146, including 24 officers killed and wounded, beside 155 missing. Three days after the battle, the British evacuated Stono Ferry and St. John Island, continuing their march until they reached Beaufort on the island of Port Royal, where a garrison was left by General Prevost under the command of Lieutenantcolonel Maitland.]]

The heat had now become so intense that active operations were impossible, for the summer climate of the South acted in a similar manner as the winter cold of the North. The chief duties of the commanders during this hot season were to prevent the spread of fevers in the army and to keep their soldiers in condition for the next campaign, which would probably open in October. The American militia dispersed, leaving Lincoln with only about 800 men which he placed in encampment at Sheldon, near Beaufort.§ The operations carried on by the British at the coast alarmed Washington, and, weak as his own army was, he sent a detachment, consisting of Bland's cavalry

Ibid, pp. 385-389; Lee, Memoirs of the War, pp. 130-131; Stedman, American War, vol. ii., pp. 116-118; Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. i., pp. 495-498; Lowell, Hessians in the Revolution, p. 241.

Stedman, American War, vol. ii., p. 118.
Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii.,

p. 555.

|| Ibid.

§ McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 395-396.

regiment and the troops under Lieutenant-colonel William Washington' with some new levies, to Lincoln's aid.

The principal result of the irruption of Prevost into South Carolina was the pecuniary loss of the inhabitants of the province, for it did no credit to the British army nor in any way served the British cause. Plunder and devastation marked every stage of the march of the British army; houses were entered and robbed of plate, money, jewels, etc., and oftentimes what the soldiers could not carry away was destroyed.* Large numbers of slaves, allured by promises of freedom, deserted their homes and repaired to the British army. In the hope of gaining the favor of the British, some disclosed the places where the valuables of their masters had been concealed. For these services the negroes did not obtain the expected reward; many were shipped to and sold in the West Indies, while hundreds died of camp fever. Others, overtaken by sickness and disease, were ordered from the British camp and went to the woods, where they perished miserably, being afraid to return to their masters for proper treatment. In this way it is calculated that South Carolina lost about 4,000 slaves. In order to save as much as possible of their property, many of the inhabitants professed their attachment to the royal cause.†

Bancroft, vol. v., p. 371.

Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iii., pp.

OPERATIONS IN CHESAPEAKE BAY.

During 1779-1780 there were few operations of any note by either the British or American armies; the latter remained chiefly on the defensive, while the British devoted themselves principally to punitive expeditions and enterprises, with the hope of distressing the people and ruining them so that they would abandon the American cause. The territory surrounding Chesapeake Bay suffered greatly from these depredations. In 1779 General George Collyer (or Collier), who had superseded Admiral Gambier as commander of the British naval forces in America, concerted a plan with Sir Henry Clinton for interrupting the commerce of the Chesapeake and destroying the magazines along the coast. In accordance with this plan, 1,800 men under General Matthews were sent out under convoy; the whole fleet started from Sandy Hook May 5, 1779, and three days later reached the Chesapeake. The fleet anchored in Hampton Roads, and on the 10th entered the Elizabeth River. The American forces in that vicinity were unable to offer effective resistance to this overwhelming force, and fled, allowing the British troops to land unopposed.* General Matthews established his headquarters at Portsmouth, from which point he sent out

253-260 (ed. 1788); Stedman, American War, vol. ii., pp. 103-120.

See Henry's letters of May 11 and 12 to the President of Congress quoted in Tyler, Life of Patrick Henry, pp. 236-237; Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. iii., pp. 239-240.

.

167

small parties to Norfolk, Suffolk, Kemp's Landing, and Gosport, where it is claimed that they destroyed or carried off large quantities of military stores and sank or abandoned more than 130 ships, some of which were heavily laden.* The losses sustained by the public and individuals were enormous, without being of any real advantage to the British. Jefferson says they were "unjustifiable by the usage of civilized nations." t After having accomplished the object of this expedition, General Matthews returned north to New York.‡

Meanwhile, in November, 1778, d'Estaing had sailed for the West Indies for the purpose of attacking and capturing the British Islands. Dominica had already fallen into the hands of the French, but to offset this the British had captured St. Vincent's and Grenada and spread great alarm throughout the West Indies. The fleets of the two nations soon engaged in a warm but indecisive combat after which d'Estaing prepared to return home;|| but at the urgent request of Governor Rutledge, General Lincoln and the French Consul, he

See Henry's letter of May 21, quoted in Tyler, Life of Patrick Henry, p. 238; Henry, vol. iii., p. 241; also May 19, vol. ii., p. 30; and the British account, in Virginia Historical Magazine, vol. iv., p. 181.

† Ford's ed. of Jefferson's Writings, vol. ii., p.

242.

Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iii., p. 260 (ed. 1788); Stedman, American War, vol. ii., pp.

136-139.

Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iii., pp. 286-293 (ed. 1788); Stedman, American War, vol. ii., pp. 91-101.

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