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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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BY
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2- 206
T HE
HISTORY
11
OF THE
ORIGIN, PROGRESS, AND TERMINATION
.:
Hic
OF THE
AMERICAN WAR.
By C. STEDMAN,
WHO SERVED UNDER SIR W. HOME, SIR H, CLINTON, AND
THE MARQUIS CORNWALLIS,
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR;
AND SOLD BY J. MURRAY, FLEET-STREET; J. DEBRETT, PICCADILLY; AND
J. KERBY, CORNER OF WIGMORE-STREET, CAVENDISH-SQUARE,
1794
l
A
1
I
.
1
1
i
.
CON TEN T S.
C H A P.
XXI.
Page
EFFECTS of the Surrender of Saratoga—Bills brought into
Parliament for Reconciliation and Peace with the Americans
Treaties entered into between the French King and the Tbir-
teen revolted Colonies—Commiſioners appointed for ſettling
the Differences between the Mother-country and her Colo-
niesamoRupture between Great Britain and France-Fate of
Burgoyne's Army-The Commiſſioners for Peace arrive in
America, and enter on the Execution of their Office.
I
-
CH A P.
XXII.
T
The Evacuation of Philadelphia-General Waſhington pre-
pares to impede and haraſs the Britiſh Troops in their Re-
treat-Sir H. Clinton purſues bis March to New York by Sandy
Hook-Diſpoſition of the American Army-- And of the Bri-
tiſh-Battle of Freehold Court Houſe in the County of Mon-
mouth-The Britiſh Army arrives at New York.
14
3
СНАР.
1
:
motor
I
1
vi
CONTENT S.
+
C'H A P. XXIII.
Page
The French Fleet fets fail from Törlou to North America
Thither alſo a Britiſh Fleet ſets fail under Vicc-Admiral Byron
- The Count D'Efaing, miſing the Britiſh Army in Phila-
delphia, comes to an Anchor of New York The Harbour of
this Place defended by a ſmall Fleet, under Lord Howemme
D'Eſtaing ſets fail to the Southward--but changes his Courſe,
and arrives at Rhode Iſland-American Preparations for an
Attempt on Rhode Iſand- fruſtrated-Naval Operations--Lord
Howe reſigns the Command of the Fleet to Admiral Gambier, 25
.
CH A P.
XXIV.
1
A particular Account of the Progreſs and Tſue of the American
Attempt on Rhode Iſland, already generally mentioned.
34
CH A P.
XXV
Diſcontents and Clamours in the American States-Riots between
the American and French Seamen at Boſton—and at Charleſ-
town, South Carolina. Expedition to Buzzard's Bay Expe-
ditions againſt Little Egg Harbour, a noted Rendezvous for.
Privateers---The Weather this Summer uncommonly boiſterous
in the Atlantic Ocean-Diſperſion and Fate of the Fleet under
Admiral Byron-The Admiral
ſtruggles in vain againſt adverſe
Fortune—The Count D'Eſtaing ſets fail to the Weſt Indies.
38
CHAP.
I
1
CONTENTS
vii
4
СНАР.
XXVI,
Page
Expedition to the Weſt Indies under the Command of General
Grant-The Britiſh Commiſſioners return to England-Re-
view of their Proceedings---Expedition againſt Georgia-Re-
duftion of Savannah.
+
C Η Α Ρ.
XXVII.
War between the Americans and Indians--War between France
and England-Channel Fleet commanded by Admiral Keppel
-Engagement between the French and Engliſh Fleets-- Irre-
concileable Difference between the Admirals Keppel and Pal-
lifer--Inflamed by the Zeal of their reſpective Partizans-
War in the Eaſt Indieso
73
CH A PL
XXVIII.
General Alarm throughout the Britiſh Weſt India Iſlands--Quieted
by the Departure of Count d'Eſtaing to Hiſpaniola-Reduction
of Sunbury in Georgia---Colonel Campbell's Expedition, to Au-
guſta--Circuit for the Encouragement of the Loyaliſts per-
formed by Colonel Hamilton~ Colonel Hamilton quits Auguſta
and returns to Savannah-Attempt of General Lincoln to ſtraiten
the Britiſh Quarters-Fruſtrated by Colonel Prevoſt_Unluc-
ceſsful Attempt of General Prevoſt 01 Charleſtown--General
Prevoſt retires from Charleſtown, and takes poſi at John's
Mand..
1.02
CHAP..
vizi
CON T E N T S.
G H A P.
XXIX.
Page
General Prevoſt departs froin John's iſand to Savannah Suc-
cecded in the Command at John's iſand by Lieutenaut Colonel
Maitland-Britiſh Troops under Colonel Maitland attacked by
General Lincoln——The Americans repulſed-General Prevoſt
having eſtabliſhed a Poft in the Iſand of Port Royal, retires
with the reſt of the Army to Georgia.
IIS
CH A P. XXX.
The Count d'Eſtaing ſets fail for the Američan" Continent and
arrives on the coaſt of Georgia-Efforts Military and Naval
for the Preſervation of Savannah--Coient d'Eſtaing ſummons
Savannah to ſurrender to the Arms of bis Moſt Chriſtian
Majeſty--General Prevoſt ſuccoured by Colonel Maitland-
The combined Armies of France and America beficge Savannah
-attack the Britiſh Lines--repulſed with confiderable Loſs
raiſe the Siege The Campaign to the ſouthward of North
America concluded-Campaign in other Parts of the American
Continent Spent in deſultory Operations---Naval Operations of
Sir George Collier.
121
C H A P.
XXXI.
!
Reduction of two ſtrong Pofts on Hudſon's River--Expedition
againſt Connecticut -- Ravages--Murmurs in Connecticut
Fort Stoney Point ſurpriſed by General Wayne-Stoney Point
evacuated by the Americans Again poſſeſſed by the Britiſh
---Britif Settlement in Penobſcot--attacked in vain by the
Americans
3
CON TEN TS.
ix
Page
Americans Reinforcement brought to the Britiſh Army by Ad-
miral Arbuthnot, who ſucceeds Sir George Collier in the Com-
mand of the Navy-American Incurſions into the Country of
the Indians--Incurſions of the Indians into the American Set-
tlements.
140
CH A P.
XXXII.
The Confederacy againſt Great Britain joined by Spain-French
Attack on Ferſey-repelled-Naval Tranſactions~The com-
bined Fleets of France and Spain threaten an Invaſion of Great
Brilain--Engagement between Captain Paul Fones and the
Convoy of a Britiſh Fleet from the Baltic--Blockade of Gibral-
tar-Incurſion of the Americans into Weſt Florida-Weſt Flo-
rida reduced by the Spaniards--The Spaniards attack the Bri-
tiſh Logwood-cutters in Honduras Reduction of the Spaniſh
Fort Omoa, the Key of the Bay of Honduras Protection
afforded to the Britiſh Commerce-General Retroſpezt of Bri-
tiſh Affairs at the Concluſion of 1779.
150
CHA P. XXXIII.
L
Expedition under Sir Henry Clinton to South Carolina----Forti-
fications of Charleſtown deſcribed-Garriſon of Charleſtown
Siege and, Reduction of Charleſtown-- Incurſion of the Spa-
niards into Weſt Florida--Conſequences of the Fall of Charleſ-
town-Three new Expeditions ſet on foot by the Britiſh Com-
mander–His Addreſs to the Inhabitants of South Carolina
Its Effect-Defeat of the American Colonel Burford-Diſpoſi-
tion of the Britiſh Troops in South Carolina--Adminiſtration of
VOL. II.
A
Earl
!
1
S
CON T E N T S.
Page
1
Earl Gornwallis ibere--Counter-revolution among thoſe who
bad fubmitted to the Power of Britain on the Fall of Charleſ-
town-Detachment from Waſhington's Army ſent into North
Carolina---Movements of the American Colonel Sumpter
His Attempt on the Britiſ. Poſt on Rocky Point.
176
CH A P.
XXXIV.
Earl Cornwallis ſets out from Charleſtown to Camden-Action
between the Americans under General Gates, and the Britiſha
under Earl Cornwallis, near Camden-The American Force
under Colonel Sumpter ſurpriſed by Colonel Torletua-Perfidy
of the Americans---Reſtrained by Examples of Severity
Lord Cornwallis marches into North Carolina-Defcat and
Fall of Major Ferguſon.
204
CH A P.
XXXV.
The Americans under Colonel Clarke make an Attack on Au-
guſta-Retreat of Clarke-The Detachment under Major Fer-
guſon attacked and overpowered by American Mountaincers
-Lord Cornwallis falls back to South Carolina-Colonel
Tarleton checks the Inroads of the American Partizan Ma-
rion—- Junction of the American Forces under Sumpter, Clarke,
and Brannen--- Action at Blackſtock's Hill between Sumpter
and Tarleton,
219
СНА Р.
XXXVI.
Effects of the Defeat and Fall of Major Ferguſon--General
Gates reſigns the Command of the Southern American drmy
to
CON TEN TS.
xi:
Page
to General Greene-Danger ariſing to the Britiſh Garriſon in
New York from the extreme Rigour of the Winter-Meaſures
taken for the Defence of New York Unſucceſsful Attempt to
eſtabliſh the royal Standard in the Jerſeys.
232
REL
CH A P.
XXXVII.
The Americans diſlodged from Springfield, and that Town de-
ſtroyed-A French Armament arrives at Rhode Iſand-A
Scheme formed by one of General Waſhington's Officers, Arnold,
for delivering an important Poft into the Hands of the Bri-
tiſh Arinastu'venture und Fate of the Britiſh Adjutant-
General Major André-A general Exchange of Priſoners,
The Troops on both sides retire into Winter Quarters. 243
!
CH A P.
XXXVIII.
Tranfaétions in Europe and the Weſt Indies--Succeſſes of the
Britiſh Fleet under Admiral Rodney-Relief of Gibraltar
Growing Differences between Great Britain and Holland-
Armed Neutrality, or Aſociation among Neutral Maritime
Powers, for the Purpoſe of eſtabliſhing the Doctrine that
Free Ships make Free Goods Suſpenſion of the Treaties be-
tween Great Britain and Holland--Naval Tranfuctions
Commercial Treaty between America and Holland-War on
the Part of Great Britain againſt the Dutch.
255
CH A P.
XXXIX.
French Attempt on the iſland of Ferſey-defeated----Naval Ex-
ertions of both France and Britain--Relief of Gibraltar-
Capture
1
A 2
4
r
j
CONTENTS.
1
1
Page
1
Capture of the Dutch Iſland St. Euſtatius-And of Demarary
and Iſequibo, Dutch Settlements on the Spaniſh Main---Fruit-
lefs Attempt of the French on St. Lucic -The land of Tobago
furrendered to the French.
274
CH A P.. XL,
Reduction of Penſacola by the Spaniards-The combined Fleets
of France and Spain, to the Amount of ſeventy Sail, threaten
Deſtruction to the marine Force of England--The Britiſh
Admiral, with twenty-one Ships of the Line, prudently retires
into Torbay --where the Enemy do not chink it ullviſable to
attack him-Cauſes why the Combined Fleets-enjoyed a ten-
porary Superiority over that of Great Britain—Aftion between
a Britiſh and a Dutch Fleet, near the Dogger Bank-Britiſh
Armament fent againſt the Dutch Settlement at the Cape of
Good Hope-attacked by the French Admiral Suffrein-The
Dutch Garriſon at the Cape reinforced by the French--Con-
modore Johnſtone makes Prizes of four Dutch Eaſt India-
inen--The Britiſh Armament under. General Meadows fails for
the Eaſt Indies Invaſion of the Carnatic by Hyder Ally-
Defeat and Diſaſter of a Britiſh Detachment under Colonel
Baillie-Ravages committed in the Carnatic by Hyder Ally.
The Command of the Britiſh Army in the Preſidency of
Madras committed to Sir Eyre Coote-Operations of the Bri-
tiſ Fleet in India.
290
1
CH A P.
XLI.
Diſaffection to Great Britain of the Southern Colonies--The Bri-
tiſh Army under Lord Cornwallis joined by a large Reinforce-
ment
1
CON TENTS.
Xiii
1
Tagc
1
ment under General Leſlic-Astion at the Compens, between
General Morgan and Colonel Tarleton-Colonel Tarleton den
feated-Conſequences of Colonel Tarleton's Defeat-The Army.
under Lord Cornwallis croſſes the River Catawba-Lord
Cornwallis, joined by the other Diviſion of the Army under
Colonel Webſter, purſues General Morgan--A Junction formed
between the two Diviſions of the American Army-General
Greene driven out of North Carolina~The Royal Standard
erected at Hillſborough---General Greene, again croſſing the
Dan, re-enters North Carolina—Lord Cornwallis falls back
from Hillſborough, and takes a new Poſition—Effects of this
retrograde Movement Action near Guildford between Lord
Cornwallis and General Greene.
316
СНАР,
XLII.
Proclamation by Lord Cornwallis--The Britiſh Army arrives in
the Vicinity of Wilmington--General Greene marches againſt
Lord Rawdon at Camden--Embarraſſment of Lord Cori-
wallis--Lord Cornwallis determines to march through North
Carolina into Virginia~Lord Rawdon refolves to attack the
Camp of General Greene af Hobkirk's Hill-Fort Watſon
ſurrenders to the Americans A Detachment-under Colonel
Watſon joins Lord Rawdon at Camden--Lord Rawdon, after
various Efforts to bring General Greene to an Engagement,
retires from Camden--and proceeds to Monk's Corner-Bri-.
tiſ Outpoſts reduced by the Americans Auguſta ſurrendered
to the Americans,
350
1
CHAP.
!
1
xiy
CON TEN TS.
CH A P. XLIII.
Page
State of the Britiſh Army at Ninety-fix-The Siege of Ninety-
fix raiſed-Lord Rawdon, having arrived at Ninety-fix,
purſues General Greene-Lord Rawdon, with Half bis Force,
marches to the Congarée-Retires to Orangeburgh-Hoſti-
lities ſuſpended by the intenſe Heat of the Seaſon-Lord
Rawdon, on account of bis Health, embarks for Europe
-Action between Colonel Stuart and General Greene, near
the Eutaw Springs-Vistory. in this Action claimed by both
Parties.
364
.
A
СНАР.
XLIV.
Operations of the Britiſh Army in Virginia under the Command
of General Philips-- Deſtruction of American Stores---Deatly
of General Philips Junction between the Armies under
Lord Cornwallis and General Arnold-Charlotteville fur-
priſed by Colonel Tarleton“-Stratagem practiſed with Succeſs
by Colonel Simcoe on Baron Steuben-Unfavourable Aſpect
of American Affairs, Apprehenſion of Sir Henry Clinton for
the Safety of New York-Lord Cornwallis croſſes James
River, and retires to Portſmouth-Evacuates Portſmouth,
and concentrates his Force at York and Gloceſter-Fun&tion
of the Forces of Waſhington and RochambeauNaval Ope-
rations—The French Fleet under Count de Graſſe arrives
in the Cheſapeak--Partial Action between the Count de
Graſe and Admiral Graves-New London taken by General
Arizold.
382
1
CHAP
1
ху
CON TEN T S.
1
CH A P. XLV.
Page
The Confederate Armies arrive at Williamſburgh in Virginiam
Lord Cornwallis vindicated from the Charges of Colonel
Tarleton-- The Combined Armies encamp before York Town
-York Town regularly inveſted Surrendered to General
Waſhington--Efforts of Sir H. Clinton for the Relief of
Lord Cornwallis-Recapture of St. Euſtatius--Succeſsful
Cruize of Admiral Kempenfeldt.
405
1
CH A P.
XLVI.
Effe As of the Capture of Lord Cornwallis's Army-Meeting
of Parliament-Siege of Fort St. Philip's in the Iſand of
Minorca--Capitulation of Fort St. Philip's--Reduction of the
Iſand of St. Chriſtopher's-General Carleton appointed Com-
mander in Chief in America inſtead of Sir Henry Clinton--
Naval Engagement between Admiral Rodney and the Count
de Graſſe-Proſperity of Britiſh Affairs in the Eaſt Indies
-Conduet of the new Adminiſtration-Repulſe and Dif-
confiture of the Spaniards and French before Gibraltar---
Relief of Gibraltar,
420
4
-
4
中
​{
1
.
4
中
​1
T
1
1
}
HISTORY
1
OF THE
AMERICAN WAR.
.
C H A P.
XXI.
Effects of the Surrender of Saratoga--Bills brought into Parliament
for Reconciliation and Peace with the Americans Treaties entered
into between the French King and the Thirteen revolted Colonies
Commiſſioners appointed for ſettling the Differences between the
Mother-country and her Colonies—Rupture between Great Britain
and France~Fate of Burgoyne's Army-The Commiſioners for
Peace arrive in America, and enter on the Execution of their Office.
XXI.
THI
HE ſurrender of Saratoga forms a memorable æra in the C HA P.
hiſtory of the American war. Although the ſucceſs of the
1778.
Britiſh arms had not been ſo brilliant, nor the progreſs made in re- Effects of the
preſſing the ſpirit of revolt ſo conſiderable, as either the magnitude Surrender of
Saratoga.
of the force employed under ſir William Howe, or the military cha-
racter of that general, gave reaſon to expect; ſtill, upon the whole,
until the unfortunate expedition from Canada, the advantages that
had been gained were on the ſide of Great Britain.
VOL. II.
Whenever
B
1
2
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXI.
1778.
Whenever the Britiſh and American armies had been oppoſed to
each other in the field, the ſuperiority of the former was confpi-
cuous in every thing, and, in general, even in numbers. The Ame-
ricans themſelves, impreſſed with an opinion of their own inferiority,
were diſpirited; and it was with reluctance that they ever attempted
to engage the Britiſh troops upon equal, or even nearly equal, terms,
But ſo uncommon an event as the capture of a whole army of their
enemies animated them with freſh ardour, invigorated the exertions
of the congreſs, leſſened in the mind of the American ſoldier the
high opinion which he had entertained of Britiſh valour and diſci-
pline, and inſpired him with a juſter confidence in himſelf.
The conſequences, however, which this event produced in Europe
were of ſtill greater moment. In Great Britain the moſt fanguine
expectations had been raiſed from the Canada expedition, the rapid
fucceſs of which, in its firſt ſtages, ſeemed to promiſe the moſt for-
tunate iſſue. A junction of the northern army with that at New
York was confidently expected, and it was hoped that by this
junction a deciſive blow would be given to the rebellion, by cutting
off the northern from the middle and fouthern colonies. The Bri-
tiſh nation, elevated with ſuch hopes, and encouraged to cheriſh
them by the firſt intelligence from Canada, which brought an account
of the almoſt inſtantaneous reduction of Ticonderoga, and the de-
ſtruction or capture of the provincial naval force in Lake Cham-
plain, ſuffered proportionate diſappointment upon hearing of the
ultimate failure of the expedition and the total loſs of the
army.
But if the diſappointment of the nation was great, that of the mi-
niſtry was ſtill greater ; 'and in a fit of deſpondency, it would ſeem,
they determined, for the ſake of peace, and of getting rid of a
troubleſome and expenſive war, to give up every thing for which
they had originally contended. To the ſurpriſe of all, and to the
no ſmall mortification of thoſe who had hitherto zealouſly ſupported
the
ment
AMERICAN WAR.
3
.
1778.
1
ment for re-
and peace
Americans.
the meaſures of adminiſtration, the miniſter in the month of Fe- C HA P.
bruary introduced two bills into the houſe of commons, which were
paſſed through both houſes of parliament with great diſpatch, and Bills brought
into parlia-
received the royal aſſent on the eleventh of March. By the firſt of
theſe the duty payable on tea imported into America, which was the conciliation
original cauſe of diſpute, was repeales, and a legiſlative declaration with the
'was made, that the king and parliament of Great Britain would not in
future impoſe any tax or duty whatſoever payable in the colonies,
except only ſuch as ſhould be neceſſary for the regulation of trade,
and in ſuch caſe that the nett produce of the dutý ſo impoſed ſhould
be applied to the particular uſe of that colony in which it ſhould be
collected, in the ſame manner as other duties collected under the au-
thority of the aſſemblies. By the other of theſe acts, authority was
given to the king to appoint commiſſioners with full powers to treat,
confult, and agree, with any aſſemblies of men whatſoever in Ame-
rica, and even with individuals, concerning any grievances exiſting
in the
any
of the colonies, or in the laws of Great
Britain extending to them, concerning any contributions to be fur-
niſhed by the colonies, and concerning any other regulations which
might be for the common good of both countries; with a proviſo,
however, that ſuch agreement ſhould not be binding until ratified
by parliament. But in the following inſtances the commifſsoners
were to be inveſted with abſolute power, exerciſeable however ac-
cording to their diſcretion, for proclaiming a ceſſation of hoſtilities by
ſea and land, for opening an intercourſe with the mother-country,
for ſuſpending the operation of all acts of parliament relating to the
North American colonies paſſed ſince the tenth of February 1763,
and for granting pardons to all deſcriptions of perſons.
Never perhaps was there a moment during the whole of the Bri-
tiſh hiſtory, in which the nation had greater cauſe of mortification
than at the time of paſſing theſe acts: And it will be difficult to de-
fend
government of
B2
☆
HISTORY OF THE
?
XXI.
1
CHA P. fend the miniſters of that day againſt the imputation of either want
of wiſdom or want of firmneſs. If what was now propoſed was a
1778.
right meaſure, it ought to have been adopted at firſt, and before the
ſword was drawn: On the other hand, if the claims of the mother-
country over her colonies were originally worth contending for, the
ſtrength and reſources of the nation were not yet ſo far exhauſted
as to juſtify niinifters in relinquiſhing them without a further ſtruggle.
But ſuch was the diſappointment in conſequence of the failure of the
expedition from Canada, and ſo great an alteration had it produced in
the opinions of thoſe who directed the councils of the nation, that
the conceſſions which had been repeatedly refuſed to the petitions of
the coloniſts were now to be offered to them with arms in their hands
and they were even to be courted and intreated to accept of them.
This moment of deſpondence, humiliation, and debaſement, was:
ſeized by the court of Verſailles to give a fatal blow to the over-
grown power of her rival. Ever ſince the commencement of the
rebellion the American coloniſts had been encouraged in their revolt:
by ſecret aſſurances of aſſiſtance from the court of France, and by
ſupplies of money, arms, and ammunition, clandeſtinely conveyed
to them
The French were in the mean time making preparations;
and their original deſign was, probably, to abſtain from an open
de-
claration, until Great Britain and her colonies had mutually weak-
ened each other in their civil contention. But the diſaſter which
happened to general Burgoyne's army, and the conſequent concilia-
tory meaſures about to be adopted by the Britiſh cabinet, at laſt
obliged them to throw off the mafque. They knew that the. Ame-
ricans, notwithſtanding their ſucceſs at Saratoga, ſtill laboured under,
very great difficulties;, and that, for want of internal reſources, whilft
their foreign trade was almoſt annihilated by the Britiſh cruiſers, it
was impoſſible for them, without affiſtance, to keep a reſpectable army
in the field for any length of time;, and they dreaded, left, under
ſuch
AMERICAN WAR.
$
D
XXI.
tered into be
tween the
and the thir.
colonies.
ſuch unpromiſing circumſtances, they ſhould be induced to accept CHA P.
the very liberal terms which they knew were to be offered to them*
.
To prevent this, and to defeat the effect of the conciliatory meaſures Treaties en-
about to be adopted by the Britiſh cabinet, two treaties were now
entered into between the French king and the thirteen revolted co- French king
tonies; one of commerce, and another of defenſive alliance; whicli teen revolted
were finally ſigned at Paris the ſixth of February in the preſent year,
by the chevalier Gerard, in behalf of the French king, and by Dr.
Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee, in behalf of the American
colonies. The firſt of theſe, as its title imports, was intended to
regulate the commerce to be carried on between the countries of the
contracting parties ; and the principal object of the other was to
ſecure the ſovereignty and independence of the revolted colonies;
it being ſtipulated, that if a war in conſequence of this treaty ſhould
break out between Great Britain and France, the two contracting.
parties ſhould mutually aſſiſt each other according to their power and
ability, and that peace ſhould not be made without the conſent of
both, nor until the ſovereignty and independence of the colonies,
both in matters of government and commerce, ſhould be either ex-
preſly or tacitly acknowledged by the king of Great Britain.
A meaſure of ſach conſequence could not, even in France, eſcape
the vigilance and penetration of the lord viſcount Stormont, the
Britiſh ambaſſador at Paris, who, with the utmoſt purity of morals,
and even in the midſt of literary purſuits, knew how to eſtimate the
friendly profeffions, and to penetrate the real views and deſigns, of
ambitious courts. Intelligence of the engagements between France
and America was quickly tranſmitted by the viſcount to the Britiſh
1
1
1
• Before the receſs of parliament for the Chriſtmas holidays it was known that new and
very liberal terms of reconciliation were to be offered to the Anericans: And on the 24th of
December the treaties between France and the revolted colonies were firſt agreed upon,
although they were not formally ſigned till the 6th of February following.
miniſtry;
..
6
1
HISTORY OF THE
XXI.
for fettling
the differ-
caces be.
tween the
mother.coun
CHA P. miniſtry; and this was the cauſe why the conciliatory bills were
paſſed with ſo much diſpatch through the two houſes of parliament.
1778.
It was, perhaps, hoped that they might reach America before the
congreſs had received intelligence of what had been done in France,
but certainly before they had ratified the new engagements entered
into by their deputies; and, that they might be apprized of what
was intended, even before it was completed, rough draughts of the
bills, as ſoon as they were introduced into parliament, were imme-
diately diſpatched to the commander in chief in America, to be for-
warded to the congreſs. The conciliatory acts of parliament being
paſſed, and a commiſſion made out under the great ſeal, the earl
Commiſſion of Carliſle, William Eden, and George Johnſtone, eſquires (who,
crs appointed
with the admiral and the general commanding in America, or, in
caſe of the abſence of the latter, ſir Henry Clinton, were the perſons
named in the commiſſion, and entruſted with the execution of the
try and her powers for ſettling the differences between the mother-country and
her colonies), failed for America on the twenty-ſecond of April.
Rupture be-
Somewhat more than a month previous to the ſailing of the com-
Britain and miſſioners, the French ambaſſador, by order of his court, formally
notified to that of London the nature of the engagements entered
into between his ſovereign and the American colonies, and ſome days
after quitted London and returned to France, about the ſame time
that the Britiſh ambaſſador quitted Paris. This notification was con-
fidered as amounting to a declaration of war; and although war wa
not actually declared, both kingdoms vigorouſly prepared for open
hoſtilities.
Such was the train of political conſequences which, in ſucceſſion,
goyne's
followed the capture of general Burgoyne's army. Here it may
be
proper to notice the ſubſequent fate of thoſe brave but unfortunate
men, whom the chance of war had thus ſubjected to the power of
the Americans. By one of the articles of capitulation it was ftipu-
lated
tween Great
.
Fate of Bur-
army
2
AMERICAN WAR.
7
.
+
--
lated that the ſurrendering army hould be at liberty to tranſport C HA P.
itſelf to Great Britain, upon condition of not ſerving againſt Ame-
1778.
rica during the war. Boſton was fixed upon as the place from which
it was to embark; and thither the Britiſh troops were marched to
wait for tranſports. When the army had reached its affigned quar-
ters, it was found that it would be much eaſier, and more expedi.
tious, to march the troops acroſs the country to Rhode Iſland, to
meet the tranſports, than at that ſeaſon of the year, it being the
middle of winter, to bring the tranſports from thence round to
Boſton. An application was accordingly made by general Burgoyne
to the congreſs, for leave to change the place of embarkation from
Boſton to Rhode Iſland, or ſome other port in its neighbourhood.
But the congreſs, probably reflecting that the moment the conven-
tion troops landed in England, an equal number could be ſpared from
thence to ſupply their place in America, determined, inſtead of com-
piying with the general's requeſt, to prohibit the embarkation of the
Saratoga troops from any port whatſoever, “ until a diſtinct and ex-
“ plicit ratification of the convention at Saratoga ſhould be properly
“ notified by the court of Great Britain to congreſs;” and entered
upon their journals a reſolution to that effect. This reſolution was
evidently a breach of the convention. It was admitted to be ſo by
the congreſs themſelves; but as a kind of juſtification, they pre-
tended to ſet forth ſome grounds of ſuſpicion that the Britiſh troops
did not hold themſelves bound by the convention, and meant, if
they were ſuffered to depart, inſtead of returning to Great Britain,
to join the army at New York. They alſo attempted to ſpecify ſome
inſtances in which, on the part of the Britiſh troops, the conven-
tion had already been broken; but the inſtances on which they relied
were of a nature ſo frivolous and unimportant, that it was clear to
all the world that the congreſs, by this proceeding, facrificed national
faith and honour to preſent convenience.
It
8
HISTORY OF THE
1
CH A P.
XXI.
1778.
It was in vain that general Burgoyne remonſtrated to the congreſ
againſt the injuſtice of this reſolution, and proved, to a demonftra-
tion, that there was no breach of the convention on the part of the
Britiſh troops, even in thoſe inſtances, frivolous and futile as they
were, on which that aſſembly relied. In order to remove every
doubt, and ſilence every objection, he offered to enter into a new
engagement, ſhould it be deſired, and to engage his officers to join
in it, for fulfilling all the articles of the convention, But the con-
greſs determined not to be ſatisfied, and obſtinately perſiſted in the
reſolution which they had taken. They gave the general leave to
return to Great Britain upon his parole, to be forthcoming when
called for, but they retained his army in captivity ; which, after re-
maining more than a year in the province of Maſſachuſet's Bay, was
marched from thence as far to the ſouthward as Virginia, in the in-
terior parts of which new quarters were aſſigned to it; nor were any
of the convention troops releaſed during the war, except ſuch as
were exchanged for American priſoners ; although repeated offers,
were made by ſir Henry Clinton, and by the American commif-
ſioners, to ratify or renew, on the part of Great Britain, all the ar-
ticles of that convention.
We ſhould now return to the two armies, which we left towards
the middle of the preſent year, the one in: Philadelphia, and the
other encamped in huts in the woods at Valley Forge, upon the
Schuylkill, where general Waſhington had determined to remain, that
he might be enabled to ſend out detachments during the winter to
hover round the Britiſh quarters, for the purpoſe of preventing a
communication between them and ſuch of the inhabitants in the
country as were. well affected to the Britiſh cauſe :
An object:
which, as we have ſeen, for ſome time, he in part accompliſhed.
But before we reſume the narrative of military operations it will be
proper to advert to certain political tranſactions and circumſtances
4
by
AMERICAN IVAR.
9
4
XXI.
1778.
ſioners for
peace arrive
and enter on
the execution
oftheir office.
by which theſe were immediately preceded, and, in ſome meaſure, C HA P.
affected.
Within leſs than a fort right after fir William Howe’s departure 'The commif-
from Philadelphia, the Britiſh commiſſioners ſent to offer peace to
North America, arrived in the Delaware, and without delay entered in America,
on the execution of their office.
Here it may be proper, before we proceed, to relate the ſteps
which they took to fulfil the purpoſes of their miſſion; to throw
into one point of view ſome previous proceedings of the congreſs, by
which it will appear that, even before the arrival of the commif-
fioners, and without waiting to hear what they might have to urge,
that aſſembly had determined not to accept the terms which they
had to offer. In the month of November of the preceding year,
the congreſs, with a view of removing the only obſtacle or ground
of apprehenſion which impeded the ſucceſs of their application to
the court of France, entered into a reſolution, declaring that all
propoſals for a treaty with the king of Great Britain, inconſiſtent
with the independence of the United States, or with ſuch alliances
as might be formed under their authority, would be rejected. And
in the month of April of the preſent year, upon the arrival of the
rough draughts of the conciliatory bills, they paſſed reſolutions of
ſuch a contemptuous, inſulting, and provoking nature, as left no
hope that any reaſonable terms of accommodation would be ac-
cepted * In theſe reſolutions they affected to conſider thoſe bills as
the fequel of an inſidious plan formed by the Britiſh government
for enſlaving America. The object of them, they maintained, was
to diſunite the colonies, create diviſions, and prevent foreign powers
from interfering in their behalf. They pretended to demonſtrate
1
* See the Reſolutions of Congrefs of the 22d of April 1778.
VOL. II.
C
that
I
HISTORY OF THE
CHA P. that thoſe bills were an evidence either of the weakneſs or wicked-
XXI.
neſs of the Britiſh government, or both; and, after various other
1778.
ſarcaſtic ſtrictures, they finally reſolved, that any man, or body of
men, who ſhould preſume to make a ſeparate agreement with the
Britiſh commiſſioners, ought to be conſidered as open and avowed
enemies; and that the United States neither could nor would hold
any
conference with theſe commiſſioners, unleſs they ſhould, as a
preliminary thereto, either withdraw their fleets and armies, or elſe
in poſitive and expreſs terms acknowledge the independence of the
United States. It happened too, that the conciliatory bills, after
they had been paſſed through both houſes of parliament, and re-
ceived the royal aſſent, being immediately diſpatched to America,
reached that country ſome days previous to the arrival of the com-
miſſioners. They were forthwith forwarded to congreſs; but that
aſſembly returned no other anſwer* than to refer to the aforefaid
reſolutions, in which they alledged that they had already expreſſed
their ſentiments upon bills not eſſentially different from thoſe which
were now tranſmitted to them.
Although theſe previous proceedings afforded a very unfavourable
proſpect of the ſucceſs of the negotiation, which was rendered ſtill
more hopeleſs by the arrival of Silas Deane at York Town on
the ſecond of May, with copies of the treaties, already men-
tioned, entered into between the French king and the American
plenipotentiaries at Paris, the commiſſioners nevertheleſs entered
upon the execution of their office with apparent alacrity. They
diſpatched their ſecretary, doctor Adam Ferguſon, a name well
known in the literary world, to proceed to York Town, and lay
before the congreſs a copy of their commiſſion, with the concili-
* Reſolutions of Congreſs of the 6th of June 1778.
atory
)
AMERICAN WAR.
II
XXI.
1778.
V
atory acts of parliament upon which it was founded, and a letter CH A P.
explaining the extent of their powers, and ſetting forth in detail
the nature of thoſe terms which they were authoriſed to offer for
ſettling the differences between the mother-country and her co-
- lonies ; and propoſing to the congreſs that they ſhould appoint a
place for the Britiſh coinmiſſioners to meet them, either collectively
or by deputation, for the further diſcuſſion of every ſubject of dif-
ference. A previous application had been made to general Waſh-
ington for a paſſport and ſafe-conduct for Dr. Ferguſon, which it
was not doubted would liave been granted; but upon his arrival at
the firſt out-poſt of the American army, he was not ſuffered to
proceed any farther, general Waſhington having refuſed to grant a
paſſport, until he ſhould conſult the congreſs, and have their per-
miſſion. Thus a man, whoſe unſtained integrity precluded ſuſpi-
cion, and the celebrity of whoſe writings, it might have been ſup-
poſed, would have ſecured to him a favourable reception in any ci-
vilized country on the face of the earth, was refuſed permiſſion even
to paſs through the American territory, although the meſſenger of
peace and reconciliation. Such are ever the harſh and ungracious
effects of ſtern republican policy. Dr. Ferguſon, being thus denied
a paſſport, returned to Philadelphia ; and, that no delay might enſue,
the papers of which he was intended to have been the bearer were
now forwarded to congreſs by the ordinary military poſts of their
army, and reached York Town on the thirteenth of June. After
deliberating for ſome days on the ſubject of theſe communications,
· the congreſs, through their preſident, returned for anſwer, that the
acts of parliament, the commiſſion and the commiſſioners letter, all
of them ſuppoſed the people of the American States to be ſubjects
of the king of Great Britain, and were founded on an idea of de-
pendance which was utterly inadmiſſible : But that they were ready
C 2.
to
12
HISTORY OF THE
XXI.
3
11
CHA P. to enter upon the confideration of a treaty of peace and commerce,
not inconſiſtent with treaties already ſubſiſting, whenever the king
7778.
of Great Britain ſhould demonſtrate a ſincere diſpoſition for that
purpoſe; the only proof of which would be an explicit acknowledge
ment of their independence, or the withdrawing his fleets and
armies ; and they approved of general Waſhington's conduct in re-
fuſing a paſſport to Dr. Ferguſon. Such was the anſwer of congreſs
to the Britiſh commiſſioners; an anſwer which ſhewed that all ne-
gotiation, except upon the ground of acknowledging their inde-
pendence, would be unavailing, and that nothing but conqueſt could
re-unite the colonies to the Britiſh empire: And ſuch the iſſue of
this ſecond attempt to bring about a reconciliation; which, whatever
might be the effect of it in Great Britain towards inducing a greater
union of ſentiment on the ſubject of colonial affairs, produced in
America no good conſequence whatſoever. It flattered the pride of
the American republicans, confirmed them in purſuing the meaſures
which they had adopted, and finally eſtabliſhed the authority of
congreſs, which the commiſſioners had in fact recognized by offer-
ing to treat with them. On the other hand, it had a moſt unfavour-
able effect upon all the inhabitants of the colonies who were attached
to the Britiſh cauſe: Thoſe who had not yet openly declared their
ſentiments, were diſcouraged and diſheartened; whilſt the active
and perſecuted loyaliſt was plunged into the deepeſt deſpair. Even
the officers of the army felt themſelves lowered in their own eſti-
mation, when, without any apparent neceſſity, they faw every thing
for which they had been yet contending, in effect given up. To this
order of men, therefore, as well as to the proſcribed loyaliſts, the
contemptuous proceedings of congreſs, in conſequence of an appbi-
cation which was conſidered as the greateſt act of condeſcenſion on
the part of the mother-country, was peculiarly offenfive, and gave
a new
AMERICAN WAR.
13
XXI.
a new edge to their reſentment. They hoped, as all reaſonable C HA P.
proſpect of accommodation was at an end, that the moſt ſtrenuous
exertions would be made to take ſignal vengeance on the authors
1778.
and abettors of the rebellion, whoſe guilt was now aggravated by
their inſolence; and they looked with impatience for the moment
when they ſhould be led out to aſſail the American camp at Valley
Forge.
A
1
3
1
IA
H'ISTORY OF THE
..
+
E
GH: A P.
XXII.
2
The Evacuation of Philadelphia-General Waſhington prepares to
impede and haraſs the Britiſh Troops in their Retreat-Sir H.
Clinton purſuès his March to New York by Sandy Hook-Diſpoſition
of the American Army--And of the Britiſh-Battle of Freehold
Court Houſe in the County of Monmouth-The Britiſh Army arrives
at New York.
1
CHAP
XXII.
1778.
BUT the firſt active meaſure of the campaign did not accord with
ſuch expectations. This was no other than the evacuation of
Philadelphia, and the retreat of the army to New York. Prepara-
vions for this purpoſe were making even while the commiſſioners
were tranſmitting their diſpatches to congreſs; and before an an-
ſwer was received the evacuation had actually taken place.
Through the interference of a hoſtile maritime power, the com-
mand of the ſea was about to be diſputed by the contending parties.
Hence greater circumſpection became neceſſary in the choice of
poſts for the Britiſh army. It was uncertain where the French
might attempt to ſtrike a blow; whether upon the continent of
America, or in the Weſt Indies. It was therefore proper that the
army ſhould occupy a ſtation from which reinforcements might be
moſt eaſily and expeditiouſly ſent wherever they ſhould be required.
But of all the ſtations hitherto occupied by the ſouthern army,
Phi-
ladelphia was the leaſt adapted to ſuch a purpoſe. It was diſtant
from the ſea not leſs than a hundred miles, and communicated
3
with
I
AMERICAN WAR15
.
.
XXII.
1778.
with it only by a winding river. Theſe, or other more weighty C HA P.
confiderations, influenced the miniſtry fo far, that orders were ſent
from England for the evacuation of Philadelphia; which was ef-
fected at three in the morning of the eighteenth of June, the army
retiring to the point of land below the town formed by the conflu-
ence of the Delaware and the Schuylkill, where the boats and vef-
ſels belonging to the navy were ready to receive thein. And ſo ju.
dicious was the admiral's arrangement, on this occaſion, that the
whole army, with its baggage, was paſſed over the Delaware, and
encamped on the Jerſey ſhore, by ten in the forenoon; meeting with
·little interruption from the enemy, though the Americans entered
Philadelphia before the Britiſh entirely left it. The ſame fleet of
tranſports that carried the ſoldiers, proviſions, and ſtores, carried alſo
the property of the Philadelphian merchants attached to govern-
ment. The great body of the loyaliſts of Philadelphia went along
with the army: Such of them as had the imprudence to remain be-
hind were treated with great ſeverity. Some were baniſhed. Seve-
ral were thrown into priſon, and tried for their lives. Two.of theſe,
Roberts and Carliſle, very reſpectable characters, of the ſect of
Quakers, ſuffered death,
The country through which the Britiſh army had to march being
naturally ſtrong, and abounding with difficult paſſes, which, if oc-
cupied by the enemy, might greatly retard its progreſs, fir Henry
Clinton thought it neceſſary, in order to guard againſt the conſe-
quences of ſuch obſtructions, to carry along with him a conſider-
able quantity of baggage and a large ſupply of proviſions. The
progreſs of the army, thus heavily incumbered, was uncommonly
flow.
The preparations and arrangements previous to the evacuation
could not be made ſo ſecretly but that intelligence of them was con-
veyed to general Waſhington. From this intelligence he was en-
abled
1
1
16
HISTORY OF THE
.
.
power, im.
CHA P. abled to penetrate the deſign, and had detached general Maxwell
with a brigade into New Jerſey, with orders to aſſemble the militia,
1778.
break down the bridges, and, by every means in his
pede and haraſs the Britiſh troops in their retreat, until he, with the
main
army,
ſhould croſs the Delaware and fall upon their rear.
There are two roads leading from Philadelphia to New York; one
along the weſtern ſhore of the Delaware, as high as Trenton Ferry;
the other, that which was taken by the Britiſh army, running paral-
lel with the firſt, but on the eaſtern bank of the river. The route
of the Britiſh army being along the eaſtern bank of the Delaware as
high as Trenton, general Waſhington was obliged to make a confi-
derable circuit to croſs it higher up. But, even after he had effected
his paffage, he kept for ſome time a very cautious and reſpectful
diſtance, ſending forward detachments of his light troops to watch
the motions of the Britiſh army, and hang on its flanks and rear.
A little to the left of the moſt northerly road leading from Trenton
to New York, the country of New Jerſey becomes high and moun-
tainous. This country general Waſhington entered when he paſſed
the Delaware at Correll's Ferry, and he thought that the very ſlow
movement of the Britiſh army indicated a deſign in fir Henry Clin-
ton to draw him down from his advantageous ſituation, and either
force an engagement in the level country, or, by a rapid movement,
gain the high grounds which he had quitted. This idea alone can
account for the extreme caution with which he approached a re-
treating enemy. The courſe of the Britiſh army now pointed from
the Delaware ; and the farther it advanced in this new direction, the
more general Waſhington ſtrengthened his detachments; all of
which were compoſed of choſen men.
Sir Henry Clinton had hitherto met with very little moleſtation
from the enemy. His light troops had been ſufficient to drive the
Americans from the paſſes which they occupied; and the greateſt
impedi-
AMERICAN WAR.
17
XXII.
impediments which he met with, aroſe from the deſtruction of the C H A P.
bridges. His courſe, ſo far as he had yet gone, was the ſame, whe-
1778.
ther he meant to proceed to New York by the way of Sandy Hook,
or by South Amboy, oppoſite to Staten Iſland, and the North River;
but he had now arrived at that point where the highways diverge,
and where it was neceſſary for him to make an option which of theſe
roads, during the remainder of his march, he would purſue. The
roads which led to Staten Iſland and the North River on the left,
were the ſhorteſt; but in that direction the river Rariton intervened,
the paſſing of which, in the face of an enemy ſuperior in number,
might be both difficult and dangerous; more eſpecially as intelli-
gence had been received that general Gates, with another army, was
advancing from the northward to form a junction with general Waſh-
ington, near that river. This conſideration determined the Britiſh Sir H. Clin-
ton purſues
general to take the road which led to Sandy Hook, as that which his march to
New York by
preſented the feweſt impediments to obſtruct his progreſs, and by Sandy Hook.
inclining to the right carried him clear of the courſe of the Rariton
altogether. Along this road, therefore, the Britiſh army was or-
dered to march; and having proceeded ſome miles, they encamped
on the twenty-ſeventh of June on ſome high grounds in the neigh-
bourhood of Freehold Court-houſe, in the county of Monmouth.
General Waſhington had from time to time ſo powerfully rein- Diſpoſition
forced his advanced detachments, that the marquis de la Fayette rican army,
firſt, and afterwards general Lee, were in ſucceſſion ſent to take the
command of them. They now amounted, according to general
Waſhington's account, to more than five thouſand men, and had
taken poſt at Engliſh Town, a few miles in the rear of the Britiſh
army.
A
corps
of ſix hundred men' under colonel Morgan, ho-
vered on the right flank of the Britiſh, and eight hundred of the
Jerſey militia, under general Dickenſon, were on the left; whilſt
Vol. II.
D
of the Ames
general
My
18
HISTORY OF THE
XXII.
CH A P. general Waſhington, with the main body of the American army,
encamped about three miles in the rear of his advanced
corps.
1778.
Such was the diſpoſition of the two armies on the evening of the
twenty-ſeventh of June; and as it was now obvious, from the courſe
which the Britiſh army had lately taken, that their march was a real
retreat, and not a feint; this difcovery ſeems to have at laſt de-
termined the American general to riſque an attack; which he reſolved
to make the following morning, before the Britiſh troops ſhould
reach an advantageous poſition, about twelve miles in their front.
Orders were accordingly ſent to general Lee to begin the attack with
the advanced corps as foon as the Britiſh army ſhould be in motion,
with an intimation that general Waſhington, with the main body of
the American army, would advance and ſupport him. Sir Henry
Clinton was ſufficiently apprized that general Waſhington, with the
American army, was near him, from the frequent appearance of his
light troops during the preceding day; and judging that his deſign
was rather to make an attempt upon the baggage, in which he
thought himſelf vulnerable, than to riſque a general engagement,
he made a new diſpoſition in order more effectually to protect it.
The army marched in two diviſions; the van commanded by ge-
neral Knyphaufen, and the rear by lord Cornwallis; but the whole
of the baggage was now put under the care of general Knyphau-
fen's diviſion, that the rear diviſion, under lord Cornwallis, which
conſiſted of the flower of the Britiſh army, being diſincumbered,
might be ready to act with vigour, as circumſtances ſhould require.
This arrangement being made, general Knyphauſen's diviſion, con-
ſiſting of the German troops, the yagers excepted, and the ſecond
battalion of light infantry, with the baggage, marched in purſuance
June 28.
of orders at break of day on the twenty-eighth of June, whilſt the
other diviſion, with which the commander in chief remained, die
and of the
Britiſh
not
+
AMERICAN WAR.
19
+
XXII.
mouth.
not inove till near eight, that it might not preſs too cloſe upon the CHA P.
baggage, which was ſo enormous as to occupy a line of march of
1778.
near twelve miles in extent. But ſcarcely had the rear-guard of the
Britiſh army deſcended from the heights of Freehold, into a plain
of three miles in length and one in breadth, when the advanced
corps of the American army was ſeen approaching, and ſoon after-
wards deſcending into the plain from the ſame heights which the
Britiſh army had juſt before quitted. About the ſame time intelli- Battle of
gence was brought that large columns of the enemy were ſeen march- Court-houſe
in the county
ing on both flanks. This intelligence confirmed the Britiſh general. of Mon-
in his firſt opinion, that the deſign of the enemy was upon
his
baggage; and as that was now engaged in defiles which would con-
tinue for a conſiderable diſtance, no other mode of affording relief
to general Knyphauſen's diviſion appeared to him ſo eligible as that of
making a.vigorous attack upon the corps which appeared in his rear,
and, if ſucceſsful, of preſſing it ſo cloſely, that the detachments ſent
forward on his flanks might be recalled to its aſſiſtance. A difpo-
ſition was accordingly made for commencing the attack in the plain;
but before it could be carried into execution the provincials retired,
and took poſt on the high ground from which they had before de-
ſcended. This was a ſtrong poſition: But it was neceſſary to at-
tempt ſomething deciſive for the relief of the baggage, and orders
being given for the Britiſh troops to aſcend the heights, the attack
was made with ſo much ſpirit, that the provincials were quickly
obliged to give way. Their ſecond line, which was alſo ſtrongly
poſted, now preſented itſelf to view. Here the reſiſtance was
greater ;
but notwithſtanding the heat of the day, which was ex-
treme, the Britiſh troops, fatigued as they were, advanced to the
charge with ſo much order, firmneſs, and intrepidity, that their ſuc-
ceſs in this ſecond attack was not leſs complete than in the firſt. The
D 2
provin
1
20
HISTORY OF THE
XXII.
1778.
CHA P. provincials now fled on all ſides; when, in this critical moment,
general Waſhington coming up with the main body of his army,
took poffeffion of ſome ſtrong ground behind a defile, over which
the Britiſh troops muſt neceſſarily paſs in purſuit of the fugitives ;
and by his timely arrival, and the judicious poſition which he took,
probably ſaved his advanced corps from total ruin. · Already part of
the ſecond Britiſh line had moved to the front, and occupied ſome
ground upon the left flank of the enemy, which was actually turned by
the light-infantry and queen's rangers; but the Britiſh general having
reconnoitred their poſition, and ſeeing, in conſequence of the difficulty
of the defile, the impoffibility of attacking them in front with any
proſpect of ſucceſs, and being alſo confident that the end was gained
for which the attack had been made, recalled his victorious troops,
ready to ſink under the heat and fatigue of the day, and retiring to
the advantageous poſition where the firſt attack had been made, fuf-
fered them to reſt till ten in the evening; when he reſumed his
march to join general Knyphauſen's diviſion with the baggage, car-
rying his wounded along with him, except ſuch as could not with
fafety be moved. Some attempts had been made
me attempts had been made upon the baggage
by the enemy's light troops, which were quickly repelled through
the able diſpoſition made by general Knyphaufen for its ſecurity;
and the two brigades of the enemy which had been ſent forward on
this ſervice, one on each flank, were foon recalled, in conſequence
of the events which happened in the rear.
In the different engage-
ments of this day, the whole loſs of the Britiſh army in killed,
wounded, miffing, and thoſe who died of fatigue, amounted to
three hundred and fifty-eight men, including twenty officers.
Amongſt the ſlain the officer of greateſt note was the honourable
Heutenant-colonel Monckton, who fell at the head of the fecond
battalion of grenadiers, greatly and deſervedly lamented: And ſuch
4
1
was
AMERICAN WAR.
21
1
XXII.
1
was the extreme heat of the day, that three ferjeants, and fifty-ſix C HA P.
men, dropped dead without a wound. Colonel Monckton had been
1778.
felected for the hazardous duty to which he was this day appointed,
on account of the cool intrepidity of his character. By his military
qualities, and amiable virtues, he acquired the eſteem and the affec-
tion of both the officers and the men. Theſe paid the moſt marked
tribute of reſpect to his memory. During the confuſion of a dan-
gerous cannonade, the battalion in parties relieved each other, until,
with their bayonets (being deſtitute of more proper tools), they
perfected a grave, where they laid the body of their beloved com-
manding officer, placing over it with their hands the earth they had
moiſtened with their tears.
The loſs of the Americans exceeded, by a little, that of the Bri-
tiſh
army; for, according to their own accounts, it amounted to
three hundred and fixty-one men, including thirty-two officers.
The events of this day were celebrated by the provincials as a vice
tory; but with what juſtice the particulars which we have related
will ſerve to ſhew. And, independently of theſe, it is apparent that
general Waſhington had, in this day's engagement, received ſuch a
check as determined him to draw off his troops towards the North
River, and moleſt his retreating enemy no farther. Waſhington, in
his public letter, fays that he lay cloſe to the Britiſh army after the
action; but that it went off in ſuch filence, as to give no alarm of its
retreat to the Americans. This ſilence, however, it is well known,
met with one interruption ; for, juſt as the Britiſh were beginning
to move, ſome horſes or cattle were ſtraggling through a wood, and
a battalion of light-infantry, taking them for the enemy, began a
fire upon them, which continued for five minutes. But general
Waſhington dates his" letter to Lee, on that ſame night, from Eng-
liſh Town, three miles from the field of battle.
The
A
22
HISTORY OF THE
С НА Р.
XXII.
1778.
The conduct of general Lee on this day, which was ſo ſeverely
arraigned, and unjuſtly puniſhed by the Americans, was worthy of
applauſe and admiration. He had been betraycd acroſs ſome nar-
row paſſes of a marſh by the perſuaſion that he had to deal with a
i'car-guard of only two or three battalions. When he ſuddenly per-
ceived fix thouſand inen, including the Britiſh light-infantry and
grenadiers, forming to receive him, he retired with ſuch quickneſs
of deciſion, though not attacked, that he had repaſſed the marſh le-
fore our line was in readineſs to move. "Had he, in expectation of
ſupport, maintained his ground on the plain, until the Britiſh had
attacked him, he muſt have been overpowered, and would not have
had any retreat. On the other hand, the conduct of the com,
manders in chief of the contending armies, though each of them
claimed a victory, was made the ſubject of animadverſion. Why, it
was aſked, did general Clinton encumber himſelf with ſo enormous a
train of baggage? Why, when a rapid retreat was his object, did
he halt the army, without being fatigued by long marches, for two
days at Freehold ? It was undoubtedly his buſineſs to gain a com-
munication with the fleet as quickly as poſſible; as it was of Waſh-
ington again to cut it off. At no time' on the march did general
Clinton ſhew any other diſpoſition than that of retreating to New
York. General Waſhington's caution is therefore cenſurable. Не
ought to have attacked ſo encumbered an army with all his light
troops, and, in ſpite of partial defeats, contended, in ſuch favourable
circumſtances, for ultimate victory. The check that the advanced
guard of the American army ſuſtained did not, it was ſaid, appear
to be ſo great as to juſtify a declination of all farther attempts againſt
the Britiſh .
army, even at that very time. Having come up with
the main body of his army, freſh and untired troops, he ſhould
have endeavoured to turn one of general Clinton's flanks. Had he
ſucceeded,
1
AMERICAN WAR.
ing
2
XXII.
/
fucceeded, that
part
of the Britiſh army muſt have been deſtroyed, C HA P.
as, immediately after quitting the plain, any regular mode of retreat
1778,
would have been impracticable; for, on one ſide, the road was com-
manded by a pine barren precipice; while below, on the other, it
was frightfully interfected and cut up by frequent gullies and ravines.
Theſe, continued on both ſides for five or ſix miles, precluded the
action of flanking parties, at the ſame time that the ſummit of the
precipice, open to an affailing army, would have poured eaſy de-
ſtruction on a retreating enemy. Succeſs in this quarter would have
ſecured equal ſucceſs on the part of the army that was encumbered
with baggage. And to all theſe circumſtances, ſo much in favour
of the American general, was added the almoſt immediate appearance
of a French fleet on the coaſt of America.
Yet, in ſuch a conjuncture of affairs, it was obſerved the Britiſh
general riſked, and even courted an action, while the American ſuf-
fered the important occafion to paſs by, when he might have termi-
nated the war by one great and deciſive effort.
The Britiſh army proceeded on its march, until, the baggage hav-
ing reached Sandy Hook, there was no farther apprehenſion for its
fecurity. The fleet from the Delaware was there ready to receive
and whilſt preparations were making, by a bridge of boats, for tranſ-
porting the troops acroſs an inlet of the ſea which feparates Sandy
Hook from the continent, fir Henry Clinton, with the army, lay
encamped at the diſtance of ſome miles in the country, eagerly ex-
pecting general Waſhington to come up, and fully determined to
give him battle. But Waſhington was, by this time, on his march
to the North River; and the Britiſh general having remained for two
days in this ſituation, without ſeeing any thing of the provincials,
proceeded from thence to Sandy Hook, where the army was em-
barked on the fifth of July, and the ſame day landed at New York.
It
it;
24
HISTORY OF THE
1
CH A P. It may be mentioned as a fact in natural hiſtory, but not uncon-
XXII.
nected with this narrative, that the peninſula of Sandy Hook, by
1778,
The Britiſh the ſtorms of the preceding winter, had been converted into an
at New York. iſland, which made it neceſſary to paſs the troops acroſs the channel
July.
by a floating bridge. The queen's rangers, who formed the rear
guard when the bridge was broken up, embarked from the Jerſey
fide in boats.
1
}
AMERICAN WARE
45
+
CH A P.
XXIII.
The French Fleet ſets fail from Toulon to North American Thither
alſo a Britiſh Fleet ſets fail under Vice-Admiral Byron The Count
D'Eſtaing, miſſing the Britiſh Army in Philadelphia, comes to an
Anchor off New York—The Harbour of this Place defended by a
finall Fleet, under Lord Howe D'Eſtaing ſets fail to the South-
ward—but changes his Courſe, and arrives at Rhode Iſand-Ame-
rican Preparations for an Attempt on Rhode Iſand- fruſtrated-
Naval Operations—Lord Howe reſigns the Command of the Fleet
to Admiral Gambier.
XXIII.
fleet ſails from
Toulon to
rica,
TI
THE French, as ſoon as they had determined to take an open C HA P.
and active part in behalf of the revolted colonies, began im-
mediately to arm by ſea. At Toulon they equipped a fleet of twelve A French
ſhips of the line and fix frigates; which, with a conſiderable num-
ber of troops on board, failed from thence on the thirteenth of North Ames
April, under the command of the count D'Eſtaing; but from ad-
verfe winds, did not paſs the ſtraits of Gibraltar till the fifteenth of
May.
The Britiſh miniſtry, who were not unapprized of this equip- Thither alſo
ment, got ready a fleet of an equal number of ſhips, the command ſets fail from
of which was given to vice-admiral Byron. With this fleet the ad- under vice-
admiral By
miral left Portſmouth on the twentieth of May, and proceeding to
Plymouth, finally failed from thence on the ninth of June, after
ſuch advices had been received as no longer left it doubtful that the
VOL. II.
E
Toulon
ron
26
HISTORY OF THE
XXIII.
CHA P. Toulon ſquadron was bound to North America. Theſe advices were
brought by captain Sutton of the Proſerpine, who, from the ſtraits
1778.
of Gibraltar, had followed the French fleet for ninety leagues on its
paſſage. The count D'Eſtaing, thus poſſeſſed of the advantage of
being firſt at ſea, proceeded on his paſſage, and arrived on the coaſt
of Virginia on the fifth of July, the ſame day on which the Britiſh
army had embarked at Sandy Hook. He probably expected to
have found that army in Philadelphia, and lord Howe's fleet in the
Delaware: And had he found them in this ſituation, it is not eaſy
to determine what might have been the conſequence of a joint ope-
ration between him and general Waſhington. Some have thought
that the fate of both the Britiſh feet and army would have been
perilouſly critical; whilſt others, leſs prone to deſpondence, have
maintained with much confidence, that nothing was to be appre-
hended by either, ſo long as their proviſions laſted; of which they
had a ſufficient ſtock to enable them to hold out till the arrival of
admiral Byron.
The count D'Eſtaing, diſappointed in his firſt object by the eva-
D'Eſtaing,
miſſing the cuation of Philadelphia, of which he received intelligence whilſt he
in Philadel lay off the mouth of the Cheſapeak, coaſted along the American
phia, comes
ſhore to the northward, and on the eleventh of July in the evening
came to an anchor off New York, with an apparent deſign of at-
tempting to enter the harbour.
The naval force under lord Howe, although much inferior to the
of this place
defended by a fleet under the count D'Eſtaing, was nevertheleſs reſpectable; the
fhips being well manned, and moſt ably officered. It conſiſted of
fix ſhips of the line, and four of fifty guns, with a number of
frigates and ſmaller veſſels : And, intelligence of the count D’Eſtaing's
approach having been received ſome days before he came in fight, a
maſterly diſpoſition of this force, for the defence of the harbour, had
already been made under the immediate direction of the admiral,
whoſe
The rount
Britiſh army
to an anchor
off New
York.
The harbour
ſmall fleet
under lord
Howe,
AMERICAN WAR.
27
XXIII.
in one
whoſe exertions were moſt nobly ſeconded by the univerſal ardour CHA P.
which prevailed not only in the navy, army, and tranſport ſervice,
1778.
but amongſt all ranks and claſſes of people at New York, who ran
in crowds to offer their ſervice as volunteers. A Britiſh fleet blocked
up one of its own ports was ſuch a phænomenon as filled them
with indignation.
For ſome time after the count D'Eſtaing came to an anchor the
wind was unfavourable to the execution of his ſuppoſed intention ;
but on the twenty-ſecond of July it changed to the eaſtward, and
the French fleet were ſeen getting under way. The long-meditated
attack, it was now ſuppoſed, was inſtantly to be made; and ſo con-
fident were all, that it would prove abortive in conſequence of the
preparations made for defence, that the critical moment which was
to decide, not only the fate of the Britiſh fleet, but of the army, was
waited for with impatience. But the count D'Eſtaing, to their great The count
diſappointment, as ſoon as his ſhips had weighed anchor, inſtead of fets fail to the
attempting to enter the harbour, made fail to the ſouthward, and was
foon out of ſight. Whether he ever ſeriouſly intended to make an
attempt upon the harbour of New York, but, after reconnoitring
its ſituation, with the diſpoſitions made for defence, relinquiſhed the
deſign as impracticable; or whether his appearing before that har-
bour was only a feint to draw the attention of the Britiſh com-
manders from the place where his attack was really intended; is un-
certain: But after quitting New York, and ſtanding to the ſouth-
ward, as far as the mouth of the Delaware, he changed his courſe, but changes
and ſteered direcily for Rhode Iſland, before which he arrived on and arrives at
the twenty-ninth of July. Here at leaſt it was ſoon obvious that he July 29th.
meditated a real attack, in which general Sullivan, with a detach-
ment from Waſhington's army, and a force collected from the neigh-
bouring country of New England, was to co-operate.
E 2
The
ſouthward;
28
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXIII.
1
i
fruſtrated.
The expulſion of the Britiſh troops from Rhode Ifland had been
in the contemplation of the provincials for ſeveral months paſt. In
177*.
American the fpring of this year general Sullivan was ſent to take the com-
preparations
mand in its neighbourhood, and made preparations for invading it.
for an attempt
on Rhode
To theſe preparations major-general ſir Robert Pigott, who com-
Irland;
manded at Rhode Iſland, was not inattentive; he readily perceived
their object, and in order to retard them, projected about the end of
May two different enterpriſes into Providence Plantation ; one con-
ducted by lieutenant-colonel Campbell of the twenty-ſecond, and the
other by inajor Eyre, of the fifty-fourth regiment, both of which
were ſucceſsfully executed. In the firſt, under lieutenant-colonel
Campbell, feveral houſes at Briſtol and Warren, filled with military
and naval ſtores, ſome gallies and armed floops, and one hundred
and twenty-five boats, inany of them fifty feet long, which had
been collected or built on the Hickamuct river, for the purpoſe of
the invaſion, were burnt and deſtroyed; and eighteen pieces of
ordnance, moſt of them of heavy metal, were rendered unſervice-
able. And in the laſt expedition under major Eyre, a large quan-
tity of boards, plank, and other materials for ſhip-building, were
burnt.
Naval opera-
The loſſes ſuſtained by the provincials in theſe expeditions re-
tions.
tarded their preparations ſo much, that when the count D'Eſtaing
arrived off Rhode Illand they were not in readineſs for co-operation;
and for the preſent he contented himſelf with ſtationing two of his
frigates in the Seaconnet Paſſage on the eaſt, and two of his line-of-
battle ſhips in the Narraganſet Paſſage on the weſt ſide of the iſland,
to interrupt the communications of the garriſon, whilſt, with the
remainder of his fleet, he anchored off Brenton's Ledge, at the
ſouth-eaſt end of the iſland, in a ſituation open to the ſea. In this po-
Auguft. ſition he reinained until the eighth of Auguſt, when, every thing being
in
5
5
AMERICAN WAR.
29
;
XXIII,
in readineſs on the part of the provincials, he entered the harbour C HA P.
with his fleet, receiving and returning the fire from ſeveral batteries
1778.
as he paſſed them, and came to an anchor between Newport and
Conanicut. Upon the firſt appearance of the French fleet at Rhode
Iſland, a diſpatch-boat was ſent to New York with intelligence of
this; and on the ſixth of Auguſt lord Howe, after being detained
for four days by contrary winds, put to ſea with the Britiſh fleet,
which was now increaſed to eight line-of-battle ſhips, five ſhips of
fifty guns, two of forty-four guns, and four frigates, with three
fire-ſhips, two bombs, and a number of ſmaller veſſels. With this
force his lordſhip appeared in ſight of Rhode Iſland on the morning
of the ninth of Auguſt, and after having communicated with the
garriſon, and informed himſelf exactly of the ſituation of the French
fleet, came to an anchor the fame evening off Point Judith, which
forms the entrance on the ſouth-weſt fide into the great bay, or
baſon of water, which encompaſſes Rhode Iſland, and the other
fmaller iſlands adjacent. If any advantage could have been gained
by finding the count D'Eſtaing in a confined ſituation, where his
large ſhips could not act with freedom, and where they were alſo
liable to be annoyed by the batteries from the ſhore, it was loſt by
the Britiſh admiral's coming to an anchor fo far to the ſouthward,
and at ſuch a diſtance from the mouth of the harbour: For on the
following morning, the wind having changed to the north-eaſt, the
French admiral embraced this opportunity of failing out of the har-
bour, with all his ſhips, and forming them in order of battle as they
came out, bore down upon the Britiſh fleet. The Britiſh admiral,
for the preſent, thought it prudent to decline an engagement, and.
ranging his ſhips in order of battle, ſtood to the ſouthward, in the
hope that a ſhift of wind might enable him to gain the weather-
gage. Thus arranged, and thus relatively ſituated, the two fleets
continued in light of each other for two days ; when the Britiſh.
admiral,
30,
HISTORY OF THE
XXIII.
1778.
C HA P. admiral, deſpairing of a change of wind, and having failed in
his endeavours to gain the weather-gage, now waited, to lee-
ward, the approach of the enemy, with a determination to
engage; but, about this time, the wind freſhening into a
tremendous ſtorm, not only parted the two fleets from each
other, but ſeparated and diſperſed the individual ſhips of each
ſquadron. The Britiſh admiral, in the Apollo frigate, to which
fhip he had ſhifted his flag from the Eagle, that he might be
the better enabled to direct the operations of his fleet when in pro-
ſpect of an engagement, on the day on which the ſtorm began, now,
when the weather cleared up, found himſelf left with only ſix ſhips;
and the Apollo having ſuſtained ſo much damage in the ſtorm as
rendered it neceſſary to ſend hier immediately into port, he again
ſhifted his flag to one of the other ſhips, to endeavour to collect his
ſcattered fleet: But having in vain looked out for them for ſeveral
days, he at length directed his courſe for Sandy Hook, which he
reached on the ſeventeenth, and there found the reſt of his ſquadron
already at anchor. In his paſſage thither, the Britiſh admiral nar-
rowly eſcaped the French fleet, having come in ſight of ten of their
ſhips, ſome of them at anchor in the ſea, about twenty-five leagues
to the eaſtward of Cape May.
The ſeparation and diſperſion of the two fleets gave occaſion to
the accidental mceting of ſingle ſhips, and produced engagements
between them, which terminated ſo much to the honour of Britiſh
valour and ſeamanſhip, as to excite deep regret, that, after the
Britiſh admiral had at laſt determined to engage, the ſtorm ſhould
have intervened to prevent the action. In the evening of the thir-
teenth captain Dawſon, in the Renown, of fifty guns, fell in with
the French admiral's ſhip, the Languedoc, of eighty-four guns, dif-
maſted; and notwithſtanding her great fuperiority of force, reſolutely
affailed her with apparent advantage, until darkneſs put an end to
the
1
AMERICAN WAR.
31
ht
XXIII.
the engagement, which would have been renewed the following C H A P.
morning, had not the appearance of ſix other ſhips of the enemy's
1778.
fleet obliged the brave captain Dawſon to deſiſt. The ſame evening,
a ſimilar engagement happened between the Preſton of fifty guns,
commanded by commodore Hotham, and the Tonant, a French ſhip
of eighty guns, with her main-maſt only ſtanding, the reſt being
carried away in the ſtorm. The event of this engagement was fimi-
lar to that of the former : It was bravely begun and fuſtained by
commodore Hotham, till darkneſs put an end to it in the evening,
and it could not be renewed in the morning, becauſe of the appear-
ance of the reſt of the French fleet. But the laſt of the engage-
ments, produced by this untoward occurrence, of ſhips of diſpro-
portionate force, puts all naval calculation from weight of metal at
utter defiance, and gives the palm to undaunted bravery and ſuperior
ſkill and ſeamanſhip. In the afternoon of the ſixteenth of Auguſt
the Iſis, a ſhip alſo of fifty guns, commanded by captain Raynor,
fell in with the Cæfar, a French ſhip of ſeventy-four guns, not dif-
maſted nor injured by the ſtorm, but capable of chaſing, and bravely
engaged her for an hour and a half with ſuch advantage, that at the
end of this period the French ſhip ſheered off, and putting before the
wind, left the Iſis incapable of purſuing from the damage which ſhe:
had ſuſtained in her maſts, fails, and rigging. In other reſpects her
damage was inconſiderable, and only one man was killed and fifteen
wounded : Whereas the French ſhip had been ſo roughly handled,
and ſo much injured in her hull, that ſhe was obliged to bear away."
for the harbour of Boſton to refit; and her killed and wounded
amounted to fifty, including in the latter her captain, the celebrated
Bougainville, whoſe arm was ſhot away in the action. If we rea .
fon by analogy, theſe ſpirited actions, thus nobly ſuſtained againſt:
fhips of ſuch ſuperior force, can leave no room to doubt that, had
the two fleets come to action on the day on which an engagement:
was
32
HISTORY OF THE
XXIII.
CHA P. was expected, the event would have proved highly honourable to
the Britiſh flag. Of the two fleets, the French appears to have ſuf-
1778.
fered the moſt by the ſtorm, but both of them had ſuſtained confi-
derable damage. The Britiſh ſhips which were diſabled went into
the harbour of New York to refit; and the French admiral, after
collecting his ſhattered ſquadron, bore away for the harbour of Boſton,
in his paſſage to which he again anchored off Rhode iſland, for the
purpoſe of communicating with the provincials, who had effected a
landing upon that iſland the day before he failed out of the harbour.
On this ſecond viſit to Rhode Iſland he remained only one day,
when he ſhaped his courſe for Boſton.
As ſoon as lord Howe's ſquadron, which was now further increaſed
by the arrival of the Monmouth, one of admiral Byron's fleet, was
ſufficiently refitted, he put to ſea with it again, hoping, from the intel-
ligence which he had received of the motions of the French fleet, that
he might be able to reach the bay of Boſton before it; but in this
hope he was diſappointed. Upon his entering that bay, on the
thirtieth of Auguſt, he found the French fleet already in the har-
bour, and ſo well ſecured by lying within certain points of land, on
which batteries had been erected to cover and command the an-
chorage ground, that all attempts againſt them, in this ſituation, ap-
peared impracticable. Having advanced to the mouth of the har-
bour, and reconnoitred their poſition, he determined to quit the
bay of Boſton, and proceed to the relief of Rhode Iſland; but that
iſland being evacuated by the provincials before his arrival, and his
aſſiſtance in that quarter no longer being neceſſary, he returned with
September. the fleet to New York, towards the middle of September. During
his abſence fix more ſhips of admiral Byron's ſquadron had arrived at
that port; and as, in conſequence of theſe arrivals, the Britiſh naval
force in America was now unqueſtionably ſuperior to the fleet under
the count D'Eſtaing, and would be ſtill farther increaſed by the ar-
rival
1
AMERICAN WAR.
:33
:
17-8.
rival of admiral Byron, in the Princeſs Royal, who was daily ex- C HA P.
pected from Halifax, his lordſhip thought this a proper moment for
availing himſelf of the leave which he had ſome time before obtained Lord' Howe
of retiring from the American ſtation, on account of his health ; relingoms the
and, reſigning the command of the fleet to admiral Gambier, took the feet to
his departure for England.
command of
admiralGam-
bier.
-
..
VOL. II.
B
1
1
:
3
34
HISTORY OF THE
T
CH A P.
XXIV.
A particular Account of the Progreſs and Ilue of the American At-
tempt on Rhode Iſland, already generally mentioned.
CH A P.
XXIV.
AS
1778,
+
S our attention hitherto has been occupied in detailing the
more momentous operations of the two fleets, and the in-
vaſion of Rhode Iſland by the provincials has only been inci-
dentally mentioned, we ſhall now briefly relate the progreſs and
iſſue of that invaſion, which would not have been undertaken but
in the proſpect of a co-operation from the count D'Eſtaing,
and which was abandoned as ſoon as that proſpect was with-
drawn. Previouſly to the arrival of the French fleet, Rhode Iſland
was ſufficiently protected againſt an invaſion from the provincials, by
the garriſon which was placed in it, and by the frigates and other
ſmaller veſſels of war which were ſtationed round it for its ſecurity :
and ſoon after the arrival of the French fleet upon the American
coaſt, the garriſon was reinforced with five battalions under general
Preſcot; for it was foreſeen that, if the French fleet ſhould appear
before it, the Britiſh naval force ſtationed there would be rendered
ineffective, and the ſecurity of the place muſt, for a time at leaſt,
depend chiefly upon the ſtrength of the garriſon. The event juſti-
fied this precaution; for as ſoon as the count D'Eſtaing had detached
two of his line-of-battle ſhips into the Narraganfet Paſſage, and as
many frigates into the Seaconnet Paſſage, the retreat of ſuch of the
Britiſh ſhips as were advanced beyond them was cut off: They
could
I
AMERICAN WAR.
35
.
7
could neither put to ſea nor return to the harbour of Newport; and C HA P.
in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of the French,
1778.
were diſmantled and burnt*. Sir Robert Pigott, too, being threat-
ened with a deſcent in ſeveral quarters at the ſame time, was obliged,
notwithſtanding his reinforcement, to withdraw his out-poſts, and
concentrate his force in an intrenched camp in the neighbourhood
of Newport.
Thus all the north part of the iſland was neceſſarily
left unguarded; and there the provincials, under general Sullivan,
ſuppoſed to amount to ten thouſand men, effected a landing on the
ninth of Auguſt, the day after the count D'Eſtaing had entered the
harbour of Newport. They did not, however, make their appear-
ance before the Britiſh lines till the fourteenth, when, taking poffef-
fion of Honeyman's Hill, they began to conſtruct batteries, form
lines of communication, and make regular approaches, which were
continued without intermiffion until the morning of the twenty-ſixth.
But the re-appearance of the French fleet, in its ſhattered and dif-
abled condition after the ſtorm, and its final departure for the har-
bour of Boſton to refit, threw a fatal damp upon the ſpirits of the
men who compoſed general Sullivan's army. Great part of it con-
fifted of volunteers : And theſe, diſheartened by the departure of
the French fleet, returned home in ſuch numbers, three thouſand of
them having gone off in the courſe of one day, that, according to
the American accounts, the force which at laſt remained did not
greatly exceed that of the Britiſli garriſon. General Sullivan's army
being thus weakened by deſertion, he ſaw the impoſſibility of fuc-
* Britiſh Ships deſtroyed at Rhode Iſland, to prevent them from falling into the Hands of
the French:
Juno
32 guns, burnt..
Cerberus
32 guns, burnt.
Lark ditto ditto.
Falcon
18 guns, ſunk.
Orpheus ditto
ditto.
King's Fiſher 16 guns, burnt.
Flora ditto funk.
F 2
ceeding,
36
HISTORY OF THE
XXIV.
CH A P ceeding, and took meaſures for effecting a retreat. Orders were dif-
patched to repair and ſtrengthen the works in his rear, upon the north
1778.
part of the iſland, and alſo at Briſtol and 'Tiverton upon the conti-
nent: Such parts of his heavieſt baggage as could be ſpared were
ſent off; and every previous preparation that was neceſſary being
made, he began his retreat in the night of the twenty-eighth of
Auguſt. By evacuating his works in the night, gcncral Sullivan
gained a march of ſeveral hours, unperceived by the Britiſh army,
and by poſting his light troops on various eminences in his line of
Niarch, and leaving them behind him with orders to. ſkiriniſh with
the Britiſh troops as they advanced, and then retire, he was enabled
to make good his retreat with the main body of his army, his ar-
tillery and baggage, to a commanding ſituation at the north end of
the iſland; which, as we have ſeen, he had previouſly ſtrengthened
with ſome additional works, for the purpoſe of covering his retreat.
Day-light in the morning of the twenty-ninth diſcovered to fir
Robert Pigott the retreat of the enemy; and a purſuit being in-
ftantly ordered, the whole day was ſpent in ſkirmiſhes, in which the
covering parties of the provincials were ſucceſſively driven from the
different poſts occupied by them, until they fell back upon the main
body of their army, by this time encamped on the advantageous
ground already mentioned. Theſe ſkirmiſhes were terminated by a
ſharp action in front of the American encampment, obſtinately
maintained for half an hour, at the end of which the troops engaged
on both ſides were withdrawn. The loſs of the provincials in
killed, wounded, and miſſing, during the various engagements
of
this day, amounted to two hundred and eleven men, including
officers ; and ſo obſtinately did they diſpute the ground with their
purſuers, that the loſs of the Britiſh troops was not much inferior.
The latter were now, in their turn, become the aſſailants, and during
the following day preparations were made for attacking the provin-
5
cials
AMERICAN WAR.
37
XXIV.
cials in their encampment; but, in the evening of that day, general C HA P.
Sullivan, after having purpoſely exhibited every appearance of an
1778,
intention to maintain his ground, filently ſtruck his tents as ſoon as
it was dark, and withdrew his troops unperceived; which, with the
help of the numerous boats that attended upon him, were, in a few
hours, tranſported acroſs the channel to the continent. His artillery
and baggage had been paſſed over during the preceding day.
Fortunately for the provincials, fir Henry Clinton, who was
haftening with four thouſand men to the relief of Rhode Iſland, was
detained for ſome days by contrary winds in his paſſage through the
Sound, otherwiſe the retreat of general Sullivan and his army
would
in all probability have been cut off. Even after all the delays. which
occurred, fir Henry Clinton arrived at Rhode Inand the day after it
was evacuated.
1
38
HISTORY OF THE
:
CH A P.
XXV.
1
Diſcontents and Clamours in the American States Riots between the
American and French Seamen at Boſton—and at Charleſtown,.
South Carolina-Expedition to Buzzard's Bay-Expeditions againſt
Little Egg Harbour, a noted Rendezvous for Privateers The
Weather this Summer uncommonly boiſterous in the Atlantic Ocean
Diſperſion and Fate of the Fleet under Admiral Byron-The Ad-
miral ſtruggles in vain againſt adverſe Fortune—The Count
D'Eſtaing ſets fail to the Weft. Indies.
CH A P.
XXV:
rican ftatcs.
THE
HE total failure of the expedition againſt Rhode Iſland occa-
fioned great murmuring throughout the American continent,
Dircontents particularly amongſt the inhabitants of the northern ſtates, who were
and clamours moſt intereſted, and had in a more eſpecial manner exerted themſelves
to promote its ſucceſs. In theſe ſtates the clamours of the people
were loud againſt the count D'Eſtaing, for deſerting them in the midſt
of an expedition which he knew was undertaken only in conſequence
of his promiſe of co-operation. Theſe murmurings the governing
powers prudently endeavoured to ſuppreſs, that they might not give
offence to their new allies; but they were nevertheleſs, in part,
the
cauſe of a dangerous riot that happened at Boſton, between the
American and French ſeamen ; in which ſeveral of the latter were
and French ſeverely wounded. Nearly about the ſame time, too, a ſimilar riot
Boſton; happened at Charleſtown, in South Carolina, between the ſame
claſſes of people, but more fatal in the effects, as ſome lives on both
fides,
Riots be-
tween the
American
ſeamen at
and at
Cuail
town, South
Carolina.
AMERICAN WAR.
39
.
1
ſides were loſt. Indeed, the manners of the people were yet ſo C HA P.
little aſſimilated, that a cordial agreement could ſcarcely be expected.
1778.
At both thoſe places, however, means were fallen upon to appeaſe
the tumults, and great pains were taken to give ſatisfaction to the
French, whom, at this early ſtage of the connexion, it would have
been highly imprudent to diſguſt.
Sir Henry Clinton, having been diſappointed in cutting off the
retreat of the provincials from Rhode Iſland, returned with the fleet
of tranſports towards New York, as far as New London; at which
place he propoſed making a deſcent, for the purpoſe of deſtroying
a number of privateers, which, rendezvouſing at this port, greatly
infeſted that part of the trade to New York which paſſed through the
Sound. But as he approached the mouth of the river which, paſſing
by New London, empties itſelf into the Sound, the wind became
unfavourable, and prevented the fleet from entering: And as the
appearance of the weather indicated a continuance of the ſame un-
favourable wind, the commander in chief here left the fleet, and
continued his paſſage to New York, having firſt given orders to
major-general, now ſir Charles Grey, upon whom the command of
the troops on board the tranſports now devolved, to proceed to the
eaſtward upon a ſimilar expedition in Buzzard's Bay.
The object of this expedition was to deſtroy the privateers upon. Expedition
under general
the Acuſhnet river in Plymouth county in New England, together Grey to Buz-
with a number of prizes which they had lately taken ; and never was
zard's Bay.
a ſervice more effettually performed. The fleet of tranſports hava
ing proceeded to the eaſtward with a fair wind, landed the troops on
the banks of the Acuſhnet river at ſix in the evening of the fifth of
September. And ſuch was the rapidity of the execution, that by
noon of the next day they were all re-embarked, having, in the
mean time, burnt and deſtroyed all the ſhips in the whole extent of the
river, amounting to more than ſeventy fail. They alſo burnt at Bedford
and
1
40
HISTORY OF THE
XXV.
CHA P. and Fairhaven, the one of theſe towns ſituated on the weſt, and
the other on the eaſt ſide of the river, a number of ſtorehouſes
1778.
filled with proviſions, merchandiſe, naval and warlike ſtores, and
the cargoes of the prize-ſhips, with ſeveral wharfs, and two large
rope-walks. They alſo diſmantled and burnt, on the eaſt ſide of the
river, an incloſed fort mounting eleven pieces of heavy cannon, with
a magazine, and barracks for two hundred men * This ſervice being
performed with the loſs of only one man killed, four wounded,
and ſixteen miſſing, in exchange for whom fixteen perſons were
brought from Bedford. The troops being re-embarked, the fleet
proceeded to the iſland called Martha's Vineyard, where they alſo
took or burnt ſeveral veſſels, deſtroyed a falt-work, and obliged the
inhabitants to deliver up their arins, and furniſh a contribution of ten
thouſand ſheep, and three hundred oxen; and with this ſeaſonable
fupply of proviſions the fleet returned to New York t.
Another
* Veſſels, Stores, &c. deſtroyed on Acuſhnet River, the 5th of September 1778, by the
Troops under Major General Grey.
8 fail of large ſhips, from 200 to 300 tons burden, moſt of them prizes.
6 armed veſſels, from 10 to 16 guns.
A number of floops and ſchooners, amounting in all to 70, beſides whale-boats and others.
26 ſtore-houſes at Bedford, and ſeveral at M.Pherſon's Wharf, Cran's Mills, and Fair-
haven, filled with rum, ſugar, melaſſes, coffee, tobacco, cotton, tea, medicines, gunpowder,
fail-cloth, cordage, &c.
Two large rope walks.
13 pieces of ordnance deſtroyed at the fort, the magazine blown up, and the platform and
barracks for aco men burnt.
† Veſſels, Stores, &c. taken or deſtroyed by the Troops under Major GeneralGrey, at Falmouth,
in the Vineyard Sound, and at the Iſland of Martha's Vineyard,
At Falmouth, 2 floops and a ſchooner taken, and one floop burnt.
At Martha's Vineyard, ane brig of 150 tons, and one fchooner of 70 tons burden, burnt;
kad four other veſſels with 23 whale-boats, taken or deſtroyed.
A falt-work deſtroyed, and a conſiderable quantity of falt taken.
388 ftand
AMERICAN WAR.
41
XXV.
rendezvous
1
Another expedition was ſoon afterwards planned againſt Little Egg C HA P.
Harbour, on the eaſt coaſt of New Jerſey, which was alſo a noted
1778
rendezvous for privateers. The vicinity of this, otherwiſe inſigni- Expeditions
ficant, little port, to that tract of the ſea through which veſſels again ft Little
uſually paſs either in entering or coming from the harbour of New bour, a noted
York to the ſouthward, rendered it a moſt convenient ſituation for forprivateers.
annoying the trade of that place; and on that account the expedi-
tion againſt it became an object of ſome conſideration. To favour
the ſucceſs of this, as well as to procure forage, and open the coun-
try on both ſides of the North River, for the admiſſion of provi-
fions, the army was put in motion.
in motion. The firſt diviſion, under lord
Cornwallis, advancing on the weſt ſide of the North River into the
country of New Jerſey, took a poſition between that river and News
Bridge, on the Hackinſack, the right of this diviſion extending to
the North River, and the left to the Hackinſack; whilft general
Knyphauſen, with the other diviſion of the army, took a parallel
poſition on the eaſt ſide of the North River, his left reaching to that
river at Wepperham, and his right to the Brunx. From the rela-
tive ſituations of the two diviſions ſeparated from each other only
by the North River, the whole, by means of the flat-bottomed
boats, could have been aſſembled on either ſide of the river in leſs
than twenty-four hours ; whereas general Waſhington, from not
having the command of that river, could not have aſſembled his
troops in leſs than ten days. Senſible of theſe diſadvantages, and
probably foreſeeing that this advanced poſition of the Britiſh army
was only a temporary movement, he did not attempt to draw his
388 ſtand of arms taken, with bayonets, pouches, flints, ſome gunpowder, and a quantity
of lead.
300 oxen, and 10,000 Mheep.
1000l. ſterling in paper, the amount of a tax collected in Martha's Vineyard by the au-
thority of the congreſs, was received of the collector,
VOL. II.
G
troops
42
HISTORY OF THE
content
1
XXV.
CHA P. troops together, but ſent forward detachments to interrupt and con-
w' fine as much as poſſible the operations of the Britiſh foragers. One
1778.
of theſe detachments was in front of lord Cornwallis's diviſion, and
occupied the villages of Old and New Taapan ; a regiment of light-
horſe, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Baylor, being quartered at
the firſt of theſe places, and a body of militia at the other. Intel-
ligence of their poſition having been received, a plan was laid by
lord Cornwallis for cutting them off. Lieutenant-colonel Campbell,
with the ſeventy-firſt regiment, and the queen's rangers from gene-
ral Knyphauſen's diviſion, was to paſs the North River, and attack
the provincials at New Taapan, whilſt another column from lord.
Cornwallis's diviſion, led by major-general Grey, ſhould advance on
the left, and attack thoſe at Old Taapan. By ſome delay which oc-
çurred in tranſporting lieutenant-colonel Campbell's column acroſs
the North River, the boats not having arrived in time, and by the
intelligence carried to the enemy by ſome deſerters from this co-
lumn, the provincials at New Taapan were alarmed in time to make
their eſcape. But the village of Old Taapan was fo completely ſur-
rounded in the night by the left column, under major-general Grey,
whoſe prompt execution and unrivalled ſucceſs in enterpriſes of this.
nature had been the terror of the provincials ever ſince the ſur-
priſe of general Wayne, that very few of the regiinent which was
quartered in it were able to make their eſcape. The greateſt part
sither fell victims to the carnage incident to the confuſion and un-
certainty of a nightly attack; or were fortunate to be made pri-
foners; and amongſt the latter was their commander, dangerouſly
wounded. The regiment was entirely ruined ; and the ſuddenneſs:
and ſeverity of this nightly enterpriſe ſtruck ſuch terror into the
provincials that the Britiſh foragers were not afterwards interrupted.
In the mean time, the ſquadron deſtined for Little Egg Harbour,
failed from New York under the direction of captain Collins of the
4
Zebra..
+
AMERICAN WAR.
43
!
XXV.
Zebra. This little ſquadron conſiſted of the Zebra, Vigilant, Nau- C HA P.
tilus, ſome gallies, ſmall armed veſſels, and tranſports. On board
1778
the tranſports were embarked three hundred troops from the fifth
regiment, and the New Jerſey. volunteers, the whole under the com-
mand of captain Patrick Ferguſon, of the ſeventieth regiment, an
active, zealous, and able officer, who, in this expedition, was en-
truſted with the conduct of the land ſervice. Although this ſqua-
dron left New York on the thirtieth of September, it did not arrive
off Little Egg Harbour till the fifth of October in the evening, on
account of contrary winds; and in the mean time tire country had
been alarmed by receiving intelligence of the place of its deſtination j
which gave an opportunity to four privateers to put to ſea and make
their eſcape, whilſt the other veſſels were carried up the river, as far
as their draught of water would permit. As the commanders of
this expedition learnt on their arrival at Little Egg Harbour that the
country had been already alarmed, they determined to loſe no farther
time in carrying it into execution. On the morning of the fixth,
the wind ſtill preventing the tranſports from entering the harbour,
the troops were embarked on board the ſmaller veſſels, which, with
the row-gallies, proceeded about twenty miles up the river to a place
called Cheſnut Neck, where were ſeveral veſſels, and a ſmall village
with ſtore-houſes, for the reception of prize-goods. Here the pro-
vincials had erected two batteries; one level with the water, and the
other upon a commanding eminence; but neither of them yet
mounted with artillery. Behind theſe batteries, and a breaſt-work
which they had alſo thrown up, they at firſt made a formidable
fhew of reſiſtance; but as ſoon as the troops were landed under
cover of the row-gallies, fled. The batteries, with the houſes and
ſtores, were immediately.demoliſhed by the troops, whilſt the ſea-
men ſet on fire and burnt ten large prize ſhips, which in conſequence
of the previous alarm had been ſkuttled by the provincials, and
could
1
G2
+
44
HISTORY OF THE
XXV.
1778.
€ H A P. could not be brought off. It had been propoſed to penetrate by the
ſame river as far as a place called the Forks, the grand depot for
prize-goods, within thirty-five miles of Philadelphia; but informa-
tion was now received that the militia in that part of the country
were reinforced by a detachment of foot, a ſmall train of artillery,
and a corps of light-horſe ; and as, from the ſhallowneſs of the na-
vigation, the troops could not be farther accompanied by the row-gal-
lies, it was determined to abandon this part of the enterpriſe as im-
practicable. The troops were accordingly re-embarked, and proceeded
down the river. In their paſſage they were twice landed, and de-
ſtroyed three falt-works, and ſome houſes and ſtores belonging to
perſons either concerned in fitting our privateers, or whoſe activity in
the cauſe of America, and unrelenting perſecution of the loyaliſts,
marked them out as proper objects of vengeance. After the gallies
and ſmaller veſſels had joined the ſquadron in the harbour, they
were prevented from putting to fea for ſome days by contrary winds;
and during this interval an officer and ſome privates, deſerters from
Pulaſki's American legion, having come on board, gave ſuch an ac-
count of the poſition of that corps, lying only at the diſtance of
twelve miles up the river, as ſuggeſted to the active and enterpriſing
mind of captain Ferguſon the probability of ſurpriſing it.. Pulaſki's
corps, conſiſting of three companies of foot, three troops of horſe,
and a detachinent of artillery, with one braſs field-piece, was quar-
tered about a mile beyond a bridge, which captain Ferguſon pro-
poſed to ſeize, for the purpoſe of ſecuring his retreat : And two
miles beyond Pulaſki's corps, lay a provincial colonel with a detach-
ment of artillery, ſome field-pieces, and the militia of the country.
Captain Ferguſon having minutely informed himſelf of their fitua-
tion, communicated his ideas to captain Collins ;, and it was agreed
that the attempt ſhould be made. At eleven at night, two hundred
and, fifty troops were embarked in the boats, which, rowing ten miles
up
AMERICAN WAR.
4.5
mm
XXV.
up the river, landed them at four in the morning. Tlie bridge being C HA P.
immediately ſecured, and left under the guard of fifty men, the reſt
1778.
of the detachment puſhed forward, and ſurrounding the quarters of
Pulaſki's infantry, cut them to pieces. Very few eſcaped, and only
five were made priſoners. The Americans themſelves numbered fifty
that were ſlain, and amongſt theſe three officers ; one of whom was
of rank; the baron de Boſe, a lieutenant-colonel. As this ſurpriſe
was effected within two miles of a force ſuperior in number to the
aſſailants, not only celerity of execution, but an immediate retreat,
became neceſſary, which, in conſequence of the bridge having been
previouſly ſecured, was made with eaſe and ſafety. The troops were
re-embarked without any other loſs than two men miſſing, and one
officer and two privates wounded; and as ſoon as the wind provech
favourable the ſquadron returned to New York.
The ſurpriſe of Baylor's dragoons at Old Taapan, and that of
Pulaſki's legion near Little Egg Harbour, both of which happened
nearly about the ſame time, gave freſh occaſion to the Americans to
pour forth much virulent invective againſt the cruelty of the Britiſh
troops. But whilſt we admit the ſeverity of the execution on both
theſe occaſions, candour requires us to add, that as both thoſe attacks
were made by ſurpriſe, and both in the night, and as the ſucceſs of
a ſurpriſe depends in a great meaſure upon celerity of execution, it
is impoſſible, under ſuch circumſtances, for a commander, however
humane, to prevent carnage. In the laſt of theſe enterpriſes, it is
alſo to be remarked, that captain Ecrguſon's ſoldiers were highly
irritated by intelligence immediately before. received from the de-
ſerters, that count Pulaſki had given it out in public orders to his
legion, no longer to grant quarter to the Britiſh troops. This in-.
.
telligence afterwards appeared to be falſe; but in the mean time
captain Ferguſon's: ſoldiers acted under the impreſſion that it was
true;, and to his honour it is to be related, that although he did not.
fureen
46
HISTORY OF THE
XXV.
1778.
The weather
this ſummer
tic ocean.
CH A P. ſcreen the guilty, he was careful to ſpare the innocent. The dwell-
ing of a perſecuting committee-man he razed to the ground, but
ſaved from the flames the houſe of a peaceable, inoffenſive Quaker,
although it contained part of the baggage and equipage of Pulaſki's
legion, which it was an object to deſtroy, and which he had not
time to deſtroy in any other way than by ſetting fire to the houſe;
but the houſe, belonging to a peaceable man, was faved, and with it
the baggage.
Before the ſquadron from Little Egg Harbour returned to New
York, the Britiſh army was withdrawn from its forward poſition;
and in this quarter nothing material was undertaken or atchieved on
either ſide during the remainder of the ſeaſon.
The weather, throughout the whole of this ſummer, appears to
uncommonly have been uncommonly boiſterous in the Atlantic ocean. From this
tempeſtuous
in the Atlan- caufe admiral Byron's fleet, which failed from England on the ninth
of June, to counteract the deſigns of count D'Eſtaing on the Ame-
rican coaſt, was not only delayed in its paſſage, but was at length, on
Diſperſion the third of July, diſperſed and ſeparated by a ſtorm. Some of the
ſhips arrived ſingly at New York, in the manner we have already
ſeen; and ſix of them, under admiral Parker, having been fortunate
enough to keep together, reached that port on the twenty-ninth of
Auguſt. But admiral Byron himſelf, in the Princeſs Royal, which
ſhip was at laſt left alone, after having made good his paſſage within
thirty leagues of Sandy Hook, came in fight of twelve ſhips, on the
eighteenth of Auguſt, about ten miles to leeward of him, which,
from their ſignals, he at length diſcovered to he the French fleet;
and as theſe ſhips from their ſituation equally obſtructed his courſe to
New York or to Rhode Iſland, he was obliged, by a neceſſity of re-
fitting, to bear away for Halifax; where he arrived on the twenty-
fixth of that month, and found the Culloden, another of his fleet,
already in the harbour. Both theſe ſhhips being refitted with the
utmoſt
and fate of
the fleet un-
der admiral
Byron.
AMERICAN WAR.
47
1
XXV.
utmoſt diſpatch, he failed again on the fourth of September, and C HA P.
arrived at New York about the middle of that month. The ſhips of
1778.
his ſquadron which arrived there before him were ſo ſhattered and
torn to pieces in the different ſtorms they had encountered, that with
all the diſpatch that could be uſed they were not in readineſs to pro-
ceed to ſea till the eighteenth of October. On that day the admiral The admiral
ſtruggles in
failed again in queſt of the count D'Eſtaing, but his ill fortune ſtill vain againſt
continued to perſecute him. Scarcely had he reached the bay of adverſe for-
Boſton, when, on the firſt of November, another tremendous ſtorm
aroſe, drove his ſhips out to ſea, and ſo diſabled them that he was
obliged to return to Rhode Iſland to refit, and leave the bay of Boſton
unguarded. The count D'Eſtaing, whoſe ſhips were by this time
D'Eſtaing
completely refitted, embraced the favourable opportunity of putting fets fail to
to ſea, which the departure of the Britiſh fleet had given him; and
leaving the harbour of Boſton on the third of November directed
his courſe to the Weſt-Indies.
tune..
The count
Weſt Indies.
İ
1
;
1
11
1
48
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXVI.
Expedition to the Weſt Indies under the Command of General Grant
—The Britiſh Commiſioners return to England Review of their
Proceedings~Expedition againſt Georgia—Reduction of Savannah.
снА Р.
XXVI.
-
to the Weſt
THE ſeaſon for active operation between the two grand armies
being now over, and no greater force being neceſſary to be
1778.
kept at New York, during the winter, than would be ſufficient for
the defence of the different poſts occupied by the Britiſh troops; as
ſoon as admiral Byron had failed from thence for the bay of Boſton,
a detachment of five thouſand troops was put under orders for em-
Expedition barkation, to proceed to the Weſt Indies, under the command of
Indies under general Grant. This force failed from Sandy Hook on the third of
the command
of general
November. The tranſports were eſcorted by a ſquadron of ſix ſhips
Grant.
of war, under the command of commodore Hotham. Towards the
.
end of the ſame month another embarkation took place, the object
of which was the reduction of the province of Georgia. The
troops
ſent on this ſervice were commanded by lieutenant-colonel Camp-
bell, of the ſeventy-firſt regiment, and the naval force by commo-
dore Hyde Parker.
About the time of the laſt of theſe embarkations the Britiſh com-
ers return to miſſioners took a final leave of America, and ſailed for England.
England.
We ſhall here, therefore, interrupt the thread of hoſtile detail, for
the ſake of giving a ſummary account of their proceedings ſubſe-
quent to the anſwer of congreſs to their firſt application. In that
5
anſwer,
The Britiſh
commiſſion-
AMERICAN WAR.
49
XXVI.
1778.
their pro-
anſwer, the congreſs, as a preliminary to all negotiation, had re- CHA P.
quired either an explicit acknowledgınent of the independence of
America, or elſe that the Britiſh fleets and armies ſhould be with-
drawn: And even then they confined the extent of the 'negotiation
to ſuch an agreement as ſhould not be inconſiſtent with treaties already Review of
ſubſiſting between them and foreign powers. Although the Britiſh ceedings.
cominiffioners, after receiving this anſwer, muſt have been convinced
that all farther attempts at negotiation with the congreſs muſt be
fruitleſs, they nevertheleſs thought it neceſſary to reply, that it might
clearly appear to the world not to be owing to any backwardneſs in
them, if the negotiation ſhould not ſucceed. In this reply,,dated at
New York the eleventh of July, they rejected the laſt of the two alter-
native preliminaries, which regarded the withdrawing of the Britiſh
fleets and arınies, as entirely inadmiſſible; not only for the ſake of
guarding againſt the deſigns of the natural enemy of Great Britain,
but for the ſafety of thoſe who, in America, had taken an active
part in favour of the mother-country: And, with reſpect to the firſt
of the alternatives, they declared, that if the congreſs, by the inde-
pendence of America, ineant no more than the entire privilege of the
people of that continent to diſpoſe of their own property and to go-
vern themſelves without any reference to Great Britain beyond what
is neceſſary to preſervé an-union of force for the ſafety of the whole
empire, ſuch an independence had been already acknowledged in
the firſt letter from the commiſſioners. They alſo reminded the
congreſs that they had furniſhed that aſſembly with a copy of the
powers under which they acted, and as a reciprocal mark of confi-
dence they expected that the congreſs would make known to them
the powers with which they were entruſted by their conſtituents to
contract alliances with foreign powers; and, as theſe alliances were
to have an influence on the negotiation, ſo they alſo expected copies
of the treaties on which they were founded. But the congreſs took
no further notice of this ſecond letter of the commiſſioners, than
VOL. II.
H
barely
н
11
50
HISTORY OF THE
XXVI.
CHA P. barely to enter a reſolution upon their journals, importing that no
anſwer ſhould be given to it; as neither of the preliminary condi-
1778.
tions
upon which alone a negotiation could commence, had been yet
complied with.
General Burgoyne's army being ſtill retained in captivity, in direct
violation of the convention under which it had ſurrendered, a re-
monſtrance on this ſubject, bearing date the ſeventh of Auguſt, was the
next paper addreſſed to the congreſs by the Britiſh commiſſioners,
In this remonftrance they complained with ſome ſeverity of the de-
tention of thoſe troops, demanded a free entrance for tranſports into
the harbour of Boſton to tranſport them to Great Britain, according to
the terms of the convention; and, to remove every poſſible difficulty,
offered to renew and ratify on the part of Great Britain every article
of that convention, more eſpecially the article by which the troops
were bound not to ſerve againſt America during the war; and to this
repreſentation they demanded a ſpeedy, direct, and explicit anſwer.
But the congreſs, inſtead of returning a direct anſwer, tranſmitted to
them a remonftrance on the conduct of governor Johnſtone, one of
the commiſſioners, in which he was charged with attempting to bribe
and corrupt ſome of their members: And this remonftrance was ac-
companied with a declaration that it was incompatible with the ho-
nour of congreſs to hold any farther communication or intercourſe
with governor Johnſtone, more eſpecially upon affairs in which the
cauſe of liberty and virtue was intereſted.
This charge was founded on letters written by governor Johnſtone
to individual members of congreſs *, with ſome of whom he was
per-
* In conſequence of an order of congreſs, that all letters received by members of that body,
or their agents, from any fubjc&t of the king of Great Britain, of a public nature, ſhould be
laid before them, the following letters were laid on the table from governor Johnſtone :
TO FRANCIS DANA, Eſq. ( Private.)
« Dear Sir,
“ It gives me great pleafure to find your name among the lift of congreſs, becauſe I am
per-
.
.'
AMERICAN WAR.
SI
A
XXVI.
perſonally acquainted, and for others had received letters of intro- C H A P.
duction from their friends in England. Governor Johnſtone had not
1778.
only
perfuaded, from perfonal knowledge of me, and my family and connexions, you can entertain no
jealouſy that I would engage in the execution of any commiſſion that was inamicable to the
rights and privileges of America, or the general liberties of mankind; while, on the other
hand, your character muſt be ſo well known, that no man will ſuſpect you will yield any point
that is contrary to the real interelt of your country; and therefore it will be preſumed we will
lofe no opportunity, from falſe punctilio, of meeting to diſcuſs our differences fairly, and that,
if we do agree, it will be on the moſt libcral, and therefore the moſt laſting terms of union.
There are three facts I wiſh to aſſure you of. Firſt, That Dr. Franklin, on the 28th of March
laft, in diſcuſſing the ſeveral articles we wilh to make the baſis of our treaty, was perfectly
ſatisfied they were beneficial to North America, and ſuch as ſhe ſhould accept. Second, That
this treaty with France was not the firſt treaty that France had exa&ted, and with which Mr.
Simeon Deane had put to ſea, but granted and acceded to after the ſentiments of the
people
of Great Britain had fully changed, after the friends to America had gained their points for
reconciliation, and ſolely with a view to diſappoint the good effects of our endeavours. You
will be pleaſed to hear the pamphlet wrote by Mr. Pulteney was a great means of opening the
minds of the people of England to the real ſtate of the queſtion between us, and that it has
run through thirteen editions. The third fact is, That Spain, unaſked, had ſent a formal
meſſage, diſapproving of the conduct of France. All theſe I will engage to prove to your fa-
tisfaction. I beg to recommend to your perſonal civilities, my friend, Dr. Ferguſon. He
is a man of the greateſt genius and virtue, and has always been a ſteady friend to America.
Private.
“ If you follow the example of Britain in the hour of her privilege, infolence, and mad-
neſs, and refuſe to hear us, I ſtill expect, ſince I am here, to have the privilege of coming
among you, and ſeeing the country, as there are many men, whoſe virtues I admire above
Greek and Roman names, that I ſhould be glad to tell my children about.
“ I am, with eſteem and affe&ion, dear Sir,
“ Your friend and ſervant,
Philadelphia, June 10, 17,8.
“ GEO. JOHNSTONE."
To General JOSEPH Reed,
• ŞIR,
« Your near and worthy relation, Mr. Dennis de Berdt, has made me happy by favouring
me with a letter to you. I have been informed by general Robertſon of your great worth
and conſequence in the unhappy diſputes that have fubfifted between Great Britain and
her
Ha
52
HISTORY'.OF THE
XXVI.
CHA P. only been an uniform but a ſtrenuous advocate in the Britiſh par-
liament for the rights originally claiined by the Americans; and
1778.
there-
her deſcendants. Your pen and your ſword have both been uſed with glory and advantage
in vindicating the rights of mankind, and of that community of which you was a part.
Such a conduct, as the firſt and fuperior of all human duties, muft ever command my warmeſt
friendſhip and veneration.
« In the midſt of thoſe affecting ſcenes, my feeble voice has not been wanting to ſtop the
evils in their progreſs, and to remove, on a large and liberal footing, the cauſe of all jealouſy ;-
that every ſubject of the empire might live equally free and ſecure in the enjoyment of the
bleſſings of life ;—not one part dependant on the will of another with oppoſite intereſts, but a
general union on terms of perfect ſecurity and mutual advantage.
“ During the conteſt, I am free to confeſs, my wiſhes have ever been, that America might
ſo far prevail as to oblige this country to ſee their error, and to reflect and reaſon fairly in
the caſe of others, heirs to the fame privileges with themſelves. · It has pleaſed God in his
juſtice fo to diſpoſe of events, that this kingdom is' at length convinced of her folly and her
faults. A commiffion under parliamentary authority is now iſſued for ſettling in a manner con-
fiftent with that union of force on which the ſafety of both parties depends, all the differences
that have or can fubfift between Great Britain and America, fhort of a total feparation of in-
tereſts. In this commiſſion I am an unworthy aſſociate. Though no man can feel the deſire
of cementing in peace and friendſhip every member of what was called the Britiſh empire,
ſtronger than myſelf; yet I am ſenſible that it might'hate 'fallen to the lot of many perfons
better qualified to attain the end propoſed. All I can claim is ardent zeal and upright in-
tentions; and when I reflect that this negotiation muſt depend niuch more upon perfect in-
tegrity than refinement of underſtanding, where a ſenſible, magnanimous people will ſee their
own intereſt, and carefully guard their honour in every tranſaction, I am more inclined
to hope, from the good-will I have always borne them, I am 09t altogether unqualified for the
talk.
“ If it be (as I hope it is) the diſpoſition of good men in the provinces to prefer freedom,
in conjunction with Great Britain, to an union with the ancient enerny of both ; if it is their
generous inclination to forget recent injuries, and recall to their remembrances former benefits,
I am in hopes we may yet be great and happy. I am ſure the people in America will find in
my brother-commiſſioners, and myſelf, a fair and cheerful concurrence in adjuſting every point
to their utmoſt wiſh, not inconfiftent, as I ſaid before, with a beneficial union of intereſts, which
is the object of our commiſſion.
Nothing could ſurpaſs the glory you have acquired in arms, except the generous, mag-
nanimity of meeting on the terms of juſtice and equality, after demonſtrating to the world
that the fear of force could have no juſt influence in that deciſion.
5
>
« The
AMERICAN WAR.
53
therefore, probably, thought himſelf entitled to take greater liberties C H A P.
with thoſe whoſe cauſe he had ſo powerfully ſupported, than the
XXVI.
1.778.
• The man who can be inſtrumental in bringing us all to act once more in liarmony, and
unite together the various powers which this conteft has drawn forth, will deſerve more from
the king and people, from patriotiſm, liumanity, friendſhip, and all the tender ties that are
affected by the quarrel and reconciliation, than ever was yet beſtowed on human kind.
“ This letter from Mr. de Berdt I ſhall conſider as an introduction to you, which line of com-
munication I ſhall endeavour by every means to improve, by public demonſtrations of reſpect, or
private friendſhip, as your anſwer may enable me.
" I am, with great reſpect, Sir,
“ Your moſt obedient, and moſt humble ſervant,
London, April 11, 1778.
66 GEO. JOHNSTONE."
”
7
T. ROBERT MORRIS; Elg. ( Private.)
i
66 Dear Sir,
Philadelphia, June 16, 1778.
" I CAME to this country in a ſincere belief that a reconciliation between Great Britain and
America could be eſtabliſhed on terms honourable and beneficial to both. I am perſuaded;
and can prove, that the laſt treaty with: France ſhould be no bar, and the firſt treaty, if ever
you favv. it, ſhould be an inducement.
" Suppofing every obſtacle to prevent us from treating removed, we are then to conſider
whether the terms propoſed are advantageous. I incloſe you my ſentiments on the ſubject at
large; if they concur with yours, we ſhall join in the work with all the prudence, and all
the means poſſible and virtuous.. I believe the men who have conducted the affairs of America
incapable of being influenced by improper motives. But in all ſuch tranſactions there is riſk,
and I think that whoever ventures ſhould be fecured, at the ſame time that honour and emolu-.
ment ſhould naturally follow the fortune of thoſe who have ſteered the veſſel in the ſtorm, and
brought her ſafely to port. I think that Waſhington and the preſident have a right to every
favour that grateful nations can beſtow, if they could once more unite our intereſts, and ſpare
the miſeries and devaſtations of war. I wiſh above all things to ſee you, and hope you will ſo
contrive it. Do not think Great Britain is ſo low; remember ſhe never can be lower than
you were at Trenton. It is the ſame blunderers who produced the war who have conducted
it. When the ſenſe of the nation is rouſed, believe me ſhe can make ſtruggles that few
have conceived, but which I ſhould be ſorry to fee exerted on ſuch an occaſion.
“ Whatever may be our fate, I ſhall ever retain, the ſtricteft private friendſhip for you and
jours ;
but let me entreat you to recall all thoſe endearing ties to your recollection.
“ I am, with affection and eſteem, dear Sir,
"'Your obedient ſervant,
“ GEO. JOHNSTONE."
other
54
HISTORY OF THE
XXVI.
C HA P. other commiſſioners ; and being alſo fully of opinion that the pri-
vileges now offered to the colonies, which were abundantly ſufficient
1778.
for ſecuring their liberty, peace, and permanent happineſs, and
more extenſive than thoſe originally claimed by themſelves, ought
to be thankfully accepted, perhaps he was, for that reaſon, leſs fcru-
pulous about the means of inducing acceptance.
Although, in the extracts of the letters which were publiſhed on
this occaſion by the congreſs, there was nothing which amounted to
the direct offer of a bribe, yet it cannot be denied that general ex-
pectations were held out both of honours and rewards, as naturally
appertaining to thoſe who ſhould be inſtrumental in cementing the
disjointed parts of the empire, and putting an end to the horrors
and devaſtations of war. If we ſuppoſe the members of congreſs,
to whom theſe letters were addreſſed, to have been actuated by the
pure principles of virtue, patriotiſm, and love of their country, ſuch
letters, which held out ſelfiſh conſiderations as motives to influence
their conduct in a public concern of ſuch magnitude, muſt neceſſa-
rily have been offenſive; and it was probably owing to ſome of-
fended feeling of this ſort that governor Johnſtone's private cor-
reſpondence was at firſt diſcloſed, and afterwards became the ſub-
ject of public reprehenſion. Upon the receipt of this complaint
and declaration, governor Johnſtone immediately withdrew from the
commiſſion, and in the public act executed by him on this occaſion
to teſtify his reſolution, which was tranſmitted to the congreſs and
bore date the twenty-fixth of Auguſt, he ſeverely recriminated on
that aſſembly, and indirectly charged them with laying hold of this
pretence to avoid returning an anſwer to the requiſition of the com-
miſſioners on the ſubject of general Burgoyne's army; in the ſame
manner as on a former occafion they had paſſed reſolutions about
the cartouch-boxes of that army, to afford a ſeeming juſtification
for breaking through the convention by which it had ſurrendered.
And
AMERICAN WAR.
55
XXVI.
And as he had accepted the office of a commiſſioner only from the C HA P.
deſire of furthering the work of peace and reconciliation, ſo he
1778.
ſignified to them his determination, that no act done by him ſhould
furniſh a pretence for retarding ſo deſirable an end. He therefore
declared, that he would take no farther part in any thing that ſhould
be done under the commiſſion, reſerving to himſelf, however, the
privilege of publiſhing, if he ſhould think fit, a refutation of the
aſperſions which the congreſs had attempted to throw upon him.
The other commiffioners at the ſame time tranſmitted a declaration,
ſpecifying, that they were utter ſtrangers to the letters, and to the
feveral things mentioned in the remonftrance of the congreſs reſpect-
ing governor Johnſtone, until they had ſeen them publiſhed in the
newſpapers : That they neither meant to admit the conſtruction
put upon thoſe letters by the congreſs, nor to enter into an expla-
nation of governor Johnſtone's conduct, whoſe abilities and inte-
grity required no vindication from them; but that, in juſtice to him
and to themſelves, and for the honour of the commifſion, they
thought it neceſſary to declare, that in all the converfations held
with him on the ſubject of their miſſion, the principle of his rea-
ſoning ſeemed to be, that the terms which they were empowered to
offer to America were calculated to promote and eſtabliſh the liber-
ties, peace, opulence, increaſe, ſecurity, and permanent happineſs
of the inhabitants of that continent, and that no other connexion
or form of government could be equally conducive to thoſe ends.
As the commiſſioners ſeem to have been of opinion that the recent
connexion with France was the principal obſtacle which they had
to encounter, they embraced this opportunity of adducing in their
letter to congreſs ſome new topics of reaſoning to enforce their fora
mer communications on that ſubject, and endeavoured to demon-
ſtrate, that the interference of that power was rather from enmity
to Great Britain than friendſhip to America, and merely intended
t
I
tQ
56
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXVI.
1778.
to prolong the conteſt, and fruſtrate the effects of the liberal con-
ceſſions made by the mother-country. They concluded by inti-
mating that, in their opinion, the general congreſs, upon the ground
of their connexion with France, even if they had been legally au-
thoriſed to enter into it, were not entitled to aſſume ſo deciſive a
part as they had taken, without firſt conſulting with their conſtitu-
ents, the provincial aſſemblies, and laying before them a ſtate of
facts upon which a true judgment might be formed. The com-
miſſioners, along with this declaration, diſpatched again their for-
mer remonſtrance on the detention of the Saratoga troops, ſigned
only by the earl of Carliſle, ſir Henry Clinton, and Mr. Eden :
And theſe were the laſt of their papers particularly addreſſed to the
congreſs.
The congreſs were probably diſconcerted by the readineſs witļi
which governor Johnſtone withdrew from taking any further part in
the execution of the commiſſion. It was obviouſly their wiſh to
detain the Saratoga troops as priſoners until they ſhould be redeemed
by exchange. It was alſo their intention not to enter upon any ne-
gotiation with the Britiſh commiſſioners compatible with their
powers, leſt they ſhould give umbrage, or create jealouſy in their
new allies : And, to effect both theſe ends, it is probable that they
would have willingly laid hold of the pretence of governor John-
ſtone's conduct to break off all communication or correſpondence
with the Britiſh commiſſioners, more eſpecially as they knew there
was ſtill a inoderate party in all the colonies, which thought the
terms offered by the commiſſioners ſufficiently liberal to be accepted,
and viewed with extreme concern and apprehenſion the new con-
nexion formed with France; a kingdom which they had been
taught to conſider as proverbially faithleſs. The ſtumbling-block
being removed which the congreſs had endeavoured to raiſe in the
perſon of governor Johnſtone, they were under a neceſſity, for their
own
1
AMERICAN WAR.
52
XXVI.
1778.
own credit, of paying fome attention to the remonftrance of the C H A P.
Britiſh commiſſioners on the detention of the convention arıny; but
ariny; but completo
inſtead of repelling the charges which had been brought againſt
them, of having violated the law of nations by infringing a military
convention, they again laid hold of a miſerable fubterfuge, and ad-
hering to a literal interpretation of their former reſolution regarding
general Burgoyne's army, they paſſed another, bearing date the
fourth of September, as an implied anſwer to the remonftrance of
the commiſſioners, which imported that no ratification of the con-
vention of Saratoga that might be tendered in conſequence of powers
which may reach that caſe by conſtruction and implication, or which
may ſubject whatever is tranſacted relative to it to the future appro-
bation, or diſapprobation, of the parliament of Great Britain, could
be accepted. That this reſolution was evaſive is apparent, when we
reflect that it was paſſed without any previous inquiry into the
powers
under which the commiſſioners offered to renew the con-
vention. For any thing that the congreſs knew, the commiſſioners
might have had ſpecial authority delegated to them by the king, for
this particular purpoſe, and independent of their general commiſſion,
But, to drive that aſſembly from every ſubterfuge, and to remove
every previous objection, fir Henry Clinton, on the nineteenth of
September, tranſmitted to them an extract from an inſtruction fent
to him by the ſecretary of Itate, and received ſince the date of the
remonſtrance made by the commiffioners, by which he was author-
iſed, not in implied, but expreſs terms, to demand a performance
of the convention made with general Burgoyne, and, if required,
to renew and ratify, in the king's name, all the conditions ftipulated
in it. The offer of a ratification now made ſeemed to be of that
poſitive and preciſe nature which ſubſtantially removed every - pre-
vious objection. But the congreſs were not to be ſatisfied; and to
fill up the climax of that Syſtem of evaſion which they had purſued
VOL. II.
। I
in
58
HISTORY OF THE
XXVI.
ز
CHA P. in all their deliberations on this ſubject, they affected to confider fir
Henry Clinton's letter as deficient in reſpect, from the caſual uſe
1778.
of an expreſſion of diſapprobation, which, in the warmth of his
feelings as a ſoldier, when vindicating the rights of ſoldiers groſsly
violated, he had incautiouſly ſuffered to eſcape him ; and inſtead of
anſwering or complying with the requiſition, directed their ſecretary
to write to the Britiſh general, “ that congreſs gave no anſwer to
u infolent letters." Thus thoſe brave troops who had ſurrendered
at Saratoga, upon the faith of a convention, which ſtipulated for
their return to Great Britain, were, by the grofs violation of it,
obſtinately perfifted in by the congreſs, ftill deſtined to bear all the
ills incident to a ſtate of captivity.
The Britiſh commiffioners, finding all efforts to open a negotiation
with the congreſs vain and fruitleſs, at laſt, on the third.of October,
publiſhed a manifeſto and proclamation, addreſſed not only to the
congreſs, but to all the provincial aſſemblies, and to all the inha-
bitants of the colonies of whatever denomination *, in which they
briefly
« MANIFESTO AND PROCLAMATION:
" To the Members of the Congreſs, the Members of the General Aſſemblies or Conventions of
the ſeveral Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces of New Hampſhire, Maſſachuſett's Bay,
Rhode Idand, Connecticut, New York, New Jerſey, Penſylvania, the three lower Counties
on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and all
others, Inhabitants of the ſaid Colonies, of every Rank and Denomination.
“ By the Earl of Carliſle, Sir Henry Clinton, and William Eden, Eſq. Commiſſioners ap-
pointed by his Majeſty, in purſuance of an Act of Parliament, made and paſſed in the 18th
Year of his Majeſty's Reign, to enable his Majeſty to appoint Commiſſioners to treat, con-
fult, and agree upon the Means of quieting the Diſorders now ſubliſting in certain of the
Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces in North America.
L
“ HAVING amply and repeatedly made known to the congreſs, and having alſo pro.
claimed to the inhabitants of North America in general, the berievolent overtures' of Great
Britain towards a re-union and coalition with her colonies, we do not think it conſiſtent either
with
AMERICAN WAR.
59
XXVI.
Eriefly recapitulated the different ſteps taken by them to accompliſh C HA P.
the object of the commiſſion, and the refuſal of the congreſs even to
open a conference with them.
1778.
They again ſet forth the extent and
beneficial
with the duty we owe to our country, or with a juſt regard to the characters we bear, to per-
filt in holding out offers, which, in our eſtimation, required only to be known to be moſt
gratefully accepted; and we have accordingly, excepting only the commander in chief, who
will be detained by military duties, reſolved to return to England, a few weeks after the date
of this manifeſto and proclamation.
« Previous however to this deciſive ſtep, we are led by a juſt anxiety for the great objects
of our miſſion, to enlarge on ſome points which may not have been fufficiently underſtood, to
recapitulate to our fellow-fubjects the bleſſings which we are empowered to confer, and to warn
them of the continued train of evils to which they are at preſent blindly and obftinately ex-
poſing themſelves.
36 To the members of the congreſs thien', 'we again declare, that we are ready to concur in
all ſatisfactory and juſt arrangements for ſecuring to them, and their reſpective conſtituents,
the re-eſtabliſhment of peace, with the exemption from any impoſition of taxes by the par-
liament of Great Britain, and the irrevocable enjoyment of every privilege confiftent with that
union of intereſts and force on which our mutual proſperity and the ſafety of our common
religion and liberty depend. We again affert, that the members of the congreſs were not au-
thoriſed by their conſtitution, cither to reject our offers without the previous conſideration and
cónferit of the ſeveral aſſemblies anđ conventions of their conſtituents; or to refer us to pre-
tended foreign treaties, which they know were deluſively framed in the firſt inſtance, and
which have never yet been ratified by the people of this continent. And we once more re-
mind the members of the congreſs, that they are reſponſible to their countrymen, to the
world, and to God, for the continuance of this war, and for all the miſeries with which it
muſt be attended.
“ To the general aſſemblies and conventions of the different colonies; plantations, and pro-
vinces, above mentioned, we now ſeparately make the offers which we originally tranſmitted
to the congreſs ; and we hereby call upon and urge thein to meet, exprelly for the purpoſe of
conlidering whether every motive, political as well as moral, ſhould not decide their reſolution
to embrace the occaſion of cementing a free and firm coalition with Great Britain. It has
not been, nor is it, our wiſh, 'to ſeek the objects which we are commiſſioned to purſue, hy fo-
menting popular diviſions and partial cabals; we think ſuch conduct would be ill ſuited to the
generous offers made, and unbecoming the dignity of the king and the ſtate which makes
them. But it is both our wiſh and our duty to encourage and ſupport any men, or bodies
of in their return of loyalty to our ſovereign, and of affection to our fellow-ſubjects.
.To all others, free inhabitants of this once happy empire, 'we alſo addreſs ourſelves. Such
I 2
of
V
{
1
men,
60
HISTORY OF THE
CHA P. beneficial tendency of the termns which they were empowered to offer.
XXVI.
Notwithſtanding the obſtructions which they had met with, they
1778.
ſtill declared their readineſs to proceed in the execution of the
powers
of them as are actually in arms, of whatſoever rank or deſcription, will do well to recollect,
that the grievances, whether real or ſuppoſed, which led them into this rebellion, have been
for ever removed, and that the juſt occafion is arrived for their returning to the claſs of peaceful
citizens. But if the honours of a military life are become their object, let them ſeek thoſe
honours under the banners of their rightful ſovereign, and in fighting the battles of the united
Britiſh empire againſt our late mutual and natural enemy.
“ To thoſe whoſe profeſſion it is to exerciſe the functions of religion on this continent, it
cannot ſurely be unknown, that the foreign power with which the congreſs is endeavouring to
connect them, has ever been averſe to toleration, and inveterately oppoſed to the intereſts and
freedom of the places of worſhip which they ſerve; and that Great Britain, from whom they
are for the preſent ſeparated, muſt, both from the principles of her conſtitution, and of pro-
teſtantiſm, be at all times the beſt guardian of religious liberty, and moſt diſpoſed to promote
and extend it.
To all thoſe who can eftimate the blellings of peace, and its influence over agriculturc, artsy
and commerce, who can feel a due anxiety for the education and eſtabliſhment of their chil-
dren, or who can place a juſt valuc on domeſtic ſecurity, we think it ſufficient to obſerve, that
they are made, by their leaders, to continue involved in all the calamities of war, without have
ing either a juft object to purſue, or a ſubfifting grievance which may not inſtantly be re-
dreſſed.
“ But if there be any perſons, who, diveſted of miſtaken reſentments, and uninfluenced by
felfiſh intereſts, really think that it is for the benefit of the colonies to ſeparate themſelves from
Great Britain, and that fo feparated they will find a conftitution more mild, more free, and
better calculated for their profperity than that which they heretofore enjoyed, and which wc
are empowered and diſpoſed to renew and improve; with ſuch perfons. we will not diſpute a
pofition which ſeems to be ſufficiently contradicted by the experience they have had. But we
think it right to leave them fully aware of the charge which the maintaining ſuch a poſition
muſt make in the whole nature and future conduct of this war; more eſpecially when to this.
poſition is added the pretended alliance with the court of France.
“ The policy, as well as the benevolence of Great Britain, have thus far checked the ex-
tremes of war, when they tended to diſtreſs a people ſtill conſidered as our fellow-ſubjects, and
to deſolate a country ſhortly to become again a ſource of mutual advantage: But when that
country profeſſes the unnatural deſign, not only of eſtranging herſelf from us, but of mortgage
ing herſelf and her reſources to our enemies, the whole conteſt is changed; and the queſtion
is, how far Great Britain may, by every means in her power, deſtroy or render uſeleſs a con-
nexion contrived for her ruin, and for the aggrandizement of France.
66 Under
AMERICAN WAR.
61
XXVI.
powers contained in their commiſſion, and to treat not only with CH A P.
deputies from all the colonies conjun&ly, but with any provincial
aſſembly or convention individually, at any time within the ſpace
1778.
of
!
“ Under ſuch circumftances, the laws of ſelf-preſervation muſt direct the conduct of Great
Britain ; and if the Britiſh colonies are to become an acceſſion to France, will direct her to
render that acceffion of as little avail as poſſible to her enemy.
“ If, however, there are any who think that, notwithſtanding theſe reaſonings, the inde-
pendence of the colonies will, in the reſult, be acknowledged by Great Britain, to them we
anſwer, without reſerve, that we neither poffefs or expect powers for that purpoſe; and that
if Great Britain could ever have funk ſo low as to adopt ſuch a meafure, we ſhould not have
thought ourfelves compellable to be the inſtruments in making a conceſſion which would, in
our opinion, be calamitous to the colonies for whom it is made, and diſgraceful, as well as ca-
lamitous, to the country from which it is required. And we think proper to declare, that in
this ſpirit and ſentiment we have regularly written from this continent to Great Britain.
" It will now become the colonies in general to call to mind their own ſolemn appeals to
heaven in the beginning of this conteſt, that they took arms only for the redreſs of grievances;
and that it would be their wiſh, as well as their intereſt, to remain for ever connected with
Great Britain. We again aſk them, whether all their grievances, real or ſuppoſed, have not
been amply and fully redreſſed; and we inſiſt that the offers we have made leave nothing to be
wiſhed, in point of either immediate liberty or permanent ſecurity: If theſe offers are now re-
jected, we withdraw from the exerciſe of a commiſſion, with which we have in vain been ho-
noured; the fame liberality will no longer be due from Great Britain, nor can it in juſtice
ar policy be expected from her.
" In fine, and for the fuller manifeſtation, as well of the diſpoſition we bear, as of the gracious
and generous purpoſes of the commiſſion under which we act, we hereby declare, that whereas
his majeſty, in purſuance of an act of parliament, made and paſſed in the eighteenth year of
his majeſty's reign, entituled, "An act to enable his majeſty to appoint commiſſioners, with
* fufficient powers to treat, conſult, and agrec, upon the means of quieting the diſorders now
• ſubliſting in certain of the colonies, plantations, and provinces of North America,' having
Been pleaſed to authoriſe and empower us to grant a pardon or pardons to any number or de-
fcription of perſons within the colonies, plantations, and provinces of New Hampſhire, Maſ-
ſachuſett's Bay, Rhode Iſland, Connecticut, New York, New Jerſey, Penſylvania, the three
lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia; and whereas the good effects of the ſaid authorities and powers towards the people
a large, would have long fince taken place, if a due uſe had been made of our firſt commu-
nications and overtures, and have thus far been fruſtrated only by the precipitate reſolution of
the members of the congreſs not to treat with us, and by their declining to conſult with their
conſtituents; we now, in making our appeal to thoſe conſtituents, and to the free inhabitants
of
2
62
HISTORY OF THE
/
1
CH A P. of forty days from the date of their manifeſto ; and then, addreſr-
XXVI.
ing themſelves to perſons of every deſcription, whether in civil,
1778.
military, or eccleſiaſtical capacities, or in private ſtations, and ſug-
geſting
of this continent in general, have determined to give to them, what in our opinion ſhould have
been the firſt object of thoſe who appeared to have taken the management of their intereſts ;
and adopt this mode of carrying the ſaid authorities and powers into execution. We accord.
ingly hereby grant and proclaim a pardon or pardons of all, and all manner of, treaſons or miſprifions
of treaſons, by any perſon or perſons, or by any number or deſcription of perſons, within the ſaid colo-
nies, plantations, or provinces, counſelled, commanded, axed, or done, on or before the date of this
manifeſto and proclamation.
“ And we farther declare and proclaim, that if any perſon or perſons, or any number or
deſcription of perſuns, within the ſaid colonies, plantations, and provinces, now actually ſerving
cither in a civil or military capacity in this rebellion, ſhall, at any time, during the continuance
of this manifeſto and proclamation, withdraw himſelf or themſelves from ſuch civil or mili-
tary ſervice, and ſhall continue thenceforth peaceably as a good and faithful ſubject or ſubjects
to his majeſty, to demean himſelf, or themſelves, ſuch perſon or perſons, or ſuch number and
deſcription of perſons, ſhall become and be fully entitled to, and hereby obtain all the
benefits of the pardon or pardons hereby granted; excepting only from the ſaid par-
don or pardons every perſon, and every number or deſcription of perſons, who,.; after
the date of this manifeſto and proclamation, thall, under any pretext or authority, as
judges, jurymen, miniſters, or officers of civil juſtices, be inſtrumental in executing and
putting to death any of his majeſty's ſubjects within the ſaid colonies, plantations, and
provinces.
" And we think proper farther to declare, that nothing herein contained is meant; or ſhall
be conſtrued, to ſet at liberty any perſon or perſons, now being a priſoner or priſoners, or who,
during the continuance of this rebellion, ſhall become a priſoner or priſoners.
“ And we offer to the colonies at large or ſeparately, a general or ſeparate peace, with the
revival of their ancient governments ſecured againſt any future infringements, and protected
for ever from taxation by Great Britain.
“ And with reſpect to ſuch further regulations, whether, civil, military, or commercial, aş
they may wiſh to be framed and eſtabliſhed, we promiſe all the concurrence and aſſiſtance that
liis majeſty's commillion authoriſes and enables us to give.
“ And we declare, that this manifeſto and proclamation ſhall continue and be in force forty
days from the date thereof, that is to ſay, from the 3d day of October, to the 11th day of
November, both incluſive.
“ And in order that the whole contents of this manifefto and proclamation may be more fully.
known, we ſhall direct copies thereof, both in the Engliſh and German language, to be, tranſ,
mitted by ffags of truce to the congreſs
, the general aſſemblies or conventions of the colonies,
plantations,
AMERICAN WAR.
63
1778.
geſting ſeverally to the confideration of each of theſe claffes ſuch C HA P.
XXVI.
motives as might be ſuppoſed to have the greateſt influence, adjured
them all not to let paſs ſo favourable an opportunity of ſecuring their
liberties,
plantations, and provinces, and to ſeveral perſons both in civil and military capacities within
the ſaid colonies, plantations, and provinces; and for the further ſecurity in times to come of
the ſeveral perſons, or numbers or deſcriptions of perſons, who are, or may be, the objects of
this manifeſto and proclamation, we have ſet our hands and ſeals to thirteen copies thereof, and
ha ve tranſmitted the ſame to the thirteen colonies, plantations, and provinces, above mentioned ;
and we are willing to hope that the whole of this manifeſto and proclamation will be fairly and
freely publiſhed and circulated, for the immediate, general, and moſt ſerious conſideration and
benefit of all his majeſty's ſubjects on this continent. And we earneſtly exhort all perſons who by
this inſtrument forth with receive the benefit of the king's pardon, at the ſame time that they en-
tertain a becoming ſenſe of thoſe lenient and affectionate meaſures whereby they are now free from
grievous charges which might have riſen in judgment, or have been brought in queſtion, againſt
them, to make a wife improvement of the ſituation in which this manifefto and proclamation places
them, and not only to recollect that a perſeverance in the preſent rebellion, or any adherence
to the treaſonable connexion attempted to be framed with a foreign power, will, after the
prefent grace extended, be conſidered as crimes of the moſt aggravated kind; but to vie with
each other in eager and cordial endeavours to ſecure their own peace, and promote and eſtabliſh
the proſperity of their countrymen, and the general weal of the empire.
“ And purſuant to his majeſty's commiſſion, we hereby require all officers, civil and military,
and all other his majeſty's loving ſubjects whatſoever, to be aiding and aſlifting unto us in the
cxecution of this our manifeſto and proclamation, and of all the matters herein contained.
“ Given at New York, this 3d day of O&tober 1788.
“
(LS.) CARLISLE.
" (L. S.) HEN. CLINTON.
“ (L. S.) WM. EDEN.
s. By their Excellencies command,
“ ADAM FERGUSON, Secretary."
.
On the thirtieth of October the following Manifeſto was publiſhed by Congreſs:
" By the Congreſs of the United States of America.
“ MANIFESTO.
« THESE United States having been driven to hoſtilities by the oppreſſive and tyrannous
meaſures of Great Britain ;, having been compelled to commit the eſſential rights of man to
the deciſion of arms; and having been at length forced to ſhake off a yoke which had grown
too burdenſome to bear, they declared themselves free and independent.
« Copfiding
64
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. liberties, and their future proſperity and happineſs, upon a perma-
med nent foundation. They alſo prociaimed a general pardon for all
1778.
treaſons and rebellious practices committed at any time previous to
the
XXVI.
“ Confiding in the juſtice of their cauſe, confiding in Him who diſpoſes of human events,
although weak and unprovided, they ſet the power of their enemies at defiance.
« In this confidence they have continued, through the various fortune of three bloody cam-
paigns, unawed by the powers, unſubdued by the barbarity, of their foes. Their virtuous ci-
tizens have borne, without repining, the loſs of many things which made life deſirable. Their
brave troops have patiently endured the hardſhips and dangers of a Gtuation, fruitful in both
beyond example.
“ The congreſs, conſidering themſelves bound to love their enemies, as children of that
Being who is equally the Father of all, and deſirous, ſince they could not prevent, at Icaſt to
alleviate, the calamities of war, have ſtudied to ſpare thoſe who were in arms againſt them, and
to lighten the chains of captivity.
“ The conduct of thoſe ſerving under the king of Great Britain hath, with ſome few ex.
ceptions, been diametrically oppoſite. They have laid waſte the open country, burned the
defenceleſs villages, and butchered the citizens of America. Their priſons have been the
ſlaughter-houſes of her ſoldiers, their ſhips of her ſeamen, and the ſevereſt injuries have been
aggravated by the groſſelt inſults.
“ Foiled in their vain attempt to ſubjugate the unconquerable ſpirit of freedom, they have
meanly affailed the repreſentatives of America with bribes, with deceit, and the ſervility of
adulation. They have made a mock of humanity, by the wanton deſtruction of men ; they
have made a mock of religion, by impious appeals to God, whilſt in the violation of his ſacred
commands; they have made a mock even of reaſon itſelf, by endeavouring to prove, that the
liberty and happineſs of America could fafely be entruſted to thoſe who have ſold their own,
unawed by the ſenſe of virtue or of ſhame.
“ Treated with the contempt which ſuch conduct deſerved, they have applied to indivi-
duals; they have ſolicited them to break the bonds of allegiance, and imbrue their ſouls with
the blackeſt of crimes; but fearing that none could be found through theſe United States,
equal to the wickedneſs of their purpoſe, to influence weak minds, they have threatened more
wide devaſtation.
“ While the ſhadow of hope remained, that our enemies could be taught by our example
to reſpect thoſe laws which are held ſacred among civilized nations, and to comply with the
dictates of a religion which they pretend in common with us to believe and revere, they have
been left to the influence of that religion, and that example. But ſince their incorrigible dif-
pofitions cannot be touched by kindneſs and compaſſion, it becomes our duty by other means
to vindicate the rights of humanity,
Wc, therefore, the Congreſs of the United States of America, DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE
AND
AMERICAN WAR.
OS
ka
XXVI.
the date of their manifeſto, to ſuch as ſhould, within the term of C H A P.
forty days, already limited, withdraw from their oppoſition to the
1778.
Britiſh government, and conduct themſelves in future as faithful
and loyal ſubjects; denouncing at the ſame time the utmoſt ven-
geance of the Britiſh nation againſt ſuch as, after theſe benevolent
offers, ſhould obſtinately perſiſt in withholding their allegiance from
their lawful ſovereign. And, that all perſons reſiding within the
revolted colonies might be acquainted with the benevolent offers now
made, and be enabled to avail themſelves of the pardon proclaimed
by the manifeſto, thirteen copies of it were immediately executed
under the hands and feals of the commiſſioners, one of which was
tranſmitted by a flag of truce to each of the colonies.
In the mean time, the congreſs, by a prepoſterous kind of reſo-
lution, recommended it to the executive power in the different ſtates
to ſeize and detain in priſon all ſuch perſons as, under a pretence of
a flag of truce, ſhould be concerned in diſtributing or delivering the
manifeſto of the Britiſh commiſſioners, as violators of the law of
nations, by circulating ſeditious writings ; whilſt at the ſame time they
ordered thoſe ſeditious writings to be publiſhed in the newſpapers.
And ſome time afterwards they paſſed another reſolution, threatening
to take exemplary vengeance if any one ſhould attempt to put in exe-
cution the ſeverities denounced in the manifeſto of the commiſſioners.
The commiſſioners remained at New York beyond the time limited by
their manifeſto, which expired on the eleventh of November; but
17
1
AND PROCLAIM, That if our enemies preſume to execute their threats, or perſiſt in their pre-
fent career of barbarity, we will take ſuch exemplary vengeance as fhall deter others from a
like conduct. We appeal to that God who ſearcheth the hearts of men, for the rectitude of
our intentions. And in his holy preſence we declare, That as we are not moved by any light and
haſty ſuggeſtions of anger or revenge, ſo through every poſſible change of fortune we will
adhere to this our determination.
“ Done in congreſs, by unanimous confent, the thirtieth day of October, one thouſand
ſeven hundred and forenty-eight.
* CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."
VOL. II.
K
as
-
66
HISTORY OF THE
XXVI.
178.
CILA P. as they neither received any overtures in conſequence of it, nor faw
any proſpect of being able to effect a reconciliation, they cloſed
their commiſſion, and embarked for England, after having made
ſome regulations for the benefit of the trade of New York and
Rhode Iſland ; the only two places that remained to Great Britain
in the whole extent of the revolted colonies.
It was now at laſt ſeen, that all attempts to recover the revolted
colonies by lenient means were uſeleſs; and that force alone could
again ſubject them to the authority of the mother-country: And
the rapid ſucceſs of the expedition againſt Georgia, which we are
next to relate, gave a pleaſing hope that the war, if transferred to
the ſouthward, might be more ſucceſsful in future, than it had been
in times paſt. As the land-force ſent on this expedition conſiſted
only of the ſeventy-firſt regiment of two battalions, two battalions of
Heſſians, four battalions of North and South Carolina provincials,
and a detachment of royal artillery, amounting in the whole to
three thouſand five hundred men, major-general Prevoſt, who
commanded in Eaſt Florida, the colony next adjoining to Georgia on
the ſouth, had previouſly received orders to enter that province by
land, with the force under him, and make a junction with lieutenant-
colonel Campbell, and take the command of the whole. But ſo ably
did the laſt of theſe officers form his plans of attack, and ſo well was
he ſupported by the ſpirit and bravery of the little army which he
commanded, and the cordial and zealous co-operation of commodore
Parker and the naval force, that the reduction of the province was
completed before general Prevoſt could form a junction.
The ſquadron which accompanied the tranſports on this expe-
dition, conſiſting of ſome of the finaller fhips of war, arrived off
the iſland of Tybee, at the mouth of the Savannah river, on the
twenty-third of December.
It ſeems evident that the people of South Carolina and Georgia,
apprehending themſelves fecure againſt an invaſion ever ſince the
unfor
AMERICAN WAR.
67
XXVI.
unfortunate attempt upon Charleſtown, made by ſir Peter Parker C HA P.
and fir Henry Clinton in the year 1776, were rather 0 cupied
1778.
in planning and making preparations for the conqueſt of Eaſt Flo-
rida, than in providing for their own defence. Between the inha-
bitants of Eaſt Florida and thoſe of Georgia, a kind of predatory
war had been carried on from the time when the laſt of theſe pro-
vinces joined the general confederacy; the object of which ſeems to
have been ſometimes plunder, and ſometimes revenge. But during
the laſt ſummer two incurſions into Georgia were made from Eaſt
Florida, which had a more ſerious aspect. The troops engaged in
theſe incurſions conſiſted chiefly of irregulars, moſt of whom had
been obliged to fly from the Carolinas and Georgia, on account of
their loyalty to their ſovereign, and harboured all the reſentment
againſt their perſecutors which can be ſuppoſed to ariſe from the un-
worthy treatment they had received. One of theſe bodies of men
proceeded by the inlets along the ſea-coaſt, whilſt the other inarched
through the interior parts of the country by the river Alatamaha.
The firſt advanced as far as the town of Sunbury in Georgia, the
fort of which they ſummoned to ſurrender. A colonel M’Intoſh
commanded the garriſon, and was refolved to hold out to the laſt
extremity. To the ſuminons of the beſiegers for the ſurrender of
the fort, he returned a defiance in this laconic anſwer:
66 Coinc
" and take it." The beſiegers being either unprovided with ſufi-
cient artillery, or thinking their force inadequate to the reduation of
the fort, abandoned the enterpriſe, and returned towards Eaſt Flo-
rida. The other corps of theſe irregulars penetrated through the in-
terior country as far as the river Ogeeche, about thirty miles from
Savannah. Here colonel Elben, who with two hundred continental
troops had been ſent to oppoſe them, pripared to diſpute their pal-
ſage: And about the ſame time they were informed of the retrcat
of their companions from Sunbury. Diſheartened with this intelli-
gence,
K 2
1
1
+
08
HISTORY OF THE
CHA P. gence, and dreading the oppoſition which they were to meet in the
XXVI.
paſſage of the river, they ſuddenly decamped and began a retreat,
.
1778.
Theſe incurſions into Georgia were followed by another into Eaſt
Florida, on the ſide of the provincials. The troops employed in
this incurſion conſiſted of ſeveral regiments of continentals, with
fone militia from Georgia and South Carolina, the whole com-
manded by major-general Robert How. His object was the re-
duction of St. Auguſtine, with the province of Eaſt Florida : But
this expedition proved not more ſucceſsful than thoſe which had
been undertaken againſt Georgia ; and to the misfortune of the peace-
able inhabitants on both ſides, general How's retreat from Eaſt Flo-
rida, like that of the Britiſh irregulars from Georgia, was marked
with rapine, plunder, and general devaſtation. From this unſuc-
ceſsful expedition general How had juſt returned, and lay with his
army encamped in the neighbourhood of Savannah, at the time of
the arrival of the Britiſh ſquadron from New York.
On the day after its arrival, part of the Britiſh fleet got over the
bar, and entered the river; but the reſt, in conſequence of ſoutherly
currents and boiſterous weather, were unable to follow until the
twenty-ſeventh. In the mean time a company of light-infantry was
landed on Wilmington Iſland, to bring off fome of the inhabitants,
and was fortunate enough to ſecure' two of ưliem ; from whom in-
formation was received of the ſtate of the province, and the poſition
of the military force appointed for its defence. This was of ſuch
a nature as determined the commanders of this expedition, although
no intelligence had yet been received of the approach of general
Prevoſt, to loſe no time in commencing their operations.
Savannah, the capital of Georgia, lies on the ſouth ſide of the
river of that name, about fifteen miles from the ſea. In the vi-
cinity of this place, major-general Robert How, with a force con-
fiſting of ſome regiments of American regular troops, and the militia
1
o.fi
AMERICAN WAR,
бо
XXVI.
of the province, in the whole about fifteen hundred men, was en-C HA P.
camped for its protection, and daily expected to be joined by a con-
1778.
fiderable reinforcement. The country between Savannah and the ſea
being low and marſhy, and interſected by creeks and cuts of water,
the firſt practicable landing-place was at the plantation of one Ger-
ridoe, about twelve miles up the river; and there a deſcent was
propoſed to be made without delay.
In purſuance of this determination, the fleet, on the twenty-eighth
of December, in the morning, proceeded up the river, led by the Vi-
gilant ſhip of war, the Comet galley, the Keppel armed brig, and the
Greenwich armed loop, with the deſign of landing the troops at
Gerridoe's plantation that evening; but ſeveral of the tranſports
having got aground from the difficulty of the navigation, the deſcent
was neceſſarily poſtponed till the following morning. With the
riſing of the tide, the tranſports being floated off, moved up to their
ſtation, and at daybreak of the twenty-ninth the debarkation began.
From the landing-place, a narrow cauſeway with a ditch on each
fide led through a rice fwamp to the high plantation ground, at the
diſtance of ſix hundred yards; and captain Cameron, of the ſeventy-
firſt regiment, having firſt reached the ſhore with his company of
light-infantry, immediately formed them, and advanced along the
cauſeway, at the end of which, and upon the high ground, was
poſted a body of provincials. Theſe, as captain Cameron approached,
received him with a general diſcharge of muſketry; by which this
brave officer and two of his company were killed, and five wounded;
but the impetuoſity natural to the highlanders prevented the provin-
cials from repeating it. Ruſhing on to revenge the death of their
beloved commander, they ſtruck terror into the provincials, who
.quitted their advantageous ground, and fled to the woods. Whilſt
the reſt of the troops were landing, lieutenant-colonel Campbell re-
connoitred the poſition of general How's army, and determined
1
to
70
HISTORY OF THE
XXVI.
.
CH A P. to attack him before the evening. The Britiſh troops were accord-
ingly put in motion, even before the laſt diviſion of them was
1778.
landed, and having advanced within half a mile of the enemy, were
formed in order of battle. The provincial general had drawn up.
his forces acroſs the main road leading to Savannah, and about half
a mile from it. His right was covered by a thick woody ſwainp,
and the houſes of a plantation filled with rifle-men; his left reached
to the rice ſwamps upon the river, and the town and fort of Sa-
vannah covered his rear. One piece of cannon was poſted upon
the right, another on the left, and two upon the great road in the
centre; in front of which, at the diſtance of one hundred yards,
where the high ground was narrowed by the approach of two
ſwamps, a trench was cut acroſs the main road reaching from one
ſwamp to the other; and about one hundred yards ſtill further in
front, was a marſhy rivulet running parallel to the whole extent of
the provincial line. The bridge over this rivulet had been burnt
down, in order to retard the progreſs of the Britiſh ariny. Here
the provincial general waited the approach of the Britiſh troops :
And, had the attack been made only in front, perhaps the ground
might have been obſtinately diſputed. But the Britiſh commander
having received information of a private path leading through the
ſwamp which covered the enemy's right flank, detached the light-
infantry, under ſir James Baird, ſupported by the New York volun-
teers, to proceed by that path and gain the enemy's rear: And as it
appeared by ſome movements of the enemy that they wiſhed and
expected an attack upon their left, lieutenant-colonel Campbell, in
order to induce a belief that this was intended, ordered the light-
infantry, and New York volunteers, to file off by their right, as if
the deſign had been to extend the front of the Britiſh line that way,
until they reached a fall of the ground, by retiring within which to
the rear, their ſubſequent movements in their progreſs to the ſwamp
1
were
AMERICAN WAR.
71
XXVI.
1778.
were effectually concealed from the view of the enemy. By this C HA P.
manoeuvre the attention of the enemy was drawn from that quarter
where danger was to be moſt apprehended ; and fir James Baird,
under the guidance of a negro, having ſafely conducted his detach-
ment by the private path to the rear of the enemy, ſuddenly iſſued
from the ſwamp, and attacked a body of militia, which was poſted
to ſecure the great road leading from Ogeeche. Hitherto the Bri-
tiſh troops in front had remained quiet upon their ground, without
firing a gun in return for the provincial artillery; but as ſoon as it
was perceptible that the light-infantry had turned the flank of the
enemy,
the whole Britiſh line received orders to advance and move
on briſkly; and the artillery, which had been previoully formed be-
hind a ſwell in the ground, to conceal it from view, was inſtantly
run forward to the eminence, and began to play upon the enemy.
Thus affailed, the provincials quickly gave way, and running acroſs
a plain in front of fir James Baird's light-infantry, which had by
this time diſperſed the militia and taken their cannon, were again
attacked by them ; who, with their uſual promptitude, daſhing upon
the flanks of the fugitives, completed their rout, and added to the
brilliant ſucceſs of the day. The provincials flying in confuſion
through the town of Savannah, were cloſely purſued by the Britiſh
troops; and before night thirty-eight commiſſioned officers, and
four hundred and fifteen men of the enemy, the town and fort of
Savannah, with the artillery, ammunition and ſtores, conſiſting of a
large quantity of indigo, rice, ſugar, rum, &c. the ſhipping in
the harbour, and a great quantity of proviſions, were in the poſſeſſion
of the conquerors, whoſe loſs, during the whole of this day,
amounted only to ſeven killed and nineteen wounded *.
So
* Artillery, Stores, Ammunition, Shipping, &c. taken at the Reduction of Savannah,
in he Year 1778.
48 pieces of cannon.
I ſtand of colours.
23 mortar,
817 ſmall arms.
94 barrels
HISTORY OF THE
1
снАР.
XXVI.
1778.
1
So deciſive a victory, gained at ſo inconſiderable an expence, rarely
occurs, and muſt be attributed partly to the inexperience of the Ame.
rican general, but principally to the ſuperior military ſkill and ad-
dreſs of the Britiſh commander in improving to the utmoſt every
favourable circumſtance which preſented itſelf for the final ſucceſs of
the day, added to the zeal, vigour, promptitude, and exactneſs with
which his orders were obeyed by the brave little army which he
commanded.
By the unremitting exertions of lieutenant-colonel Campbell, aided
by the zeal and activity of all who bore a ſhare in this expedition,
the remains of the provincial army were driven acroſs the Savannah
river into South Carolina, the different poſts upon that river were
ſecured for fifty miles up, and the lower parts of the province were
entirely at peace in leſs than ten days after the defeat of the Ameri-
can army at Savannah. A great majority of the inhabitants came in,
and having taken the oath of allegiance, ſubmitted themſelves again
to the authority of the mother-country. Rifle companies of dra-
goons were formed out of thoſe who came in to renew their alle-
giance, whoſe duty it was to patrol the country between the advanced
poſts, and give information of the incurſions of the enemy;
and
various other wife and prudent regulations were adopted for the
future peace and ſecurity of the province.
94 barrels of gunpowder.
78 bag ditto.
1545 cannon
thot.
32 cartridges filled for 4 pounders.
104 caſe ditto.
200 ſhells.
9 tons lead pigtail, and a conſiderable quantity of fints, nails, ſpikes, &c.
3 large ſhips, 3 brigantines, 2 floops, and 2 ſchooners, fome of them with cargoes on
board, taken; and 2 floops burnt.
AMERICAN WAR.
73
CH A P.
XXVII.
War between the Americans and Indians-War between France and
England-Channel Fleet commanded by Admiral Keppel-Engage-
ment between the French and Engliſh Fleets-Irreconcileable Dif-
ference between the Admirals Keppel and Pallifer-Inflamed by the
Zeal of their reſpective Partizans--War in the Eaſt Indies.
}
1778.
War between
cans and In.
SUCH were the principal events on the ſea-coaſt of the revolted CHAP
colonies during the campaign of the year 1778: On their
Weſtern frontiers a deſultory war was ſtill carried on between them
and the Indians, in the mode originally peculiar to theſe ſavages, the Ameri-
but now too generally practiſed by their better-informed neighbours dians.
the white inhabitants bordering on their ſettlements. Mutual incur-
ſions were made, and ruin and devaſtation followed on the ſteps of
the ruthleſs invaders. Whole families were butchered, their houſes
burnt, the growing corn cut up, and entire plantations laid waſte.
In this barbarous warfare the flouriſhing new ſettlement of Wyoming,
on the banks of the Suſquehanna, fell a ſacrifice to an incurſion of
the Indians : And the Indian ſettlements of Unadilla and Anaquago,
upper parts of the ſame river, which were alſo inhabited
by white people attached to the royal cauſe, were in their turn ra-
vaged and deſtroyed by the Americans.
But we muſt now for a time quit the continent of North Ame-
rica, to purſue the courſe of the war through the various quarters
to which it was transferred by the hoſtile intervention of the
French.
17:::
VOL. II.
L
After
upon the
74
HISTORY OF THE
снА Р.
XXVII.
France and
After the reſcript had been delivered which announced to the court
of London the connexion and alliance formed betwen the king of
1778.
War between France and the congreſs of the revolted colonies; and after the
England
Britiſh ambaſſador at Paris, and the French ambaſſador at London,
had ſeverally quitted the places of their reſidence, and returned to
their reſpective courts, without the formality of taking leave, which,
according to an etiquette long eſtabliſhed, is univerſally conſidered
as a prelude to hoſtilities; both nations began to make the moſt afli-
duous preparations for open war. From Toulon, as we have already
ſeen, a fleet of twelve ſhips of the line was ſent to ſea under the
command of the count d'Eſtaing; but the principal naval arſenal of
the French is at Breſt, and there every hand was employed, and
every. fịnew ſtretched, to get ready ſuch a fleet as might enable them
to meet their opponents with advantage, upon their own element.
That they might the more effectually diſtract the attention of the
Britiſh miniſtry, the Itale device of threatening an invaſion was
again reſorted to; and large bodies of troops were marched from
the interior parts of the kingdom to the ſea-coaſt bordering on the
Britiſh channel. :
In Great Britain the people had been a good deal divided on the
ſubject of the American war, and from a knowledge of this cir-
cumſtance the miniſtry, were probaby deterred from acting with that
deciſion which alone could have promiſed ſucceſs. Had no foreign
power interfered, perhaps the war might have gradually languiſhed
until ſuch terms had been offered as would have been accepted by
the Americans, whoſe reſources, without foreign aid, muſt foon
have failed. But the intervention of the French, in a domeſtic diſ-
pute between a ſovereign and a part of his ſubjects, after the aſſur-
ances which had been given to the contrary, was conſidered not only
as an act of the baſeſt treachery, but as a proof of enmity and hatred
againſt the Britiſh nation inveterately malignant; and to puniſh
this
AMERICAN WAR.
75
XXVII.
this perfidious interference every heart was united, and every hand CHAP.
uplifted. If
any
abatement is to be made from theſe unqualified
1778.
affertions, it muſt be in favour of ſome of the leaders of the oppo-
ſition, or their immediate adherents, who were ſo much wedded to
the cauſe of America, that they not only deprecated the idea of re-
ducing the revolted colonies to obedience by force, but even rejoiced
in their victories *. But certain it is, that after the alliance entered
into by the people of the revolted colonies with the court of France,
they loſt the favour and good opinion of all thoſe moderate men in
the Britiſh dominions who had formerly eſpouſed their cauſe, from
principle, whilſt they conſidered them as injured and innocent. But
after the Americans had made themſelves guilty, if they were not ſo
before, by leaguing with the enemies of their country, the people of
Great Britain became more united in the proſecution of the war:
Their reſentment was kindled; the national ſpirit was rouſed with the
proſpect of the impending difficulties; the miniſtry recovered from
their deſpondence; and warlike preparations were made with a ſpirit
and efficacy which our enemies little expected. To guard againſt
the poſſibility of an invaſion, the militia were called forth and em-
bodied; and although the French, by being the aggreſſors, had it in
their power to adapt their open interference to the ſtate of their pre-
parations, yet ſuch was the vigour of our exertions, that a Britiſh
fleet of twenty ſhips of the line was cruiſing in the channel before
the grand fleet of France was in readineſs to come out of the harbour
of Breſt.
Admiral Keppel had been fixed upon to command the channel The Britiſh
fleet, as being a brave and experienced officer, who was highly po- Channel, com-
pular, and much beloved in the navy; and as he was attached to the manded by
admiral Kep-
oppoſition, it was hoped that his appointment, if it did not entirely pel.
reconcile the leaders of that party to the meaſures which were in
* See Parliamentary Debates for a late altercation between Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke, reſpect-
ing the French revolution.
agitation,
L2
76
HISTORY OF THE
XXVII.
CHA. P. agitation, would at leaſt ſilence much of their clamour. In the
Victory, of a hundred guns, he failed from Portſmouth on the twelfth
1778.
of June; and during his cruiſe hoſtilities were formally commenced
between Great Britain and France.
Whilſt the fleet was at ſea, on the ſeventeenth, two ſtrange ſhips
being feen reconnoitring, orders were given to chaſe, and conduct
them under the ſtern of the admiral's ſhip. One of them, the Li-
corne, a French frigate, of thirty-two guns, and two hundred and
thirty men, being overtaken towards the evening by ſeveral ſhips of
the fleet, conſented to fail with them during the night, but in the
morning diſcovering an intention of going off, by attempting to get
upon a different tack, a ſhot was fired acroſs her, when in an inſtant
The poured a whole broadſide of her great guns and muſketry into
the America, a Britiſh line-of-battle ſhip which happened to be
neareſt to her, and immediately ſtruck her colours. Strange as this
proceeding was, it was rendered ſtill more extraordinary by the fol-
lowing circumſtance that attended it: For at the very inſtant when
the French frigate fired her cannon and muſketry, lord Longford,
the commander of the America, was ſtanding upon the gunwale of
his own ſhip, in friendly converſation with the French commander.
A broadſide from the America, which at fo near a diſtance would
have probably funk the French frigate to the bottom, would have
been a juſt retribution for ſo uſeleſs and audacious a bravado; but
the noble commander wiſely. reſtrained his reſentment, and ſatisfied
himſelf with ſending the Licorne under the ſtern of the Victory.
The other ſhip, which proved to be the Belle Poule, a large French
frigate, carrying heavy cannon, and commanded by the fieur de la
Clocheterie, was alſo overtaken in the evening, but at a conſiderable
diſtance from the reſt of the fleet, by the Britiſh frigate the Arethuſa,
of thirty-two guns, commanded by captain Marſhall, who commu-
nicated to the French commander the admiral's requeſt to ſpeak with
him, and his orders for conducting him into the fleet. With theſe
5
orders
AMERICAN WAR.
77
1778.
orders the French commander repeatedly and peremptorily refuſed CHAP.
to comply. A ſhot from the Arethuſa was then fired acroſs the
French frigate, which was returned with a broadſide from the latter,
when a furious and bloody engagement began, which was obſtinately
and reſolutely maintained on both ſides for more than two hours.
It was almoſt a calm, and as the two frigates were near to each
other, the damage done to both was very conſiderable; but the
Arethuſa had ſuffered ſo much in her maſts, fails, and rigging, that
at laſt, from the ſcantineſs of the wind, ſhe became quite unmanage-
able, and floated upon the water like a wreck. Whilſt the Britiſh
frigate remained in this ungovernable ſtate, the French commander
ſet his foreſail, and with the help of a light breeze which ſprung up,
made for the French coaſt, and anchored in a bay amongſt the rocks;
from which ſituation his ſhip was towed out of danger the following
morning by boats from the ſhore. If the comparative damage in the
maſts, ſails, and rigging, was greateſt on board the Arethuſa, it was
overbalanced by the greater loſs of men on board the Belle Poule.
According to the French accounts the number of killed on board the
Belle Poule was eſtimated at forty-eight, and the wounded at fifty-
feven; whereas the Arethuſa had only eight men killed and thirty-
fix wounded. On the following morning another French frigate,
the Pallas, of thirty-two guns, and two hundred and twenty men,
which was alſo diſcovered reconnoitring, was conducted into the
fleet, and in conſequence of the hoſtile procedure of the commanders
of the Belle Poule and the Licorne was with the laſt of theſe ſhips
ſent into Plymouth.
The ſeizure and detention of theſe ſhips furniſhed the French with
à pretence for charging the Britiſh nation with being the aggreſſors in
the war: But when two nations are in ſuch a ſtate of enmity, that
hoſtilities muſt neceſſarily enſue between them, it ſeems to be a mat-
ter of little conſequence by which of them the war is begun; and
!
an
78
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
on
XXVII.
1778.
the preſent occaſion the firſt deliberate act of hoſtility had been in-
diſputably committed long ago by the court of France, in leaguing
with the rebellious ſubjects of the crown of Great Britain, which
would have juſtified inſtant vengeance on the part of the latter.
But on this point the Britiſh miniſtry ſeem to have been peculiarly
delicate ; for although admiral Keppel ſeized and detained two of
the French king's frigates, for improper conduct in one of their com-
manders, he ſuffered the peaceful merchantmen to paſs through his
fleet unmoleſted ; nor were letters of repriſal iſſued in Great Britain
until ſome time after they had been iſſued by the court of France.
By the ſeizure of theſe frigates, admiral Keppel obtained ſuch in-
formation of the ſtrength of the French fleet fitting out at Breſt, as
determined him to return into port and wait for a reinforcement.
The fleet accordingly came to an anchor at St. Helen's on the twenty-
ſeventh of June. Thither the firſt lord of the admiralty immediate-
ly repaired, to concert meaſures for reinforcing the fleet; and with
ſuch expedition were theſe meaſures executed, that the adıniral was
again at ſea by the middle of July, with an addition to his fleet of
ten ſhips of the line. It now conſiſted of thirty ſhips of the line,
one of them of the firſt rate, fix of them of ninety guns, and the re-
inainder of the third rate, which were formed into three diviſions,
the centre commanded by the admiral himſelf, and the other two
diviſions by vice-admirals ſir Robert Harland and fir Hugh Palliſer.
By this time the French fleet, under the command of the count
d'Orvilliers, was alſo at fea, having left the harbour of Breſt on the
eighth of July; and no ſooner had it failed than general letters of
repriſal againſt the king of Great Britain and his ſubjects, grounded
on the capture of the Pallas and Licorne, were iſſued by the court of
Engagement France. The two fleets being thus at ſea, in the ſummer ſeaſon, it
could not be long before they met. On the twenty-third of July,
Engliſhfleets.
in the afternoon, they came in ſight of each other, when the Britiſh
fleet
between the
French and
1
AMERICAN WAR.
79
XXVII.
1
fleet happened to be much diſperſed. · A ſignal for forming the line C H A P.
: Wasiimmediately thrown out; but night came on by the time the
177.8.
ſhips were able to get into their proper ſtations; and before the morn-
ing the French fleet had obtained the weather-gage. For four days
:ſucceſſively did the Britiſh admiral, by chaſing to windward, endea-
vour to bring the French fleet to an engagement; but his leeward
ſituation. rendered all his endeavours fruitleſs. Although the fleet
of the countrd'Orvilliers outnumbered that of adıniral Keppel by two
:ſhips of the lines and a much greater proportion of frigates, he never-
- theleſs carefully kept the advantage of the wind, and with equal
caution avoided an engagement... But on the morning of the twenty-
ſeventh, iwhilft- the Britiſh feet ſtill chaſed to windward, endeavour-
.inig tóiprofit by a ſlight variation in its favour, a ſudden ſquall came
on, at the very inſtant in which the French fleet was in the act of
performing an evolution, and ſo very thick, that during its conti-
nuance, the two fleets. were concealed from the view of each other.
: When the weather cleared up at the end of half an hour, it was per-
ceived that the French, fileet during the ſquall had fallen to leeward,
and was now. ſò near the leading ſhips in the van of the Britiſh fleet,
commanded by ſir Robert Harland, as to begin to cannonade them.
At this inftant the ſignal for battle was thrown out by the Britiſh
admiral ; and an engagement began between the two. fleets as they
paſſed on contrary tacks, and in oppoſite directions, which laſted
about two liours. When the fleeťs had paſſed each other, and, the
firing had ceaſed, the Britiſh admiral wore: his ſhip to return upon
the enemy, and threw out a ſignal for the reſt of his fleet to follow
his example, and form the line; but at this moment, obſerving that
ſome of his ſhips, diſabled in the engagement, had fallen to leeward,
and were in danger of being cut off by the enemy, he was in the
firſt plaće obliged to take meaſures for their ſafety. By the ma-
nouvręs neceſſary for this purpoſe, and by the length of time re-
quired:
+
80
HISTORY OF THE
XXVII.
C HA P. quired for repairing the damages ſuſtained by the ſhips of the rear
diviſion, under fir Hugh Palliſer, which had come laſt out of the
1778.
engagement, before they could be again brought into their ſtations
in the line, the day was ſo får ſpent, that the battle could not be re-
newed that evening. In the mean time, the count d'Orvilliers
ranged his fleet in order of battle to leeward, and put on every ap-
pearance as if he meant to wait the attack of the Britiſh admiral in
the morning; but in the night he quitted his ſtation, and ſteered for
the coaſt of France, leaving three of his frigates to ſhew lights at
proper intervals, correſponding to the leading ſhips of the three di-
viſions of his fleet, thereby to conceal his flight from the Britich
admiral. In the morning the French fleet was at fuch a diſtance as
ſcarcely to be diſcernible. A ſignal was made for chaſing the fri-
gates, but it was found impracticable to overtake them; and the
fleet to which they belonged being till at a greater diſtance, with
the wind favourable for carrying it into port, a purſuit was deemed
uſeleſs. The Britiſh admiral returned to Plymouth to repair the
damage done to his fleet, and to land the wounded men; and the
count d'Orvilliers, after the action, made the beſt of his way to the
harbour of Breſt, for a ſimilar purpoſe. The loſs of men on board
the Britiſh fleet in this day's engagement amounted to one hundred
and thirty-three killed, and three hundred and ſeventy-three wound-
ed: What the loſs on the ſide of the French was, does not appear
ever to have been made public; but it is highly probable that it was
much greater, not only as a French ſhip carries a greater number of
men than a Britiſh ſhip of equal force, but as the Britiſh ſeamen
point their guns at the hull, whilſt the French ſeamen principally
aim at the fails and rigging.
One
very unfortunate conſequence which followed from this en-
between the gagement, was, an irreconcileable difference which it occaſioned be
admiralskep-
pel and Pali tween the naval commander in chief and fir Hugh Palliſer, one of
lifer.
his
Irreconcilc.
able difference
AMERICAN WAR.
81
XXVII.
his vice-admirals, who commanded the rear diviſion of the fleet on C HA P.
the day of the engagement: A difference which, inflamed by the in-
1778.
diſcreet zeal of the partiſans on both ſides, roſe to ſuch a height, as had
nearly created a fatal diſſenſion in the naval ſervice. At laſt both
the admirals were in their turn tried by a court-martial for their
conduct in this day's engagement, and both were acquitted; the
acquittal of the commander in chief being attended with circum-
ſtances particularly honourable. He was not only fully and honour-
ably acquitted, but the charges againſt him were by the ſentence of
the court-martial pronounced to be malicious. When the news of
his acquittal reached London, very general illuminations, inſtigated
by his political partiſans, took place for two ſucceſſive nights; and
the thanks of both houſes of parliament were voted to him for his
conduct. One member only, Mr. Sturt, had the firmneſs (for many
it was believed had the inclination), when the queſtion was put for
thanks to admiral Keppel, to ſay, in a very audible and impreſſive
tone of voice, No. But after all theſe teſtimonies, ſo honourable to
the naval commander in chief, ſo violently had this diſpute been
agitated in the daily publications, and ſo confidently did the parti
fans on each ſide charge the other with criminal miſconduct or ne-
glect, that an opinion ſeems to have become rooted, and ſtill in a
great meaſure prevails, notwithſtanding the acquittal of both the
admirals, třiat ſo much was not done on the twenty-ſeventh of July
as might have been done.
One happy circumſtance attending admiral Keppel's engagement,
was, that it took place at a critical time, when ſeveral Britiſh fleets
of homeward-bound merchantmen were expected in the channel :
And
as, after the engagement, the count d'Orvilliers was obliged to
return into Breſt to refit, it fortunately happened, that during this
interval theſe fleets arrived in ſafety.
Both the French and Britiſh fleets put to ſea as ſoon as their da-
mage was repaired; but they did not again meet during the preſent
VOL. II.
M
year.
82
HISTORY OF THE
снА Р.
XXVII.
1778.
War in the
Eaſt Indics,
year. By their reciprocal operations the trade of both countries ſuf-
fered a little; but the balance of captures at the end of the year was
conſiderably in favour of Great Britain.
Whilſt the French, with almoſt equal ſucceſs, thus diſputed the
empire of the ſea in Europe, they had nearly loſt all their poſſeſſions
in the Eaſt. When a rupture was ſeen to be inevitable, ſo expedi-
tiouſly had the Engliſh Eaſt India company tranſmitted their orders,
and with ſo much promptitude were theſe orders executed, that the
war broke out in India almoſt as ſoon as in Europe. Chanderna-
gore and all the factories belonging to the French in Bengal, at
Yanaon, and Karical, with their ſettlement at Maſſulipatam, were
wreſted from them during the ſummer; and, in the month of Oc-
tober, the town and fortreſs of Pondicherry, the capital of the French
poſſeſſions, and the ſeat of their government in India, with an im-
menſe train of artillery, and a garriſon of three thouſand men, nine:
hundred of which were Europeans, after being inveſted for two
months and ten days by an army under major-general Hector Munro
by land, and by a ſquadron of ſhips of war under commodore fir
Edward Vernon by ſea, was ſurrendered by capitulation.
And
thus in leſs than four months from the commencement of hoſtilities,
the French power in Bengal, and on the coaſt of Coromandel, was.
entirely annihilated.
But in the weſtern hemiſphere, to which we muſt now again re-
turn, the ſucceſs of theſe two great contending powers, in their al-
45 carbinca
* Artillery, Arms, Ammunition, and Stores, taken at Pondicherry, in the Eaſt Indics..
210 pieces of iron ordnance
to wall pieces.
58 pieces of braſs ditto
6 howitzers
556 piſto's.
20 braſs mortars
2 iron ditto
8o barrels gunpowder
6182 muſkets
21708 that of different ſizes.
168 rifc-barrel picces.
ternate
930 ſwords
1
AMERICAN WAR.
83
XXVII.
1778,
Weſt.
ternate endeavours to wreſt from each other their foreign poffeffions, C HA P.
was much more equally balanced.
The Frenclı having been permitted by the treaty of Paris, in 1763, and in the
to ſhare in the Newfoundland fiſhery, which is juſtly eſteemed a
moſt beneficial ſource of commerce; and being, by the ſame treaty,
allowed during the fiſhing ſeaſon the temporary uſe of the two ſmall
iſlands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, for the purpoſe of curing their
fiſh, and preparing them for market ; it was therefore thought to be
an object of ſome importance to deprive them of theſe advantages
ſo ſoon as it was apparent that they no longer held themſelves bound
by the treaty through which ſuch privileges had been ſecured to
them. No ſooner, therefore, had vice-admiral Montague, who com-
manded on the Newfoundland ſtation, received advices of the hoſtile
operations of the count d'Eſtaing on the coaſt of America, than he,
in purſuance of orders previouſly tranſmitted to him from England,
diſpatched commodore Evans in the Romney, with a ſquadron of
fhips of war, having on board a party of artillery and two hundred
marines, under the command of major Wemys, with orders to dif-
poſſeſs the French of theſe two iſlands, and deſtroy their temporary
ſettlements. This ſervice was performed without any difficulty.
The ſquadron appeared in the road of St. Pierre on the fourteenth of
September; and the French governor, being totally unprovided
with the means of defence againſt ſuch a force, ſurrendered upon the
firſt ſummons. The arms of the inhabitants, their fiſhing veſſels, and
furniture, with a conſiderable quantity of oil, fiſh, and ſalt, were deli-
vered up to the captors *; and the inhabitants themſelves, amounting
12
82 canoes
* Arms, Ammunition, Veſſels, Fiſh, &c. taken at St. Pierre and Miquelon, in Newfoundland!
173 muſcets, with bayonets and cartouch-boxes 165 fhallops without decks
83 ſwords
306 belts
16235 quintals of fiſh
10 ſhallops with ihifting deeks
201 hogſheads of oil
22 ditto with fixed ditto
244 ditto of falt.
M2
to
8 84
HISTORY OF THE
XXVII,
CHA P. to ſomething more than two thouſand men, were ſhipped off for France.
Every thing valuable, which could not be removed, was deſtroyed
1778,
and the French fettlements on theſe iſlands were entirely laid waſte.
In the ſame month, and almoſt with the ſame caſe, the marquis de:
Bouillé, governor of Martinique, the principal of the French wind-
ward iſlands in the Weſt Indies, made himſelf maſter of the Britiſh
iſland of Dominica. The contiguous ſituation of theſe two iſlands,
and the defenceleſs ſtate of the latter, rendered this an enterpriſe of
little difficulty. In the evening of the ſixth of September, two
thouſand men were embarked on board tranſports at Martinique,
and with theſe, eſcorted by four frigates and ten ſmaller armed vef-
fels, the marquis de Bouillé, early in the morning of the ſeventh,
appeared off the ſouth end of Dominica. A detachment was im-
mediately landed to attack fortCachacrou, ſituated upon a point of
land jutting out into the ſea, round which the fleet muſt paſs to
reach Roſeau, the capital of the iſland; and from the weakneſs of
the garriſon, of which the anarquis de Bouillé had been previouſly
apprized, this fort became an eaſy conqueſt. The garriſon was ſoon
overpowered ; and the fleet paſſed' round the point unmoleſted. A
general debarkation now took place at Point Michel ; and as ſoon as.
a landing was effected, the French troops marched on towards Ron
ſeau. The battery of Loubiere lay in their way, but it was evacu .
ated as they approached; after the garriſon had expended all their
ammunition. The regular troops in the iſland conſiſted only of a
party of the royal artillery, and a detachment from the forty-eighth
regiment. Theſe, with all the militia which could be got together;
did not amount to five hundred men; and it was ſoon perceived that
their reſiſtance againſt a force ſo ſuperior, could not long avail. De-
tachments of the French were already in poſſeſſion of the heights
behind Roſeau ; their main body approached the town from the
place of their debarkation: The frigates were advancing to batter
the
AMERICAN WAR.
85
the forts; and preparations were making for an aſſault. In this c HA P.
xxv11.
critical juncture, a deputation from the council and principal inhabit-
3:778.
ants of the iſland requeſted the governor to call a council of war:
Their requeſt being complied with, and the opinion of the council
of war being in favour of a capitulation, an offer for that purpoſe
was made by the governor, which was immediately accepted by the
marquis de Bouillé; and ſuch liberal terms of capitulation were
granted as ſecured the inhabitants in the enjoyment of their pro-
perty, and of all the rights, privileges, and immunities which they
held under the Britiſh government, with the further advantage of
exporting their produce to whatever part of the world they thought
fit, upon the payment of ſuch duties as the inhabitants of the French
iſlands had been accuſtomed to pay in the iſlands or in Europe. The
inhabitants were even allowed to retain their arms, upon condition
of not ſerving againſt France during the war. The garriſon of re-
gular troops, after marching out with all the honours of war, and
depoſiting their arms, were to be tranſported to Great Britain under
the condition of not ſerving againſt the king of France until they
were exchanged. And as a particular mark of reſpect for governor
Stuart, he was to be at liberty to go where he pleaſed, and to continue.
in the ſervice of his prince without reſtraint. So haſtily was this buſi-
neſs ſettled, that the capitulation for the ſurrender of the whole
iſland was ſigned, and the French put in poſſeſſion of Fort Young,
before night. The marquis de Bouillé having thus made himſelf
maſter of Dominica, returned without delay to Martinique, leaving
fifteen hundred of his troops to garriſon the iſland. His return was.
probably haſtened by the riſk which he incurred of being intercepted
by admiral Barrington, who was then at Barbadoes, with a fleet of
two ſhips of the line and ſeveral frigates; and the ſame cauſe may
account for the facility with which he granted in the terms of capi-
tulation almoſt every thing which was aſked.
This
86
HISTORY OF THE
CHAI
XXVII.
5778.
>
This ſudden and ſucceſsful attack created an univerſal alarm in all
the Engliſh Weſt India iſlands. But the French force at Martinique
was ſtill inſufficient for any diſtant operation; and fortunately be-
fore the arrival of the count d'Eſtaing in the Weſt India ſeas, the re-
inforcement of ſhips and troops which, we have ſeen, failed from
New York on the third of November, had reached Barbadoes, and
joined admiral Barrington, who had been waiting there for ſome
time in expectation of that junction.
The troops under general Grant being deſigned for immediate
offenſive operations, were not diſembarked: And on the twelfth of
December, only two days after their arrival, ardın * irrington,
with the whole fleet, left Barbadoes, and failed! for internet iſland
of St. Lucie, where he arrived the following day. The iBand of
St. Lucie, on the weſt ſide, is indented by three great bays, fepa-
rated from each other by narrow ridges of high and from around
jutting out into the ocean. The moſt northerly of theſe is called
the Bay of Du Choque ; that in the middle, the Carenage Bay, at
the head of which ſtands Morne Fortune, the capital town of the
iſland, and the ſeat of the government; and the moſt ſoutherly of
theſe bays is called the Grand Cul de Sac. It was this laſt bay
which the British fleet entered on the thirteenth of December.
Brigadier-general, now fir William Meadows, with the fifth regi-
ment, and the grenadiers and light-infantry of the army, whiclı
compoſed the reſerve, being forth with landed, forced the heights on
the north ſide of the bay, occupied by the chevalier de Mecond, the
governor, with the regular force which he had under him, and the
militia of the iſland, and took poſſeſſion of a battery of four
had annoyed the fleet as it entered the bay: And in the mean time
brigadier-general Preſcot was landed with five regiments, to ſecure
the other poſts round the bay, and to preſerve a communication with
the reſerve. On the following morning, the whole of the troops
being
guns which
AMERICAN WAR.
XXVII.
2
being diſembarked, and brigadier-general ſir Henry Calder, with C HA P.
four battalions, being left to guard the landing-place, to preſerve a
1778.
communication with the fleet, and to occupy the different paſſes in the
mountains on the ſouth ſide of the bay, the reſerve, under general Mea-
dows, ſupported by general Preſcot's brigade, advanced towards the
head of the Carenage, and without meeting with any material ob-
ſtruction, took poſſeſſion of the town of Morne Fortune, with the
government houſe, hoſpital, barracks, and all the ſtores and maga-
zines belonging to the iſland; the governor having been obliged to
retire from poſt to poſt as the Britiſh troops advanced. From
Morne Fortune brigadier-general Meadows proceeded on to the im-
portant poft called the Virgie, which commands the north ſide of
the Carenage harbour, and before the evening was in poffeffion of
all the different batteries and poſts upon the neck of land which
ſeparates the bay of the Carenage from that of Du Choque. Scarcely
had this been accompliſhed, when the count d'Eſtaing's fleet appeared
in full view. That commander, upon his arrival at Martinique,
had been joined by a fleet of tranſports, with nine thouſand troops
on board, and with theſe and his ſuperior fleet he was elated with
the hope of cruſhing the ſmall naval force under admiral Barrington,
and reducing moſt of the windward Britiſh iſlands before admiral
Byron could come to their aſſiſtance. With hopes thus ſanguinc, lic
Lailed from Martinique ; Barbadoes, St. Vincent's, Grenada, Tobago,
were all in their turn threatened with ſubjection to his irreſiſtible force.
But the unexpected attack upon St. Lucie, information of which was
conveyed to him by a veſſel which eſcaped from the iſland, and met
him at ſea, diſarranged all his ſchemes, and for the preſent obliged him
to give up his viſionary plans of conqueſt. The relief of that iſland
was firſt to be provided for; and with his fuperiority of force he did
not doubt of being able to accompliſh it. Thither, therefore, he di-
rected his courſe, and appeared in ſight, as we have already mentioned,
almoſt
I
HISTORY OF THE
XXVII.
1778.
CHAT. almoſt immediately after the Britiſh troops had completed the circuit
of the Carenage, and ſecured the high grounds which command it
on the north ſide. He was yet unapprized of the extent of their
progreſs; and on the following morning ſteered with his whole
fleet for the bay of the Carenage, ſuppoſing it not to be poſſeſſed by
the Britiſh troops; but a battery which opened upon his fleet as it
entered the bay, and ſtruck his own ſhip the Languedoc, foon con-
vinced him of his miſtake, and obliged him, after returning this falu-
tation with a broadſide, to ſtand out to ſea.
The count d'Eſtaing, being thus diſappointed in his attempt upon
the Carenage, after diſcovering by his movements ſome degree of
embarraſſment and heſitation, directed his courſe towards the Grand
Cul de Sac, where admiral Barrington, in expectation of an attack,
had already made a diſpoſition for repelling it. Never, perhaps,
was a greater ſtake committed to the defence of a force in appear-
ance ſo inadequate. Admiral Barrington, with only three ſhips of
the line, as many ſhips of fifty guns, and the remaining part of his
force conſiſting of frigates, was not only to defend himſelf againſt
twelve ſhips of the line, with a numerous train of frigates and
American armed ſhips and privateers, but alſo to protect a large fleet
of tranſports, having on board the proviſions, ammunition, ſtores,
and baggage of the army, which there had not yet been time to
land ; and thus the fate of the army on ſhore became implicated in
that of the fleet. Yet fuchwas the confidence of the officers of the
fleet in each other, but above all, in the naval ability and experience
of their firm and undaunted commander, that never was a defence
undertaken with more alacrity, or greater hopes of ſucceſs; nor did
the event diſappoint their moſt fanguine expectations. During the
night, and in the morning, the tranſports being warped into the
bay, and the ſhips of war ſtationed without them, in a line acroſs
the entrance, ſo juſt a diſpoſition of his very inferior force did the
Britiſh
AMERICAN WAR.
89
.
Britiſh admiral make, that the count d'Eſtaing was repulſed with C HA P.
loſs in two different attacks which he made during the day; the firſt
1778.
with ten of his largeſt ſhips, and the laſt with his whole force. The
lofs ſuſtained by the Britiſh fleet in theſe attacks, conſiſted only of two
men killed and eight wounded. One ſolitary trophy fell into the
enemy's hands, a ſingle tranſport, loaded with the baggage of ſome
officers of the army, which there had not been time to warp within
the line of ſhips of war. The count d'Eſtaing being thus completely
foiled in his naval operations, both at the Carenage and the Grand Cul
de Sac, determined to diſembark his troops, and try the effect of an at-
tack upon general Grant by land; and on the following morning,
after being joined by a frigate, which was ſeen ſtanding into his
fleet, with a number of ſignals flying, he plied to windward beyond
the Carenage Bay, and came to an anchor off Groſs Illet. In the
night, and during the following day, his troops were landed from
the tranſports, which had anchored in the bay of Du Choque; and
as the poſſeſſion of the poſt of the Vergie would have enabled his
fleet to enter the Carenage with ſafety, an attack upon that poſt was
the firſt military operation that he projected. Two days before, the
ſafety of the Britiſh army depended upon the ſucceſsful reſiſtance of
the fleet; and now the ſafety of the fleet was in its turn to depend upon
the exertions of the army: For ſhould the countd'Eſtaing ſucceed againſt
general Grant by land, admiral Barrington could not long withſtand
a combined attack from his ſuperior fleet by ſea, and his batteries on
ſhore. The high grounds of the Vergie. were occupied by brigadier-
general Meadows, with the reſerve of the army; and he prepared to
defend them with a reſolution ſuitable to their importance, and the
high expectations formed from his known gallantry, and the bravery of
the ſelect corps which he commanded. Every thing being in readineſs
for the aſſault, the French on the eighteenth of December advanced
in three coluinns, led by the count d'Eſtaing, the marquis de Bouillé,
and the count Lovendahl. Thrice did they ruſh on to the attack,
VOL. II.
N
and
90
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXVII.
1778.
and as often were they repulſed. In the emphatic language of
gea
neral Grant, “ their two firſt attacks were made with the impetuo-
ſity of Frenchmen; and they were repulſed with the determined
bravery of Britons.” In the third attack they were ſoon broke,
and fled in confuſion, General Meadows, although wounded early
in the day, would not quit the field; but on horfeback viſited every
quarter where his preſence was neceſſary, and continued to give his
orders, notwithſtanding the anguiſh of his wound, until the triumph
of the day was completed, in the final rout and diſcomfiture of the
French. In the different actions of this day, the French artillery
which had been taken upon the iſland was turned againſt themſelves,
and did fatal execution. Four hundred were left dead on the field;
and, according to their own accounts, their wounded were nearly
three times that number. The magnitude of their loſs, exceeding
in number the whole of the Britiſh troops which were engaged,
evinces the deſperation and perſeverance with which the French
made and ſupported their attacks, and places far beyond the reach
of praiſe the maſterly diſpoſition formed by general Meadows for
the defence of his poſt, and the bravery and firmneſs of the troops
to whom that defence was entruſted. The whole loſs of the Britiſh
troops amounted to one hundred and ſeventy-one: Of theſe thirteen
only were killed, one hundred and fifty wounded, and eight miff-
ing. After this ſevere defeat, the count d'Eſtaing remained in-
active until the twenty-eighth of December, in the night of which
he reimbarked his troops, and on the following morning failed with
his whole fleet to Martinique. Whilſt the French fleet was yet in
fight, the chevalier de Micond offered to capitulate for the ſurrender
of the iſland; and although he was now deſtitute of all hope of
relief, and entirely at the mercy of the Britiſh commanders, who
might have inſiſted on a ſurrender at diſcretion, ſuch liberal terms
were granted as his deſerted and deſperate ſituation gave him little
reaſon to expect. The governor and his garriſon were allowed to
3
march
AMERICAN WAR.
gI
.
6 Mter the
mareh out of their poſts with the honours of war, and to retain C HA P.
their baggage ; and having delivered up their arms, were to be tranſ-
1778.
ported to Martinique, as priſoners of war, not to ſerve in any mi-
litary capacity until exchanged. The inhabitants, on delivering up
their arms and taking the oath of allegiance to the king of Great
Britain, were to be ſecured in the poſſeſſion of their habitations and
property, and in the exerciſe of their religion, to be governed ac-
cording to the eſtabliſhed laws of the colony, and to be entitled to
the ſame protection as Britiſh ſubjects, and not to be obliged to bear
arms againſt the troops of the king of France. Theſe terms being
granted, all ſtores of ammunition and proviſions, and every thing
in general belonging to the king of France, were to be faithfully
accounted for, and delivered up to the Britiſh commiſſioners*.
On the ſixth of January 1779, admiral Byron's fleet, which had
departure of the count d'Eſtaing; and had it not been detained in
the harbour of Newport, at Rhode Iſland, by contrary winds and
ſtormy weather for fourteen days after it was ready to fail, it is pro-
bable, either that the retreat of the count d'Eſtaing to Martinique
would have been cut off, or that a general engagement muſt have
been riſked in order to effect it. But all the proceedings of admiral
Byron had hitherto been marred by the oppoſition of the elements;
and even in his preſent paſſage from Rhode Iſland, the Fame, one of
his ſhips, was diſmalted.
By his arrival the Britiſh naval force in the Weſt Indies became
equal, if not ſuperior, to that under count d'Eſtaing, who was
henceforward obliged to act upon the defenſive, and ſhelter his fleet
1779.
I
333 muſkets
• Ordnance, Ammunition, Stores, &c. taken at St. Lucic in December 1778.
59 pieces of ordnance of different ſizes 200 whole barrels corned powder
5766 round ſhot
407 langridge ditto
18,100 muſket cartridges filled with ball
2899 cartridges for ordnance
2 cuvt. 2 qrs. muſket ball.
within
N2
92
HISTORY OF THE
1
XXVII.
1779.
CH A P within the bay of Fort Royal. So apprehenſive did he appear to
be of the effects of a general engagement, that for ſix months to-
gether he only ventured twice to put to ſea ; and both times haſtily
returned as ſoon as the Britiſh fleet was ſeen ſtanding towards him.
The iſlands of Martinique and St. Lucie are ſo near to each other,
that the French fleet could ſcarcely come out of Fort Royal Bay
without being ſeen from St. Lucie; and ſome ſmall faſt-failing vef-
fels were alſo appointed to watch its motions. Frequent ſquadrons
were ſent to cruiſe off the mouth of Fort Royal harbour, and, if
poſſible, provoke the count d'Eſtaing to come out and riſk an en-
gagement; but no mortification of this ſort could induce him to de-
viate from his defenſive plan. Both fleets were reinforced during
the winter; that of admiral Byron by a ſquadron of ſhips from
England, under commodore Rowley, who had under his convoy a
fleet of merchantmen for the Weſt India iſlands; and that of count
d'Eſtaing by a ſquadron from France, under the command of the
count de Graſle: But notwithſtanding this reinforcement, the count
d'Eſtaing ſtill remained in the harbour of Fort Royal.
When the ſeaſon arrived for the departure of the Weſt India fleet
of merchant-ſhips for England, admiral Byron was obliged to quit
his ſtation, and put to ſea, for the purpoſe of enabling the ſhips
from the different iſlands to aſſemble with ſafety at St. Chriſtopher's,
which was appointed to be the place of general rendezvous. Thither,
therefore, he directed his courſe, having left St. Lucie on the ſixth
of June. The departure of the Britiſh fleet for the protection of
the homeward-bound trade, was the ſignal for the French to com-
mence their operations. A force, conſiſting of four hundred and
fifty men, under the command of the chevalier de Trolong du
Romain, was embarked at Martinique, on board of four veſſels,
and ſailed for the iſland of St. Vincent's, where they arrived on the
twelfth of June. A landing was immediately effected, and a com-
munication opened with the Caribs, the original inhabitants of the
iſland,
AMERICAN WAR.
93
XXVII.
1779.
iſland, who yet retained the poſſeſſion of ſome part of it. Between C HA P.
them and the Britiſh ſettlers a war had broke out ſome few years bar
before, which, after much bloodſhed on both ſides, terminated in
the ſubjugation of the former. But the Caribs, compelled to ſubmit,
were not reconciled : They ſtill retained their ancient reſentment.
They conſidered the Britiſh ſettlers as unjuſt intruders upon their
poſſeſſions, and were ready to join the French as ſoon as they land-
ed. The garriſon of the iſland conſiſted of ſeven companies of the
ſixtieth regiment, amounting to four hundred and ſixty-four men,
rank and file, beſides officers, under the command of lieutenant-
colonel Etherington, as appears by a return of it made on the firſt
day of April in the preſent year ; but of theſe only three hundred
and fifty-ſeven were actually effective, the reſt being confined with
ſickneſs either in the barracks or hoſpital. The French, joined by
the Caribs, advanced againſt Kingſton, the capital of the iſland,
without meeting with any oppoſition. On the ſixteenth of June
they took poſſeſſion of the heights behind the town; and on the
ſame day, without a muſket having been fired, the whole iſland
was ſurrendered by Valentine Morris, eſquire, the governor, with
the conſent of the commander of the garriſon, on terms ſimilar to
thoſe which had been granted by the marquis de Bouillé to the in-
habitants and garriſon of Dominica. The eaſy conqueſt of St. Vin-
cent's ſeems to have been the cauſe of much ſurpriſe to general
Grant, who commanded at St. Lucie : But although no ſatisfactory
reaſon has been yet given to the public, for this tame ſubmiſſion on
the part of the civil governor, and the commander of the king's
troops in St. Vincent's, unleſs the dread of the Caribs, whoſe fero-
city during the former war was ſtill remembered, can be admitted
to be ſuch; it is nevertheleſs preſumable, that ſuch reaſons did exiſt,
becauſe it is ſcarcely credible, that a Britiſh officer, bred in the army
from his infancy, who had arrived at the rank of lieutenant-colonel,
would
!
94
HISTORY OF THE
XXVII.
1779
beſides a
CHAP would have conſented to ſurrender his troops in this quiet and in-
offenſive manner, if there had been
if there had been any reaſonable hope of a ſucceff-
ful reſiſtance.
The iſland of St. Vincent having thus become an eaſy conqueſt,
the count d'Eſtaing, whoſe fleet had by this time been increaſed by
another reinforcement of ſhips under the command of monſieur de
la Motte Piquet, failed from Martinique towards the end of June,
to make an attack upon Grenada, during the abſence of admiral
Byron. His fleet conſiſted of thirty-four ſhips of war,
number of tranſports carrying nine thouſand land forces. Of the
fhips of war, twenty-ſix were of the line, and the reſt large frigates.
With this formidable force he arrived at Grenada on the ſecond of
July. The fleet came to an anchor in the bay of Moliniere; and
the troops were immediately landed. Detachments from theſe,
during the night, took poſſeſſion of ſome heights in the vici-
nity of the town of St. George, the capital of the iſland, from
which the count d'Eſtaing, on the following day, was enabled to
reconnoitre the defences of the place. Theſe conſiſted of a fort, and
an intrenched hill, upon which the hoſpital ſtood. This hill, which
nearly commanded the fort, conſtituted the principal defence of the
place, being ſteep and of difficult aſcent, and ſtrengthened alſo with
palliſadoes, and ſome lines of entrenchment. The whole regular
force of the iſland did not exceed one hundred and fifty men, of
whom twenty-four were artillery recruits, and the reſt belonging to
the forty-eighth regiment: To theſe were joined about four hundred
militia, conſiſting chiefly of French inhabitants, who had become
ſubjects after the peace of 1763, and of people of colour; but in
the night after the landing of the French, ſo many of the militia
deſerted, that the whole effective force of the garriſon was reduced
under three hundred men. To a ſummons ſent by the count
d'Eſtaing, demanding a ſurrender of the iſland, lord Macartney, the
gover-
1
AMERICAN WAR.
95
XXVII,
17796
governor, reſolutely anſwered, that he was unacquainted with the C HA P.
force of the beſiegers, but that he knew his own, and was deter-
mined to defend himſelf as long as he could. The count d'Eſtaing
had hoped that the diſplay which he had made of the magnitude of
his force, both by ſea and land, would have induced the governor
to capitulate, from a conviction that all oppoſition would be fruit-
leſs; but the anſwer which he now received announced an obſtinate
reſiſtance, from which the ſiege, if carried on by regular approaches,
might be protracted until the arrival of admiral Byron with the
Britiſh Aleet. He therefore determined, after viewing the works,
to ſtorm the lines upon the hoſpital hill, whatever number of men
it might coſt him. A diſpoſition was accordingly made; and the
following night the lines were aſſaulted in three different places,
the column which made the principal attack being commanded by the
count d'Eſtaing in perſon. The French were at firſt repulſed, and
ſuffered ſeverely, not only from the fire of the garriſon, but from
the guns of a ſhip of war in the harbour, which enfiladed one of
their columns. In the next attack, however, they were ſucceſsful,
forced the lines, notwithſtanding a brave reſiſtance made by the gar-
riſon, and gained the ſummit of the hill. The cannon found on the
hoſpital hill were on the following morning turned againſt the fort j
and the fort being commanded by the hill, Lord Macartney was
reduced to the neceſſity of ſending a flag of cruce with an offer of
ſurrendering the iſland by capitulation. In anſwer to his flag, he
was allowed only an hour and a half to propoſe his terms; and
although theſe were got ready, and preſented in due time, they were
inftantiy and wholly rejected by the count d'Eſtaing, who, inſtead of
them, made propoſals ſo extraordinary and inadmiſſible, that the
governor, with the conſent of the principal inhabitants, rather
than accept of them, agreed to ſurrender at diſcretion; and in this
manner, on the fourth of July, the count d'Eſtaing became poſſeſſed
of the iſland of Grenada,
In
96
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXVII.
1779.
In the mean time, admiral Byron, who had failed with the home-
ward-bound fleet from St. Chriſtopher's, on the fifteenth of June,
after
accompanying them a proper diſtance, and appointing a con-
voy to eſcort them during the remainder of their paſſage, returned
with the reſt of his fleet to his former ſtation at St. Lucie, where,
however, he did not arrive until the firſt of July, having been for
ſome time retarded by a ſtrong eaſterly wind and lee-current, in his
endeavours to weather the iſland of Martinique. At St. Lucie he
was informed of the capture of St. Vincent's : And an arrangement
for its recovery being inſtantly made between him and general
Grant, ſo expeditiouſly were the troops embarked, which were deſ-
tined for this ſervice, that the whole fleet failed on the third of July.
In the paſſage to St. Vincent's, information was received that the
count d'Eſtaing had left Martinique, and was gone to attack Gre-
nada This intelligence produced a change in the plan which had
been pre-concerted between the admiral and the general; and a de-
termination was now made to proceed with all expedition to the
relief of Grenada. Soon afterwards two veſſels which had made
their eſcape, after the arrival of count d'Eſtaing, and before the ſur-
render of the iſland, met the Britiſh fleet; and from the intelligence
brought by them, the admiral was led to believe that the naval force
at Grenada, under the count d'Eſtaing, was inferior to his own :
From the ſame ſource of intelligence he alſo learned that lord Mac-
artney expected to be able to hold out for a fortnight. Admiral
Byron's fleet, excluſive of tranſports, conſiſted of twenty-one ſhips
of the line, and one frigate; the count d'Eſtaing's force was repre-
ſented to be between fourteen and nineteen ſhips of the line; and
under the influence of this intelligence, which afterwards appeared
to be erroneous, the admiral made his ſubſequent arrangements
the attack of the French fleet. On the evening of the fifth of July
the Britiſh fleet being ſo near that it muſt neceſſarily be in ſight of
Grenada on the following morning, the ſhips of war were drawn
from
for
AMERICAN WAR.
97
XXVII.
1779
from amongſt the tranſports, and theſe were left to windward under C HA P.
the care of rear-admiral Rowley, with three ſhips of the line, who
had, nevertheleſs, orders to quit the tranſports and join the reſt of
the fleet whenever on the following morning a ſignal for that pur-
poſe ſhould be made. The van diviſion of the Britiſh fleet was com-
manded by admiral Barrington, in the Prince of Wales ; the centre
diviſion by admiral Byron, in the Princeſs Royal; and the rear by
admiral Hyde Parker, in the Conqueror. In this order they failed
during the night; and at dawn of day the following morning were
in ſight of Grenada and the French fleet. One of the count
d'Eſtaing's frigates had brought him intelligence, during the night,
of the approach of admiral Byron, and he, in conſequence of this
intelligence, had given orders for his fleet to get under way by day-
light in the morning ; ſo that when the French fleet was firſt deſcried
by admiral Byron, part of it was already under fail, and the reſt in
a cluſter getting under way as faſt as they could, a ſituation in which
it was impoſſible to aſcertain their number. A ſignal was imme-
diately thrown out for a general chaſe towards the quarter where
the French feet lay, another for rear-admiral Rowley to quit the
tranſports and join, and ſoon afterwards a third for a cloſe engage-
ment; the ſhips to fall in and form the line as they got up. As the
Britiſh fleet bore down, that of the count d'Eſtaing ſtretched out
from the land, and formed a line to leeward. Its great fuperiority
was now perceptible; but if in conſequence of this diſcovery any
alteration had been neceſſary in the diſpoſition of the Britiſh fleet,
it was now too late to make it, as ſeveral of the advanced ſhips were
already engaged. Admiral Barrington in the Prince of Wales,
captain Sawyer in the Boyne, and captain Gardner in the Sultan,
preſſing forward with that ardour which has at all times diſtinguiſh-
ed the Britiſh naval ſervice, had foon cloſed with the enemy's fleet,
and brought it to action, bravely ſuſtaining their ſpirited attack until
they were joined by their companions. To fuccour theſe advanced
VOL. II.
0
ſhips,
98
HISTORY OF THE
1779.
1
own.
CHAP. ſhips, and, if poſſible, to make the action deciſive, the fame ſignals
were ſtill continued. But it was not the count d'Eſtaing's intention,
notwithſtanding the great ſuperiority of his force, to riſk the fate of
Grenada upon the uncertain iſſue of a cloſe engagement with an
enemy, which, though inferior in number, was formidable enough
to create apprehenſion; he therefere kept his fleet at a cautious dif-
tance, whenever the action had the appearance of becoming general,
and cloſed only when ſingle ſhips of the Britiſh fleet, in conſequence
of their advanced ſituation, were expoſed to the fire of ſeveral of his
His ſhips, too, being cleaner than thoſe of admiral Byron,
he had it too much in his power to increaſe or diminiſh his diſtance
as it ſuited his purpoſe; whence it happened that ſome of the Bri-
tiſh ſhips were much diſabled, whilſt others were little injured, and
ſome few not at all engaged. The three ſhips already mentioned,
which commenced the action, ſuſtained conſiderable damage,
and loſt a number of men : The brave admiral Barrington was
amongſt the wounded. The Grafton, captain Collingwood, the
Cornwall, captain Edwards, and the Lion, captain Cornwallis, hap-
pening during ſome part of the action to be to leeward of the
Britiſh line, ſuſtained the whole fire of the French fleet as it paſſed,
and were greatly diſabled ; as was the Monmouth, captain Fanſhawe,
who gallantly bore down to ſtop the van of the enemy, and bring
them to cloſe action. The Britiſh admiral ſeeing the diſabled con-
dition of ſo many of his ſhips, hauled down the ſignal for chaſe,
but continued that for cloſe action; keeping at the ſame time to
windward, and forming his line as well as circumſtances would per-
mit, to prevent the enemy from doubling upon him, and cutting
him off from his tranſports, an intention which ſome of their move-
ments plainly indicated. The deſign of the count d'Eſtaing againſt
the tranſports being thus fruſtrated, he tacked to the ſouthward with
his whole fleet about three in the afternoon. The Britiſh admiral
inſtantly did the ſame, that he might be in readineſs to protect the
Graftong
AMERICAN WAR.
99
XXVII,
1779
Grafton, Cornwall, and Lion, three of his diſabled fhips, which C HA P.
were far aſtern, and the laſt of them greatly to leeward. The Lion
had loſt ſome of her maſts, and her fails and rigging were ſo much
cut to pieces that captain Cornwallis found it impoſſible to beat to
windward: As ſoon, therefore, as the French fleet had tacked, and
appeared to ſtand towards him, he bore away before the wind, and
went with all the fail he could ſet to the weſtward. The other two
ſhips ſtood for the Britiſh fleet, and from the extreme caution of the
count d'Eſtaing, were fortunate enough to rejoin it: So ſtudiouſly
did he avoid every thing which could lead to a cloſe engagement,
that he made no effort to intercept them, although it was apparently
much in his power. Night at laſt put an end to the action, the
French fleet being then about three miles to leeward.
At the time when the Britiſh fleet in the morning was neareſt to
the town of St. George, the white flag was ſeen flying on the fort
and the different batteries, an appearance which left no doubt in
the mind of the Britiſh admiral that the French were already in
poſſeſſion of the iſland; and as in the preſent crippled ſtate of his
feet nothing effectual could be done for recovering it, he ſent orders
in the evening to the tranſports to make the beſt of their way to St.
Chriſtopher's, whilſt he with the ſhips of war ſhould keep between
them and the enemy. And the Monmouth, which had ſuffered ſo
much as to ſtand in need of immediate repair, was ordered to the
ſame place. As the French fleet was only three miles to leeward at the
cloſe of the engagement in the evening; and as the count d'Eſtaing
during the action muſt have clearly perceived his great fuperiority
over the Britiſh fleet in point of number; admiral Byron expected
to have been attacked as ſoon as day-light appeared in the morning;
but in the morning the French fleet was not to be ſeen. It had return-
ed during the night to Grenada: And as nothing farther could at pre-
ſent be attempted for the recovery of the iſland, the Britiſh admiral fol-
02
lowed
100
HISTORY OF THE
XXVII.
1779
CH A P. lowed the tranſports to St. Chriſtopher's, in order to refit his diſabled
ſhips. The Lion, which we have mentioned to have ſtood to the
weſtward at the time when the French fleet tacked on the day of
the engagement, was ſo entirely diſabled, that captain Cornwallis
was obliged to bear away for Jamaica to get her damage repaired.
In maſts, fails, and rigging, the damage done to the Britiſh fleet was
great; but in men the loſs of the French was beyond all compariſon
greater. Endeavours were uſed to conceal it; but the beſt accounts
made it amount to one thouſand two hundred killed, including
twenty-one officers, and nearly two thouſand wounded; whereas the
loſs on board the Britiſh fleet amounted only to four officers and one
hundred and ſeventy-nine men killed, and the ſame number of of-
ficers and three hundred and forty-two men wounded *.
* Return of killed and wounded on board Admiral Byron's Fleet, the 6th of July 1779,
in the Action with the French Fleet off Grenada.
520 68
I 2
Van Diviſion.
too 74
IL
و ا م اة
500 | 64
-
Ships.
Commanders.
Men. Guns. Í Killed. Wounded.
1. Suffolk
Rear Admiral Rowley }} 617 74
7
Captain Chriſtian
25
2. Boyne
Captain Sawyer
30
3. Royal Oak
Captain Fitzherbert
600 74
4
I2
4. Prince of Wales {\iCaptain Hill
Vice Admiral Barrington
31 619 74
26
46
5. Magnificent Captain Elphinſton
8
6. Trident
Captain Molloy
500 | 64
3
6
7. Medway
Captain Affleck
420
60
4
8. Fame
f
Captain Butchart
600 74
4
9. Nonſuch
Captain Griffith
10. Sultan
Captain Gardner
39
11. Princeſs Royal Acaptain Blair
} 770 90 3
6
12. Albion
Captain Bowyer
Z
13. Stirling Caſtle Captain Carkett
500 | 64
6
434. Eliſabeth
Captain Truſcott
115. Yarmouth
Captain Bateman
500 | 64
16. Lion
Captain Cornwallis
50064
30
17. Vigilant
Sir Digby Dent
500 | 64
18. Conqueror
Rear Adiniral Parker
Captain Harmood
19. Cornwall
Captain Edwards
16 27
20. Monmouth
Captain Fanſhawe
50064 25
28
21. Grafton
Captain Collingwood
35 63
Gco 74
Centre.
600 74
2
600 74
I
2
21
Rear:
{1
}
617 74
600 74
600 74
183
346
The
!
AMERICAN WAR.
lor
XXVII.
1779.
The iſland of Grenada having been ſurrendered at diſcretion, the CH A P.
governor, garriſon, and inhabitants, were ſubjected to the will of the
conqueror, except ſo far as the law of nations, independent of all
poſitive ftipulation, impoſed limits to his authority. But even theſe,
it is ſaid, were ſhamefully tranſgreſſed; and the inhabitants expe-
rienced all the rigorous oppreſſion and ſeverity which flow from
uncontrolled power, when exerciſed by an unfeeling and unprina
cipled deſpot.
E
102
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. XXVIII.
General Alarm throughout the Britiſh Weſt India Iſands--Quicted by
the Departure of Count d'Eſtaing to Hiſpaniola-Reduction of Sun-
bury in Georgia~Colonel Campbell's Expedition to Augufta-Cir-
cuit for the Encouragement of the Loyaliſts performed by Colonel
Hamilton-Colonel Hamilton quits Auguſta and returns to Savannah
Attempt of General Lincoln to ſtraiten the Britiſh Quarters-Fruf-
trated by Colonel Prevoſt-Unſucceſsful Attempt of General Prevoſt
on Charleſtown--General Prevoſt retires from Charleſtown, and
takes Poſt at Fohn's iſand.
1779.
General
alarm
the Britiſh
Weſt India
CHAT.. THE balance of conqueſts in the Weft Indies was now greatly in
favour of the French; St. Lucie, the only Britiſh acquiſition, be-
ing but a poor recompence for the loſs of Dominica, St. Vince'
and Grenada; and the great fuperiority of the French fleet in that
throughout
quarter threatened to make the balance ſtill greater, and filled the
iſlands, inhabitants of the remaining Britiſh Weſt India poſſeſſions with general
alarm and apprehenſion. But the approach of the hurricane ſeaſon, ,
added to the loſs of men in the laſt action, fet bounds for the
pre-
quieted by ſent to the ambitious projects of the count d'Eſtaing. After remain-
the departure
ing ſome time at Grenada, for the purpoſe of ſettling the govern-
d'Eſtaing to
Hifpaniola.
ment, he failed with his fleet for Cape François, in Hiſpaniola. And
here we ſhall leave him, in order to reſume the relation of ſuch
events as happened on the American continent ſince the commence-
ment of the preſent year.
of count
The
AMERICAN WAR.
IO3
XXVIII.
North Amen
rican contin
The rigour of winter ſuſpended all military operations between CHAP.
the two great armies in the province of New York, until the return
of ſpring; but in the more ſoutherly climate of Georgia, the winter Events on the
is the propereſt ſeaſon for action, and in this laſt province it may
be
remembered that lieutenant-colonel Campbell began his victorious nent.
career as late as the end of December. We left him, after he had
defeated the provincials, and driven them acroſs the Savannah into
South Carolina, receiving the inhabitants of Georgia under the pro-
tection of Great Britain, forming them into military corps for their
own defence, and framing other regulations for the future peace
and
ſecurity of the province. He had alſo projected, and was making
preparations for proceeding on an expedition up the Savannah to
Augufta, the principal town in the interior part of the province, as
foon as the arrival of general Prevoſt ſhould enable him to under-
take it. That general had met with many difficulties and delays
in his march towards Georgia, from the want of horſes and carriages
to tranſport his artillery, ammunition, baggage, and proviſions. Theſe
were carried in open boats, through the different inland water-
courſes, with which the ſea-coaſt of Eaſt Florida, as well as Geor-
gia and the Carolinas, every-where abounds ; and the boats were fre-
quently obliged to make large circuits, in order to avoid the enemy's
gallies. During theſe circuits the troops, for want of other pro-
viſions, were ſometimes obliged to ſubſiſt for ſeveral days together
on oyſters, which the inlets from the ſea fortunately afforded. At
laſt, however, they penetrated into Georgia, and reached Sunbury
about the beginning of January, the fort of which they immediately
inveſted, being the only place of ſtrength remaining in the poſſef-
ſion of the Americans in the lower parts of the province. Lieute-
nant-colonel Prevoſt, the brother of the general, by making a forced
march with part of the troops, had previouſly ſurrounded it to pre-
vent the garriſon from eſcaping, the commander of which at firſt
ſeemed
104
HISTORY OF THE
XXVIII.
1770.
CHA P. feemed determined to make an obſtinate reſiſtance; but after trenches
were opened, and ſome pieces of artillery had been brought up, he
Reduction of thought fit, on the ninth of January, to ſurrender the fort at diſcre-
Sunbury in
Georgia.
tion, with upwards of forty pieces of ordnance, and a conſiderable
quantity of ammunition*; an acquiſition made with the loſs of only
one man killed 'and three wounded. The loſs of the garriſon in
killed and wounded was equally inconſiderable ; but the ſurvivors,
amounting to two hundred and twelve, were made priſoners of war.
General Prevoſt, after the reduction of Sunbury, proceeded to Sa-
vannah, where he arrived about the middle of January; and as ſoon
afterwards as the neceſſary arrangements were completed, lieutenant-
colonel Campbell ſet out on his expedition to Auguſta.
In war much depends upon the promptitude with which a com-
mander ſeizes and improves thoſe opportunities of action that are
preſented by fortuitous circumſtances. This obſervation has been
already exemplified in the conduct of lieutenant-colonel Campbell,
on the day on which he defeated the American troops before Savan-
nah, with ſo little loſs on his own ſide; and it is further verified by
all the proceedings of this officer during his command. Had he not
commenced his operations at the critical moment when he did com-
mence them, without waiting for the junction of general Prevoſt,
and had he not improved his firſt ſucceſs by rapidly purſuing the
enemy after their defeat, until they were finally driven out of
* Artillery, Stores, &c. taken at Sunbury in Georgia, in January 1779, when the Fort was
ſurrendered to General Prevoſt.
24 pieces of braſs ordnance
3002 muſket cartridges, 500 carbine ditto
i braſs ſeven-inch mortar
150 muſket ball, 1,800 cwt. lead in pigs
20 pieces of iron ordnance
28 powder barrels
824 round ſhot of different fizes
foo muſket flints
100 caſe and grape ſhot, 30 ſhells, 50 hand 150 cartridge boxes, 72 pouches with powder
grenades
horns
180 muſkets with bayonets, 12 rifles, 40 30 claw handſpikes with ladles, wad-hooks,
fufees and carbines, and 4 wall pieces and ſpunges.
5
the
1
AMERICAN WAR.
105
XXVIII.
17794
the province, it is probable that the conqueſt of even the lower parts CHAP.
of Georgia, inſtead of being effected in leſs than ten days, might have
been a work not only of time, but of difficulty; as a large reinforce-
ment was haſtening towards it, which reached the northern banks of the
Savannah juſt in time to collect the ſcattered remains of the American
general How's defeated army.
The delegates from South Carolina and Georgia, with a view to
the conqueſt of Eaſt Florida, had ſolicited the congreſs to appoint
general Lincoln to the command of the troops to the ſouthward.
That officer was the ſecond in command in the army which captured
general Burgoyne, a circumſtance which of itſelf was ſufficient
to give him eclat. But his judicious, brave, and ſpirited conduct
on the occaſion, gave him ſtill better pretenſions to fame, and en-
titled him, in the opinion of the Americans, to no ſmall ſhare in the
glory of the atchievement. He was, in September of the laſt year,
appointed by congreſs to the command of the ſouthern army, and
arrived at Charleſtown in South Carolina about the beginning of
December.
Long before Lincoln's arrival at Charleſtown, general Waſhing-
ton, through his ſpies at New York, had received intelligence of the
intended expedition againſt, Georgia; and as ſoon as this informa-
tion was conveyed to the ſouthward, the provincial government of
North Carolina, with a deciſion which did them credit, embodied
two thouſand of their militia to ſerve for five months, and without
delay ſent them on to Charleſtown, under the command of generals
Aſhe and Rutherford, wliere they were to be provided with arms.
Theſe troops arrived in time at Charleſtown to have reached general
How at Savannah before he was attacked, had they been imme-
diately furniſhed with arms. But the government of South Caro-
lina refuſed to ſupply them, until it was finally aſcertained by
the proceedings of the Britiſh, that Georgia, and not South Carolina,
VOL. II.
was
106
HISTORY OF THE
1779.
Colonel
CHAP was the object of their expedition. The reinforcement which we
- have already mentioned to have met general How, as ſoon as he
had crofſed the Savannah, conſiſted of a detachment of theſe troops,
with two regular regiments from Charleſtown, amounting in the
whole to nine hundred and fifty men; and with theſe and the re-
mains of the Georgia army, general Lincoln, on the third of Ja-
nuary, eſtabliſhed his head-quarters at Puryſburg, on the north ſide
of the river, about fifteen miles above the town of Savannah.
The inhabitants of ſeveral of the interior counties of North Caro-
lina were known to be well affected to the Britiſh government. The
expedition up the Savannah, the courſe of which led towards theſe
inhabitants, had, therefore, a double object, and was intended to open
and eſtabliſh a communication with them, as well as to reduce the
remaining part of Georgia. Auguſta, the ſecond town in Georgia,
Campbell's
lies. upon the fouthern bank of the river Savannah, and is diſtant.
expedition to
Auguſta in from the ſea-coaſt about one hundred and fifty miles. The previous
Georgia.
arrangements neceſſary for marching through ſuch an extent of
country, in many places thinly, and in ſome not at all inhabited,
were ſo well adjuſted by lieutenant-colonel Campbell, that he met
with few interruptions, except ſuch as aroſe from the water-courſes.
in his way, the bridges over which were in moſt places deſtroyed.
Upon his approach to Auguſta, a body of provincials, under the.
command of brigadier-general Williamſon, quitted the town, and .
retreated acroſs the river. Here, as well as at Savannah, the inha-
bitants Áocked in, took the oath of allegiance, and, for their own de-
fence, were formed into companies,, under officers of their own.
choice.
From Auguſta lieutenant-colonel Hamilton of the North
Carolina regiment was detached towards the frontiers of Georgia,
ragement of
the loyaliſts, with two hundred' infantry, mounted on horſeback, to encourage
colonel Ha- ſuch of the inhabitants as were attached to the Britiſh government,
and to diſarm the diſaffected. In his progreſs he ſoon, diſcovered
that,
!
Circuit for
the encou-
milton
$
AMERICAN WAR.
107
XXVIII.
1779
17
that, although many of the people came in to take the oath of alle- C H A P.
giance, the profeſſions of a conſiderable number were not to be de- u
pended upon; and that ſome came in only for the purpoſe of gain-
ing information of his ſtrength and future deſigns. In 'various
quarters he met with oppoſition; and all their places of ſtrength
held out until they were reduced. The reduction of moſt of theſe
was not, however, a work of great difficulty, as they conſiſted only
of ſtockade forts, calculated for defence againſt the Indians. At
laſt, having nearly completed his circuit, he was attacked by a colo-
nel Pickens, with five hundred militia, who had marched againſt
him from the diſtrict of Ninety-ſix, in the province of South Caro-
lina; but the militia were foon repulſed and obliged to fly. The
bodies of nine or ten who had been killed in the action were
afterwards found in the woods covered with leaves; their wounded
they carried off. During the progreſs of lieutenant-colonel Hamil-
ton, a number of loyaliſts in the interior parts of North Carolina
had embodied themſelves under a colonel Boyd, and attempted to
force their way into Georgia, and form a junction with the Britiſh
troops. It was to oppoſe theſe, as well as to check colonel Hamil-
ton's progreſs, that colonel Pickens had aſſembled his militia ; and
finding that he could make no impreſſion upon the latter, he turned
his arms againſt the loyaliſts, who had by this time forced a paſſage
acroſs the Savannah in the face of a detachment which he had left
to oppoſe them. He came up with them at Kettle Creek, and an
engagement enſued, in which the loyaliſts, after an obſtinate reſiſt-
ance, were defeated with the loſs of their commander, colonel Boyd,
and a conſiderable number killed and wounded. About three hun-
dred of them, by keeping together, afterwards found means to join
the Britiſh army. The reſt were diſperſed; ſome flying back to
North Carolina, and others into South Carolina, where they threw
themſelves upon the mercy of their countrymen. Of thoſe who
fled
P2
.
108
HISTORY OF THE
)
XXVIII.
1779
Colonel
quits Au-
turns to Sa.
vannah.
CHA P. fled into South Carolina, ſeventy were tried and convicted of trea-
ſon againſt the new government, but five only were put to death.
Lieutenant-colonel Campbell having received orders to retreat
from Auguſta, recalled the detachment from the frontiers, and about
February the middle of February retired down the Savannah by eaſy marches
until he reached Hudſon's Ferry, about twenty-four miles above
Ebenezer, now the head-quarters of the army.
At Hudſon's Ferry
he left the advance of the army under the command of lieutenant-
Campbell colonel Prevoſt, and returned to Savannah, to eſtabliſh ſome civil
guſta, and re. regulations in the province, previous to his departure for England,
which took place ſoon afterwards.
The poſt at Auguſta was found too diſtant to be ſupported; for
as the Britiſh troops extended themſelves along the ſouthern banks
of the Savannah, the provincials did the ſame on the oppoſite fide;
and general Lincoln, whoſe force was every day increaſing, had not
only eſtabliſhed ſeveral poſts in force on the north ſide of the river,
but was alſo enabled to detach general Ashe, with one thouſand five
hundred militia, and ſome regular troops, to ſtrengthen the provin-
cial poſt oppoſite to Auguſta, and to improve any opportunity which
might offer for croſſing the river, in order to ſtraiten the Britifh
quarters. General Alhe, upon his arrival at the poſt oppoſite to
Auguſta, found that town already evacuated by the Britiſh troops,
who had retired down the river: He therefore, in purſuance of his
orders, croſſed the river, and followed them as far as Brier Creek,
behind which he took poſt, about thirteen miles above Hudſon's
Ferry.
Attempt of
General Lincoln was now forming a plan in concert with general
Seln to ftrait. Afhe, for confining the Britiſh troops within ſtill narrower limits ;
enthe Britiſli but before he could carry it into execution, lieutenant-colonel Pre-
quarters
voſt, with a detachment conſiſting of three grenadier companies of
the ſixtieth regiment, fir James Baird's light-infantry, the ſecond
batta-
Lin-
I
V
AMERICAN WAR,
109
XXVIII.
1779.
colonel Pre-
battalion of the ſeventy-firſt regiment, captain Tawes's provincial C HA P.
troop of light dragoons, and ſome rangers and militia, amounting in
the whole to nine hundred men, by making a circuit, and croſſing
Brier Creek fifteen miles above the place where general Aſhe was
encamped, found means to get into his rear unperceived ; and whilſt
major Macpherſon, with the firſt battalion of the ſeventy-firſt regi-
ment, and ſome irregulars, with two field-pieces, appeared in front
of the Americans, in order to draw their attention that way, they
were on the third of March attacked in the oppoſite quarter by lieu- fruſtrated by
tenant-colonel Prevoſt, and totally routed and diſperſed, with the volt:
loſs of ſeven pieces of cannon, ſeveral ſtand of colours, almoſt all
their arms, and the whole of their ammunition and baggage. About
one hundred and fifty of the enemy fell in the field of action and in
the purſuit; twenty-ſeven officers, including brigadier-general Elbert,
the ſecond in'command, with two hundred men, were made pri-
foners; and a much greater number periſhed in the river endeavour-
ing to make their eſcape. Of thoſe who did eſcape, many returned
home: And of the whole detachment under general Aſhe, which
was ſuppoſed to exceed two thouſand men, only four hundred and
fifty rejoined general Lincoln. The loſs of the Britiſh troops amount-
ed only to five private ſoldiers killed, and one officer and ten privates
wounded. The plan of this ſurpriſe was well imagined, and the
execution admirably conducted ; and both ſerve to exhibit in a very
fuperior point of view the military talents of lieutenant-colonel
Prevoſt. In conſequence of this fignal victory, the communication
was again opened between the Britiſh poſts and the frontier ſettle-
ments.
In the mean time a new governor was elected for South Carolina,
and to him and his council were delegated powers almoſt dictatorial
for the defence of the province. In conſequence of the rigorous
exerciſe of thoſe powers, the army under general Lincoln was ſoon
after-
I TO
HISTORY OF THE
XXVIII.
1779.
C HA P. afterwards reinforced with a body of one thouſand militia ; and this
reinforcement enabled him to reſume his former deſign of entering
Georgia by the way of Auguſta, in order to interrupt the communi-
cation which lieutenant-colonel Prevoſt's victory had opened: He
had alſo another powerful motive for marching towards that place
at preſent, which was to protect the provincial delegates for Geor-
gia, who had agreed to meet and hold a convention at Auguſta in
the month of May. General Lincoln's force now amounted to
five thouſand men: Of theſe he left about one thouſand to garriſon
Puryſburg and Black Swamp, the former of theſe places under the
command of colonel Macintoſh, and the latter under general Moul-
trie; and with the reſt, on the twenty-third of April, he began his
march
up the Savannah. Five days after his departure general Pre-
voſt, with a view of obliging him to return, paſſed over the greateſt
part of his army into South Carolina.
into South Carolina. The American poſts at
Puryſburg and Black Swamp were immediately abandoned; and
ge-
neral Moultrie, unable to withſtand the force to which he was op-
poſed, retreated haſtily towards Charleſtown, deſtroying all the
bridges in his rear as he paſſed them. Expreſſes were immediately
diſpatched after general Lincoln ; but he concluded that the irrup-
tion of the Britiſh troops into South Carolina was only a feint to
divert him from his principal object, and unmoved proceeded on
his march, after detaching three hundred choſen troops to reinforce
general Moultrie. The Britiſh gèneral's original intention was no
other than what Lincoln ſuppoſed; but meeting with ſcarcely any
oppoſition or impediment in his progreſs, except what aroſe from
the deſtruction of the bridges, and receiving at the ſame time in-
formation of the defenceleſs ſtate of Charleſtown on that ſide on
which he would approach it, he began to cheriſh the hope of being
able to reduce it before general Lincoln could come to its relief;
and the farther he advanced, his expectations became the more fan-
guine,
AMERICAN WAR.
III
1779.
guine, in conſequence of the general ſcope of the intelligence CHAP.
received from the inhabitants of the province, who joined him on
his march.
At Charleſtown all was buſtle and confuſion; and the inhabitants
were for ſome time in a ſtate of the moſt anxious ſuſpenſe, between
the hope of being relieved by general Lincoln, to whom ex-
preſſes were daily fent, and the fear of being attacked before his re-
turn, Charleſtown ſtands upon a point of land between the rivers
Aſhley and Cooper, which uniting juſt below it, and incloſing the
town between them, form a bay, opening into the ſea, at the diſ-
tance of ſome miles eaſtward. Towards the bay, and the rivers on
each ſide, batteries had been erected, as in theſe quarters the town
was expoſed to an attack from a naval force ; but towards the land
ſide ſcarcely any precautions had been taken for its defence, as on
that ſide they had hitherto apprehended no danger. It was in this
quarter, however, that at preſent all their danger lay; and the greateſt
efforts were made to put it into ſome tolerable ſtate of defence. The
ſlaves, with which South Carolina abounds, were now of the
greateſt uſe. The houſes in the ſuburbs being burnt down, and an
immenſe number of flaves being employed, lines and abbatis were
in a few days carried acroſs from Athley to Cooper River, and can-
non were mounted at proper intervals. Fort Johnſton, on the ſouth
fide of the bay, as being at preſent of no uſe, was diſmantled, and the
garriſon withdrawn to Charleſtown. General Moultrie, with the
remains of his retreating army, entered the town, governor Rut-
lege arrived with a body of militia from the interior country, and co-
lonel Harris with the three hundred light troops detached by general
Lincoln. Count Pulaſki too, with his legion, croſſed Cooper River
to Charleſtown the ſame day on which it was inveſted by general
Prevoſt. The arrival of theſe different reinforcements all nearly about
the ſame time, infuſed ſome ſpirit into the inhabitants, and encou-
raged
5
I I2
HISTORY OF THE
I
XXVIII.
1779.
Unſucceſsful
voit on
CHAP. raged them to ſtand upon their defence. If numbers could give
them confidence, they had indeed every reaſon to expect ſucceſs; as,
in conſequence of theſe reinforcements, the garriſon exceeded ge-
neral Prevoft's army
in number by at leaſt one third.
May. On the tenth of May, in the evening, the Britiſh troops reached
attempt of Aſhley Ferry, and, having paſſed the river, appeared before the lines
general Pre-
at Charleſtown on the following day, the remainder of which was
Charleſtown, ſpent in ſkirmiſhes of little moment. On the twelfth the town was
ſummoned to ſurrender ; and favourable terins of capitulation were
offered, which however were rejected. But as it was of conſequence
to the garriſon and the people of the town to gain as much time
as poſſible, things were ſo contrived that the whole day was ſpent
in ſending and receiving meſſages; in the courſe of which a pro-
poſal was made on their part for the neutrality of the province during
the war, and that at the end of the war its fate ſhould be determined
by the treaty of peace. But after various meſſages and explana-
tions of this propoſal, it was utterly rejected by general Prevoſt; and
the commiſſioners from the town were told, that as the garriſon was
in arms, they muſt ſurrender as priſoners of war. This declaration
put an end to the negotiation; and the inhabitants of the town now
expected nothing elſe than an aſſault. But on the following morn-
ing they were agreeably ſurpriſed when they found that the Britiſh
troops had been withdrawn .during the night, and had re-croſſed
Aſhley Ferry. After taking a view of the lines at Charleſtown, ge-
neral Prevoſt was convinced, that, although unfiniſhed, they were
not to be forced without ſuch a loſs of men as he could not ſpare.
He alſo knew that the garriſon, reinforced as it had been, was now
more numerous than the troops which he had to lead againſt it *;
and that general Lincoln was by this time haſtening to its relief
1
* General Prevolt's force was about 2400 men; the garriſon 3300, including militia.
from
.
AMERICAN WAR.
113
СНА Р.
XXVIII.
1779
from the back country, with a force ſtill greater. The Britiſh
ge-
neral was therefore, at laſt, prudent enough to retire, although with
that loſs of credit which ariſes from making an abortive attempt, the
original deſign of which appears to have been unwiſe, and the means
uſed to accompliſh it incompetent and ineffectual. If general Pre-
voſt had not a ſufficient force to maintain the poſt at Auguſta, and
preſerve the proper cominunications with it; that force was ſtill leſs
adequate to garriſon Charleſtown, even if he had taken it, and at
the ſame time preſerve a communication with Georgia, or indeed
leave a ſufficient force for its defence. But if this conſideration had
been out of the queſtion, he had not with him a train of artillery
fufficient to cover an aſſault.
The Britiſh troops having croſſed Aſhley River, after foraging for
ſome days, retired towards the ſea-coaſt; which, being interſected
by a chain of inland water-courſes, leading all the way to the Sa-
vannah River, afforded them, in conſequence of their ſhipping, not
only the eaſieſt, but the ſafeſt means of effecting their retreat to
Georgia, and tranſporting their baggage, unmoleſted. From the
main land they paſſed to James Iſland, and from thence to John's
Iſland, where they took poſt until the arrival of a ſupply of am-
munition, which had for ſome time been expected from New
York.
In the mean time general Lincoln had proceeded as far as Auguſta,
notwithſtanding the intelligence he received of general Prevoſt's
irruption into South Carolina. But whilſt he remained at this place,
the daily expreſſes which arrived from Charleſtown, with informa-
tion of the rapid progreſs of the Britiſh troops, ſoon convinced him
that ſomething more was now intended by this irruption, than a
mere feint: And after eſtabliſhing a poſt at Auguſta, and march-
ing for three days down the ſouth ſide of the river Savannah, a
route which was preferred, as the diſtance was nearly the ſame, for
Vol. II,
Q
the
114
HISTORY OF THE
XXVIII.
។
CH A P. the purpoſe of diſplaying his force, and reanimating the almoſt de-
fponding hopes of ſuch of the inhabitants of Georgia as were ſtill
1779
attached to the American cauſe, he re-croſſed the Savannah, and re-
turned with hafty marches towards Charleſtown, until he reached
Dorcheſter, at the entrance of what is called Charleſtown Neck;
and here he eſtabliſhed his head-quarters, until the Britiſh troops
retired from Albley Ferry towards the ſea-coaſt.
1
AMERICAN WAR.
115
CH A P. XXIX.
General Prevoſt departs from John's Iſland to Savannah_Succeeded
in the Command at John's Iſland by Lieutenaut Colonel Maitland-
Britiſh Troops under Colonel Maitland attacked by General Lincoln
-The Americans repulſed—Gencral Prevoſt having eſtabliſhed a
Poſt in the Iſand of Port Royal, retires with the reſt of the Army
to Georgia.
XXIX.
1779
JOHN
N's Iſland, of which general Prevoſt had taken poſſeſſion, is C H A P.
ſeparated from the main land by an inlet to which has been given
the name of Stono River; and the communication between the one
and the other is preſerved by a ferry. Upon the main land, at this
ferry, a poſt was eſtabliſhed, as well for the ſecurity of the iſland as
for the protection of the Britiſh foraging parties; which was
thought of ſo much conſequence, that for ſome time the garriſon
conſiſted of fifteen hundred men under the command of lieutenant-
colonel Prevoſt. For the defence of this poſt in front, three re-
doubts were thrown up, which were joined by lines of communica-
tion; and its rear was covered by Stono Inlet, acroſs which, to
John's Iſland, a kind of bridge was formed by the numerous Noops,
fchooners, and other ſmaller veſſels that attended the
army.
Although it was neither the intereſt nor inclination of Lincoln to
riſque a general engagement with the Britiſh troops, it was obvi-
ouſly his wiſh to attack their out-poſts, and cut them off in detail.
With this view, on the fourth of June, he appeared with his
army
in front of the poſt at Stono Ferry; but, after viewing the lines,
Q_2
thought
116
HISTORY OF THE
XXIX.
1779
General
Prevoft dc-
parts from
in the com-
mand at
CHA P. thought proper to retire. Not long afterwards, on the ſixteenth of
June, lieutenant-colonel Prevoſt departed for Savannah, carrying
with him the grenadiers of the ſixtieth regiment, and all the veſſels
which had formed the bridge of communication except an armed
John's Iſland flat, capable of containing twenty men.
About this time it ſeems
Is fucceeded to have been determined to evacuate the poſt; and upon lieutenant-
colonel Maitland, who at Prevoſt's departure was appointed to ſuc-
John's Iſland
bylieutenant-
ceed him in the command, devolved the care of conducting that
colonel Mait- ſervice which the injudicious conduct of his predeceſſor, in carrying
away the veſſels that preſerved the communication with John's
INand, had rendered both difficult and dangerous. But every thing
was done which could be expected from the zeal, ability, and expe-
rience of this diſtinguiſhed officer. The ſeventeenth, eighteenth,
and nineteenth days of June were employed in tranſporting acroſs
the inlet the ſick and wounded, the negroes and Indians, with the
baggage and horſes belonging to the garriſon, and in deſtroying all
unneceſſary huts and buildings, and putting the poſt in a proper ſtate
of defence againſt a ſudden attack. Such precautionary meaſures
had become the more neceſſary in conſequence of the preſent feeble
ſtate of the garriſon, which conſiſted of the firſt battalion of the
ſeventy-firſt regiment, much weakened and reduced in its numbers,
part of a Heſſian regiment, part of the North and South Carolina
regiments of provincials, and a detachment of artillery, the whole
not much exceeding five hundred men, really effective, and fit for
duty. The weak ſtate of the garriſon, which was not unknown to
general-Lincoln, tempted him to renew his deſign of cutting it off;
and on the twentieth of June he advanced againſt it with a force con-
fiſting of two brigades of continental troops, a corps of light-infan-
try, ſeveral regiments of North and South Carolina militia, and a
detachment of artillery with eight pieces of cannon, the whole eſti-
mated by general Prevoſt, in his official letter, at five thouſand men.
An
I
1
117
AMERICAN WAR.
1
XXIX.
1779.
An attack made upon the Britiſh picquets advanced a conſiderable C HA P.
diſtance in front of the works, about ſeven in the morning, which
was attended with a ſmart firing of muſketry, gave the firſt alarm to
lieutenant-colonel Maitland. The garriſon was immediately ordered Britiſhtroops
under
arms, and two companies of the ſeventy-firſt regiment, under Maitland at-
tacked by ge-
the command of captain Campbell, were ſent out on the right to feel neralLincoln.
the ſtrength of the enemy. The highlanders are not the beſt quali-
fied for ſuch a ſervice: Their impetuoſity is apt to hurry them on too
far, and their obſtinate bravery indiſpoſes them to retreat until it is
often too late; and ſo it happened on the preſent occaſion. This
detachment had proceeded only a little more than a quarter of a
mile when it fell in with the left wing of the provincial army already
formed: An engagement immediately commenced, which was ſo ob-
ſtinately maintained by the highlanders againſt ſo great a ſuperiority
of force, that they did not retreat until all their officers were either
killed or wounded; and of the two companies, only eleven men were
able to make good their retreat. The whole provincial line now
advanced within three hundred yards of the works, and a general
engagement began with cannon and muſketry, which was ſupported
by the provincials with more than uſual firmneſs. The fierce at-
tack made by the highlanders upon their left, inſtead of intimidating,
ſeemed to have animated them to copy tlieir brave example. A re-
giment of Heſſians on the left of the Britiſh line unfortunately gave
way, and the provincials preſſing forward, had already reached the
abbatis of the works. At this critical juncture a judicious and rapid
movement of part of the ſeventy-firſt regiment, which was ordered from
the right to the left of the Britiſh line, ſtopped the progreſs of the Ame-
ricans, and reſtored the fortune of the day. By the great exertions The Ameri-
cans repulſed.
of lieutenant-colonel Maitland, and the officers in general, the Hef-
ſians were rallied and again brought into action. The provincials
were, in their turn, now obliged to retreat ; but they retreated in
good
118
HISTORY OF THE
XXIX.
1779.
C HA P. good order, carrying with them fome of their killed and all their
wounded. The horſes belonging to the garriſon had, in the view
of its evacuation, been tranſported to John's Iſland before the day
of the attack, ſo that no purſuit could be made. The whole loſs
of the Britiſh troops in this day's action amounted to one hundred
and twenty-nine : Of theſe, three officers and twenty-three men
were killed, and ten officers and ninety-three men wounded, one
only being miſſing. The loſs of the provincials does not appear
ever to have been publiſhed, and perhaps never was fully aſcertained.
A liſt of their killed and wounded officers, however, has been pub-
liſhed, amounting to twenty-fix, juſt double the number of Britiſh
officers who were killed or wounded : And if we ſuppoſe the loſs
of men in proportion to officers, to have been nearly the ſame on
both ſides, we ſhall have reaſon to conclude, that the whole loſs of
the provincials in killed and wounded did not much fall ſhort of
three hundred men. The greateſt praiſe was due to lieutenant-
colonel Maitland for the ſucceſsful defence of us at, with a handful
pot
of men, againſt a force ſo ſuperior, in which he svis bravely ſupport-
ed by all the officers of the garriſon. Lieutenant-colonel Hamilton
of the North Carolina regiment, and majors M'Arthur, Fraſer, and
Skelly, in a particular manner diſtinguiſhed themſelves. The ar-
tillery was moſt excellently ſerved, and did great execution under
the direcion of captain Fairlamb, and lieutenants Wilſon and Wal-
lace, all of whom were wounded, and the latter ſo ſeverely, that he
died a few days after. It would be endleſs to point out the merits
of all who were entitled to praiſe; but the ſingular gallantry of an
action performed by captain Moncrieff of the engineers in the fight
of both armies cannot be omitted. That officer was on Jolin's
Iſland with the troops under general Prevoſt at the commencement
of the action ; but as ſoon as the firing was heard, le rode in all
hafte to Stono Ferry, and croſſing over, contributed by his diſtin-
guiſhed
AMERICAN WAR.
119
1
1
XXIX.
1779.
guiſhed ſervices, during the remainder of the action, to the ſucceſs C H A P.
of the day. With twenty men only he fallied out in the face of
the whole provincial army, took an ammunition
n ammunition waggon, and
brought it ſafe within the lines. This was a moſt ſeaſonable ſupply
of what was greatly wanted; for ſuch was the ſcarcity of arumuni-
tion in the Britiſh garriſon, that the laſt charges were in the guns
when the provincials give way. The troops on John's Iſland were
put in motion by general Prevoſt as ſoon as he received intelligence
of the attack, but they did not arrive at Stono Ferry in time to
take any part in the action. The appearance of a reinforcement
coming to the aſſiſtance of the garriſon, might, nevertlielcſs, have
contributed to damp the ardour of the Americans and laſten their
repulſe.
The militia under general Lincoln were diſheartened by this un-
ſucceſsful attack; and the greateſt part of them ſoon afterwards quit-
ted the army and returned home. The Britiſh troops were no far-
ther moleſted: The poſt at Stono Ferry was evacuated; and the
army retiring along the ſea-coaſt, paſſed from iſland to iſland until
it reached Beaufort in the iſland of Port Royal. At Beaufort gene- General Pre-
ral Prevoſt eſtabliſhed a poſt, the garriſon of which he left under the eſtabliſhed a
command of lieutenant-colonel Maitland, and returned with the reſt land of Port
poſt in the
of the army to Georgia ; that the troops might reſt during the hot and Royal, retires
ſickly ſeaſon, which in this fouthern province prevents the operations of the army
to Georgia.
of an army as effectually, as the rigour of winter does in a more
northerly climate. For the ſame reaſon the American army retired
to Sheldon; and nothing of any conſequence was attempted by
either during the months of July and Auguft.
The only real advantage gained by this irruption into South Ca-
rolina, was a ſupply of proviſions for the troops, the want of which
had begun to be felt in Georgia, and the eſtabliſhing a poſt at Beau-
fort. But the American accounts have charged the army under
with the reſt
general
L
120
HISTORY OF THE
XXIX.
1779
C HA P. general Prevoſt with gaining other advantages not of ſo honourable
a kind, and with ſuch an appearance of truth, that a regard to im-
partiality obliges us not to paſs them over unnoticed. By theſe
accounts they have been charged with plundering the inhabitants
indiſcriminately, and enriching themſelves at their expence; an im-
putation, if true, of a moſt diſgraceful nature and ruinous tendency,
not only to the army, but to the intereſt of the Britiſh nation; as
ſuch a rapacious conduct muſt have irritated the inhabitants in
ge-
neral againſt the Britiſh army, and alienated the attachment even
of thoſe who were the beſt affected to government,
AMERICAN WAR.
121
-
CH A P. XXX.
A
The Count d'Eſtaing fets fail for the American Continent--and arrives
on the coaſt of Georgia—Efforts Military and Naval for the Pre-
fervation of Savannah_Count d'Eſaing ſummons Savannah to fur-
render to the Arms of his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty-General Pre-
voſt ſuccoured by Colonel Maitland-The combined Armies of France
and America beſiege Savannah-attack the Britiſh Lines-repulfid
with confiderable Loſs-raiſe the Siege—The Campaign to the fouth-
ward of North America concluded— Campaign in other Parts of the
American Continent Tpent in deſultory Operations-Naval Opera-
tions of Sir George Collier.
c H A P.
XXX.
1779.
ALI
LTHOUGH general Prevoſt had been obliged to retire from
Charleſtown without reducing it, and although all the upper
country of Georgia was now in the poſſeſſion of the Americans; yet
ſo long as the Britiſh troops maintained a footing in the lower parts
of that province, with a poſt at Beaufort, the inhabitants of South
Carolina were expoſed to incurſions ſimilar to that which we have
already related, and could not be free from the moſt uneaſy appre-
henſions. The poſt at Beaufort in the iſland of Port Royal was
ſecure againſt an attack ſo long as the Britiſh maintained their ſupe-
riority by fea; and ſo long as that poſt was maintained, general Lin-
coln could not even occupy his former quarters at Puryſburg, with-
out the danger of being incloſed between the Britiſh troops at Sa-
vannah and thoſe at Beaufort. On the other hand, if the Britiſh
VOL. II.
R
loft
12 多
​TIISTORY OF THE
1
XXX.
1772.
CHA P. loſt their ſuperiority by ſea, the ſeparation of their force into two
band diviſions would render each of them an eaſier conqueſt. Moved by
ſuch conſiderations, Rutledge, the governor of South Carolina, Lin-
coln, the commander of the ſouthern army, and monſieur Plombard,
the French conſul at Charleſtown, ſeverally wrote letters to the
count d'Eſtaing, who by this time had arrived at Cape François, after
the.conqueſt of Grenada. In theſe they repreſented to him the ſtate
of affairs in the ſouthern provinces, and pointed out the advantages
which might be expected, ſhould he, during the hurricane months
in the Weſt Indies, viſit the American coaſt with his feet, and
co-operate with general Lincoln in the recovery of Georgia. The
count d'Eſtaing, who had diſcretionary orders from his court for
ſuch a co-operation, fuſhed with his ſucceſs at Grenada, indulged
the ambitious but vain hope of being able, not only to ſweep the
American coaſt with his ſuperior fleet, but by acting in conjunction
with the provincials to reduce the different poſts occupied by the
Britiſh troops within the limits of the revolted provinces, and there-
by put an end to the war even during the preſent campaign. To
a man who entertained ſuch viſionary projects, the applications from
South Carolina, with their propoſals for co-operation, could not fail
to be highly acceptable; and they met with his immediate concur-
rence. Georgia, it was ſuppoſed, would be an eaſy conqueſt, and
was, therefore, the fitteſt for the commencement of his victorious
career.
. In compliance with the requiſition which had been made
to him, the count d'Eſtaing failed forthwith for the American con-
d'Eſtaing ſets
tinent, proceeding by the windward paſſage. Two ſhips of the line,
with three frigates, were diſpatched as ſoon as he had got through
the windward paſſage, to announce his approach to the inhabitants
and arrives on of Charleſtown; and with the reſt of his fleet, conſiſting of twenty
Georgia
ſhips of the line, two ſhips of fifty guns, and eleven frigates, having
September, on board a conſiderable land force, he arrived on the coaſt of Georgia
about
Tlie count
ſail for the
American
continent,
the coaſt of
AMERICAN WAR.
123
f
XXX.
3779
about the beginning of September. So ſudden and unexpected C H A P.
was the count d'Eſtaing's appearance on this part of the American
coaſt, that the Experiment of fifty guns, commanded by ſir James
Wallace, and two ſtore-ſhips under his convoy, unapprehenſive of
danger, had the misfortune to fall in with the French fleet off the
bar of Savannah river, and were of courſe taken, but not till after a
deſperate reſiſtance made by the Experiment, although ſhe had been
previouſly diſmalted in a ſtorm. The Ariel of twenty-four guns,
which had been on a cruiſe off Charleſtown bar, ſhared the ſame
fate.
: As ſoon as intelligence of the arrival of count d'Eſtaing reached
South Carolina, general Lincoln, with the force which he had then.
with him, inſtantly marched towards Georgia : Orders were alſo
iſſued for aſſembling the militia, who were, with all expedition, to
follow general Lincoln ; and veſſels of a proper draught of water
were diſpatched from Charleſtown to aſſiſt in landing the French
troops.
It does not appear that the Britiſh commanders in Georgia were
appriſed of the arrival of count d'Eſtaing until the fourth of Sep-
tember, when his whole force, conſiſting of forty-one fail, was ſeen
to the ſouthward of Tybee plying to windward. Information was
immediately ſent to general Prevoſt; in .conſequence of which, Efforts mili-
meaſures were taken for increaſing the fortifications at Savannah, and tary and na-
putting the town in a proper poſture of defence. The garriſon preſervation
at Sunbury, under lieutenant-colonel Cruger, was withdrawn; and
orders were diſpatched to Beaufort for lieutenant-colonel Maitland
with the troops, and captain Chriſtian of the navy, with the ſhips
and gallies under his command, to repair in all haſte to Savannah.
In the mean time, captain Henry, who commanded the Britiſh
naval force in the river Savannah, was taking precautions as well for
its ſafety as for rendering it ſerviceable in the defence of the town.
The
1
of Savannah
R2
1
124.
HISTORY OF THE
1
2779.
CHAP. The leading marks upon the ſhore, which point out the channel to
ſhips paſſing the bar, were cut down; and the ſquadron under cap-
tain Henry, which conſiſted only of the Fowey, Roſe, Keppel armed
brig, and Germaine provincial armed ſhip, with ſome gallies, was ſo
ſtationed that it might retire with ſafety towards the town of Savan-
nah whenever future circumſtances ſhould render it expedient.
The retreat of this ſmall ſquadron ſoon becaine a meaſure of ab-
ſolute neceſſity. On the ninth of O&tober the French flect came to
an anchor off the bar; and as the line-of-battle ſhips, from their
great draught of water, could not paſs it, nor come near the ſhore,
the finall coaſting veſſels ſent from Charleſtown were employed in
receiving the troops froin the French ſhips, and landing them ar
Beaulieu in Oflabaw Sound, an intet of the ſea fome miles fouth of
the mouth of the river Savannah. On the following day four
Erench frigates entered the anchorage ground at Tybee, and render-
ed it neceſſary for the Britiſh naval force to move up the river to
Savannah. Upon its arrival the guns were landed from the ſhips;
and mounted on the batteries. The marines were incorporated
with the grenadiers of the ſixtieth regiment; and the feamen were
put on ſhore to aſſiſt in working the artillery. The Roſe, and Sa-
vannah armed fhip, with four tranſports, were ſunk acroſs the chan-
nel below the town, to prevent the French frigates from coming
higher; and above it ſome ſınaller veſſels were ſunk, and a boom was
laid acroſs to prevent fire-rafts from being fent down. The Ger-
maine armed brig alone retained her guns; and ſhe was ſtationed off
ramiraw, above the town, to flank the right of the Britiſh lines.
Theſe diſpoſitions were made on the river, whilſt on ſhore the troops;
aſſiſted by ſome hundreds of negroes, were employed in ſtrengthen-
ing the old, and erecting new works for the defence of the town.
As ſoon as the debarkation of the French troops was completed,
the count d'Eſtaing marched againſt Savannah, and without waiting
for
AMERICAN WAR.
125
XXX.
1779
for a junction with the American army, which was every inſtant C HA P.
expected to come up, ſummoned general Prevoſt to ſurrender the
town to the arms of his moſt chriſtian majeſty, diſplaying in his
ſummons, in terms bordering on extravagance, the magnitude of his
force, and the valour of his troops, who had ſo lately ſtormed the
fortifications at Grenada, and in ſo ſhort a time atchieved the con-
queſt of that iſland, and threatening to make general Prevoſt anſwer-
able in his own perſon, ſhould he, after this premonition, wilfully
perſiſt in making a fruitleſs defence. This haſty proceeding of the
count d'Eſtaing, without waiting for general Lincoln, or joining the
American ſtates in the ſummons for a ſurrender, had nearly created
a difference between him and his allies. By ſome it was thought
to be a plain indication that the French meant to conquer for them-
ſelves; but upon a remonſtrance being afterwards made by generat
Lincoln, the count d'Eſtaing gave ſuch an explanation of his motives
and intentions as was deemed ſatisfactory. General Prevoſt, to
whom it was of the utmoſt importance to gain time; returned a civil
meſſage to the count d'Eſtaing, acknowledging the receipt of the
ſummons, and deſiring twenty-four hours to conſider of an anſwer,
and to prepare the terms on which a ſurrender might be made,
ſhould that be his ultimate determination. The requeſt was granted
without any difficulty; the count d'Eſtaing expecting nothing leſs
than a ſurrender of the town at the expiration of the time fixed for
an anſwer: But it was made with a very different view by general
Prevoſt. He hoped that the troops under lieutenant-colonel Mait-
land might arrive during the interval; and in this hope he was not
diſappointed. That officer, after ſtruggling with difficulties during.
ſome part of his route, which, to a mind leſs determined; would
lave appeared inſurmountable, arrived at Savannah before the ex- General Preu
piration of the truce, with the beſt part of his detachment, amount-
ed by colonel
ing to about eight hundred meni · As the French were in poffeffion Maitland.
of
voſt ſuccour.
1
/
&
126
HISTORY OF THE
XXX.
1779.
5
CHA P. of all the lower part of the river, he had no other way left of effect-
ing a junction with general Prevoſt but by tranſporting his troops
in boats through the marthes by an inland water-courſe called Wall's
Cut, which for two miles was ſo fhoal, that the men, wading up to
their middle, were obliged to drag the boats by main force through
the mud. The reſidue of the garriſon at Beaufort, which for want
of a ſufficient number of boats could not be tranſported, remained
with the fhips and gallies under the command of captain Chriſtian
and their retreat being now .cut off, they took a new poſition in
Callibogie Sound, where, by erecting batteries on the ſhore, they
made ſuch a ſtrong diſpoſition for defence, that neither the French
nor Americans attempted to moleſt them during the ſubſequent fiege
of Savannah.
The ſafe arrival of ſoʻconfiderable a reinforcement, and that too
of choſen troops, but above all, the preſence of the officer who com-
manded them, in whoſe zeal, ability, and military experience fo
much confidence was deſervedly placed by the army, inſpired the
garriſon of Savannah with new animation : An anſwer was return-
ed to the count d'Eſtaing, that the town: would be deferded to the
laſt extremity: The zeal and ardour of both the officers and men
were, if poſſible, increaſed ; and new defences were daily conſtruct-
cd under the judicious eye and maſterly direction of that able en-
gineer, captain Moncrieff.
After the arrival of general Lincoln with the American army,
fome time was required for landing and bringing up the heavy artillery
from the fhips, which, on account of their diſtance from the ſhore;
and a ſcarcity of horſes and carriages, 'was a work of conſiderable
labour and difficulty.' Retarded by ſuch impediments, the com-
bined armies of French and Americans did not begin to break ground
for the purpoſe of carrying on their approaches until the twenty-
third of September, 'nor were their batteries ready to open until the
fourth
:: AMÈRICAN WAR.
127
XXX.
1779.
October
America be
nah.
fourth of the following month. During this interval, attempts were CH A P.
made to interrupt their operations by two different forties; the firſt of
which, under major Graliam of the fixteenth' regiment, reached the
lines of the enemy, and threw them into confuſion; and when this che combine
detachment retired, it was incautiouſly purſued ſo cloſe to the Britiſh France and
fines, that the confederates in their retreat loft a great number of fiege Savan-
men, by a well-directed fire from the works. The other ſortie
under major M'Arthur, was ſo artfully conducted, that it produced
a firing between the French and American camps.
On the morning of the fourth of October the batteries of the be-
ſiegers having opened with a diſcharge from fifty-three pieces of heavy
cannon and fourteen mortars, ?a' requeſt was made by general Pre-
voſt that the women and children might be permitted to leave the
town and embark on board veſſels in the river, which ſhould be placed
under the protection of the count d'Eſtaing, and wait the iſſue of the
fiege : But this propofal, dictated by humanity, was rejected with
inſult. Fortunately, however, for the inhabitants as well as the
gar-
riſon, although an inceſſant cannonade from ſo many pieces of artil-
lery, was continued from the fourth to the ninth of October, leſs
injury was done to the houſes in the town than might have been
expected; few lives were loſt, and the defences were in no reſpect
materially damaged.
The French troops landed from the ſhips amounted to about five
thouſand men, and no doubt being entertained amongſt the Ameri-
cans of the fall of Savannah, the militia poured in as to a certain
triumph, and joined general Lincoln in ſuch numbers, that the com-
bined armies, it is ſaid, amounted to more than ten thouſand men.
The force in Savannah, under general Prevoſt, did not exceed two
thouſand five hundred of all ſorts, regulars, provincial corps, ſeamen,
militia, and volunteers. But the diſparity in numbers was in ſome
degree compenſated by the extraordinary zeal and ardour which,
animated
128
HISTORY OF THE
XXX.
1779.
1
OHA P. animated the beſieged, from the commander in chief down to the
u humble African, whoſe inceſſant and cheerful labours, in rearing
thoſe numerous defences which were completed with ſo much expe-
dition as to aſtoniſh the beliegers, ought not to be forgotten in a
hiſtory of this memorable ſiege. When the French were firſt land-
ed, not more than ten or twelve pieces of artillery appeared upon the
fortifications at Savannah : -But ſo inceſſantly did the garriſon labour
in ſtrengthening and enlarging the old works, and in erecting new
redoubts and batteries, that before the concluſion of the ſiege near
one hundred pieces of cannon weré mounted.
The town of Savannah being ſituated upon the ſouthern bank of the
river of that name, had two of its ſides ſecured by natural boundaries,
one by the river behind it, and the other by a thick ſwamp and
woody moraſs communicating with the river above the town. The
other two ſides were originally.open towards the country, which in
front of them for ſeveral miles was level and entirely cleared of
wood: But they were by this time covered with artificial works;
the right and left being defended by redoubts, and the centre by
feamen's batteries in front, with impalements and traverſes thrown
up behind to protect the troops from the fire of the beſiegers; and
the whole extent of the works was ſurrounded with an abbatis. The
redoubts on the right towards the ſwamp were three in number:
That in the centre was garriſoned by two companies of militia, with
the North Carolina regiment to ſupport them, under the command
of lieutenant-colonel Hamilton. Captains Roworth and Wylie, with
the provincial corps of king's rangers, were poſted in the redoubt
on the right; and captain Tawſe, with his corps of provincial dra-
goons diſmounted, in that on the left, called the Springhill Redoubt,
ſupported by the South Carolina regiment. To the right of the
whole was a ſailors battery of nine-pounders, covered by a company
of the Britiſh legion, under the command of captain Stewart; and
22
between
AMERICAN WAR,
I 29
1
XXX.
1.779.
between the centre and Springhill redoubt, was another of theſe bat- C H A P.
teries, under the direction of captain Manby, behind which were
poſted the grenadiers of the ſixtieth regiment, under the command
of lieutenant-colonel Glazier with the marines which had been
landed from the ſhips of war. : And the whole of this force on the
right of the lines was under the command of lieutenant-colonel
Maitland. On the left of the lines were two redoubts ſtrongly
conſtructed with a maffy frame-work of green ſpongy wood filled
up with fand and mounted with heavy cannon, one of them com-
manded by lieutenant-colonel Cruger, and the other by major Wright,
having under him the Georgia loyaliſts. Behind the impalements .
and traverſes in the centre of the works were poſted the two batta--
lions of the ſeventy-firſt regiment, two regiments of Heſſians, the
New York volunteers, a battalion of Skinner's brigade, one of Delan-
cey's, and the light-infantry of the army under the command of major
Graham; all which corps were ready to act as circumſtances ſhould
require, and to ſupport any part of the lines that might be attacked
Such was the ſtate of the works at Savannah, and ſuch the poſition
of the troops for its defence, at the time when the count d'Eſtaing;
grown impatient under the unexpected reſiſtance which he had met
with, reſolved to diſcontinue his regular approaches, and ſtorm the
Britiſh entrenchments. He had already ſpent more time before. Sa-
vannah, without having made any ſenſible impreſſion upon the
gar-
riſon, than he had' aſſigned for the completion of the whole enter-
priſe. His fleet, lying at anchor in the open ſea, was expoſed to
the danger of being driven off the coaſt, at this late ſeaſon of the
year, by tempeſtuous weather, and leaving him and his troops be-
hind: But this danger was nothing, compared to what might have
been apprehended had the Britiſh fleet followed him from the Weſt
Indies, and made an attack upon his ſhips whilſt they were weak-
ened by the number of men and guns that had been landed for carry-
VOL. II,
S.
ing
1
-
130
HISTORY OF THE
XXX
1779.
Attack the
Britiſh lines.
CH A P. ing on the ſiege of Savannah. Theſe conſiderations, the force of
u which was heightened by a joint repreſentation from his naval
officers, added to the natural impatience of temper which charac-
teriſed the count d'Eſtaing, determined him to riſque an aſſault
under all its preſent diſadvantages, rather than waſte longer time in
carrying on the ſiege by regular approaches. To facilitate the fuc-
ceſs of the enterpriſe, an officer with five men, on the eighth of
October, advanced under a heavy fire from the garriſon, and kin-
dled the abbatis; but the dampneſs of the air, and the moiſture of
the green wood of which the abbatis was compoſed, ſoon extinguiſhed
the flames.
The morning of the ninth of October was fixed upon for
making the aſſault; and two feigned attacks by the militia were to
draw the attention of the beſieged to their centre and left, whilſt a
ſtrong body of choſen troops from the combined armies ſhould ad-
vance on the right of the Britiſh lines, and in two columns make
the real attack. The principal of theſe columns was commanded
by the count d'Eſtaing in perſon, aſſiſted by general Lincoln, and
was deſtined to attack the Springhill redoubt in front, whilſt the
other column, commanded by count Dillon, ſhould ſilently move
along the edge of the ſwamp, paſs the redoubts and batteries, and get
into the rear of the Britiſh lines. The troops which compoſed theſe
two columns conſiſted of three thouſand five hundred French, ſix hun-
dred provincial regulars, and three hundred and fifty of the Charleſ-
town militia, a number more than double that of the whole Britiſh
garriſon, and were in motion long before daylight. Fortunately the
column commanded by count Dillon miſtook its way, from the dark-
neſs of the morning, and was entangled in the ſwamp, from which
it was unable to extricate itſelf until broad daylight appeared, and
expoſed it to the view of the garriſon and the fire from the Britiſh
batteries. This was ſo hot, and ſo well directed, that it was never
able
A
AMERICAN WAR.
131
XXX.
1779.
able even to form, and far leſs, by penetrating into the rear of the C H A P.
Britiſh lines, to accompliſh its original object. In the mean time the
column led by the count. d'Eſtaing advanced againſt the Springhill
redoubt, juſt as daylight appeared : And ſuch was the darkneſs of
the morning, that it had approached very near before it was dif-
cernible. But, as ſoon as it was diſcovered, it became expoſed to a
continued blaze of muſquetry from the redoubt, and to a deſtructive
croſs fire from the adjoining batteries, which mowed down whole
ranks of the allies as they advanced. From the numbers which fell,
the head of the column was ſeveral times thrown into confuſion;
but their places being inſtantly ſupplied by others, it ſtill moved on
until it reached the redoubt, where the conteſt became more fierce
and deſperate. The brave captain Tawſe fell in defending the gate
of his redoubt with his ſword plunged in the body of the third
enemy he had flain with his own hand, and a French and American
ſtandard were for an inſtant planted upon the parapet. The conflict
for the poſſeſſion of the redoubt nevertheleſs continued to be obſti-
nately maintained on both ſides, and the event remained in ſuſpenſe;
when lieutenant-colonel Maitland, ſeizing the critical moment, or-
dered the grenadiers of the ſixtieth regiment, with the marines, to
move forward and charge the enemy's column, already ſtaggering
under the obftinate reſiſtance it had met with at the redoubt, the
ſlaughter which had been made by the artillery from the different
batteries, and now alſo from the Germaine armed brig. This well-
timed movement decided the fate of the attack. The aſſailants were Repulſed
repulſed, driven out of the ditch of the redoubt, and routed with derable Tofs.
redoubled ſlaughter, leaving behind them, in killed and wounded,
ſix hundred and thirty-ſeven of the French troops, and two hun-
dred and fixty-four of the Americans. No purſuit was ordered, be-
cauſe the beſiegers, although they had ſuffered greatly in the aſſault,
were ſtill three times more numerous than the garriſon; but in their
flight,
with confi.
S2
1:34.
HISTORY OF THE
XXX.
17.79.
CH A P. flight, as in advancing, they were expoſed to a heavy fire from the
w Britiſh artillery, which was well ſerved under the direction of
cap-
tain Charlton.
In this aſſault count Pulaſki, who commanded an American
corps, received a mortal wound; and the count d'Eſtaing, who
was ſeen by the garriſon to behave with great gallantry, was
wounded in two places, but in neither of them dangerouſly.
No good agreement, it has been ſaid, ſubſiſted between the French
and Americans from the commencement of the ſiege ; and their mu-
tual diſlike was now increaſed by their diſappointment. After the
aſſault the French could no longer conceal their contempt for their
new allies; they ſtyled them inſurgents, in common converſation, and
even in written memorials. But the haughty demeanour of the count
d'Eſtaing towards the garriſon ſeems to have been ſoftened by his
misfortunes: An apology was made for refuſing leave to the wo-
men and children to retire to a place of ſafety, the blame of which
was laid upon the Americans, and an offer was now made for their
accommodation. This offer came too late to be accepted, eſpecially
after a previous inſulting refuſal of what was now tendered ; and it
was with great propriety rejected by general Prevoſt.
The iſſue of the aſſault determined that of the ſiege. The French
Siege.
and Americans kept poſſeſſion of their lines only until the artillery
and heavy baggage were withdrawn, and re-embarked on board the
fleet. As ſoon as this was accompliſhed the fiege was raiſed, and
the allies ſeparated, the Americans retreating into South Carolina,
and the French returning to their ſhips ; on board which they had
ſcarcely embarked when their fleet was diſperſed by a ſtorm.
The
count d'Eſtaing, with part of the ſhips, returned to France, and the
reſt proceeded to the Weſt Indies.
Such was the termination of the ſiege of Savannah, during which
it is ſaid that the allied armies loſt in killed, wounded, and by de-
ſertion,
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2 Pichet 1.7.
Ai, Batth Major M'Arthur
37.4 Batt."
Delaneys, 1.col! Cruger
B Reg of Troubad
4 Georgia Militia
C. 2. Batt? Delancys I. col. Delavci
53" Batt" Jersey VoITZ.Col' Alla
D New Forli tollajör Sheridan
6 Georgia Militia
7 Pichet of the Line and amed Negroes
Ejght Intintiy Major Grahams 16*
8 Generals Quarters, Convalescants of the Line
F Wilsoninch Rey
9 South Carolära Royalists
G 2Part"7.Major M[hanaldi
10 Georgia Militia & Detach 4 th Batt? 60 hz. Gov. Gulam
H 60"Gre" z lomp:"mule of Marines L.Cal!Glasia. Hon ble col. Maitlazid.
asian
I North Caroli Lovatist.
14 Batt" 60"dirmounted Dragoons, and s" Carolina Rm. Capt." Taws
12 Arth Carolina Loyalists Locol!žamilton Gov:"Sir James Thright
Total Number hit for Duty including
13 Kings Rangas I! Col!Brown
14
Soldiris, ipunan, anut Militi.
Note, Saama to all the Glow, Batterier. & Fidd-Rimas.unda the Onders of Capt. Harry
& Brown of the Royal
Vavy Hay Volunteer Searen from Iransports Macrona
when
- Konete arisiniland
.
3
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.
SO
Anicica Gallery
P
2360
+
AMERICAN WAR.
133
XXX.
1979.
+
ſertion, more than one thouſand five hundred men; whereas the C H A P.
lofs of the garriſon in the whole did not exceed one hundred and
twenty:
It is impoſſible to do particular juſtice to all who by their exertions
contributed to the ſucceſsful iſſue of the ſiege. The officers, naval
and military, vied with each other who ſhould render the moſt ef-
fential ſervices to their king and country. The ſeamen and ſoldiers
were animated with the ſame ſentiment; and no ſmall ſhare of
praiſe is due to the former for their brave aſſiſtance and peculiar
adroitneſs in managing the artillery at the batteries. The cool, ſteady,
prudent, and firm conduct of general Prevoſt, aſſiſted by the able
counſels and ſervices of that diſtinguiſhed officer lieutenant-colonel
Maitland, the ſecond in command, who in a peculiar degree enjoyed the
love, eſteem, and confidence of the garriſon; the ſkilful deſigns, promp
execution, and indefatigable exertions of captain Moncrieff in his de-
partment, as commanding engineer; the active and able ſervices of cap-
tain Charlton of the artillery; the wiſe precautions taken by captain
Henry of the navy for the ſecurity of the river; the tried courage,
manly firmneſs, and obſtinate reſiſtance of the provincial regiments
and militia on the right of the lines, to whoſe lot it fell to bear, .
and nobly to withſtand, the fury of the aſſault; and the bold, de-
ciſive, and irreſiſtible charge made by lieutenant-colonel Glazier
with the grenadiers and marines, which completed the overthrow of
the enemy; are all deſerving of the higheſt commendation, and rank
the ſucceſsful defence of Savannah amongſt the moſt brilliant at-
chievements of the war.
One circumſtance alone ſerved to cloud the joy of the garriſonon their
recent ſucceſs. This was the death of that highly-eſteemed and much-
beloved officer the honourable lieutenant-colonel Maitland, who fell a
martyr to a bilious diſorder contracted from the peſtilential vapours
which ariſe from the marſhes during the hot and ſultry ſeaſon in that
unwhole-
.
1
134
HISTORY OF THE
SXX.
1779
The cam-
North Aine-
rica con.
cluded.
the other
North Ame.
rican conti-
CHA P. unwholeſome climate. He was attacked by it before he left Beaufort.
It gathered ſtrength in his route through the marſhes to Savannah,
and, preying upon him during the fiege, ſoon afterwards put a
period to the exiſtence of this gallant officer ; whoſe memory will
be dear to Britons, ſo long as manly fortitude, unſtained honour,
and highly-improved military talents, are held in eſtimation.
With the raiſing of the fiege of Savannah ended the campaign to
paign to the
ſouthward of the ſouthward, which, although it cloſed with an atchievement ſo
honourable to the Britiſh arms, was nevertheleſs unproductive of
thoſe advantages which had been expected at the commencement
of it.
Campaign in The campaign in the other parts of America was ſpent in deful-
parts of the tory operations and partial expeditions, the object of which ſeems
to have been to diſtract the attention of the Americans by their mul-
nent ſpent in tiplicity, and to weaken them by cutting off their reſources, and de-
operations. ftroying their magazines of naval and military ſtores.
Admiral Gambier, who ſucceeded lord Howe in the command of
the Britiſh fleet on the American coaſt, was recalled in the ſpring of
the preſent year, and in the month of April reſigned the command
to fir George Collier. This brave and zealous officer, who now ſuc-
ceeded to the command of the Britiſh navy in North America, had
been employed on the Halifax ſtation from the commencement of
the war. In the Rainbow of forty-four guns he made one of a con-
voy which eſcorted a fleet of tranſports with the firſt diviſion of the
Heſſian troops, and a detachment of the guards, to America, in the
year 1776. This fleet arrived at Sandy Hook in Auguſt of that
year, a little before general Howe began his operations againſt the
provincials; and ſoon after their defeat on Long Iſland fir George
Collier received orders to repair to Halifax and, take the command of
his majeſty's ſhips upon that important ſtation, in the room of
commodore Arbutlinot, who was recalled. On this ſtation he con-
tinued
Naval opera-
tions of fir G,
Collier,
f
AMERICAN WAR.
135
XXX.
1779-
tinued until the ſpring of the preſent year, and during the whole C HA P.
time of his command diſtinguiſhed himſelf as a brave, zealous, active,
enterpriſing, and vigilant officer. The timely relief of Fort Cum-
berland, at the head of the bay of Fundy, which was inveſted by
the provincials from the eaſtern parts of Maſſachuſets Bay, foon
after his arrival at Halifax : The capture of the Hancock of thirty-
four guns and two hundred and ninety men, commanded by
commodore Manley, the largeſt of a fleet of ſhips of war which
were fitted out at Boſton to annoy the trade on the coaſt of
Nova Scotia, and the Britiſh fiſhery on the Banks of Newfound-
land: The driving off and diſperſing the provincials, who in ſmall
veſſels had a ſecond time made a deſcent near St. John's River in
Nova Scotia ; and, at a ſubſequent period, the deſtruction of the pro-
viſions, clothing, and military ſtores, which with great pains they
had collected at Machias, in the eaſtern parts of Maſſachuſets Bay,
for accompliſhing their favourite object, the invaſion of Nova Scotia;
and in the deſtruction of theſe ſtores, the defeating the deſigns of
the Americans againſt that province: The ſcouring of the eaſtern
coaſts of New England with his cruiſers, keeping them in a conſtant
ſtate of alarm, and taking their privateers, running up their rivers
with his ſhips, appearing before their towns and ſhewing the prac-
ticability of a bombardment in caſe their hoſtile conduct ſhould de-
mand ſuch a puniſhment, and thereby convincing them that it was
their intereſt to be quiet, and not farther moleft the peaceable inha-
bitants of Nova Scotia: The number of prizes carried into Halifax,
and of Britiſh veſſels retaken from the enemy when they were upon
the point of carrying them into their own ports: The trade of
Nova Scotia protected, and the fiſhery in the gut of Canſo ſecured
againſt moleſtation: Theſe are but a few of the many meritorious
ſervices performed by this officer during his command at Halifax,
for which, on more than one occaſion, he received the thanks of
the
1
136
HISTORYOF THE
XXX.
1779.
C HA P. the colony conveyed to him through the governor, council, and
aſſembly.
From ſuch a line of uſeful and active fervice ſir George was called
to New York to take the command of the Britiſh fleet on the North
American ſtation; and not long after his arrival an expedition to the
Cheſapeak in Virginia, was concerted between him and fir Henry
Clinton, the commander in chief of the army. By the exports of
tobacco from the Cheſapeak, the credit of congreſs with foreign na-
tions was principally, if not wholly, ſupported; and by the inland
navigation of that bay large quantities of ſalted proviſions, the pro-
duce both of Virginia and North Carolina, were conveyed to the
middle colonies for the fubſiſtence of the American army. The
eſtabliſhment of a permanent poft in Virginia, in ſuch a ſituation as
to obſtruct the commerce of the Chieſapeak, both foreign and do-
meſtic, was an object of the utmoſt importance: But the feeble
ſtate of the army would not admit of a ſufficient force to be de-
tached for that purpoſe. A deſultory expedition to interrupt the
commerce of the bay for a few weeks, and to deſtroy ſuch maga-
zines, whether of proviſions, merchandiſe, or naval and military
ſtores, as were acceſſible, was all the commander in chief, under the
preſent ſituation of affairs, could conſent to. A detachment from
the army, conſiſting of the grenadiers and light-infantry of the
guards, the forty-ſecond regiment, a regiment of Heſſians, and the
royal volunteers of Ireland, with a detachment of artillery, amount.
ing in the whole to one thouſand eight hundred men, under the
command of brigadier-general Matthew, was aſſigned for this pur-
poſe, and embarked on board tranſports. The commodore, in the
Raiſonable of fixty-four guns, attended by the Rainbow, Otter,
Diligent, Haarlem ſloop, and Cornwallis galley, and ſome private
veſſels of war, undertook to convoy them, and to conduct in perſon
the naval part of the expedition. The troops being embarked, the
"
fleets,
AMERICAN WAR.
137
XXX.
1779.
fleet, with a favourable wind, paſſed the bar at Sandy Hook on the CHA P.
fifth, and entered between the Capes of Virginia on the eighth of
May. The Otter ſloop, with the privateers, was immediately ſent
up the Cheſapeak, and the reſt of the fileet, with the tranſports, on
the following morning proceeded to Hampton Road, a large baſon
of water formed by the confluence of Elizabeth, Nanſemond, and
James rivers. Some miles above its mouth Elizabeth River is ſe-
parated into two branches, one called the eaſtern, and the other the
weſtern branch, and below the confluence of theſe branches, on the
eaſtern ſide, once ſtood Norfolk, the principal commercial town in
Virginia, and oppoſite to it, on the weſtern ſide, Portſmouth, as
place of ſome trade, which, although not equal to Norfolk, was an-
nually increaſing, and in time threatened to rival it. A little above
theſe, upon a point of land intervening between two of the
branches of the river, was Goſport, where the government of Vir-
ginia, ſince the commencement of the war, had eſtabliſhed a
marine yard, and collected an immenfe quantity of timber for ſhip-
building. As a defence for this yard and the adjoining docks, they
had with great labour and expence conſtructed a fort upon the bank
of the river, about half a mile below. Portſmouth, which towards
the water was already finiſhed and mounted with cannon; the walls
of which conſiſted of an outward caſe of logs of timber ſtrongly
dove-tailed together, with the intermediate ſpace filled up with hard-
rammed earth, being fourteen feet in height, and fifteen feet thick.
Portſmouth was the place which the commanders on this expedi-
tion propoſed to occupy; and the reduction of the fart was of
courſe the firſt thing to be attempted. As the Raiſonable, from her
great draught of water, could proceed no higher than Hampton Road,
the commodore ſhifted his broad pennant on board the Renown;
and on the morning of the thirteenth of October the whole fleet, except
the Raiſonable, got under way, and entered the mouth of Elizabeth
VOL. II.
T
River.
238
HISTORY OF THE
XXX.
1779.
CH A P. River. The ebbing of the tide ſoon obliged the ſhips to come to
an anchor, but the troops being embarked on board the boats, pro-
ceeded, and effected a landing under cover of the Cornwallis galley,
and ſome gun-boats, about three miles below the fort, at a place
called the Glebe, the firſt diviſion at two in the afternoon
and the ſecond before ſun-ſet. No oppoſition was made to their
landing, except an ineffectual cannonade from the fort, which was
too diſtant to do
any
miſchief. It was propoſed that the troops
ſhould, on the following morning, ſtorm the fort on the land
ſide, where the fortifications were yet unfiniſhed, whilſt the
Rainbow ſhould move up and batter it from the water : But a
forward movement of the troops having been made •that ſame
evening as ſoon as the ſecond diviſion had landed, the provincial
garriſon, fearful of being ſurrounded, and having their retreat“ cut
off, haſtily evacuated the fort, leaving behind all the artillery,
ammunition, baggage, and ſtores. Such was their trepidation, that
they did not even wait to ſtrike the American flag, but left it
flying. General Matthew having thus eaſily poſſeſſed himſelf of
the fort, took a ſtrong poſition with the army between Portſmouth
and the country, the right wing reaching to the fort, the left to
the ſouth branch of Elizabeth River, and the centre covered in front
by an impenetrable ſwamp. Detachments were ſent to Norfolk and
Goſport; and all the veſſels in Elizabeth River, except ſuch, as
were burnt by the provincials before their retreat, with an im-
menſe quantity of naval and military ſtores, merchandiſe, and
proviſions, were either taken or deſtroyed by the Britiſh troops.
Detachments were alſo ſent to. Kemp's Landing, in Princeſs Ann
county, and to the town of Suffolk in Nanſemond county, and at
each of theſe places, particularly the latter, an immenſe quantity
of proviſions and ſtores of all ſorts, with ſome veſſels richly laden,
were either taken or deſtroyed.
The
22
AMERICAN WAR.
139
.
1779.
The Otter ſloop, and the privateers which went up the Cheſapeak, C HA P.
were alſo ſucceſsful, and took a number of prizes. In the mean
time the fort was demoliſhed, and the marine yard burnt, with all
the timber it contained. Theſe ſervices being performed, the troops
were re-embarked ; and the whole fleet, with the prizes, having
quitted Virginia, arrived at New York before the end of the month,
having been abſent only twenty-four days. The damage done to
the provincials was aſtoniſhingly great, and has been eſtimated at
half a million ſterling. The Americans themſelves, before their
flight from Portſmouth, ſet fire to a ſhip of war of twenty-eight
guns belonging to congreſs, and ready for launching; and alſo to
two French merchantmen in the river, one loaded with bale-goods,
and the other with a thouſand hogſheads of tobacco. Beſides theſe,
eight other ſhips of war, in different forwardneſs upon the ſtocks,
and ſeveral merchantmen, were burnt by the Britiſh troops; and,
excluſively of all other loſſes, the number of veſſels alone which
were taken or deſtroyed; during this ſhort expedition, amounted to
one hundred and thirty-ſeven,
+
.
1
A
TA
---
V
AM
HISTORY OF THE
140
CH A P. XXXI.
1
Reduction of two ſtrong poſts. on Hudſon's River_Expedition againſt
Connecticut-Ravages-Murmurs in Connecticut-Fort Stoney Point
furpriſed by General Wayne-Stoney Point evacuated by the Ame-
ricans--Again poſeſſed by the Britiſh Britiſh Settlement in Pea
nobſcot-Attacked in vain by the Americans--Reinforcement brought
to the Britiſh Army.by Admiral Arbuthnot, who fuccceds Sir George
Collier in the Command of the Navy-American Incurſions into the
Country of the Indians-Incurſions of the Indians into the Amc-
rican Settlements,
1
1
1779
May.
WA.P. PREVIOUSLY to the arrival of the fleet from Virginia
, fir Henry
Clinton had made preparations for attacking two ſtrong poſts on
Hudſon's River, about ſixty miles above New York, which the pro-
vincials were then fortifying. Theſe were the important poſts of
Verplank's Neck and Stoney Point, on oppoſite ſides of the river,
commanding the paſſage at King's Ferry, which was the moſt direct
and convenient courſe of communication between the northern and
middle colonies. To gain theſe poſts was an object of ſome conſe-
quence, as, by the loſs of them, the provincials, in order to main-
tain an intercourſe between the provinces on the eaſt and weſt fides
of Hudſon's River, would be obliged to make a circuit of more than
ſixty miles through the mountains. A detachment from the army
at New York was already embarked on board of tranſports, and
theſe being joined by the tranſports with the troops from Virginia,
the whole, on the thirtieth of May, proceeded up the North River,
under
+
1
AMERICAN WAR,
141
I
XXXI.
1779
1
under the direction of ſir George Collier, who, as well as the com- C HA P.
mander in chief of the army, accompanied this expedition. The
principal diviſion of the army, under major-general Vaughan, was
landed on the eaſtern ſide of the river, about ſeven miles below Fort
Fayette, on Verplank's Neck, and the commander in chief, with the
other, proceeded onward within three miles of Stoney Point, where,
on the weſtern ſide of the river, that diviſion was landed alſo.
Stoney Point, by its high and commanding ſituation, is a place of
great natural ſtrength; but, as the works were yet unfiniſhed, the
provincials were afraid to riſque an aſſault, and quitted it as ſoon as,
the Britiſh fleet appeared in view, having firſt ſet fire to a block-
houſe which they were conſtructing upon the ſummit of the emi-
nence. It was taken poſſeſſion of towards the evening, and ſome
heavy cannon and mortars were immediately landed from the fleet.
Theſe were with much labour dragged up the hill during the night;
and ſuch expedition was uſed under the direction of major-general
Pattiſon, of the artillery, to whom this ſervice was committed, that,
by five the next morning, a battery of cannon and mortars from the
ſummit of Stoney Point opened upon Fort Fayette on the oppoſite ſide
of the river. Fort Fayette. was a ſmall but complete work, incloſed
with pallifades, a double ditch, chevaux de frize, and abbatis, and had
a block-houſe in the centre, which was bomb-proof; but as it was
commanded by the ſuperior height of Stoney Point, the cannonade
from the latter, as well as from the gallies and armed veſſels upon
the river, foon made a ſenſible impreſſion. During the cannonade
it was inveſted by general Vaughan on the ſide towards the country,
and the gallies being ſo ſtationed as to prevent an eſcape by water,
the garriſon, ſurrounded in every quarter, ſurrendered as priſoners of
war, without ftipulating for any other condition than a promiſe of
good uſage. And thus theſe two important poſts were gained with
the trifling loſs of only one man wounded. Orders were given for.
:.
cam-
u
>
1
HISTORY
142
OF THE
XXXI.
1779.
nccticut.
1
CHA P. completing the fortifications at Stoney Point; and garriſons laving
been appointed for both the forts, the fleet, with the reſt of the
troops, fell down the river, and returned to New York.
Expedition Soon afterwards an expedition was planned againſt the province
againſt Con-
of Connecticut, which, abounding with men as well as proviſions,
was a principal ſupport to the American army. One purpoſe of
this expedition was to convince the people. of Connecticut that their
province was not inacceſſible, and that it was owing only to the
forbearance of the Britiſh government, which rather wiſhed to re-
claim than to puniſh, that their country had not yet experienced the
calamities and devaſtations of war; and another object was, to oblige
general Waſhington to quit his ſtrong ſituation upon the North
River, and deſcend into the low country for the defence of the fea-
coaſt. On the fourth of July the tranſports, with the troops deſtined
for this expedition, which amounted to two thouſand ſix hundred
men, weighed anchor at the entrance into the ſound, and proceeded
towards New Haven, the capital of Connecticut. The command
of the land force was given to major-general Tryon; and the
commodore, in the Camilla frigate, accompanied by the Scorpion
floop, Halifax brig, and Huſſar galley, eſcorted the tranſports,
and took upon himſelf their direction. At ſome diſtance below the
town of New Haven, brigadier-general Garth, of the guards, diſem-
barked with the firſt diviſion of troops, and notwithſtanding a con-
tinued oppoſition from the inhabitants during a march of ſeven
miles, which he was obliged to make in order to pafs the head of a
creek, he at laſt forced his way and took poſſeſſion of the town.
Major-general Tryon, with the ſecond diviſion of the troops, landed
on the oppoſite ſide of the harbour, and took poffeffion of a fort
upon the heights, by the guns of which the harbour was 'com-
manded.
A communication was opened between the two diviſions
of the army; and brigadier-general Garth remained in poſſeſſion
of
AMERICAN WAR.
143
XXXI.
1779
of the town during the night. All the artillery, .ammunition, and C HA P.
public ſtores, and all the veſſels in the harbour, were either taken or
deſtroyed; but the town itſelf was faved, and private houſes as
much as poſſible exempted from plunder. This was a degree of
lenity which the conduct of the inhabitants ſcarcely merited ; for
beſides the oppoſition made to the troops in their march to the town,
they were annoyed from the windows, even after they had poſſeſſion
.of it; and ſeveral of the centinels placed at private houſes to prevent
plunder were wounded upon their poſts. On the following day,
after a proclamation calling upon the inhabitants to return to their
allegiance, in which caſe they were promiſed protection, ſupport,
and encouragement, and denouncing vengeance and puniſhment if
they ſhould ſtill perſiſt in a rebellious oppoſition to the mother-
country, had been diſtributed, and after the fort was diſmantled, the
troops
were re-embarked and left New Haven.
From New Haven the fleet proceeded to Fairfield, where the
troops were again landed. Here a reſiſtance and oppoſition were
experienced more obſtinate and inveterate than at New Haven: And
as the lenity and forbearance ſhewn at the laſt of theſe places ſeemed
to have produced no effect, the preſent was thought a fit moment to
give an example of ſeverity, At Fairfield not only the public ſtores
of all ſorts, with the veſſels in the harbour, were either taken or de-
ſtroyed, but the town itſelf was laid in afhes. As the fleet and
troops proceeded in fulfilling the purpoſes of the expedition, the op-
poſition which they met with ſeemed to increaſe with the extent of
their progreſs : Norwalk, therefore, and Greenfield, at each of which
troops were ſucceſſively landed, ſhared the ſame fate as
the town of Fairfield. A deſcent at New London, which was a
rendezvous for privateers, was the ultimate object of the expedition;
but as a greater oppoſition was expected there than at either of the
other places, it was thought neceffary to obtain a further ſupply of
ammu-
places the
1
144
HISTORY OF THE
XXXI,
1
1772
CH A P. ammunition and a reinforcement of troops before they made the
attempt *. For this purpoſe the fleet returned to Huntington Bay
in Long Iſland, and the commodore proceeded to Frog's Neck, to
confer with the commander in chief of the army on the ſubject of
their future operations.
During this ſhort expedition, which had lafted only nine days,
the injury ſuſtained by the inhabitants of Connecticut in the loſs of
property both public and private, was very conſiderable: But not
withſtanding the conflagration of ſo many towns on the ſea-coaſt,
general Waſhington could not be prevailed upon to abandon his
ſtrong ſituation in the neighbourhood of the North River. His
apparent apathy, and that of the congreſs, with reſpect to Connec-
ticut, produced murmurs amongſt the inhabitants, which at length
broke fortli into open complaints. Some of the principal inhabitants,
conſidering protection and allegiance to be reciprocal duties, began to
think of withdrawing their ſubjection from a power which ſeemed
to neglect them in their diſtreſs, and of making terms with the
Britiſh commanders for themſelves. Such certainly was the import
of the intelligence from Connecticut communicated to fir Henry
Clinton, about the preſent period; and the conference between him
and the commodore at Frog's Neck, was on the ſubject of this in-
telligence, and with a view of arranging matters, ſo that the in-
tended expedition againſt New London might ſerve to imprefs the
inhabitants more ſtrongly with thoſe ſentiments which they had
already begun to entertain.
But, whilſt the Britiſh commanders were thus deviſing meaſures
for improving the diſpoſition which had manifeſted itſelf in Con-
necticut, general Waſhington had already atchieved an enterpriſe
which diſconcerted all their preſent deſigns againſt that province, and
* The loſs of the Britiſh troops in this expedition was 20 killed, 96 wounded, and. 32
Milling:
called
1
N
AMERICAN WAR.
145
+
XXXI.
1779
ealled their attention to a different quarter. This was the ſurpriſe CHA P.
of the fort at Stoney Point, which was taken by aſſault in the night
of the fifteenth of July. As the Ainericans had been but lately diſ-
poſſeſſed of this poſt, it is preſumable that they were well acquainted
with all the acceſſible approaches which led to it, as well as with
thoſe parts of the works which were moſt affailable. But even with
theſe advantages it was an enterpriſe of difficulty and danger; and
the American general Wayne, who conducted it, deſerved great
praiſe for his gallantry and good conduct, as did the troops which
he commanded for their bravery. Theſe being divided into two
columns, entered the works in oppoſite quarters, and met in the centre
of them about one in the morning of the ſixteenth of July. The
ſurpriſe was not ſo complete but that reſiſtance was made; and the
loſs in killed and wounded was nearly equal on both ſides. Lieute-
nant-colonel Johnſon of the ſeventeenth regiment commanded the
Britiſh garriſon, which conſiſted of the ſeventeenth regiment, the
grenadier company of the ſeverity-firſt, a company of the regiment
of loyal Americans, and a detachment of artillery, amounting in
the whole to about fix hundred men. Of theſe one hundred and
fifty-two were either killed or wounded, and the reſt, with their
commander, were made priſoners. The force under general Wayne
has not been aſcertained; but, from the number of corps of which
it conſiſted, it may be ſuppoſed to have amounted to fifteen hundred,
all of them chofen men.
The conduct of the Americans upon this occaſion was highly
meritorious; for they would have been fully juſtified in putting the
garriſon to the ſword: Not one man of which was put to death but
in fair combat. Colonel Johnſon's conduct was moſt deſervedly and
juſtly cenſured.
The plan formed by general Waſhington for theſe operations on
the North River comprehended Fort Fayette as well as Stoney Point.
VOL. II.
V
Both
146
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. Both were to have been attacked the ſame night; but the detachment
XXXI.
under the American general How, which was ſent againſt Fort Fayette;
1779
did not arrive in time. Still, however, it was advancing; and, to fa-
vour the attack, general Wayne, as ſoon as he poſſeſſed himſelf of
Stoney Point, turned the cannon of that garriſon againſt Fort Fayette,
where lieutenant-colonel Webſter commanded, with a garriſon con-
fiſting of the thirty-third regiment, part of the regiment of loyal.
Americans, a detachment from the feventy-firſt regiment, and ano...
ther of royal artillery.
Intelligence of the capture of Stoney Point, and the danger of:
Fort Fayette on Verplank's Neck, having been.brought to fir Henry.
Clinton juſt after his conference with fir George Collier, the expe.
dition againſt New London was for the preſent laid aſide, the tranſ-
ports and troops were recalled from the Sound, and the army made;
a forward movement to Dobb's Ferry.,, on the North River. Briga-
dier-general Stirling, with a detachment, was ſent. up tlie river in
tranſports, to the aſſiſtance of lieutenant-colonel Webſter; and the
commander in chief, with a greater force,, ſoon afterwards followed,
from an expectation that general Waſhington might be tempted to.
quit his faſtneſſes, and riſque an engagement for the poſſeſſion of
Stoney Point.
But this was not general Waſhington's intention;
and therefore, when intelligence was received of a Britiſh reinforce-
ment advancing up the North River, orders were given for evacu .
Stoney Point ating Stoney Point, which was done after as many of the works had.
evacuated by
been deſtroyed as the time would permit.. In the mean time lieute-
nant-colonel Webſter defended his poſt on Verplank's.Neck with.
prudence and bravery. To the cannonade from Stoney Point he
returned not a ſhot, as it would have been uſeleſs and ineffectual :.
But, againſt the provincials under general How, who were advan-
cing to attack him on the other ſide, every effort was made that.could
prevent their ſucceſs; and, before they were able to make any im-
preſſion
the Ameri-
cans :
AMERICAN VAR.
147
XXXI.
treat.
1779
preſſion upon the fort, the arrival of brigadier-general Stirling with C HA P.
his detachment, put an end to their hopes, and obliged them to re-
The poſt at Stoney Point was again taken poſſeſſion of; and Again pofter-
the arrival of the commander in chief, orders were iſſued for Britiſh.
fcd by the
upon
repairing the works. A larger garriſon was aſſigned for its defence,
and brigadier-general Stirling was appointed to command it. As it
was now apparent that general Waſhington did not mean to quit his
ſecure poſition in the high lands for the ſake of conteſting the pof-
ſeſſion of Stoney Point, the tranſports were ordered to fall down the
river, and the troops returned to their former quarters.
.
Scarcely had ſir George Collier reached New York, on his return
from accompanying fir Henry Clinton upon this expedition, when
he received intelligence that a fleet of armed veſſels, with tranſports
and troops, had failed from Boſton to attack a Britiſh poſt, which
general Maclean was then endeavouring to eſtabliſh at Penobſcot, in
the eaſtern part of the province of Maſſachuſet’s Bay. Orders were
immediately iſſued for getting in readineſs ſuch of his majeſty's ſhips
as were then at New York; and on the third of Auguſt the commo-
dore in the Raiſonable, accompanied by the Greyhound, Blonde,
Virginia, Camilla, Galatea, and Otter floop, failed from thence for
the relief of the garriſon at Penobſcot.
In the month of June general Francis Maclean, who commanded Britiſh ſettle-
the king's troops in Nova Scotia, with a detachment of fix hundred
nobſcot,
and fifty men from the ſeventy-fourth and eighty-ſecond regiments,
embarked in tranſports, and, eſcorted by three floops of war, ar-
rived in the bay of Penobſcot, in order to form a ſettlement, and
eſtabliſh a poſt which might not only ſerve to check the incurſions
of the provincials into Nova Scotia, but be the means of obtaining
a conſtant ſupply of ſhip timber, with which the neighbouring
country abounded, for the uſe of the king's yards at Halifax
and other places. The bay of Penobſcot is about ſeven leagues
in
ment in Pe.
[ 2
148
HISTORY OF THE
XXXI.
1779.
Shared
CHA P. in breadth at the mouth, and ſeventeen leagues in length, termi-
o nating where the river Penobſcot empties itſelf into the head of it;
and the lands all round were then covered with wood, ſcarcely any
ſettlements having been made upon them. About nine miles be-
low the mouth of Penobſcot river, on the eaſtern ſide of the bay, is
a ſmall but convenient harbour, which ſtill retains its ancient Indian
name of Majabagaduce ; and a peninſula, or point of land, forming
one ſide of that harbour, was the ſpot fixed upon by general
Maclean for erecting a fort to protect the fettlement. The land
was firſt to be cleared of the wood that grew upon it, which was a
work of great labour and difficulty. This being done, the outlines
of a fort were marked out, which was intended to be of a ſquare
form with a baſtion at each angle, incloſing a ſpace of ground capa-
cious enough to admit of a cavalier or block-houſe in the centre, with
barracks for the men, and apartments for the officers; and every
exertion was made to get this work in forwardneſs, which was to
ſerve for their future defence.
In the mean time, intelligence of what was doing at Penobſcot
having been carried to Boſton, the executive government of Maffa-
chuſet's Bay determined to fit out an armament with the utmoſt dif-
patch, in order to obſtruct or finaliy ruin the ſettlement.
An em-
bargo was immediately laid upon all the ſhipping in Boſton harbour,
and bounties were offered to ſuch perſons as would engage in the
Penobſcot expedition. By ſuch means a ſquadron was foon got in
readineſs, which conſiſted of nineteen armed ſhips and brigantines,
the largeſt carrying thirty-two, and the ſmalleſt ten guns. To theſe
were added twenty-ſeven-tranſports, having on board three thouſand
troops; the fleet being under the direction of commodore Saltonſtall,
and the troops under the command of general Lovel. Againſt ſo
conſiderable a force it was thoug htthat general Maclean, with his
handful of men, could not long defend himſelf: And upon the de-
parture
1
AMERICAN WAR.
149
+
1
XXXI.
1
1779.
parture of the fleet, his ſurrender, and the ruin of the ſettlement, C H A P.
were conſidered by the people of Maſſachuſet's Bay as events, of
the completion of which no doubt could be reaſonably enter-
tained.
Intelligence of the failing of this armament was brought to general
Maclean on the twenty-firſt of July, only four days before its arrival
at Penobſcot. All that time, two of the baſtions of the intended
fort were not begun, and the other two, with the curtains, were in
no part above five feet in height, and twelve in thickneſs. The
ditch in' moſt parts was not more than three feet deep; no platform
was laid, nor any artillery mounted. But upon the arrival of this
alarming intelligence, all preſent thoughts of finiſhing the fort were
laid aſide, and the troops were employed day and night on ſuch works
as were immediately neceſſary to ſecure them againſt an affault; a
mode of attack which they had the greateſt reaſon to apprehend
would be purſued by the enemy, in conſequence of their very ſuperior
force.
· Although the provincials arrived in the bay of Penobſcot on the twen-
ty-fifth of July, they were unable to effect a landing until the twenty-
eighth. The three ſloops of war, under the direction of captain Mowat,
being ſo ſtationed as to command the mouth of the harbour, prevented
the provincial fleet from entering and effecting a landing on that fide
of the peninſula; and on the other ſide the natural ſteepneſs and rug-
gedneſs of the ſhore rendered it an enterpriſe of difficulty and dan-
ger. At length, however, they effected their purpoſe before day in attacked in
the morning of the twenty-eighth, at a place which had been vain by thic
thought inacceſſible; and on the thirtieth opened a battery againſt
the works, at the diſtance of ſeven hundred and fifty yards.
From the inceſſant labour of the garriſon, during the interval
between the twenty-firſt and thirtieth of July, the gorge of one
of the unfiniſhed baſtions was filled up with logs of timber; and
the
Americans.
1
150
HISTORY OF THE
XXXI.
1779
1
CHA P. the other, containing the well which ſupplicd the garriſon with wa-
'ter, was ſurrounded with a work of faſcines and earth, ten feet
thick; platforms were laid, and artillery mounted ; a ſort of che-
vaux de frize was carried round the fort ; and the whole incloſed
with an abbatis ; ſo that by the time the enemy had opened their bat-
tery, general Maclean and his garriſon thought themſelves tolerably
prepared to reſiſt an aſſault. The enemy's fleet made frequent at-
tempts-to-enter the harbour, but were conſtantly repulſed by the fire
from the ſhips of war, and a battery erected to ſupport them on
ſhore. The provincial land force, nevertheleſs, continued to make
approacties, and erect new batteries; and a briſk cannonade was
kept up between them and the garriſon for near a fortnight. Fre-
quent ſkirmiſhes too happened without the fort, the garriſon being
under the neceſſity of preſerving a communication with the ſhip-
Auguſt. ping and the battery which covered it. On the twelfth of Auguſt
intelligence was conveyed to general Maclean by a deſerter, that on
the following day an aſſault was to be made on the fort, and an
attack upon the ſhips of war at the faine time;' and every neceſſary
preparation was made by the general for repelling them. But the
approach of the ſquadron under fir George Collier, as it afterwards
appeared, prevented the provincials from executing their intention;
and, on the morning of the fourteenth, the garriſon, to their great
ſurpriſe, diſcovered that the works had been 'evacuated during the
preceding night, and that the provincial troops, with the greateſt
part of the cannon, were re-embarked on board the ſhips. The
cauſe of this ſudden retreat was then unknown to the garriſon; but
by'ten in the forenoon the appearance of the Britiſh ſquadron
ſtanding up the bay quickly unveiled the myſtery. The provincial
fleet appeared to be in diſorder; and for ſome time the commanders
ſeemed undetermined what to do. At length an ignominious flight
took place; every one endeavouring to provide for his own ſafety,
and
1
4
1
AMERICAN WAR.
151
XXXI.
1779.
and none daring to wait the ſhock of the Britiſh ſquadron. Two C H A P.
of the provincial armed ſhips endeavoured to get to ſea by paſſing
round Long Iſland;, which lies in the middle of the bay ; but they
were foon intercepted, the firſt being taken, and the other run
a-ſhore and blown up by her crew. The reſt of their fleet, with
the tranſports, fled in the utmoſt confuſion to the head of the bay,
and entered the mouth of Penobſcot river. They were purſued by
the Britiſh ſquadron.. By this diſgraceful flight the provincials bc-
came expoſed to a danger alıņoſt as great as that which they had
eſcaped... They were landed in a wild uncultivated country, without
proviſions or any other neceſſaries, and had to explore their way, for.
more than an hundred miles through this pathleſs deſert. before they
could reach a place from which ſupplies' might be obtained. In this
forlorn and deſtitute ſituation mutual, reproaches paſſed between the
feamen and landſmenand each accuſed the other of being the
cauſe of their preſent misfortuneş.: A battle: enſued; , in, which
fifty or ſixty were ſlạin; and a'much greater number, exhauſted with
famine and fatigue, before they could reach the ſettled parts ,of the
province, periſhed miſerably in the woods. Such was the iſſue of.
the provincial expedition againſt the Britiſh ſettlement at Penobſcot;
for the ſucceſsful defence of which; under ſo, many diſadvantages,
general Maclean. is entitled to the greateſt praiſe. . And in the pro-
greſs and iſſue of this expedition we ſee how much may be effected
by. a very inconſiderable force, when Britiſh officers act with zeal
and unanimity in the ſervice of their king and country. *
The
i
* The loſs of the garriſon amounted to 70, killed; wounded, and milling. The 'loſi on
board the fleet was 15 killed and wounded.
The American fleet taken or deſtroyed on this expedition was as follows :-
Warren of 32 guns, 18 and 12 pounders. Monmouth 24. Vengeance 24. Putnam 22.
Sally 22, blown up. Hampden, 20 gnns, taken. Hector 20, blown up. Hunter, 18, taken.
Black Prince 18; and Sky Rocket 16; blown
np.
Brigs
.
HISTORY OF THE
152
1779
Reinforce
she navy
CH AP.
The relief of the garriſon at Penobſcot, with the total deſtruction
XXXI.
of the naval armament that had been ſent againſt it, was the laſt of
thoſe meritorious ſervices performed by fir George Collier during
ment brought
to the Britith the ſhort but active period in which he had the command of the
army by ad-
Britiſh fleet on the coaſt of North America. On his return to New
miral Arbuth-
not, who fuc- York he found himſelf ſuperſeded by the arrival of admiral Arbuth-
cceds ſir G.
Collier in the not from England with ſome ſhips of war and a fleet of tranſports,
command of
bringing a reinforcement of troops, and a ſupply of proviſions and
ſtores. To the admiral he reſigned the command, and ſoon after-
wards embarked for England.
The reinforcement brought by admiral Arbuthnot had been long
and impatiently expected by ſir Henry Clinton, who, from the feeble
ſtate of the army, was unable, until its arrival, to engage in any en-
terpriſe of importance. Although it was now late, the ſeaſon for
action was not yet entirely over; but the appearance of the count
d'Eſtaing with his formidable fleet on the coaſt of Georgia, intelli-
gence of which, as well as of his threatened attack againſt New
York, was brought about this time, obliged the commander in chief
to give up all thoughts of offenſive operations during the remainder
of the campaign, and to concentre his force, that he might be pre-
pared to meet the ſhock which he was to expect from a combined
attack of the French by ſea and the Americans by land. In this
view, Rhode Iſland was evacuated, and the garriſon withdrawn to
New York. And in this reſpect alone, by obliging fir Henry Clin-
ton to change his ſyſtem, and act upon the defenſive during the re-
mainder of the campaign, the expedition of the count d'Eſtaing
to the coaſt of North America, otherwiſe unfortunate, may be
faid to have been ſerviceable to the American cauſe.
Brigs---Active 16 guns ; Defence 16; Hazard 16 ; Diligence 14; Tyrannicide 14; Pro-
vidence loop 14 ; blown up. Spring Bird 12, burnt. Nancy 16, Rover 10, taken. Together
with 24 ſail of ſhips and veſſels, as tranſports, all burnt.
Nothing
!
3
AMERICAN WAR.
153
XXXI.
1779
Nothing elſe of moment happened upon the ſca-coaſt, except a C HA P.
bold and ſucceſsful attack made by the American major Lee upon
the Britiſh poſt at Paulus Hook, on the Jerſey ſhore, oppoſite to Bold attack
New York, which, although it had no effect upon the general iſſue by the Ame-
of the campaign, nevertheleſs merits notice, as it ſerves to ſhew how Paulus Houk.
dangerous it is for the beſt-diſciplined troops to live in a ſtate of
ſecurity, even when oppoſed to an enemy which they deſpiſe; and
alſo as it affords one example out of many how well the provin-
cials were furniſhed with intelligence of every thing that paſſed
within the Britiſh lines. Major Sutherland, who had the com-
mand of the poſt at Paulus Hook, detached on the nineteenth of
Auguſt a part of the garriſon to proceed on ſome particular ſer-
vice, into the country ; and intelligenee of this movement being
immediately communicated to major Lee, who commanded ſome
provincials in the neighbourhood, he reſolved to avail himſelf of
the opportunity, which the abſence of a part of the garriſon af-
forded, to make an attempt upon the poſt. The deſign which he
had formed was carried into execution the following night. Ad-
vancing, with three hundred men, to the gate of the works, he was
miſtaken by the centinel for the officer who commanded the party
that had marched into the country in the morning, and was ſuffered
to paſs, together with his detachment; and in ſuch an unſoldierly
ſtate of ſecurity did he find the garriſon, that he ſeized a block-houſe
and two redoubts, before the alarm was given. Major Sutherland
now threw himſelf into a redoubt, with ſixty Hellians, and by
keeping up an inceſſant fire upon the provincials, foon obliged them
to quit the poſt, without their attempting to ſpike up the cannon,
or doing any injury to the works; and fo precipitately as to give
occaſion to fir Henry Clinton to remark, in his official diſpatches,
that their retreat was as diſgraceful as their attack had been ſpirited
and well-conducted. They nevertheleſs carried off with them about
VOL. II.
X
forty
154
HISTORY OF THE
1779.
curſions into
the country
of the In-
dians,
4
CHAP. forty priſoners. It was not their intention to remain in poſſeſſion
w of the poſt; the object of the attack being no other than to give
ſomne eclat to the American arms, and to promote a ſpirit of enter-
priſe amongſt the officers and ſoldiers.
In the interior country the war of devaſtation was ſtill carried on
between the provincials and Indians. Againſt the latter an expe-
dition, of more than ordinary magnitude, was planned by the con-
greſs, to revenge the bloody incurſions of the preceding year.
The
command of it was given to major-general Sullivan; and the force
American in employed amounted to live thouſand men. With this force, formed
into two diviſions, and accompanied by ſome artillery and field-
pieces, general Sullivan entered the Indian country. The Indians,
ſeeing no proſpect of being able to oppoſe ſuch a force, quitted their
ſettlements as he approached them, and fled into other parts. The
war of devaſtation now commenced ; and the barbarous ſavage had
the mortification to find that the civilized inhabitant of the fea-coaſt
could outdo him in deliberate acts of miſchief.
Eighteen of their
towns were laid in alhes, and more than one hundred and fifty
thouſand buſhels of corn were deſtroyed: Their gardens were laid
waite: Even their fruit-trees were cut down; and nothing was
rifered to remain that could be ſuppoſed to afford them
any
ſuſten
Incurſions of ance. But whilſt the provincials were thus laying waſte the Indian
i.to the pro- towns, the Indians on their part were making irroads into the pro-
vincial ſettle- vincial ſettlements, and much miſchief was done on both ſides. Re-
venge for an injury received is a point of honour which an Indian
never gives up: A ſevere retribution was therefore to be expected
for the ravages committed by general Sullivan.. The Indians were
irritated but not fubdued, and had not deigned to ſue for peace :
Whence it may be doubted whether this expedition was of any
real
utility. But if any benefit was derived from it, it was not equal to
the expence which it coſt, or the expectations which had been
the Indians
ments.
formed
AMERICAN WAR.
155
-
CH A P.
XXXI.
1779
formed from it; and all who were concerned in planning it ſeem to
have been diſappointed. The congreſs was diſſatisfied: General
Waſhington did not approve of the conduct of the expedition ; and
general Sullivan, ſoon after his return from the Indian country, re-
ſigned his employments in diſguſt, and retired from the public
ſervice.
This expedition was undertaken againſt the northern Ir.dans,
which border on the provinces of Penſylvania and New Yürk Si-
milar expeditions were alſo ſet on foot in the ſouthern colunies
againſt the Indians on their frontiers, which, although not ſo ex-
penſive as that of general Sullivan, were proportionably more effi.
cacious: And, during this ſummer, both the northern and ſouthern
Indians ſuffered a ſevere chaſtiſement,
X2
+
156
HISTORY OF THE
снА Р.
XXXII.
The Confederacy againſt Great Britain
joined by Spain French Attack
on Jerſey-Repelled-Naval Tranſactions—The combined Fleets of
France and Spain threaten an Invaſion of Great Britain–Engage-
ment between Captain Paul Jones and the Convoy of a Britiſh Fleet
from the Baltic--Blockade of Gibraltar--Incurſion of the Americans
into Weſt Florida-Weſt Florida reduced by the Spaniards-The
Spaniards attack the Britiſh Logwood-cutters in Honduras Reduc-
tion of the Spaniſh Fort Omoa, the Key of the Bay of Honduras
--Protcation afforded to the Britiſh Commerce—General Retroſpeet
of Britiſh Affairs at the Concluſion of 1779.
Great Bric
CHAP FROM America we muſt now paſs to Europe, where, through the
intrigues of the court of France, one power openly joined the
The 2019fede- confederacy againſt Great Britain, and another, her ancient and
racy againſt much-favoured ally, became ſo lukewarm in her attachment, that
tain joined
her friendſhip was no longer to be depended upon.
by Spain.
When France firſt determined to acknowledge the independence
of the American colonies, and to enter into a treaty with them,
Spain was ſolicited to join in it. But, however deſirous this branch
of the houſe of Bourbon, as well as the other, might be to reduce
the power of Great Britain, the propoſition was at that time re-
jected; very probably from an apprehenſion that Great Britain might
be diſpoſed to retalịate by ſtirring up a rebellion in the Spaniſh co-
lonies. The court of France, neverthieleſs, unceaſingly continued
its
AMERICAN WAR.
157
1
+
1779
power, Great
its ſolicitations, which, in the fall of the preceding year, appcar to CHAP.
have become effectual. The king of Spain, in the month of Sep-
tember of that year, interpoſed ſo far as to offer to mediate between
the belligerent powers.
However unſuitable, in point of impartiality, it might appear
for one branch of the houſe of Bourbon to undertake to mediate be-
tween another branch of the ſame houſe and a third
Britain nevertheleſs accepted the mediation of Spain; and the
propoſals of the court of France, for putting an end to the differ-
ences which ſubſiſted between it and Great Britain, were preſented
to the court of London by the Spaniſh ambaſſador. Theſe were
found to be ſo totally inadmiſſible, as to create a ſuſpicion that the
king of Spain had engaged in the mediation only for the purpoſe of
furniſhing himſelf with a pretext to take a part in the war; and
they were inſtantly rejected by the court of Great Britain. The
king of Spain, in his character of mediator, now preſented other
terms, as from himſelf, which he called ultimate propoſals : But
theſe were ſo nearly the ſame in ſubſtance with thoſe offered by the
court of France, that they were equally inadmiſſible. They were
however rejected with much civility; and, in the anſwer delivered
to the Spaniſh ambaſſador, a wiſh was expreſſed that nothing that
had paſſed might interrupt the harmony fubfiſting between Great
Britain and Spain.
Although it was generally underſtood, long before the end of this
negotiation, that, if it failed in effect, Spain was to become a party
in the war; yet no declaration of that nature was made for a confi-
derable time after the anſwer to his ultimate propoſitions had been
received by the king of Spain. His preparations were not at that
time in a ſufficient ſtate of forwardneſs : And the addrels of his
miniſters, in timing the proper moments of interpoſition, was as
conſpicuous as their general policy in ſuffering him to be **
158
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
1779.
be abine
CILA P. the war was utterly reprehenſible. In the preceding year, the offer
of mediation was not made until after the return of the ſhips and
troops that had been employed in America, during the late diſputes
between Spain and Portugal, and the arrival of the rich annual fleets,
which bring home the treaſures of Mexico and Peru. And, in the
preſent year, the declaration which announced war was not de-
livered to the Britiſh miniſtry until it was morally certain, that the
junction of the French and Spaniſh fleets, both of which were then
at fea, could not be impeded. A momentary attention to dates will
put this matter beyond a doubt. The French fleet ſailed from Breſt
on the fourth of June, and ſteered for the coaſt of Spain; the Bri-
tiſh fleet being then, and for ten days afterwards, in harbour. On
the ſixteenth of June the hoſtile reſcript was delivered to the Britiſh
miniſtry, which announced the determination of the Spaniſh court
to join with France in the war; and on the twenty-fourth of the
ſame month a junction was made between the French and Spaniſh
fleets. Thus it is apparent, that the Spaniſh miniſtry delayed coming
to an open rupture, until, from the certainty of uniting their naval
force with that of France, they had reaſon to expect, not only to
magnitude of the combined fleets, to wreſt the empire of the ſea
from the Britiſh nation.
To foreign powers the ſituation of Great Britain, at this critical
moment, ſeemed beyond meaſure perilous. Thirteen of her colonies
in
open inſurrection, and two powerful maritime ſtates of Europe com-
bined for her deſtruction, without a ſingle 'ally diſpoſed to ſtretch
forth a helping arm, were, to them, certain indications of her ap-
proaching downfall; and they viewed the proſpect with a malignant
pleaſure, or, at the leaſt, with indifference. But it ſoon appeared
that thoſe who entertained ſuch ſentiments were not ſufficiently ac-
quainted with the extent of the national reſources, or the firmneſs
of
AMERICAN WAR.
159
XXXII.
1779
of the Britiſh ſpirit, which diſdained tamely to yield to any hoſtile C HA P.
combination, however powerful. The union of Spain with France
had for ſome time been foreſeen; and the moſt vigorous preparations
were made to reſiſt the impending ſtorm. Gibraltar, where an at-
tack was expected, was, in the ſpring of the year, reinforced with
troops, and plentifully ſupplied with proviſions, ammunition, and
ſtores. A fleet of tranſports, with a reinforcement of troops, and
a large ſupply of proviſions and warlike ſtores, under the
convoy
of
admiral Arbuthnot, with a ſquadron of ſhips of war, was ready to
fail for America by the beginning of May: And it was propoſed,
with the channel fleet, to block up the harbour of Breſt, ſo as to
prevent a junction between the French and Spaniſh fleets, a meaſure
which it was ſuppoſed would be attempted, as ſoon as Spain ſhould
throw off the maſk and declare for war. But unfortunate incidents
frequently mar the beſt-concerted deſigns; and part of this arrange-
ment was prevented from taking place, and another conſiderably
impeded, by the conſequences of an unexpected. attack made
upon
.the iſland of Jerſey.
Whilſt admiral Arbuthnot was proceeding down the channel with French at-
tack on Jer-
his convoy, on the ſecond of May, he received intelligence of this fey,
attack, and immediately failed, with part of the ſquadron, for the
relief of the iſland ; leaving the reſt, with the convoy, to proceed
to Torbay, and wait his return. Upon his arrival off Guernſey he repelled.
found that the French had been repulſed, and prevented from land-
ing in Jerſey, and were returned to the coaſt of France. And as
his aſſiſtance was no longer neceſſary, he altered his courſe, and
failed for Torbay to rejoin the convoy.
Although the French had been repulſed, the expedition againſt
Jerſey was not abandoned. The ſmall ſquadron which accompanied
it, conſiſting of three frigates, a cutter, and ſome ſmaller veſſels,
ſtill
160
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
1779.
CH A P. ſtill hovered on the coaſt of France, waiting for an opportunity to
renew the attack. But, during this interval, ſir James Wallace in
the Experiment, with the Pallas, Unicorn, Fortune, and Chabot
brig, who had been ſent in purſuit of it, got ſight of the French
ſquadron, and drove it into Concalle Bay, where all the ſhips were
run a-ſhore under cover of a battery. Sir James Wallace was ne-
vertheleſs determined either to take or deſtroy them. The Experi-
ment was already ſo near as to be conſiderably annoyed by the bat-
tery; and the pilots refuſing to take charge of her any farther, her
brave commander, with the characteriſtic boldneſs of a Britiſh ſea-
man, took the charge upon himſelf, laid her a-breaſt of the battery,
and ſoon ſilenced it. The French ſhips were now abandoned by
their crews, and boarded by the boats from the Britiſh ſquadron.
The French cutter was ſcuttled as ſhe lay on the ſhore, two of the
frigates were burnt, and the third, with the ſmaller veſſels, was
towed off in triumph * And by this gallant action the iſland of
Jerſey was freed from all preſent apprehenſions of danger.
The neceſſary deviation from his courſe made by admiral Arbuth-
not for the relief of Jerſey, although as little time as poſſible was
loſt by it, was nevertheleſs unfortunately, and without
any
blame to
be imputed to him, the cauſe of much ſubſequent delay. His fleet,
which had anchored in Torbay, was prevented from failing for near
a month by contrary winds: And, when it did fail, the paſſage be-
came ſo tedious, in conſequence of the weſterly winds that prevail
in the Atlantic in the latter part of the ſuminer, that he did not ar-
rive at New York, as we have already ſeen, until the campaign was
Naval tranſ-
actions.
* Ships and Veſſels taken and deſtroyed at Concalle Bay.
La Danac, 34 guns, taken.
Le Rccluſe, 24 guns, burnt.
La Valcur, 36 guns, burnt.
Le Dieppe, 16 guns, ſcuttled.
A brig and two floops taken, and ſeveral fiſhing-boats, and other ſmall craft, deſtroyed.
almoſt
AMERICAN WAR.
161
1
XXXII.
1779
almoſt over. Another conſequence, that followed from this delay, CHA P.
was not leſs injurious. It was feared that, during the interval of
detention, the French might have become acquainted with the force
under admiral Arbuthnot, and the value of his convoy, which was
immenſe, and thence been tempted to form ſome ſcheme for at-
tacking him on his paſſage, and intercepting the convoy.
To
pre-
vent' the effect of ſuch a ſcheme, if it was formed, and for the
greater ſecurity of the convoy, ten ſhips from the channel fleet
were detached, under admiral Darby, to accompany Arbuthnot a
certain diſtance on 'his paffage: And the weakening of the channel
fleet, by ſending away ſo conſiderable a detachment, was the cauſe
of delaying the execution of the plan for blocking up the harbour
of Breſt. The French did not fail to profit by the delay: So eager
were they to ſend the Breſt fleet to ſea, that eight thouſand land-
forces were embarked to ſupply the want of ſo many ſeamen ; and
with this kind of equipment it failed from Breſt on the fourth
of June. Count d'Orvilliers, who commanded it, had two objects
in view: One was; to intercept the ſquadron under admiral Darby
in its return; and the other, to form a junction with the Spaniſh
fleet. In the firſt he failed, admiral Darby having returned in ſafety
to the channel ; but in the ſecond he ſucceeded, and joined the fleet
of Spain on the twenty-fourth of June. The two fleets, when
united, amounted to more than ſixty fail of the line, with nearly an
equal number of frigates; and ſoon after the junction they ſteered
for the Britiſh channel.
The Britiſh fleet, under fir Charles Hardy, who was appointed
to the command upon the reſignation of admiral Keppel, was by
this time alſo at fea. It conſiſted of thirty-eight ſhips of the line,
with ſometing leſs than its due proportion of frigates, and cruiſed
in that part of the ſea which, in nautical phraſeology, is called the
chops, or mouth, of the channel. The great ſuperiority of the
VOL. II.
Y
com.-
162
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
1779.
Thc com-
bined fleets
cn an invaſion
CHA P. combined fleet, in the number of ſhips, guns, and men, ſeemed to
juſtify the forebodings of thoſe who prognoſticated the ruin of the
Britiſh empire; and, to add to the dangers of the preſent moment,
of France and preparations were made on the French coaſt, and an invaſion of
Spain threat-
Great Britain was threatened under cover of the combined fleet. On
of Great Bri- the other hand, every precaution was taken by the Britiſh govern-
ment, which prudence ſuggeſted, for defeating the expected attack,
A proclamation was iſſued, ordering the cattle and draught-horſes
to be driven from thoſe parts of the ſea-coaſt on which a landing
ſhould be effected; the militia was embodied; and numerous cruiſers
were ſtationed in the narrow ſeas, to watch the enemy's mòtions,
And theſe efforts of the government were nobly ſeconded by thoſe
of private individuals ; for ſuch energy had the national ſpirit ac-
quired under the proſpect of the difficulties that ſurrounded, and the
dangers that threatened, that meetings were held in moſt of the
principal towns, and voluntary contributions made to raiſe men for
the defence of the nation.
About the middle of Auguſt, count d'Orvilliers, with the com-
bined fleet, paſſed the Britiſh fleet under fir Charles Hardy, in the
mouth of the channel, without either fleet having diſcovered. the
other, and proceeded on as far as Plymouth; taking in the way the
Ardent, a Britiſh ſhip of war, on her paſſage to join fir Charles
Hardy. The count d'Orvilliers made no attempt to land, but con-
tinued for ſeveral days parading with the combined fleet in fight of
Plymouth, until a ſtrong eaſterly wind ſet in, and compelled him to
quit the channel. As ſoon as this abated, he returned to the coaſt
of England, and cruiſed off the Land's End. The ſame eaſterly wind
had alſo driven the Britiſh fleet to ſea; but, on the laſt day of Auguſt,
fir Charles Hardy regained his former ſtation, and entered the chan-
nel in full view of the enemy, who did not attempt to moleft him,
He now endeavoured to entice them into the narrower part of the
channel,
AMERICAN WAR.
163
V
XXXII.
1779.
channel, where their great ſuperiority in number would have lefs C HA P.
availed them; and they followed him as high as Plymouth, but
choſe to proceed no farther. Their crews were ſaid to be fickly;
their ſhips to be in bad condition : And the ſeaſon for equinoctial
gales was faſt approaching. They therefore foon afterwards quitted
the Engliſh Channel, and entered the harbour of Breſt. Thus all
the apprehenſions which had been raiſed were quickly diſſipated:
And nothing was done anſwerable to the mighty expectations that
had been formed from the union and co-operation of two ſuch power-
ful fleets. Even during their cruiſe, commodore Johnſtone, with
a ſquadron of Britiſh ſhips, hovered on the coaſt of France and
kept it in alarm. The trade of the enemy was every-where an-
noyed by the Britiſh cruiſers, and their merchant-lhips taken, even
at the entrance of their harbours. On the other hand, the Britiſh
trade was leſs injured than in the preceding year: One of her
homeward-bound fleets from the Weſt Indies, conſiſting of one
hundred and twenty-five fail, arrived in ſafety juſt before the com-
bined fleets entered the channel ; and ſcarcely had they left it, when
another fleet from the Eaſt Indies was equally fortunate. Sir Charles
Hardy continued to cruiſe with the channel fleet until it was late in
the ſeaſon: And, notwithſtanding the apparent ſuperiority of the
enemy, Great Britain, in effect, ſtill remained maſter of the ſea.
The only one of the homeward-bound Britiſh fleets that ſeemed
to be in any danger, was that from the Baltic, under the
the Serapis, captain Pierſon, and the Countefs of Scarborough, cap-
tain Piercy, the firſt a ſhip of forty-four, and the other of twenty
guns. This fleet was attacked near Scarborough, on the northern.
coaſt of England, by a ſquadror under the command of captain Paul
Jones, in the ſervice of congreſs, a man of a ſavage and ferocious
diſpoſition, hardened by his crimes, and rendered deſperate by the
fear of puniſhment. Jones's ſquadron conliſted of the Bon Homme:
Richard,
convoy of
Y Z
164
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
from the Bal.
tic.
An engagea
CHA P. Richard, a ſhip of forty guns; two frigates, one of thirty-ſix, and
the other of thirty-two guns; the Vengeance brig of twelve guns,
Engagement and a cutter; and was fitted out from Port l'Orient in the end of
beimween cap- July, for the purpoſe of intercepting the Britiſh fleet from the
Jones and the Baltic. But by the good conduct and perſevering bravery of cap-
convoy of a
Britiſ flect tain Pierſon, the convoy was faved, although both the king's ſhips
were taken. As ſoon as the enemy was diſcovered, a fignal was
made for all the ſhips of the convoy to run in ſhore, and endeavour
to make a harbour, whilſt captain Pierſon ſet all the fail he could to
get between them and the enemy; and as ſoon as he came near
enough to diſcover the ſuperior force which he had to contend with,
another ſignal was made for the Counteſs of Scarborough to join
him. Jones ſhewed no backwardneſs, to engage: He ſteered di-
rectly for the Serapis, and brought-to within muſket-ſhot of her
larboard bow, about half after ſeven in the evening.
ment immediately commenced, and not níore than two or three
broadſides were exchanged, when Jones attempted to board the
Serapis; but he was foon repulſed, and obliged to ſheer off. In a
ſecond attempt the two ſhips became entangled, and dropped along-
fide of each other ſo cloſe, that the muzzles of the guns touched the
fides of the oppoſite ſhip. In this ſituation the engagement was
continued till half an hour after ten, during which the Serapis
was frequently ſet on fire by the combuſtibles thrown into her from
the Bon Homme Richard ; and, in the confuſion, a cartridge took
fire, which, communicating to others, blew up all the officers and
men ſtationed abaft the main-maſt, and rendered the guns in that
quarter of the ſhip totally unſerviceable. Throughout the whole of
the action, the Alliance, the largeſt of Jones's frigates, failed round,
and, as opportunities offered, poured her broadſides into the Serapis;
and, towards the concluſion of the engagement, coming under her
ſtern, raked her fore-and-aft, and killed or wounded ſo many of her
men,
.
AMERICAN VAR.
165
XXXII.
1779.
men, that captain Pierſon, ſeeing no proſpect of being able to extri- C HA P.
cate the Serapis, thought it cruelty to his people longer to continue
the action, and ſtruck his colours. The Counteſs of Scarborough,
although ſo much inferior in force, had engaged the Pallas, a French
frigate of thirty-two guns, for nearly two hours, but was at length
obliged to ſtrike; her rigging being cut to pieces, ſeven of her guns
diſmounted, four of her people killed, and twenty badly wounded:
And, to cut off all hopes of ſucceſs from a further reſiſtance, juſt
before ſhe ſtruck, the other frigate came up on her larboard quarter,
and was ready to join in the action. The carnage on board the
Serapis was great: It amounted, according to the beſt account that
captain Pierſon was enabled to give, to forty-nine killed, and fixty-
eight wounded; but he had reaſon to believe, although this was
all the loſs which he was able to aſcertain with preciſion, that in
reality it was much greater. His ſhip too had ſuſtained very confi-
derable damage; and the mainmaſt went by the board juſt as ſhe
Itruck. But the ſcene which preſented itſelf on board the Bon
Homme Richard was horrible beyond deſcription. Her quarter and
counter on the lower deck were entirely driven in, and the whole
of her guns on that deck diſmounted. She was on fire in two dif-
ferent places; had ſeven feet of water in her hold; and her decks
ſtreamed with the blood of the killed and wounded, which, accord-
ing to captain Pierſon's account, amounted to three hundred and
fix, a number more than three-fourths of her crew. Under ſuch
circumſtances of accumulated horror and diſtreſs, none but a deſpe-
rado would have continued the engagement; but their ruffian com-
mander was ſeen ſeveral times during the action without his coat,
and with his ſhirt-ſleeves tucked up beyond his elbows, running
about the thip, and brandiſhing a naked cutlaſs to keep his men at
their quarters. To him, who, it ſeems, was a native of Galloway in
Scotland, and who, it is ſaid, had, by his crimes, forfeited his life
4
to
166
HISTORY OF THE
.
1779.
CHA P. to the laws of his country, before he entered into the ſervice of
congreſs, it was eligible to fall in battle rather than by the hands of
the executioner: But, to a commander of any humanity, the lives
of the people entruſted to his care, are an object of the utmoſt at-
tention; and, to ſuch a commander, reſiſtance appears unjuſtifiable,
after it becomes hopeleſs. The iſſue of the engagement in favour
of the Bon Homme Richard may therefore be aſcribed to the dif-
ferent circumſtances under which the two commanders acted, as
much as to the diſparity of force. The damage done to the Bon
Homme Richard was ſo great that it could not be repaired; the
water gained upon her ſo faſt, that ſhe funk in leſs than two days
afterwards, with fome of her wounded men on board. By this en-
gagement two of his majeſty's ſhips were loft; but a valuable con-
voy were ſaved. The brave reſiſtance made by captain Pierſon gave
the ſhips of the convoy time to eſcape; and enabled them to take
fhelter in the different harbours on the ſea-coaſt before they could be:
overtaken,
The declaration which announced hoſtilities on the part of the
Spaniſh nation was not made until every thing had been previouſly
prepared for acting with effect. The grand Spaniſh fleet had either
failed, or was ready to fail: Troops were in motion to occupy the
works at St. Roque, and inveſt Gibraltar by land, whilſt a naval
force was proceeding to block it up by fea: And orders liad' been
diſpatched to tlie governors of their foreign poſſeſſions to prepare
them for the rupture. With the lielp of ſuch previous arrange-
ments it was hoped; whilſt Great Britain was embarraſſed with the
complicated operations of fo extenſive a war, that Spain might with
caſe recover back ſome of the poſſeſſions that had been wrefted from
her in leſs auſpicious times; and Gibraltar in Europe, and the pro-
vince of Weſt Florida in North America, appear to have been
marked out as the firſt objects of attack,
General
AMERICAN WAR.
167
1779.
Gibraltar,
General Elliott, that brave and gallant veteran, commanded at CHAP.
Gibraltar ; and the garriſon had been largely reinforced. With
ſuch advantages, added to the natural ſtrength of the place, the re-
duction of it was thought impracticable, in any other way than by
blockade: It was therefore inveſted both by ſea and land; and the Blockade of
blockade was formally notified to all the maritime powers in amity
with Spain, that they might not attempt to furniſh it with ſupplies.
But in this reſpect the Britiſh miniſtry had anticipated the views of
Spain, and, under the apprehenſion of a rupture, had not only
largely reinforced Gibraltar with troops, but plentifully ſupplied it
with proviſions and ſtores; ſo that an attack upon a place of ſuch
ſtrength, ſo amply provided with every thing neceſſary to hold out
againſt a fiege, in which the enemy might unprofitably waſte their
blood and treaſure, was rather to be wiſhed than regretted.
It was far otherwiſe with Weſt Florida, a province of large ex-
tent, thinly ſettled, and defended by an inconſiderable force. Its
weſtern extremity, at a great diſtance from Penſacola, the ſeat of
the government, bordered on the Spaniſh province of Louiſiana,
from which it was ſeparated only by the river Miſſiſſippi. Weſt
Florida was therefore peculiarly expoſed to an attack, not only from
its weak ſtate of defence, but from its contiguity to the Spaniſh
territories. And Don Bernardo de Galves, the governor of Loui-
ſiana, having been previouſly inſtructed, had made all neceſſary pre-
parations, and was ready to paſs the boundary, as ſoon as he ſhould
receive information of the commencement of hoftilities, intelligence
of which, it appears, was communicated to him early in Auguſt,
and long before it reached the governor of Weſt Florida.
In the preceding year a predatory incurſion had been made into Incurſior of
this province by a captain Willing, an American partizan, who, cans into
from having been a ſettler upon the Miſſiſſippi, previous to the Weit Florida.
war, -was well acquainted with the countries bordering upon that
river.
the Ameri-
f
168
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
1779.
CHA P. river. He ſet out from Fort Pitt, and, deſcending by the courſes
of the Ohio and Miſſiſſippi, arrived at a Britiſh ſettlement in Weſt
Florida, called Manchac, at the confluence of the river Ibberville
with the Miſſiſſippi; and ſuch was the weakneſs of this frontier
ſettlement, that with twenty-five men only he entered it, took by
ſurpriſe a Britiſh merchant-fhip, mounting fixteen guns, that lay
there loading with tobacco and indigo, and made himſelf maſter not
only of that ſettlement, but of ſome others that adjoined it upon
the river Amit. Some of the principal inhabitants made their
eſcape, and flying to Penſacola, applied to the governor for afſift-
ance. At that time there were not more than five hundred regular
troops in the province, a number not more that ſufficient to garriſon
Penſacola, and the fort at Mobille; from which ſervices none of
them could be ſpared. But the ſuperintendant for Indian affairs,
having conſented to permit a few of the hunters, who were attached
to his department, to aſſiſt the inhabitants of Manchac in the reco-
very of their poſſeſſions; with this ſmall reinforcement they re-
turned, drove out the Americans, and re-poſſeſſed themſelves of
their former eſtates and habitations. This irruption of the Ame-
ricans, together with the apprehenſion of the hoſtile intentions of
Spain, was the cauſe of a reinforcement being ſent to Penſacola in
the beginning of the preſent year. It conſiſted of a regiment of
Germans, and the Maryland and Penſylvania regiments of pro-
vincials, under the command of brigadier-general John Campbell;
and the whole regular force of the province, after the junction of
this detachment, amounted to about one thouſand eight hundred
men.
Soon after the arrival of general Campbell, he detached lieutenant-
reduced by
the Spaniards. colonel Dickſon, with five hundred men, to build a fort near the
mouth of the Ibberville, for the defence of that part of the frontier.
But, from various unexpected obſtructions that occurred, the fort
Weſt Florida
was
$
AMERICAN WAR.
169
.
1779
was not pearly finiſhed when Don Bernardo de Galves, about the CHA P.
end of Auguſt, entered the province with two thouſand men, hav-
ing firſt intercepted ſeveral veſſels with ſupplies for the fort, and Augud
taken every practicable precaution for preventing intelligence of his
operations from being carried to general Campbell. On the twelfth
of September he approached Baton Rouge, where lieutenant-colonel
Dickſon had taken poſt with his detachment, and thrown up ſome
works that were yet unfiniſhed. The place was immediately in-
veſted, and approaches were made and continued until the twenty-
firſt of September, when a battery of heavy cannon was opened
upon the works. Theſe, after an inceſſant cannonade for threc
hours, were found to be untenable: A fag of truce was ſent out
with propoſals; and a capitulation was finally entered into for the
ſurrender of the poſt. Honorable terms were obtained not only
for the garriſon but the inhabitants of the neighbouring diſtricts;
and in this manner the Britiſh ſettlements upon the Miſſiſſippi, from
the Natches downward, were yielded to the crown of Spain. But
this loſs was ſoon afterwards in part compenſated by an acquiſition
made in a different quarter.
It ſeems evident that the ſame proviſionary orders for hoſtilities had The Spani-
been ſent to all the governors of the Spaniſh.provinces that bordered the Britiſh
Britiſh ſettlement; for nearly at the ſame time when Don logwood-
Bernardo de Galves entered the province of Weſt Florida, the Honduras.
Spaniſh governor of Honduras made an unexpected attack upon
the Britiſh logwood-cutters, took many of them priſoners, and ex-
pelled the reſt from their principal ſettlement at St. George's Key.
General Dalling, governor of Jamaica, who, in conſequence of the
rupture with Spain, was apprehenſive that ſuch an attack would be
made, had already diſpatched captain Dalrymple, with a ſmall de-
tachment of the Iriſh volunteers, to the Muſquito fhore, to collect a
force for the alliſtance of the logwood-cutters in the Bay of Hon-
VOL. II.
Z
duras,
on any
cutters in
}
170
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. duras. The tranſports which conveyed this detachment, carried
XXXII.
alſo a ſupply of arms, ammunition, and ſtores, and arrived at Black
1779:
River on the Muſquito ſhore on the twenty-ſeventh of Septembera
The ſame day on which they arrived, intelligence was received of
the attack made by the Spaniards on St. George's Key; and in con-
ſequence of this intelligence the fquadron again put to fea, as foon
as captain Dalrymple had enliſted ſome volunteers, and collected
about fixty Indians. In their paſſage to Honduras they fell in with
a ſquadron of ſhips of war under the command of commodore Lut-
trell, conſiſting of the Charon, and the Loweſtoff and and Pomona
frigates, that had been ſent by ſir Peter Parker, admiral on the Ja-
maica ſtation, to intercept fome Spaniſh regiſter-ſhips, of which he
had received intelligence.
From commodore Luttrell, information was received that the fet-
tlers at Honduras, with their ſlaves, had retired to Truxillo, and the
iſland of Rattan, on the Mufquito fhore; that the Spaniards had
been already diſpoſſeſſed of St. George's Key, by his majeſty's
armed ſchooner Racehorſe ; and that the regiſter-ſhips, which were
the object of commodore Luttrell's cruiſe, had taken ſhelter in the
harbour of Omoa, and were too ſtrongly protected by the fortifi-
eations on ihore to be attacked by ſea. Under ſuch circumſtances it
was agreed between the commodore and captain Dalrymple to unite
their force, proceed againſt Omoa, and attack it both by ſea and
land. The united ſquadron accordingly failed firſt for Truxillo;
where a number of bay-men and logwood-cutters were collected,
armed and embodied; and from thenee proceeded againſt Omoa.
Reduction of On the ſixteenth of October in the evening, the land-force, which;
the Spanish
even with the marines and-mufquetry-men of the ſhips, and the re-
fort Omoa,
the key of inforcement from Truxillo, did not much exceed five hundred inen,
the Bay of
was diſembarked at Porto Cavallo, a harbour which was ſuppoſed
to be not more than nine miles diſtant from Omoa. It had been in
tendedi
Honduras.
CAMERICAN WAR.
171
XXXII.
1779.
tended to march forward in the night, ſurpriſe the fort, and take it C HA, P.
by eſcalade, before the morning; but the country through which
the march was to be performed was difficult, being in ſome parts in-
terſected by lagoons and moraſſes, and in others by ſteep precipices,
rendered almoſt impaſſable by the late rains; and through this diffi-
cult country only a narrow path led to the fort, which, in the dark-
neſs of the night, they were obliged to explore with lighted ſplinters
of the cabbage-tree: The diſtance too was found to be greater
than had been repreſented. By theſe obſtructions the march was ſo
much retarded, that, when morning appeared, captain Dalrymple
found himſelf ſtill fix miles from the fort, and his men much fa-
tigued. He ſuffered them to refreſh themſelves for two hours, and
then continued his 'march, putting the Indians in front to ſcour the
woods. A body of the enemy was diſcovered lying in ambuſh,
about a mile from the fort, and quickly diſloged. The heights
round the town, and the fort, with the roads leading to them, were
ſecured: Poſts were eſtabliſhed ; and ſome of theſe being galled by
a ſcattering fire from the houſes in the town, captain Dalrymple
found it neceffary to burn it down. Whilſt the town was in flames,
commodore Luttrell's ſquadron entered the bay; and the fort was
now inveſted both by ſea and land. Some days were ſpent in land-
ing cannon, and erecting batteries; but, after they were opened, it
was quickly perceived, that, although they annoyed the garriſon ex-
ceedingly, they made no impreſſion upon the walls of the fort; and
that, in this mode, the fiege might be protracted to an indefinite
leugth. It was therefore determined to cut the matter ſhort by at-
tempting to take the fort by eſcalade, eſpecially as the ditch was ob-
ſerved to be dry. The attempt was to be made at four in the morn-
ing, by one hundred and fifty Europeans, conſiſting of ſeamen and
marines, with a few of the loyal Iriſh, under cover of a cannonade
ifrom the ſhips in the bay, and the batteries on the heights. At
threc
Z a
172
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
1779
C HA P. three the detachment allotted for this ſervice moved down from the
heights; and in the valley, being formed into four columns, waited
with impatience for the ſignal of attack. A little after four the
cannonade began, which fo engaged the attention of the enemy,
that the aſſailants, with their ſcaling-ladders, advanced, unper-
ceived, cloſe to the ramparts. As they were ready to enter
the ditch, they were diſcovered: The enemy's drums beat to arms,
and the alarm was given. The aſſailants, for a moment, ſhrunk
back, but, almoſt inſtantly recovering themſelves, ruſhed on into
the ditch. The ſcaling-ladders were applied; and the feamer
mounted the walls with alacrity. Two, who firſt reached the top :
of the ramparts, preſented their pieces ať a body of the enemy al-
ſembled to oppoſe them, but, according to their orders, referved
their fire until they were joined by more of their companions.
Theſe followed ſo cloſely, that the Spaniards were ſtruck with con-
fternation, and ſeemed to loſe the power of reſiſtance, notwithſtand-
ing the exertions of their officers to encourage them. About one
hundred eſcaped over the walls on the oppoſite ſide of the fort; the-
reſt fled to the caſements ; and the governor and principal officers,
now ſeeing their ſituation deſperate, came and ſurrendered their
fwords, with the keys of the fort, to captain Dalrymple. Such was
the humanity of the aſſailants, and ſuch the good order preſerved
in the affault, that only two Spaniards were wounded withi the bay-
onet, while in the act of reſiſtance, and not one was plundered.
An inſtance of heroiſm in a ſeaman is mentioned, to which hiſtory
affords nothing in its kind ſuperior. He had ſcrambled
He had ſcrambled up the walls
with a cutlaſs in each hand, and meeting with an unarmed' Spaniſh
officer, the generous tar diſdained to take advantage of his helpleſs
ſituation ; but, preſenting him with one of his cutlaffes, added
« Now you will be on a footing with me. " The Spaniſh gentlemán.
was too much affected with the fingular generoſity of the action to:
accept
1
2
:
AMERICAN WAR,
173
XXXII.
1779
accept of the offer, and quietly ſurrendered. Unfortunately the CHAP.
name of this brave ſeaman has not been preſerved. The Spaniards,
during the fiege, loſt, in killed and wounded, about thirty men;
and thiree hundred and fixty-five, with a conſiderable number of
officers, were made priſoners. The whole loſs of the beſiegers, in
killed and wounded, did not exceed twenty.
Thus eaſily was acquired the important fortreſs of Omoa, the
key of the Bay of Honduras, and, in time of war, the receptacle
of the treaſure fent from Guatimala. The fort was built of ſtones
raiſed out of the fea, and brought from the diſtance of twenty
leagues. Its walls were eighteen feet thick; and, although it had
coſt the Spaniards twenty years labour, the out-works were not then
finiſhed. But, to the captors, the moſt important part of the ac-
quiſition was the two regiſter-ſhips, the value of which, with that
of ſome other prizes of leſs note taken in the harbour, was eſti-
mated at three millions of dollars. A convention was made for an
exchange of priſoners; and it was agreed, that thoſe who were:
taken in Fort Omoa ſhould be exchanged for an equal number of Bri-
tiſh ſubjects taken in the Bay of Honduras. The Spaniſh governor
offered to ranſom the fort at the expence of three hundred thouſand
dollars. But as Omoa was thought to be a poſt of great confe-
quence during a war with Spain, the offer, although an advan:
tageous one to the captors, was immediately rejected; as was a ſimi-
lar one for two hundred and fifty quintals of quickſilver, an article
neceffary for working the Spaniſh mines, and for which a ſum of
money would have been given more than double its value.
When the Britiſh ſquadron quitted Onioa, a garriſon was aſſigned
to it, ſuch as could be ſpared, and a floop of war left in the har-
bour for its further protection: But it did not long remain in the
poffefſion of Great Britain. The weakneſs of the garriſon tempted
the
174
HISTORY OF THE
XXXII.
1779
CHA P. the Spaniards in the neighbourhood to collect a force and inveſt the
fort. For a conſiderable time it was defended with great bravery:
But, at laſt, both the officers and men, amongſt whom an epidemi-
cal fever began to rage, and who, in the whole, amounted only
to eighty-five, were ſo weakened and overcome with the fatigue of
conſtant duty, one centinel being obliged, by ſhifting his place, to
ferve for five, that they ſaw it would be impoſſible to withſtand an
affault, which the enemy were preparing to make. They therefore
determined to evacuate the fort; but to leave it as unſerviceable as
in their circumſtances they could poſſibly make it. After the guns
had been ſpiked, and the ammunition and military ſtores deſtroyed,
the garriſon, without loſing a ſingle man in the evacuation, em-
barked on board the veſſels in the harbour, and took a final leave of
Omoa.
It has already been obſerved, that had the Britiſh fleet under ad-
miral Byron followed that of France under the count 'd'Eſtaing,
when he made an unſucceſsful atack upon Savannah, it is more
than probable, that, to the diſgrace of a repulſe from that town,
would have been added the loſs of a great part of his fleet. But
the Britiſh fleet, in the ſtation on which it did remain, performed
very eminent ſervices to the ſtate under the command of rear-ad-
miral Hyde Parker, who ſucceeded admiral Byron in the fall of
the preſent year. The Britiſh commerce in the Weſt Indies was pro-
tected, whilſt that of the enemy was almoſt ruined by the capture
of their merchantmen. Great part of a convoy bound to Marti-
nique was either taken or deſtroyed, in ſight of the iſland, and of
the French ſquadron at Fort Royal, under Monſieur de la Motte
Piquet, who, in failing out of the harbour to the relief of one of
his frigates, was in imminent danger of having his retreat cut off
by part of the Britiſh fleet, then cruiſing off the mouth of the
bay,
Protection
afforded to
the Britiſh
commerce.
4
AMERICAN WAR.
173
XXXII.
1779
bay. And to the captures of their inerchantmen are to be added C H A P-
four of the count d'Eſtaing's frigates, on their return to the Weſt
Indies from the coaſt of America *
Thus Great Britain continued to make a noble ſtand againſt the
machinations of her foes. And, although the year 1779 inuſt be
conſidered as unfortunate, in which ſhe loſt two valuable iſlands,
without gaining from her enemies a territorial equivalent; it may,
nevertheleſs, be doubted whether the loſs of theſe iſlands was not
overbalanced by the damage done to the French and Spaniſh com-
merce, not only in Europe and the Weſt Indies, but in every quar-
ter of the globe.
* The firſt of theſe frigates was taken on the 24th of O&tober; and from lier admiral
Parker firſt learnt with certainty, that count d'Eſtaing had gone, with all his fleet, to North
America
176
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXXIII.
Expedition under Sir Henry Clinton to South Carolina--Fortifications
of Charleſtown deſcribed-Garriſon of Charleſtown—Siege and Re-
duction of CharleſtownIncurſion of the Spaniards into Weſt Flo-
rida-Conſequences of the Fall of Charleſtown—Three new Ex-
peditions ſet on foot by the Britiſh Commander-His Addreſs to the
Inhabitants of South Carolina—Its Effect-Defeat of the American
Colonel Burford-Diſpoſition of the Britiſh Troops in South Carolina
-Adminiſtration of Earl Cornwallis there~Counter-revolution
among thoſe who had
ſubmitted to the Power of Britain on the Fall
of Charleſtown—Detachment from Waſhington's Army ſent into
North Carolina-Movements of the American Colonel Sumpter-
His Attempt on the Britiſh Poft on Rocky Point.
under fir
Henry Clin-
Carolina.
CHALL. SIR Henry Clinton having been cramped in his operations
by the proceedings of the French fleet under the count
Expedition d'Eſtaing, whoſe unſucceſsful attack upon Savannah, together
with his final departure from the American coaſt, has already
ton to South been related; no ſooner received certain information of the de-
parture of d'Eſtaing than he ſet on foot an expedition, the object
of which was the taking of Charleſtown, and the reduction of the
province of South Carolina. The troops deſigned for this expedi-
tion were immediately embarked on board the tranſports; and theſe,
eſcorted by admiral Arbuthnot with an adequate naval force, failed
from Sandy Hook on the twenty-ſixth of December 1779. Sir
Henry Clinton accompanied the expedition, leaving the garriſon at
New
Decenber.
AMERICAN WAR.
177
CILA P.
New York under the command of lieutenant-general Knyphauſen. °XXXIII.
The paſſage inight have been expected to be performed in ten days;
1780.
but ſuch was the uncommon ſeverity of the ſeaſon, that the fleet
was very ſoon ſeparated, and driven out of its courſe by tempeſtuous
weather; and ſcarcely any of the ſhips arrived at Tybee, the ap-
pointed place of rendezvous, before the end of January. Some few
ſtraggling veſſels were taken; ſome others were loſt; and all received
more or leſs damage. Almoſt all the horſes belonging to the artil-
lery or cavalry periſhed during the paſſage ; and amongſt the ſhips
that were loſt was one which contained the heavy ordnance. For-
tunately, however, the crews were all ſaved.
Thoſe ſhips being refitted that ſtood in need of immediate re-
pair, the fleet failed from Tybee to North Ediſto Sound, in the
province of South Carolina; and on the eleventh of February the
troops were diſembarked on John's Iſland, about thirty miles from
Charleſtown. Part of the fleet was immediately ſent round to
block up the harbour of Charleſtown by ſea; whilſt the troops,
flowly advancing through the country, paſſed from John's to
James Illand; and from thence, over Wappoo Cut, to the main
land, until they at length reached the banks of Aſhley River, op-
poſite to Charleſtown. So great were the impediments that they
met with in their progreſs, or ſuch the extreme caution of the com-
mander in chief, in eſtabliſhing and fortifying poſts to preſerve his
communication with the ſea, that it was not until the twenty-ninth
of March that the advance of the army croſſed Aſhley River at the
ferry, and landed on Charleſtown Neck, fome miles above the town.
The flat-bottomed boats had been brought from North Ediſto Sound,
through the inlets by which the coaſt is interſected, until they en-
tered Aſhley River, by Wappoo Cut; and the paſſing over of the
troops was conducted with much addreſs by captain Elphinſtone of
VOL. II.
the
1
4
Aa
178
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
Fortifica-
tions of
deſcribed.
mortars.
CHAP. the navy. On the following day the troops encamped in front of
the American lines; and on the firſt of April began to break
1780.
ground before Charleſtown, at the diſtance of eight hundred yards
from the provincial works.
The flow advance of the Britiſh army had given time to the pro-
Charleſtown vincials not only to ſtrengthen, but greatly to enlarge, the defences
of Charleſtown. Theſe now conſiſted of a chain of redoubts, lines
and batteries, extending from Aſhley to Cooper River, upon
which were mounted upwards of eighty pieces of cannon and
In front of the lines a canal had been dug, which was
filled with water; and from the dam at either end a ſwamp
oozed to each river, forming natural impediments where the
artificial terminated. Behind theſe were two rows of abbatis, ſome
other obſtructions, and, immediately in front of the works, a double-
picketted ditch.
The works on the right and left were not only of
great ſtrength, but advanced ſo far beyond the range of the inter-
mediate lines as to enfilade the canal almoſt from one end to the
other: And in the centre was a horn-work of maſonry, which,
being cloſed during the ſiege, became a kind of citadel.
Such were the defences of Charleſtown on the only ſide on which
it could be approached by land; and, towards the water, numerous
batteries covered with artillery forbad the approach of ſhips.
But,
beſides the ſecurity which Charleſtown derived from its numerous
batteries, it was ſtill more effectually protected by the bar, or fand-
bank, at the mouth of the inlet that led from the ſea. This bar
was impaflable by the larger ſhips of war, and rendered the entry of
others difficult and dangerous ; and, juſt within it, Five Fathom
Hole, of a ſufficient depth of water, furniſhed a convenient ſtation
for a ſquadron to command the bar, and render the paſſage of it
ſtill more difficult and dangerous. This ſtation was occupied by the
American
AMERICAN WAR.
179
XXXIII.
1780.
1
American commodore Whipple, with a ſquadron of nine fail under C HAP.
his command, the largeſt carrying forty-four, and the ſmalleſt fix-
teen, guns. After the perils and difficulties of the bar were ſur-
mounted, before a fleet could reach Charleſtown, Fort Moultrie,
upon Sullivan's Iſland, was to be paſſed, the fire from which had, on
a former occaſion, proved ſo deſtructive to a Britiſh ſquadron under
fir Peter Parker; and, ſince that period, the works on Sullivan's
Iland had been conſiderably ſtrengthened and enlarged.
General Lincoln, truſting to thoſe defences, and at the ſame time Garriſon of
Charlettown.
expecting large reinforcements from the other colonies, inſtead of re-
maining with his army in the open country, ſhut himſelf up
in
Charleſtown, at the earneſt requeſt of the inhabitants, and with the
force under his command, amounting to ſeven thouſand men of all
denominations under arms, reſolved to defend it to the laſt extre-
mity. Great expectations were, undoubtedly, at one time, enter-
tained of the ſucceſsful defence of the bar, from the advantageous
poſition of the American ſquadron; but it ſoon appeared that theſe
were illuſory: For no ſooner did the Britiſh fleet, on the twentieth
of March, approach the bar, with an intention to paſs it, than com-
modore Whipple quitted his ſtation and retired to Fort Moultrie,
leaving admiral Arbuthnot to enter at his leiſure, and occupy the
ſtation which the American fquadron had juſt before quitted. Before
the Renown, Roebuck, and Romulus could paſs the bar, it was ne-
ceſſary to lighten them, by taking out their guns, proviſion, and
water; and in that deſtitute ſituation they lay for ſixteen days, be-
fore a favourable opportunity offered for making the attempt. But,
when the attempt was made, they effected their paffage without any
oppoſition, except from ſome gallies left by commodore Whipple,
which fired upon the boats of the fleet, and endeavoured to prevent
them from ſounding the channel. Not long afterwards, commodore
Whipple
A a 2
180
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
CHAP. Whipple retired to Charleſtown with his ſhips, part of which he
ſtationed in Cooper River; and the reſt, with ſome other veſſels,
1780.
were ſunk acroſs the mouth of it, to prevent the Britiſh fleet from
entering. This was a moſt important precaution ; for had the Bri-
tiſh fleet been permitted to gain the poſſeſſion of Cooper River, the
larger ſhips might have been ſo ſtationed as to rake the American
lines; the only communication that remained between the town and
the country would have been interrupted; all hopes of obtaining
ſupplies and reinforcements cut off, and the duration of the fiege,
in all probability, greatly ſhortened.
As ſoon as the Britiſh began to erect batteries againſt the town,
admiral Arbuthnot embraced the firſt favourable opportunity that
offered for paſſing Fort Moultrie; and on the ninth of April,
with a ſtrong ſoutherly wind and flowing tide, he weighed
anchor, and effected his purpoſe with very little loſs. His
ſquadron conſiſted of the Renown of fifty, the Romulus and Roe-
buck, each of forty-four guns; the Richmond, Blonde, Raleigh,
and Virginia, frigates, and the Sandwich armed ſhip; and although,
in paſſing, the ſhips were expoſed to a heavy cannonade from Fort
Moultrie, their whole loſs of men, in killed and wounded, amounted
only to twenty-ſeven; and the damage done to them in other re-
fpects was equally inconſiderable. As their entry into Cooper River
was precluded, they anchored near Fort Johnſton, juſt without the
range
of ſhot from the batteries of the town.
The ſame day on which the fleet paſſed Fort Moultrie, the firſt
parallel of the beſiegers was finiſhed ; and the town being now al-
moſt completely inveſted, both by ſea and land, the Britiſh com-
manders ſummoned general Lincoln to ſurrender. His anſwer was
Thort, but firm, and conveyed an implied reflection againſt the Bri-
tiſh commanders for their ſuppoſed tardineſs in making their ap-
3
proaches :
AMERICAN WAR.
181
XXXIII.
1780.
Charleroivo.
proaches :-“ Sixty days,” ſaid he, “ have paſſed ſince it fias been CH A P.
“ known that your intentions againſt this town were hoſtile, in which
" time has been afforded to abandon it; but duty and inclination
point to the propriety of ſupporting it to the laſt extremity.”
The ſummons being ineffectual, the batteries of the firſt parallel Siege of
were opened upon the town, and ſoon made a viſible impreſſion.
But ſtill the communication between the country and the garriſon
was kept open acroſs Cooper River; and on the very day on which
the ſummons was ſent to general Lincoln, the American general
Woodford paſſed Cooper River with ſeven hundred continental
troops, and entered the town. To aſſiſt in preſerving this commu-
nication, general Lincoln had left his cavalry without the lines,
with orders to traverſe and keep open the country to the eaſtward
of Cooper River, as being that through which he expected to re-
ceive his reinforcements; and by the ſame route he hoped to be
able to make good his retreat with the garriſon, if at laſt he ſhould
find the town no longer tenable *
Το
* The underwritten Letter was intercepted and publiſhed by Sir Henry Clinton's orders
during the fiege of Charleſtown.
South Carolina, May 11, 1780.
From B. Smith to Mrs. Benjamin Smith, dated Charleſtown, April 30, 1780.
HAVING never had an opportunity of writing to her ſince the enemy began to act with
vigour, and knowing that a thouſand evil reports will prevail to increaſe her uneaſineſs—minc
I have ſupported pretty well until laſt night, when I really almoſt funk under the load :-
Nothing remains around to comfort me but a probability of ſaving my life,
After going through many difficulties, our affairs are daily declining, and not a ray of hope
remains to aſſure us of ſucceſs.
The enemy have turned the fiege into a blockade,
which, in a ſhort time, muſt have the defired effect; and the moſt fanguine do not now enter-
tain the ſmalleſt hope of the town being ſaved. The enemy have continued their approaches
with vigour continually, ſince I wrote the incloſed, and are now completing batteries about
two hundred yards diſtance from our lines; they fire but ſeldom from their cannon, but their.
popping off rifles and ſmall-arms do frequent miſchief, and every nigiit throw out an amazing
number of ſhells amongſt our people at the lines, which, though not attended with the
damage that might reaſonably be expected, do ſome miſchief. Our communication is en-
tirely
182
HISTORY OF THE
CHIP'.
XXXIII,
1780,
To cut off the retreat of the garriſon, and to prevent it from re-
ceiving reinforcements, were objects of ſuch importance that they
liad not eſcaped the attention of the Britiſh general. But the main-
taining his own communications with the ſea had required all the
troops he could ſpare from the immediate operations of the ſiege,
until the Britiſh fleet paſſed Fort Moultrie, and gained the com-
mand of the water between it and Charleſtown. From this time
ſir Henry Clinton felt no farther apprehenſion about his own com-
war.
tirely cut off from the country (excepting by a ſmall boat at great riſque) by lord Corn-
wallis, who occupies every landing-place from Haddrill's Point, a confiderable way up the river,
with two thouſand five hundred men. When I wrote laſt, it was the general opinion that we
could evacuate the town at pleaſure ; but a conſiderable reinforcement having arrived to the
enemy, has enabled them to ſtrengthen their poſts ſo effectually as to prevent that meaſure.
The ſame cauſe prevents our receiving further ſupplies of proviſions or reinforcements, and a
ſhort time will plant the Britiſh ſtandard on our ramparts. You will ſee by the incloſed ſum-
mons that the perſons and properties of the inhabitants will be ſaved ; and conſequently I ex-
pect to have the liberty of foon returning to you; but the army muſt be made priſoners of
This will give a rude ſhock to the independence of America ; and a Lincolnade will
become as common a term as Burgoynade: But I hope we ſhall in time recover this ſevere
blow. However, before this happens, I hope I Mall be permitted to return home, where I
muſt ſtay, as my ſituation will not permit me to take any further an active part ; and therefore
my abandoning my property will ſubject me to many inconveniencies and loſſes, without being
any way ſerviceablc to the country.
This letter will run great riſque, as it will be
ſurrounded on all fides; but as I know the perſon to whoſe care it is committed, and feel for
your uneaſy ſituation, I could not but truſt it. Afſure yourſelf that I ſhall ſhortly ſee you, as
nothing prevents Lincoln's ſurrender but a point of honour in holding out to the laſt extre-
mity. This is nearly at hand, as our proviſions will ſoon fail; and my plan is to walk off as
ſoon as I can obtain permiſſion.
Should your father be at home, make him ac-
quainted with the purport of this letter, and remember me to him; alſo to your mother, but
do not let the intelligence go out of the houſe,
but a mortifying ſcene muſt
firſt be encountered: The thirteen ſtripes will be levelled in the duſt, and I owe my
life to thic
clemency of a conqueror.
Your ever affectionate huſband,
(Signed)
B. SMITH
Note. Thoſe parts filled up with hyphens contain expreſſions of tenderneſs to his wife, no
way intereſting to the public; for which reaſon we have omitted to publiſh them.
munications,
AMERICAN WAR.
183
. .
1780.
munications, and was enabled to detach lieutenant-colonel Webſter, C HA, P.
with one thouſand four hundred men, to cut off thoſe of the enemy.
By the advanced guard of this detachment, compoſed of Tarleton's
legion and Ferguſon's corps, the American cavalry, with the militia
attached to them, were ſurpriſed in the night of the fourteenth of
April, at Biggin's Bridge, near Monk's Corner, thirty-two miles
from Charleſtown, and completely routed and diſperſed, with the
loſs of all his ſtores, camp equipage, and baggage *
* Forty-two large waggons, one hundred and two waggon-horfes, eighty-two dragoon-
horfes, and ſeveral officers horſes; a quantity of ammunition, flour, butter, clothing, camp
and horſe cquipage; harneſs for all the waggons; all the officers clothing and baggage; toge-
ther with five puncheons of rum, fix hogſheads of muſcovado fugar, four barrels of indigo, a
quantity of tea, coffee, ſpices, nails in caſks, ſome French cloth, three barrels of gunpowder,
light-dragoon ſwords, &c. &c. found in a ſtore, which was ſet on fire, and blown up by the
careleſſneſs of the centinel, who, in going to draw ſome rum, ſet it on fire, and in a ſhort time
the flore was blown up. The loſs of the Americans, in men, was major Birnie of Pulaſki's
legion of dragoons, three captains, one licutenant, and ten privates, killed ; fifteen privates,
one captain, and two lieutenants, wounded ; fifty-eight privates, two captains, and three licu-
tenants, taken priſoners, including the wounded. Major Birnie was mangled in the moſt
ſhocking manner; he had ſeveral wounds, a ſevere one behind his ear. This unfortunate
officer lived feveral hours, reprobating the Americans for their conduct on this occafion, and
even in his laſt moments curſing the Britiſh for their barbarity, in having refuſed quarter after
he had ſurrendered. The writer of this, who was ordered on this expedition, afforded every
aſſiſtance in his power; and had the major put upon a table, in a public-houſe in the village,
and a blanket thrown over him. The major, in his laſt moments, was frequently inſulted by
the privates of the legion: Some dragoons of the Britiſh legion attempted to raviſh ſeveral
ladies at the houſe of fir John Collington, in the neighbourhood of Monk's Corner. Mrs.
the wife of Doctor of Charleſtown, was moft barbarouſly treated; ſhe was
a moſt delicate and beautiful woman. Lady
received one or two wounds with a
ſword. Mifs , ſiſter to major
was alſo ill treated. The ladies made their
eſcape, and came to Monk's Corner, where they were protected ; a carriage being provided,
they were cſcorted to the houſe of Mr.
The dragoons were apprehended and
brought to Monk's Corner, where, by this time, colonel Webſter had arrived and taken the
command. The late colonel Patrick Ferguſon (of whom we ſhall have occaſion to ſpeak
hereafter) was for putting the dragoons to inſtant death. But colonel Webſter did not con-
ceive that his powers extended to that of holding a general court-martial. The priſoners were
however ſent to head-quarters, and, I believe, were afterwards tried and whipped.
By
1
HISTORY OF THE
1814
1
(IL AP.
XXXIII.
1780.
By this deſcat a paſſage was opened acroſs the head branches
of Cooper River for the remainder of the detachment to move forward
and occupy the country to the eaſtward of it. Some days afterwards,
by the arrival of a reinforcement from New York, the commander
in chief was enabled to ſend another detachment acroſs Cooper
River ; and the command of the whole was given to earl Corn-
wallis.
The force detached to the eaſtward of Cooper River was now ſo
confiderable as to cut off from the garriſon all reaſonable hopes
of effecting a retreat. A council of war was called ; and by their
advice, an offer was made for ſurrendering the town on certain con-
ditions: But the conditions propoſed were of ſuch a nature as
could not be acceded to by the Britiſh commanders, and were of
courſe inſtantly rejected. In the inean time the beſiegers were daily
advancing their works: The ſecond parallel was completed on the
twentieth of April, and the third on the ſixth of May. The laſt of
theſe had been puſhed ſo near to the provincial works as to be cloſe
to the canal ; and the canal, for a conſiderable part of its extent, was
quickly drained of its water by a ſap carried to the dam.
The misfortunes of the beſieged now crowded faſt upon them.
On the ſame day on which the third parallel was completed, the
garriſon of Fort Moultrie ſurrendered to captain Hudſon of the
navy,
who had been landed on Sullivan's Iſland, with two hundred
ſeamen and marines, to attack the fort by land, whilſt the ſhips
prepared to batter it from the water; and, on the ſame day alſo,
the broken remains of the American cavalry, which had been col-
lected with great care by a colonel White, were again defeated by
colonel Tarleton on the banks of the Santee. Whilſt the Americans
lay under the preſſure of theſe accumulated misfortunes, the Britiſh
commanders, with a view of ſaving the effuſion of blood, thought pro-
per once more to open a correſpondence with general Lincoln for the
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AMERICAN WAR.
185
XXXIII.
furrender of the town: But the garriſon or the inhabitants were not C HA P.
yet ſufficiently humbled to accept of the terms that were offered ;
1780.
and hoſtilities were recommenced. The batteries of the third parallel
opened upon the town, and did great execution ; and at this thort
diſtance the Heſſian yagers, poſted advantageouſly, fired their rifles
with ſuch effect, that numbers of the beſieged were killed at their
guns, and ſcarcely any eſcaped who ventured to fhew themſelves
over the lines. During this fire, which continued for two days
without intermiſſion, the beſiegers gained the counterſcarp of the
outwork that flanked the canal ; the canal itſelf was paſſed ; and the
works were advanced almoſt to the verge of the ditch. The hopes
of the inhabitants now forfook them : All the horrors of an aflault
preſented themſelves to their affrighted imaginations; and they
joined in a petition to general Lincoln, praying him to accept the
terms which had been offered. A flag of truce was accordingly
ſent out with a propoſition to that effect. And, whatever ſevere
juſtice might have dictated, the Britiſh commanders, unwilling to
preſs to unconditional ſubmiſſion a reduced enemy, whom clemency
might yet reconcile, accepted the propoſition, and agreed to grant
the ſame terms which had been before rejected. The capitulation Reduction of
was ſigned on the twelfth of May; and on the ſame day the gar-
riſon laid down their arms, and major-general Leſlie took poſſeſſion
of the town.
By the articles of capitulation the garriſon were allowed fome of
the honours of war: They were to march out and depoſit their
arms between the canal and the works of the place; but the drums
were not to beat a Britiſh march, nor the colours to be uncaſed :
The continental troops and ſeamen, keeping their baggage, were to
remain priſoners of war until exchanged: The militia were to be
permitted to return to their reſpective homes as priſoners on parole;
Vol. II.
Bb
and,
Charleſtown.
186
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
CHAP. and, while they kept their parole, were not to be moleſted in their
property by the Britiſh troops: The citizens of all deſcriptions were
178o.
to be conſidered as priſoners on parole, and to hold their property
in the town on the ſame terms as the militia: The officers of the
army and navy were to retain their ſervants, ſwords, piſtols, and
baggage, unſearched; they were permitted to ſell their horſes, but
not to remove them out of the town: And a flag of truce was to
be furniſhed to carry general Lincoln's diſpatches to Philadelphia
unopened.
The loſs of the Britiſh troops, during the ſiege, amounted to
ſeventy-ſix killed, and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded;
that of the garriſon was not, in the whole, quite ſo much: But in
the number of the flain was greater. The priſoners taken in Charleſ-
town, including the deputy governor, and the council of the pro-
vince, ſeven general officers, a commodore, ten continental' regi-
ments, but much reduced; three battalions of artillery, with town
and country militia, amounted to more than five thouſand men; to
whom muſt be added about one thouſand American and French ſea-
men; and near four hundred pieces of ordnance, with a conſider-
able quantity of ſtores*..
A Return of the Ships and Veſſels taken or deſtroyed at the Surrender of Charleſtown. -
The Bricole, pierced for 60, mounting 44 guns, twenty-four and cighteen pounders, ſunk';
her captain, officers, and company priſoners. The Truite, 26 twelve pounders, funk; her
captain, &c. priſoners. Queen of France, 28 nine pounders,, funk;, her captain, &c. priſoners,
General Moultrie, 20 fix pounders, funk; ditto. Notre Dame (brig), 16 ditto, funk; ditto.
Providence, 32 eighteen and twelve ponnders, taken ; captain and company priſoners. Boſton,
of the ſame force, taken; ditto. Ranger, 20 ſix pounders, taken; ditto.
French Ships. L'Avanturc, 26 nine and fix pounders, commanded by the Sieur de Bru-
lot, Lieutenant de Vaiſſeaux, taken and company. Polacre, 16 fix pounders, taken.
Some empty brigs, lying at the wharfs, with other ſmall veſſels, were alſo taken, and four
armed gallcys
The
AMERICAN WAR.
187
XXXIII,
The commander in chief, in his public orders iſſued after the ſur- C H A P.
render of the town, and in his diſpatches to the ſecretary of ſtate,
1780.
was laviſh in encomiums upon the officers who ſerved under him,
and the troops he commanded. The aſſiſtance he received during
the fiege from his general officers, earl Cornwallis, major-generals
Leſlie, Huyne, and Kofpotch, and brigadier-general Patterſon, is not
only honourably remembered but thankfully acknowledged. The
merits of captain Elphinſton of the navy, who conducted all the
naval operations relating to the army in its progreſs from North
Ediſto to Charleſtown, and in the paſſage of Aſhley River, and
alſo of all the other officers and ſeamen ſerving on ſhore during the
ſiege, are warmly recommended to the notice of the king, together
with the ſervices of the officers and ſoldiers of the royal artillery,
the corps of engineers,
engineers, and in ſhort of every other corps, whether
Britiſh or Heſſian, but more particularly of the yager detachment.
The names of lieutenant-colonels Webſter and Tarleton, but above
all of the chief engineer major Moncrieff, fill up the liſt of brave
and meritorious officers that are particularly mentioned. The ſer-
vices of the two firſt of theſe have been already noticed in the pro-
greſs of the ſiege: By the bravery of the one, and the good con-
duct of the other, the country to the eaſtward of Cooper River was
opened to the Britiſh troops, the American cavalry routed and dif-
perſed, and the communication between the town and the country
cut off: And with reſpect to the laſt of theſe officers, no language
can expreſs more forcibly than that of the commander in chief, the
fenſe which he entertained of his very extraordinary merit. . Theſe
are his words: “ But to major Moncrieff, the commanding engi-
neer, who planned, and, with the affiſtance of ſuch capable offi-
under him, conducted the fiege with ſo much judgment,
“ intrepidity, and laborious attention, I wiſh to render a tribute of
Bb 2
cers
" the
1
i
188
HISTORY OF THE
wa
XXXIII.
Incurfion of
into West
Florida.
CH A P. « the very higheſt applauſe and moſt permanent gratitude; per-
,“ ſuaded that far more flattering commendations than I can beſtow:
1780.
" will not fail to crown ſuch rare merit.”
Of this officer it may be remarked, that he was not more happy
in the poſſeſſion of ſuperior talents than fortunate in occaſions to
diſplay them. The ſucceſſive ſieges of Savannah and Charleſtown
furniſhed him with opportunities of exemplifying his ſkill in the two
principal branches of his profeſſion, the art of defence, and that of
attack: In both, his maſterly deſigns were crowned with ſucceſs; nor
is it eaſy to determine in which of them his great attainments in his
profeſſion ſhone with brighteſt luſtre.
Whilſt the Britiſh arins were thus employed in South Carolina,
the Spaniards
the Spaniards made a freſh. incurſion into Weſt Florida, and
fucceeded in reducing the town and fort of Mobille, with the ad-
joining country. In the month of January Don Bernardo de Galves.
failed from New Orleans, with a fleet conſiſting of ſixteen armed.
veſſels, and a number of tranſports, having on board one thouſand
five hundred regular troops, and five hundred people of colour. On:
his paſſage he was overtaken by a ſtorm, in which ſeveral of his
veſſels were loſt, with a number of his troops, and great part of his,
proviſions, artillery, and ammunition:
artillery, and ammunition. Witli the reſt he arrived off
the entrance into Mobille Bay, and landed upon the point of land
forming the eaſtern extremity of that inlet, where he remained.
until he obtained a reinforcement of men, and a freſh ſupply of pro-
viſions, artillery, and ammunition. When theſe arrived, Don Ber-
nardo de Galves again embarked his troops, and, failing up the Bay,
landed at Dog River, about four miles from Mobille, on the twenty-
fifth of February. From thence he advanced againſt the fort, and
proceeded to make regular approaches, a waſte of labour and time-
that ſeemed unneceſſary againſt a place ſo totally unprovided for de-
fences
1
AMERICAN WAR.
189
-
XXXIII.
a:
fence. The fort had been originally built only as a protection C HA P.
againſt the Indians; and, after it came into the poſſeſſion of Greats
1780.
Britain, had been ſuffered to go to decay, until the beginning of the
preſent year, when captain Durnford, the chief engineer at Penſa-
cola, was ſent to put it in a ſtate of defence. But this, it ſeems,
was impoſſible, without an immenſe expence of money, and a
greater length of time than intervened between his taking the com-
mand, and the arrival of the Spaniards. It was garriſoned by a
company of the ſixtieth regiment, amounting to eighty-two men,
including officers ;, and to theſe were added, upon the approach of
the Spaniards, thirty-fix ſailors, forty-five militia, and fixty people
of colour. On the fourteenth of March the Spaniards opened a
batterý upon the fort, of eleven pieces of heavy cannon, which, in
twelve hours, damaged its defences ſo entirely, and rendered it ſo
unténable, that the commanding officer thought fit to capitulate.
Honourable terms were obtained;. and, although it was ſcarcely
poſſible for the garriſon to hold out longer, their ſurrender at this
critical moment was, afterwards, a cauſe of regret, when they were
informed that general Campbell, with ſeven hundred men, was then
on his march from Penſacola to their relief, and at no great diſtance
when the capitulation was ſigned.
By the fall of Charleſtown, the capture of the deputy governor, Conſequences
and the greateſt part of the council, and the defeat and diſperſion of Charleſtown.
the only regular force which general Lincoln had left without the
Tines, the war in South Carolina ſeemed entirely ſubdued: And Three new
three expeditions, ſet on foot by the commander in chief, imme- fet on foot by
diately after theſe events, appeared well calculated to deepen the im- commander.
preſſion that had been made; and to extinguiſh every idea of further
reſiſtance amongſt the people of the interior country, if any
ſuch
idea could át that time be ſuppoſed to exiſt. The firſt of theſe ex-
peditions
the Britiſh
190
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
CH A P. peditions, under lord Cornwallis, was intended to overpower, or
drive out of the province, a body of continental troops under a co-
1780.
lonel Burford, who, arriving too late in the fiege to be able to
throw ſuccours into Charleſtown, had taken poſt on the northern
banks of the Santee; and, being joined by thoſe of the American
cavalry who had ſurvived their laſt defeat by Tarleton, made a ſhew
of oppoſition to the Britiſh intereſt, and endeavoured to keep alive
the expiring hopes of the Americans. The ſecond of theſe expedi-
tions was to proceed up the ſouth-weſt ſide of the Santee to the diſ-
trict of Ninety-ſix, in order to confirm and encourage the loyal, and
reduce the diſaffected: And the third, with a ſimilar intention, to
move up the banks of Savannah to Auguſta.
In the mean time the commander in chief, who had received in-
formation that a French armament, with tranſports and troops, might
be expected on the coaſt of America, to co-operate with general
Waſhington, was buſily employed in preparing for his return to
New York, and in eſtabliſhing ſuch regulations for furthering and
ſecuring the Britiſh intereſt in South Carolina, as were neceſſary,
His addreſsto previous to his departure. A hand-bill was publiſhed and circulated
ants of South ainongſt the inhabitants, by which they were reminded, that as
Carolina. the commander in chief, upon his firſt arrival in the province, had
taken no ſtep whatſoever to excite the loyal inhabitants to riſe in
favour of government, whilſt the king's troops employed in the
ſiege of Charleſtown might be unable to aſſiſt them in their efforts,
nor wiſhed to draw the king's friends into danger whilſt any doubt
could remain of their ſucceſs; ſo now, that ſucceſs was certain, he
truſted that one and all would heartily join, and by a general con-
currence give effect to ſuch neceſſary meaſures as might from time
to time be pointed out. The helping hand of every man, it was
ſaid, was wanted to re-eſtabliſh peace and good government. Thoſe
who
AMERICAN WAR.
19'r
CH A P.
XXXIII.
1780.
who had families might form a militia to remain at home and pre-
ferve peace and good order in their own diſtricts; whilſt thoſe who
were young, and had no families, it was expected would be ready
to aſſiſt the king's troops in driving their oppreſſors, and all perſons
whatſoever acting under the authority of congreſs, far from the
province; and, for this purpoſe, that they ſhould prepare themſelves
to ſerve with the king's troops for any fix out of the next twelve
months, under officers of their own choice, and with this expreſs
ftipulation, that they ſhould be allowed, when on ſervice, the
fame pay, ammunition, and proviſions, as the king's troops, and
ſhould not be obliged to march beyond North Carolina on the one
fide, or Georgia on the other. Having ſerved for that period, it
was ſaid, that they would have paid their debt to their country,
would be freed from all further claim of military ſervice, except the
uſual' miilitia duty at home, and would be entitled to enjoy undif
turbed' that peace, liberty, and ſecurity of property, which they had
contributed to eſtabliſh. A proclamation was alſo iſſued by the
commander in chief, on the twenty-ſecond of May, by which
effectual countenance, protection, and fupport, were promiſed to the
king's faithful and peaceable ſubjects, and the moſt exemplary ſe-
verity, with confiſcation of property, denounced againſt thoſe who
ſhould hereafter appear in arms within the province againſt his
majeſty's government; or who ſhould attempt to compel any
others to do fö, or who ſhould hinder or intimidate any of the
king's faithful and loving ſubjects from joining his forces, or per-
forming thoſe duties which their allegiance required. And on the
firſt of June another proclamation was iſſued, in the name of ſur
Henry Clinton and adiniral Arbuthnot, as commiſſioners for re-
ſtoring peace to the colonies, by which a full and free pardon was
promiſed to all thoſe who, having been miſled from their duty,
Raould
May.
192.
HISTORY OF THE
Its effect.
CHA P. ſhould immediately return to their allegiance, and a due obedience
w to the laws, excepting only ſuch as were polluted with the blood of
1780.
their fellow-citizens, ſhed under the mock forms of juſtice for their
loyalty to their ſovereign, and adherence to the Britiſh government:
By the ſame proclamation, the promiſe of effectual countenance,
protection, and ſupport, was renewed to the loyal and well-affected;
and, as ſoon as the ſituation of the province would admit of it, a
reinſtatement of the inhabitants in the poſſeſſion of all thoſe rights
and immunities which they formerly enjoyed under the Britiſh go-
vernment; and alſo an exemption from taxation, except by their own
legiſlature. Theſe meaſures ſeemed well calculated to encourage the
loyal, and intimidate the diſaffected; and appear to have produced
a conſiderable effect. Moſt of the people round Charleſtown came
in, and offered to ſtand forth in defence of the Britiſh government;
and not a few actually took up arms, and placed themſelves under
the direction of major Ferguſon, who was appointed to command
them. General Williamſon, and the militia of the diſtrict of Ninety-
fix, ſubmitted to the officer who commanded the expedition into that
part of the country; and the inhabitants in the ſouthern parts of the
province made the like ſubmiſſion to the Britiſh officer commanding
at Beaufort. Nearly about the ſame time alſo, the commander in
chief received the pleaſing intelligence that the continental troops and
militia undercolonel Burford had been completely routed and diſperſed
by lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, who was ſent by lord Cornwallis in
purſuit of them. Immediately after the ſurrender of Charleſtown
colonel Burford, whoſe force conſiſted of three hundred and eighty
continental infantry, a detachment of Waſhington's cavalry, and
two fix pounders, quitted his poſt on the banks of the Şantee, and
began a retreat up the north-eaſt ſide of that river, with a view of
retiring into the back country of North Carolina to join a reinforce-
4
ment
AMERICAN WAR.
193
XXXIII.
American
ford.
ment which he expected to meet him by that route. Earl Corn- CHA P.
wallis did not begin his march in purſuit of him until the eighteenth
of May, and then moved on towards Camden. After croſſing the
1780.
Santee, and marching fome days on the road by which Burford had
retreated, finding him too far advanced to be overtaken by the
main body of his detachment, lord Cornwallis diſpatched lieutenant-
colonel Tarleton, with forty men of the ſeventeenth regiment of
dragoons, one hundred and thirty of the cavalry of the legion, and
one hundred mounted infantry of the ſame corps, to endeavour by
forced marches to come up with him. By this officer, after a march Defeat of the
of one hundred and five miles in fifty-four hours, Burford was colonel Bur-
overtaken at Waxhaws, on the borders of North Carolina, on the
twenty-ninth of May, and defeated, with the loſs of almoſt all his
detachment, and the whole of his artillery, ammunition, and bag-
gage.
The execution done in this action was ſevere : One
hundred and thirteen were killed on the ſpot, and two hun-
dred and three made priſoners, of whom one hundred and fifty
were badly wounded. Burford made his eſcape by a precipitate
flight.on horſeback. The king's troops were entitled to great com-
mendation for their activity and ardour on this occaſion, but the
virtue of humanity was totally forgot. The loſs of the Britiſh
troops was trifling; two officers and three privates being killed,
and one officer and fourteen privates wounded *
The
1
2
* Upon the march to Camden the Britiſh troops were ſupported from the country through
svhich they paſſed. A number of negroes, mounted on horſes, were employed under proper
condu&ors in driving in cattle for the ſupport of the army, and, though they were in general
very ſmall, the army was plentifully fupplied. The cattle were delivered alive to the regi-
ments, who found their own butchers. On the iſt of June the royal army took poſleſſion of
Camden, in a day or two after which colonel Tarleton joined the army at Camden, diſtant
Nearly one hundred miles from Charleſtown. Upon the approach of the army to Camden the
author, who had the honour of being commiſſary to the troops under lord Cornwallis, was
by his lordſhip ordered to move on in front, to poſt.centinels, and take charge of ſuch ſtores
as might be found in the town. In conſequence of that order, a mill belonging to a colonel
Cc
Kerſhaw
VOL. II.
194
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXXIII.
1780.
The laſt remains of the continental force in South Carolina being
extirpated by the defeat of Burford at Waxhaws, and the inhabitants
in moſt parts of the province having either ſubmitted to the Britiſli
government, or taken paroles from the officers commanding the de-
tachments ſent amongſt them, the commander in chief, confidering
the province as completely reduced, thought fit, previous to his de-
parture for New York, to alter the condition of thoſe who had ſub-
mitted upon parole; and, inſtead of conſidering them any longer as
priſoners, to require of them the duties, and entitle them to the rights,
of active citizens and loyal ſubjects. For this purpoſe a proclama-
tion was iſſued, bearing date the third of June, declaring that all the
inhabitants of the province who were priſoners on parole, except
thoſe who were in the military line, and thoſe who were in Fort
Moultrie, or in Charleſtown), at the time of the furrender of thoſe
places, or who were then in actual confinement, ſhould, from and
after the twentieth of that month, Be freed and exempted from all
fuch paroles, and be reſtored to all the rights and duties of citizens and
inhabitants : But, by tħe ſame proclamation, it was alſo declared that
all perſons under the above deſcription, who ſhould afterwards neglect
f
Kerſhaw was taken poſſeflion of; in' it was found a quantity of wheat and four. In a ſtore
belonging to Joſeph and Eli Kerſkaw was found a quantity of merchandize; 21 rice tierces,
3 hogſheads and a half of indigo, ſome tea, ſugar, coffee, and linen, which were ſent to the
general hoſpital. A quantity of falt, 20 barrels of flour, 18 ditto Indian corn meal, onc
hogſliead of rum, a quantity of bacon and hams, butter, brimſtone, axes and wedges, ſent to
the engineer department. Rhubarb in root,. damaged, ſent to the general hoſpital. A num-.
ber of hats, and fome green cloth, diſtributed to the troops. In a barn near the river ninety
hogſhcads of tobacco, part of which was deſtroyed by the troops, the reſt was ordered by
lord Cornwallis to be ſent to.Charleſtown. We ſhall have occaſion hereafter. to fhew how the
indigo and tobacco were diſpoſed of: Near 100 head of cattle were found in and near the
town, together with fome Sheep. Lord Cornwallis ordered the.commiſſaries to give no receipt
to colonel Kerſhaw for the property taken from him, as he was deemed a very violent man,
and who was ſaid to have perſecuted the loyaliſts. We will hereafter aflign our reaſons for
being ſo particular. A return was made every night to lord Cornwallis of all ſpecies of.
property taken in the courſe of the day, of its diſtribution, and of the amount in hand.
to.
AMERICAN WAR.
195
CHAP
XXXIII.
1
of the troops
rolina.
to return to their allegiance, and a due ſubmiſſion to his majeſty's go-
vernment, ſhould be conſidered as enemies and rebels to the fame,
1780.
and be treated accordingly. Theſe general regulations having been
eſtabliſhed, the commander in chief, on the fifth of June, embarked Junc.
for New York, carrying with him all the troops that could be ſpared,
leaving lieutenant-general earl Cornwallis in the coinmand of
thoſe that remained, with the charge of proſecuting the war in
North Carolina as ſoon as the ſeaſon of the year, and other circum-
ſtances, would permit.
The force left under lord Cornwallis amounted to about four Diſpoſition
thouſand men ; and as the expedition into North Carolina was ne- in South Ca-
ceſſarily delayed, from the heat of the ſeaſon, the impoffibility of
ſubſiſting an army in that province until the harveſt was over, and
the neceſſity of forming magazines, with a chain of communica-
tions properly ſecured before the expedition was begun, the troops
were in the mean time fo diſpoſed in cantonments as to cover the
frontiers both of South Carolina and Georgia, and ſecure their in-
ternal quiet. The principal force upon the frontiers was at Camden,
under the command of lord Rawdon: It conſiſted of the twenty-
third and thirty-third regiinents, the volunteers of Ireland, the legion
cavalry, Brown's and Hamilton's corps of provincials, and a de-
tachment of artillery. Major M'Arthur, with the two battalions
of the ſeventy-firſt, was advanced to Cheraw Hill, upon the river
Pedee, to cover the country between Camden and Georgetown,
and to correſpond with the highland ſettlement on Croſs Creek, in
North Carolina: And Georgetown was garriſoned by a detach-
ment of provincials under captain Saunders of the queen's ran-
gers.
Camden was connected with the diſtrict of Ninety-ſix by a
ſtrong poſt at Rocky Mount, upon the Wateree, garriſoned by the
New York volunteers, and ſome inilitia, under lieutenant-colonel
C C 2
Turn-
196
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
ments,
CHAP. Turnbull. At Ninety-ſis were ſtationed three battalions of provin-
cials, and ſome companies of light-infantry; at firſt commanded by
1780.
lieutenant-colonel Balfour, and afterwards by lieutenant-colonel
Cruger. Major Ferguſon's corps of provincials, and a body of
loyal militia,' were not ſtationary, but traverſed the country between
the Waterce and the Saluda, and ſometimes approached the con-
fines of North Carolina. At Auguſta lieutenant-colonel Brown
commanded with his own, and detachments from ſome other regi-
The reſt of the troops were ſtationed at Charleſtown, Beau-
fort, and Savannah: Brigadier-general Patterſon commanding at the
firſt of theſe places, and lieutenant-colonel. Alured Clarke at the laſt..
And at Camden was to be formed the principal magazine for the in-
tended expedition.
Upon earl Cornwallis, as commander in chief in South Carolina;
devolved alſo the care of adjuſting the internal affairs, and eſtabliſh-
ing ſuch regulations, whether civil or commercial, as might be re-
South Caro- ceſſary for its future proſperity; and, to enter upon this arduous,
talk, he repaired' to Charleſtown, as ſoon as he had fixed the poſts..
and cantoned the troops in the manner already mentioned. A cor--
reſpondence had been kept up with the loyaliſts in North Carolina::
And, as the expedition into that province was neceſſarily delayed,
liis lordſhip fent emiſſaries amongſt them to requeſt the well-affected
to attend to tlieir harveſt, collect proviſions, and remain quiet till
the king's troops were ready to enter the province, which would not
be till the end of Auguſt, or beginning of September. But, unfor-
tunately, this prudent and neceſſary adınonition was not attended to:
A number of loyaliſts in Tryon County having prematurely aſſem-
bled in arms under a colonel More, towards the end of June, were
quickly routed and diſperſed by a provincial force under general
Rutherford. This unſucceſsful inſurrection furniſhed a pretence for
perfe-
Adminiſtra-
tion of earl
Cornwallis,
commander
in chief in
AMERICAN WAR.
197
XXXIII.
perſecuting the loyaliſts in other parts of the province; their gaols C HA P.
were filled with loyaliſts, and every day added a victim to their
1780.
gibbets : Such were the ſufferings of the loyaliſts; and ſo haraſſed
and oppreſſed were they, that about eight hundred of them, who had
intended to wait the approach of the king's troops, at length loſt all
patience, and, affembling under a colonel Bryan, quitted their ha-
bitations and marched towards South Carolina, where they were
fortunate enough to arrive unmoleſted, and joined major M'Arthur's
detachment at Cheraw Hill. Never was a finer body of men col-
lected; ſtrong, healthy, and accuſtomed to the ſeverity of the
*climate; had they been properly diſciplined, they might have ren-
dered the moſt important ſervices. Upon their marching into Cam-
den they preſented to our view the horrors of a civil war. Many
of them had not ſeen their families for months, having lived in the
woods to avoid the perfecution of the Americans. Numbers of them
were in rags, moſt of them: men of property. There were men in
Bryan's corps who poſſeſſed ſome hundred acres of land, farms highly
cultivated, and well ſtocked: Theſe, with families and friends, they
abandoned, to manifeſt their attachment to the Britiſh government.
In the mean time lord Cornwallis was buſily employed at
Charleſtown in forming regulations for the internal government of
South Carolina, and in forwarding to Camden the fupplies wanted
for the army upon the intended expedition. A board of police was
eſtabliſhed for the adminiſtration of juſtice, until the ſituation of the
province ſhould admit of the regular reſtoration of its former civil
government. Commercial regulations were made for permitting
to a certain extent the exportation of the produce of the country;
and great pains were taken to inroll the militia, and prepare for
affiſting in the defence of the province. In moſt caſes paroles
were exchanged for protections, accompanied with a renewal of
alle.
1
198
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
Counter-rc-
volution
mitted to the
tain on the fall
of Charleſ-
Lown.
CHAP allegiance; and for ſome weeks an univerſal calm ſucceeded the agi-
tations with which the province was lately diſtracted *.
1780.
But it was not long before the feeds of diſcontent appeared, which,
among thoſe when fully matured, produced a counter-revolution in the minds
who had ſub- and inclinations of the people as complete and as univerſal as that
power of Bri- which ſucceeded the fall of Charleſtown. Of thoſe originally at-
tached to the American cauſe, who, ſince the capture of Charleſ-
town, had ſubmitted to the Britiſh government, either by taking
the oath of allegiance, or obtaining a parole, ſome were influenced
by the ruinous appearance of American affairs, the deſpair of ul-
timate ſucceſs, and a wiſh to ſave the remains of their property that
had eſcaped the ravages and devaſtations of war; others were influ.
enced by the fear of puniſhment, if they perſiſted longer in main-
taining an oppoſition apparently fruitleſs; and not a few by the hope
of being ſuffered to live quietly upon their eſtates, as priſoners upon
parole, and enjoying a kind of neutrality during the remainder of
the war.
The determination of congreſs to ſend a part of general
Waſhington's army to the aſſiſtance of their adherents in South Ca-
rolina, and the vigorous exertions of the colonies of Virginia and
North Carolina to get a body of men in the field for the ſame pur-
poſe, quickly diſpelled the apprehenſions of the two firſt of theſe
claſſes, and rouſed afreſh their hopes : And the laſt of theſe claſſes
of men was very early diſguſted by the proclamation of ſir Henry
Clinton, which, without their conſent, abrogated the paroles that
* from the time that the Britiſh army entered Camden, until this period, it was wholly
ſupported by ſupplies from the neighbouring diſtricts. The militia were employed in collect-
ing Indian corn to be ground into meal, which, iſſued when new, made a good ſubſtitute for
svheat. They were alſo employed in collecting cattle and ſheep; they were allowed four (hil.
lings and eight-pence per head for cattle, and two ſhillings and eleven-pence ſterling per head
for ſheep (for driving only). The owners had either a receipt, or a certificate, given them
(unleſs avowedly hoftile).
had
AMERICAN WAR.
199
XXXIII.
Tiad been granted, and, in one inſtant, converted them either into C H A P.
loyal ſubjects or rebels. If it was proper policy at firſt to hold
1780.
a 'middle courſe between theſe oppoſite extremes, the ſame po-
licy required that it ſhould have been continued ſome time longer ;
and that the condition of the inhabitants ſhould have been altered,
rather at their own application, either individually or collectively,
than by the arbitrary fiat of the commander in chief. In this man-
ner a proper diſcrimination might have been made between the in-
habitants who were really loyal, and thoſe who were nominally ſo:
But, by purſuing the oppoſite courſe, they were all blended indif-
criminately together. Even the violent revolutioniſt, unleſs he
choſe to leave the country, was obliged to aſſume the appearance of
loyalty: And thus the foundation of mutual jealouſy and diſtruſt
was laid amongſt the inhabitants themſelves. The revolutioniſts
complained that their condition was altered without their concur-
rence; and the loyaliſts murmured becauſe notorious rebels, by
taking the oath of allegiance, and putting on a ſhew of attachment,
became entitled to the ſame privileges with themſelves.
Whilſt theſe diſcontents began to prevail, intelligence arrived. The detach-
that major-general baron de Kalbe, with a detachment conſiſting of neral Waſh-
ington'sarmy
two thouſand men, from Waſhington's army, had advanced as far ſent to North
as Hillſborough, in North Carolina, and was preparing to move
forward to Saliſbury, where colonel Porterfield, with three hundred
Virginians, and Rutherford, with ſome North Carolina militia, had
taken poſt : That Caſwell, with one thouſand five hundred militia
of the ſame province, had marched from Croſs Creek to Deep River,
in order to join the baron de Kalbe on the road to Saliſbury ; that
two thouſand five hundred Virginia militia were upon their march
to the ſouthward; and that the aſſembly of Virginia had voted five
thouſand men to be immediately draughted from the militia, who
Were
ment from ge-
1
Carolina,
200
HISTORY OF THE
1
.
Movements
of the Ame.
CHA, P. were to ſerve as corps of obſervation. This intelligence increaſed the
ill-humour of thoſe inhabitants of South Carolina who were diſaf-
1780.
fected to the Britiſh government, and cheriſhed the ſpirit of revolt,
which began to diſcover itſelf; when not long afterwards informa-
tion was received that congreſs had determined to make a bold
cffort for the recovery of South Carolina and Georgia, and that
major-general Gates, whoſe fame had been already eſtabliſhed at
Saratoga, was appointed to the command of the ſouthern army.
.
Beſides thoſe corps of the enemy already mentioned, a colonel
sican colonel Sumpter, who had Aled out of the province after the conqueſt of
Sumpter,
Charleſtown, had influence enough to attach to himſelf a number of
the people in that part of North Carolina where he had taken re-
fuge, and with theſe, joined to ſome refugees from his own pro-
vince, forming a kind of flying camp, he had advanced as far as the
Catawba ſettlement. In conſequence of ſuch threatening move-
ments on the part of the enemy, lord Rawdon found it neceſſary
to make an alteration in the diſpoſition of his poſts, with a view of
making them more compact; and major M'Arthur, whoſe poſt at
Cheraw Hill was moſt expoſed, received orders to fall back.
About this time, that fpirit of revolt, which had been hitherto
reſtrained by the diſtance of the continental force now advancing
to the ſouthward, burſt forth into action; And it made its ap-
pearance in two different quarters of the province nearly about the
fame inſtant of time. Ever ſince the fall of Charleſtown the com
mand of the militia, in the diſtrict bordering on the rivers Tyger
and Enoree, had been given to a colonel Floyd, their former
commander, colonel Neale, a violent perſecutor of the loyaliſts,
having Aled out of the province. One Liſle, who had belonged
to this corps whilſt it was under the command of Neale, and who
had been baniſhed to the iſlands upon the ſea coaſt as a priſoner
4
upon
1
1
AMERICAN WAR.
201
.
upoh parole, availing himſelf of the commander in chief's procla- CHA P.
mation of the third of June, took the oath of allegiance, and ex-
1780.
changed his parole for a certificate of his being a good ſubject.
Returning to his former abode, he obtained a command under co-
lonel Floyd, and as ſoon as the battalion of militia was ſupplied
with arms and ammunition, had the traiterous addreſs to carry it off
to colonel Neale, his former commander, who had joined Sumpter
in the Catawba ſettlement. This inſtance of treachery happened
in the north-weſt quarter of the province; and nearly about the
ſame time a ſimilar inſtance occurred in the north-eaſt part of it.
When it became neceſſary for major M'Arthur to retire from
Cheraw Hill, he embarked in boats the fick of his detachment,
amounting to near an hundred, and ordered them to fall down the
Pedee, to the Britiſh poſt at Georgetown, under an eſcort of
militia commanded by colonel Mills ; but as ſoon as the boats had
proceeded ſo far as to be out of the reach of aſſiſtance from major
M'Arthur, the militia roſe upon their commanding officer, and
carried the ſick into North Carolina as priſoners. Colonel Mills with
fome difficulty made his eſcape.
Sumpter being joined by the battalion of militia under Lille, His attempt
completely armed and furniſhed with ammunition, his active genius poft at Rocky
led him to undertake without delay ſome enterpriſe againſt the Britiſh
out-poſts. Towards the end of July he marched from the Catawba
ſettlement with nine hundred men; and on the thirtieth of that
month made an attack on the Britiſh poſt at Rocky Mount, where
lieutenant-colonel Turnbull commanded, with one hundred and
fifty of the corps of New York volunteers, and ſome inilitia.
Rocky Mount was ably defended by Turnbull, with his little
gar-
and Sumpter, after being repulſed in three different attacks,
with a conſiderable loſs of men, was obliged to deſiſt. He re-
Vol. II.
Dd
treated
on the British
Mount.
riſon;
202
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIII.
CH A P. treated again towards the Catawba ſettlement, without being diſcou-
raged by the want of ſucceſs; and, as ſoon as he had recruited a
1780.
fufficient number to make up for the loſs of men ſuſtained at Rocky
Mount, he returned towards the Britiſh cantonments, and made an
attack upon the poſt at Hanging Rock. This poſt was occupied by
the infantry of the legion, part of Brown's corps of provincials,
and colonel Bryan's North Carolina refugees; the whole being under
the command of major Carden of the prince of Wales's American
regiment. Sumpter directed his attack againſt that quarter of the
poſt which was occupied by colonel Bryan and his refugees, and
was fortunate enough to ſurpriſe them: This corps was but ill ſup-
plied with ammunition, and had no bayonets. It is difficult even
for the beſt diſciplined men to withſtand the effects of a ſurpriſe ;
but, for undiſciplined men it is impoſſible. The refugees fled with
the utmoſt precipitation, and ſpread confuſion through every quar-
ter of the poſt. Sumpter, profiting by the confuſion, advanced
with rapidity, and for a time ſeemed to carry every thing before
him. At length the legion infantry, and the detachment from
Brown's corps, by making three deſperate charges with the bayonet,
checked his progreſs. Still, however, he perſevered, and the fate
of the attack remained doubtful, when the appearance of a rein-
forcement changed entirely the fortune of the day. This rein-
forcement conſiſted only of forty mounted infantry of the tegion
who were returning from Rocky Mount: But the captains
Stewart and Macdonald, who commanded it, by ordering the
men to extend their files, gave it the appearance of a formi-
dable detachment. The bugle horns were directed to found a
charge: And the Americans, already kept at bay, were now fear-
ful of being overpowered, and haſtily retreated, leaving behind
them about one hundred of their killed and wounded.
1
ma
The
3
wa
AMERICAN WAR.
203
XXXIII.
1780.
The loſs of the Britiſh troops in repelling this attack, does not CHAP.
appear to have been exactly aſcertained, but it is admitted to have
been conſiderable; and it fell principally upon the legion, and
the detachment from Brown's regiment, the refugees having fled
ſo early that few of them were either killed or wounded. Major
Carden expoſed himſelf to cenſure and diſgrace, by reſigning the
command to captain Rouſslet of the legion in the heat of action.
D d %
204
.
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXXIV.
Earl Cornwallis ſets out from Charleſtown to Camden--- Action bie-
tween the Americans under General Gates, and the Britiſh under
Earl Cornwallis, near Camden-The American Force under Golonel
Sumpter ſurpriſed by Colonel Tarleton-Perfidy of the Americans
Reſtrained by Examples of Severity—Lord Cornwallis marches
into North Carolina-Defeat and Fall of Major Ferguſon.
..
CHA,P. IN the mean time the different corps of continental troops and
militia, commanded by the baron de Kalbe, Caſwell, Rutherford,
Forterſic!d, having formed a junction, entered the province of
South Carolina. General Gates joined them on the twenty-ſeventh
of July; and the whole, under his command, advanced by the main
road towards Camden. In order to ſtop their progreſs, lord Raw-
don moved forward, with the force under his command at Camden,
and took a ſtrong poſition about fourteen miles in front of it, upon
the weſt branch of Lynche's Creek. General Gates advanced on
the oppoſite ſide; and the two armies continued for ſeveral days
oppoſed to each other, with the creek only intervening between
their advanced parties. Whilſt the oppoſite armies lay in this ſitua-
tion, orders were ſent to lieutenant-colonel Cruger to forward
with all haſte to Camden the four companies of light-infantry fta-
tioned at Ninety-fix; and intelligence being received of a move-
ment made by the Americans towards their right, orders were ſent
to the Britiſh officer commanding at Rugeley's Mills, to evacuate:
his
AMERICAN WAR..
205
.
1
1780.
his poſt, which was expoſed on account of its advanced ſituation, CHA P.
and, after ſending part of his detachment to join the army, to retire
with the reſt to Camden. By the evacuation of the poſt at Ruge-
ey's Mills the road leading from Waxhaws to Camden was left un-
guarded; and lord Rawdon, fearing that general Gates might at-
tempt to paſs him by this road, and get into his. rear, found it ne-
ceſſary to fall back from Lynche's Creek, nearer to Camden, and
took a new poſition at Logtown. By this time alinoſt all the inha-
bitants between Black River and Pedee had openly revolted and
oined the Americans ; and, in other quarters, they ſeemed diſpoſed
to follow the example, whenever it could be done with ſecurity.
Sumpter, with his force increaſed by a detachment of continental
ſoldiers, was ſent acroſs the Wateree to favour the revolt of the in-
habitants on the ſouth-weſt ſide of that river, and to intercept the
ſupplies and reinforcements on the road to Camden; and general
Gates, in order to preſerve a communication with Sumpter, moved
to his right up the north ſide of Lynche's Creek, and took poſt at
Rugeley's Mills, intending to advance from thence, by the Waxhaw
road, to Camden. Information of theſe movements on the part of
he enemy being regularly tranſmitted by lord Rawdon to Charleſ-
town, earl Cornwallis thought it neceffary to poſtpone the comple-
tion of the civil arrangements in which he had for fome time paſt
.
been engaged, and to proceed to Camden, where the threatening:
aſpect of affairs. required all his immediate attention. He ſet out. The eart
from Charleſtown in the evening of the tenth, and arrived at Cam- fets out from:
den in the evening of the thirteenth, of Auguſt.. The following. Charleſtown
day he ſpent in examining the condition of his own force, and in Auguſt..
obtaining information of that of the enemy: Nearly eight hundred
Britiſh troops were fick at Camden. The number of thoſe who
were really effective, amounted to ſomething more than two thou-
fand, including officers, of whom about fifteen hundred. were regu-
t
Cornwallis
lars,
TT
906
HISTORY OF THE
11
CH A P. lars, or belonged to eſtabliſhed provincial corps, and the reſt, militia
XXXIV.
and refugees from North Carolina. 'The force under general Gates
1780.
was repreſented to amount to fix thouſand men, excluſive of Sump-
ter's corps, which was eſtimated at one thouſand: The American
accounts, ſince publiſhed, ſay that general Gates's army, even includ-
ing Sumpter's corps, did not much exceed five thouſand men; but we
have ground for believing that general Gates's force was little leſs
than fix thouſand ſtrong. But almoſt the whole country ſeemed
upon the eve of a revolt * The communication between Camden
and Charleſtown appeared in danger of being cut off by the enter-
priſing movements of Sumpter, whoſe numbers were daily in-
creaſing by the junction of difaffected inhabitants. The ſafety of
the army depended upon preſerving a communication with the fea-
coaſt; and ſomething was neceſſary to be done immediately for ex-
tricating it from its perilous ſituation. At this juncture a retreat to
Charleſtown might have been effected without much difficulty; but
the ſick muſt have been left behind, the magazines of ſtores either
* The militia of South Carolina were in general faithleſs, and altogether diſſatisfied in the
Britiſh ſervice. One great cauſe of complaint with them was, that their horſes were frequently
preſſed for the cavalry and quarter-maſter-general's department; and that thoſe who could ob-
tain certificates for them at a fair price, were nevertheleſs great loſers by diſpoſing of thoſe
certificates to men who purchaſed them at an enormous diſcount, a ſpeculation which very
much injured the public credit in that colony. It is to be obſerved that a diſtinction was
made between a receipt and a certiFICATE. Where the word Receipt was made uſe of, it
was intended that the proprietor ſhould be paid upon his preſenting the receipt at Charleſtown,
and many of thoſe receipts were afterwards actually paid by orders on the paymaſter-general.
Where the word Certificate was made uſe of, it was intended as an evidence in the hands of
the holder, of ſuch and ſuch property being taken, its payment to depend on contingencies.
This regulation governed the conduct of the commiſſary until lord Cornwallis moved from
Wynneſborough in January 1981; then, when receipts were given, they not only ſpecified
the property, but the value of that property, which gave them a negotiable authority. When
certificates were given, the property was ſpecified, but no value affixed. Its payment, as be-
fore, was to depend on the merit or demerit of the party at the end of the war. Receipts were
frequently refuſed; but certificates never, unleſs the perſon whoſe property had been taken
was known to be a decided enemy, and his character marked by acts of inhumanity towards
the loyaliſts.
aban-
AMERICAN WAR.
207
XXXIV.
abandoned or deſtroyed, and the loſs of the whole country would CHAP.
have neceſſarily followed, except indeed Charleſtown, in which there
1780.
was already a ſufficient garriſon for its defence. A defeat could not
be much more injurious in its conſequences than ſuch a retreat :
And where the motives for action ſo ſtrongly preponderated, there
was not much room for deliberation in the breaſt of an officer of fo
much enterpriſe as lord Cornwallis. Confiding in the valour and
diſcipline of his troops, however inferior in number, he reſolved to
move forward and attack the enemy, whoſe preſent ſituation at
Rugeley's Mills inclined him to execute his intention without delay.
Meaning to attack them early in the morning of the ſixteenth of
Auguſt, and to point his attack principally againſt the continental
regiments, whoſe poſition, from the information he had received,
he knew to be a bad one, earl Cornwallis began his march towards
Rugeley's Mills, at ten in the evening of the fifteenth of Auguſt,
committing the defence of Camden to major M'Arthur, with ſome
provincials, militia, convaleſcents of the army, and a detachment of
the ſixty-third regiment, which was expected to arrive during the
night. The army marched in the following order:. The front
diviſion, commanded by lieutenant-colonel. Webſter, conſiſted .
of four companies of light-infantry, and the twenty-third and
thirty-third regiments, preceded by twenty cavalry, and as many
mounted infantry of the legion, as an advanced guard. The centre :
diviſion conſiſted of the volunteers of Ireland, the legion infantry,
Hamilton's North Carolina regiment, and colonel Bryan's refugees,
under the command of lord Rawdon. And the two battalions of
the ſeventy-firſt regiment followed as a reſerve; the dragoons of the
legion forming the rear-guard. It is not a little ſingular that the ſame
night, nearly about the ſame time, and with a ſimilar intention, ge--
neral Gates ſhould have left his encampment at Rugeley's Mills, and
moved forward towards Camden,. Both armies marching on the
fame.
08
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIV.
Action be-
tween the
Americans,
Gates, and
1
under the
earl Corn-
Camden.
CHAP. fame road, in oppoſite directions, their advanced guards met and
fired
upon each other about two in the morning: Some priſoners
1780.
were made on both ſides; and from theſe the reſpective command-
ers became acquainted with the movements of the other: Both
under general
armies halted and were formed; and the firing ſoon afterwards
the Britiſh, ceaſed as if by mutual conſent. The ground on which the two
armies had accidentally met was as favourable for lord Cornwallis as
wallis, near
he could have wiſhed: A ſwamp on each ſide ſecured his flanks,
and narrowed the ground in front, ſo as to render the ſuperiority of
the enemy in numbers of leſs conſequence: He therefore waited
with impatience for the approach of day; and as ſoon as it appeared
made his laſt diſpoſition for the attack. The front line was made
up of the two diviſions of the army already mentioned under lord
Rawdon and lieutenant-colonel Webſter, Webſter's diviſion being
to the right, and lord Rawdon's to the left. Theſe diviſions were
diſpoſed in ſuch a manner, that the thirty-third regiment, on the left
of Webſter's, communicating with the volunteers of Ireland, on the
right of lord Rawdon's, formed the centre of the line; and to the
front line were attached two fix-pounders, and two three-pounders,
under the direction of lieutenant Macleod of the royal artillery.
The ſeventy-firſt regiment, with two fix-pounders, formed a ſecond
line, or reſerve, one battalion being poſted behind each wing; and
in the rear of the whole, the cavalry were ready either to charge or
purſue, as circumſtances might require.
The American army was alſo formed in two lines, general Giſt's
brigade of continental troops being on the right, the North Carolina
militia in the centre, and the Virginia militia, which had joined the
arıny only the day before, with the light-infantry, and Porterfield's
corps, being on the left. The firſt Maryland brigade formed a fe-
cond line or corps de reſerve: And the artillery was divided between
the two brigades.
The
-
1
1
AMERICAN WAR.
209
1780.
i
The oppoſite armies being thus ranged in order of battle, and C H A P.
XXXIV.
ſome movement being obſerved on the left of the provincial line, as
if a change of diſpoſition had been intended, lord Cornwallis deemed
this the critical moment for beginning the action, and gave orders
to lieutenant-colonel Webſter to advance and charge the enemy.
The order was immediately executed with ſuch alacrity, and the
charge made with ſo much promptitude and ſucceſs, that the Vir-
ginia militia, quickly giving way, threw down their arms and fled,
and were ſoon afterwards followed by the greateſt part of the militia
of North Carolina. The American reſerve was now brought into
action and general Gates, in conjunction with general Caſwell,
retiring with the militia, endeavoured to rally them at different ad-
vantageous paſſes in the rear of the field of action, but in vain :
They ran at firſt like a torrent, and afterwards ſpread through the
woods in every direction. Lord Rawdon began the action on the
left with no leſs vigour and ſpirit than Webſter had done on the
riglit; but here, and in the centre, againſt part of Webſter's divi-
ſion, the conteſt was more obſtinately maintained by the Americans,
whoſe artillery did conſiderable execution. Their left flank was,
however, expoſed by the flight of the militia ; and the light-infantry
and twenty-third regiment, who had been oppoſed to the fugitives,
inſtead of purſuing them, wheeled to the left and came upon the
flank of the continentals, who, after a brave reſiſtance for near three
quarters of an hour, were thrown into total confuſion, and forced
to give way in all quarters. Their rout was completed by the ca-
valry, who continued the purſuit to Hanging Rock, twenty-two
-miles from the field of action. Between eight and nine hundred of
the enemy were killed in the action, and in the purſuit, and about
one thouſand made priſoners, many of whom were wounded. Of
this number, were major-general baron de Kalbe, and brigadier-
general Rutherford. The former of theſe officers, at the head
VOL. II.
Еe
of
210
HISTORY OF THE
V
CHA P. of a continental regiment of infantry, made a vigorous charge on
XXXIV
the left wing of the Britiſh army, and when wounded and taken
1780.
priſoner would ſcarcely believe that the provincial army had been
defeated. He died of his wounds a few days after the action, much
regretted by the Americans. One hundred and fifty waggons, a
conſiderable quantity of military ſtores, and all the baggage and
camp equipage of the provincial ariny, a number of colours,
and ſeven pieces of cannon, were taken. General Gates, who
retired with the militia to endeavour to rally them, finding all
his efforts vain, gave up every thing as loft, and fled firſt to Charlotte,
ninety miles from the place of action; and from thence to Hillſbo-
rough, in North Carolina, one hundred and eighty miles from Cam-
den. General Giſt alone, of all the American commanders, was
able to keep together about one hundred men, who flying acroſs a
ſwamp on their right, through which they could not be purſued by
the Britiſh dragoons, made good their retreat in a body. The loſs
of the Britiſh troops in this battle amounted to three hundred and
twenty-five, of whom ſixty-nine were killed, two hundred and forty-
five wounded, and eleven miſſing. The weight of the action fell
upon the thirty-third regiment in the left of Webſter's diviſion, and
the volunteers of Ireland in the right of lord Rawdon's; and of
courſe, by them the greateſt loſs was ſuſtained, which amounted to
two thirds of the whole. The road for ſome miles was ſtrewed with
the wounded and killed, who had been overtaken by the legion in
their purſuit. The number of dead horſes, broken waggons,
and
baggage, ſcattered on the road, formed a perfect ſcene of horror and
confuſion: Arms, knapſacks, and accoutrements found were innume-
rable ; ſuch was the terror and diſmay of the Americans. The num-
ber of killed, wounded, and taken, exceeded the number of Britiſh
regular troops in the action by at leaſt three hundred. Lord Cornwal-
lis's judgment in planning, his promptitude in executing, and his forti-
tude
Vio
..
PLAN
OF THE BATTLE
Fought near CAMDEN
August 16!"
1780.
for
A
AD
Britiſh
yigs
foreign
ora 12
Aincricans
C..
79.
d
One English Mile.
.
½
mithima
...
PAS
26...
lo
Gopiamas
Butterfl
ala
Am.
.
1
ORDER **OF BATILE
no
fieri
test
QIDER OF
OF BATI
u braun
Añorica
A.
Grah
WARNE
ohet
REFEREN(ES,
1. Tance lines Light Intantri'.
2.23? Reginet.
3.399 Ditto,
4. Folwrters of Irciant.
5. Intanter of the British login. .
6. Llamilly's Corps.
7. Bruns Corps.
8. 8. Tro Battalions 77 Roninmi.
9. Drigoons British Lyin.
10$
Ant
..
Rubin
British
..
Hei
Engraved for Stedman's Hiſtory of the American War. Jan.20091794.
1
1
1
|
1
7
AMERICAN WAR.
2II
1
XXXIV.
tude and coolneſs during the time of action, juſtly attracted univerſal C HA P.
applauſe and admiration. The lord Rawdon, who was only twenty- ha
five
1780.
of
years age, bore a very conſpicuous part in this day's action.
Colonel Webſter's conduct was conſiſtent with his general character:
Coolz determined, vigilant, and active in action, he added to a re-
putation eſtabliſhed by long ſervice, the univerſal eſteem and reſpect
of the whole army, as an officer of great experience and obſervation
as well as bravery and rigid diſcipline. In a word, every Britiſh
officer and ſoldier evinced in this day's action the moſt perfect in-
trepidity and valour. The American wounded were treated with
the utmoſt humanity.
General Gates's conduct has been much cenſured. We are told no
place was appointed for rendezvous in caſe of a defeat: His baggage
ſhould have been much farther in the rear : By delay Gates muſt
have added to his ſtrength every hour, but he was confident of ſucceſs.
General Gates's army being thus completely ruined and diſperſed,
the only provincial force in South Carolina which remained entire
was that under Sumpter on the other ſide of the Wateree. Had he
been permitted to retire into North Carolina unmoleſted, his force,
ſmall as it was, would have been ſufficient to occupy a conve-
nient ſtation for collecting the ſcattered remains of the American
army: It was therefore of importance to-ſtrike at his corps, and en-
deavour to cut it off. An object of ſo much conſequence did not eſcape
the attention of the commander in chief; and in the evening of the
day of the engagement orders were ſent to lieutenant-colonel Turn-
bull, who, with the New York volunteers, upon evacuating the
poſt at Rocky Mount, had joined major Ferguſon's corps on Little
River, to endeavour to intercept Sumpter in his retreat. The light-
infantry and the legion, who were deſtined to proceed on the ſame
ſervice, being exhauſted with the fatigues of the day, were ſuf-
fered to repoſe themſelves during the night, but "received orders to
- Ee 2
bc
2 12
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIV.
1,80.
can force un-
der colonel
lonel Tarle-
con.
CHA P. be in readineſs to march early the next morning, under the com-
mand of lieutenant-colonel Tarleton. On the following
On the following morning
The Ameri- this active and enterpriſing officer, in purſuance of his orders, ſet
out with his detachment, amounting to three hundred and fifty men,
Sumpler fur- and receiving intelligence, during his march, of the retreat of Sump-
priſed hy co-
ter along the weſtern banks of the Wateree, purſued fo cloſely,
that, after paſſing the river at Rocky Mount Ford, he overtook him
at two in the afternoon of the eighteenth of Auguſt, near the Ca
tawba Ford, when he was within a few hours march of reaching a.
friendly fettlement. Sumpter, upon hearing of general Gates's de
feat at Camden, immediately began his retreat, and moved with ſo
much diſpatch, that, thinking himſelf already out of all danger, he
had encamped at this early hour to give his men ſome repoſe during
the heat of the day. The ſurpriſe was ſo complete, that the Britiſh
ſoldiers, both cavalry and infantry, entered the American camp, and
cut off the provincials from their arms and artillery before they had
time to aſſemble. Some oppoſition was however made from behind
the waggons in front of the militia, but the univerſal confternation
which prevailed rendered it ineffectual. One hundred and fifty of
the provincials were cither killed or wounded, and upwards of three:
hundred made priſoners. Sumpter's force conſiſted of one hundred
continental ſoldiers, ſeven hundred militia, and two pieces of cannon::
And he had in his train about two hundred and fifty priſoners, part:
of them Britiſh ſoldiers, and the reſt loyal militia, and a number of
waggons laden with rum and other ſtores for the Britiſh, which he
had taken in the neighbourhood of Camden, on the oppoſite ſide of
the river. The priſoners were all releaſed, and the waggons re-
taken: And the whole of the provincial ſtores, ammunition, and
baggage, with their artillery, and one thouſand ſtand of arms, fell
into the hands of the conquerors. Sumpter, by riding off without
waiting to put on his coat, which he had laid aſide on account of
the
1
AMERICAN WAR.
213
XXXIV.
the heat of the weather, made his eſcape; but the reſt of his de- C HA P.
tachment were all either killed, taken, or diſperſed. The rapidity
1780.
of Tarleton's march had been ſo great, that when he arrived at
Fiſhing Creek, inore than one half of his detachment, overpowered
with fatigue, could proceed no farther. With only one hundred
dragoons, and fixty of the light-infantry, he continued the purſuit ;
and with this ſmall number the victory was atchieved. The loſs of
the Britiſh detachment was inconſiderable: It amounted to only
nine killed, and ſix wounded; but unfortunately, amongſt the for-
mer, was captain Charles Campbell, who commanded the light-
infantry, a young officer of the moſt promiſing abilities, whoſe
death was greatly lamented.
By the victory gained over general Gates at Camden, and the
rout and total diſperſion of his army, followed ſo ſoon after by the
defeat and ruin of the corps under Sumpter, the provincial force to
the ſouthward ſeemed for a time entirely annihilated; and nothing
prevented earl Cornwallis from proceeding immediately on his long-
projected expedition into North Carolina, but the want of ſome
ſupplies for the army, which were on their way from Charleſtown.
In the mean time emiſſaries were again fent into North Carolina,
with inſtructions to the friends of government to take arms, and
feize the moſt violent of their perſecutors, with all the magazines
and ſtores for the uſe of the American government, under an afſur-
ance that the Britiſh army would march without loſs of time to
their ſupport.
The delay occaſioned by waiting for the ſtores, gave time to the
commander in chief again to employ his thoughts upon the internal
affairs of the province, and to form ſome new regulations which
recent events and circumſtances had rendered more immediately ne-
ceſſary. It was now apparent, by the revolts that had taken place Perfidy of the
upon the approach of general Gates, and by the number of
militia
Americans
214
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIV.
CHA P. militia who had joined him after exchanging their paroles for
protections, and ſwearing allegiance to the Britiſh government,
1780.
that thoſe perſons were not to be depended upon, that the lenity
which had been ſhewn to them had been abuſed, and that it was
become neceſſary to reſtrain their perfidy by examples of ſe-
reſtrained by verity, and the terrors of puniſhment. With this view, the eſtates
cxamples of
ſeverity:
of all thoſe who had left the province to join the enemies of Great
Britain, or who were employed in the ſervice, or held commiffions
under the authority of congreſs, and alſo of all thoſe who continued
to oppoſe the re-eſtabliſhment of his majeſty's government within
the province, were ordered to be ſequeſtered: A commiſſioner was
appointed to ſeize upon them; and after a fufficient allowance was
made for the ſupport of the wives and families of ſuch delinquents,
the reſidue of the annual produce of their eſtates was to be accounted
for to the paymaſter-general of the forces, and to be applied to the
public ſervice. Inſtant death was again denounced againſt thoſe who,
having taken protections from the Britiſh government, ſhould after-
wards join the enemy; and, to impreſs them with an idea that this
puniſhment would be hereafter rigorouſly inflicted, ſome few of the
moft hardened of thc militia, who had been taken in general Gates's
army
with arms in their hands, and protections in their pockets,
were actually executed. But perfidy, it ſeems, was not confined to
the lower ranks of men: By letters found upon ſome of the officers
of general Gates's army, it was diſcovered that even perſons of
ſuperior rank, priſoners upon parole in Charleſtowni, had held an
improper correſpondence with their friends in the country. In
conſequence of this diſcovery, thoſe perſons, and ſome others, againſt
whom there were ſtrong circumſtances of ſuſpicion, were at firſt
put
on board the priſon-ſhips, and afterwards ſent to St. Auguſtine, in
Eaſt Florida, where paroles were again allowed to them, but under
Luch reſtrictions as their recent conduct rendered neceſſary.
As
1
AMERICAN WAR.
215
XXXIV.
wallis
As ſoon as the neceſſary ſupplies arrived, lord Cornwallis on the C HA P.
eighth of September began his march from Camden, proceeding
1780.
through the hoſtile ſettlement of Waxhaws to Charlotte-town, in Lord Corn-
the back parts of North Carolina. This march was no doubt pro- marches into
jected with a view of bearing down all oppoſition : His lordſhip North Caro-
was to paſs through the moſt hoſtile parts of either province with the
main
army, whilſt major Ferguſon, with his corps of loyal militia,
was to advance ſtill nearer to the frontiers; and lieutenant-colonel
Tarleton, with the cavalry, and the light and legion infantry, to
purſue an intermediate courſe, and move up the weſtern banks of
the Wateree. On the right of his lordſhip's march, but at a conſi-
derable diſtance, was the friendly ſettlement of highlanders, at Croſs
Creek, and on his left another friendly ſettlement in Tryon County.
If he was able to reduce to obedience the inveterate inhabitants of
the tract of country through which the main army marched, a com-
munication might be opened between the friendly ſettlements on the
right and left, a powerful aſſiſtance derived from their co-operation,
and the ſpeedy reduction of the whole province reaſonably expected.
The previous meaſures appeared well adapted to the end: And the
reduction of the province of North Carolina was undoubtedly at
this time confidently looked for. But to confound human wiſdom,
and ſet at nought the arrogance and preſumption of man, unex-
pected incidents daily ariſe in the affairs of human life, which, con-
ducted by an inviſible hand, derange the beſt-concerted fchemes, as
will be exemplified in the event of the preſent expedition.
The march of the main army was performed without any mate-
rial occurrence, except that a number of the convaleſcents relapſed
into their former ſtate of illneſs, and were left behind at Blair's
Mills, under the care of major M'Arthur, who remained there, with
the ſeventy-firſt regiment, for their protection, for the ſecurity of
the mills, and for preſerving the communication with Camden.
Tarleton,
216
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIV.
1780.
CH A P. Tarleton, with the cavalry and light-infantry, received orders to
paſs the Catawba at Blair's Ford: And Charlotte was taken poffef-
ſion of after a ſlight reſiſtance from the militia towards the end of
September. At this period, major Hanger commanded the legion,
colonel Tarleton being ill. In the centre of Charlotte, interfecting
the two principal ſtreets, ſtood a large brick building, the upper part
being the court-houſe, and the under part the market-houſe. Bea
hind the ſhambles a few Americans on horſeback had placed them
ſelves. The legion was ordered to drive them off; but, upon re-
ceiving a fire from behind the ſtalls, this corps fell back. Lord
Cornwallis rode up in perſon, and made uſe of theſe words:
Legion, remember you have every thing to loſe, but nothing to
gain;" alluding, as was ſuppoſed, to the former reputation of
this corps.
Webſter's brigade moved on and drove the Americans
from behind the court-houſe; the legion then purſued them; but the
whole of the Britiſh army was actually kept at bay, for ſome mi-
nutes, by a few mounted Americans, not exceeding twenty in
number.
The vicinity of Charlotte abounded with mills *; and the army,
during its ſtay, was ſufficiently ſupplied with proviſions, notwith-
ſtanding the hoſtile diſpoſition of the inhabitants. So inveterate
was their rancour, that the meſſengers, with expreſſes for the
commander in chief, were frequently murdered ; and the inha-
bitants, inſtead of remaining quietly at home to receive payment
for the produce of their plantations, made it a practice to way-lay
the Britiſh foraging parties, fire their rifles from concealed places,
and then fly into the woods f. Nevertheleſs Charlotte, from its
inter-
* In colonci Polk's miil was found twenty-eight thouſand weight of flour, and a quantity
+
&f wheat.
* There were ſeveral large, well-cultivated farms in the neighbourhood of Charlotte:
An abundance of cattle ; few ſheep; the cattle being moſtly milch-cows, or cows
with
4
AMERICAN WAR.
217
intermediate poſition between Camden and Saliſbury, was a con-
CHAP
XXXIV.
venient ſituation to be occupied whenever the army ſhould advance
1780.
farther into North Carolina ; and here, accordingly, lord Corn- Defeat and
fall of major
wallis intended to eſtabliſh a poſt. But whilſt he was taking meaſures
Ferguſon
for this purpoſe, the unwelcome news arrived of the defeat of
major Ferguſon; the fall of that officer, and the deſtruction, capti-
vity, or diſperſion of his whole corps. The total loſs of ſo conſider-
As an
IT
with calf, which at that ſeaſon of the year was the beſt beef; for the cattle in North and
South Carolina run wild in the woods, and at this ſeaſon are in general very poor,
inſtance, wlien the army was at Charlotte, we killed upon an average 100 head per day.
The amount of rations iſſued, including the army departments, militia, negrocs, &c. was
4100 per day. The leanneſs of the cattle will account for the number killed cach
day. This was not confined to Charlotte, for they were poor at this ſeaſon throughout the
Carolinas; very few of the oxen were fit to kill. In onc day no leſs than 37 cows in calf were
flaughtered: Neceſſity only juſtified this meaſure. At this period the royal army was fup-
ported by lord Rawdon's moving with one half of the army one day, and colonel Webſter,
with the other half, the next day, as a covering party, to protect the foraging parties and
cattle-drivers. This meaſure was rendered neceſſary from the hoſtile diſpoſition of the inha-
bitants. Wheat and rye were collected in the ſtraw, Indian corn in the huſk, and brought in
waggons to Charlotte, where in the court-houſe) it was threſhed out by the militia and
negroes, and then ſent to the mill. This was attended with much trouble and fatigue to the
army ; nevertheleſs meal was not wanting; cattle there were in abundance. When a cow
calves in the Carolinas, the owner marks the calf, and turns it into the woods, where it re-
mains for three or four, and even ſeven, years, without ever being brought out. Indi.
ridual farmers have marked from twelve to fifteen hundred calves in one year, It would
never anſwer to fodder ſuch a number of cattle. The climate being very much to the
ſouthward, admits of their running in the woods all the winter, where a ſpecies of coarſe wild
graſs grows moſt luxuriantly all the year. Penſylvania and Maryland do not raiſe black
cattle ſufficient for their own confumption. The drovers from Penſylvania go to the Caro-
linas, purchaſe theſe lean cattle at a very low price, and bring them to Penſylvania,
where they are fatted in the rich meadows on the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware
rivers for market.
This will explain, in ſome degree, why the Carolinas ſuffered ſo much
during the war; for the planters property confifted chiefly in cattle and negroes, there not being
shite inhabitants ſufficient to cultivate the land; the planters aſſerting, that, without negrocs,
indigo and rice could not be cultivated, the whites not being able to bear the heat of the
climate. The negroes in general followed the Britiſh army,
VOL. II.
Ff
able
1
218
HISTORY OF THE
T
XXXIV.
3780,
CHA P. able a detachment, from the operations of which ſo much was
expected, put a ſtop, for the preſent, to the farther progreſs of
the commander in chief, and obliged him to fall back into South
Carolina, for the protection of its weſtern borders againſt the
incurſions of a horde of mountaineers, whoſe appearance was as
unexpected as their ſucceſs was fatal to the proſecution of the in-
tended expedițion.
;
AMERICAN WAR.
719
r
CH A P.
XXXV.
The Americans under Colonel Clarke make an Attack on Auguſlam
Retreat of Clarke-The Detachment under Major Ferguſon attacked
and overpowered by American Mountaineers--Lord Cornwallis
falls back to South Carolina-Colonel Tarleton checks the Inroads
of the American Partizan Marion-Junction of the American
Forces under Sumpter, Clarke, and Brannen Astion at Black-
Stock's Hill between Sumpter and Tarletox.
XXXV.
IN
order to trace the cauſes of an event ſo important in its con- C H A P.
ſequences as the defeat of major Ferguſon, it will be neceſſary to
1780.
go a little farther back. A colonel Clarke, an inhabitant of Georgia,
who had fled from that province after its reduction by colonel
Campbell in 1779, having attached to himſelf ſome followers on the
frontiers of North and South Carolina, made his way through theſe
provinces, his numbers increaſing as he advanced, until he reached
the province of Georgia, where, during the march of lord Cornwallis
from Camden to Charlotte, he made an attack upon the Britiſh poſt
at Auguſta. Here lieutenant-colonel Brown commanded, with a
garriſon of one hundred and fifty provincials; and as the town did The Ameri-
not afford an eligible poſition for defence, he marched from thence colonel
with his garriſon, and ſome friendly Indians whom he had called to an attack ozi
his aſſiſtance, towards Garden Hill, an eminence on the banks of
Augutta,
the Savannah. This hill he found was already occupied by the
enemy; but, bringing his cannon to bear upon them, and at the
Ff 2
fame
Clarke make
220
HISTORY OF THE
1
XXXV.
CH A P. fame time making a charge with his whole force, the enemy were
diſlodged, after a deſperate conflict of twenty minutes, at the end
1780.
of which, lieutenant-colonel Brown gained poſſeſſion of the hill,
although with the loſs of his cannon, the troops which he had under
him not being ſufficient in number to force the one and ſecure the
other. This poſt, fo gallantly won, he bravely maintained, under
many diſadvantages, until lieutenant-colonel Cruger, who had intel-
ligence of Clarke's motions, arrived from Ninety-ſix, and brought
å detachment to his aſſiſtance. Clarke, receiving information of
Cruger's march, endeavoured by menaces of cruelty to intimidate
Brown into a ſurrender of the poſt; but finding his menaces inef-
fectual, he haſtily decamped, upon the nearer approach of the rein-
forcement, and retreated with his followers. Theſe had originally
amounted to about ſeven hundred men; but in the different con-
flicts with the garriſon, and in the blockade of Garden Hill, Clarke
had loſt about one fixth part of his number. On the part of the
Britiſh troops, captain Johnſon was killed, and lieutenant-colonel
Brown wounded : The loſs in other reſpects was inconſiderale, and
Retreat of
fell principally upon the Indians. The retreat of Clarke and
his followers was ſo precipitate, that, although a purſuit was ordered,
very few priſoners were made, but the Britiſh cannon were retaken.
Still, however, it was hoped that Clarke's retreat might be cut off,
as major Ferguſon, with his corps, traverſed the country between
kim and North Carolina ; and intelligence was accordingly ſent to
that officer, acquainting him with the route which he had taken.
Major Fergufon, whoſe zeat in the ſervice of his king and country
was equal to his other great qualities as an officer, did not fail to
take immediate meaſures for accompliſhing an object ſo deſirable,
and advanced nearer to the mountains than the other purpoſes of
his expedition probably required: But, unfortunately for his ſuc-
ceſs, another enemy appeared at this juncture, whoſe ſuperiority. in
numbers
Clarke.
.
1
AMÈRICAN WAR223
.
.
.
numbers it was hazardous to encounter, and whoſe rapidity of move- CHA P.
ment rendered a retreat difficult in his preſent advanced ſituation.
This enemy was compoſed of men who had aſſembled from dif-
1780.
ferent views and with different objects, and the union of their
force againſt Ferguſon was in a great meaſure accidental, · The firſt
diviſion of theſe men conſiſted of the wild and fierce inhabitants of
Kentucky, and other ſettlements weſtward of the Alleganey Moun-
tains, who, aſſembiing under the colonels Campbell and Boone,
paſſed the mountains, with an intention of ſeizing upon a quantity
of preſents which they underſtood were but ſlightly guarded at Au-
guſta, and which were about that time to have been diſtributed
amongſt the Creek and Cherokee Indians. After paſſing the moun-
tains they heard of Clarke's repulſe at Auguſta, and from his failure
conceiving their own force to be inſufficient for attempting the poſt,
they turned their thoughts towards Ferguſon, whoſe movements on
the frontiers, indicating an approach to their country, gave them
conſiderable aların. In this new deſign they were joined by a colo-
nel Williams, an American partizan of the diſtrict of Ninety-fix,
with a conſiderable number of followers. The other diviſion of
theſe men, conſiſting of the inhabitants about Holſton River, Powel's
Valley, Berkeley, Botetourt, and Fincaſtle, on the frontiers of Vir-
ginia, had aſſembled under the colonels Cleveland, Shelby, Sevier,
Brandon, and Lacy, with a view of oppoſing the advance of the
Britiſh army towards their ſettlements : But after they had proceeded
ſome diſtance on their march, thinking themſelves unable to attempt
any
direct oppoſition to the army under lord Cornwallis, they too
bent their force againſt the devoted Ferguſon, who they under-
ſtood had taken poſt with his corps at Gilbert-town, in the vi-
cinity of the mountains : Thither, therefore, they directed their
march. Theſe men were all well mounted on horſeback and
armed with rifles; Each carried his own proviſions in a wallet, ſo
that
!
222
HISTORY OF THE
Xxxv.
CH A P. that no incumbrance of waggons, nor delays of public departments,
impeded their movements. Ferguſon's vigilance nevertheleſs pre-
1780.
vented a ſurpriſe: Whilſt they were yet at ſome diſtance he received
intelligence of their approach, by means of his emiſſaries, and in-
mediately began a retreat towards the Britiſh army, ſending forward
meſſengers to acquaint lord Cornwallis with his danger ; but theſe
unfortunately were intercepted. When the different diviſions of
mountaineers reached Gilbert-town, which was nearly about the
ſame time, they amounted to upwards of three thouſand men.
From theſe, fifteen hundred of the beſt were ſelected, who, mounted
on fleet horſes, were ſent in purſuit of Ferguſon, and overtook him
at King's Mountain on the ninth of October. At this place he had
halted, upon the near approach of the enemy, and, after occupying
the beſt poſition he could find, determined to wait the attack. King's
Mountain, from its height, was undoubtedly an eligible ſituation for
receiving an attack; but in another reſpect it was advantageous to
the aſſailants : Being covered with wood, it afforded them an oppor-
tunity of fighting in their own way, by placing themſelves behind
When they approached the mountain they divided into dif-
ferent bodies, and under their reſpective leaders made the attack
major Fergu-
fon attacked from different quarters. Colonel Cleveland's detachment firſt en-
powered by gaged, but was quickly obliged to retire from the approaching bay-
mountaincers. onet. Scarcely had this detachment given way, when another under
colonel Shelby, from an unexpected quarter, poured in a well-directed
fire; the bayonet, however, was again ſucceſsful, and obliged this
detachment alſo to fall back. By this time the party under co-
lonel Campbell had aſcended the mountain, and renewed the attack
from a different quarter. Major Ferguſon, whoſe conduct was equal
to his courage, quickly preſented a new front, and was again fuc-
ceſsful. But as often as one of the American parties was driven
back, another returned to its former ſtation, and, ſheltered behind
the
trees.
The detach
ment under
and over-
1
AMERICAN WAR,
223
the trees, poured in an irregular but deſtructive fire. In this man- C HA P.
.
ner the engagement was maintained for near an hour, the moun-
1780.
taineers flying whenever they were in danger of being charged with
the bayonet, and returning as ſoon as the Britiſh detachment had
faced about to repel another of their parties. Already an hundred
and fifty of major Ferguſon's corps were Nain, and a greater num-
ber wounded : Still, however, the unconquerable fpirit of that gal-
lant officer refuſed to ſurrender: He perſevered, and repulſed a ſuc-
ceſſion of attacks from every quarter, until he received a mortal
wound. By the fall of major Ferguſon his men were undoubtedly
diſheartened: Animated by his brave example, they had hitherto
perſevered under all their diſadvantages: In the reſources of his
fruitful genius they deſervedly placed the utmoſt confidence; and
with him periſhed all their hopes of ſucceſs. Under ſuch circum-
ſtances, the ſecond in command, judging all farther reſiſtance to be
vain, offered to ſurrender, and ſued for quarter. The priſoners,
including the wounded, amounted to eight hundred and ten : OF
theſe, about one hundred only were Britiſh regulars. The loſs of
the Americans, in the number of killed, was trifling, but they had
a conſiderable number wounded: And brilliant as their ſucceſs was,
they ſhamefully ſtained the laurels they had won by cruelties ex-
erciſed upon the priſoners, ten of whom were hanged immediately
after the action.
Much had been expected from the exertions of major Ferguſon
in collecting a force upon the frontiers: And by his unfortunate
fall, and the ſlaughter, captivity, or diſperſion of his whole corps,
the plan of the expedition into North Carolina was entirely de-
ranged. At Polk's Mill, near Charlotte, a ſmall detachment of the
twenty-third regiment was poſted, commanded by lieutenant Guyon,
a very young man. The Americans made an attack upon the mill,
avith a very ſuperior force, but were repulfed. Lieutenant Guyon's
4
conduct
t
124
HISTORY OF THE
XXXV.
Lord Corn.
wallis falls
Carolina,
CHA P. conduct was highly applauded. The weſtern frontiers of South Ca-
rolina were now expoſed to the incurſions of the mountaineers;
1780.
and it became neceſſary for lord Cornwallis to fall back for thcir pro-
tection, and to wait for a reinforcement before he could proceed
farther upon his expedition.
his expedition. Fortunately the friends of govern-
ment in North Carolina, rendered cautious by their misfortunes in
former inſurrections, had not been ſo ready to take arms as was ex-
pected: No general riſing had taken place; ſo that the retreat of
the Britiſh army did not much increaſe, although it prolonged their
ſufferings.
On the fourteenth of O&tober, which was as ſoon after lord Corn-
back to South Wallis received certain intelligence of the loſs of Ferguſon's detach-
ment as the arıny could be put in motion, he began his march back to
South Carolina. Nearly about this time lord Cornwallis fell fick,
and continued ill for ſome time; the command devolved on lord
Rawdon. In this retreat the king's troops ſuffered much, encoun-
tering the greateſt difficulties; the ſoldiers had no tents; it rained for
ſeveral days without intermiſſion; the roads were over their ſhoes in
water and mud.
At night, when the army took up its ground, it
encamped in the woods, in a moſt unhealthy climate; for many
days without rum. Sometimes the army had beef, and no bread;
at other times bread and no beef. For five days it was ſupported
upon Indian corn, which was collected as it ſtood in the field, five
cars of which were the allowance for two ſoldiers for twenty-four
hours. They were to cook it as they could, which was generally
done by parching it before the fire. In riding through the encamp-
ment of the militia, the Author diſcovered them grating their corn,
which was done by two men of a meſs breaking up their tin
canteens, and with a bayonet punching holes through the tin; this
made a kind of raſp, on which they grated their corn:
The idea
was communicated to the adjutant-general, and it was afterwards
adopted
2
AMERICAN WAR.
225
I
XXXV.
adopted throughout the army. The water that the army drank was C HA P.
frequently as thick as puddle. Few armies ever encountered greater -
1780.
difficulties and hardſhips; the ſoldiers bore them with great patience,
and without a murmur : Their attachment to their commander
ſupported them in the day of adverſity; knowing, as they did, that
their officers', and even lords Cornwallis and Rawdon's fare was not
better than their own. Yet, with all their reſolution and patience,
they could not have proceeded but for the perſonal exertions of the
militia, who, with a zeal that did them infinite honour, rendered the
moſt important ſervices. The continual rains had ſwelled the rivers
and creeks prodigiouſly, and rendered the roads almoſt impaſſable.
The waggon and artillery horſes were quite exhauſted with fatigue
by the time the army had reached Sugar Creek. This creek was
very rápid, it banks nearly perpendicular, and the ſoil, being clay,
as ſlippery as ice. The horſes were taken out of ſome of the wag-
gons, and the militia, harneſſed in their ſtead, drew the waggons
through the creek. We are ſorry to ſay, that, in return for theſe
exertions, the militia were maltreated, by abuſive language, and
even beaten by ſome officers in the quarter-maſter-general's depart-
ment: In conſequence of this ill uſage, ſeveral of them left the
army next morning, for ever, chuſing to run the riſque of meeting
the reſentment of their eneinies rather than fubmit to the deriſion
and abuſe of thoſe to whom they looked up as friends *.
At
The militia, moſt of them being mounted on horſeback, were not in fo weak a ſtate as
the regulars; but they were not without their ſhare of toil and trouble, added to their exer-
tions already mentioned: For as ſoon as the army had taken up its ground for the night, to
endeavour to procure a limited and ſcanty reſt, the duty of the militia began. They were aſſer-
bled by the author, who always attended them in perſon, and went in queft of proviſions, which
were collected daily from the country through which the army marched : Nor were their diffi-
? culties on this ſervice trifling ; they were obliged to ride through rivers, creeks, woods, and
ſwamps, to hunt out the cattle. This fervice was their conſtant and daily duty; they were
frequently oppoſed; ſometimes worited, and with no inconfiderable lofs. In ſhort, fo effen-
VOL. II.
tially
G g
A
226
HISTORY OF THE
CH A T
A Р.
XXXV.
the troops.
1780.
At length the arıny reached the Catawba, which was forded by
This river is ſix hundred yards wide, and three
and a half feet deep. Two hundred rifle-men placed on the oppo-
fite bank muſt have deſtroyed many of our men before we could
have gained the ſhore. On the twenty-ninth of October the army
arrived at Wynneſborough, an intermediate ſtation between Cam-
den and Ninety-ſix: The army, thus encamped, was at hand either
to ſuccour Camden or Ninety-fix; and covered from the enemy's
incurſions all the country behind to the ſea-coaſt. Lord Cornwallis,
however, did not expect to remain long without ſuch a reinforcement
as would enable him to proſecute his further deſigns; as he had
under his orders a detachment commanded by general Leſlie, which
had been ſent to Virginia by ſir Henry Clinton, as ſoon as he re-
ceived information of the defeat of Gates at Camden. This detach-
.
ment was ſent to Virginia with a view of co-operatiug with lord
Cornwallis, upon a ſuppoſition that he would proceed upon his ex-
pedition into North Carolina immediately after the battle of Cam-
den; and the detachment was of courſe put under his lordſhip’s
orders. But as that expedition was neceſſarily poſtponed, earl
Cornwallis fent orders to general Leſlie to bring his detachment by
water round to Charleſtown, and join him at Wynneſborough.
In the mean time the mountaineers, contented with their ſucceſs
againſt Ferguſon, had gone home and diſperſed : But the north-eaſt
parts of the province were infeſted by the depredations of an enter-
priſing partizan of the name of Marion. This man, previous to
the defeat of general Gates, had been active in ſtirring up the in-
habitants upon Black River to revolt; but after that event had
tially neceſſary was this unfortunate deſcription of people, that it was impoſſible to have fup-
ported his majeſty's army in the field without them. Cattle-driving was of itſelf a perfect bu-
fineſs; it required great art and experience to get the cattle out of the woods. The commiſ-
ſary was under the greateſt obligations to thoſe people, without whoſe aſſiſtance he could not
poſſibly have found proviſions for the army.
3
thought
AMERICAN WAR.
227
1
XXXV.
Tarleton
roads of the
thought it prudent for ſome time to retire out of the province. He C HA P.
had now again returned, and, traverſing the country between the
1780.
rivers Pedee and Santee, without oppoſition, was ſo ſucceſsful in
ſtirring up rebellion, that the whole of that diſtrict was upon the
eve of a revolt.
The number of his followers too had ſo increaſed
that he was enabled to ſend parties acroſs the Santee, and threatened
to interrupt the communication betwveen Camden and Charleſtown.
To repreſs his incurſions, lieutenant-colonel Tarleton was ſent Colonel
againſt him with the light-infantry and legion. That officer, after checks the in-
obtaining information of Marion's ſtrength, which he found to be American
not ſo great as it had been repreſented, endeavoured, by concealing pion.
partizan Ma.
his own, to invite an attack, and had nearly ſucceeded. Marion ad-
vanced within two miles of the Britiſh encampment; but being
then informed of his danger, immediately retreated amongſt the
ſwamps and inarſhes, through which it was impoſſible to follow
him. This expedition was however ſerviceable in another reſpect,
by convincing the inhabitants, that if they ſwerved from their alle-
giance, there was ſtill a power in the province capable of puniſhing
them.
Nearly about the ſame time, and whilſt the light-infantry and November.
cavalry were abſent upon this expedition, Sumpter again made
his appearance in the north-weſt part of the province. After his
defeat on the eighteenth of Auguſt he had retired into a remote
of the province called the New Acquiſition, the inhabitants of
which had not yet ſubmitted to the Britiſh arms. Here he was in-
defatigable in ſtirring them up to take arms; and the reputation he
had already acquired, with his peculiar talent for enterpriſe, in a
ſhort time procured him a number of followers. With theſe he
now advanced towards the Britiſh quarters, intending to form a
junction with colonels Clarke and Brannen, and with their united
force to attack the Britiſh poſt at Ninety-ſix. Earl Cornwallis re-
Gg 2
ceiving
part
1
-
228
HISTORY OF THE
XXXV.
1780,
CHA P. ceiving intelligence of his approach, laid a plan for ſurpriſing him
in his camp at Fiſh Dam, upon Broad River, the execution of which
was committed to inajor Wemyſs, of the ſixty-third regiment.
That officer accordingly marched from Wynneſborough in the even-
ing, with the ſixty-third regiment mounted, and about forty of the
legion cavalry that had been left behind when Tarleton marched
into the eaſtern parts of the province, intending to make his attack
at day-break in the morning ; but reaching the place of his deſtina-
tion ſooner than he expected, and fearful leſt the enemy ſhould diſ-
cover him before it was light, and have time to eſcape, he ventured
to make his attack in the night. At the head of his detachment he
charged the enemy's piquet; but, unfortunately, from five ſhot
only, that were fired before the piquet retired, he received two dan-
gerous wounds; and to this accident Sumpter probably owed his
ſafety. The command now devolved upon a young lieutenant, un-
acquainted with the plan, the ground, or the ſtrength of the
enemy, and all was confufion. Sumpter had time to draw out his
troops ; and the Britiſh detachment was repulſed, and obliged to re-
tire, leaving behind their commander, and about twenty of their
Junction of number killed or wounded. Sumpter now croſſed the Broad River,
and formed the intended junction with Clarke and Brannen; and
Sumpter,
lord Cornwallis, alarmed for the ſafety of Ninety-ſix, ſent an ex-
Clarke, and
preſs to recall Tarleton with the light troops from the eaſtern parts
of the province. He had orders to proceed by the neareſt route
againſt Sumpter: The fixty-third regiment was ſent forward to
join him upon his march; and the ſeventy-firſt advanced to take
poſt at Brierley's Ferry for ſupporting him. Sumpter moved for-
ward with great confidence, becauſe he knew of the abſence of the
Britiſh light troops in the eaſtern parts of the province; and Tarle-
ton, after receiving lord Cornwallis's expreſs, came back with ſo
much expedition, that he had nearly got behind Sumpter's corps
before
thie American
forces under
Brannen.
AMERICAN WAR.
229
1
XXXV,
1780,
4
The rapid
before the latter was aware of his return. In the night preceding CHA P.
the day on which Tarleton expected to effect his purpoſe, by march-
ing up the banks of the Enoree, Sumpter was appriſed of his dan-
ger by a deſerter from the fixty-third regiment, and immediately
began his retreat. Tarleton, while on his march the next morning,
received information that Sumpter was retreating, and commenced a
purſuit with his uſual celerity. At a ford upon the Enoree, he
came up with, and cut to pieces part of the rear-guard of Sumpter's
detachment, which was waiting for the return of a patrole; the
main body having paſſed the river ſome hours before.
river Tyger croſſed the line of march which Sumpter was purſuing
at ſome diſtance in his front, and if he was ſuffered to paſs it un-
moleſted, it was feared that all farther purſuit would be fruitleſs.
Tarleton, impreſſed with this idea, moved on with as much expedi-
tion as he could, conſiſtently with another object, which a know-
ledge of Sumpter's force rendered it neceſſary for him to have
ſteadily in view. This was to keep his detachment compact, that
the infantry and cavalry. might be at hand to ſupport each other.
But, at the hour of four in the afternoon of the twentieth of No-
vember, finding that, unleſs he altered his diſpoſition, Sumpter
would have time to paſs the Tyger before he could come up with
him, he took the reſolution of preſſing forward with the cavalry,
and eighty mounted men of the ſixty-third regiment, making in the
whole, two hundred and fifty men, and left the infantry, who were
much fatigued with their previous exertions, to come on at their
own pace. After an hour's march, he overtook: Sumpter, advan-
tageouſly poſted on an eminence called Blackſtock's Hill, near the Blackſtock's
banks of the Tyger, and without waiting to be joined by the light- Sumpter and
infantry, made a precipitate attack with the force which he had then
with him. Sumpter's numbers, which were more than double the
Britiſh
Action at
Hill between
Tarleton.
30
HISTORY OF THE
but no
CH A P. Britiſh force at this moment oppoſed to him, perhaps would not
XXXV.
have availed on equal ground; but the advantages of a ſtrong ſitu-
1780.
ation
gave
him a moſt decided ſuperiority, eſpecially over cavalry.
" That part of the hill to which the attack was directed was
nearly perpendicular, with a ſmall rivulet, bruſhwood, and a railed
“ fence in front. The rear of the Americans, and part of their
“ right flank, were ſecured by the river Tyger, and their left was
".covered by a large log barn, into which a conſiderable diviſion of
" their force had been thrown, and from which, as the apertures
" between the logs ſerved them for loop-holes, they fired with ſe-
curity. Britiſh valour was conſpicuous in this action ;
66 valour could ſurmount the obſtacles and diſadvantages that here
“ ſtood in its way. The fixty-third regiment was roughly handled:
« The commanding officer t, two others t, with one third of their
privates, fell. Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, obſerving their fitua-
~ tion, charged with his cavalry ; but unable to diſlodge the enemy,
“ either from the log barn on his right, or the height on his left,
“ he was obliged to fall back. Lieutenant Skinner, attached to the
" cavalry, with a preſence of mind ever uſeful in ſuch emergencies,
covered the retreat of the ſixty-third; and in this manner did the
" whole party continue to retire, till they formed a junction with
“ their infantry, who were advancing to ſupport them, leaving
Sumpter in quiet poſſeſſion of the field. This officer occupied the
“ hill for ſeveral hours, but having received a bad wound, and
“knowing that the Britiſh would be reinforced before next morn-
“ing, he thought it hazardous to wait. He accordingly retired,
" and taking his wounded men with him, croſſed the rapid river
Tyger. The wounded of the Britiſh detachment were left to the
mercy of the enemy; and it is but doing bare juſtice to ge-
+ Major Money
# Licutenants Gibſon and Cope.
u
neral
AMERICAN WAR.
231
1
.
" neral Sumpter to declare that the ſtricteſt humanity took place C HA P.
upon the preſent occaſion; they were fupplied with every comfort
1780.
" in his power
Although Tarleton was repulſed at Blackſtock's Hill, the immedi-
ate effects of the action were nearly the ſame as thoſe of a victory.
Sumpter being diſabled by his wound from keeping the field, his
followers diſperſed, after conveying him to a place of ſafety.
* The whole of this account of the action at Blackſtock's is taken from Mackenzie's Stric.
tures on Tarleton's Campaigns. The account is there ſaid to have been compiled from the
concurrent teſtimony of ſeveral officers preſent in the action; and it has been preferred to
Tarleton's own account, becauſe his claim of victory is evidently inconſiſtent with ſome other
circumſtances which he admits, particularly this, that he did not gain poſſeſſion of the field
of action until the next morning, after it had been quitted by the Americans in the night.
1
1
A
232
HISTORY OF THE
1
CH A P.
XXXVI.
►
Effeets of the Defeat and Fall of Major Ferguſon--General Gates
reſigns the Command of the Southern American Army to General
Green-Danger ariſing to the Britiſh Garriſon in New York from
the extreme Rigour of the Winter--Meaſures taken for the Defence
of New York-Unſucceſsful Attempt to eſtabliſh the royal Standard
in ihe Jerſeys.
1780.
Effects of the
defeat and
fall of major
Ferguſon.
CXXXI.". THE poſtponing the expedition into North Carolina was not the
only injurious conſequence that followed from the defeat and
fall of major Ferguſon. By that unfortunate event the loyal inha-
bitants in both the Carolinas were diſcouraged from joining the
king’s ſtandard ; and the expiring embers of the war were lighted
up
afreſh. The diſaſter which had befallen that brave officer was
quickly circulated from one end of the continent to the other; and
the friends of independence, cheered by the intelligence, recovered
from that ſtate of deſpondence which followed the ſucceſſive defcats
of Gates at Camben, and Sumpter near the ford of Catawba. The
governments of Virginia and North Carolina continued to raiſe
men and make draughts from their militia : And the officers
who eſcaped from Camden were indefatigably active in collecting
the diſperſed remains of their broken army. By thoſe means ſome-
thing like a force was after a time aſſembled at Hillſborough, where
general Gates eſtabliſhed his head-quarters. As this force increaſed,
head-quarters were advanced, firſt to Saliſbury, and afterwards
to
A
AMERICAN WAR.
233
XXXVI.
General
of the ſouth-
to Charlotte ; and ſtill more to encourage the reviving ſpirits of the CHAP.
ſouthern troops, general Green, who was ſuppoſed to enjoy the man
1780.
eſteem and confidence of Waſhington more than any other officer of
the army, was ſent to command them. He arrived at Charlotte on
Gates reſigns
the ſecond of December, and on the following day general Gates the command
reſigned the command of the army.
With theſe tranſactions cloſed
ern American
the campaign of the year 1780 in the ſouthern colonies, the events army to gene-
of which, for the ſake of perſpicuity, have been given in a connected
ſeries.
We muſt now take a review of the military operations between
the two grand armies in the vicinity of New York, and of the other
principal events that occurred upon the continent of America from
the beginning of the preſent year, and from thence paſs to thoſe
that occurred in other quarters of the world, to which the war in its
progreſs extended itſelf.
The winter that preceded this campaign was the ſevereſt ever re- Dangers
membered in North America. The rivers from Virginia northwards ariſing to the
were frozen up for the greateſt part of three months: And even the ſon in New
York, from
arms of the ſea were in many parts paſſable upon the ice. When the extreme
ſir Henry Clinton departed upon his expedition againſt Charleſtown, winter.
he left a garriſon fully adequate to the ſecurity of New York in
ordinary ſeaſons: But by the unexpected rigour of the winter it
was deprived of thoſe defenſive advantages which its inſular fitua-
tion at other times afforded, and became expoſed to an attack from
general Waſhington. By the middle of January the North River,
which conſtituted its greateſt natural defence, was ſo completely
covered with thick ice, that the largeſt army, with the heavieſt ar-
tillery and baggage, might have paſſed it on the ice with eaſe. In
other quarters, towards the country, New York was not leſs accef-
ſible; whilſt its communication with the ſea was entirely cut off, the
Vol. II,
Hh
ſhips
rigour of the
234
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVI.
1780.
Meaſures
New York,
CHA P. ſhips of war that remained for its defence, and all the other veſſels
in the harbour, being frozen up in the ice.
In this perilous ſituation, the veteran lieutenant-general Knyphau-
takene for the fen, who commanded, took ſuch precautionary meaſures as prudence
dictated. The ſeamen were landed from the ſhips and tranſports, and
formed into companies: The inhabitants were embodied and officered,
and took their routine of duty with the regular garriſon. In the mean
time the dar,jer to be apprehended from an attack was not the only
evil to which the garriſon and inhabitants were ſubjected : They
were deprived of thoſe fupplies which a communication by water
would have afforded, and in particular ſuffered ſeverely for want of
fuel. Such was their diſtreſs for want of this article, that it became
neceſſary to break up ſome old tranſports, and to pull down ſome
uninhabited wooden houſes, to ſupply their moſt preſſing neceſſities.
But the ſame zeal animated them, and the ſame ardour ran through
the whole ſervice, as when, in a former year, the count d'Eſtaing
anchored off Sandy Hook, and threatened to enter the harbour.
Had general Waſhington been in fufficient force to have ha-
zarded an attack, it is difficult to fay what might ultimately have
been the conſequence: It was however ſufficiently apparent, that
he would have met with the moſt determined reſiſtance. · But
neral Waſhington was in no condition to make the attempt : His
army had been weakened by the large detachments drawn from ić
for the relief of Charleſtown; and amongſt the troops that re-
mained with him a mutinous ſpirit began to appear, in conſequence
of their ſufferings from the ſcarcity of proviſions and tlie want of
all other neceſſaries. The deſtruction of the continental magazines
by the deſultory expeditions of the preceding year, againſt dif-
ferent
parts of the fea-coaſt, probably laid the foundation of this
fcarcity: And the evil was increaſed by the rapid depreciation of
3
the
1
But ge-
AMERICAN WAR.
235
XXXVI.
the
paper inoncy iſſued by congreſs, which rendered it difficult for CH A P.
their contractors to procure ſupplies. Thus, in conſequence of the
1780.
reciprocal weakneſs of the two armics, the winter palied without
any thing material happening between them, except an ineffectual
attempt made by the American general lord Stirling, about the mid-
dle of January, to take Staten Iſland. He marched over the ice
from the Jerſey ſhore in the night, ſurpriſed a ſmall poſt, and made
a few priſoners; but was ſoon obliged to retreat, and in his retreat
loſt ſome of his own men, who ſerved to exchange for the priſoners
that he had taken.
The enemy having eſtabliſhed a poſt at Young's Houſe, in the
neighbourhood of the White Plains, which greatly annoyed the
provincial loyaliſts, as well as the Britiſh army, by the interception of
cattle and proviſions intended to be brought to New York, it became
an object of importance with the governor and commander of his
majeſty's troops, if poſſible, to diſlodge that party, conſiſting of
about three hundred men. Much as it had been the wiſh of both
to drive the enemy from this poſt, no means had been uſed for that
end, on account of their diſtance, twenty miles from the out-poſts
of our army, till the month of February 1780, when, after a great
fall of ſnow, it was ſuggeſted that a detachment of ſoldiers might
be conveyed in ſleighs in one night, and ſurpriſe the enemy by break
of day. Major-general Mathew, who commanded at King's Bridge,
on the ſecond of February communicated to lieutenant-colonel Nor-
ton of the guards the intention of general Tryon and lieutenant-
general Knyphauſen, to ſend a detachment of troops to Young's
Houſe in ſleighs, which would be ready at King's Bridge in the
evening, and that lieutenant-colonel Norton was to command the
party. The colonel, though highly gratified by this command,
and unwilling to ſay any thing that might ſeem to retard the fer-
vice, or throw difficulties in the way of the intended expedition,
Hh 2
yet
-36
HISTORY OF THE
сH 4 Р.
XXXVI.
1780.
yet thought it his duty to point out the improbability of the ſleighs
anſwering the purpoſe: And ſo convinced was general Mathew,
from the reafons which lieutenant-colonel Norton adduced, of the
very little chance of ſucceeding by means of the fleighis, that ge-
neral Mathew, in the handſomeſt manner, in the event of the
Neighs upon trial not being found to anſwer, left lieutenant-colonel
Norton at liberty to act with the detachment as he pleaſed; either
to convert it to a foraging party, to proceed, or to return, as he
ſhould think moſt adviſable. Under theſe circumſtances, lieutenant-
colonel Norton, on the evening of the ſecond of February 1780, ſet
out with the four flank companies of the guards, two companies of
Heſſians, and a party of yagers, in the ſleighs; two three-pounders,
a detachment of yager cavalry, and the mounted Weſt Cheſter re-
fugees. The ſleighs, being ſoon found, inſtead of accelerating, to
retard the progreſs of the troops, were ordered back, and the de-
tachment moved on. Not long after the men had quitted the ſleighs,
and were marching forward, word was brought to lieutenant-colonel
Norton, that the horſes were not able to draw the guns through the
ſnow; he was therefore obliged to leave the guns, and with them a
guard ſufficient to enſure their return. The detachment continued
its march through bye-ways, and acroſs the country, in order to
avoid falling in with the enemy's patroles, ſtill in hopes, by perſe-
verance and exertion, to reach Young's Houſe by break of day.
At ſun-riſe, they learned from the guides that they were yet fever
miles ſhort of the enemy's poft: A long way for men wearied
with marching all night in bad roads, and with the ſnow in many
places above two feet deep. Their ſituation was, now, not a little
embarraſſing. As the guns, intended to open the doors of the ſtone
houſe, were left behind, to ſurpriſe the enemy was impoſſible. To
proceed, and not to carry the point, would be to expoſe the detach-
inent, in their return, already fatigued with a long and toilſome
march,
.
2
AMERICAN WAR,
237
XXXVI.
march, to be haraſſed for the ſpace of twenty miles, by an enemy CHAP.
in force, freſh, and with a perfect knowledge of the country. In
1780.
theſe circumſtances, the colonel, unwilling to return without ac-
compliſhing ſome object that might anſwer the expectation of thoſe
who had placed their confidence in him, determined, at all events, to
march to the enemy's poſt, and then act according to circumſtances;
availing himſelf of ſome axes he had found by the way, and an iron
crow, the better to enable the grenadiers to force the doors and
windows of the houſe. When the detachment arrived within two
miles of the enemy, the cavalry were ordered to advance, and in-
veſt the houſe in ſuch a manner as to prevent either a retreat or
reinforcement. This order, from the depth of the ſnow, could not
be carried into execution, and the cavalry drew up on an eminence
at ſome little diſtance from the houſe. As the flank companies of
the firſt battalion of guards approached, parties of the enemy were
obſerved marching very deliberately to reinforce lieutenant-colonel
Thomſon, in Young's Houſe. The diſpoſition for attack was then
foon made, by defiring lieutenant-colonel Hall, with his company
of light-infantry of the guards, to aſcend the hill on his right, be-
low which ſtood the houſe, whilſt the firſt company of grenadiers in-
clined a little to the left, to cut off the retreat of a party that had
advanced from Hammond's, a houſe at a ſmall diſtance from Young's.
Very ſhortly after the ſeparation of the two leading companies, the fire-
ing began between the party in the houſe and lieutenant-colonel Hall's
men: Nor was it long before the grenadiers came up with the party
of the enemy juſt mentioned, who were in readineſs waiting for them
in the orchard adjoining to Hammond's houſe, and received them
with a degree of coolneſs and courage that did the Americans honour.
To ſuperior force they were obliged to give way; and by the timely
arrival of lieutenant-colonel Pennington, with a part of the ſecond
company of grenadier guards, who had advanced in a ſtraight line,
the
2.39
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVI.
1780.
CHA P. the houſe was carried, and the enemy defeated. So ſharp was the
conflict, and ſo ſpeedily termir:ated, that the whole of lieutenant-
colonel Pennington's company had not time to come up,
which
made it impoſſible for the ſecond
for the ſecond company of light-infantry,
commanded by lieutenant-colonel Guydickens, or the other
troops, which were in the rear of the line of march, to ſhare in the
action *
The priſoners, being put under a proper eſcort, and the troops
formed again in line of march, the detachment took the direct
road to King's Bridge, which they reached by nine on the ſame
evening t.
For
* No accurate account was taken of the killed of the enemy, but from the numbers that
lay dead around the houſe, there was reaſon to believe not leſs than forty. Ninety were made
priſoners, among which were the lieutenant-colonel commandant of the diſtrict, i captain, I
captain-lieutenant, 2 lieutenants, and 2 enſigns.
+ Twelve of the priſoners were ſo ſeverely wounded, that they were obliged to be left at dif.
ferent houſes on the road. Eighty-ſeven were conducted to New York.
The loſs fuſtained by the detachment under colonel Norton :-Yagers, 3 men wounded.
Refugees, i captain wounded. Firſt light-infantry company of the guards, I rank and file
wounded. Firſt grenadier company ditto, 2 rank and file killed. Wounded, 1 lieutenant, I
ferjeant, 12 rank and file. Second grenadier company of the guards, 1 ſerjeant, 3 rank and
file wounded. Total; killed, 2, wounded, 23.
Lieutenant-colonel Norton made his report on the 4th of February to major-general Ma-
thew of the killed and wounded of the detachment, together with the number of priſoners
taken. In the afternoon of the 4th, the major of the brigade, in a polite letter to lieutenant-
colonel Norton, incloſed him a copy of the after-orders of the 4th inſtant, viz.
Public Orders, King's Bridge, 4th of February 1780.
“Major general Mathew returns his thanks to lieutenant-colonel Norton, and the officers and
privates of the detachment under his command, for their conduct and ſpirited behaviour on
the morning of the 3d inſtant, and for their intrepidity and perſeverance in that duty: The
ſucceſs of which claims the general's higheſt approbation.”
On the 5th of February 1780, the following Order was given out from Head Quarters
at New York.
“ His excellency lieutenant-general Knyphauſen deſires his thanks may be given in public
orders to lieutenant-colonel Norton of the guards, for his good conduct and gallant behaviour
in
AMERICAN WAR.
239
XXXVI.
For ſome days in the winter, general Waſhington's army was C HA P.
entirely without bread. Occaſional ſupplies were afterwards re-
ceived,
178c.
in attacking and forcing a conſiderablc, body of the rebels, advantageouſly poſted at
Young's Houſe, in the neighbourhood of White Plains, on the morning of the 3d inſtant. His
excellency returns his thanks to the officers and private foldiers of the different detachments
employed on this ſervice; and the general is particularly obliged to the officers and men of
the Weſt Cheſter refugees for their very determined behaviour upon this as well as former
Occaſions."
Subſequent to the order of thanks, highly flattering to colonel Norton and the party, the
generals having learnt more particularly the difficulties the detachment had encountered, and
thinking that the extraordinary exertions of the troops merited yet further attention at their
hands, lieutenant-colonel Norton was defired to make major-general Mathew a formal report
of the excurſion to Young's Houſe, and to mention as many circumſtances as he ſhould deem
worthy of notice, giving him to underſtand the report would be tranſmitted to England.
Lieutenant-colonel Norton accordingly made his report to major-general Mathew, which was
ſent to fir Henry Clinton, the commander in chief, then at Charleſtown; and from fir Henry
forwarded to England by the earl of Lincoln, aid-du-camp to the commander in chief, by
whom it was delivered in to the ſecretary of ſtate's office. The only account given to the
public of this expedition in the Gazette, was on the 26th of April 1780, in the extract of
a letter from lieutenant-general Knyphaufen to lord George Germaine, as follows:
“ General Mathew fent a detachment of guards, and provincial horſe, under the command
of lieutenant-colonel Norton, to attack a poſt at John's Houſe, upon the White Plains. This
did not ſucceed entirely to his wiſhes; but the rebels, who were poſted in a houſe, were
however attacked and diſlodged, with the loſs of 40 men killed and 97 made priſoners."
An act of generoſity was upon this occaſion diſplayed, which ought not to be paffed over
in ſilence : The wounded Americans were placed in houſes, and a ſum of money given by
the Britiſh officers to the occupiers or inhabitants of thoſe houſes, as an encouragement or
reward for the trouble they miglit be at in attending on the wounded mericans.
When the Gazette, giving an account of this expedition, arrived at New York, general
Mathew immediately took it to general Knyphauſen, and ſhewed it him. General Knyphau-
en exclaimed, “This is not my account ! for my account of this expedition was perfectly
agreeable to the order of thanks I gave, and my litter to the miniſter ſpoke in the hand-
fomeſt manner of colonel Norton's conduct; and the officers and men under his command.”
But this mutilated, moſt untrue, and unjuſt account, was not without its object, it being in-
tended to wound the feelings of the father through the ſong the father, then fir Fletcher
Norton, afterwards lord Grantley, having dared to hint that a frugal expenditure of the public
money was expected by the commons. When, as ſpeaker of the houſe of commons, lie
addreſſed his majeſty upon preſenting a bill, granting ſupplies to his majeſty, on the 7th of
May
240
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVI.
1780.
ز
and to
CHA P. ceived, but ſo ſcanty, that the ſufferings of the troops neceſſarily
produced diſcontent; and towards the end of May two regiments
actually mutinied. Means however, were found to pacify them;
and after ſome time they returned to their duty.
By the thawing of the ice upon the approach of ſpring, New
York was reſtored to its inſular ſituation ;, and all further apprehen-
fions for its ſafety being at an end, the Britiſh commanders there were
at liberty to employ their force offenſively againſt the enemy,
take advantage of any favourable circumſtances that might occur for
annoying them. Intelligence of the mutinous diſpoſition of the
American army being carried to New York, and information being
alſo received that the inhabitants of the Jerſeys were diſcontented
with the new ſtate of things, and wiſhed to re-eſtabliſh their old
form of government, general Knyphauſen was induced to detach a
confiderable force under brigadiers-general Mathew and Sterling,
which landed at Elizabeth-town, in the Jerſeys, on the ſeventh of
June. If the inhabitants were diſpoſed to throw off the yoke of
congreſs, the force ſent to their aſſiſtance would enable them to do
May 1777 (vide vol. i. page 273—275), fir Fletcher Norton's ſpeech gave great offence to the
miniſters; and although generals Knyphauſen's and Mathew's moſt favourable account of the ex-
pedition to Young's Houſe, together with the very handſome and well-deſerved order of thanks
to colonel, now the honourable major-general, Norton of the guards, and the detachment
under his command, were delivered by the earl of Lincoln, then aid-du-camp to fir Henry
Clinton) to lord George Germaine in perſon, as the miniſter for American affairs; yet we
ſec, from the Gazette account, how falfe a relation was given to the public.
There is a certain degree of fair fame, and honourable ambition, to which every good man
looks up : But were that fame to be blaſted for either private or party purpoſes, all emula-
tion, the great incentive to glorious actions, would be ſuppreſſed and deſtroyed.
It is well obſerved by the great Roman hiſtorian TACITUS (of whoſe admirable writings
Mr. Murphy has, at a very ſeaſonable time, preſented to the Engliſh reader an excellent tranſ-
lation), “ That it is incumbent on the writer of hiſtory to rejudge the actions of men, to thic
end, that the good and worthy may meet with the reward due to eminent virtue; and that
pernicious citizens may be deterred by the condemnation that waits on evil deeds at the tri-
bunal of poſterity. In this conſiſts the chief part of the hiſtorian's duty.”
it :
Y
AMERICAN WAR.
2.1
.
it: And if a mutinous diſpoſition ſtill prevailed amongſt the ſoldiers C HA P.
of the American army, ſome advantage might probably be gained
1780.
over general Waſhington. It ſoon however appeared that part of
this intelligence was falſe, and the reſt greatly magnified. Although
the inhabitants of the Jerſeys had murmured in conſequence of the
depredations committed upon them by the American ſoldiers in the
time of their diſtreſs for want of proviſions, they had never thought
of deſerting the American cauſe: On the contrary, they made the
greateſt exertions to relieve the neceſſities of thoſe very men to
whoſe depredations they were expoſed; and it was principally
owing to theſe exertions that the American army had not been ac-
tually diſbanded. A mutinous diſpoſition had alſo certainly diſco-
vered itſelf amongſt the ſoldiers of the American army: But it aroſe
from diſtreſs, and not diſaffection; and the two regiments which had
already mutinied, were foon pacified. Under ſuch circuinſtances
the Britiſh commanders experienced a grievous diſappointment:
Inſtead of being received in the Jerſeys as friends, the militia very
generally turned out to oppoſe them. During their march from Unſucceſsful
Elizabeth-town to Connecticut Farms, a diſtance of only ſeven miles, eſtabliſh the
they were annoyed by parties of militia the whole way; who, if royal ſtandard
they were unable to make any impreſſion, or do any conſiderable
injury, ſhewed at leaſt that it was not from want of inclination:
And when the Britiſh troops approached Springfield, a detachment
from that army, which was repreſented to be mutinous, was ſeen
drawn up in force on the other ſide of the river ready to diſpute
their paſſage. It being now apparent that the information, upon
which this expedition had been undertaken, was not to be depended
upon, the Britiſh troops in the evening returned to Elizabeth-town,
and would have croſſed the ſame night to Staten Iſland, had not the
ebbing of the tide, which on that ſhore leaves a large ſpace covered
with deep mud between the high land and the water, rendered it
VOL. II.
I i
impor-
242
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVI.
CHAP, impoſſibe to embark the cavalry till the next morning; and to cover
their embarkation it was neceſſary that the infantry ſhould remain
1780.
with them. In the mean time, the Britiſh commanders had leiſure
to reflect
upon their diſappointment, and the conſequences of their
fruitleſs expedition ; and it was determined, for the credit of the
Britiſh arms, to remain ſome days longer in New Jerſey, left their
precipitate retreat ſhould be repreſented as a flight.
+
1
*
>
AMERICAN WAR.
243
CH A P. XXXVII.
The Americans diſlodged from Spring field, and that Town deſtroyed
A French Armament arrives at Rhode Iſand-A Scheme formed
by one of General Waſhington's Officers, Arnold, for delivering an
important Poft into the Hands of the Britiſh ArmyAdventure
and Fate of the Britiſh Adjutant-General Major André-A gene-
ral Exchange of Priſoners-The Troops on both sides retire into
Winter Quarters.
1780.
WHILST, in conſequence of this determination, the Britiſh army WAL:
lay at Elizabeth-town, fir Henry Clinton arrived from South
Carolina ; and the poſt at Springfield having been reinforced and
put under the command of general Green, a reſolution was taken to
attack and diſlodge him before the army returned to New York. In
purſuance of this reſolution the army marched at break of day in
the morning of the twenty-third of June, and arrived at Springfield
with very little interruption. The enemy appeared determined to
diſpute the further progreſs of the Britiſh troops at two different
paſſes upon the river, but were diſlodged from both after a conſider- The Ameri
able reſiſtance, nearly about the ſame time, and forced to flee to the lodged from
heights in their rear, where they again took poſt. The town of Springfield
,
Springfield was burnt: And the Britiſh army, having reſted a few deſtroyed.
hours after the action, returned the ſame day to Elizabeth-town,
and in the evening, under cover of a redoubt that had been thrown
up by the Americans, but now occupied by the Britiſh, paſſed over
to Staten Iſland without moleſtation, by means of a bridge of boats.
Before
cans dir.
and that town
I i 2
244
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XXXVII.
3780.
Before the Britiſh troops marched out from Elizabeth-town, ſome
pains had been taken to miſlead general Waſhington, as to the real
deſign of the Britiſh commander. The tranſports were aſſembled,
and troops embarked, as if an expedition had been intended
up
the
North River againſt Weſt Point; and by ſuch indications general
Waſhington was ſo far alarmed, that he actually marched from his
camp in the Jerſeys towards the North River. But he marched with
great deliberation, cautiouſly intending not to remove too far from
Morris-town, until the future inovements of ſir Henry Clinton
ſhould enable him to diſcover his real intention; and he had pro-
ceeded only fifteen miles, when information was brought to him,
that the Britiſh troops, inſtead of going up the North River, were
marching out in force towards Springfield. General Waſhington
immediately halted, and ſent back a detachment to reinforce general
Green ; but before it arrived the action at Springfield was over, and
the Britiſh troops had retreated to Elizabeth-town. The real object
of the expedition was probably againſt the American magazines at
Morris-town: But the oppoſition made at Springfield was an indi-
cation to the commander in chief, that every mile of his future
march through a country naturally difficult, and abounding with
ſtrong paſſes, would be not leſs obſtinately diſputed, and determined
him to abandon an enterpriſe, which, even if it ſhould be fucceſsful,
might coſt him too much ; more eſpecially as the expected arrival
of a powerful French armament on the coaſt of America, obliged
him not to engage in any expedition that would either require much
time, or carry him a conſiderable diſtance from New York.
The Britiſh army having quitted New Jerſey, general Waſhington
on his part planned an enterpriſe againſt a Britiſh poſt at Bergen
Point, on the North River, oppoſite to New York, which was gar
riſoned by feventy loyaliſts. This enterpriſe had for its object nok
only the reduction of that poſt, but the carrying away of the cattle
upon
AMERICAN WAR.
245
XXXVII.
Rhode Idand
upon Bergen Neck, from which the garriſon of New York was oc- CHA P.
caſionally ſupplied with freſh proviſions, through the poſt occupied
1780.
by the loyaliſts : And the force appointed for carrying it into execu-
tion, amounted to about two thouſand men, under the command of
general Wayne, who had rendered himſelf famous by the ſurpriſe
of Stoney Point. At Bergen Point, the defences of which conſiſted
of a block-houſe ſurrounded by an abbatis, this brave little band of
loyal refugees defended themſelves againſt a cannonade of three
hours, and repulſed an attempt to take the place by aſſault : In the
aſſault the Americans loſt a number equal to the whole amount of the
garriſon, and in their retreat ſome ſtragglers were made priſoners,
and part of the cattle retaken, which they were attempting to carry off.
In the mean time, on the tenth of July, the expected armament A French
armament ar-
from France arrived at Rhode Iſland. It conſiſted of ſeven ſhips of rives at
the line, fome frigates, and a number of tranſports, having on board
fix thouſand troops; the fleet being commanded by the chevalier de
Ternay, and the troops by the count de Rochambeau: And in order
to prevent diſcuſſion, and obviate every difficulty that might ariſe
upon the junction of the French troops with the American army, a
commiſſion was ſent to general Waſhington, appointing him a
lieutenant-general of France, which of courſe put the count de
Rochambeau under his orders.
The arrival of ſo conſiderable a reinforcement diffuſed a general
joy amongſt the adherents of congreſs throughout the American
ftates, and excited them to freſh exertions. Thoſe ſtates, which
had lately turned a deaf ear to the applications not only of general
Waſhington, but of congreſs, were now eager to raiſe and ſend for-
ward their quotas of men: And the American army, which, from
the various cauſes already mentioned, had been reduced to a ſtate
of imbecility, began again to make a reſpectable appearance. When
the French arrived at Rhode Iſland, the Britiſh fleet under admiral
Arbuthnot was inferior to that of the chevalier de Ternay; and a
plan
246
HISTORY OF THE
1
XXXVII.
1780.
1
CHAP. plan was laid for attacking New York: But the arrival of fix ſhips
of the line from England, which followed cloſe on the track of the
chevalier de Ternay, foon gave admiral Arbuthnot the ſuperiority;
and the Britiſh commanders, inſtead of waiting to be attacked, made
preparations in their turn for acting offenſively againſt the French
at Rhode Iſland. Sir Henry Clinton, with the tranſports and troops
deſtined for this expedition, proceeded to Huntington Bay, in the
Sound, whilſt admiral Arbuthnot, with the ſhips of war, failed round
Long Iſland, in order to co-operate by ſea. But in the mean time
general Waſhington, whoſe army had been increaſed by the arrival
of conſiderable reinforcements, ſuddenly paſſed the North River,
and approached King's Bridge. So unexpected a movement obliged
ſir Henry Clinton to abandon the expedition againſt Rhode Illand,
and return with the troops for the protection of New York, leaving
admiral Arbuthnot to block up the French fleet by ſea. The object
of this expedition was loſt, from a circumſtance but too frequent in
the hiſtory of this country, a diſagreement between the commanders
in chief of the land and naval ſervice. Upon the return of the
Britiſh commander, general Waſhington drew off his forces to a
greater diſtance, cautiouſly avoiding ſuch a poſition as might be
the means of bringing on a general engagement.
About this time the count de Guichen was expected from the
Weſt Indies, with a land force, and twenty ſhips of the line. In
view of this aſſiſtance the New England militia had aſſembled very
readily, and marched to Rhode Iſland, when their allies the French
were threatened with an attack from ſir Henry Clinton: General
Waſhington's army too, as has been already mentioned, had been
greatly increaſed by the arrival of freſh reinforcements. And with
theſe different.bodies of men, when united, it was intended to at-
tack New York by land, whilſt the count de Guichen, joined by
the ſquadron under the chevalier de Ternay, ſhould block it up by
ſea. But the count de Guichen, as we ſhall ſee hereafter, when we
come
1
AMERICAN WAR.
247
>
come to the tranſactions in the Weſt Indies, had been ſo roughly C HA P.
handled in his different engagements with admiral Rodney, and his
1780.
ſhips were in ſo ſhattered a condition, that inſtead of proceeding to
America, according to the original deſign, he returned with his
fleet to France, taking under his convoy the trade from the French
iſtands. The failure in ſo conſiderable a part rendered impracticable
the further proſecution of the ſcheme againſt New York; and as
ſoon as general Waſhington was made acquainted with the departure
of the count de Guichen, it became neceſſary for him to concert
new meaſures with the French commanders at Rhode Iſland, for
their future operations. For this purpoſe an interview took place
between them at Hartford in Connecticut, about half way between
the French and American camps.
Whilſt general Waſhington was abſent from his army upon this A ſcheme
formed by
ſervice, a deep-laid ſcheme was formed by one of his own officers, one of general
for delivering up to ſir Henry Clinton the ſtrong poſt of Weſt Point, officers, Ar-
Waſhington's
in the high lands upon the North River, the poſſeſſion of which nold, for de-
would have nearly cut off all communication between the northern important
poft into the
and middle colonies. The officer engaged in this deſign was the hands of the
famous general Arnold, whoſe ſervices in the cauſe of America had
been of the moſt meritorious kind, and whoſe brilliant actions in
the field juſtly raiſed him to ſuperior notice and regard. After the
evacuation of Philadelphia by the Britiſh troops in the year 1778,
he was appointed to command the American garriſon that took poſ-
feffion of it; and while he acted in that capacity had the misfortune
to diſguſt many of the inhabitants, and even to fall under the dif-
pleaſure of congreſs. He lived expenſively, and, as was ſuppoſed,
conſiderably beyond his ſtated income; but he was at the ſame time
concerned in trading ſpeculations, and had ſhares in ſeveral priva-
teers; and upon the profits expected from thoſe adventures, he pro-
bably relied, as means of enabling him to keep up the ſtate and ſtyle
6
of
Britiſh arrny.
248
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. of life he had aſſumed: He had alſo claims againſt the public to a
XXXVII.
conſiderable amount; and upon the payment of them he depended
1780.
as a fund to ſatisfy the immediate demands of his creditors, who
were beginning to become importunate. But the trading ſpecula-
tions in which he had engaged proved unproductive; his privateers
were unſucceſsful; and a conſiderable portion of his demand againſt
the public was cut off, by the commiſſioners appointed to examine
his accounts. From the deciſion of the commiſſioners, general Ar-
nold appealed to the congreſs, who appointed a committee of their
own inembers to reviſe the ſentence: But the committee of con-
greſs were even leſs favourable to his views than the commiſſioners,
from whoſe deciſion he had appealed. They reported that the ba-
lance already, allowed by the commiſſioners was more than general
Arnold was entitled to receive.
So many diſappointments could not fail to ruffle a temper leſs
irritable than general Arnold's: Recollecting his former ſervices, he
gave full ſcope to his reſentment, and complained of ill-uſage and
ingratitude in terms better calculated to provoke than to mollify,
and ſuch as were peculiarly offenſive to congreſs. His enemies
availed themſelves of his indiſcretion to ſwell the tide of popular
clamour which already ran ſtrongly againſt him. A court-martial
was appointed to examine into his conduct during his command in
Philadelphia, and by the ſentence of that board it was in general
terms reprehended, and himſelf ſubjected to the mortification of re-
ceiving a reprimand from general Waſhington.
From this moment it is ſuppoſed that Arnold formed the deſign
of quitting the American ſervice and joining the Britiſh ; and only
delayed the execution of his purpoſe until an opportunity ſhould
offer of performing ſome eſſential ſervice to the power which he
was about to join, that might render his acceſſion of more import-
ance. A correſpondence was opened with fir Henry Clinton: The
deli-
3
AMERICAN WAR.
249
1
XXXVII.
André.
delivering up the poſt at Weſt Point, where Arnold now com- CHAP.
manded, was the ſervice he propoſed to perform; and the interval
1780.
of general Waſhington's abſence, when he went to confer with the
French commanders, was the time appointed for finiſhing the nego-
tiation. To facilitate the means of carrying on the previous cor-
reſpondence, the Vulture ſloop of war was ſtationed in the North
River, at ſuch a diſtance from Weſt Point as to excite no ſuſpicion,
but near enough to ſerye for the intended communication; and as
general Arnold required a confidential perſon to treat with, major
André, aid-du-camp to ſir Henry Clinton, and adjutant-general of Adventure
the Britiſh army, undertook to confer with him, and bring the ne- the Britiſh
adjutant-ge-
gotiation to a concluſion. For this purpoſe he repaired on board neral major
the Vulture floop. At night, in purſuance of a previous arrange-
ment, a boat from the ſhore carried him to the beach, where he met
general Arnold; and day-light approaching before the buſineſs on
which they had met was finally adjuſted, major André was told that
he muſt be conducted to a place of ſafety, and lie concealed until
the following night, when he might return on board the Vulture
without the danger of being diſcovered. The beach where the
firſt conference was held was without, but the place of ſafety to
which major André was conducted to lie concealed during the day,
was within the American out-poſts, againſt his intention, and with-
out his knowledge. Here, however, he remained with general
Arnold during the day; and at night, the boatmen refuſing to carry
him on board the Vulture, becauſe ſhe had ſhifted her poſition du-
ring the day, in conſequence of a gun being brought to bear upon
her from the ſhore, he was reduced to the neceſſity of endeavouring
to make his way to New York by land. Laying aſide his regiment-
als, which he had hitherto worn, he put on a plain ſuit of clothes,
and receiving a paſs from general Arnold, under the aſſumed name
of John Anderſon, as if he had been ſent down the country or
VOL. II.
Kk
public
1
250
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVII.
CHAP. public buſineſs, he ſet out on his return to New York. His paff-
port ſecured him from interruption at the American out-poſts; and
1780.
he had already paſſed them all, and thought himſelf out of danger,
wlien three American militia-men, who had been ſent out to patrol
near the road along which he travelled, ſuddenly ſpringing from the
woods, ſeized the bridle of his horſe and ſtopped him. The ſud-
denneſs of the ſurpriſe ſeems to have deprived major André of his
wonted preſence of mind; and, although a man of the greateſt ad-
dreſs, he was entrapped by the rude fimplicity of clowns. Having
inquired from whence they were, and being anſwered,
16 From be-
as low;" “ And ſo," ſaid he, “ am I.” It was not long before he
diſcovered his miſtake; but too late, it would appear, to remove the
impreſſion which his firſt anſwer had made. The men who had
made him priſoners ſearched him for papers, and having taken from
his boot a packet, in the hand-writing of general Arnold, deter-
mined to carry him without delay to their commanding officer. It
was in vain that he offered them a purſe of gold and his watch, to
ſuffer him to paſs : His promiſes of an ample proviſion, and getting
them promotion, if they would accompany him to New York, were
equally unavailing. The unfortunate André, after theſe efforts to
regain his liberty, ſeems to have been regardleſs of what might be
his own fate, and was only anxious to fave general Arnold. Before
the commanding officer of the militia he continued to perſonate the
ſuppoſed John Anderſon, and requeſted that a meſſenger might be
fent to general Arnold to acquaint him with his detention. A meſ-
ſenger being accordingly diſpatched, and ſufficient time having
elapſed for general Arnold to make his eſcape, he no longer diſ-
guiſed his real name, and avowed himſelf to be major André, adju-
tant-general of the Britiſh army: He alſo wrote a letter to general.
Waſhington, in his real name, acquainting him that he was his
priſoner, and accounting for the diſguiſe which neceſſity had obliged
him.
AMERICAN WAR.
251.
XXXVII.
him to affume. The meſſage ſent to general Arnold, announcing C HA P.
the detention of John Anderſon, was ſufficient notice to him to
178 cm
provide for his own ſafety : He quitted Weſt Point without delay,
got on board the Vulture ſloop, and in her proceeded to New York.
In the mean time general Waſhington returned from his interview
with the French commanders, and being informed of what had
paſſed during his abſence, together with Arnold's eſcape, he rein-
forced the garriſon of Weſt Point with a ſtrong detachment from
his army, and appointed a board of general officers, to inquire into
and report upon the caſe of major André. The candid, open, manly,
and ingenuous explanation of his conduct, given by major André,
before the board of officers, impreſſed with admiration and eſteem
even his enemies who were about to ſhed his blood. Diſmiſſing
from his thoughts all perſonal confiderations of danger, he was only
anxious that the tranſaction in which he had been engaged, ſhaded
as it was by the intervention of unfortunate circumſtances, might
be cleared from obſcurity, and appear in its genuine colours, at leaſt
with reſpect to his intention, which was incapable of ſwerving from
the paths of honour. But the board of officers fixing their atten-
tion
upon
the naked fact of his being in diſguiſe within their lines,
without perhaps duly conſidering the unfortunate train of incidents
which unexpectedly, and almoſt unavoidably, led him into that ſitu-
ation, were of opinion that he came under the deſcription, and
qught to ſuffer the puniſhment, of a ſpy.
The concern felt at New York, in conſequence of the capture of
major André, was in the mean time inconceivably great: His gal-
lantry as an officer, and amiable demeanour as a man, had gained
him not only the admiration, but the affection, of the whole
army,
and the uncertainty of his fate filled them with the deepeſt anxiety.
Sir Henry Clinton, whoſe eſteem and regard he enjoyed in an emi-
nent degree, immediately opened a correſpondence with nera
Washion
K k a
1
252
HISTORY OF THE
!
XXXVII.
1780.
1
CHAP. Waſhington, by means of a flag of truce, and urged every motive
which juſtice, policy, or humanity, could ſuggeſt, to induce a re-
miſſion of the ſentence. Finding his letters ineffectual, he ſent out
general Robertſon, with a flag, to confer upon the ſubject with any
officer that ſhould be appointed by general Waſhington. An inter-
view took place between general Robertſon and general Green, who
had been preſident of the court-martial. But all efforts to ſave the
unfortunate André were unavailing: His doom was irrevocably
fixed. The greatneſs of the danger which the American army had
eſcaped by the diſcovery of Arnold's plot before it was ripe for exe-
cution, ſeems to have extinguiſhed in the breaſt of the inexorable
Waſhington, every ſpark of humanity that remained. Although
entreated by a moſt pathetic letter from major André, written on the
day previous to his execution, to change the mode of his death from
that of a common malefactor to one more correſpondent to the feel-
ings of a ſoldier, he would not condeſcend to grant even this incon-
ſiderable boon to the ſupplication of his unfortunate priſoner: And
on the ſecond day of October this accompliſhed young officer met
his fate, in the manner preſcribed by his ſentence, with a compoſure,
ferenity, and fortitude, which aſtoniſhed the beholders, and excited
thoſe emotions of ſympathy that would have been more honourably
and humanely exerciſed in averting than lamenting his fate.
Thus fell the unfortunate André. If intention is neceſſary to
conſtitute guilt; and if guilt alone merits puniſhment, fome doubt
may be entertained with reſpect to the ſentence of the board of
officers. Major André did not, at firſt, knowingly enter within the
American lines : He was then alſo in his regimentals: And when
he actually found himſelf within thoſe lines, contrarily to his inten-
tion, whatever he afterwards did, in order to extricate himſelf, by
aſſuming a diſguiſe, and uſing a feigned paſſport, ought rather to be
aſcribed to the impoſed neceſſity of his ſituation than to choice.
1
1
Butz
AMERICAN WAR.
253
XXXVII.
But, even if the ſentence pronounced againſt him ſhould be found C H A P.
agreeable to the letter of the law of nations, ſo unſuitable is the
1780.
exerciſe of extreme juſtice to our imperfect ſtate, that we turn with
diſguſt from thoſe tranſactions, in which the finer feelings of hu-
manity have been facrificed to its rigour. Bright as the fame of
Waſhington fhall ſhine in the annals of America, as one of the moſt
illuſtrious ſupporters of her independence, the ſons of freedom will
lament the cold inſenſibility, that did not ſuffer him to interpoſe, in
order to reſcue from his fate ſo gallant an officer, and even could
withhold from him the poor confolation of meeting death like a
ſoldier; whilſt a glance of indignation ſhall dart from the eyes of
her fair and compaſſionate daughters, ſoftened only by the tear of
pity for the fate of the accompliſhed André.
From ſo tragic an event, tending by its ſeverity to increaſe, we
paſs with pleaſure to an arrangement calculated to leſſen, the calami-
ties of war. This was an agreement for a general exchange of pri-
foners, finally ſettled and adjuſted towards the cloſe of the preſent
year, between major-general Philips, on the part of the Britiſh army,
and major-general Lincoln, on the part of the Americans, the for-
mer having been an American priſoner ever ſince the convention of
Saratoga, and the latter a Britiſh priſoner ſince the fall of Charleſtown.
The congreſs had, from policy, hitherto reſiſted all propoſals for
a general exchange upon equitable terms. They knew the expence
that attended recruiting the Britiſh army from Europe: They knew
alſo that their own army would receive no great increaſe of ſtrength
by a releaſe of the Americans detained as priſoners, becauſe the
ſhort periods-for which the American ſoldiers enliſted, during the
firſt
years of the war, would have generally expired before an ex-
change could have been effected. Bụt the clamours of their people,
fo long detained in captivity, and for whoſe releaſe they had ſhewn
fo much indifference, had now become ſo loud; ſo many of their
4
regular
254
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVII,
C HA P. regular ſoldiers had been made priſoners by the capture of Charleſ-
town, and the defeat of general Gates at Camden ; and in conſe-
1780.
quence of theſe diſaſters ſo much difficulty had been experienced in
recruiting their army during the preſent year; that neceſſity, rather
than choice, obliged them at laſt to yield to an equitable arrangement.
An ineffectual attempt was made for the releaſe of the privates of
general Burgoyne's army, who had been priſoners ſince the con-
vention of Saratoga : But nothing could prevail upon the congreſs
to depart from their former reſolutions; and the convention troops
were deſtined to captivity during the remainder of the war.
The cold weather beginning to ſet in, put an end to all further
active operations in the field. The Britiſh troops went into winter
quarters in New York and its dependencies: The French troops
remained at Rhode Iſland: And general Waſhington continued to
occupy
the high grounds bordering on the North River, from whence
in a ſhort time he was obliged to diſcharge a conſiderable part of the
bew levies, in conſequence of a want of bread for their fubfiſtence,
1
1
)
>
AMERICAN WAR.
255
:
CH A P.
XXXVIII.
Tranſactions in Europe and the Weſt Indies--Succeſſes of the Britiſh
Fleet under Admiral Rodney--Relief of Gibraltar Growing Dif-
ferences between Great Britain and Holland-Armed Neutrality',
or Aſſociation among Neutral Maritime Powers, for the Purpoſe
of eſtabliſhing the Doctrine that Free Ships make Free Goods
Suſpenſion of the Treaties between Great Britain and Holland-
Naval Tranſactions--Commercial Treaty between America and
Holland-War on the Part of Great Britain againſt the Dutch,
BUT the tranſactions in Europe and the Weſt Indies now demand CHAP:
our attention. Admiral Rodney, whom his ſervices in the
pre-
ceding war had recommended to the notice of the miniſtry, being
1780.
appointed to command the Britiſh fleet in the Weſt Indies, failed for
that ſtation, with a reinforcement of ſhips, about the beginning of
the preſent year; and advantage was taken of his convoy to ſend a
freſh ſupply of proviſions and ſtores for the relief of the garriſon
at Gibraltar, which had been blockaded by the Spaniards from the
commencement of the war with that nation. That this ſervice
might be performed without any danger of miſcarriage, a part of
the channel fleet was put under admiral Rodney's command, which
was to accompany him as far as Gibraltar,
It ſeems to have been reſerved for this coinmander to revive, by
his ſucceſſes, the memory of our glorious atchievements in former
wars.
256
HISTORY OF THE
*
€ H A P. wars.
He had been but a few days at ſea, when he fell in with
XXXVIII.
and took a fleet of twenty-three fail of Spaniſh ſhips bound from
1780.
St. Sebaſtian to Cadiz, ſixteen of them laden with proviſions, naval
ſtores, and bale goods, and the reſt ſhips of war belonging to the
royal company of Caraccas that had been aſſigned to the others as a
convoy.
The ſame good fortune, about a week afterwards, brought
him in ſight of a Spaniſh fleet of eleven ſhips of the line and two
frigates, that were cruiſing off Cape St. Vincent, under the com-
mand of Don Juan Langara. A lee-ſhore at no great diſtance fa-
voured the eſcape of the enemy, and rendered a purſuit from the
Britiſh fleet hazardous ; and the ſhortneſs of a winter's day, already
far advanced, with tempeſtuous weather, increaſed the danger. But
the gallant Rodney, like the intrepid Hawke, choſe to riſque fome-
thing, where the performance of a great national ſervice was the
expected conſequence; and threw out the ſignal for a general chaſe,
taking the lee-gage to cut off the enemy from the ſhore. Night came
on; but the purſuit was ſtill continued. The ſhips of the Britiſh
fleet cloſed with thoſe of the enemy as faſt as they could get up;
and the action was not ended till two in the morning, when the
Monarca, the headmoſt of the enemy's fleet, ftruck to the Sand-
wich, admiral Rodney's ſhip. The San Domingo, one of the ene-
my's ſhips, blew up early in the engagement; and every ſoul on
board periſhed. Four of their fleet, including the Phenix of eighty
guns, Don Juan Langara's ſhip, were taken and carried into Gib-
raltar. Two others had ſtruck; but after the officers had been
ſhifted, were driven on ſhore by the tempeſtuous weather, and one
of them was entirely loſt. The two frigates, and four ſhips of the
line, alone eſcaped, two of the latter much damaged in the action.
The enemy, although inferior in number, maintained a running
fight with great bravery; and the victory was not obtained but at
the expence of thirty-two killed, and one hundred and two wounded,
on
AMERICAN WAR.
257
XXXVIII.
Gibraltar.
on board the Britiſh feet. The weather continued ſo tempeſtuous, CHAP
that it was with difficulty ſome of the Britiſh ſhips, on the day after
1780.
the action, were able to extricate themſelves from the dangerous
Ihoals of St. Lucar.
The convoy being conducted ſafely to Gibraltar, and the proviſions Relief of
and ſtores having been landed, admiral Digby, taking under his
charge the Spaniſh prizes and homeward-bound tranſports, failed for
England on the fifteenth of February, with the greateſt part of the
fleet; and admiral Rodney, with the reſt, proceeded to his ſtation
in the Weſt Indies. The homeward-bound fleet under admiral
Digby got ſight of a French convoy, eſcorted by ſeveral ſhips of
war,
but at ſuch a diſtance that the greateſt part of it eſcaped by an
early flight. The Prothée, a French ſhip of ſixty-four guns, one
of the eſcort, was however taken, and ſome few of the merchant-
Thips.
In the mean time the differences ſubſiſting between Great Britain Growing dif-
and Holland were every day increaſing, and verging faſt towards a tween Great
ſtate of hoſtility. The Dutch merchants, particularly thoſe of Am- Hulland.
ſterdam, had, from the beginning of the diſturbances in America,
maintained a correſpondence with the people of that country, and
in the progreſs of the war ſupplied them, not only with merchan-
diſe, but with warlike ſtores, without which the very unequal conteſt
could not have been ſo long ſupported by the Americans. The carrying
on a clandeſtine intercourſe of ſuch a nature, with thoſe whom Great
Britain claimed as her ſubjects, was not to be endured, even in a
nation ſtrictly neutral, and far leſs in one bound to her by the moſt
folemn engagements of ancient friendſhip and alliance. Various re-
monſtrances on this ſubject were accordingly preſented by the Bri-
tiſh ambaſſador at the Hague, but no ſatisfaction was obtained.
After the interference of France in the war, the unfriendly pro-
ceedings of the Dutch became ſtill more notorious: As they had
VOL. II.
L 1
heretofore
Britain and
258
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVIII.
CH A P. heretofore ſupplied the Americans with whatever they wanted, and
indeed ſtill continued to do the ſame, ſo now they became the car-
1780.
riers of naval ſtores for the French. The remonſtrances preſented
on this occaſion having been found ineffectual, the commander of
the Britiſh navy received orders to prevent a trade which the Dutchi,
from good faith, ought to have prohibited. In purſuance of theſe
orders, ſuch of the Dutch merchant-fhips as were found laden with
naval ſtores for the uſe of the French, were brought into Britiſh
ports, from whence they were ſuffered to depart as ſoon as the
pro-
hibited articles had been landed; and in the mean time full ſatisfac-
tion was made to the ſhip-owners for their freight. This proceed-
ing, however equitable, produced much diſcontent among the Dutch
merchants: They complained that by the ſeizure and detention of
their veſſels, the expreſs letter of the treaties ſubſiſting between
Great Britain and the republic of the States General was groſsly
violated; whilſt the real fact was, that they themſelves, by furniſh-
ing the enemies of Great Britain with things neceſſary for carrying
on the war, which this proceeding was calculated to prevent, were
acting directly contrary to the ſpirit of all thoſe treaties.
By the vigilance of the Britiſh cruiſers this trade was in ſome de-
gree checked ; and the ſupplies, thus obtained by the French, be-
came not a little precarious. But towards the beginning of the
preſent year, a number of Dutch ſhips, laden with naval ſtores, being
ready to fail for the ports of France, the owners availed themſelves
of the opportunity of the departure of a Dutch ſquadron that was
proceeding to the Mediterranean, under the command of count By-
land, to put their ſhips under his protection in their paſlage through
the channel. Timely information of their deſign being conveyed
to the Britiſh court, commodore Fielding was diſpatched, with a
fufficient force, to cruiſe in the channel, examine the Dutch convoy,
and ſeize ſuch of the ſhips as were found carrying on the trade
which
AMERICAN WAR.
259
XXXVIII.
which Great Britain was determined to prohibit. The two fleets C H A P.
met in the channel on the third of January. Permiſſion to examine
1980.
the convoy being refuſed, and the boats of the Britiſh fleet ſent for
that purpoſe being fired upon, commodore Fielding fired a ſhot
acroſs the way of the Dutch admiral, which was anſwered with a
broadſide from the latter. The Britiſh commodore did not fail to
return the ſalute, when the Dutch admiral ſtruck his colours. In
the mean time the greateſt part of the convoy had borne away
for
the coaſt of France, and eſcaped: Thoſe that remained were ſafely
conducted to Spithead, whither count Byland choſe to accompany
them, to wait for orders from the States General, although he was
told by commodore Fielding, that he was at liberty to proceed upon
his voyage. This proceeding, bordering upon hoſtility, increaſed
the clamours of the diſcontented in Holland, and added ſtrength to
the party attached to France, which was already too powerful.
Whilſt Great Britain was thus availing herſelf of her maritime Armed neu-
trality, or af-
power to prevent the Dutch from ſupplying her enemies with the fociation
means of carrying on the war, another of her allies, upon whom tral maritime
ſhe had alſo ſtrong claims of friendſhip, was actively engaged in powers, for
of
promoting a ſcheme for altering the received law of nations, and eſtabliſhing
the doctrine,
rendering ſuch a trade legitimate as the Dutch had been attempting that free ſhips
make free,
to carry on with France.
It was obviouſly the intent of the greater goods.
maritime powers, when engaged in war, that the ſhips of neutral
nations ſhould be liable to a ſearch, and ſhould not protect ene-
my's property ; and ſuch was hitherto held to be the law of
nations, except in
except in thoſe inſtances where it had been altered
by treaties and conventions between particular powers: It was
not leſs evidently the intereſt of the weaker commercial powers,
when engaged in war, that the ſhips of neutral nations ſhould
paſs free and unmoleſted; becauſe, whenever the ſtate of the war
rendered them unable to carry on trade in their own ſhips, they
might employ thoſe of neutral powers. The alteration propoſed
LI 2
by
260
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVIII,
1780.
CHAP by this fcheme was, that a free ſhip ſhould make free goods, or, in
other words, that a neutral ſhip, although loaded with a cargo be-
longing to one of the powers at war, ſhould paſs as free and unmo-
ieſted as in time of peace: A ſcheme evidently intended to wound
Great Britain in her moſt eſſential intereſt; and, to her ſurpriſe,
Ruſſia was the power that brought it forward. In the war of the
latter with the Turks ſome few years before, the conduct of Great
Britain had been ſuch as to entitle her to expect from Ruſſia, fup-
port and aſſiftance under her preſent embarraſſments, rather than a
regulation calculated to increaſe them. But with nations, if not with
individuals, views of intereſt are the grand motives to action; and
their policy conſiſts in improving thoſe opportunities that occur for
promoting it: Friendſhip, gratitude, and the other virtuous affec-
tions that adorn private life, ſeem to have little influence upon
their
conduct. In a war between Great Britain and the kingdoms of
France and Spain, the local ſituation of the former enables her in a
great meaſure to cut off thoſe ſupplies of naval ſtores which the
north of Europe alone can furniſh. Hence, in time of war between
thoſe powers, this kind of trade experiences conſiderable inter-
ruptions : Ruſſia, Sweden, and Denmark, all partook of the
lofs ariſing from ſuch interruptions: And the preſent embar-
raffed ſtate of Great Britain was laid hold of as a fit op-
portunity for compelling her to ſubmit to ſuch a regula-
tion as might remove the incovenience complained of by theſe
northern powers. This ſcheme is ſaid to have originated with the
king of Sweden; but it was firſt promulgated by a declaration of
the empreſs of Ruſſia addreſſed to the belligerent powers, which was
followed by declarations of the like import from the courts of
Sweden and Denmark: The baſis of the whole being, that neutral
powers unconcerned in the war ſhould be permitted to carry on
their commerce in the ſame unlimited manner as in time of
peace, thoſe articles called contraband alone excepted. The other
neutral
AMERICAN WAR.
261
XXXVIII.
1780.
neutral powers in Europe were invited to accede to the principles CHAP
contained in theſe declarations; and as it was propoſed to compel the
practical execution of them by a maritimne force, to be equipped by
each of the contracting parties, hence the confederation gained the
name of the armed neutrality.
The declaration of the empreſs of Ruſſia being conformable to
the preſent intereſt of the courts of France and Spain, was received
by them with the utmoſt ſatisfaction; and ſuitable anſwers were re-
turned. Great Britain alone was to ſuſtain an injury from it, and
at another time, and under different circumſtances, perhaps it might
have been reſented as an inſult. But at preſent it was thought fit
to return an anſwer which might neither give offence, nor derogato
from the dignity of the Britiſh nation by a tame ſubmiſſion to the
claims of the northern powers. The anfwer was decent and re-
ſpectful : But, far from admitting the principles laid down by the
empreſs of Ruſſia, the general law of nations, as it had been hi-
therto underſtood, was held out as the only rule of deciſion in ma-
ritime caſes, except fo far as it had been altered by treaties between
particular powers; and that between thoſe powers the treaties of
courſe furniſhed the rule. The empreſs was affured, that from the
commencement of the war the ſtricteſt orders had been ifſued to the
Britiſh naval commanders for reſpecting her flag, and obſerving all
the ſtipulations contained in the commercial treaty ſubſiſting be-
tween the two nations ; and that the ſame orders would be conti-
nued, and ſtrictly executed. But ſhould any infringement happen,
the courts of admiralty, to whom the deciſion in ſuch caſes be-
longed, would afford redreſs in fo equitable a manner as lhould be
perfectly ſatisfactory to her imperial majeſty.
By theſe proceedings of the northern powers it became ſufficiently
apparent that from them Great Britain was neither to expect affiſt-
ance nor ſupport: And about this time it ſeems to have been deter-
mined
262
HISTORY OF THE
mere
XXXVIII.
+
CHA P. mined in the Britiſh cabinet to put to the teſt the ſincerity of the
Dutch, and try how far they were to be relied on for the performance
1780.
of thoſe engagements to which they were bound by treaty. The
ground of the alliance betwecn Great Britain and Holland was mu-
tual ſafety and protection; and in caſe either nation was attacked,
the other was to furniſh certain ſuccours. Theſe had been already
formally demanded, on the part of Great Britain, after Spain took
a part in the war: But the States General had hitherto neglected
either to furnith the ſucccurs, or give a ſatisfactory anſwer to the
demand. The Britiſh ambaſſador at the Hague was now inſtructed to
preſent a remonſtrance on the ſubject, to claim the ſuccours ftipulated
by treaty, and to declare, that, if a ſatisfactory anſwer was not given
to this requiſition, within three weeks after the delivery of the re-
monſtrance, ſuch a neglect on the part of the States General would
be conſidered as a declaration that they withdrew from the alliance
between the two nations. The remonſtrance was accordingly pre-
ſented on the twenty-firſt of March, and no ſatisfactory anſwer
being given within the time limited, the threat held out was put in
Suſpenſion of execution. By an order of the king in council, bearing date the
ſeventeenth of April, all the treaties ſubſiſting between the two na-
Great Britain
tions were to be ſuſpended, and the ſubjects of the States General
April
were in future to be entitled to no other privileges than thoſe en-
joyed by neutral nations, unconnected with Great Britain by treaty.
By this deciſive meaſure the unfriendly diſpoſition of the Dutch
towards the Britiſh nation was laid open, or, at leaſt, their total in-
difference about its fate: And it ſeems to have been wiſe policy in
the Britiſh miniſtry to put that diſpoſition to the teſt ; ſince it is
ſafer to have an open enemy than an inſidious friend. Theſe fe-
veral tranſactions, which happened ſoon after the beginning of the
preſent year, diſcloſed the
diſcloſed the temper of moſt of the powers of Europe,
upon whoin Great Britain had any claim for aſſiſtance; and from
them
the treaties
between
and Holland.
1
1
AMERICAN WAR.
263
.
Naval tranſ-
them it became manifeſt, that ſhe muſt henceforward ſupport the CHAP
conteſt againſt the united power of the houſe of Bourbon, not only
1780.
without the aid of a ſingle ally, but under the conviction that the
other nations of Europe viewed her danger with unconcern, and
rather rejoiced in the proſpect of her ruin, than wiſhed to prevent
it: A conviction mortifying no doubt in the extreme, but at the
ſame time not entirely without its uſe, as it had a tendency to ſtimu-
late to the braveſt exertions thoſe who felt the genuine flame of pa-
triotiſm, and whoſe love for their country was ſuperior to all the
conſiderations of party.
Upon the death of ſir Charles Hardy, in the month of May, the May.
command of the channel fleet was given to admiral Geary, who actions.
failed in queſt of the enemy, about the uſual time, with thirty ſhips
of the line. During his cruiſe, in the beginning of July, he came
in ſight of a fleet of about thirty fail, which he afterwards found to
be a convoy of French merchantmen from Port au Prince, in the
Weſt Indies, bound to France. A general chaſe was immediately
ordered; but it was evening before the headmoſt of the Britiſh ficet
reached the enemy, and a fog ſoon afterwards coming on, twelve
only of the merchantmen were taken. The reſt, with the two
armed ſhips that accompanied them as a convoy, eſcaped in the
fog.
The French and Spaniſh fleets again formed a junction this year,
as they had done in the preceding one. They did not however
attempt to enter the channel, but cruiſed in that tract through which
the outward-bound trade from Great Britain to the Eaſt and Weſt
Indies uſually paſſes, and from their number ſpread over an immenſe
extent of ſea. A fleet for the Eaſt Indies, and another for the Weſt
Indies, failed together from Portſmouth towards the end of July,
under the convoy of captain Moutray of the Ramillies, attended
by two frigates, and unfortunately, in the night of the eighth of
Auguſt,
264.
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVIII.
CHAP. Auguſt, fell in with that diviſion of the combined ficet which was
commanded by Don Lewis de Cordova. The Ramillies, with the
1980.
two frigates, and a few merchantmen, eſcaped : All the reſt, amourt-
ing to more than forty fail, were taken and carried into Cadiz. This
inisfortune was the more ſeverely felt, as a number of the ſhips were
loaded with naval and military ſtores for the uſe of the ſettlements
in thoſe parts of the world to which they were bound. Not long
afterwads admiral Geary reſigned his command, and was ſucceeded
by admiral Darby.
The oppoſite grand fleets did not this year come in ſight of each
other: Of courſe nothing deciſive was done by ſea. But ſeveral
hard-fought actions took place between ſingle ſhips, in which Bri-
tiſh valour maintained its wonted ſuperiority. In theſe actions the
Belle Poule of thirty-two guns became a prize to the Nonſuch, com-
manded by fir James Wallace: The Artois and Pearl, two French
frigates, were taken by commodore Johnſtone, in the Romney; the
Nymphe, by captain Peere Williams in the Flora; and the Count
d'Artois, a private ſhip of war, mounting fixty-four guns, by cap-
tain Macbride in the Bienfaiſant. Nor muſt we omit a gallant
action performed by captain Moor, of the Fame, private fhip of
war belonging to Dublin, who alone attacked five French priva-
teers, drawn up to receive him off Cape de Gat, and captured four
of them.
The ſiege and blockade of Gibraltar was ſtill continued by the
Spaniards; but with no greater proſpect of ſucceſs than when it com-
menced. The danger of a famine, ariſing from the long continu-
ance of the blockade, was averted by the ſupplies which admiral
Rodney conveyed in the beginning of the year: And all the other
efforts of the Spaniards to reduce it, were either prevented from taking
effect by the vigilance of general Elliott, or ſucceſsfully reſiſted by
the determined ſpirit and perſevering bravery of the garriſon.
After
AMERICAN WAR.
265
XXXVIII.
After relieving Gibraltar, in the manner already related, admiral CH A P.
Rodney proceeded to his ſtation in the Weſt Indies, and arrived at
St. Lucie on the twenty-ſeventh of March. The reinforcement of
1780.
ſhips, which he carried out, brought the contending fleets nearer to
an equality; the ſuperiority in numbers ſtill, however, remaining
with the French. But although, before the arrival of admiral Rod-
ney, the French fleet was ſo much ſuperior to that of Great Britain
in the Weſt India ſeas, no advantage was obtained proportioned to
that ſuperiority: On the contrary, the trade of the enemy had been
greatly annoyed, their force leſſened by the capture of ſeveral of
their frigates, and the empire of the ſea diſputed with an undaunted
firmneſs which no ſuperiority in number could diſmay. Only two
days before the arrival of admiral Rodney, monſieur de la Motte
Piquet, who was cruiſing with four ſhips of feventy-four guns, and
two frigates, for the protection of the French trade, fell in with
and attacked three Britiſh ſhips of war, one of them mounting fixty-
four, another fifty, and the third only forty-four guns, the largeſt
commanded by the honourable captain Cornwallis. Notwithſtanding
the great diſparity both in number and force, the Britiſh command-
er gallantly prepared to receive the enemy's attack, and to give a
new diſplay of Britiſh valour on that element on which it feems
pe-
culiarly deſtined to ſhine. The engagement began about five in the
afternoon, and was continued during the whole night, and part of
the following day, when the combatants ſeparated, as if by mutual
conſent, to repair their reſpective damages. On the third day in
the morning, a Britiſh ſhip of fixty-four guns, and two frigates,
having appeared in ſight, captain Cornwallis reſolutely bore down
upon
the
enemy to bring them again to action: But the French
ſquadron had ſuffered ſo much in the firſt engagement, that monſieur
de la Motte Piquet declined to renew it, notwithſtanding the fupe-
riority of force he ſtill poſſeſſed. Alſo, previous to the arrival of
VOL. II.
Mm
admiral
206
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVIII.
CHAT: admiral Rodney, the count de Guichen, with twenty-five ſhips of
the line, eight frigates, and a number of tranſports with troops, had
1780.
appeared before St. Lucie, and diſcovered an apparent deſign of at-
tacking it; but after viewing the diſpoſitions made on ſhore, by ge-
neral Vaughan, and the judicious arrangement of the ſquadron under
admiral Hyde Parker, for repelling the attack, he thought proper to
return to Martinique, without making the attempt.
This viſit was
returned by ſir George Rodney ſoon after his arrival. On the fe-
cond of April he ſailed for Fort Royal Bay, in Martinique, to offer
battle to the enemy, and approached near enough to exchange ſome
ſhot with their batteries on ſhore. The count de Guichen however
did not think fit to come out: And admiral Rodney, after remain-
ing two days before Fort Royal, and endeavouring in vain to pro-
voke the enemy to an engagement, returned to St. Lucie, leaving
ſome faſt-failing veſſels to bring the earlieſt intelligence of any move-
ment that ſhould be made by them.
Nothing happened till the fifteenth of April, when, in the middle
of the night, the count de Guichen came out of Fort Royal harbour,
and failed with twenty-three ſhips of the line, and a number of
frigates. Immediate intelligence being conveyed to fir George Rod-
ney, he inſtantly put to ſea, with twenty ſhips of the line. On the
ſixteenth, he got ſight of the enemy, and on the ſeventeenth, after
various manoeuvres practiſed on both ſides, by the one to elude, and
by the other to force an engagement, the French fleet was brought
to action. The firing began about one, and did not ceaſe till four
in the afternoon. The Sandwich, ſir George Rodney's ſhip, after
beating three of the enemy's fleet in ſucceſſion, out of the line, en-
gaged with the Couronne, the count de Guichen's ſhip, ſupported
by two others, the Triumphant and Fendant, and, although alone,
maintained this unequal combat for an hour and a half, at the end
of which the French admiral bore away. At this time the enemy
might
AMERICAN WAR.
267
XXXVIII.
1780.
might be ſaid to be completely beaten ; but ſuch was the diſtance of CHAP
the van and the rear from the centre of the Britiſh fleet, and ſuch
the crippled ſtate of ſeveral of the ſhips, particularly the Sandwich,
which for twenty-four hours was with difficulty kept above water,
that an immediate purſuit could not be ordered with any proſpect of
advantage. In the mean time every endeavour was uſed to refit the
diſabled ſhips ; and on the twentieth, the Britiſh commander again
deſcried the enemy. He purſued them, for three days ſucceſſively,
but without effect. They ſtudiouſly avoided an engagement, and
endeavoured to puſh for Fort Royal in Martinique. From this re-
treat they were however cut off by ſir George Rodney, who had
penetrated their intention in-time to counteract it; and they were at
laſt obliged to take ſhelter under Guadaloupe. In the action the lofs
of men on board the Britiſh fleet amounted to one hundred and
twenty killed, and three hundred and fifty-three wounded : That of
the French in killed and wounded was ſaid to be near one thouſand.
Although a victory was undoubtedly obtained, it is plain, from the
Britiſh commander's diſpatches, that it was not ſo complete as he
wiſhed, and had reaſon to expect at the beginning of the action:
And although blame is not directly imputed to any of the officers
under him, it is apparent that he thought himſelf not well ſup-
ported by ſome of them. Sir George Rodney, finding, from an in-
effectual purſuit of three days, that it was in vain to follow the ene-
my any farther, judged it beſt, as the next poſſible chance of bringing
them again to action, to be off Fort Royal in Martinique before
them, the only harbour in the Weſt Indies where they could repair
their damages. To Fort Royal he accordingly directed his courſe,
and continued to cruiſe off Martinique, until the condition of fome
of his own ſhips obliged him to return to Gros Illet Bay in St. Lu-
cie to refit.
M m 2
The
268
HISTORY OF THE
1
CH A P.
XXXVIII.
1780.
The ſick and wounded having been landed, and the fleet watered
and refitted, the Britiſh commander receiving information by his
cruiſers, on the ſixth of May, that the French fleet was approaching
to windward of Martinique, immediately failed in queſt of it with.
nineteen ſhips of the line, two ſhips of fifty guns, and ſome fri-
gates. After beating to windward for ſeveral days, he at laſt got
ſight of the object of his wiſhes : But it was not the intention of
the count de Guichen to riſque an engagement, and being to wind-
ward, he had it much in his power to avoid it ; yet not ſo effectually,
but that the rear of his fleet was brought to action by the van of fir
George Rodney's on the fifteenth and nineteenth of May, and on
both days the advantage was manifeſtly on the ſide of the latter.
After the laſt of theſe actions the French fleet ſtood to the northward
with ſuch a preſs of fail, that in three days their whole fleet was out
of ſight. Their fuperiority in failing was ſuch, that all further
purſuit ſeemed in vain; and ſir George Rodney, having been led in
chaſe of them already forty leagues to windward of Martinique,
proceeded to Barbadoes to refit ſuch of his ſhips as had been diſabled
in the late engagements. The abſence of the Britiſh fleet afforded
an opportunity to the count de Guichen, which he did not fail to
embrace, of returning with his ſhattered ſquadron to the harbour of
Fort Royal.
That fir George Rodney ſhould put his feet in the beſt poſſible
ſtate, and that he ſhould occupy a windward ſtation, became the
more neceſſary, in conſequence of information, received by him
about this time, of the approach of a fleet from Spain, which if ſuf-
fered unmoleſted to join that of France, would give to the latter a
dangerous ſuperiority. The Spaniſh fleet, of which he received in-
formation, had failed from Cadiz on the twenty-eighth of April,
under the command of Don Joſeph Solano, and conſiſted of twelve
ſhips
1
f
AMERICAN WAR,
269.
XXXVIII,
ſhips of the line, a proportionable number of frigates, and eighty- CHAP
three tranſports, having on board near twelve thouſand troops, and
1780.
a conſiderable train of artillery. That the Britiſh admiral might not
loſe the opportunity of intercepting this armament, he uſed the
greateſt diſpatch in refitting his fleet at Barbadoes; and having put
to ſea as ſoon as it was in readineſs, cruiſed in that latitude, in
which, according to the information conveyed to him, there was the
greateſt chance of meeting with Don Solano. But the extreme cau-
tion of the latter proved the means of his ſafety, and defeated all the
attempts of the Britiſh admiral to intercept him. Inſtead of failing
directly to Fort Royal Bay in Martinique, the appointed place of
rendezvous, he kept more to the northward, and ſtopped ſhort at
Guadaloupe, diſpatching a frigate to acquaint count de Guichen of
his arrival, and requeſting a junction where he then was. The count
de Guichen, upon receiving this intelligence, immediately failed,
with eighteen ſhips of the line, and keeping to leeward of the
iſlands, joined the Spaniſh ſquadron under Dominique.
The combined fleet now poffeſſed ſo great a ſuperiority, that it had
nothing to fear from ſir George Rodney; and the land force, that
accompanied it, was ſo conſiderable as to portend ruin to the Britiſh
intereſt in the Weſt Indies by the ſucceſſive reduction of all the
iſlands. It was generally ſuppoſed that the conqueſt of Jamaica was
the principal object of the Spaniſh armament, in effecting which
the French fleet, without doubt, was to co-operate. But the Spaniſh
troops had been ſo crowded on board the tranſports, that a peſtilen-
tial diſtemper broke out amongſt them: And it raged with ſuch vio-
lence about the time of their arrival in the Weſt Indies, that it be-
came neceſſary to land the men in order to check its progreſs. For
this purpoſe the combined feet proceeded to Fort Royal Bay in Mar-
tinique : And the allies were for a time obliged to fufpend their
ope-
rations.
6
Sir
1
1
270
HISTORY OF THE
CHAP
XXXVIII.
1780.
July.
Sir George Rodney having been diſappointed in his deſign of in-
tercepting the Spaniſh ſquadron, returned to Gros Illet Bay in St.
Lucie, as the moſt convenient ſtation for obtaining early intelligence
of
any movement made by the enemy. Although their numbers
had been leſſened by the contagious diſtemper, they were ſtill in ſuf-
ficient force to have attempted the conqueſt of Jamaica with every
proſpect of ſucceſs : But a difference of opinion between the two
commanders proved fatal to the expedition. After remaining inac-
tive for ſeveral weeks in the bay of Fort Royal, the combined fleets
put to ſea in the night of the fifth of July, without making ſignals
or ſhewing lights, and directed their courſe to Saint Domingo. Here
they ſeparated, the count de Guichen with the French fleet putting
in to Cape François, whilſt Don Solano with the Spaniſh fleet pro-
ceeded to the Havannah. The count de Guichen remained at Cape
François only until the homeward-bound trade from the French
iſlands had aſſembled, when, taking it under his protection, he failed
directly for Europe.
Sir George Rodney probably concluded that the count de Guichen
only meant to convoy the trade to a certain latitude, and then pro-
ceed to the continent of America to execute the plan concerted
with general Waſhington; and that he might be in readineſs to
thwart the count's operations there, as he had already done in the
Weſt Indies, he failed for New York with eleven ſhips of the line
and four frigates, where he arrived in September, as has been
already related. But the truth was, that the count de Guichen's fleet
was not in a condition to execute his part of the plan : His ſhips had
been ſo ſhattered in his different engagements with fir George Rod-
ney, that he found it neceſſary to return as ſpeedily as poflible to
Europe, to give them a thorough repair.
In the mean time an incident occurred, which opened more fully
to the view of the Britiſh cabinet, the hoſtile deſigns of the Dutch.
So
AMERICAN WAR.
271
XXXVIII.
So long ago as the month of September in the year 1778, a private CHAP
interview had taken place at Aix la Chapelle, between William Lee,
1780.
formerly an alderman of London, and then an agent for the Ame-
rican congreſs, and John de Neufville, a merchant of Amſterdam,
acting under powers delegated to him by Van Berkel, grand pen-
fionary of that city. The object of their interview was to plan the
outlines of a commercial treaty, which might be proper to be entered
into between the revolted colonies in America and the Seven United
Provinces : And at the concluſion of their conferences, certain pro-
viſionary articles were agreed upon, and ſigned by the reſpective
agents, as thoſe upon the baſis of which a treaty might be hereafter
formed. Duplicates of the articles were tranſmitted both to Holland
and America ; and great ſecrecy obſerved to prevent the tranſaction
from coming to the knowledge of the Britiſh court.
All this was
done, whilſt the Dutch were pretending to act the part of good and
faithful allies to the king of Great Britain, and at his requiſition
formally prohibiting, in appearance, an intercourſe between their ſub-
jects and the revolted colonies : And perhaps it was not their origi-
nal intention to carry the matter farther, but to ſuffer the clandeſtine
commerce between the Dutch dominions and America, to be con-
ducted agreeably to the proviſions of this unfiniſhed arrangement,
during the continuance of the war, at the end of which the
pro-
ceedings of John de Neufville might be either confirmed or dif-
avowed, as ſuited their intereſt; and accordingly nothing farther was
done towards completing the treaty for near two years. But the
finances of the congreſs had become deranged, and their paper
money had been depreciated to ſuch an extent; that they ſaw it
would be impoſſible to maintain the conteſt much longer without
the aid of a foreign loan, which they found from experience could
only be negotiated in Holland: And even there the monied men
were averſe to truſting their property upon ſuch ſecurity as a people
could
272
HISTORY OF THE
XXXVIII.
1780.
treaty be-
CHA P. could offer, whoſe ſovereignty and independence were yet unacknow-
ledged by the States General. Beſides the general intereſt, therefore,
which the congreſs had in getting the independence of the Ameri-
can ſtates acknowledged by as many of the European powers as pof-
ſible, they had a peculiar intereſt in procuring that acknowledg-
ment from the States General, in order to facilitate the negotiation
of the propoſed loan; and they were encouraged to hope for ſucceſs
in their ſolicitations to that end, partly from the favourable diſpofi-
tion of the inhabitants of Amſterdam towards their cauſe, who had
already taſted the ſweets of the American commerce, and partly
from the prevalence of a party which the intrigues of the court of
France had raiſed in Holland in oppoſition to the Stadtholder and the
British intereft.
Commercial Moved by ſuch conſiderations, the congreſs in the preſent year ap-
tween Ame- pointed their late preſident, Henry Laurens, to proceed to Holland as
their ambaſſador, with full powers to bring the commercial treaty to a
concluſion. Mr. Laurens accordingly embarked at Philadelphia in a
veſſel bound to Holland, carrying with him all the papers that in any
manner related to the object of his miſſion, and particularly the pro-
viſional commercial articles ſettled between William Lee and John
de Neufville. But the veſſel was taken on her paffage to Europe,
and with her Mr. Laurens and his papers; the box containing them,
which had been thrown overboard, having been prevented from
ſinking by the alertneſs of a Britiſh ſeaman.
Mr. Laurens's papers having furniſhed the Britiſh miniſtry with
full evidence of what they had long before ſuſpected, the unfriendly
diſpoſition of the Dutch, their connexion with the revolted colo-
nies, and the underhand practices of the penſionary Van Berkel to
make that connexion ſtill cloſer ; they determined to demand inſtant
ſatisfaction for the injury. For that purpoſe the papers, which af-
forded the evidence, were tranſmitted to the Britiſh ambaſſador at
the
rica and Hol-
land,
AMERICAN WAR.
273
XXXVIIT,
+
the Hague, who was inſtructed to preſent a menorial to the States C H 4,!,
General, requiring them to diſavow the proceedings of the penſionary
Van Berkel and his accomplices, and to inflict upon them a puniſh-
1780.
ment ſuitable to the magnitude of their offence; He was further en-
joined to declare, that, if ſatisfaction in theſe reſpects ſhould be either
refuſed or delayed, the States General would be conſidered as making
themſelves parties to the injury, and ſuch meaſures be purſued as
the law of nations authoriſed for compelling a reparation of the
Trong The memorial was accordingly preſented; and no ſatisfac-
tory anſwer being returned by the States General within the time
expected, the Britiſh ambaſſador was recalled from the Hague, and
on the twentieth of December, letters of repriſal were ordered to be War on the
{flued againſt the Dutch, In the mean time Mr. Laurens, after an Britain
part of Great
examination before the ſecretaries of ſtate, was committed on a againſt the
Durch,
fharge of high treaſon a cloſe priſoner to the Tower of London,
VOI, IT.
N
1
74
HISTORY OF THE
I
CH A P. XXXIX.
French Attempt on the Iſand of Jerſey-Defeated-Naval Exertions
of both France and Britain Relief of Gibraltar--Capture of the
Dutch Iſland St. Euſtatius–And of Demarary and I ſequibo, Dutch
Settlements on the Spaniſh Main-Fruitleſs Attempt of the French on
St. Lucie—The Iſland of Tobago ſurrendered to the French.
XXXIX.
CHA P. HOSTILITIES againſt the Dutch began on the part of Great
Britain by the detention of ſuch of their veſſels as were in
1781. Britiſh harbours, until it ſhould be known in what manner Britiſh
veſſels were treated in their ports. The rich harveſt expected from
the capture of the Dutch merchantmen excited a freſh ſpirit of en-
terpriſe amongſt the Britiſh ſhip-owners : Numerous privatcers were
fitted out; and in a ſhort time their trade was greatly annoyed.
Meaſures were alſo taken, and orders ſent to the Britiſh commanders
abroad, for ſeizing their foreign poffefſions: And fo valuable did the
Dutch commerce appear in every quarter, that the policy of the
Britiſh miniſtry, in peremptorily requiring them to fulfil their engage-
ments, and ſhew themſelves either ſincere and uſeful allies, or open
and avowed enemies, ſeemed fully juſtified.
The French began the year 1781, with renewing their attempt
iſland of Jer. upon the iſland of Jerſey, in which they had failed two years before.
The command of the expedition was given to the baron de Rulli-
court, an officer of courage; but of a temper hot, intractable, violent,
and ferocious. About two thouſand men were aſſigned for the fer-
vice: And with theſe embarked in tranſports he failed from the coaſt
6
of
French at-
tempt on the
ſey,
.
AMERICAN WAR.
275
CH A P.
XXXIX.
1781.
of France, in dark and ſtormy weather, hoping thereby more com-
pletely to ſurpriſe the iſland. Nearly one half of the tranſports
were obliged to put back in diſtreſs to the coaſt of France; but with January.
the reſt the baron perſiſted in his deſign, and having paſſed the dan-
gerous ſhoals of La Roque Platte, where ſeveral of his veſſels were
wrecked, and a number of his troops loft, he landed unperceived in
the night of the ſixth of January, with eight hundred men, at a
place called the Baue de Violet. From thence he marched during
the night to St. Helier's, the capital of the iſland, and early in the
inorning ſeizing the avenues, was in poſſeſſion of the town before
the inhabitants were aware of his landing. Not long after the
French reached St. Helier's, major Corbet, the lieutenant-governor,
was made a priſoner; but not, it ſeems, till he had an opportunity of
diſpatching meſſengers to give the alarm at the other ſtations occu-
pied by the troops aſſigned for the defence of the iſland. The lieu-
tenant-governor being a priſoner, the baron de Rullicourt required
him to ſign a capitulation for the ſurrender of the iſland, threaten-
ing, if he refuſed, to reduce the town of St. Helier's to aſhes, and
put the inhabitants to the ſword. To avoid ſuch dreadful conſe-
quences, major Corbet too eaſily thought fit to comply, after having
in vain repreſented, that no act done by him whilſt a priſoner could
be binding, either upon the troops or inhabitants. Elizabeth Caſtle
was then ſummoned to ſurrender under the terms of the capitulation;
but captain Aylward, who commanded, aſſiſted by captain Mulcaſ-
ter, of the engineers, peremptorily refuſed : And the French, who
had advanced to the gate, placing the lieutenant-governor in their
front, were fired upon and compelled to retire.
In the mean time major Pierſon, upon whom the command of the
troops devolved, after the lieutenant-governor became a priſoner,
having collected them from their different ſtations, and afſembled as
many of the militia as could be got together, advanced againſt the
town,
Nn 2
276
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIX.
CHAP' town, and ſeized the heights adjoining to it. Whilſt he lay in this
ſituation he received a ſummons to ſurrender, agreeably to the capitu-
1781.
lation; to which he gallantly anſwered, that unleſs the French them
ſelves laid down their arms, and ſurrendered within twenty minutes,
they might expect to be attacked. An able diſpoſition of his troops
was accordingly made; and at the end of that time, the town being
aſſaulted on all ſides, the French were ſo fiercely charged, that they
retreated from every quarter to the market-place. Here, their force
being concentered, the action was renewed with freſh vigour under
the eye of their general, who, diveſting himſelf of the magnanimity
attached to the character of an officer, and even of the feelings be-
longing to a man, kept by his ſide the lieutenant-governor during
the heat of the battle, expofing him, although a priſoner, to the fire
of the Britiſh troops. But at length, the baron de Rullicourt received
a mortal wound: When the ſecond in command, ſeeing his troops
unable any longer to withſtand the impetuoſity of the affailants, and
his own ſituation hopeleſs, requeſted the lieutenant-governor to re-
fume his authority, and accept the fubmiſſion of him and his troops
as priſoners of war. In the attack of St. Helier's, the loſs of the
aſſailants was not ſo great as might have been expected : Of the Bri-
tiſh regulars twelve only were killed, and thirty-ſix wounded; and
of the militia four were killed, and twenty-nine wounded. But the
death of the brave major Pierſon, who fell at the end of the action
and in the moment of complete victory, filled every one with re-
gret. To his gallantry and good conduct, and to the brave exer-
tions of the officers and troops under him, his country was indebted
on the preſent occaſion for the ſafety of Jerſey. Although moſt of
the troops were new levies, they fought with the firmneſs of vete-
rans: And the loſs ſuſtained by the militia fhews that they were en-
titled to a full ſhare of merit for the ſucceſs of the day. Of the
enemy not one eſcaped, all who ſurvived the action being made pri-
4
foners
defeated
AMERICAN WAR.
277
XXXIX.
tions of both
Britain.
ſoners of war. In this manner ended the ſecond expedition under- CHAP
taken by the French againſt the iſland of Jerſey, under all its circum-
ftances more diſaſtrous to them than the firſt.
1781.
In the mean time they were ſtraining every nerve to place their Naval exer-
marine upon a more reſpectable footing, and to fit out ſuch a fleet as France and
might give them a decided ſuperiority in the Weſt Indies during the
following ſummer: Whilſt the Britiſh miniſtry on the other hand
exerted themſelves not leſs ſtrenuouſly, to equip ſuch a force as
might be adequate to the various ſervices which the war in its exten-
ſion required them to provide for. That which was the moſt preff-
ing, and demanded their immediate attention, was the relief of the
garriſon of Gibraltar, more endangered by the want of ſupplies, in
conſequence of the blockade, than by the tremendous fire from the
enemy's batteries. Gibraltar having received no ſupplies ſince thoſe
conveyed by ſir George Rodney in the beginning of the preceding
year, both the garriſon and inhabitants were at this time in the ut-
moſt diſtreſs for want of proviſions. The allowance to the garriſon
had been reduced to a pound and a half in the week of ſalted meat
for each man, which at length became ſo bad as to be ſcarcely eat-
able. Freſh proviſions, when they could be procured, fold at the
moſt enormous prices : Pigs at two guineas, turkies at three, geeſe
at thirty ſhillings, fowls and ducks at ten ſhillings, damaged biſcuit
at a ſhilling the pound, peaſe at eighteen-pence; and all other ne-
ceffaries in proportion, Fuel was ſo ſcarce, that it was with diffi-
culty enough was found for dreſſing their victuals. Theſe diſtreſſes
were known in England: The neceſſity of attempting to relieve the
garriſon was of courſe urgent; but the difficulty of accompliſhing it
was great. The Spaniſh fleet, under Don Louis de Cordova, had or-
ders to cruiſe upon the coaſt of Portugal, and was repreſented to con-
ſiſt of thirty ſhips of the line: A French fleet, not much inferior,
was alınoſt in readineſs to put to ſea from Breſt; and all the force,
which
?
278
HISTORY OF THE
-
.
J
Relief of
Gibraltar.
CHA P. which the Britiſh miniſtry could ſpare from other ſervices for the re-
lief of Gibraltar, conſiſted only of twenty-eight ſhips of the line.
1781.
Theſe, however, were commanded by the admirals Darby, Digby,
and Roſs, all of them officers of great profeſſional reputation. With
this fleet admiral Darby failed from Portſmouth on the thirteenth of
March, taking under his convoy the trade bound to the Eaſt and
Weſt Indies; and having touched at Cork to receive the tranſports
with proviſions, and afterwards conducted the outward-bound trade
as far as was thought neceſſary, he left them to purſue their voyage,
and ſteered directly for the bay of Cadiz; into the harbour of which
Don Louis de Cordova, upon receiving intelligence of admiral Dar-
by's approach, had thought fit to retire with the Spaniſh fleet, with-
out daring to riſque an engagement. Whilſt admiral Darby cruiſed
off Cadiz and the mouth of the Straits, keeping the Spaniſh fleet in
port, the tranſports with the proviſions and ſtores proceeded to the
place of their deſtination, under the convoy of the diviſion of the
Britiſh fleet commanded by admiral fir John Lockhart Roſs: And
thus, to the utter mortification of Spain, Gibraltar was a ſecond time
relieved, and ſupplied with every thing neceſſary for ſuſtaining the
ſiege.
Whilſt the Britiſh fleet was abſent on this ſervice, that of France
deſtined for the Weſt India ſtation, and conſiſting of twenty-one
ſhips of the line, failed from Breſt under the command of the count
de Graſſe. The French poſſeſſions in that quarter, from the infe-
riority of the ſquadron left for their protection by the count de Gui-
chen when he returned to France at the end of the preceding ſum-
mer, had been expoſed to the attempts of the Britiſh commanders
during the winter, and probably ſome of them owed their ſafety to
the war with Holland. Sir George Rodney, after remaining at New
York until the hurricane ſeaſon was over, returned to the Weſt In-
dies towards the cloſe of the former year, and in conjunction with
general
AMERICAN WAR.
279
XXXIX.
general Vaughan was meditating a deſcent upon ſome of the French C H A P.
iſlands, when he received information of the rupture with the Dutch,
1781.
and inſtructions to commence hoſtilities againſt their Weſt India pof-
fefſions. Of theſe the little iſland of St. Euſtatius claimed the firſt
attention, not from its intrinſic value, but as being a general depot
of merchandiſe, from whence not only the American colonies, but
the French iſlands alſo, derived conſiderable ſupplies: And it was the
inore obnoxious to Britiſh vengeance, that the commerce between it
and the Americani colonies, connived at by the States General, was
the original cauſe of difference between the two nations, which at
laſt produced an open rupture. Of ſmall extent, of barren ſoil, and
without
any native productions of value, the iſland of St. Euſtatius
was of no importance, except from its commerce. Being a free
port, it was inhabited by people of all nations, who reſorted thither
for the ſake of carrying on commerce with their reſpective countries;
and during the preſent war, from the great demands for merchandiſe
of all kinds in America, the trade of the iſland had increaſed to an
amazing extent. So confiderable was the importation of merchan-
dife into St. Euſtatius, that the bulkier articles, for want of room in
the warehouſes, lay in the ſtreets. The whole iſland was a kind of
natural fortification, with only one convenient landing-place ; but
nothing had been done towards improving thoſe defenſive advan-
tages, nor was it even provided with any thing like a ſufficient
gar-
riſon. Such was the ſituation of St. Euſtatius, when fir George February.
Rodney and general Vaughan, on the third of February, appeared
before it with a force of ſhips and troops more proportioned to the
importance than to the difficulty of the acquiſition. A ſummons
was immediately ſent to the governor, requiring him to ſurrender the
iſland; with which, knowing its defenceleſs ſtate, and his utter in-
ability to make any effectual reſiſtance, he thought it prudent with-
out delay to comply: And thus the iſland of St. Euſtatius, with all
its
280
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIX.
the Dutch
CHA P. its ſtores of merchandiſe, was ſurrendered at diſcretion to the Britiſh
navy and army. The value of the merchandiſe thus ſurrendered
1781.
Capture of was ſuppoſed to amount to four millions; and whatever parts of it
inand St. Eu- belonged to the Dutch, the French, or the Americans, unqueſtion-
ftatius;
ably became lawful prize to the captors. But ſeveral Britiſh agents
having ſettled there for the purpoſe, as they pretended, of purchaſing
American produce under the implied ſanction of an act of parlia-
ment, it became a queſtion, whether the property of ſuch perſons,
conſidered as inhabitants of St. Euſtatius, was or was not ſubject to
confiſcation. Perhaps ſome diſtinction ought to have been made be-
tween thoſe Britiſh agents, who had bona fide ſettled in St. Euſtatius
for the purpoſe aforeſaid, and thoſe who were alſo concerned in care
rying on an illegal intercourſe, either with the revolted ſubjects of
Great Britain, or her open and avowed enemies; and poſſibly it was
not an eaſy matter to make the
proper diſcrimination. However
this might be, the proceedings of the Britiſh commanders with re-
fpect to the property of ſuch perſons, became afterwards the ſubject
of much controverſy in the courts of law, and of great vexation to
the captors themſelves, in conſequence of the oppoſite deciſions given
by ſome of the tribunals before whom the St. Euſtatius prize cauſes
were ſucceſſively carried.
A Dutch frigate of thirty-fix guns, five ſhips of war of inferior
force, and more than one hundred and fifty fail of merchantmen,
were taken in the bay; and a fleet of thirty ſhips richly laden,
which had ſailed from St. Euſtatius for Holland two days before its
capture, were purſued, overtaken, and brought back, together with
their convoy, a ſhip of fixty guns, commanded by an admiral.
The ſurrender of St Euſtatius was followed by that of the iſlands of
St. Martin and Saba in its vicinity; and the Dutch colours having
been kept flying upon the forts of the captured iſlands for ſome
time after the ſurrender, a number of French, American, and Dutch
yeſſels
t
AMERICAN WAR.
281
Dutch fettle-
ments on the
veſſels were decoyed by the ſnare, and became an eaſy prey to the CKXAX.P.
new poſſeſſors.
1781.
After the capture of St. Euſtatius, general Cunningham, gover-
nor of Barbadoes, ſent a fummons, by captain Pender, of his ma-
jeſty's floop Barbuda, to the inhabitants of the Dutch ſettlements
upon the Spaniſh main bordering on the river Demarary and Iſſe- and of De-
marary and
quibo, informing them of that event, and requiring them to ſur- Iſſequibo,
render to his majeſty's arms. Theſe were new ſettlements, but from
the richneſs of their foil of great future expectation. Being totally Spaniſh main.
unprovided for defence, the inhabitants, in anſwer to the ſummons,
ſent a deputation to governor Cunningham, with an offer to ſur-
render upon the ſuppoſed terms granted to St. Euſtatius. In the
mean time a ſquadron of Britiſh privateers, chiefly belonging to the
port of Briſtol, upon hearing of the Dutch war, united their force,
and boldly entering the rivers Demarary and Iſſequibo, cut out even
from under the Dutch forts and batteries, and brought off, almoſt all
the Dutch ſhips of value in either river. The deputies ſent from theſe
ſettlements to governor Cunningham, of Barbadoes, were by him
referred to ſir George Rodney and general Vaughan at St. Euſtatius,
who diſdaining to take any advantage of the improvident offer of the
inhabitants to ſhare the ſame fate as the people of St. Euſtatius,
and thinking that a line of diſtinction ought to be drawn between
the inhabitants of thoſe Dutch colonies, who, previouſly to the com-
mencement of hoftilities againſt Holland, had openly afſifted the ene-
mies of Great Britain, in violation of the treaties ſubfiſting between
the two nations, and ſuch as, occupied in their own domeſtic affairs,
had given no ſuch provocation, granted to the deputies, terms of
capitulation ſufficiently liberal, by which the inhabitants of thoſe
ſettlements were fecured in the full poſſeſſion of their civil govern-
ment and private property.
VOL. II..
Oo
Whilft
A
252
HISTORY OF THE
CH A T.
XXXIX.
1781.
April.
A ge-
Whilſt fir George Rodney remained at St. Euſtatius, and before
he had finiſhed the variety of buſineſs in which he was involved, by
the capture of that iſland, the diſpoſal of the merchandiſe fourd in it,
and the claims of the Britiſh merchants, advice was brought to him of
the ſailing of count de Graſſe from Breft, with the French fleet deſtined
for the Weſt Indies. Upon receiving this intelligence, fir Samuel
Hood and rear-admiral Drake were immediately diſpatched to wind-
ward with eighteen ſhips of the line, to endeavour to intercept and
bring the count de Graffe to action, before his force vas increafed
by the junction of the French ſquadron already at Martinique.
Theſe admirals accordingly proceeded to Fort Royal Bay, off which
they cruized until the twenty-eighth of April, when the advanced
ſhips announced by ſignal the approach of the French fleet. A
neral chaſe to windward was immediately ordered, and the line of
battle a-head formed, which was continued during the whole night,
in order more effectually to cut off the French fleet from the harbour
of Fort Royal. In the morning the French fleet was ſtill to wind-
ward, and the convoy cloſe in with the land : It was of courſe in the
power of the count de Graſſe, by bearing down, to engage when he
pleaſed; but he kept at a diſtance, and avoided an engagement.
Every exertion was made by the Britiſh commanders to bring him
to action, and in the courſe of the various evolutions practiſed by
them with this intention, the French ſquadron in Fort Royal Bay un-
fortunately found an opportunity of coming out and joining their
admiral. By the junction, he acquired a ſuperiority of force over
the Britiſh fleet, in the proportion of twenty-four to eighteen, but
ſtill avoided a cloſe engagement. The endeavours of the Britiſh
commanders to come up with him were nevertheleſs unremittingly
continued ; and they ſo far ſucceeded, as to bring on a partial ac-
tion, Only the van and ſome ſhips of the centre of the Britiſh fleet
could
i
1
XXXIX.
1781
AMERICAN WAR.
283
could get near enough to engage; and in their ſtruggles to cloſe CHA P.
with the enemy, they were for a conſiderable time expoſed to a
great ſuperiority of fire, and ſuſtained much damage. The loſs of
men was not great; but at the end of the engagement, which laſted
about three hours, the Ruſſel was found to have received ſo many
ſhots between wind and water, that ſhe was obliged to bear away
for
the iſland of St. Euſtatius to refit : Four other ſhips were alſo much
diſabled. The enemy did not eſcape without damage; but their
fuperiority of force ſtill remained. The next morning ſir Samuel
Hood endeavoured to gain the wind of the enemy, that he might
engage with leſs diſadvantage ; but it was to no purpoſe. At laſt,
finding all his efforts ineffectual, and ſeveral of his ſhips ſo crippled
as to be unſit for immediate action, he bore away for Antigua to get
them refitted, and was followed by the count de Graſſe, with the
whole French fleet. The next day fome ſhips in the rear of the
Britiſh fleet being in danger of being cut off, fir Samuel Hood bore
down with the van and centre for their protection, and made fo re-
ſolute a ſtand, that the count de Graſſe, notwithſtanding his great
fuperiority, did not dare to perſiſt in the attempt; but ſoon after-
wards gave over the purſuit, and returned to Martinique.
Whilſt the Britiſh fleet proceeded to Antigua to refit, an attempt was
made by the French to regain poſſeſſion of the iſland of St. Lucie. In May-
the night between the tenth and eleventh of May, a force from Mar-
tinique, commanded by the viſcount Damas, acting under the orders
of the marquis de Bouillé, who accompanied him, landed upon the
iſland in three different places, and early the next morning ſurpriſed
the town of Gros Illet, and made priſoners ſome ſick of the forty-
ſixth regiment that were in the hoſpital. Pigeon Iſland, which
comma.ded the anchorage-ground in Gros Illet Bay, and was garri-
ſoned hy a company of the eighty-feventh regiment, under the com-
mand of captain Campbell, and ſome ſeamen under the direction of
lieutenant
A
002
1
284
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIX.
teinpt of the
French on
St. Lucie.
CHA P. lieutenant Miller, of the navy, was immediately ſummoned to ſur-
render, with a threat, that the garriſon, in caſe of refuſal, might ex-
1781.
pect to ſuffer all the ſeveritics authoriſed by the laws of war: But
captain Campbell, the commanding officer, bravely bid defiance to
the enemy, and reſolved to defend his poſt to the laſt extremity.
On the day after the landing of the troops, the count de Graſſe ap-
peared with twenty-five ſhips of the line, and ſtood in for Gros
Illet Bay, as if with intention to anchor; but was foon obliged to
alter his deſign, and fall to leeward, in conſequence of a well-di-
rected fire from the batteries on Pigeon Iſland. In the mean time
general St. Leger, who commanded at St. Lucie, had made a moſt
judicious diſpoſition of his little force for the defence of the iſland :
And the fortunate arrival of a frigate and two floops of war, fup-
plied him with a reinforcement of ſeamen to aſſiſt in manning the
Fruitleſs at batteries. So determined an appearance of reſiſtance entirely diſcon-
certed the views of the French commanders, who had expected an
eaſy conqueſt. The enterpriſe was in conſequence abandoned :
Their troops were re-embarked in the night : And the next morning
their whole fleet returned to Martinique.
This fruitleſs attempt upon St. Lucie was followed by another
againſt the iſland of Tobago, which proved more ſucceſsful. A finall
ſquadron of ſhips from Martinique appeared before it on the
twenty-third of May, having on board twelve hundred troops,
under the command of the fieur Blanchelande, governor of St. Vin-
cent's, who effected a landing the next day. The whole force that
could be collected for the defence of the iſland, did not exceed five
hundred men of all denominations, including regulars, militia, and
fome arıned negroes.
With theie governor Ferguſon took a ſtrong
poſition on Mcunt Concordia, having firſt diſpatched an advice-boat
to Larbadoss, with intelligence of the attack. Mount Concordia
vas an eligible ſituation, becauſe from thence both ſides of the land
might
AMERICAN WAR.
285
might be diſtinctly ſeen; and in this poſition the governor, and C WAP.
major Stanhope, who commanded the regular troops, defended
1781.
themſelves until the firſt of June. Immediately after the landing of Junc.
the French troops, a ſummons was ſent to the governor to ſurrender
the iſland, and an offer was made to grant the moſt favourable terms;
but both were inſtantly rejected. Threats were then made, that
unleſs the militia returned to their homes, their plantations would
be burnt : But theſe alſo were diſregarded. The ſieur Blanchelande,
ſeeing ſuch a ſhew of reſiſtance, diſpatched a veſſel to Martinique,
requeſting a reinforcement. His requeſt was inſtantly complied
with : And a powerful reinforcement, commanded by the marquis de
Bouillé in perſon, and accompanied by the count dc Graſſe, with the
whole French fleet of twenty-five ſhips of the line, arrived at To-
bago on the thirty-firſt of May. Upon the arrival of the French
fleet with this reinforcement, a council of war was held between the
governor and his garriſon : And the engineers being of opinion that
Mount Concordia was no longer terable againſt ſo ſuperior force, a
reſolution was unanimouſly taken to retreat to a ſtill ſtronger poſi-
tion upon the main ridge, the approach to which was by a road of
ſome miles in length, ſo narrow that two men could not walk
abreaſt, and inacceſſible' on each ſide by impenetrable foreſts. In
purſuance of this reſolution the garriſon left Mount Concordia at
one in the morning of the firſt of June, unperceived by the enemy,
and without moleſtation reached the defile leading to the main ridge
before eight.
No movement perhaps was ever more critically executed, prepa.
tions having been made by the enemy for ſtorming the Britiſh lines
at Mount Concordia on the ſame morning on which the garriſon had
evacuated them. And as the marquis de Bouillé, in conſequence of
the great ſuperiority of his force, entertained no doubt of the fuc
ceſs of the attack; ſo his diſappointment was extreme, upon finding
that
.286
HISTORY OF THE
+
XXXIX,
1787.
CHA P. that the garriſon had eſcaped to an inacceſſible part of the iſland,
where his own numbers could not avail, and where they might dem
fend themſelves with eaſe againſt any force, ſo long as their proviſions
laſted. His chagrin on this occaſion ſeems to have betrayed him into
unuſual acts of ſeverity, inconſiſtent with his former character for
lenity and moderation. Fearful left the garriſon ſhould hold out
until the arrival of the Britiſh fleet, which might fruſtrate the whole
expedition, he began to execute the threats made by the fieur
Blanchelande. Two of the neareſt plantations were immediatelyſet
on fire: An order was iſſued to burn four more within the ſpace of
four hours; and a flag of truce was ſent to acquaint the governor
and inhabitants, that the like execution would be repeated every
four
hours, until the iſland ſhould be ſurrendered.
Theſe ruinous devaſtations overcame the firmneſs of the militia,
To ſave their property, they determined to capitulate ; and in this
determination they were joined by the commanding officer of the
troops. It was in vain that the governor repreſented the natural
ſtrength of the poſt which they now occupied, and urged them to
perſiſt in the defence of the iſland until the Britiſh fleet ſhould come
to their relief. They had already held out for more than a week
againſt a very ſuperior force, in daily expectation of relief: They had
alſo by this time received information that a reinforcement coming
to their aſſiſtance had been obliged to put back on account of the ar-
rival of the French fleet. They deſpaired of further relief; and
they ſaw their habitations in flames. Under ſuch circumſtances no
remonſtrances of the governor could prevail; and in order to obtain
better terms for the inhabitants, he was at laſt obliged to yield, and
join in a meaſure which he could no longer prevent. A treaty
£apitulation was entered upon, and terms were obtained for the inha-
bitants, not leſs beneficial than thoſe granted to the inhabitants of
Dominica. The difference of opinion, that bad taken place between
the
1
for a
AMERICAN WAR.
267
XXXIX
1781.
.
tite governor and the commanding officer of the troops, was the CHA P.
cauſe of their acting ſeparately in the treaty opened with the marquis
de Bouillé ; the terms which reſpected the inhabitants being ſettled by The iland of
the governor with their concurrence, and thoſe regarding the regular rendered to
troops by major Stanhope, without the participation of the go- the French.
vernor.
In the mean time the ſhips of the Britiſh fleet, that had been diſ-
abled in the late actions between vice-admiral fir Samuel Hood and
the count de Graſſe, having been repaired, and ſir George Rodney
having as expeditiouſly as poſlible joined the vice-admiral with
ſuch ſhips as had remained with him at St. Euſtatius, the whole fleet,
then amounting to twenty ſhips of the line, proceeded under his
command to Barbadoes, where it arrived on the twenty-third of May,
the ſame day on which the French armament had firſt appeared off
Tobago. Governor Ferguſon's diſpatch-boat with advice of that ar-
mament, and the attack on Tobago, reached Barbadoes early in the
morning of the twenty-ſeventh ; and on the following day, admiral
Drake was diſpatched to its relief, with fix ſhips of the line, three
frigates, and ſome tranſports, having on board the ſixty-ninth regi-
mnent, and two companies of other regiments, under the command
of brigadier-general Skeene. This was the reinforcement of which
the governor and inhabitants of Tobago had received intelligence :
But the previous arrival of the whole French fleet prevented it from
landing. As ſoon as admiral Drake diſcovered the enemy's fleet
lying between him and the iſland, he returned to Barbadoes, in
pur-
ſuance of his orders, not to riſque his ſquadron againſt a ſuperior
force. Sir George Rodney now put to ſea with the whole fleet;
but before he reached Tobago, the iſland had ſurrendered.
A train of unfortunate circumſtances ſeems to have led to this
event. The iſland might probably have been ſaved, had fir George
Rodney failed with his whole fleet to its relief as ſoon as he was ap-
prized
1
288
HISTORY OF THE
XXXIX.
C HA P. prized of its danger, inſtead of ſending only a ſquadron of ſhips
with a reinforcement. The previous intelligence conveyed to the
1781.
inhabitants, that adıniral Drake was on his paffage with this reinforce-
ment, rendered the diſappointment greater, when they found that
he was obliged to put back, and, added to the burning of their plant-
ations, threw them into a ſtate of deſpair. But even after all thoſe
unlucky circumſtances, had there been a more cordial co-operation
between the governor and the commander of the troops, it is poffible
that the militia, after the exertions already made by them, might
have been prevailed upon to hold out longer; Or even if the militia
were determined in all events to ſurrender, ſuch was the nature of
the defile, according to governor Ferguſon's deſcription, that the re-
gulars themſelves might have defended it againſt any force, until the
arrival of fir George Rodney. On the ſecond of June, the capitu-
lation for Tobago was ſigned; and on the fourth fir George Rod-
ney with the Britiſh fleet appeared in ſight of it.
The Britiſh admiral, after receiving intelligence of the ſurrender,
ſtood to the northward, and on the fifth of June came in ſight of
the French fleet lying to leeward between him and the Grenadilles.
Towards the evening the two fleets, ſteering both the ſame courſe, ap-
proached each other. Sir George Rodney, however, although to
windward, did not think fit to bear down upon the enemy, leſt he
ſhould have got entangled amongſt the iſlands of the Grenadilles,
and by the currents been driven to leeward into the channel between
Grenada and the Spaniſh main; whilſt the French fleet could ſhelter
itſelf in the harbours and under the batteries of that iſland, and thus
gaining a windward ſituation, endanger the ſafety of Barbadoes be-
fore the Britiſh fleet could beat up to its affiſtance. But, as he
truſted that the French, from their ſuperiority, might be induced to
follow him, and thus be led into a track where there would be more
ſea-room and leſs danger of being driven to leeward, he kept on his
3
courſe
AMERICAN WAR.
289
XXXIX.
courſe to windward of St. Vincent's, and gave orders for all the C HA P.
lights of his fleet to be made as conſpicuous as poſſible during the
1781.
night, that the enemy, if they were diſpoſed to engage, might know
that their wiſhes in the morning would not be diſappointed: In the
morning, however, the enemy's fleet was not to be ſeen. In the
night it had tacked and ſteered for Courland Bay, in Tobago ; and
during the remainder of the ſummer, the count de Graſſe, notwith-
ſtanding his ſuperiority of five ſhips of the line, cautioully avoided
to riſque a general engagement.
I
VOL. II.
? E
обz
HISTORY OF THE
*
1
C HA P.
XL.
Reduction of Penſacola by the Spaniards--The combined Fleets of
France and Spain, to the Amount of ſeventy Sail, threater Deſtruc-
tion to the marine Force of England-The Britiſh Admiral, with
twenty-one Ships of the Line, prudently retires into Torbay~-where
the Enemy do not think it adviſable to attack him---Caufis why
the Combined Fleets enjoyed a temporary Superiority over that of
Great Britain--Astion between a Britiſh and a Dutch Fleet, near
the Dogger Bank- Britiſh Armament ſent againſt the Dutch Settle-
ment at the Cape of Good Hope--attacked by the French Admiral
Suffrein--The Dutch Garriſon at the Cape reinforced by the French
Commodore Johnſtone makes Prizes of four Dutch Eaſt India-
men—The Britiſh Armament under General Meadows fails for the
Eaſt Indies—Invaſion of the Carnatic by Hyder Ally-Defeat and
Diſaſter of a Britiſh Detachment under Colonel Baillie-Ravages
committed in the Carnatic by Hyder Ally—The Command of the
Britiſh Army in the Preſidency of Madras committed to Sir Eyre
Coote-Operations of the Britiſh Fleet in India.
1
1781.
CHA P. WHILST the French were thus availing themſelves of the em-
barraſſed ſtate of Great Britain, to wreſt from her her Weſt-
India iſlands, the Spaniards werd ernployed unon the continent of
America, in recovering the poffeffions which had been taken from
them in the former war. In each of the two preceding years, as
we have already ſeen, they had conquered a part of Weit Florida ;
and in the preſent year the conqueſt of the whole province was at-
chieved
AMERICAN WAR.
21
x
1
1.
chieved by the reduction of Penſacola. Don Bernardo de Galvez, intent C HA
on making this conqueſt, went from New Orleans to the Harinah, in
the fall of the preceding year, to ſolicit a force that might be adequate to Relart on of
the purpoſe. In conſequence of his repreſentations the expedition was the Spani-
Pe... by
undertaken, but the firſt ficet that failed was diſperſed by a ſtorm, ſome ards.
of the ſhips loſt, and the reſt obliged to return in diſtreſs. The
perſeverance of Don Bernardo de Galvez was however not to be
conquered. Another armament was got ready with all expedition.
A land-force, amounting to five or fis thouſand men, with a large
train of artillery, was embarked on board tranſports; and the whole,
under the convoy of ſome ſhips of war, having failed from the
Havannah in the month of February, arrived in ſafety off the bar of
Penſacola on the ninth of March.
General Campbell ſtill commanded the Britiſh troops in Weſt Flo-
rida: But, reduced as they had been by the capture of lieutenant-
colonel Dickſon's detachment on the Miſſiſſippi, and the garriſon
under captain Durnford at Mobille, "they did not at this time exceed
nine hundred and fifty men, conſiſting of Britiſh regulars, German
auxiliaries; part of two provincial regiments, and ſome militia.
Notwithſtanding the great diſparity of force between the beſiegers
and the garriſon, the Spaniſh general thought fit to ſend for a rein-
forcement. In the mean time the troops that he had with him were:
landed, and the Britiſh works at Penſacola regularly inveſted. After
ſome time the expected ſuccours arrived, part of the Spaniſh gar-
riſon of Mobille having marched acroſs the country to join in the
ſiege, and a fleet of fifteen ſhips of the line, under the command
of Don Solano, having arrived from the Havannah, with an addi-
tional land force of three thouſand men. Although the defence
made by the garriſon was brave and ſpirited, and the progreſs of
the beſiegers hitherto proportionably flow; it was apparent, from the
force' with which it was inveſted, that the place muſt ultimately fall:
But
P p 2
1
:92
HISTORY OF THE
XL.
1781.
C HA P. But its fate was unexpectedly precipitated by the baſeneſs and perfidy
of a traitor. A man of the name of Cannon, formerly an officer in
one of the provincial regiments in garriſon at Penſacola, had been broke
the year before by a court-martial for ungentlemanlike behaviour,
and retired to the Creek country among the Indians, whence he
returned as ſoon as he heard of the landing of the Spaniards, and
joined them on the fifth of April. By him they were made minute-
ly acquainted with the ſtate and ſituation of all the Britiſh works,
and were thus enabled to direct their fire towards thoſe quarters
where it was likely to produce the greateſt effect. Indefatigable in
his traiterous purpoſe, he uſed to climb to the top of a tall pine-
tree, commanding a view of the Britiſh works, from whence he
was enabled to inform the Spaniſh bombardiers where the ſhells dif-
charged from their mortars took effect, and whether near or at a
diſtance from the Britiſh magazines. Thus inſtructed, and improved
by repeated trials, they acquired ſuch a knowledge as at length enabled
them to do fatal execution. On the morning of the eighth of May,
a ſhell burſting at the door of a magazine in one of the advanced
works, ſet fire to the powder within, which in an inſtant reduced
the whole redoubt to a heap of rubbiſh. By the exploſion ſeventy-
fix of the garriſon loſt their lives, and twenty-four were badly
wounded. The enemy immediately advanced to take advantage of
the confuſion ; but were repulſed in their firſtattempt by the fire from
two flank works, which had been added to the redoubt after the
commencement of the fiege, and which fortunately were not in-
jured by the blowing-up of the magazine. This repulſe procured
a ſhort reſpite to the garriſon, during which thoſe who had been
wounded by the exploſion were carried off, ſome of the cannon re-
inoved from the flank works, which it was now judged neceſſary to
cvacuate, and the reſt ſpiked up. The enemy, however, again ad-
vanced in greater force, and under cover of the flank works, which
bad
2
AMERICAN
293
WAR.
.
had been abandoned, kept up ſo hot a fire of muſquetry upon ano- C HA P.
ther redoubt, that the men could no longer ſtand to their
guns.
1781.
There was alſo, it ſeems, a ſcarcity of ordnance ſhot in the garri-
fon, from the great number that had been already expended. Under
theſe circumſtances general Campbell thought fit to capitulate;
and thus the province of Weſt Florida was once more re-annexed
to the Spaniſh dominions.
In theſe military operations abroad the French and Spaniards acted
ſeparately, but in Europe they undertook a joint expedition againſt
the iſland of Minorca. The plan of the expedition had been laid
in the beginning of the year; but the neceſſary preparations delayed
the execution of it until the middle of ſummer. After the return
of the Britiſh fleet from conveying ſupplies to Gibraltar, and whilſt
it cruized near our own coaſts, for the protection of the homeward-
bound trade, a French fleet of eighteen ſhips of the line failed from
Breſt towards the end of June, and in the following month joined
the Spaniſh fleet at Cadiz. ' At Cadiz was prepared the principal ar-
mament deſtined againſt Minorca: It conſiſted of ten thouſand men,
with a ſuitable train of artillery, and was commanded by the duke
de Crillon, a French general of great reputation. When every thing
was in readineſs, the armament failed about the end of July, under
the
convoy
of the combined fleets, and being accompanied by them
as far as any danger was to be apprehended, arrived in ſafety at
Minorca. On the twentieth of Auguſt the Spaniſh troops were
landed, and being ſoon afterwards joined by fix thouſand French
from Toulon, St. Philip's Caſtle, the principal fortreſs of the iſland,
was regularly inveſted: But, as the duration of the ſiege was pro-
tracted, in conſequence of the brave defence made by the garriſon,
until the month of February 1782, the account of its progreſs and
termination will more properly belong to the tranſactions of that
year,
Thc
294
HISTORY OF THE
+
CH A P.
XL.
1731.
The coin-
bined flees
of France 1
amount oite
venty fail,
threaten de-
ilruction to
the marine
laud.
The Britiſh
admira!, with
twenty-one
The combined fleets having convoyed the armament againſt Mi-
norca as far as the ſtraits of Gibraltar, and ſeen it ſafely into the
Mediterranean, altered their courſe, and failed for the coaſt of Eng-
land, with orders to fight the Britiſh fleet. Arriving off the mouth
Spain, of the channel, they extended themſelves in a line acroſs it from the
iſlands of Scilly to Ufhint, amounting in all to ſeventy fail, fifty of
them being of the line, and ſome of theſe of the largeſt rate. The
attention of all Europe was again directed to the operations of ſo
force of Eng-
powerful a fleet, and the deſtruction of the marine force of England
was confidently expected: But the race is not always' to the ſwift,
nor the battle to the ſtrong. Adıniral Darby, who was then cruizing
thips of the
line, prident-
in the channel, with only twenty-one ſhips of the line, having for-
ly retires into tunately met with a neutral veſſel that had paſſed through the com-
Torbay,
bined fleets a few days before, received from her information of their
approach, as well as of their great ſtrength, and prudently with-
drew into Torbay, to wait for a reinforcement. In this ſituation
the enemy, vaſt as their ſuperiority was, and although their orders
were to fight, did not dare to attack him. The count de Guichen,
who commanded the French fleet, and Don Vincent de Dos,
Dos, the
fecond in command of the Spaniſh fleet, were eager to make the
attempt, but in a council of war, held for deliberating on the ſub-
jcct, their opinions were over-ruled by a great majority. The de-
think is ad- ſign of attacking admiral Darby in Torbay being given up, the com-
manders of the combined fleets next turned their whole attention to in-
tercepting the homeward-bound Britiſh trade, but met with no ſucceſs.
The crews of their ſhips being ſickly, and their ſhips themſelves in
bad condition, the ſtormy month of September quickly obliged them
to put an end to their cruize. Early in that inonth they ſeparated,
the fleet of France ſteering for Breſt, and that of Spain for Cadiz,
where they ſeverally arrived much ſhattered and diſabled. 111 the
mean time great apprehenſions were entertained in England for the
ſafety
where the
enemy do not
viſable to
attack him.
I
AMERICAN WAR.
295
the combined
over that of
Great Bric
ſafety of the homeward-bound convoys, more eſpecially as admiral C HA P.
Darby was prevented from ſailing by contrary winds, for ſome time
1781.
after he received his reinforcements : But fortunately none of the
merchant fleets that were expected, arrived upon the coaſt until after
the combined fleets had ſeparated and returned to port; and by the
time of their arrival, admiral Darby, with thirty ſhips of the line,
was at ſea for their protection.
By the various ſervices, upon which, in conſequence of the ex- Cauſcs why
tenſion of the war, it became neceſſary to employ ſeparate ſquadrons, fleets enjoyed
the grand channel fleet was unavoidably weakened; and the com-
a temporary
ſuperiority
bined fleets thereby obtained a more conſiderable temporary ſuperi-
ority. The war with Holland required that a ſquadron ſhould be tain.
ſent into the north ſea, as well for the ſafety of the Britiſh trade to
the Baltic, as for the obſtruction of that of the Dutch. This ſqua-.
dron conſiſted of an old eighty-gun ſhip, that carried no heavier
metal than a fifty, an old fixty-gun ſhip that had been diſcharged,
but was lately refitted for ſervice, two ſeventy-fours, a ſixty-four, a
fifty, á forty-four, and four frigates; and the command of it was
given to admiral Hyde Parker, a veteran officer of diſtinguiſhed
bravery. Their Baltic trade being of the utmoſt importance to the
Dutch, they ſtrained every nerve to fit out a ſtrong ſquadron for its
protection, which, when it went to ſea, conſiſted of eight ſhips of
the line, and ten large frigates, under the command of admiral
Zouttman. It ſo happened, that whilſt admiral Parker was on his
return to England, with a large fleet under his convoy, admiral
Zouttman failed from Holland, having under his convoy a Dutch
flect bound to the Baltic. The two ſquadrons failing nearly in the
ſame track, and in oppoſite directicns, met upon the Dogger Bank
on the fifth of Auguſt; and both without delay prepared for action,
after taking ſuch previous meaſures as were neceflary for the ſafety
of their reſpeciive convoys. One of the Dutch line-of-battle ſhips
3
had,
205
HISTORY OF THE
XL.
1781.
Action be-
tween a Bric
ril and
Dutch fleet
near the
Danke
near
CH A P. had, from ſome cauſe or other, returned into port, but a forty-four
gun thip, carrying heavy metal, being ſubſtituted in her room, ad-
miral Zouttman's line ſtill conſiſted of eight ſhips of two decks :
That of admiral Parker conſiſted only of ſeven, and of theſe one
mounted only fifty, and another forty-four, guns. His two ſmalleſt
frigates were ſent off with the convoy, and the two largeſt ſtationed
ſo as to be in readineſs to tow off any of the ſhips of the line that
miglit be diſabled in the action. The Britiſh fleet being to wind-
ward, of courſe bore down upon that of admiral Zouttman, who,
unlike ſome modern naval commanders, practiſed no manæuvres to
Dogger
avoid a deciſive engagement; but rather ſeemed to court it, and
pre-
pared to diſpute the day with his opponent by dint of hard fighting.
No gun was fired on either ſide, until the two ſquadrons came fo
as to be within half mufquet-ſhot, when admiral Parker, ranging
alongſide the Dutch admiral, and the other ſhips of his ſquadron
bearing down in like manner upon thoſe of the enemy that were
oppoſed to them, the action began and continued with unremitting
fury for three hours and a half; at the end of which both fleets
were ſo diſabled, that neither of them could form the line and renew
the action. They lay-to for ſome time, at a ſmall diſtance from
each other, repairing their damages, when the Dutch admiral, with
his convoy, bore away for the Texel; and the Britiſh fleet was fo
diſabled as not to be in a condition to purſue. Although no ſhip
was taken on either ſide, this was by far the hardeſt-fought battle of
any that had yet happened by ſea during the war. The obſtinate
reſiſtance made by the Dutch inconteſtably proved that however
much their navy, in a long courſe of peace, had been ſuffered to de
cline, their officers and ſeamen poſſeſſed the fame intrepidity and
deſperate valour as in the days of Van Tromp and De Ruyter :
And although admiral Parker obtained no trophy of victory, the
gaining an advantage, with an inferior force, over fuch an enemy,
Was
AMERICAN WAR.
297
.
1781.
was a ſufficient proof that Britiſh ſailors, when boldly led to action, C HA P.
without waſting their time in nautical manquvres, ſtill ſupported
their claim to that pre-eminence by ſea, which has been ſo long the
pride and boaſt of the nation. That an advantage was gained by
admiral Parker was very apparent, from the Dutch admiral being
the firſt that bore away: The object of his failing was alſo completely
defeated, as the convoy which he had under his charge, was obliged
to put back, and could not, after the action, proceed with ſafety on
their voyage.
voyage. The Britiſh fleet alſo ſuffered much ; and the loſs of
men was great. It amounted to one hundred and four killed, and
three hundred and thirty-nine wounded, amongſt whom were a
number of valuable officers. But the Dutch ſhips were ſo miſera-
bly torn and ſhattered, that it was with difficulty moſt of them were
kept above water until they reached a port; and the Hollandia, one
of them, actually ſunk the night after the engagement, with all her
wounded people on board. The loſs of men ſuſtained by the Dutch
has never been publiſhed by authority: It was, however, known to
be great, and, according to private accounts from Holland, amounted
to near twelve hundred men.
Beſides the loſs of one of their capital ſhips, and the unſervice-
able condition of ſome of the reſt, in conſequence of the damage
ſuſtained in the action, it was a grievous mortificatton to the Dutch
to ſee their Baltic convoy obliged to return, and one of the moſt be-
neficial branches of their commerce, for this year at leaſt, entirely
interrupted. But this was not the only remaining mortification
which the fortune of war in this eventful year ſubjected them to
bear. For not long after the action with admiral Parker, intelli-
gence arrived in Europe of the capture of five of their Eaſt India
ſhips in Saldanha Bay, on the coaſt of Africa, by a Britiſh ſquadron
under the command of commodore Johnſtone.
VOL. II.
Previous
QI
!
198
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XL.
..
Previous to the commencement of the Dutch war, this ſquadron
was in ſome ſtate of preparation, and is ſaid to have been deſigned
1781
to favour an inſurrection in the Spaniſh colonies of South America.
And as in another part of this work the interference of foreign
powers in diſputes between a ſovereign and his ſubjects has been ge-
nerally condemned, and pronounced to be illegal and unwarrantable,
it will be proper in this place to obſerve, that however true ſuch an
aſſertion, generally taken, muſt be admitted to be, yet the conduct of
the Britiſh miniſtry, had they executed the deſign liere aſcribed to
them, would have been fairly juſtifiable upon the ground of retali-
ation, after the Spaniards had taken a part in the war between Great
Britain and her colonies, and actually afſifted the latter in their opp0-
ſition. But this plan, which appears to have been well laid, was never
carried into execution *: The rupture with Holland appears to have
produced a change of the plan; and the armament was now prima-
rily deſtined to act againſt the Dutch poſſeſſions at the Cape of Good
Hope. The ſquadron conſiſted of one ſhip of ſeventy-four guns,
againſt the
another of fixty-four, three fifty-gun ſhips, three frigates of thirty-
two guns, two floops of war, two cutters, a bomb-ketch and fire-
Cape of
Good Hope, ſhip, two ordnance ſtore.ſhips, eleven tranſports, five vi&tuallers
and thirteen Indiamen. On board the tranſports and Indiamen was
diſtributed a land force conſiſting of the ſecond battalion of the
forty-ſecond regiment, with Fullarton's and Humberſtone's regi-
ments, of one thouſand men each, but all newly raiſed, four com-
panies from other regiments, and a detachment of the royal artil-
lery. The land force was commanded by general Meadows, who
Britiſh arma-
ment ſent
Dutch ſettle-
ment at the
* Two new regiments, of one thouſand men each, viz, the 98th and the rooth, were com.
pleted in January 1781, by William Fullarton, Eſq. the author of the plan, the repreſentative
of an ancient family of that name in Airſhire; and Mr. Makenzie Humberſtone, a young
gentleman of great hopes, of the family of Seaforth
had
AMERICAN WAR.
99
XL.
had gallantly diſtinguiſhed himſelf, as may be ſeen in a former part C HA P.
of this work, in the ſucceſsful defence of the poſt of the Virgie
1.781.
againſt the furious attack of the count d'Eſtaing in the year 1778.
With this ſquadron, commodore Johnſtone failed from St. Helen's
on the thirteenth of March, in company with the grand fleet under
admiral Darby, when it went to the relief of Gibraltar, and pro-
ceeding on his deſtination, without any material occurrence, until
lie arrived at St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd Iſlands, there, on
the tenth of April, anchored his ſquadron in Port Praya Bay, for the
purpoſe of procuring ſupplies of freſh water and proviſions. As the
iſland of St. Jago belonged to the Portugueſe, a neutral nation,
Praya Bay was of courſe a neutral port: And by the law of nations.
the ſhips and veſſels of either of the powers at war, when lying in a
neutral port, are exempted from inſult or moleſtation by the others.
In ſuch a ſituation no danger was apprehended, more eſpecially as an
enemy's ſquadron was neither known nor ſuſpected to be in thoſe
ſeas; from whence it happened that commodore Johnſtone's ſhips
were ſuffered to ſpread themſelves about in the bay, without much
order, and rather with a view to their own convenience in readily
ſupplying their wants, whereby much time would be ſaved, than
for the purpoſe of defence. In this ſtate of ſecurity they were ſud-
denly attacked on the ſixteenth of April, by a ſuperior French ſqua-
dron under monſieur de Suffrein. Although commodore Johnſtone's
expedition was to be a ſecret one, it ſufficiently appears from what hap-
pened, that both the Dutch and the French had either by their ſaga-
city penetrated into the intention of the Britiſh miniſtry, or by their
emiſſaries and ſpics diſcovered the real object of the expedition. The
former, conſcious as they were of the weakneſs of the garriſon at
the Cape, and ſeeing in all their extent the ruinous conſequences.
that would follow its capture, were nevertheleſs unable to equip a
fleet in time for its protection, and in their diſtreſs applied to the
Qq 2
French
1
3
goo
HISTORY OF THE
XL.
CH A P. French for aſſiſtance: And the latter, in order to give an earneſt of
good faith to their new aſſociates in the war, readily complied with
1781.
the requiſition. A ſquadron, fuperior in force to commodore John-
ſtone's, was with all diſpatch fitted out at Breſt, and failed from
thence only nine days after the commodore left St. Helen's. The
ſquadron conſiſted of five ſhips of the line, and ſeveral frigates, with
a number of Eaſt India fhips and tranſports, having on board a con-
ſiderable land force, and a train of artillery. Monſieur de Suffrein,
who cominanded it, received orders to counteract the operations of
commodore Johnſtone wherever he might happen to meet with him,
but in an eſpecial manner to provide for the ſecurity of the Cape of
Good Hope. With ſuch orders he proceeded on his expedition, and
having diſcovered the Britiſh ſquadron at anchor in Port Praya Bay,
took the ſudden reſolution of attacking it, although in a neutral port,
expecting probably, in that ſituation, to find it unprepared for action,
attacked by and to obtain an eaſy conqueſt. In the former of theſe expecta-
admiral Suf- tions he appears not to have been miſtaken, but in the latter was
grievouſly diſappointed. When the alarm was firſt given, at leaſt
fifteen hundred perſons are ſaid to have been abſent from the ſhips
of the Britiſh ſquadron, employed in the neceſſary ſervices of wa-
tering, fiſhing, and embarking live-ſtock, and other freſh proviſions.
The commodore's firſt ſignal was for all perſons to return from the
ſhore, which he enforced by the firing of a gun; another was foon
afterwards made to unmoor, and a third to prepare for action. But
the French commodore gave them little time for preparation. The
appearance of his ſquadron was firſt communicated by ſignal from
the Iſis, lying near the mouth of the bay, between nine and ten in
the morning; and before eleven monſieur de Suffiein, having ſepa-
rated from his convoy, entered the bay with five ſhips of the line,
In the Heros, of ſeventy-four guns, he led the way, and, firing at
the Iſis as he paſſed, kept on his courſe until he was within a cable’s
length
the French
frein.
AMERICAN WAR.
301
!
XL.
1781.
length of the Monmouth and Hero, two of the largeſt ſhips of the C HA P.
Britiſh ſquadron, and there dropped his anchor; the next French war
ſhip that followed was the Annibal, which ſhot a-head of monſieur
de Suffrein, and there dropped anchor; the third, the Arteſien, an-
chored about the fame diſtance aftern: And in this ſituation they
began a heavy cannonade, ſprings having been paſſed on their cables
before they entered the bay. The other two French ſhips, the
Sphynx and the Vengeur, did not anchor, but ranged about the
bay, firing at every ſhip as they paſſed, and endeavouring to board the
merchantmen; but in this they had little ſucceſs. Notwithſtanding
the ſuddenneſs of the attack, the fire of the French ſquadron was
returned with vigour and effect by ſuch of the Britiſh ſhips as could
bring their guns to bear. Captain Alms, in the Monmouth, kept
up a well-directed fire; and from the Hero, captain Hawler iſſued a
conſtant, awful, heavy diſcharge of artillery. On board the laſt of
theſe ſhips commodore Johnſtone removed, ſoon after the beginning
of the action, finding that the Romney, from her particular ſitua-
tion, was likely to have no great ſhare in it: He was accompanied
by general Meadows, and captain Saltern. Captain Paiſley, in the
Jupiter, by working hard from the beginning of the buſineſs, had
got a ſpring upon his cable, by which means every ſhot from his
ſhip took effect. Even the Eaſt India ſhips, recovering after a time
from their ſurpriſe, materially aſſiſted in the action. It was not long
before the Arteſien, that had anchored aftern of monſieur de Suf-
frein, quitted her ſtation, and went out to ſea, carrying with her the
Hinchinbroke Eaſt Indiaman. She had alſo boarded the Fortitude;
but her decks were quickly cleared of Frenchmen by the gallantry
of captain Jenkinſon, of the ninety-eighth regiment, who, with
his company, poured in upon them a conſtant and well-directed fire
of muſquetry. They had afterwards the ſatisfaction of taking out of
the water, and ſaving two of the enemy, who in the conflict had
been
1
302
HISTORY OF THE
'+
1
XL,
C HA P. been forced overboard, and could not regain their own ſhip by
ſwimming. About three quarters of an hour after the commence-
1781.
ment of the action, the French commodore, finding his ſituation
too hot to be longer endured, cut his cable and followed the Arte-
ſien. The Annibal, the only remaining French ſhip, was now left
26 a mark to be fired at by every Britiſh ſhip that could bring her
guns to bear upon her, and in a ſhort time was reduced to an appa-
rent wreck. Such a picture of diſtreſs, it is ſaid, was ſcarcely ever
ſeen. Having remained in this ſituation for near a quarter of an
hour, her cable was either cut or ſhot away, when the ſhip turn-
ing round on her heel, drifted out to ſea before the wind, her mafts-
tottering, her yards hanging different ways, and her ſails in
and her fails in rags. As
ſhe paſſed along, her mizen-maſt firſt, and afterwards her main-maft,
fore-maſt, and part of her bowſprit, in ſucceſſion fell into the
fea. After ſhe got clear of the Britiſh ſhips, ſome of her compa-
nions took her in tow, and, to the ſurpriſe of every one, the An-
nibal, notwithſtanding her diſabled ſituation, had the good fortune
to eſcape. The commodore, after ſummoning by ſignals all his cap-
tains, and receiving from them a report of the ſtate of their ſhips,
ordered a purſuit ; and, in the Romney, was the firſt that got out
of the bay. He was followed in ſucceſſion by the reſt of his fquam
dron, except the Iſis, captain Sutton, who being employed in re-
pairing his damages, did not obey his ſignal for near three hours,
although it was enforced by the repeated firing of guns. It is to be
remarked, that although the Iſis, lying near the mouth of the bay,
had
very
little ſhare in the action, ſhe had ſuſtained fome damage
from the fire of the French ſhips as they paſſed and repaſſed her.
The Iſis having at laſt come out, the purſuit was continued; but ſo
much time had been already waſted in waiting for her, that before
the commodore could come near the French ſquadron the ſun had
fet, and the wind become boiſterous. If he diſcontinued the pur-
fuit,
--
AMERICAN WAR.
303
-
XL.
fait, the probability was, that monſieur de Suffrein would reach the C H A P.
Cape before him: If he continued it, and engaged as ſoon as he
1781.
came up, an action in the night was liable to fo much uncertainty
as ſcarcely to be reconcilable with the main object of the expedi-
tion : On the other hand, if he purſued, but deferred the engage-
ment until the morning, he would in the mean time be led ſo far to
ieeward after the French ſhips, which were running before the wind
with all their fails ſet, that it would be impoſſible for him afterwards
to beat to windward and rejoin his convoy, whereby the expedition
would be at once fruſtrated, and a valuable convoy
left unprotected.
A ſituation preſenting ſo many difficulties muſt have been a trying
one to any commander, but eſpecially to one of the commodore's
impatience and iraſcibility. However, after conſidering the matter
in every point of view, he determined to follow that courſe which
ſeemed moſt conſiſtent with the nature of his inſtructions. This
was, to rejoin his convoy without delay; which he effected with
ſome difficulty, after plying to windward for ſeveral days. The
Hinchinbroke Eaſt Indiaman was retaken the day after the engage-
ment, with twenty-five Frenchmen on board; and the Infernal
fire-ſhip, which had been alſo carried off by the enemy, was aban-
doned by them in the night, and, after ſome days, reached Port
Praya Bay in ſafety: So that monſieur de Suffrein retained no
trophy to conſole him for his repulſe. The loſs of men in this
engagement was not ſo great as might have been expected, confi-
dering the cloſeneſs of the action, the ſmoothneſs of the water, and
the crowded ſituation of the ſhips. It amounted to forty-three
killed, and one hundred and thirty-four wounded, including officers,
and was ſo equally divided, that almoſt every ſhip in the ſquadron
and convoy bore a part. Some of the ſhips having been diſabled,
particularly the Hinchinbroke Eaſt Indiaman, they were refitted
with
2
304
HISTORY OF THE
.
The Dutch
CHA P. with 'all poſſible diſpatch; and on the ſecond of May the whole
ſquadron failed from Port Praya Bay.
1781.
As it was much to be feared that monſieur de Suffrein would
reach the Cape before the Britiſh ſquadron, which might render an
attempt upon it not only extremely hazardous, but perhaps alto-
gether impracticable, the commodore, on the twelfth of June, diſ-
patched four of his finaller faſt-failing veſſels to proceed a-head of
the reſt of the ſquadron, for the purpoſe of gaining intelligence,
with orders to rejoin him in a certain latitude. The detached
ſquadron, having proceeded to the ſouthward of the Cape, for-
tunately, on the firſt of July, fell in with and took a Dutch
ſhip bound for Ceylon, laden with ſtores and proviſions, and forty
thouſand pounds in bullion, which had left Saldahna Bay only a few
days before. From her they learnt that monſieur de Suffrein, with
garrifon at
the Cape re- his ſquadron, and part of his convoy, had arrived at the Cape on
the twenty-firſt of June, where he had landed five hundred men to
reinforce the garriſon, amongſt whom were eighty or ninety artil-
lery men. They alſo received information that five Dutch Eaſt
India ſhips, homeward-bound, and richly laden, were lying in Sal-
dahna bay, about forty miles north from the Cape. With this in-
telligence, and their prize, the detached ſquadron returned, and on
the ninth of July joined the commodore at the appointed place of
rendezvous. A conſultation was now held between the commodore
and general Meadows, on the ſubject of the intelligence received by
the Dutch prize; and the attempt upon the Cape was given over as
impracticable. At this conſultation colonel Fullarton was preſent,
and urged the moſt forcible reaſons for reſuming (now that the de-
ſign againſt the Cape had miſcarried) the original project of an
attack on the Spaniſh ſettlements in South America; from whence
they might afterwards proceed to the Eaſt Indies, through the Pacific
3
Ocean.
inforced by
the French.
AMERICAN WAR.
+
305
1781.
water.
of four Dutch
Eaſt India-
Occan: But the commodore determined either to take or deſtroy C HA P.
the ſhips that lay in Saldahna Bay. In proſecution of this deſign
hic ſteered for the land, and, as he approached the ſhore, took the
pilotage upon himſelf, judging his diſtance from it by the depth of
So ably was this enterpriſe conducted, that the Britiſh ſqua-
dron, arriving off the mouth of the bay in the night, entered it
with ſo much rapidity, the commodore in the Romney leading the
way, that although the Dutch ſhips were run a-ſhore, and ſet on Commodore
fire by their crews, as ſoon as they diſcovered an enemy's ſquadron, makes prizes
the boats of the Britiſh fleet nevertheleſs arrived in time to extin-
guiſh the flames in all of them, except the Middleburgh, on board men.
of which the fire raged ſo violently that it was impoſſible to ſave
her. It was now neceſſary to tow the burning ſhip to a diſtance
from the reſt; a work which was undertaken with alacrity, and
performed with ſucceſs, although with imminent danger, as ſhe blew
up with a violent exploſion in ten minutes after the boats quitted
ler. The other prizes were got afloat the ſame evening. Both the
French and Britiſh commanders had ſecondary objects to which their
inſtructions extended, beſides what related to the Cape of Good
Hope. Monſieur de Suffrein, after providing for the ſecurity of the
Cape, was to proceed with his fquadron to the Eaſt Indies: And the
inſtructions to the Britiſh commanders imported, that after either
the ſucceſs or failure of the expedition againſt the Cape, a certain
number of the ſhips ſhould be ſent to the Eaſt Indies, to reinforce fir
Edward Hughes; and in caſe of failure, part of the troops was alſo
to be ſent, and the remainder to proceed to the leeward iſlands in
the Weſt Indies. But the intelligence received by the Duteh prize
of the invaſion of the Carnatic by Hyder Ally, and of the cutting
off of a ſtrong detachment of Britiſh troops under colonel Baillie,
determined the Britiſh commanders to deviate from their inſtructions,
and inſtead of dividing the land force, to ſend the whole to the
Vol. II.
Rr
Eaſt
306
HISTORY OF THE
XL.
1781.
armament
Meadows
fails for the
Eaſt Indies
CHA P. Eaſt Indies, to replace the loſs of colonel Baillie's detachment. Ac-
cordingly, the Dutch prizes, after being fitted for ſea, were diſ-
The Britiſh patched without a convoy to St. Helena; and the commodore hav-
under general ing accompanied the detachment of ſhips bound to India with his
whole force to the fourth degree of longitude beyond the Cape,
there ſeparated from it, and, with the Romney and frigates, re-
turned to St. Helena to join his prizes, and conduct them to Eng-
land. In their way thither they were ſeparated by a ſtorm; and
two of the prizes were unfortunately loſt.
In a former part of this work we have already ſeen that in the
firſt
year of the war with the French, the power of that nation in
India was almoſt annihilated. After the taking of Pondicherry, the
iſlands of Bourbon and Mauritius, with the port of Mahie, on the
continent of Aſia, were nearly all the poſſeſſions that remained to
them in that quarter of the world. Nevertheleſs they contrived to
maintain their influence with the native powers, and at length, by
means of their emiſſaries, to excite a powerful combination amongſt
them, which threatened deſtruction to the Britiſh intereſt. During
the courſe of the former war, the Engliſh Eaſt India company had
acquired ſo immenſe an extent of territory, and ſeemed ſtill ſo de-
ſirous of graſping at more, that the native princes were become
jealous of their greatneſs, and ſecretly wiſhed the deſtruction of
their power. Many of them had alſo private grounds of diſguſt,
ariſing from the rapacity and unprincipled conduct of ſeveral of that
company's ſervants. From fome cauſe of difference a war had
broken out between the Engliſh company and the Mahrattas, a fierce
and warlike nation, and one of the moſt powerful in Hindoftan.
The celebrated Hyder Ally Cawn, regent of the Myſore country,
was at the ſame time engaged in a war with the Mahrattas. But in
conſequence of the intrigues of French agents, means were found to
ſettle the differences between theſe two powers, and inſtead of being
enemies,
4
AMERICAN WAR.
307
XL.
1781.
enemies, to unite them as friends. Hyder agreed to join the Mah-C HA P.
rattas in the war: Powerful ſuccours were promiſed to be ſent from
the French iſlands of Bourbon and Mauritius : And in the end a
confederacy againſt the Engliſh was entered into between the Mah-
ratta ſtates, Hyder Ally Cawn, the ſoubah of the Decan, and the
rajah of Berar, to which moſt of the lefſer powers of Hindoftail
were prevailed upon to accede. Hyder's country is ſeparated from
the territories belonging to the India company by a chain of moun-
tains called the Ghauts. From theſe mountains Hyder, in the
month of June 1780, after making all neceſſary preparations, de-
fcended with an army of an hundred thouſand men, who ſpread
themſelves like a torrent over the country below. For a conſidera-
ble time before this invaſion, intelligence had been repeatedly con-
veyed from.the frontiers to the preſidency of Madras, acquainting
them with the hoſtile diſpoſition manifeſted by Hyder towards the
Engliſh, and his preparations for entering the Carnatic. But that
board treated with contempt all ſuch intimations, and had taken no
fufficient meaſures for the defence of the eſtabliſhment againſt ſuch
an attack. Amongſt other evils flowing from their ſhameful indif- Invafion of
ference and inexcuſable negligence, this was not the leaſt, that the by Hyder
Aly.
company's troops on the coaſt of Coromandel had not been col-
lected together, but were ſuffered to remain ſcattered about the
country in different diſtricts and garriſons; from whence it happened
that when Hyder made his irruption no fufficient army could im-
mediately be brought into the field to oppoſe him. When at laſt
the appearance of Hyder's horſe, in the neighbourhood of the
Mount, convinced the preſidency of the truth of their previous in-
telligence, the troops in Madras and its neighbourhood were aſſem-
bled; and theſe, after being joined by the troops from Pondicherry,
under colonel Braithwaite, amounted only to fifteen hundred Euro-
peans, and four thouſand two hundred ſepoys. With this force,
Rr2
and
the Carnatit
308
HISTORY OF THE
XL
CHA P. and an artillery of forty-two field-pieces, five cohorns, and four
battering cannon, general ſir Hector Monro marched from the
1781.
Mount to Conjeveram, the largeſt village in the Carnatic, fixty iniles
diſtant from Madras, and thirty-five from Arcot, then beſieged by
the enemy. The march of fir Hector Monro to Conjeveram, as
had been foreſeen, obliged Hyder Ally to raiſe the ſiege of Arcot ;
and this ſervice being performed, the Britiſh general determined to
remain in his preſent ſituation until he ſhould be joined by colonel
Coſby, with a detachment of fifteen hundred ſepoys, and fonie ca-
valry, then on his march from the Tanjore country, in the fouth, and
by another detachment of three thouſand men, including two com-
panies of European infantry, and fixty European artillery-inen, with
ten field-pieces, under colonel Baillie, coming from the Guntoor
Circar in the north. The progreſs of the laſt of theſe officers to
the ſouthward had been retarded, partly by the contradictory nature
of the orders received during his march, proceeding from the fluc-
tuating and uncertain ſtate of the Engliſh councils' at Madras, and
partly by the overflowing of rivers in his way. However, at
length he arrived at Perambaucum, a village within fifteen miles of
the main army. Hyder Ally, by means of his emiſſaries, had exact
intelligence of the colonel's motions; and diſpatched his ſon Tippoo
Saib, with thirty thouſand horſe, eight thouſand foot, and twelve
pieces of artillery, to attack him at Perambaucum, and, if poſſible,
prevent his junction with ſir Hector Monro. Numerous as the troops
compoſing this detachment were, compared with the ſmall force
under colonel Baillie, the latter, nevertheleſs, with his uſual gallan-
try, and with great ſlaughter, repulſed them in various fierce attacks,
that laſted for feveral hours. Still however the enemy hovered
round him, with an apparent intention of renewing their attacks
whenever there ſhould be a favourable opportunity: And as their
numbers ſeemed to increaſe, colonel Baillie became doubtful whether
he
I
1
AMERICAN - WAR.
309
XL,
diſaſter of a
Baillie.
he ſhould be able to effect a junction, and acquainted the comman- C HA P.
der in chief with his apprehenſions. This intelligence reached fir
1781.
Hector Monro on the ſixth of September, and, in the evening of
the eighth, twelve hundred choſen men under colonel Fletcher were
detached to reinforce colonel Baillie. Theſe having moved with
great expedition, arrived at Perambaucum at break of day of the
ninth, and in the evening of that day the united detachments began
their march towards Conjeveram. As ſoon as they were perceivcd Defeat and
to be in motion, the enemy brought ſome guns to bear upon their Britiſh de-
tachment un-
left flank, which did conſiderable execution. Theſe guns captain der colonel
Rumley, with a detachment, was ordered to ſtorm; but being pre-
vented from reaching them by an unfordable water-courſe that in-
tervened, he was obliged to return without effecting his purpoſe.
In conſequence of the fire of the enemy, and this unſucceſsful
movement, ſome confuſion and diſorder aroſe amongſt the ſepoys,
which determined colonel Baillie to halt. till the morning. In the
mean time Hyder Ally, who received minute information of every
thing that paſſed, determined to take advantage of colonel Baillie's
embarraſſed ſituation, and in the night decamped from the neigh-
bourhood of Conjeveram, and marched with his army towards Pe-
rambaucum. At dawn in the morning colonel Baillie renewed his
march, but had not proceeded far when he found himſelf environed
on one ſide by Tippoo Saib's army, and on the other by that of his
father. Tippoo had already begun to fire upon his left with eight
pieces of cannon, and in a ſhort lime ſixteen were opened upon his
right from the army of Hyder Ally.
of Hyder Ally. The cannonade was briſkly re-
turned by colonel Baillie, and the attacks of the irregular cavalry were
ſucceſsfully repulſed for an hour and a half, when, ſome of the tum-
brils unfortunately blowing up, the Britiſh guns were ſilenced, partly
from a ſcarcity of ammunition, and partly from the number of ar-
tillery-men that had fallen. The enemy, obſerving the confuſion
ariſing
I
310
HISTORY OF THE
XL.
CH A P. ariſing from the blowing up of the tumbrils, now advanced nearer,
w and ſeeming in a particular
, manner to threaten colonel Baillie's rear,
1781,
he found it neceſſary to detach for its ſupport captain Ferrier's com-
pany of European grenadiers. This movement being made from
the front towards the rear, the fepoys, who were unappriſed of the
cauſe, and probably conceived it to be a retreat, as ſoon as they ſaw
the grenadiers in motion, began to follow in great diſorder. The
grenadiers halted: And every method was taken to reſtore order,
but in vain. The other ſepoys, who lay under a heavy cannonade,
upon obſerving the confuſion and retreat of their companions, be-
came ſuddenly panic-ſtruck, and, throwing down their arms, filed
to a ſmall coppice-wood at ſome diſtance. The Europeans immedi-
ately collecting, took poſſeſſion of a riſing ground, where they de-
fended themſelves againſt repeated attacks, whilſt the enemy's horſe
made dreadful havoc amongſt the ſepoys. It was hoped that the
main
ariny,
under ſir Hector Monro, might ſtill come to their re-
lief: And in the mean time fo bravely did this ſmall body of men
defend themſelves againſt Hyder's hoſt, that although he advanced,
both with his horſe and foot, within fifteen yards, he found it im-
poſſible to break them.
But at laſt all hopes of ſuccour being at an
end, and many having already fallen, the Britiſh commander, know-
ing that it was impoſſible for ſuch a handful of men to maintain
their ground much longer againſt ſuch a multitude, and willing to
fave the few that remained, ſtepped forward with a white handker-
chief in his hand, and commanded his men to order their arms, and
call for quarter. But this order was no ſooner complied with, than
the enemy ruſhed upon them in the moſt ferocious manner; and
numbers were inſtantly put to the ſword. Nor would the carnage
have ceaſed, notwithſtanding the ſurrender, but for the humane in-
terpoſition of two French officers, Lally and Pimoran, who at laſt
prevailed upon the barbarian Hyder to ſpare the gallant remains of
the
he
"
AMERICAN WAR.
311
XL.
the Britiſh detachment. The monſter gave orders to ſtop the fur- C H A P.
ther effufion of blood : But could the brave men, who were thus
1781.
become his priſoners, have foreſeen the unexampled miſeries they
were to endure in the dungeons of the tyrant, during a long cap-
tivity, they would have deemed immediate death a happy deliver-
ance from his more than favage brutality.
Hyder, fearful of being attacked by the main army under fir
Hector Monro, ſuddenly retreated, after his victory, to a place
called the Round Wells, where he had before been encamped. In
fact, when Hyder began his retreat, fir Hector Monro, with his
army,
was at no great diſtance from him. The cannonade that happened on
the evening of the ninth of September, when the united detachments
under Baillie and Fletcher began their march, having been heard at
Conjeveram, and reports being brought in, that Hyder's army,
which had been encamped in the neighbourhood, was in motion, the
Britiſh general became apprehenſive for the ſafety of the detach-
ments, and took the reſolution of moving that ſame evening to their
aſſiſtance. Verbal orders to that effect, it is ſaid, were given; but
unfortunately, from ſome cauſe or other, the march was delayed until
the next morning. When day-light appeared, it was no longer to be
doubted that Hyder had decamped ; and the cannonade having been
heard to commence foon afterwards with redoubled fury, the ge-
neral immediately gave orders for the army to be put in motion
towards Perambaucum. From the miſtake of the guide, the army
was led by a circuitous route ſeveral miles too far to the right, by
which ſome time was loſt. When at laſt it arrived within two miles
of the field of action, the firing was obſerved ſuddenly to ceaſe;
and ſoon afterwards ſome wounded ſepoys being brought in, that
had eſcaped from the general carnage, related the nature and extent
of the misfortune that had happened. Upon receiving this intelli-
gence, the general immediately returned upon his ſteps to Conje-
Yeram;
1
318
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XL.
1
committed in
veram; and after the heavy cannon had been ſpiked, and ſuch of
the baggage and ſtores deſtroyed as could not be caſily moved, he
1781.
retreated with the remains of his army to Chingliput, and from
thence, in a few days, to the Mount. At Chingliput, the army
was joined by colonel Coſby and his detachment, who, although he
had to march through a large extent of country, entirely over-run
and poſſeſſed by the enemy, had the good fortune to arrive in fafety,
and preſerve his cannon and baggage. By the rapidity of his move-
ments, he in ſome meaſure eluded the deſigns of the enemy; and
whenever he was haraſſed by their cavalry, the well-regulated dif-
poſition of his march, with the good countenance preſerved by the
officers and troops, prevented them from making any ſerious im-
preſſion.
Ravages By the retreat of the Britiſh army to the Mount, the whole country
the Carnatic was laid open to be ravaged at pleaſure by Hyder and his irregular hoſt.
by Hyder
The dominions of the Eaſt India company on the coaſt of Coro-
Ally.
mandel, which of late were ſo extenſive, might now be ſaid to be
confined to Madras, and a few miles round it, and to ſuch forts and
garriſons ſcattered about in different parts of the country as were
ſtill occupied by the company's troops. To reduce theſe, Hyder
now directed his attention. Arcot, the capital of the Nabob's do-
minions, ſoon fell into his hands, the reduction of it being haſtened
by the treachery of ſome of the Nabob's principal ſervants. Not
long afterwards Carangooly and Gingee, with many other inferior
poſts, were added to the liſt of his conqueſts. And the preſidency
of Madras, of late ſo full of ſecurity, now dreaded all the horrors
and miſeries attendant upon a ſiege.
They had already applied to the governor-general and ſupreme
council of Bengal for aſſiſtance: And to the vigorous meaſures
adopted and proſecuted by that board muſt in a great meaſure be at-
tributed the favourable change which not long afterwards took place
in
AMERICAN WAR.
313
in the company's affairs on the coaſt of Coromandel. General C HA P.
{ir Eyre Coote, commander in chief in India, who was then at
1781.
Calcutta, was requeſted to take upon himſelf the command of the
army at Madras; and in order to enable him to carry his plans into
execution, independently of the Madras preſidency, who ſeemned
deſirous of thwarting all the meaſures of the governor-general and
commander in chief, he was furniſhed with fifteen lacks of rupees,
over which ſum that board (whoſe diſpoſitions towards the gover-
nor-general, and the majority in his council, were well enough
known) were not to poſſeſs any control. Sir Eyre Coote was alſo
empowered to take a feat in the council of Madras; and Mr. White-
hill, the preſident, was ſuſpended. The commander in chief, al-
though then fixty-three ycars of age, cheerfully conſented to under-
take the arduous charge thus committed to him, of endeavouring to
reſtore the proſperity of the company's affairs on the coaſt of Coro-
mandel, and of freeing that country from the ravages of Hyder
Ally. He embarked without delay at Calcutta, with three hun- The com-
dred Europeans in battalion, upwards of two hundred artillery-men, Briti
five hundred laſcars, ſome pieces of cannon, and a large ſupply of in the pred
of Ma-
proviſions; whilſt ten battalions of Sepoys, with twenty pieces of dras commit-
ted to fir Eyre
cannon, were under orders to march by land from Bengal to the Coote.
Carnatic. Inſtructions were alſo ſent to general Goddard, who
commanded the army acting againſt the Mahrattas, to ſend by fea
to Madras as many troops as he could ſpare. Sir Edward Hughes
was ſolicited to block up Hyder's ſea-ports on the Malabar coaſt, and
prevent him from receiving ſupplies from the iſlands of Bourbon
and Mauritius ; and the government of Bombay received orders to
make a diverſion on the ſame coaft in favour of the war carrying on
the Carnatic, and thus alarm Hyder for the ſafety of his own do-
minions.
VOL. II.
SS
Sii
mand of the
aliny
314
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XL.
Sir Eyre Coote arrived at Madras on the fifth of November, and
vand after ſurmounting many difficulties and obſtacles, which either from
3781.
the incapacity of the preſidency had not been foreſeen, or from their
negligence were not provided for, took the field in the beginning of
the year 1781, with a ſmall but well-appointed army, and an ex-
cellent train of artillery. The ſieges of Vellore, Wandewaſh, Parma-
coil, and Chingliput, then blocked up by Hyder, were immediately
raiſed ; and he, with his whole force, retired to a guarded diſtance..
From this moment the company's affairs on that coaſt began to wear
a more favourable aſpect: Some of the forts that had been ſurpriſed
were in a ſhort time retaken: Hyder's ravages were neceſſarily con-
fined within narrower limits in conſequence of the caution with
which he avoided an engagement: And by the Britiſh com-
mander's taking the field, the credit of the company's arms, which,
had been at a low ebb ever ſince the defeat of colonel Baillic, wası
reſtored, and the diſaffection of the natives, which had begun to be
general, was in a great meaſure repreſſed. In the courſe of the
year ſir Eyre Coote found means to worſt Hyder in ſeveral. battles ;
and although the latter ſtill maintained his ground in part of the
Carnatic, a large extent of country, which had been over-run, was
recovered and freed from his ravages..
Operations Sir Edward Hughes performed the ſervices expected of him ::
Britiſh flect Hyder's ports on the Malabar coaſt were not only blocked up, but his
ſhipping deſtroyed at Calicut and Mangalore, two of his principal ar-
ſenals, and his hopes of becoming a maritime power thus nipped in the.
bud. Towards the cloſe of this year alſo, the Dutch fort of Nega--
patam, in the Tanjore country, the garriſon of which had been rein .
forced by two thouſand three hundred of Hyder's troops, was taken
by a joint operation of the ſquadron under fir Edward Hughes, and
a land force under fir Hector. Monro, which the commander in chief
of the
in India.
was.
AMERICAN WAR.
315
XL.
was enabled.to ſpare, after the favourable change that had taken C HA P.
place in the Carnatic. The immediate conſequence of the fall of
1781.
Negapatam was the evacuation of all the forts and ſtrong places pof-
ſeſſed by Hyder's troops in the Tanjore country and its borders.
Such were the effects of the vigorous meaſures adopted by the go-
vernor-general and fupreme council of Bengal for the relief and
aſſiſtance of the Madras government; and ſuch the ſucceſſes that
attended the company's troops under the auſpices of their veteran
commander fir Eyre Coote *.
* For a more full and particular account of the military and naval operations in India, at
this period, ſee Memoirs of the late War (1778-84) in Afia: With a Narrative of the
Impriſonment and Sufferings of our Officers and Soldiers, by an Officer of Colonel Baillie's
Detachment.
!
r
f
Se 2
316
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XLI.
Diſaffection to Great Britain of the Southern Colonies The Britiſh
Army under Lord Cornwallis joined by a large Reinforcement under
General Leſlie-Elion at the Cowpenis, between. General Morgan
aird Colonel Tarleton-Colonel Tarleton defeated_Conſequences of
Colonel Tarleton's Defeat—The Army under Lord Cornwallis croſſes
the River Catawba-Lord Cornwallis, joined by the other Divim
fion of the Army under Colonel Webſter, purſues General Morgan---
A Junction formed between the two Diviſions of the American
Army-General Greene driven ort of North Carolina-The Royal
Standard erected at Hillſborough—General Greene, again crofing
the Dan, re-enters North Carolina—Lord Cornwallis falls back
from Hillſborough, and takes a new Pofition- Effects of this retro-
grade Movement-Action near Guildford between Lord Cornwallis
and General Greene.
CH A P.
XLI.
We muſt
the war,
3781.
E muſt now return to North America, the grand theatre of
where it firſt began, and where the events of the
preſent year were of ſuch momentous importance as to produce a
total change in the future conduct of it, and in effect to place with-
in the graſp of the revolted colonies that independence and fove-
reignty for which they had been ſo long contending. From the bea
ginning of the year 1779 the principal efforts of the Britiſh arms
were directed againſt the ſouthern colonies, not only as they were
deemed the eaſieſt to be reduced, but as, from the nature of their
productions,t hey were the moſt valuable to the mother-country.
4
Georgia
AMERICAN WAR.
317
XLI.
1787.
to Great Bria
Georgia was accordingly recovered in the year 1779, and the pro- C HA P.
vince of South Carolina reduced in the year 1780. For ſome months
after the taking of Charleſtown, the capital of South Carolina, there
was in that province the brighteſt proſpect of returning peace and
tranquillity. But too ſoon the ſky became overcaſt; and it was per-
ceived in the ſouthern as it had been already experienced in ſome of
the northern colonies, that the inhabitants, after their ſubmiſſion,
and even whilſt the Britiſh troops remained amongſt them, did not
perform the duties of their allegiance without reluctance, and when
left to themſelves, quickly reverted to their old courſes, and joined
the ſtandard of revolt. In the tranſactions of laſt year we have Diſaffection
endeavoured to aſſign ſome motives for this verſatility of conduct tain of the
amongſt the inhabitants of South Carolina ; but to whatever cauſe fouthern co-
their diſaffection was owing, it gave much trouble to earl Cornwal-
lis, and greatly retarded his operations. The efficient
The efficient army for
diſtant ſervice was ſo much weakened by the large detachments left
behind for overawing the inhabitants, that a ſingle misfortune was
ſometimes ſufficient to render an expedition abortive. In the fall
of the preceding year the loſs of major Ferguſon's detachment
obliged lord Cornwallis to return from his northern expedition and
fall back to Wynneſborough in South Carolina. Still, however, the
projected movement into North Carolina was deemed ſo eſſential,
that he only waited for a reinforcement to renew it. The expected The Britiſh
reinforcement arrived at Charleſtown on the thirteenth of December. lord Corn-
wallis joined
It conſiſted of a large detachment of troops under general Leſlie, by a large re-
who, upon landing, received lord Cornwallis's orders to march
under general
without delay, and join him with about fifteen hundred men. The Leſlie.
general accordingly, after waiting fome few days to procure horſes
and waggons, began his march on the nineteenth of December.
In the mean time general Greene, who had ſucceeded Gates in
the command of the American army, finding it difficult to procure a
ſufficient
army under
inforcement
December.
318
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
1781.
C HA P. fufficient ſupply of proviſions in the neighbourhood of Charlotte, as
that country had been already exhauſted; and being ſenſible that his
preſent force was too weak to attempt any direct operation againſt
lord Cornwallis; reſolved to divide it, and by deſultory incurſions in
different, and nearly oppoſite quarters, to alarm and haraſs the
Britiſh out-poſts on the frontiers of South Carolina. By ſuch .
means his troops would be kept in action, and, traverſing different
parts of the country, would not only be more eaſily ſupplied with
proviſions, but might in their progreſs infuſe ſome ſpirit into the
militia, without whofe aſſiſtance and co-operation he ſaw that he
could do nothing effectual. Accordingly the light troops, conſiſting of
three hundred infantry, under colonel Howard, one hundred and
ſeventy rifle-men, under major Triplet, and ſeventy light dragoons,
under lieutenant-colonel Waſhington, were put under the command
of general Morgan, who was directed to proceed by the heads of
the rivers to the weſtern frontiers of South Carolina, and threaten
the Britiſh poſt at Ninety-fix; whilſt the reſt of the army under
general Greene ſhould march to the Pedee, and alarm the country
in front of Camden.
Towards the end of December earl Cornwallis received informa-
tion of the diviſion of the American army, and ſoon afterwards an
account.of the movements of general Morgan, who had paſſed both
the Catawba and Broad River, and was ſaid to be rapidly advancing
to Ninety-ſix. Upon receipt of this intelligence, lieutenant-colonel
Tarleton was detached with the light and legion infantry, the fu-
ſileers, or ſeventh regiment, the firſt battalion of the ſeventy-firſt
regiment, about three hundred and fifty cavalry, two field-pieces,
and an adequate detachment of the royal artillery, in all about one
thouſand men.
He received orders to pafs Broad River for the
protection of Ninety-fix, and either to ſtrike at Morgan, and puſh
him to the utmoſt, or at leaſt oblige him to leave the country.
Morgan,
/
I
AMERICAN WAR.
319
XLI.
Morgan, in his march, had collected about four or five hundred C HA P.
militia, and upon his approach to the diſtrict of Ninety-ſix, was
1781.
joined by two hundred more, who had fled from the frontiers of
Georgia when Auguſta was taken poſſeſſion of by the Britiſh troops.
Thus the two detachments were nearly equal in point of numbers,
but in cavalry, and in the general quality of the troops, Tarleton
was greatly ſuperior *
The Britiſh army now proceeded to the north-weſt, between
Broad River and the Catawba. This route, leading to the back
country, was choſen, that the army might the more eaſily be enabled
to paſs the great rivers in its way at the fords near their fource :
It alſo afforded a proſpect of cutting off Morgan's retreat, if he
ſhould elude Tarleton, or at leaſt of preventing his junction with
the army under general Greene: Nor was the Britiſh general with-
out hopes, that by following this courſe he might get between
* Dr. Ramſay, in his Hiſtory of the Revolution of South Carolina, charges the Britiſh
with feizing the property of the Americans; and their commiſſaries and quarter-maſters with
taking proviſions, and all other things wanted by the army, wherever they could be found,
charging them, at the ſame time, to the Britiſh government. That peculation was carried on
in fome departments of the Britiſh army, and that many individuals made large fortunes in this
way, cannot be denied. But this never took place, in any great extent, in the ſouthern army.
And the writer of this, who was commiffary to the army under lord Cornwallis, takes the pre-
ſent occaſion of repelling the calumniesof Dr. Ramſay, as far as they may relate to himſelf, and
appealing for the innocence and propriety of his conduct to many individuals now. living in
Carolina, as well as to the gentlemen of the army in which he ſerved. The commiſſary,
during the time when he was at the Congarees, employed in collecting proviſions, and ſettling
refugee families on the deſerted plantations of the Americans, without being ſupported by
any troops, or covering party, furniſhed ſupplies to the army at Wynneſborough and Camden,
each poſt being about forty miles from the Congarees. He had ſeveral mills to attend and
feed daily, ſome of which lay fix miles apart. The number of perſons employed by the
commiſſary in this ſervice was about one hundred and twenty negroes, one ferjeant of the
71ft regiment, one cooper, and four inſpectors or overſeers.. When the campaign opened in
January 1781, there was about fifty thouſand weight of meal packed and ready for uſe. The
whole expence, as charged by the commiſſary to government for this ſervice, guides, expreſſes,
collecting, ſhelling, grinding, packing, wages, &c. did not amoy at to one hundred pounds
terling
Greene's
ونن
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
mm
CHA P. Greene's army and Virginia, and force him to an action before lie
was joined by his expected reinforcements. The detachment under
1781.
general Leſlie, which liad been purpoſely halted at Camden, until
lord Cornwallis ſhould be ready to march from Wynneſborough, the
longer to conceal from the American general the road which the
Britiſh army meant to take, now received orders to move up the
banks of the Catawba, and join the main army on its march. The
march both of lord Cornwallis and general Leſlie, encumbered as
they were with baggage and artillery, was greatly retarded by the
ſwelling of creeks and water-courſes. Theſe obſtacles Tarleton
alſo experienced; but having the command of light troops, he more
eaſily ſurmounted them, and probably overtook Morgan ſomething
ſooner than was expected.
The latter, after retreating over the Pacolet, made a ſhew of diſ-
puting Tarleton's paſſage by guarding the fords. Tarleton however,
a. on the Fixth of January, found means to paſs over his detachment
within ſix miles of the enemy's encampment; and Morgan was
obliged to make a precipitate retreat, leaving in his camp pro-
viſions that were dreſſing for his troops half cooked. Tarleton ad-
vanced and took poffefſion of the ground that had been left by the
enemy only a few hours before.
At three in the morning the march of the Britiſh light troops
was reſumed in purſuit of general Morgan; the baggage being left
under a guard compoſed of a detachment from each corps, with
orders not to move till daylight appeared. Tarleton, after a fa-
tiguing march through ſwamps and broken grounds, at length came
in ſight of the enemy about eight in the morning : Two of their
videttes were ſoon afterwards taken ; and from them information
was received that the Americans had halted, and were forming at a
place called the Cowpens.
General Morgan, finding himſelf hard preſſed by the Britiſh
troops, had reſolved to hazard an action rather than be overtaken
in
camp the
AMERICAN WAR.
321
,
in the ford of the river. With this view he drew up his force in CHA P.
two lines, the militia under colonel Pickens forming the firſt line,
1781.
and the continentals, under colonel Howard, with the Virginia
rifle-men, the ſecond. Waſhington's dragoons, with ſome mounted
militia, were drawn up at ſome diſtance in the rear, as a corps of re-
ſerve. The ground which he occupied does not appear to have been
well chofen: It was an open wood, and conſequently liable to be
penetrated by the Britiſh cavalry: Both his flanks were expoſed;
and the river, at no great diſtance, ran parallel to his rear. In ſuch
a ſituation he gave a manifeſt advantage to an enemy with a ſuperior
body of cavalry; and in caſe of a defeat, the deſtruction of his
whole detachment was inevitable.
Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, upon receiving the intelligence com-
municated by the videttes, reſolved, without loſs of time, to make
an attack upon the Americans. Advancing within two hundred
and fifty yards of their firſt line, he made a haſty diſpoſition of
his force. The light and legion infantry, and the ſeventh regi- Action at the
ment, were ordered to form in line, a captain, with fifty dragoons, Cowpens be;
tween general
being attached to each of their flanks; and the firſt battalion of Morgan and
the ſeventy-firſt regiment, and the reſt of the cavalry, were directed Tarleton,
to form as a reſerve, and wait for orders. This diſpoſition being
ſettled, Tarleton, relying on the valour of his troops, impatient of
delay, and too confident of ſucceſs, led on in perſon the firſt line to
the attack, even before it was fully formed, and whilſt major New-
marſh, who commanded the ſeventh regiment, was poſting his
officers: Neither had the reſerve yet reached the ground which it
was to occupy. The firſt line of the Americans being compoſed of
militia, did not long withſtand the charge of the Britiſh regulars :
It gave way in all quarters, and was purſued to the continentals.
The latter, undiſmayed by the retreat of the militia, maintained
their ground with great bravery; and the conflict between them and
VOL. II.
I t
the
colonel
1
322
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
CHA P. the Britiſh troops was obſtinate and bloody. Captain Ogilvie, with
his troop of dragoons on the right of the Britiſh line, was directed
1791.
to charge the left flank of the enemy. He cut his way through
their line, but being expoſed to a heavy fire, and, at the ſame time,
charged by the whole of Waſhington's cavalry, was compelled to
retreat in confuſion. The Britiſh reſerve now received orders to
move forward; and as ſoon as the line felt the advance of the
ſeventy-firſt regiment, the whole again moved on. The continentals,
,
no longer able to ſtand the ſhock, were forced to give way. This
was the critical moment of the action, which might have been im-
proved ſo as to ſecure to the Britiſh troops a complete victory. An
order, it is ſaid, was diſpatched to the cavalry to charge the enemy
when in confuſion ; but if ſuch an order was delivered, it was not
obeyed; and the infantry, enfeebled by their fatiguing march in the
morning, through ſwamps and broken grounds, and by their ſubſe-
quent exertions in the action, were unable to come up with the
flying enemy. The critical moment loſt on the one ſide was eagerly
ſeized on the other. The American commander, finding that the
Britiſh cavalry did not purſue, gave orders to Waſhington to cover
with his dragoons the rear of tlie broken provincials, whilſt he ex-
erted himſelf to the utmoſt to rally them. His endeavours fuc-
ceeded: The continentals were rallied and formed, and now in
their turn charged the aſſailants. In diſorder from the purſuit, and
unſupported by the cavalry, ſuch of the Britiſh infantry as were
fartheſt advanced, receiving this unexpected charge, fell back in con-
fuſion, and communicated a panic to others, which foon became
general. Waſhington charged with his cavalry; and a total rout
enſued. The militia who had fled, ſeeing the fortune of the day
changed, returned and joined in the purſuit. The Britiſh infantry
were ſoon overtaken, as the ſame cauſes which retarded them in
the purſuit, now impeded their flight; and almoſt the whole were
either
+
AMERICAN WAR.
323
1
XII.
Tarleton de
either killed or taken priſoners. The two field-pieces were alſo C HA P.
taken, but not till the whole of the artillery-men attached to them
1781,
were either killed or wounded. It was in vain that Tarleton en-
deavoured to bring his legion cavalry to charge and check the pro-
greſs of the enemy: They ſtill ſtood aloof, and at length fled in a
body through the woods, leaving their commander behind. Four-
teen officers, however, remained with him, and about forty men of
the ſeventeenth regiment of dragoons: At the head of theſe he made Colonel
a deſperate charge on the whole of Waſhington's cavalry, and drove feated.
them back upon the continentals. But no partial advantage, however
brilliant, could now retrieve the fortune of the day: All was already
loft; and Tarleton, ſeeing nothing farther to be done, retreated with
the remains of this ſmall but brave and faithful band of adherents,
to Hamilton's Ford, upon Broad River, in his way to the main
army under lord Cornwallis, then at Turkey Creek, about twenty-
five miles from the field of action. The only body of Tarleton's
infantry that eſcaped was the guard left with the baggage, which had
not reached the Cowpens at the time of the action: Early intelli-
gence of the defeat being conveyed to the officer who commanded
it, by ſome friendly Americans, he immediately deſtroyed whatever
part of the baggage could not be carried off, and mounting his men
on the waggon and ſpare horſes, retreated to the main army unmo-
lefted. Few of the legion cavalry were miſſing: One diviſion of
them arrived the fame evening in the neighbourhood of the Britiſh
encampment, with the news of their defeat, and another under
Tarleton, who in his way had been joined by ſome ſtragglers, ap-
peared the next morning. The whole loſs of the Britiſh troops, in
this unfortunate affair, amounted to at leaſt fix hundred men; and
of them near one half was either killed or wounded. The loſs of
the Americans, according to their report of it, was ſo ſmall as
ſcarcely to deſerve credit. It amounted to twelve killed, and fixty
Tt2
wounded!
2
324
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
C HA P. wounded. During the whole period of the war no other action re-
flected ſo much diſhonour upon the Britiſh arms. The Britiſh were
1781.
ſuperior in numbers. Morgan had only five hundred and forty con-
tinentals, the reſt militia. Tarleton's force compoſed the light troops
of lord Cornwallis's army. Every diſaſter that befel lord Corn-
wallis, after Tarleton's moſt ſhameful defeat at the Cowpens, may
moſt juſtly be attributed to the imprudence and unſoldierly conduct
of that officer in the action. It was aſked, why he did not con-
ſult majors M'Arthur and Newmarſh, officers of experience and
reputation, who had been in ſervice before Tarleton was born?
Colonel Tarleton, in his Hiſtory of the Southern Campaigns in
America, admits that the ground on which Morgan formed had
been deſcribed with great perſpicuity to him. He alſo admits,
that he had obtained a very accurate knowledge of Morgan's ſitua-
tion, and of the ground on which Morgan had drawn
up
his army.
That there was every proſpect of ſucceſs from the animation and
alacrity of his troops; that his troops moved in a good line; that
his fire was well ſupported, and produced much ſlaughter; that the
continentals and back woodſmen gave ground, and the Britiſh ruſhed
forward ; that the ground which Morgan had choſen was diſadvan-
tageous
for the Americans, and as proper a ſituation for action as
colonel Tarleton could have wiſhed: Under all theſe advantages in
favour of Tarleton, and diſadvantages againſt Morgan, Tarleton is
completely defeated and totally routed. Is it poſſible for the mind
to form any other concluſion, than that there was a radical defect,
and
a want of military knowledge on the part of colonel Tarleton ?
That he poffeffes perſonal bravery inferior to no man, is beyond a
doubt; but his talents at the period we are ſpeaking of never
exceeded that of a partizan captain of light dragoons, daring in
ſkirmiſhes. He could defeat an enemy in detail, by continually ha-
raffing, and cutting off detached parties,
The
AMERICAN WAR.
325
CH A P.
XLI.
of colonel
dcfeat.
The defeat of his majeſty's troops at the Cowpens formed a very
principal link in the chain of circumſtances which led to the inde-
1781.
pendence of America. Colonel Tarleton acquired power without any
extraordinary degree of merit, and upon moſt occaſions exerciſed it
without diſcretion.
Nothing could be more unexpected by lord Cornwallis, than the
news of Tarleton's diſcomfiture. If he judged from the events of
former actions, where the numbers were not ſo equally balanced,
and the diſproportion much more in favour of the Americans, he
had reaſon to look for a victory inſtead of defeat. The diſappoint-
ment was galling; and the loſs of credit caſt a ſhade over the com-
mencement of the expedition. But another conſequence of the de- Conſequences
feat was of a ſtill more ſerious nature : The loſs of the light troops, Tarleton's
at all times neceſſary to an army, but on a march through a woody
and thinly ſettled country, almoſt indiſpenſable, was not to be
repaired.
Deeply as his lordſhip was affected with the weight of this mif-
fortune, and greatly as he ſaw his difficulties increaſed by it, he
nevertheleſs reſolved to proſecute the original plan of the expedi-
tion into North Carolina, as the only means of maintaining the
Britiſh intereſt in the ſouthern colonies. The reinforcement under
general Leſlie not having yet come up, the eighteenth of January
was ſpent in forming a junction with it; and on the nineteenth the
army
reſumed its march. Some hopes were entertained that Mor-
gan, incumbered as he was with priſoners, might ſtill be overtaken
between Broad River and the Catawba. But that active partizan,
ſenſible of his danger, quitted the Cowpens immediately after the
action, and proceeding to the upper fords on Broad River, paſſed it
with his detachment and the priſoners. The wounded, who were
unable to travel, were left behind under the protection of a flag of
truce. From Broad River Morgan directed his courſe to the Ca-
tawba,
326
HISTORY OF THE
4
1
XLI.
CHA P. tawba, and moved with ſo much celerity that he reached it before
the Britiſh army. Yet, ſo cloſely had he been purſued, that the
1781.
advance of the Britiſh troops arrived at the banks of that river in
the evening of the twenty-ninth of January, only two hours after
the laſt of Morgan's corps had croſſed. A heavy rain, that fell in
the night, ſwelled the river ſo much as to render it impaſſable the
next morning; and, as it continued ſo for two days, Morgan had
time to make an arrangement for diſincumbering himſelf of the
priſoners, and ſending them off under an eſcort of militia, by a dif-
ferent route from that which he propoſed to take. Whilſt the pri-
ſoners proceeded on their march, he, with his detachment, remained
on the north banks of the Catawba, and, by calling out the militia
of the country to aſſiſt him in guarding the fords, prepared to dif-
pute the paſſage of the Britiſh army.
Previouſly to the arrival of the Britiſh troops on the banks of the
Catawba, lord Cornwallis, conſidering that the loſs of his light
troops could only be remedied by the activity of the whole army,
,
reſolved to deſtroy all the ſuperfluous baggage. By firſt reducing
the ſize and quantity of his own, he ſet an example which was
cheerfully followed by all the officers under his command, although
by ſo doing they ſuſtained a conſiderable lofs. No waggons were
reſerved except thoſe loaded with hoſpital-ſtores, ſalt, and ammuni-
tion, and four empty ones for the accommodation of the ſick or
wounded *. And ſuch was the ardour both of officers and ſoldiers,
and their willingneſs to ſubmit to any hardſhip for the promotion
of the ſervice; that this arrangement, which deprived them of all
future proſpect of ſpirituous liquors, and even hazarded a re-
gular ſupply of proviſions, was acquieſced in without a murmur.
• The remainder of the waggons, baggage, and all the ſtore of flour and rum, were de-
Atroyed at Ramſour's Mill
In
AMERICAN WAR.
327
XLI.
In the mean time general Greene, upon receiving information of C HA P.
lord Cornwallis's march, and his rapid purſuit of Morgan, left his
1781.
army upon the Pedee, under the command of general Huger and
colonel Williams, with orders to retreat by forced marches to the
upper country, in order to form a junction with the light troops
wherever it might be practicable, whilſt he, with an eſcort of dragoons,
proceeded immediately to that corps, that he might be the better
enabled to regulate its movements for facilitating the propoſed junc-
tion. After travelling with great expedition, he arrived at Morgan's
camp on the laſt day of January.
In the courſe of two days, the river having fallen ſo as to render
it fordable, lord Cornwallis determined to attempt a paſſage. That
he might perplex the enemy, and draw off their attention from the
real object, lieutenant-colonel Webſter, with one diviſion of the
army, was detached to a public ford called Beattie's, with orders to
cannonade, and make a feint, as if he intended to force a paſſage ;
whilft lord Cornwallis, with the other diviſion, marched to a private
ford near M'Cowan's, where the paſſage was in reality to be at-
tempted. The diviſion under lord Cornwallis marched from its
encampment at one in the morning of the firſt of February, and
reached the ford about dawn. The numerous fires ſeen on the
op-
poſite ſhore quickly convinced the Britiſh commander that this ford,
although a private one, had not eſcaped the vigilance of the enemy.
General Davidſon, with three hundred militia, had been ſent to
guard it only the evening before. Nevertheleſs lord Cornwallis de- The army
termined to proceed; and the paſſage was gallantly and ſucceſsfully lord Corn-
effected by the brigade of guards under general O‘Hara. Plunging the river
into the rapid ſtream, in many places reaching above their middle,
and near five hundred yards wide, they marched on with the ut-
moſt ſteadineſs and coinpoſure; and although expoſed to the fire of
the enemy, reſerved their own, according to their orders, until they
6
reached
wallis croſſes
Catawba.
1
1
328
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
1781.
CHA P. reached the oppoſite bank. The paſſage of the river was made in
the following order: The light-infantry of the guards, led by co-
lonel Hall, firſt entered the water: They were followed by the gre-
nadiers, and the grenadiers by the battalions, the men marching in
platoons to ſupport one another againſt the rapidity of the ſtream.
When the light-infantry had nearly reached the middle of the river
they were challenged by one of the enemy's centinels. The cen-
tinel, having challenged thrice, and received no anſwer, immediately
gave the alarm by diſcharging his muſquet; and the enemy's pic-
quets were turned out. No ſooner did the guide, who attended the
light-infantry to ſhew them the ford, hear the report of the cen-
tinel's muſquet, than he turned round and left them. This, which
at firſt ſeemed to portend much miſchief, in the end proved a for-
tunate incident. Colonel Hall, being forſaken by his guide, and
not knowing the true direction of the ford, led the column di-
rectly acroſs the river, to the neareſt part of the oppoſite bank.
This direction, as it afterwards appeared, carried the Britiſh troops
conſiderably above the place where the ford terminated on the other
ſide, and where the enemy's picquets were poſted; ſo that when
they delivered their fire, the light-infantry were already ſo far ad-
vanced as to be out of the line of its direction, and it took place
angularly upon the rear of the grenadiers, ſo as to produce no great
effect. When general Davidſon perceived the direction of the Bri-
tiſh column, he led his men to that part of the bank which faced
it. But by the time of his arrival the light-infantry had overcome
all their difficulties : They were getting out of the water and form-
ing, and ſo ſoon as they had formed, quickly routed and diſperſed
general Davidſon's militia, killing or wounding about forty of
them. General Davidſon was the laſt of the enemy who remained
upon the bank, and in mounting his horſe to make his eſcape, re-
ceived a mortal wound.
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SKETCH of the CATAWBA RIVER at MOCOWANS FORD.
Engraved for Stedmans Hiſtory of the American War.
Feb46279.1.
AMERICAN WAR.
329
.
1781.
In effecting this difficult and dangerous paſſage of the Catawba, in C HA P.
the face of the enemy, the whole loſs of the guards amounted only
to forty, lieutenant-colonel Hall*, and three privates, being killed, and
thirty-ſix wounded f. The other troops which compofed lord Corn-
wallis's diviſion of the army followed the guards in ſucceſſion; and,
as ſoon as the whole had landed, lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with
the cavalry, and the twenty-third regiment, was ſent in purſuit of
the militia. Upon his march, receiving intelligence that the place
appointed for their rendezvous was at Tarrant's Tavern, about ten
miles diſtant; he left behind the twenty-third regiment, which took
poſt about five miles from Beattie's Ford, and, for the ſake of dif-
patch, proceeded with the cavalry only. About five hundred of the
militia, from different fords, were aſſembled, when he reached the
place of their rendezvous, and appeared not unprepared to receive
hin. Tarleton, nevertheleſs, reſolved to attack them, and ani-
mating his men with a ſtinging recollection of the action at the
Cowpens, made a furious charge upon the enemy, broke through
their centre, killed near fiftyť upon the ſpot, and quickly diſperſed
the whole. The gallantry of the guards in paſſing the broad river
Catawba, in the face of the enemy, and the ſubſequent rout and
diſperſion of the militia, firſt at the ford, and afterwards by Tarle-
ton, at Tarrant's Tavern, made ſuch an impreſſion on the inha-
** Lieutenant-colonel Hall was killed in aſcending the bank, after he had croſſed the river.
+ The following accidents happened to the horſes of the general officers in paſſing the
river:-Lord Cornwallis's horſe was ſhot in the water, but did not drop till he reached the
fhore. General Leſlie's horſes were carried by the rapidity of the ſtream fome diſtance down
the river, until his groom got upon a rock and held them. Brigadier O'Hara's horſe rolled
over with him in the water: The brigadier, no doubt, was thoroughly wet from this accident,
but received no cther injury.
# This is Tarleton's account, page 226 of his Campaigns; but a Britiſh officer, who rode
over the ground not long after the action, relates, that he did not ſee ten dead bodies of the
provincials in the whole.
VOL. II.
U u
bitants,
330
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
Lord Corn-
army under
colonel Web-
C HA P. bitants, that although the country between the Catawba and the
Yadkin was deemed the moſt hoſtile part of North Carolina, the
1781.
army in its progreſs to the laſt of theſe rivers met with no farther
moleſtation from the militia.
General Greene had hoped, by guarding the fords with the light
troops under Morgan, aſſiſted by the militia, to prevent lord Corn-
wallis from paffing, until the other diviſion of the American army,
under Huger and Williams, ſhould have time to come up. But the
Britiſh general, by forcing a paſſage in the manner already related,
quickly put an end to his hopes. The guards ſtationed at the dif-
ferent fords were accordingly withdrawn; and the light troops under
Morgan began a precipitate retreat towards the Yadkin.
The other diviſion of the Britiſh army, under colonel Webfter,
wallis, joined
by the other paſſed the Catawba at Beattie's Ford, in the courſe of the day, and
at night joined lord Cornwallis's diviſion, about five miles from the
fter, purſues ford, on the road to Saliſbury. Early the next morning the Britiſh
general Mor-
troops marched in purſuit of Morgan; but the celerity of his move-
ments baffled all their efforts. He reached the trading ford on the
Yadkin in the night between the ſecond and third of February, and
with the aſſiſtance of all the boats and flats that could be collected,
completed the paſſage of his corps, with their baggage, by the
following evening, except only a few waggons left under an
eſcort of rifle-men. The rifle-men, after a ſlight reſiſtance, fled
under cover of the night, and their waggons were of courſe
taken.
The American cavalry had paſſed by the ford of the river; but
a heavy rain that fell during the day, rendered the river unfordable
by the next morning: The fame rain, by ſwelling the creeks, and
increaſing the badneſs of the roads, had alſo retarded general O‘Hara
on his march; and thus Morgan's detachment, from fortunate inci.
dents, had another hairbreadth eſcape.
gan.
All
AMERICAN WAR.
331
XLI.
All the boats and flats having been ſecured by Morgan on the CHA P.
other ſide of the river, the river itſelf being unfordable, and conti-
1781.
nuing to riſe, and the weather ſtill appearing unſettled, lord Corn-
wallis determined to march up the weſtern banks of the Yadkin,
and paſs by the ſhallow fords near its ſource. All hopes of
All hopes of prevent
ing the junction of the two diviſions of the American army were
now at an end; but ſtill another object, not leſs eſſential, remained,
which the new line of direction of the march was calculated to
favour. This was, to get between the American army and Virginia,
to which province it was obvious general Greene meant to retreat,
rather than hazard an action with his preſent numbers. As much,
therefore, as it was the intereſt of general Greene to ſecure his re-
treat, and avoid an action, ſo much was it that of the Britiſh com-
mander to intercept him, and compel it, before he was joined by
his reinforcements. The lower fords, upon the river that ſeparates
North Carolina from Virginia, were repreſented to be impaſſable in
the winter ſeaſon, and the ferries to be ſo diftant that a ſufficient
number of flats could not be collected to tranſport the American
army in any convenient time. Lord Cornwallis, milled by this in-
formation, directed his march to the upper fords upon the Dan, in
order to intercept Greene's retreat, by the only route which at
that ſeaſon of the year was repreſented to be practicable.
In the mean time the two diviſions of the American army formed A junction
a junction at Guildford Court-houſe. A council of war was held: tween the two
And by their advice a retreat into Virginia, without hazarding an the American
action, was finally reſolved upon. In order the more eaſily to army.
effect this, a light army was formed of the beſt of the American
troops, amounting in the whole to about ſeven hundred men, who
were directed to mancuvre in front of the Britiſh line of march,
whilſt the reſt of the army, with the baggage, proceeded by the
ncareſt route to Boyd's Ferry, on the Dan. Orders were ſent for-
ward
formed be-
diviſions of
Ử u 2
332
HISTORY OF THE
.
General
Greene
North Caro-
lina.
CHA P. ward to prepare every thing neceſſary for facilitating the paſſage,
whilſt general Greene marched on with all poſlible diſpatch. At laſt
1781.
he reached the Dan, and ſo much had lord Cornwallis been miſin-
formed as to the means of paſſing the river, that the American
troops, both the main and the light army, with their baggage, in-
ſtead of meeting with any difficulty or delay, were paſſed over with
eaſe, at Boyd's and Irwin's Ferries, in the courſe of a ſingle day;
the fourteenth of February. The light army, which was the laſt in
driven out of croſſing, was ſo cloſely purſued, that ſcarcely had its rear landed,
when the Britiſh advance appeared on the oppoſite banks; and in
the laſt twenty-four hours it is ſaid to have marched forty miles.
The hardſhips ſuffered by the Britiſh troops, for want of their tents
and uſual baggage, in this long and rapid purſuit, through a wild and
unſettled country, were uncommonly great ;''get ſuch was their ar-
dour in the ſervice, that they ſubmitted to them without a murmur,
from the hope of giving a deciſive blow to the American army,
before it croſſed the Roanoke. And that the latter eſcaped without
ſuffering any material injury, ſeems more owing to a train of for-
tunate incidents, judiciouſly improved by their commander, than to
any want of enterpriſe or activity in the army that purſued. Yet
the operations of lord Cornwallis, during the purſuitz: would pro-
bably have been more efficacious, had not the unfortunate affair at
the Cowpens deprived him' of almoſt the whole of his light troops.
The royal · Lord Cornwallis, having thus driven general Greene out of the
province of North Carolina, returned. by eaſy marches from the
banks of the Dan to Hillſborough, where he erected the king's
rough.
ſtandard, and invited by proclamation all loyal ſubjects to repair. to
it, and take an active part in affiſting him to reſtore order and con-
ſtitutional government. The loyaliſts in North Carolina were origin-
ally more numerous than in any of the other colonies: But the
misfortunes conſequent on premature riſingshad conſiderably
thinned
ſtandard
erected at
Hillſbo-
A
$
AMERICAN WAR.
333
1
XLI.
thinned them. Some had ſuffered, others had left the country and C HA P.
joined the king's troops to the ſouthward, and thoſe who remained
1781.
were become cautious from the recollection of paſt miſcarriages.
Their ſpirits may be ſaid to have been broken by repeated perſecutions.
Still, however, the zeal of ſome was not repreſſed; and, influenced
by them, conſiderable numbers were preparing to aſſeınble, when ge-
neral Greene, alarmed with the intelligence of their motions, and
the preſumed effect of lord Cornwallis's proclamation, and being,
about the ſame time, reinforced with ſix hundred Virginia militia,
under general Stevens, took the reſolution of again croſſing the
Dan, and re-entering North Carolina. Even with this addition to General
Greene,again
his numbers, he had no intention of hazarding 'an action ; but he
cruffing the
foreſaw'that his return into the province would check the riſing Dan, re-en-
ſpirit amongſt the loyaliſts ; and he hoped, by means of his light Carolina.
troops, to interrupt their communications with the royal army.
Lieutenant-colonel Lee, with his legion, was detached acroſs the
river on the twenty-firſt of February, and the next day general
Greene paſſed it with the reſt of the army.
A number of loyaliſts being ready to aſemble, under a colonel
Pyle, upon the branches of Haw River, lieutenant-colonel Tarleton,
with the cavalry, and a ſmall body of infantry, was detached to-
wards that part of the country, to give countenance to their riſing,
anä to afford them aſſiſtance and protection. The American colonel
Lee, having alſo received intelligence of the propoſed inſurrection,
haftened with his legion towards the ſame quarter, in order to
counteract Tarleton's operations, and, if poſſible, intercept and
cruſh the loyaliſts before their junction with the Britiſh troops.
The loyaliſts aſſembled, and on the twenty-fifth of February were
proceeding to Tarleton's encampment, unapprehenſive of danger,
when they were met in a lane by Lee, with his legion. The loy-
aliſts, unfortunately miſtaking the American cavalry for Tarleton's
dragoons,
334
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
1781.
Lord Corn.
wallis falls
back from
and takes a
CH A P. dragoons, allowed themſelves to be ſurrounded before they diſco-
vered their error. When at laſt it became manifeft, they called out
for quarter; but no quarter was granted; and between two and
three hundred of them were inhumanly butchered, while in the act
of begging for mercy, Humanity ſhudders at the recital of ſo foul
a maſſacre: But cold and unfeeling policy avows it as the moſt
effectual means of intimidating the friends of royal government.
The country round Hillſborough being nearly exhauſted of
pro-
viſions, and this forward poſition being thought too diſtant, after
Hillſborough,
the return of general Greene's army, for affording effectual protec-
ocw poſition.
tion to the great body of loyaliſts who reſided between Haw and
Deep Rivers, lord Cornwallis thought it expedient to retire from
Hillſborough, and take a new poſition between theſe rivers, ſo as
effectually to cover the country in his rear. This was accordingly
done; and the Britiſh army, after paſſing Haw River, encamped on
Allamance Greek. The bulk of mankind being guided by external
appearances, nothing could be more unfavourable to lord Corn-
wallis's preſent views than this retrograde movement upon the ap-
proach of general Greene's army. If the loyaliſts were before cau-
Effe&s of this tious and Now, they now became timid to an exceſs, and dreaded
retrograde
taking any active meaſure whatſoever in behalf of the king's go-
vernment, more eſpecially when they reflected on the diſaſter that
had happened to colonel Pyle, whoſe detachment was cut to pieces
within little more than a mile of Tarleton's encampment. When lord
Cornwallis, therefore, had retired beyond the Haw, he had too much
reaſon to complain that he found himſelf amongſt irreſolute friends,
and adjoining to inveterate enemies; and that between the two he
was ſo deſtitute of information that he had loſt a very favourable
opportunity of attacking the American army.
It has been already ſtated that lord Cornwallis hoiſted the royal
ſtandard, and iſſued a proclamation, at Hillſborough. As much has
been
movement.
AMERICAN WAR.
335
XLI.
1781.
been ſaid upon this ſubject, as to lord Cornwallis's leaving Hillf-C HA P.
borough before the period ſtated in his proclamation had expired,
and of the conſequent diſtreſs of the loyaliſts, the author, who had
the honour of being commiſſary to the army under his lordſhip’s
command, not wiſhing to ſhrink from any reſponſibility annexed
to his ſituation, feels it incumbent on him here to ſtate a few facts.
The author ever believed, and is well founded in his aſſertion, that
one principal cauſe of lord Cornwallis's leaving Hillſborough ſo foon
as he did, was in confequence of a written report being made by
the author, as well as from ſeveral converſations held with lord
Cornwallis
upon the ſubject, ſtating the impoſſibility of ſupporting
his majeſty's army at Hillſborough. There being few cattle to be had
in its neighbourhood, and thoſe principally draught oxen, lord
Cornwallis had promiſed that they ſhould not be ſlaughtered but in
caſe of abſolute neceſſity ; but that neceſſity did exiſt, and compelled
the author to dire&t that ſeveral of the draught oxen ſhould be
killed. This meaſure, although the effect of neceſſity, cauſed much
murmuring amongſt the loyaliſts, whoſe property theſe cattle were.
Moſt of the cattle in the neighbourhood of Hillſborough had been
conſumed by the Americans, who held a poſt for a very conſider-
able time in that town.
During the time the royal army held Hillſborough, the author's
cattle-drivers were obliged to go a conſiderable diſtance from the
army
for cattle, and even then brought in but a very ſcanty ſupply.
Lord Cornwallis could not have remained as long as he did at Hillf-
borough had it not been for a quantity of falt-beef, pork, and
ſome hogs, found in the town, Such was the ſituation of the Bri-
tiſh army, that the author, with a file of men, was obliged to go
from houſe to houſe, throughout the town, to take proviſions from
the inhabitants, many of whom were greatly diſtreſſed by this mea-
ſure, which could be juſtified only by extreme neceſſity.
As
336
HISTORY OF THE
HISTORY
сHAP.
XLI.
1781.
As lord Cornwallis retired, the American army advanced ; and
general Greene having paſſed the Haw, near its ſource, took poſt
between Troubleſome Creek and Reedy Fork; but not thinking
himſelf yet ſtrong enough to riſque an action, he changed his po-
ſition every night, in order to avoid the pollibility of it. The
American light troops and militia were poſted upon the branches
of Reedy Fork, whilſt general Greene, with the main army, at ſome
diſtance, inclined towards Guildford Court-houſe. Whilſt the Ame-
rican army lay in this ſituation, lord Cornwallis, receiving intelli-
gence that their light troops were careleſsly poſted, determined to
beat
up
their
quarters, and compel them to retire to a greater diſ-
tance; being at the ſame time in hopes, if general Greene ſhould
move to their aſſiſtance, that a favourable opportunity might offer
for attacking him to advantage. Accordingly, early in the morn-
ing of the ſixth of March, the Britiſh army paſſed Allamance Creek,
and marched towards Reedy Fork. Fortunatoly for the American
light troops, they received information of the march of the Britiſh
army, whilſt it was yet at foine distance, and only calling in their
detachments, retired acroſs Reedy Fork At Wetzell: Mill, upon that
creek, they attempted to make a ſtand, but were quickly diſlodged
with confiderable ſlaughter hy the brigade un ler lieutenant-colonel
Webſter. Greene, inſtead of marching to their ailiſtance, upon re-
ceiving intelligence of the advance of the Britiſh army, retreated
over the Haw, in order to preſerve his communication with the
roads by which he expected his ſupplies and reinforcements. Theſe
were now faſt approaching; and in a few days he was joined by
another brigade of militia from Virginia under general Lawſon, two
from North Carolina, under generals Butler and Eaton, and a con-
fiderable detachment of regulars raiſed for eighteen months. He
had alſo been joined, ſince his laſt return into North Carolina,
by the militia from the frontiers under colonels Campbell and
3
1
Preſton;
AMERICAN WAR.
337
r
.
+
.
Marchi.
Preſton; ſo that his numbers at this time probably exceeded five C HA P.
thouſand men.
1781.
General Greene, thus powerfully reinforced, knowing that the
time of ſervice of the militia would ſoon expire, determined to
avail himſelf of his preſent ſtrength by offering battle to lord Corn-
wallis. Accordingly he again advanced, and, repaffing the Haw,
moved forward to Guildford Court-houſe, within twelve miles of
the Britiſh army, which, ſince his laſt retreat, had taken a new po-
ſition at the Quakers' Meeting-houſe in the Forks of Deep River.
The near approach of general Greene, and all his other move-
ments, ſince he was joined by his reinforcements, indicating an in-
tention of no longer avoiding an action, lord Cornwallis embraced
with much ſatisfaction the proffered opportunity of giving him
battle. On the evening of the fourteenth of March, the baggage
was ſent off to Bell's Mill, upon Deep River, eſcorted by lieutenant-
colonel Hamilton, with his own regiment, one hundred infantry
of the line, and twenty of Tarleton's cavalry; and, at dawn the
next morning, the reſt of the army was put in motion towards
Guildford Court-houſe. About four miles from Guildford the ad- Action near
Guildford,
vanced guards of both armies met, and a ſharp conflict enſued, between lord
which was well ſupported on both ſides. Lieutenant-colonel Tarle- Cornwallis
and general
ton commanded the Britiſh advance, which conſiſted of the cavalry, Greene.
the light-infantry of the guards, and the yagers; that of the Ame-
ricans was commanded by lieutenant-colonel Lee, and was compoſed
of his legion, with ſome mountaineers and Virginia militia. Lee
behaved with great bravery, and maintained his ground with firm-
neſs, until the appearance of the twenty-third regiment, advancing
to ſupport Tarleton, obliged the Americans to retire with precipi-
tation. During the ſkirmiſh general Greene drew
army on
very commanding ground, in order of battle, which conſiſted of
three lines. The two brigades of North Carolina militia, poſted be-
VOL. II.
hind
up his
XX
1
1
338
HISTORY 'OT' THE
XLI.
1782.
+
CH A P. hind a fence in the ſkirt of a wood, with open ground in front of
Com their centre, and their two flanks extending into the woods, com-
poſed his firſt line: The Virginia militia, under Stevens and Law-
ſon, formed the ſecond line, and were poſted entirely in the wood,
about three hundred yards in the rear of the firſt: Two brigades of
continental troops formed the third line, and were drawn up chiefly.
in open' ground near Guildford Court-houſe; about four hundred
yards in the rear of the Virginia militia. · Colonel Waſhington, with
the dragoons of the firſt and third regiment, a detachment of coni-
tinental light-infantry, and a regiment of rifle-men under colonel
Lynch, formed a corps of obſervation for the ſecurity of the right
Aank; and Lee, with his legion, a detachment of light-infantry,
and a corps of rifle-men, was appointed to the ſame ſervice on the
left.
. As ſoon as the head of the Britiſh column appeared in ſight of
the firſt line of the Americans, a cannonade was begun from two
fix-pounders; poſted upon the road in their centre, which was im-
mediately anſwered by the royal artillery under lieutenant Macleod;
and, whilſt this cannonade continued, the Britiſh commander, with
the utmoſt diſpatch, made his diſpoſition for the attack, which was
in the following order : The ſeventy-firſt regiment, with the re-
giment of Boſe, led by general Leſlie, and ſupported by the firſt
battalion of the guards, under colonel Norton, formed the right of
the Britiſh line; and the twenty-third and thirty-third regiments,
led by lieutenant-colonel Webſter, and ſupported by brigadier-
general O‘Hara, with the grenadiers and ſecond battalion of the
guards, formed the left. The light infantry of the guards, with
the yagers, poſted on the left of the artillery, and the cavalry in
column. behind it on the road, formed a corps of obſervation.
This diſpoſition being made, the line received orders to advance,
and moved forward with that ſteady and guarded, buit firm and de-
termined,
A
.
AMERICAN WAR.
339
XLI.
termined, reſolution which diſcipline alone can confer. It has been CH A P.
remarked by an eye-witneſs *, that “ the order and coolneſs of war
1781
" that part of Webſter's brigade which advanced acroſs the open
ground, expoſed to the enemy's fire, could not be ſufficiently
" extolled.” At the diſtance of one hundred and forty yards they
received the enemy's firſt fire, but continued to advance unmoved.
When arrived at a nearer and more convenient diſtance, they deli-
vered their own fire; and rapidly charged with their bayonets :
The enemy did not wait the ſhock, but retreated behind their fe-
cond line. In other parts of the line the Britiſh troops behaved
with equal gallantry, and were not leſs ſucceſsful. The ſecond line
of the enemy made a braver and ſtouter reſiſtance than the firſt.
Poſted in the woods, and covering themſelves with trees, they kept
up
for a conſiderable time a galling fire, which did great execution.
At length, however, they were compelled to retreat, and fall back
upon .
the continentals. In this ſevere conflict the whole of the Bri-
tiſh infantry were engaged: General Leſlie, from the great extent
of the enemy's front, reaching far beyond his right, had been very
carly obliged to bring forward the firſt battalion of the guards, ap-
pointed for his reſerve, and form it into line: And lieutenant-colo-
nel Webſter, finding the left of the thirty-third regiment expoſed
to a heavy fire from the right wing of the enemy, which greatly
out-flanked him, changed its front to the left; and the ground be.
come vacant by this movement was immediately occupied by ge-
neral O'Hara, with the grenadiers, and ſecond battalion of the
guards. Webſter, moving to the left with the thirty-third regi-
ment, ſupported by the light-infantry of the guards, and the yagers,
routed and put to flight the right wing of the enemy, and in his
progreſs, after two ſevere ſtruggles, gained the right of the conti-
nentals ; but the ſuperiority of their numbers, and the weight of
* Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, p. 273 of his Campaigns.
their
X x 2
1
I
340
HISTORY OF THE
.
+
4
CHA P. their fire, obliged him, ſeparated as he was from the reſt of the
Britiſh line, to re-croſs a ravine, and occupy an advantageous poli-
1781.
tion on the oppoſite bank, until he could hear of the progreſs of
the king's troops on the right. The Britiſh line, being ſo much
extended to the right and left, in order to ſhew a front equal to the
enemy, was unavoidably broken into intervals in the purſuit of the
firſt and fecond American lines ; ſome parts of it being more ad-
vanced than others, in conſequence of the different degrees of re-
fiſtance that had been met with, or of other impediments ariſing
from the thickneſs of the woods, and the inequality of the ground.
The whole, however, ſtill moved forward; and the ſecond batta-
lion of the guards, commanded by the honourable lieutenant-colo-
nel Stuart, was the firſt that reached the open ground at Guildford
Court-houſe. Impatient to ſignalize themſelves, they immediately
attacked a body of continentals, greatly ſuperior in number, that
was ſeen formed on the left of the road, routed them and took their
cannon, being two fix-pounders; but, purſuing them with too
much ardour and impetuofity towards the wood in their rear, were
thrown into confuſion by a heavy fire received from a body of con-
tinentals, who were yet unbroken, and being inſtantly charged 'by
Waſhington's dragoons, were driven back with great ſlaughter, and
the loſs of the cannon that had been taken. Lieutenant Macleod,
advancing along the road with the royal artillery, had by this time
reached the open ground. By a ſpirited and well-directed cannonade
he checked the purſuit of the Americans: Fortunately alſo, the
ſeventy-firſt regiment, belonging to general Leſlie's diviſion, was
ſeen emerging from the woods on the right, and the twenty-third,
not long afterwards, made its appearance on the left. To the right
and left of theſe regiments, general O‘Hara, although ſeverely
wounded, rallied with much gallantry and great expedition, the re-
mains of the ſecond battalion of the guards; and the Americans
1
1
were
1
1
AMERICAN WAR.
341
XLI,
were quickly repulſed and put to flight, with once more the loſs of C H A P.
the two fix-pounders: Two other ſix-pounders were alſo taken,
1781.
being all the artillery which they had in the field, and two ammu-
nition waggons. The ſeventy-firſt puſhed forward to an eminence
at the Court-houſe, on the left flank of the continentals. Lieute-
nant-colonel Webſter again advanced acroſs the ravine, defeated the
corps that was oppoſed to him, and connected himſelf with the
centre of the Britiſh line. The continentals of the American
The continentals of the American army
being now driven from their ground, as well as the militia, a gene-
ral retreat took place; but it was conducted with order and regu-
larity. The twenty-third and ſeventy-firſt regiments, with part of
the cavalry, were at firſt ſent in purſuit of the enemy, but afterwards
received orders to return. It is probable that, as the Britiſh com-
mander became more acquainted with all the circumſtances of the
action, and the number of the killed and wounded, he found it ne-
ceſſary to countermand his orders, and deſiſt from the purſuit. The
action being now ended in the centre and on the left of the Britiſh
linė, a firing was ſtill heard on the right, where general Leſlie, with
the firſt battalion of the guards, and the regiment of Boſe, had
been greatly impeded in advancing by the exceſſive thickneſs of the
woods, which rendered their bayonets of little uſe. The broken
corps of the enemy were thereby encouraged to make frequenc
ſtands, and to throw in an irregular fire; ſo that this part of the
Britiſh line was at times warmly engaged in front, flank, and rear,
with ſome of the enemy that had been routed in the firſt attack,
and with part of the extremity of their left wing, which, by the
cloſeneſs of the woods, had been paſſed unſeen.
At one period of the action the firſt battalion of the guards was
completely broken. It had ſuffered greatly in aſcending a woody
height to attack the ſecond line of the Americans, ſtrongly poſted
upon
f
1
2
?
1
.
342
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
1
1
CHAP: upon the top of it, who, availing themſelves of the advantages of
their ſituation, retired, as ſoon as they had diſcharged their pieces,
1781.
behind the brow of the hill, which protected them from the ſhot of
the guards, and returned, as ſoon as they had loaded, and were
again in readineſs to fire. Notwithſtanding the diſadvantage under
which the attack was made, the guards reached the ſummit of the
eminence, and put this part of the American linc to flight: But no
fooner was it done, than another line of the Americans preſented
itſelf to view, extending far beyond the right of the guards, and in-
clining towards their flank, ſo as almoſt to encompaſs-them. The ranks
of the guards had been thinned in aſcending the height, and a num-
ber of the officers had fallen : Captain Maitland, who at this time
received a wound, retired to the rear, and having had his wound
dreſſed, returned immediately to join the battalion of guards to
which he belonged. Some of the men, too, from ſuperior exer-
tions, had reached the ſummit of the eminence ſooner than others;
fo that the battalion was not in regular order when it received the
fire of the third American linė.'. The enemy's fire being repeated
and continued, and, from tlie great extent of their line, being
poured in not only on the front but fank of the battalion, com-
pleted its confuſion and diſorder, and, notwithſtanding every exer-
tion made by the remaining officers, it was at -laſt entirely broken.
Fortunately, at this time, the Heſſian regiment of Boſe, com-
manded by lieutenant-colonel de Buiy, which had hitherto ſuffered
but little, was advancing 'in firm and compact order on the left of
the guards, to attack the enemy. Lieutenant-colonel Norton thought
the fortunate arrival of the regiment of Boſe preſented a favourable
opportunity for 'forming again his, battalion, and requeſted the
Heſſian lieutenant-colonel to wheel his regiment to the right, and
cover the guards, whilſt their officers endeavoured to rally them.
The
1
4.
.
BATTLE OF GUILDFORD,
Fought on the 159. of March 1781.
1
Zoads from Rady for kids
4. The Advance of Purt of the Continentals
who broke the British Center, and
afterwards fell back to thor original
position.
Court House
One English Aſile.
MAMUNTINLUTUIN
IN THE WIND
12
British
Americans
AL
med
Ca'n tipinta
tine
FA
Retz
he
14
39
Retreat
hč Continental
tind Milita
Militia
1.0.
2.?
1.4
Tird &Last Posluon.
11,
SecondarPositions
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after
2
1
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Engraved for Stedmans Hiſtory of the American War Jan.20 1794.
|
+
1
1
*
4
4
AMERICAN WAR.
343
XLI.
rout.
The requeſt was immediately and moſt gallantly complied with; CHA P.
and, under the cover of the fire of the Heſſians, the exertions of
1781,
lieutenant-colonel Norton, and his few remaining officers, were at
laſt ſucceſsful in reſtoring order. The battalion, being again formed,
inſtantly moved forward to join the Heſſians: The attack was re-
newed, and the enemy were defeated. But here the labours of this
part of the line did not yet ceaſe. No ſooner had the guards and
Heſſians defeated the enemy in front, than they found it neceſſary
to return and attack another body of them that appeared in the rear;
and in this manner were they obliged to traverſe the ſame ground
in various directions, before the enemy were completely put to the
The firing heard on the right, after the termination of the
action in the centre, and on the left, induced lord Cornwallis to de-
tach Tarleton, with part of the cavalry, to gain intelligence of what
was doing in that quarter, and to know whether general Leſlie
wanted aſſiſtance. But before Tarleton's arrival on the right, the
affair was over, and the Britiſh troops were ſtanding with ordered
arms; all reſiſtance having ccaſed on the part of the Americans,
except from a few hardy rifle-inčn, who, lurking behind trees, oc-
caſionally fired their pieces, but at ſuch a diſtance as to do no iniſ-
chief. Theſe Tarleton, when requeſted, readily undertook to dif-
perſe with his cavalry, and ruſhing forward under cover of a ge-
neral volley of muſquetry from the guards and the regiment of
Boſe, quickly performed what was expected of him. In this affair
Tarleton himſelf received a ſlight wound, but the reſt of his corps
returned unhurt.
Thus ended the hard-fought action at Guildford
Court-houſe.
In this battle the Britiſh troops obtained a victory moſt honourable
and glorious to themſelves, but in its conſequences of no real advantage
to the cauſe in which they were engaged. They attacked and defeated
2
an
344
.
HISTORY OF THE
XLI.
CH, A P. an army of more than three times their own number*, not taken
by ſurpriſe, but formed in regular order of battle and ready to en-
1781.
gage; an army too, that is allowed on all hands to have been
ſtrongly and judiciouſly poſted, on ground choſen with care, and
moſt excellently adapted to the nature of the troops that occupied it.
The reſiſtance of the enemy was in proportion to the advantages
they poſſeſſed; nor did they yield but with extreme reluctance.
Even the militia, encouraged by their poſition, fought with bravery,
and greatly weakened the Britiſh line before it reached the conti-
nentals. The Virginia militia, who compoſed the ſecond American
line, did not quit their ground, it is ſaid, until their commander,
ſeeing them no longer able to withſtand the attack of regular troops,
and ready to be overpowered, gave orders for a retreat.
A victory
atchieved under ſuch diſadvantages of numbers and ground, was of
the moſt honourable kind, and placed the bravery and diſcipline of
the troops beyond all praiſe; but the expence at which it was ob-
tained rendered it of no utility. Before the provincials finally retreat-
ed, more than one third of all the Britiſh troops engaged had fallen,
The whole loſs, according to the official returns, amounted to five
hundred and thirty-two: Of theſe ninety-three were killed in the
action, four hundred and thirteen were wounded, and twenty-fix
miſſing. Amongſt the killed were the honourable lieutenant-colonel
.
1
over.
By the return of the adjutant of the day it appears that the Britiſh troops engaged in the
action amounted to 1445. The cavalry are not included in this return, and indeed they were not
engaged, except for an inſtant on the right, after the action in the centre and on the left was
The Americans were generally ſuppoſed to amount to 7000 men; and a letter, found
in the pocket of one of their ſerjcants that was ſlain, ſpecifies 7000 to be the number of their
army: But Gordon, in his Hiſtory, who appears to have taken their numbers from official
documents, ſtates them to be 1490 continentals, and 2753 militia ; in all, 4243 foot foldiers
avd 200 cavalry. But he ſeems not to have included the back woodſmen under Campbell
and Preſton; ſo that their whole number probably exceeded 7000 men.
6
Stuart
+
}
1
-
AMERICAN WAR.
345
Stuart of the guards, lieutenant O'Hara of the royal artillery, C HA P.
brother of the brigadier, lieutenant Robinſon of the twenty-third
1781.
regiment, enſign Talbot of the thirty-third, and enſign Grant of
the ſeventy-firſt; and amongſt the wounded brigadiers-general
O'Hara and Howard; lieutenant-colonels Webſter and Tarleton;
captains Swanton, Schutz, Maynard, Goodricke, lord Dunglaſs,
Maitland, Peter, Wilmouſky, and Eichenbrodht; lieutenants Salvin,
Winyard, Schwener, and Graiſe; enſigns Stuart, Kelly, Gore,
Hughes, and De Trott; and adjutants Colquhoun and Fox.
The loſs of the Americans in this action has been variouſly eſti-
mated, and does not appear ever to have been fully aſcertained. If
we are to credit their official returns, their whole loſs in killed and
wounded, as well of militia as continentals, did not exceed two
hundred and fifty men. But, by lord Cornwallis's diſpatches, it
appears
that between two and three hundred of thcir dead were
found upon the field after the action; and if we proportion their
wounded according to the number of the flain, their whole loſs
in killed and wounded muſt have greatly exceeded that of the Bri-
tiſh troops. The number of thoſe who were miſſing, according to
their own returns, was confeſſedly great ; but as the Britiſh troops
took but few priſoners, it is probable that the greateſt part of the
milling conſiſted of inilitia, who, eſcaping from the action, fled to
their own houſes, and did not afterwards rcturn
The
. We ſhall here relate an anecdote reſpecting the late captain Maynard of the guards. He was
naturally, of a cheerful diſpoſition and great hilarity, and in ſeveral actions, during the courſe
of the war, lie had fheun great gallantry ; but a certain preſentiment of his fate on the day of
the action at Guildford poſſeſſed his mind, which preſentiment was too fatally realized.--
While the troops were marching on to form the line of battle, he became gloomy, and gave
way to deſpondency. Not leſs than two or three different times did he tell colonel Norton, who
commanded the battalion, that he felt hinſelf very uncomfortable, and did not like the buti.
jeſs at all. Colonel, now the honourable major-general, Norton, endeavoured to laugh him
Vol. 11.
*
Y Y
out
340
1
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XLI.
1781.
The wounded of both armies were collected by the Britiſh as
expeditiouſly as poſſible after the action: It was, however, a fer-
vice that required both time and care, as from the nature of the
action they lay diſperſed over a great extent of ground. Every
aſſiſtance was furniſhed to them, that in the preſent circumſtances of
the
army
could be afforded ; but, unfortunately, the army was de-
ſtitute of tents, nor was there a ſufficient number of houſes near the
field of battle to receive the wounded. The Britiſh army had
marched ſeveral miles on the morning of the day on which they
came to action. They had no proviſions of any ſpecies whatever
on that day, nor until between three and four in the afternoon
of the ſucceeding day, and then but a ſcanty allowance, not
exceeding one quarter of a pound of flower, and the ſame
quantity of very lean beef. The night of the day on which
the action happened was remarkable for its darkneſs, accom-
panied with rain, which fell in torrents. Near fifty of the
wounded, it is ſaid, finking under their aggravated miſeries,
expired before the morning. The cries of the wounded and dying
who remained on the field of action during the night exceed all
deſcription. Such a complicated ſcene of horror and diſtreſs, it is
hoped, for the ſake of humanity, rarely occurs, even in a military
life. Had lord Cornwallis had with him at the action at Guildford
Court-houſe, thoſe troops that were loſt by colonel Tarleton at the
Cowpens, on the fifteenth of March 1781, it is not extravagant to
1
out of his melanc!rly ideas, but in vain ; for even after the cannonade began he reiterated the
furubedlings of what he conceived was to happen. Early in the action he received a wound in
the leg; unable to proceed, he requeſted Mr. Wilſon, the adjutant of the guards, to lend him.
his horfe, trat ire mingit ride on with the battalion, and wlien in the act of mounting, another
(tot went through his lungs, and incapacitated him from proceeding. After being conveyed
in a litter to Wilington, and then lingering a few days, he died of his wounds, greatly re-
fretted,
ſupport
1
AMERICAN WAR.
347
1
XLI.
1781.
ſuppoſe that the American colonies might have been reunited to the C HA P.
empire of Great Britain.
Hiſtory, perhaps, does not farniſh an inſtance of a battle gained
under all the diſadvantages which the Britiſh troops, aſſiſted by a
regiment of Hellians and ſome yagers, had to contend againt at
C'uildford Court-houſe. Nor is there, perhaps, on the records of
hiftory, an irfance of a battle fought it" 17.0 .cini.ne: jerica
verance than waz ſhewn by the British trup on wat ineivorable
day. The battles of Crecy, of Poićliers, and of Agincourt, t'e
glory of our own country, and the ai in ration of ages, had in each
of them, eher froin particular local ſituation, or other forturate
and fa:ourable circumſtances, ſomething in a degree to counter-
baance the diſparity of numbers : Here time, place, and numbers,
all united againſt the Britiſh. The American general had choſen
his ground, which was ſtrong, commanding, and advantageous ;
he had time not only to make his diſpoſition, but to ſend away his
baggage, and every incumbrance. His cannon, and his troops, in
numbers far exceeding the Britiſh, were drawn out in readineſs to
commence the action, when lord Cornwallis approached to attack
him.
General Greene, after paſſing Reedy Fork Creek, three miles
from the field of action, halted for ſome little time on the other ſide
to collect his ftragglers, and then retreated to the iron works on
Troubleſome Creek, about twelve miles farther. When the extent
of the Britiſh loſs was fully aſcertained, it became too apparent that
lord Cornwallis was not in a condition either to give immediate
purſuit, or to follow the blow the day after the action. Added to
its other diſtreſſes, the army was almoſt deſtitute of proviſions :
Under ſuch circumſtances, although a victory had been gained, a
retreat became neceſſary towards that quarter from whence ſupplies
could be obtained. About ſeventy of the wounded, not in a con-
y
dition
1
1
1
Y y 2
34.99
HIISTORY OF THE
XLI.
CHIP. dition to travel, were left at the Quakers' Meeting-houſe, under tlic
d protection of a flag of truce; and on the third day after the action,
lord Cornwallis began to retire, by eaſy marches, towards Croſs
Creek *.
1-91,
* Lord Cornwallis was greatly diſappointed in luis expectations of being joined by the loy-
alifts. Some of them indeed came within the lines, but they remained only a few days..
I ſhall here relate an anecdote connected with this ſubject, and in itſelf not a little intereſting :
The commiſſary, who conſidered it as his duty not only to furniſh proviſions to the army, but
alſo to learn the diſpoſition of the inhabitants, fell in about this time with a very ſenſible man,
a Quaker, who, being interrogated as to the ſtate of the country, replied, That it was the
general wiſh of the people to be reunited to Britain ; but that they had been ſo often de-
cuired in promiſes of ſupport, and the Britiſh had ſo frequently relinquiſhed poſts, that the peo-
ple were now afraid to join the Britiſh army, left they ſhould leave the province, in which cafe
the reſentment of the revolutioners would be exercifcd with inore cruelty; that although the
men might eſcape, or go with the army, yet, fuch was the diabolical conduct of thoſe people,
that they would inflict the fevereſt puniſhment upon their families. “ Perhaps," ſaid the
Quaker, “ thou art not acquainted with the conduct of thy enemies towards thoſe who will
o well to the cauſe thou art engaged in. There are ſome who have lived for two, and even
" three years in the wonds, without daring to go to their houſes; but have been ſecretly fup-
“ ported by their families. Others, having walked out of their houſes, under a promiſe of
being ſafe, have proceeded but a few yards before they have been ſhot. Others have
been tied to a trec and ſeverely whipped. I will tell thee of one inſtance of cruelty : A
party furrounded the houſe of a loyaliſt; a few entered; the man and his wife were in bed;
o the huſband was ihot dead by the ſide of his wife.” The writer of this replied, that thoſe
circuinitances were lorrid; but under what government could they be ſo happy as when en
joying the privileges of Engliſhmen? " True," ſaid the Quaker,“ but the people
“ have experienced ſuch diſtreſs, that I believe they would ſubmit to any government in the
“ world to obtain peace.” The commiſlary, finding the gentleman to be a very ſenſible, in-
telligent man, took great pains to find out his character. Upon inquiry, he proved to be a
inan of the moſt irreproachable manners, and well known to ſome gentlemen of North Caro-
lina, then in our army, and whoſe veracity was undoubted. But a few days after this, the
arıny had a ſtrong proof of the truth of what Mr.
who ſtill reſides in North Caro-
lina, and for that reaſon muſt not be mentioned by name, had ſaid. The day before the Britiſh
army reached Croſs Creek, a man bent with age joined it : He had ſcarcely the appearance
of being liuman; he wore the ſkin of a racocn for a hat, his board was ſome inches long, and
he was ſo tbin, that he looked as if he lizd made his eſcape from Surgeon's-hall. He wore no
ſhirt, his whule dreſs being ſkins of diffent animals. On the morning after, when this diſ-
treffed manne to draw his proviſions, wvír. rice, the deputy muſter-mafter-general of the
provincial forces, and the commiſſary, arked him ſeveral queſtions. He ſaid, that he had lived
for
.
AMERICAN WAR.
349
for three years in the woods, under ground; that he had been frequently fought after by the C H A P.
Americans, and was certain of inſtant death whenever he ſhould be taken ; that he ſupported
XLI.
himſelf by what he got in the woods; that acorns ſerved him as bread; that they had, from
1781.
long uſe, become agreeable to him; that he had a family, ſome of whom, once or twice in a
year, came to him in the woods; that his only crime was being a loyaliſt, and having giren
offence to one of the republican leaders in that part of the country where he uſed to live.
1
1
1
350
HISTORY OF THE
1
CH A P. XLII.
A
Proclamation by Lord Cornwallis- The Britiſh Army arrives in the
Vicinity of Wilmington-Gereral Greene marches again;t Lord
Nawoon at Camden--Embarraſſment of Lord Cornwallis--Lord
Cornwallis determines to march through North Carolina in/a l'ir-
ginia-Lord. Rawdon refolves to attack the Camp of Gineral
Gree::e at Hobkirk's Hill — Fort Watſon ſurrenders to the Ame-
ricans“A Detachment under Colonel Watſon joins Lord Rawdon
at Camden-Lord Rawdon, after various Efforts to bring General
Greene to an Engagement, retires fron Camden--and proceeds to
Monk's Corner-Britiſh Outpofis reduced by the Americans--Au-
guſta ſiirrendered to the Americans.
Ε Η Α Ρ.
XLII.
PREVIOUSLY to the departure of the army from Wynneſbo-
1781.
rough, lieutenant-colouel Balfour, who commanded at Charleſ-
town, had been directed to ſend round by water a competent force
to take poſſeſſion of Wilmington in North Carolina, and
occupy it
as a poſt with which lord Cornwallis, in his progreſs to the north-
ward, milit open a communicarion, for the purpoſe of obtaining
ſupplies.' Major Craig, who was detached on this ſervice, took
poffefſion of Vilmington, after a fliglit reſiſtance from the enemy,
about the end of January; and although his force was ſmall, by
great ?bo!: and ſeverance he fortified li's poſt in a ſhort time, io
as to ſecure it agzila inſult, and y ſome ſucceſsful excurſions into
3
the
#
1
AMERICAN WAR.
351
XLII.
!
the country had made himſelf reſpected. As Wilmington lies near C HA P.
the mouth of Cape Fear River, and the ſettlement of Croſs Creek is
1781.
upon a branch of the ſame river, about one hundred miles higher
up
the country, lord Cornwallis hoped, that by marching to the laſt
of theſe places, where there was a friendly ſettlement of highlanders,
the army would be plentifully furniſhed with proviſions, the fick
and wounded with refreſhments proper for them, and that, by means
of the river, a communication might be eaſily opened with major
Craig, for obtaining ſuch other ſupplies as the country did not
afford, but which the army was now greatly in want of. To theſe
conſiderations, another of ſome importance muſt alſo be added, that
Croſs Creek was a centrical ſituation for the junction of ſuch friends
of government as would be willing to ſtand forth and aſlift in fup-
preſſing rebellion ; who would have time to make their arrange-
ments for that purpoſe, whilſt the army halted for the recovery of
the wounded. Impreſſed with ſuch ſentiments, and ſtill hoping to Proclamation
by lord Corn-
rouſe the loyaliſts to action, lord Cornwallis, on the ſame day on wallis.
which he began his march from Guildford Court-houſe, iſſued a
proclamation, reciting his victory, calling upon all loyai fubjects to
ftand forth and affiſt in reſtoring order and good government, and
promiſing protection in their perſons and properties to all thoſe who
had taken part in the revolt (murderers .excepted), who ſhould be
deſirous of returning to their allegiance, and ſhould actually ſurren-
der themſelves, with their arms and ammunition, on or before the
twentieth of April, with permiſſion to return to their houſes, upon
taking a military parole, and a promiſe of ſpeedy reſtoration to all
the privileges of legal and conſtitutional government.
Lord Cornwallis, having iſſued his proclamation, proceeded ſlowly
towards Croſs Creek, as well for the convenience of the wounded,
as the more eaſy ſubſiſtence of the troops, where he arrived about
the
- *
1
7
.
352
HISTORY OF THE
army arrives
in the
i
CH A P. the end of the month. General Greene followed through the ſame
XLII.
w tract of country as far at Ramí v's Mill, on Deep River : And
1781.
occaſional ſkirmiſhes happened bei ween the light troops, but nothing
of moment between the two arinies.
Upon the arrival of the Britiſh commander at Croſs Creek, he
found himſelf diſappointed in all his expectations: Proviſions were
fcarce: Four days forage not to be piocured within twenty miles;
and the communication expected to be opened between Croſs Creck
and Wilmington, by means of the river, was found to be imprac-
ticable, the river itſelf being narrow, its banks high, and the inha-
"The Britiſh bitants, on both ſides, for a conſiderable diſtance, inveterately
hoſtile. Nothing therefore now reinained to be done but to pro-
vicinity of
Wilinington,
ceed with the arıny to Wilmington, in the vicinity of which it ar-
rived on the ſeventh of April. The ſettlers upon Croſs Creek,
although they had undergone a variety of perſecutions in conſe-
quence of their previous unfortunate inſurrections, ſtill retained a
warm attachment to their inother-country, and during the ſhort
ſtay of the army amongſt them, all the proviſions and ſpirits that
could be collected within a convenient diſtance, were readily brought
in, and the ſick and wounded plentifully ſupplied with uſeful and
comfortable refreſhments.
During the march of the Britiſh army to Wilmington, colonel
Webſter of the thirty-third, captains Schutz and Maynard of the
guards, and captain Wilmouſki and enſign de Trott of the regi-
ment of Boſe, all of them officers of merit, died of the wounds
received at Guildford Court-houſe. The firſt is ſaid to have
- united all the virtues of civil life to the gallantry and pro-
“ feſſional knowledge of a ſoldier *. So amiable and diſtin-
1
Tarleton, p. 281.
1
guiſhed
AMERICAN WAR.
353
.
.
guiſhed a character could not fail to be univerſally reſpected, and C HA P.
his death was lamented by the whole army*.
1781.
Lord Cornwallis being under the neceſſity of repairing to a ſea-
port town, to obtain neceſſary ſupplies, particularly ſhoes and
clothing for the army, was apprehenſive leſt general Greene ſhould
return to South Carolina. Accordingly, ſeveral meſſengers were dif-
patched to lord Rawdon at Camden, to prepare him for ſuch an
event ; but unfortunately neither the meſſengers nor their diſpatches
ever reached the place of their deſtination.
Not long after the arrival of earl Cornwallis at Wilmington, he General
received information that what he apprehended as probable had ac- marches
againſt lord
tually taken place; and that general Greene, upon his return to the Rawdon at
Camden.
upper country, had taken the direct road to Camden, and was
marching with the utmoſt expedition to attack lord Rawdon. This
intelligence rendered the ſituation of the Britiſh commander more
embarraſſing than ever, and left him only a choice of difficulties,
none of which were unaccompanied with hazard, nor eaſy to be
Greene
* The ſympathetic manner in which lord Cornwallis communicated to the reverend Dr.
Webſter, of Edinburgh, the intelligence of his ſon's death, is at once a proof of his lordſhip’s
goodneſs of heart, his tender ſenſibility, and of the high eftimation in which he held the
deceaſed. The following is a Copy of his Letter on that occaſion :
" DEAR SIR,
Wilmington, April 23, 1781.
" IT gives me great concern to undertake a taſk which is not only a bitter renewal of my
own grief, but muſt be a violent ſhock to an affectionate parent.
“ You have for your ſupport, the affiftance of religion, good fenfe, and the experience of the
uncertainty of human happineſs. You have for your ſatisfaction, that your ſon fell nobly in
the cauſe of his country, honoured and lamented by all his fellow-foldiers ; that he led a life
of honour and virtue, which muſt fecure him everlaſting happineſs. When the keen ſenſibility
of the paſſions begins to ſubfide, theſe conſiderations will give you real comfort.
“ That the Almighty may give you fortitude to bear this ſevereſt of trials, is the earneſt
wiſh of your companion in affliction, and moſt faithful fervant,
" CORNWALLIS."
VOL. II.
Z z
fur
354
HISTORY OF THE
.
1781.
.
CHA P. ſurmounted. It was undoubtedly his wiſh to afford ſuccour to lord
Rawdon; but he knew that it was impoſſible for him, after the pro-
Embarrail-greſs already made by general Greene, to arrive in time. The fate
ment of Lord of lord Rawdon and his garriſon muſt be determined long before
the Britiſh army could reach Camden ; and, ſhould general Greene:
be ſucceſsful, there was danger that he might have it in his power
to hem up his lordſhip while on his march between the great rivers,
and, by cutting off his ſubſiſtence, render his arms. uſeleſs. On the
other hand, if general Greene ſhould be defeated, the return of the
Britiſh
army would be leſs neceſſary. A meaſure pregnant with ſo
much danger in the execution, and promiſing fo.little advantage in
the reſult, was not to be haſtily, adopted. Yet ſomething was ne-
ceſſary to be done. The effective force under his lordſhip, from
ſickneſs, deſertion, and the loſs ſuſtained at Guildford Court-houſe,
was now reduced to fourteen hundred and thirty-five, men, a num-
ber which he conſidered as totally inadequate to acting offenſively in
North Carolina. To remain where he was would not only be uſe-.
leſs, but, as the heat of ſummer increaſed, njanger the health of
the troops.
To return to South Carolina by and would be accom-
panied with the hazards already mentioned *; and to return by water.
would not only be diſgraceful, but take up much time in waiting for
the traníports, and in the end probably be attended with the loſs of
Lord Corn- all the cavalry and horſes belonging to the army. Upon ſuch a view
of the ſubject, his lordſhip determined to take advantage of general
Greene's abſence from North Carolina, to march through that pro-.-
through
.
wallis deter-
mines to
march
North Caro-
lina into
Virginia.
* At this time colonel Tarleton propoſed to lord Cornwallis that he might be permitted to
march back through the country to Charleſtown with his cavalry; which propoſition his lord-
fhip very judiciouſly rejected. Colonel Tarleton, in his publication, has thought proper to
cenſure lord Cornwallis for not returning to South Carolina, inſtead of going to Virginia But
olonel Tarleton, throughout his whole Hiſtory, betrays great impatience to get rid of thaz
burden of gratitude which was due to his lordſhip for paſt benefits conferred on him without
any extraordinary degree of merit.
vince
AMERICAN WAR.
355
XLII.
1781.
vince into Virginia, and join his force to a ſtrong corps that had C HA P.
been acting there from the beginning of the year, firſt under briga-
dier-general Arnold, and afterwards under major-general Philips, in
order to make a diverſion in favour of the Britiſh operations in
North Carolina. This movement, it was thought, might have a
tendency to draw general Greene back to the northward, and ſeems
to have been more readily adopted, as it was the opinion of earl
Cornwallis, that vigorous meaſures purſued in Virginia, and the
reduction of that province, if practicable, would be the moſt
effectual means of ſecuring thoſe poſſeſſions that had been already
recovered in the ſouthern colonies, and of ſubjecting ſuch as re-
mained to be ſubdued. Earl Cornwallis, having finally determined
to proceed to Virginia, began his march from Wilmington on the
twenty-fifth of April, where he had remained juſt eighteen days, to
refreſh and refit his army.
Thus we find that the victory at Guildford drew after it fome,
and it will afterwards appear that it was followed by all the conſe-
quences of ſomething nearly allied to a deciſive defeat. He was
not joined by the loyaliſts, who were ſtill overawed by the re-
publicans.
We muſt now attend the motions of general Greene, who, in
the mean time, had entered South Carolina, and made his appear-
ance before Camden. The amount of the force which he carried
with him is very uncertain. The American accounts repreſent it to
be nine hundred and thirty continental foldiers, and two hundred
and fifty-four North Carolina militia ; but we are well informed that
general Greene had in the action above fifteen hundred continentals,
and ſeveral corps of militia. The garriſon at Camden, under lord
Rawdon, amounted to ſomething more than eight hundred men.
Some well-affected militia, that came from a diſtance to offer their
ſervices in this ſeaſon of danger, were neceſſarily, though reluc-
Z z 2
tantly,
324
HISTORY OF THE
XLII.
1781.
.
CH A P. tantly, diſmiſſed, on account of a ſcarcity of proviſions; but, by
arming every perſon already in the garriſon capable of bearing armsg.
even muſicians and drummers, he muſtered an effective force of
about nine hundred men. General Greene, whatever his force
might be, thought it inſufficient for ſtorming the Britiſh works, or
even regularly inveſting them. After various changes of poſition
he at length retired to Hobkirk's Hill, about two miles from the
Britiſh lines, and there encamped, with an intention, it was ſuppoſed,
of waiting for the junction of colonel Lee with his legion, and.
Marion with his militia, who were then acting at ſome diſtance in
the eaſtern parts of the province. Whilſt the American army lay
at Hobkirk's Hill, information was brought to Camden that general
Greene had detached part of his militia to bring up his heavy bag-
gage and cannon, which, for ſome cauſe or other, had been ſent off
fome days before:. And as Lee and Marion had not yet joined, lord
Rawdon thought this the proper time for an attack, in the abſence:
of the militia, and before the coming up of the cannon.. Accord-
to attack the ingly, at nine in the morning of the twenty-fifth of April, he
of ge-
marched out with all the force he could muſter, and by making a
neral Greene
at Hobkirk’s circuit, and keeping cloſe to the edge of a ſwamp, under cover of
the woods, happily gained the left flank of the enemy undiſcovered.
In that quarter the American camp was the moſt affailable, becauſe-
there the aſcent of the hill was the eaſieſt ; but the impenetrable:
ſwamp that covered the approach to it had freed the enemy from all:
apprehenſion of an attack on that ſide. In this fancied ſtate of fe.
curity, the driving in of their piquets gave them the firſt alarm of
the advance of the Britiſh army, which moved on to the attack in
the following order: The ſixty-third regiment, ſupported by the
volunteers of Ireland, formed the right; the king's American regi-
ment, ſupported by captain Robertſon's detachment, the left ; aid
the New York volunteers the centre of the Britiſh line. The South
Carolina
Lord Raw-
don refolves
camp
Hill
AMERICAN WAR.
357
1
XLII.
Carolina regiment and the cavalry were in the rear of the whole, C HA P.
and förmed a corps of obſervation.
1781.
The enemy, although apparently ſurpriſed, and at firſt in ſome
confuſion, formed with great expedition, and met the attack with
reſolution and bravery. Their firſt line conſiſted wholly of conti-
nental troops, the Virginia brigade being on the right, and the
Maryland brigade on the left. Their artillery arrived juſt as the
action began, and was poſted in the centre. Their ſecond line was
formed entirely of militia. General Greene, after viewing the ad-
vance of the Britiſh troops, and the narrow front which they pre-
ſented, was ſo confident of ſucceſs, that, with a view of rendering
it more complete, and hemming them in on every ſide, he made an
alteration in his firſt diſpoſition. The right of the Virginia, and
the left of the Maryland brigades, were ordered to take the Britiſh
troops in flank, whilſt the remainder of theſe two brigades marched
down the hill to attack them in front; and in the mean time lieu-
tenant-colonel Waſhington, with the cavalry, was detached to fall
upon their rear.
rear. Had theſe ſeveral attacks ſucceeded, undoubtedly.
nothing but ruin awaited the Britiſh army: Bur lord Rawdon, dif-
covering the enemy's deſign, quickly extended his front, by bring-
ing forward the Iriſh volunteers, and forming them into line. The
Americans who defcended the hill in front, although they fought
for ſome tiine with great bravery, and were well ſupported by a de-
ſtructive fire of grape-ſhot from their cannon, could not long with-
ſtand the impetuoſity of the aſſailants. Being compelled to retire,
they were purſued by the Britiſh troops to the top of the hill.. Lord
Rawdon having gained the ſummit of the eminence, and ſilenced
the American cannon, which were immediately drawn off, was en-
abled to bring the remainder of his force into action, and at leagth
put to rout the whole American army. The continentals ſeveral
times rallied and returned to the charge, but were as often broke.
and
0
358
HISTORY OF THE
XLII.
C HA P. and put to flight. In the mean time Waſhington with his dragoons,
having got into the rear of the Britiſh troops, had made a few
1781.
ftragglers priſoners, and exacted paroles from ſome Britiſh officers
who lay wounded in the field. When the event of the day turned
out different from his expectations, he was fortunate enough to diſ-
cover it juſt in time to make good his retreat. Indeed, the Ame-
ricans were ſo greatly ſuperior in cavalry, that lord Rawdon, after
ordering a purſuit, did not think fit to continue it farther than three
miles. General Greene retreated to Rugeley's Mills, about twelve
miles off, and there encamped. He was indebted to accident for
the ſafety of his cannon: In the beginning of the retreat they were
run down a ſteep, amongſt ſome bruſh-wood, which concealed them
from the Britiſh troops as they paſſed in the heat of purſuit; and before
their return they were carried off by Waſhington's cavalry. Accord-
ing to accounts ſaid to be taken from lord Rawdon's ſtatement,
the Americans loſt in this action upwards of five hundred men :
Of theſe about one hundred were made priſoners, and the reſt
cither killed or wounded. But general Greene eſtimates his loſs
much lower: He makes it amount only to eighteen killed, one
hundred and eight wounded, and one hundred and thirty-ſix mifl-
ing; but at the ſame time admits, not without ſome degree of in-
conſiſtency, that ſome of the miſſing were killed, and others wounded.
It was a hard-fought action, and the victory was not bloodleſs on
the
part
of the conquerors: Although thirty-eight only were killed,
their whole loſs, including the wounded and miſſing, amounted to
two hundred and fifty-eight, a number which, in the preſent pe-
rilous ſtate of the province, could not be well ſpared. One officer
only was amongſt the ſlain; but eleven were wounded.
Had lord Rawdon, inſtead of marching out to meet the enemy,
remained in his works, ſuch was the ſuperiority of Greene, particu-
larly in cavalry, that he muſt have reduced his lordſhip, in a ſhort
time,
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I
AMERICAN WAR.
359
XIII,
time, to the neceſſity of ſurrendering through want of proviſions. CHA P.
The quick and marked deciſion with which he acted on this, as he
1781.
had done on former occaſions, formed a very general preſage that
he was one day to rank with the great military commanders; though
fo amiable a diſtinction is not to be attained without the happieſt
union of courage and genius.
A military leader cannot be
formed, like many other characters of reſpectability in the ſtate, by
mere experience in the common courſe of buſineſs. At the ſame
time that he endeavours to control accidents by general maxims and
comprehenſive views, he muſt vary his particular meaſures with the
varying moment of action. In the midſt of danger, and at a mo-
ment's warning, he muſt call to his aid all the reſults of his paft
experience and obſervations ; banifh from his mind every extra-
neous idea that fancy or caſual'affociation might ſuggeſt to diſtract
his thoughts and miſlead his judgment, and perceive, at a: glance,
the ſhorteſt and moſt effëctual proceſs for attaining his object.
Upon the approach of the American army, a very general ſpirit
of revolt ſhewed itfelf amongſt the inhabitants of South Carolina,
particularly in the diſtrict of Ninety-fix, on the weſtern frontier,
and on the north-eaſt in that tract of country which lies between
the two great rivers Pedee and Santee. Even in Charleſtown itſelf,
many of the inhabitants, although awed and reſtrained by the pre-
fence of the garriſon, gave evident ſigns of diſaffection. In the
moſt tranquil period of the province, Sumpter, on the north-weſt
frontier, and Marion in the north-eaſt, had kept alive the embers of
revolt, which, although at different times variouſly agitated, in
conſequence of the reſtlefs diſpoſition of thoſe partiſans, were never-
theleſs prevented from gaining ſtrength by the aſcendancy of the
Britiſh arms; but they now burit forth into a flame, as focn as in-
telligence arrived that general Greene had entered the province. To
encourage this ſpirit of revolt amongſt the inhabitants, and to make
a dio-
360
HISTORY OF THE
.
:
снА Р.
XLII.
a diverſion in the north-eaſt part of the province in favour of the
attempt upon Camden, general Greene had detached lieutenant-
1781.
colonel Lee, with his legion, from Deep River, to precede the army,
and in conjunction with Marion, to attack ſome of the Britiſh poſts.
Lee marched with ſo much expedition, that a junction was formed
April. between him and Marion on the fourteenth of April, and on the
fifteenth, in purſuance of their orders, they appeared before Fort
Watſon, a Britiſh poſt on the Santee. Fort Watſon is ſituated upon
an eminence, about thirty feet above the level of the circumjacent
plain. The eminence is an artificial mount, raiſed by the Indians
before they were diſpoſſeſſed of the country, and for ſome diſtance
round it were no trees to ſhelter the approch of an enemy. The
garriſon was without artillery, and ſo were the beſiegers: Neither
had the latter intrenching tools to aſſiſt them in making approaches.
But the ingenuity of a colonel Maham quickly deviſed a method of
reducing the fort, as unexpected as it was efficacious. Under his
direction a work upon an unuſual plan was fpeedily conſtructed
which overlooked the fort. Upon the top of this work American
rifle-men were poſted, who fired at every one in the garriſon who
ventured to make his appearance, and ſeldom miſſed their aim :
Preparations being made at the ſame time for ſtorming, the com-
manding officer made overtures for capitulating upon honourable
Fort Watſon terms. Theſe were readily granted: And Fort Watſon was ſur-
the Ameri-
rendered on the twenty-third of April. After this exploit, Lee and
Marion receiving intelligence that colonel Watſon, with five hun-
dred men, was on his march through that part of the country to
reinforce lord Rawdon at Camden, took the reſolution of endea-
vouring to obſtruct his progreſs. They accordingly ſeized the paſſes
upon the different creeks and rivers in his way, and guarded them
ſo effectually, that he found himſelf under the neceſſity of returning
down the Santee, and paſſing it near its mouth. By this interrup-
3
tion
ſurrenders to
Cus.
AMERICAN WAR.
361
XLII.
1781.
colonel Wate
Rawdon at
Camden,
tion much time was loſt, and many hardſhips were encountered C HA P.
in marching through the ſwamps and ſunken grounds: Colonel
Watſon, however, perſevered, and proceeding up the ſouth ſide
May.
of the Santee, paſſed it again, a little below the confluence of its two ment under
great
branches, the Congaree and Waterce, and arrived at Camden, fon joins lord
with his detachment, on the ſeventh of May.
The victory at Hobkirk's Hill, like that at Guildford Court-
houſe, although moſt honourable and glorious to the officers who
commanded, and the troops that were engaged, produced no conſe-
quences beneficial to the Britiſh intereſt. The general diſaffection
of the province ſtill continued; the force under general Greene,
although diminiſhed, was yet reſpectable ; and the American par-
tiſans were more than ever active in making predatory incurſions
into various parts of the province, aſſaulting the weakeſt Britiſh
poſts, 'waylaying convoys of proviſion, and interrupting the com-
munication between Camden and Charleſtown. Lord Rawdon,
therefore, even in the moment of ſucceſs, ſaw the neceſſity of aban-
doning Camden, and contracting the Britiſh poſts within a nar-
rower compaſs. But as he was now joined by the reinforcement
under Watſon, which replaced the loſs of men ſuſtained in the
action, he gallantly reſolved to make one effort more, before he
evacuated his poſt, to ſtrike a blow at general Greene, who, after
remaining ſome days at Rugeley's Mills to collect his ftragglers,
paſſed the Wateree, and encamped behind Twenty-five Mile. Creek.
Lord Rawdon had good information of the nature of the ground
where Greene was encamped, and thought that by making a
circuit, and getting into his rear, an attack might be made with
great proſpect of ſucceſs. Accordingly, with this view he marched
from Camden in the night ſucceeding the day on which colonel
Watſon arrived. But general Greene. had by this time, decamped
Vol. II.
from
1
3 A
362
HISTORY OF THE
.
1781.
CHA P. from Twenty-five Mile Creek. Having received information of the
arrival of Watſon's corps, and concluding that lord Rawdon, thus
reinforced, would immediately attempt to ſtrike at him, he changed
his poſition for another at a greater diſtance, much ſtronger, and
more eaſily defended. Intelligence of this movement being brought
to lord Rawdon, while on his march, he proceeded along the
direct road to general Greene's new encampment, where he arrived
the next day. After driving in his piquets, and examining every
point of his ſituation, he found it too ſtrong to be attempted with-
out ſuffering ſuch a loſs as could not be compenſated by a victory.
Under ſuch circumſtances, his lordſhip relinquiſhed his deſign of at-
tacking the American army, and on the ſame day returned to Cain-
Lord Raw- den. On the ninth of May ſuch ſtores were deſtroyed as could
rious efforts not be removed, and on the tenth Camden was evacuated ; lord
to bring gera Rawdon retiring by eaſy marches towards Nelſon's Ferry, in order
to an engage to give time to as many of the loyal inhabitants, as choſe to accom-
from Cam pany him, to carry off their effects and moveable property. The
den; and
proceeds Britiſh army completed its paffage at Nelſon's Ferry, by the even-
to Monk's
ing of the fourteenth, and from thence proceeded to Monk's
Corner, for the greater ſecurity of Charleſtown, the garriſon of
which, its works being at that time unfiniſhed, was inſufficient for
its defence. In the mean time the enemy's detachments were too
Britiſh out. ſucceſsful in reducing ſeveral of the Britiſh outpoſts. Fort Motte,
poſts reduced
by the Ame- on the Congaree, 'after a brave defence, was ſurrendered to Lee
ricans.
and Marion, on the eleventh of May: About the ſame time,
Sumpter poſſeſſed himſelf of Orangeburgh; and on the fifteenth
Lee reduced Fort Granby.
General Greene having ſo far fucceeded in his views upon
the
north and north-eaſt parts of South Carolina, and obliged lord
Rawdon to retire to Monk's Corner, now turned his attention to
the
ment, retires
Corner,
AMERICAN WAR.
363
XLII.
.
the weſtern frontier, and with equal facility hoped to reduce the CHAP.
Britiſh poſts at Auguſta in Georgia, and Ninety-fix in South
1781,
Carolina. Orders had been previouſly diſpatched to colonel
Pickens to aſſemble the. militia of Ninety-ſix; and immediately
after Lee's ſucceſs at Fort Granby, he, with his legion, was de-
tached to join Pickens, and lay ſiege to Auguſta, whilſt gene-
ral Greene, with the main army, marched to inveſt Ninety-fix.
Lee having joined Pickens, their firſt attempt was againſt Fort
Golphin, ſituated on the banks of the Savannah, ſome miles be-
low Augufta, which was ſpeedily reduced by a detachment from
Lee's legion.
The two commanders now advanced with their
whole force againſt Fort Cornwallis, 'at Auguſta, and began to
inake regular approaches, and inveſt it in form. At Auguſta lieu-
tenant-colonel Browne ſtill commanded, and prepared to defend
it with that ſpirit and reſolution which he had manifeſted on a
former occaſion, when beſieged by colonel Clarke. Although the
works of the beſiegers were puſhed on with vigour, and their ap-
proaches made with judgment, no advantage was for a confider-
able time obtained over the vigilant and brave commander of the
garriſon. But at length the ſame mode of attack, the efficacy
of which had been tried at Fort Watſon, was here alſo adopted
with ſucceſs. Works were conſtructed of a ſufficient height to
overlook the fort, from whence rifle-men fired with ſuch unerring
aim, that the artillery-men were either killed or driven from their
guns; and none of the garriſon could ſhew themſelves without
being ſhot down. Neceſſity,
Neceſſity, therefore, at laſt obliged colonel Junc.
Browne to capitulate, and the fort, after a gallant defence, was rendered to
Auguita ſura
ſurrendered on the fifth of June.
L
the America
cans.
3 A 2
.
364
HISTORY OF THE
ho
CH A P.
XLIIT.
State of the Britiſh Army at Nineěy-fix-The Siege of Ninety-fix
raiſed-Lord Rawdon, having arrived at Ninety-fix, purſues Ge-
neral Greene---Lord Rawdon, with Half bis Force, marches to
the Congaree-Retires to Orangeburgh --- Hoſtilities ſuſpended
by the intenſe Heat of the Seaſon-Lord Rawdon, on account
of bis Health, embarks for Europe--Action between Colonel
Stuart and General Greene, near the Eutato Springs—Vistory
in this Action claimed by both parties.
CH A P.
XLIII.
fix.
IN
the menn time general Greene had laid ſiege to Ninety-fix.
Nintety-ſix took its name from being that number of miles
178.1.
diſtant from the town of Kecowee, in the Cherokee country, and,
like other villages on the frontiers of the colonies, was originally fur-
rounded with a ſtockade for the protection of the inhabitants againſt
State of the any ſudden aſſault from the Indians. After it came into the poſſef-
Britiſh garri- fion of the Britiſh troops, in the year 1780, ſome other works were
ſon at Ninety-
added, the principal of which, called, from its form, the Star, was
on the right of the village. It was planned by lieutenant Haldane
of the engineers, aid-du-camp to lord Cornwallis, and con-
ſiſted of fisteen ſalient and re-entering angles, with a dry ditch,
fraiſe, and abbatis : But the whole of the works were in an unfi-
niſhed ſtate at the commencement of the fiege.
When lord Rawdon found himſelf under the neceſſity of evacuating
Camden, and abandoning the upper country of South Carolina, he was
well
AMERICAN WAR.
365
XLIII.
well aware of the danger of Ninety-ſix, from the difficulty of ſending € HA P.
ſuccours to ſupport a poſt at ſuch a diſtance: Repeated expreſſes were se
1781.
therefore ſent to lieutenant-colonel Cruger, who commanded the garri-
ſon, directing him to evacuate his poſt, retire to Auguſta,and, after join-
ing his force with that under colonel Browne, and taking the com-
mand of the whole, to act according to his diſcretion, and as cir-
cumſtances ſhould point out. In caſe theſe ſhould fail, lord Raw-
don had alſo taken the precaution of directing lieutenant-colonel
Balfour to diſpatch other meſſengers from Charleſtown with the
like orders. But ſo univerſal was the diſaffection of the inhabitants
of the country, and ſo well had they guarded all the roads and
paths leading to Ninety-fix, that not one of all the meſſengers ar-
rived in ſafety. Lieutenant-colonel Cruger was therefore totally
ignorant of the ſituation of the army under lord Rawdon ; nor had
he
any information of the action at Hobkirk's Hill, and the fubfe-
quent evacuation of Camden, but from an American officer who
happened to be made priſoner: But he knew well the diſaffection of
the province, and the inveterately hoſtile diſpoſition of the inhabitants
around him, and had alſo reaſon to apprehend an attack from the
American army. In this ſtate of uncertainty, with reſpect to the
poſſibility of obtaining ſuccours, and under ſuch circumſtances of
ap-
prehended danger, he thought it incumbent upon him to put his poſt
in the beſt poſſible ſtate of defence. The whole garriſon was im-
inediately ſet to work, the officers cheerfully ſharing in the labour
with the common ſoldiers ; and by their united exertions a bank of
earth parapet high was in a ſhort time thrown up round the ſtock-
ade; and the whole ſtrengthened by an abbatis.
Block-houſes were
alſo erected in the village, traverſes made for the ſecurity of the
roops, and caponiers or covered cominunications between different
of the works. It has been already obſerved that a regular
work called the Star defended the right of the village; and on the
left
3
parts
366
HISTORY OF THE
.
But as
CHA P. left of it was a valley, through which ran a rivulet that ſupplied the
place with water. The county priſon having been fortified, com-
1781.
manded the valley on one ſide, and a ſtockade that was erected on
the left covered it on the other. But for the defence of all theſe
works there were only three pieces of artillery, and even for theſe
fcanty and inſufficient ſupply of ammunition. The garriſon it-
ſelf was not numerous : It conſiſted of about one hundred and fifty
men of the firſt battalion of Delancey's, and two hundred of the
ſecond battalion of New Jerſey volunteers, both of them provincial
regiments, and raiſed ſince the commencement of the war.
they had been conſtantly employed in active ſervice ſince the year
1776, they were at this time, for their number, perhaps equal to any
troops. To theſe were added about two hundred loyal militia under a
colonel King: And to their honour it is to be related, that although
they had the Britiſh commander's permiſſion to quit the garriſon,
and, being provided with good horſes, might have effected their
retreat either to Charleſtown or Georgia, they nobly diſdained to
quit their poſt in the hour of danger, and turning their horſes loofe
in the woods, determined to aſſiſt in the defence of the place, and
abide the fate of the garriſon. The Britiſh commander was in-
duced to offer this permiſſion both from inotives of policy and hu-
manity: He
He apprehended a ſcarcity of proviſions, if the ſiege
ſhould be ſpun out to any length; and from what had happened too
often already, he had reaſon to fear, that, ſhould the place ulti-
mately fall, even the folemn engagements of a capitulation would
not be ſufficient to ſecure to the inilitia their ſtipulated rights, nor
protect them againſt the vengeance of their countrymen.
Such was the ſtate of the garriſon at Ninety-ſix, and in this con-
dition were the works, when the advance of the American army ap-
peared in fight of it on the twenty-firſt of May. In the evening
general Greene encamped his whole army in a wood within cannon-
ſhot
P
AMERICAN WAR.
367
XLIII.
ſhot of the village, and in the niglit, as if he meant to intimidate CHAP.
the garriſon by his boldneſs, two works were thrown up within
1781.
ſeventy paces of the fortifications. Had he been acting againſt a raw
and undiſciplined militia, his temerity might have been excuſable;
but both the Britiſh commander and his garriſon had ſeen too much
ſervice not to take advantage of ſo raſh a proceeding, and to teach
hiin to his coſt to fhew them a little more reſpect. By eleven in
the morning of the twenty-ſecond of May, a platform was pre-
pared in one of the ſalient angles of the Star, oppoſite to the Ame-
rican works, for receiving the three pieces of artillery, and under
cover of an inceffant cannonade from them, and continued peals of
muſquetry from the parapet, a party of only thirty men fallied from
the Star, entered the American works, and put to the bayonet every
one they found. Theſe were followed by another party from the
loyal militia, who quickly demoliſhed the works, and loaded ſe-
veral negroes with the intrenching tools of the Americans. Although
general Greene put his whole army in motion to ſupport his people
in the trenches, the buſineſs was ſo expeditiouſly performed, that both
the detachments returned within the fortifications without ſuſtain-
ing any other injury than the loſs of the officer * who gallantly
commanded the firſt party that fallied forth. To the regret of the
whole garriſon, he received a wound, of which he died the follow:
ing night.
In the night of the twenty-third of May, the Americans again
broke ground; but at the reſpectful diſtance of four hundred yards,
and beyond a ravine. From this point they continued to make re-
gular and guarded approaches; but worked fo expeditiouſly, that
although they were frequently interrupted by fallies from the gar-
riſon, they had completed their ſecond parallel by the third of June.
* Lieutenant Roney of Delancey's ſecond battalion.
The
368
HISTORY OF THE
XLIII.
.
CH A P. The adjutant-general of the American army was now ſent to ſum-
mon the Britiſh commander to ſurrender his poſt. He preſented to
1781,
the officer who received him, a paper ſigned by himſelf; diſplaying
in pompous language the late ſucceſſes of the Americans; declaring
that the garriſon had every thing to hope from their generoſity, and
to fear from their reſentment; calling upon the commanding officer
to ſurrender without delay; and threatening, if he perſiſted in a
fruitleſs reſiſtance, to make him perſonally reſponſible for all the
conſequences. In anſwer to a paper of ſo. extraordinary a nature,
not ſigned by general Greene, the Britiſh commander contented
himſelf with directing a meſſage to be delivered to the American
adjutant-general, importing, that lieutenant-colonel Cruger was de-
termined to defend his poſt to the laſt extremity, and that general
Greene's promiſes and threats were alike indifferent to him.
The American batteries were now opened from their ſecond pa-..
rallel, and a heavy croſs fire commenced, which enfiladed ſeveral of
the works. The enemy alſo puſhed on a fap againſt the Star, and con-
tinued to advance their batteries, one of which, conſtructed of
gam
bions, was erected within thirty-five yards of the abbatis, and raiſed
forty feet high, ſo as to overlook the works of the garriſon. Rifle-.
men pofted upon the top of it did conſiderable execution, and proved
fo incommodious to thoſe who worked the artillery, that the guns of
the Star were neceſſarily unmanned during the day, and uſed only
in the night. The garriſon tried to burn the battery by firing heated
ſhot, but, from the want of furnaces, did not ſucceed; and the
only precaution which they could take againſt this deſtructive fire
of the rifle-men, was to crown their parapets with fand-bags.
Loop-holes were however left for the loyal militia 'to fire through ;
and with their rifles they alſo did conſiderable execution. An at-
tempt was made by the enemy to ſet fire to the barracks by ſhooting
African arrows: But the Britiſh commander fruſtrated their delign
by
7
AMERICAN WAR ,
369
1
XLIII.
by directing all the buildings to be unroofed, a meaſure from which c H A P.
both officers and men were expoſed, during the remainder of the
1781.
fiege, to all the pernicious effects of the night-air: Nevertheleſs,
ſuch was their zeal for the ſervice, and ſuch their confidence in
lieutenant-colonel Cruger, that his order was obeyed with the utmoſt
alacrity.
The garriſon were now deſtined to have their feelings wounded
by an exhibition which they were not prepared to expect. This
was the contrivance of lieutenant-colonel Lee. When he joined the
American army on the eighth of June, after the reduction of Au-
guſta, he brought with him the Britiſh priſoners; and either to
gratify his vanity, or for ſome other cauſe, hitherto unexplained,
marched them paſt Ninety-ſix, in full view of the garriſon, with all
the parade of martial muſic, and preceded by a Britiſh ſtandard rem
verſed. If the intention was to diſcourage the garriſon, it failed
entirely of its effect, or rather produced an oppoſite one. Fired withi
indignation at a fight ſo unbecoming, they determined to encounter
every danger, and endure every hardſhip, rather than fall into the
hands of an enemy capable of diſgracing their ſucceſs by ſo wanton
an inſult offered to their priſoners.
The American army, ſtrengthened by the junction of the troops
who had reduced Auguſta, began to make approaches againſt the
ſtockade fort on the left of the village, which kept open the com-
munication with the water. The operations on this ſide were en
truſted to lieutenant-colonel Lee, whilſt general Greene continued
to direct thoſe againſt the Star. In the night of the ninth of June
a ſortie was made by two ſtrong parties of the garriſon. The party
to the right entering the enemy's trenchies, penetrated to a battery
of four guns, which nothing but the want of ſpikes and hañiners
prevented them from deſtroying. Here they diſcovered the mouth
of a mine intended to be carried under a curtain of the Star, and
VOL. II.
had
1
3 B
370
HISTORY OF THE
XLIII.
1781.
CHA P. lad - nearly taken the chief engineer of the Americans, who hap-
pened to be viewing it at the time of the ſortie. In making his
eſcape he was wounded. The other diviſion upon the left fell in
with the covering party of the Americans, put a number of them
to the bayonet, and made their commanding officer priſoner.
Although lieutenant-colonel Lee broke ground at a reſpectful diſtance
from the ſtockade on the left, and made his approaches with great
caution, he nevertheleſs loſt a conſiderable number of men. Cha-
grined with his loſſes, and vexed at meeting with ſo much oppofi-
tion, he ſuffered his impatience, on the twelfth of June, to get the
better of his diſcretion. At eleven in the forenoon he directed a
ſerjeant and fix men to advance with lighted combuſtibles, and ſet
ſire to the abbatis: The party advanced; and attempted to
execute their orders, but not one of them returned. The · garriſon
fired upon them, and the whole fell a ſacrifice to the raſhneſs
of their commander, who was obliged to ſolicit a truce to bury the
dead. When the cannon arrived from Augufta which this
officer had directed to be ſent after him, he redoubled his efforts
and by the ſeventeenth of June the ſtockade fort was ſo completely
enfiladed by a triangular fire, that, being no longer tenable, it was
evacuated in the night, and without loſs.
About this time the ſufferings of the garriſon began to be extreme
for want of water. A well had been dug in the Star with great
labour, but no water was to be found; nor was any to be procured
except from the rivulet on the left, within piſtol-ſhot of the enemy.
In the day nothing could be done: But in the night, naked negroes
being ſent out, whoſe bodies in the darkneſs were not diſtinguiſh-
able from the trees that ſurrounded them, with great hazard to them-
ſelves, brought in a ſcanty ſupply. That the defence of the place,
under ſuch circumſtances of diſtreſs, could not be much longer pro-
tracted, appears obvious enough. But the Britiſh commander, even
in
?
..
AMERICAN WAR.
371
.
XLIII.
in this extremity, was not diſcouraged. He placed his confidence C H A P.
in the well-known zeal, activity, and enterpriſe of lord Rawdon,
who he did not doubt would come to his relief the moment he could
1781.
do it with propriety, and in the mean time, under all his difficulties,
he hoped to maintain his poſt until his arrival. Whilſt the Britiſh
commander was exerting himſelf to infuſe ſimilar ſentiments into the
garriſon, and encouraging them to perſevere, an American loyaliſt,
in open day, under the fire of the enemy, having rode through
their piquets and reached the village, delivered a verbal meſſage
from lord Rawdon, “ that he had paſſed Orangeburgh, and was in
“ full march to raiſe the ſiege.” At ſuch a criſis, the proſpect of ſpeedy
relief diſpelled the cloud from every brow: An unuſual degree of
animation ſucceeded : Their preſent diſtreſſes were no longer thought
of; and the only object that occupied their minds, was the ſucceſſ-
ful defence of the place until the joyful period of lord Rawdon's
arrival.
Although that officer, upon receiving intelligence of the ſiege of
Ninety-ſix, felt the ſtrongeſt inclination to relieve it, an object of
ſtill greater importance, the ſecurity of Charleſtown in the preſent
diſaffected ſtate of the country, demanded his firſt attention, and
obliged him for ſome time to remain near the ſea-coaſt. Fortunately,
however, the arrival of three regiments from Ireland on the third
of June, placed the one in a ſtate of ſafety, and enabled him to
march to the relief of the other. On the ſeventh of June he left
Charleſtown, taking with him the flank companies of the three
newly-arrived regiments, and being joined by the troops from
Monk's Corner, proceeded on his march with all the expedition that
the heat of the weather, then beginning to be intenſe, would per-
mit. The route he took inclined a little to the right of the direct
Junc.
road to Ninety-ſix, and was choſen for the ſake of enabling him to
get between general Greene and his detachments on the Congàree.
3 B 2
His
1
372
HISTORY OF THE
XLIII.
1
CHA P. His whole force amounted to near eighteen hundred infantry, and
one hundred and fifty cavalry.
1781.
General Greene had regular intelligence of lord Rawdon's move-
ments; and finding from his progreſs that it would be impoſſible to
reduce Ninety-fix by regular approaches before his arrival, deter-
mined to hazard an aſſault. Although the American works were
not entirely finiſhed, they were in a ſtate of great forwardneſs :
Their third parallel was completed, and a mine and two trenches
had been puſhed on within a few feet of the ditch, In the morn-
ing of the eighteenth of June a heavy cannonade was begun from
all the American batteries: At noon two parties advanced under
cover of the trenches which approached neareſt to the works, and
made lodginents in the ditch: Theſe were immediately followed
by other parties with hooks to draw down the ſand-bags, and tools
to reduce the parapet. The rifle-inen in the mean time, poſted on
their battery, were ready to take aim at every Britiſh ſoldier that
appeared ; and the Virginia and Maryland brigades, having manned
the lines of the third parallel, fired from them by platoons. The
right flank of the enemy' was expoſed to the fire of a three-pounder,
as well as to that of the block-houſes in the village; and major
Greene, who commanded in the Star, with much honour to him-
ſelf, and benefit to the ſervice, from the beginning of the ſiege, had
his detachment ready to receive them on the parapet with bayonets
and ſpears. As the main body of the American army did not ad-
vance beyond the third parallel, and was contented with ſupporting
the parties in the ditch by an inceſſant fire from the trenches, the
garriſon determined to put a ſpeedy period to the affault by an
effort of gallantry which confounded the enemy. Two parties of
thirty men each, one under captain Campbell of the New Jerſey vo-
lunteers, and the other under captain French of Delancey's, iſſued.
from the fally-port in the rear of the Star, entered the ditch, and
taking
#
AMERICAN WARI
373
!
XLIII.
1781.
Njcy-lix
raiſed,
taking oppoſite directions, charged the Americans who had made C H A P.
the lodgment with ſuch impetuoſity, that they drove every thing
before them until they met in the oppoſite quarter. The bayonet
being the only weapon uſed, the carnage was great: Even the Ame-
rican accounts admit that two-thirds of their people who entered
the ditch were either killed or wounded. General Greene, ſeeing The ſiege of
it uſeleſs any longer to continue to hopeleis an attempt, called off
his troops, and in the evening of the following day finaliy raiſed
the fiege. His baggage having been previouſly fent off, his army
marched with great expedition, and on the twentieth croſſed the
Saluda. The loſs of the enemy, during the Sieg-, according to their
own accounts, amounted to one hundred and fixty-ſix men, includ-
ing one colonel, three captains, and five lieutenants: But as the
loſs of the militia, who, it is ſaid, on this occaſion bore the pro-
portion of three to one to the troops in the pay of congreis, was
not included in their returns, their total loſs muſt have been much
greater. That of the garriſon amounted to twenty-ſeven killed, and
fifty-eight wounded. Lieutenant Roney was the only commiffioned
officer killed ; and captains French and Smith of Delancey's, with
captain Barbarie and lieutenant Hatton of the New Jerſey volun-
teers, were amongſt the wounded. On the twenty-firſt of June in Lord Raw-
the morning lord Rawdon arrived at Ninety-fix, and when he found don, having
that general Greene had retreated acroſs the Saluda, neither the heat Ninety-fix,
purſues gelese
of the weather nor the fatigue of the troops, after ſo long a march, ral Greene.
prevented his lordſhip from ſetting out in purſuit of him the fame
evening. But ſo rapid was the flight of the Americans, that he
ſoon perceived there was little proſpect of overtaking them. Never-
theleſs the purſuit, under many wants, and the rage of a burning
fun, was continued as far as the banks of the Enoree, when his
lordſhip, finding it in vain to proceed any farther, returned towards
Ninety-ſix. As the poſt of Ninety-ſix was now to be evacuated,
being
arrived at
i
2
374
HISTORY OF THE
.
Lord Raw.
marches to
CH A r. being without the limits to which the Britiſh commanders, from re-
cent circumſtances, had determined to confine their defence, lord
1781.
Rawdon thought it neceſſary to pay all due attention to the loyal
inhabitants who had remained faithful to their engagements. He
convened the principal perſons amongſt them, and offered, if they
choſe to remain, and would undertake the defence of their diſtrict
againſt their own diſaffected inhabitants, to leave a party for their
countenance and affiſtance, and from time to time to ſend ſuch re-
inforcements from the Congaree as might be equal to any force that
general Greene could ſpare for invading them ; but if they were un-
willing to remain, he promiſed that care ſhould be taken for the re-
moval of them and their families within the new frontier about to
be eſtabliſhed. The inhabitants accepted the laſt of theſe propoſals :
don, with half
his force, And in order effectually to grant that protection which he had pro-
the Concarce. miſed, lord Rawdon left more than half his force with lieutenant-
colonel Cruger, to eſcort them when they ſhould be ready to move,
whilſt he, with eight hundred infantry, and ſixty cavalry, marched
towards the Congaree.
Although general Greene, in his retreat from Ninety-ſix, had
paſſed not only the Enoree, but Tyger and Broad Rivers, no ſooner
did he hear that lord Rawdon had divided his force, than he re-
turned, with a view of interrupting his lordſhip’s operations on the
Congaree, where it was ſuppoſed he meant to eſtabliſh a poſt. Lord
Rawdon, it is probable, would not have undertaken his march to
that part of the country with ſo diminiſhed a force, had he not ex-
pected to be met there by a ſtrong corps from Charleſtown, which
he had at firſt ordered to take poſt at Orangeburgh, and afterwards to
join him upon the Congaree at an appointed time. From fome
cauſe or other, this corps, after it had begun its march, was recalled
by orders from Charleſtown; and, unfortunately, the letter from
the commanding officer, acquainting lord Rawdon with his recal,
and
AMERICAN WAR.
375
XLIII.
1781.
and the impoffibility of meeting him at the time appointed, was in- CH A P.
tercepted and carried to general Greene. Upon the receipt of this
letter he preſſed forward on his march with redoubled expedition,
hoping to obtain ſome advantage over lord Rawdon, whilſt he waited
for a reinforcement that was not to join him. Soon after his lord-
ſhip's arrival at the Congaree, one of his foraging parties was ſur-
priſed by Lee's legion, and about forty cavalry were made priſoners.
The appearance of the enemy's light troops in that quarter of the
country, quickly convinced his lordſhip that general Greene's army
was at no great diſtance; and as he had not been joined by his rein-
forcement at the appointed time, he thought it neceſſary to take mea-
ſures for his own ſecurity. Accordingly he retired from the Congaree,
and marched for Orangeburgh, where he expected to meet the rein-
forcement from Charleſtown. After forcing his paſſage at noon day,
in the face of the enemy, over a creek, the bridges of which were
broken down and its fords guarded by Lee's legion, he without
further moleſtation arrived at Orangeburgh, and was joined the Retires to
next day by lieutenant-colonel Stuart, with the third regiment, from burgh.
Charleſtown.
General Greene, finding that lord Rawdon by his activity and
enterpriſe had extricated himſelf from the danger to which he was
expoſed, collected all the militia he could, and advanced with his
arry within five miles of the Britiſh encampment, which at the
head of his cavalry he reconnoitred in the evening, lord Rawdon
giving him no interruption, as he wiſhed for nothing more than an
attack in his preſent poſition. But the American commander, in-
ſtead of rrepà ing for an attack, decamped in the night, and retiring
towards the Congaree, had paſſed that river before lord Rawdon was
apprized of ais retreat. It is probable that general Greene's retreat
Tvas haiłened by intelligence received about this time, that lieutenant-
colonel
Orange-
376
HISTORY OF THE
N
XLIII.
1781.
Hoitilities
the intenſe
heat of the
ſeaſon.
CH A P. colonel Cruger, after evacuating Ninety-ſix, and conducting the loyal
inhabitants and their families ſafely within the Britiſh poſts, was ad-
vancing to join lord Rawdon with the reſt of the army. Whilſt the
main American army retired acroſs the Congaree, Sumpter, Lee, and
Marion, with their reſpective corps, were detached by different routes
to the lower part of the country, for the purpoſe of haraſſing the Bri-
tiſh outpoſts, and waylaying their convoys. They ſucceeded in tak-
ing ſome waggons with baggage and ſtores, but failed in an attempt
upon the nineteenth regiment at Monk's Corner.
July The weather now became ſo intenſely hot, that hoſtilities for ſome
ſuſpended by time were neceſſarily ſuſpended : General Greene retired with his
army to the high hills of Santee, where he was ſoon afterwards
joined by the different corps under Lee, Sumpter, and Marion ; and
lord. Rawdon, on account of ill health, availed himſelf, in this interval
of inaction, of his leave of abſence obtained fome cime before, and
Lord Raw embarked for Europe. At his departure, the command of the Britiſh
don, on ac-
count of his
in the field devolved on lieutenant-colonel Stuart of the third
troops
health, em-
barks for Eu- regiment, or Buffs.
rope.
Although general Greene in the courſe of the preſent year had
been driven from South Carolina into Virginia, was afterwards de-
feated in two general engagements, and finally obliged to raiſe the
ſiege of Ninety-ſix, and fly with great precipitation before the Britiſh
army; yet, through his own firmneſs and perſeverance, the ſucceſſes
of his detachments againſt the Britiſh outpoſts, and the advantages
derived from the general diſaffection of the inhabitants to the Britiſh
cauſe, he ſucceeded in the main object of the campaign. The Bri-
tiſh troops, haraſſed and wearied out with the defence of an extenſive
frontier, to which their force was unequal without the aſſiſtance of
the inhabitants, were obliged in the end to abandon to him the
greateſt part of South Carolina; the limits of their poſſeſſions being
now
AMERICAN WAR.
377
--
.
1
army, and
now confined within the three great rivers Santee, Congaree, and C HA P.
Edifto ; and before the end of the year, as will preſently be ſeen,
1781.
their limits were contracted within a much narrower compaſs.
After the retreat of the Americans from Orangeburgh to the high
hills of Santee, the Britiſh army under colonel Stuart moved forward
to the Congaree, and encamped near the junction of that river with
the Wateree. In the mean time general Greene was reinforced by a
brigade of continental troops from North Carolina, and intent upon
proſecuting his plan for the recovery of South Carolina, put his
forces in motion as ſoon as the extreme heat began to abate. On
the twenty-ſecond of Auguſt he marched from the high hills of Auguſt.
Santee with an intention to give battle to the Britiſh
pro-
ceeding up the northern banks of the Wateree, croſſed it near
Camden. From thence he directed his march to Friday's Ferry on
the Congaree, where he was joined by general Pickens with the mi-
litia of Ninety-ſix, and by the South Carolina ſtate troops under
colonel Henderſon.
The Britiſh commander, upon receiving intelligence that general
Greene was on his march to attack him, fell back with his whole
force to Eutaw, about forty miles from the Congaree. This move-
ment was made for the purpoſe of meeting a convoy of proviſions
then on the road from Charleſtown, rather than weaken the army
whilſt an attack was expected, by ſending off ſo ſtrong an eſcort as
would have been neceſſary for ſecuring its ſafe arrival. General
Greene having paſſed the Congaree, continued to advance towards
Eutaw, but by very ſlow marches, that he might give time to general
Marion to join him with his brigade of militia. This junction was
made on the ſeventh of September about ſeven miles from Eutaw;
and at four in the morning of the following day, general Greene
marched with his whole force to make his projected attack. At fix
o'clock in the morning came in two deſerters from Greene's army
VOL. II.
with
3G
378
HISTORY OF THE
1781.
11
tween colonel
Stuart and
Greene near
the Eutaw
Springs.
CHAP, with intelligence that he was on his march to attack the Britiſh army
at Eutaw. Unfortunately their report was neither credited nor inquired
into; but they themſelves fent to priſon. A party of four hundred men
without arms, with a ſmall guard to cover them, were ſent in ſearch of
vegetables in the very road on which the deſerters gave information
that general Greene was marching. The event proved that the in-
telligence given by the deſerters' was well founded. The unarmed
rooting party and their ſmall guard, making at the leaſt a third part
of colonel Stuart's force, fell an eaſy prey to Greene's army; a few
ftraggling horſemen that eſcaped, apprized the Britiſh commander of
the enemy's approach, at the ſame time infuſing a degree of panic
into all with whom they communicated. The Britiſh were drawn up
Action be-
acroſs the road on the heights near the Eutaw Springs. The flank
battalion, commanded by major Majoribanks, covered the right
general
flank of the army, his right being upon a rivulet with an in-
terval of a hundred paces from the water ; his left to the road was
concealed by a very thick hedge. Two pieces of artillery, with
a covering party of infantry, occupied the road. The remainder
of the Britiſh force extended to the left of the road, in an oblique
direction. The front line of the American army was compoſed of
four battalions of militia; the ſecond line, of three brigades of conti-
nental troops ; colonel Lee, with his legion, covered their right
flank, and coloniel Henderſon, with the South Carolina ſtate troops,
their left : Colonel Waſhington, with his cavalry and the Delaware
troops, formed their body of reſerve. Two three-pounders were in
front of their line, and two ſix-pounders with the ſecond line. The
legion and the ſtate troops formed their advanced guard, and were to
retreat on their flanks when the Britiſh ſhould form. The enemy
attacked with great impetuoſity ; the chief impreſſion ſeemed to be
deſigned againſt the artillery on the road, and to turn the left of the
British The preſſure of the enemy's fire was ſuch as compelled the
6
third
AMERICAN WAR.
379
1
XLIIJ.
third regiment, or Buffs, to give way, the regiment being compoſed CH A P.
of new troops. The remains of thoſe veteran corps, the ſixty-third
1781.
and fixty-fourth regiments, who had ſerved the whole of the 'war,
loft none of their fame in this action. They ruſhed with bayonets
into the midſt of the enemy; nor did they give ground, until over-
powered by numbers and ſevere ſlaughter. Various was the ſucceſs
in the centre and on the right. At this time colonel Waſhington,
endeavouring to paſs through the right of the flank corps and the
rivulet, led his cavalry with great gallantry to the charge. The flank
corps received this charge with great ſteadineſs.
great ſteadineſs. At the firſt fire,
colonel Waſhington was wounded and taken priſoner, and ſeveral of
his men fell, which prevented a ſimilar attack. The artillery on
both ſides was ſeveral times taken and retaken.
At this time the flank battalion, whoſe poſt had been paſſed undif-
covered by the main body of the enemy, wheeled round, and coming
in the rear of the enemy, threw them into confuſion, which being
increaſed by a fire from the New York volunteers under the com-
mand of major Sheridan, who had taken poſt in a ſtone houſe on
the open ground upon the right of the road, decided the action.
Inceſſant peals of muſquetry from the windows poured deſtruction
upon
the enemy, and effectually ſtopped their further progreſs.
Although ſeverely checked, the Americans were not diſcouraged,
and brought up four ſix-pounders to batter the houſe: But the fire
of the detachment within continued to be ſo well ſupported, that the
American artillery ſoon became uſeleſs, and moſt of the officers and
men that were attached to it, were either killed or wounded. In the
mean time the left wing of the Britiſh army having recovered from
its confuſion, had again formed the line, and the battle was renewed
with great ſpirit in that quarter. The conteſt was obſtinate and
bloody; but the Americans were at laſt obliged to retire. For want
of cavalry, no purſuit could be made; whilſt that of the enemy,
which
L
3 C 2
i.
380
HISTORY OF THE
XLIII.
1
CH A P. which was numerous, covered their retreat. They were obliged to
abandon two of the four pieces of cannon that had been brought up
1781.
againſt the houſe, and they left behind them, according to their own
account, one hundred and thirty-nine of their number killed on the
field of battle. Their wounded, which may be ſuppoſed to bear the
uſual proportion to the killed, were carried off during the action.
About ſixty of the enemy were made priſoners, and amongſt them
lieutenant-colonel Waſhington, who commanded their reſerve. The
whole loſs of the Americans in this action may be eſtimated at more
than ſeven hundred * men, including fixty commiſſioned officers, of
whom ſeventeen were killed and forty-three wounded. The loſs of
the Britiſh army was alſo very great; it amounted to eighty-five
killed, three hundred and fifty-one wounded, and two hundred and
fifty-ſeven miſſing; in all, fix hundred and ninety-three men, in-
cluding twenty-nine commiſſioned officers, three of whom were
killed, fixteen wounded, and ten miſſing.
Victory in
The incidents attending this action gave occaſion to both com-
elaimed by
manders to claim the victory. General Greene founded his preten-
both parties.
ſions upon the retreat of the Britiſh line, and its being purſued to
the houſe and open ground in the rear; and moſt aſſuredly, for ſome
time, the fortune of the day ſeemed to be entirely in favour of the
Americans. The Britiſh commander, on the other hand, reſted his
claim of victory upon this ground, that although a temporary ad-
vantage had been obtained over part of the Britiſh line, which
rendered a retreat neceſſary, yet the troops, who had thus retreated,
this action
* The account here given does not agree with the returns publiſhed by congreſs: But that
return, as given in Tarleton's Appendix, appears, upon the face of it, to be incorrect. The
particulars do not make up the fum total. The number here eſtimated ſuppoſes the wounded
to have borne the uſual proportion to the ſlain. The ſlain being left on the field of battle, their
number could not be concealed. Ramſay ſtates, that the loſs of general Marion's brigade of
militia is not included in the return publiſhed by congreſs.
afterwards
----
1
1
AMERICAN WAR.
381
XLIII.
afterwards formed and renewed the battle with ſo much ſpirit, that CHA P.
the Americans were ultimately obliged to quit the field, and retire tom
1781.
a ſtrong poſition ſeven miles in their rear. This action was never-
theleſs celebrated in America as a great and glorious victory; and in
commemoration of it the congreſs voted a Britiſh ſtandard and gold
medal to be preſented to general Greene. That it was a bloody,
hard-fought action, the loſs on both ſides ſufficiently teſtifies ; but
that neither party obtained a deciſive advantage over the other, the
conduct of both commanders after the action plainly demonſtrates.
The Britiſh commander remained upon the ground the night after
the action and the following day, without any attempt being made
by general Greene to moleſt him; and when he afterwards retired
to Monk's Corner for the ſafety and protection of his wounded, the
American commander contented himſelf with advancing to the
ground left by the Britiſh troops, and ſoon afterwards retreated to
his former encampment on the high hills of Santee, placing a large
river between him and the Britiſh army. The reaſonable concluſion
to be drawn from the conduct of both ſeems to be this, that in
the action both armies had ſuffered ſo much, that for ſome time
afterwards neither of them was in a ſituation to undertake any
thing againſt the other. Indeed this was the laſt action of any con-
fequence that happened in South Carolina between the king's troops
and the Americans: The former, from this time, chiefly confined
themſelves to Charleſtown Neck and ſome poſts in its neighbour-
hood; the ſecurity of that town appearing to be their principal ob-
ject: And general Greene either was not, or did not think himſelf,
in ſufficient force to attempt to reduce it. In this action the Britiſh
loſt one field-piece, and took two from the Americans.
38:
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. XLIV.
Operations of the Britiſh Army in Virginia under the Command of
General Philips-Deſtruction of American Stores--Death of Ge-
neral Philips Junction between the Armies under Lord Cori-
wallis and General Arnold-Charlotteville ſurpriſed by Colonel
Tarleton—Stratagem practiſed with Succeſs by Colonel Simcoe on
Baron Steuben-Unfavourable Aſpect of American Affairs—Ap-
prehenſion of Sir Henry Clinton for the Safety of New York-
Lord Cornwallis croſſes James River, and retires to Portſmouth-
Evacuates Portſmouth, and concentrates bis Force at York and
Gloceſter-Junction of the Forces of Waſhington and Rochambeau
-Naval Operations—The French Fleet under Count de Graſſe
arrives in the Cheſapeak-Partial Action between the Count de
Graſe and Admiral Graves—New London taken by General
Arnold.
+
СНАР.
XLIV.
1781.
AFTER it had been determined to carry the war into the ſouthern
colonies, firſt a detachment, as has already been mentioned,
under general Leſlie, and another afterwards under general Arnold,
amounting to about ſixteen hundred, were ſent by the commander
in chief from New York into Virginia, for the double purpoſe of
deſtroying the enemy's ſtores, and of affiſting, by means of a diver-
fion, the operations of lord Cornwallis in the two Carolinas; the
firſt of which ſervices was performed to a very conſiderable extent.
A plan was formed by general Waſhington for entrapping Arnold,
and
+
383
AMERICAN WAR.
1
XLIV.
the Britiſh
Ć H A P.
and taking him and his whole detachment; which, however, was
defeated by the backwardneſs of the French, and the good conduct
1781.
of the Engliſh admiral.
A reinforcement of two thouſand Britiſh troops, under the com-
mand of general Philips, arrived ſafely in the Cheſapeak on the
twenty-ſixth of March. The general, being of ſuperior rank to
Arnold, now aſſumed the command of the whole Britiſh force in
Virginia ; and although, after viewing the poſt at Portſmouth, he
was of opinion that it could not be rendered ſecure, and was alſo too Operations of
extenſive to be defended by any number of men that could be ſpared army in Vir-
from the other exigencies of the ſervice; yet, as the works that had ginia under
been begun were in a great ſtate of forwardneſs, he continued to
of general
Philips.
employ the troops upon them until they were finiſhed, which hap.
pened about the middle of April. The general being then at liberty
to purſue other objects, after leaving a garriſon at Portſmouth, em-
barked the troops, on the eighteenth of April, on board the ſmalleſt
veſſels of the fleet, and proceeded up James River. The object in view
was, in the firſt place, to diſperſe a body of militia who were ſaid to
have aſſembled at Williamſburgh, the former ſeat of government
in Virginia, and afterwards to deſtroy ſuch of the enemy's public
ſtores, on the ſouth ſide of James River, as had not fallen within
the range of general Arnold's expedition. The army, having landed
at Burrel's Ferry, was immediately marched to Williamſburgh; but
the militia collected there had already fled. They now proceeded, in
different diviſions and detachments, to diſtreſs and weaken the enemy
as much as poſſible, by deſtroying all the means by which they might
be enabled to ſupport the war. If Virginia had been hitherto fa- Deſtruction
voured, it ſeems to have been determined at this time to inflict upon itores.
it a more than common portion of vengeance: And, ſo vulnerable
is that province, by the joint operation of a land and naval force,
that
of American
384
HISTORY OF THE
<
d
CHAP. that the Britiſh troops committed the greateſt devaſtations without
any ſerious oppoſition, or ſuſtaining any lofs.
1781.
General Philips, having proceeded up the river as far as he in-
tended to go, marched his army back to Oſborne's, a village on
the banks of James River, and from thence to Bermuda Hundred,
oppoſite to City Point, where the fleet was ready to receive him.
On the ſecond of May the troops were reimbarked, and the fleet
moved ſlowly down the river. As the marquis de la Fayette fol-
lowed by land with his army, it was thought to have been general
Philips's intention, after decoying him to a ſufficient diſtance down
the river, to have embraced the firſt favcurable breeze of wind, and
ſuddenly returning, to have landed above him. By ſuch a ma-
nouvre the marquis de la Fayette would have been ſhut up between
York and James River, and to extricate himſelf muſt have riſqued
an engagement, or hazarded the loſs of the greateſt part of his
force by attempting to paſs either of thoſe rivers in the view of the
Britiſh army. But on the ſeventh of May a letter was received
from lord Cornwallis, informing the general of his march towards
Virginia, and propoſing Peterſburgh as the place where he would
wiſh to find the Britiſh army. Upon the receipt of this letter, orders
were immediately given for the fleet to move up the river. One
diviſion of the army was landed at Brandon, and another proceeded
to City Point; and on the ninth both met at Peterſburgh, where
they ſurpriſed ſome of the marquis de la Fayette's officers, who had
been ſent forward to provide quarters for his army. General Philips
general Phi-
at this time lay dangerouſly ill : He had been attacked by a fever
ſome few days before, the progreſs of which was ſo rapid, and its
fymptoms ſo malignant, that by the time of the army's arrival at
Peterſburgh he was no longer capable of giving orders, and died four
days after. By his death the command of the troops devolved again
on brigadier-general Arnold.
In
Death of
lips.
AMERICAN WAR.
385
XLIV.
In the mean time lord Cornwallis had arrived at Halifax on the C H A P.
banks of the Roanoke, within fixty miles of Peterſburgh. In his
march from Wilmington to that place he had met with ſcarcely any
1781.
interruption, a corps of one hundred and eighty cavalry, and ſixty
mounted infantry, that preceded the army under the command of
lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, being ſufficient to diſperſe any ſmall
bodies of militia that were aſſembling in order to obſtruct its pro-
greſs. . Colonel Tarleton, in this expedition, was accompanied by
that valuable partizan, colonel Hamilton, of the North Carolina
regiment; to whom, perhaps, the Britiſh nation owed more than
to any other individual loyaliſt in the Britiſh ſervice *.
Lord Cornwallis, having ſent forward Tarleton with the cavalry, Junction be-
and general Arnold having detached Simcoe with the queen’s ran- armies under
gers, to take poſſeſſion of the fords on the Nottoway and the Me- lord Corn.
herrin, the only rivers that intervened, a junction of the two armies neral Arnold.
took place at Peterſburgh on the twentieth of May. Lord Corn-
wallis of courſe aſſumed the command of the whole.
It will be remembered, that when the fleet went down James
River from Bermuda Hundred, the marquis de la Fayette followed
it with his army by land. But as ſoon as it began to return, he
marched back with all the diſpatch he could. He rightly judged it
to be the intention of general Philips to take poſſeſſion of Peterf-
burgh, in order to facilitate a junction with earl Cornwallis, and he
hoped, by forced marches, to reach that place before him. The ex-
pedition with which the Britiſh troops returned, entirely fruſtrated
his intention; and upon his arrival at Oſborne's on the ſouth ſide of
James River, he found they were already in poſſeſſion of Peterſ-
burgh. Thus foiled in his deſign, he re-croſſed James River, and took
a poſition on the north ſide of it, between Richmond and Wilton.
ge-
* At Halifax ſome enormities were committed.by the Britiſh that were a diſgrace to the
name of man..
VOL. II.
It
3 D
386
HISTORY OF THE
CHAP
XLIV.
1781.
L
It ſeems to have been lord Cornwallis's firſt object to endeavour
to ſtrike a blow at the marquis; his next, to deſtroy ſuch of the
enemy's ſtores as might be within his reach after the American army
had been either defeated or obliged to retire; and laſtly, after pro-
ceeding to the execution of theſe objects, which probably might be
accompliſhed by the time he could hear from New York, to keep
himſelf diſengaged from any operation that could interfere with the
plan that might be deviſed by the commander in chief for the fur-
ther proſecution of the campaign. Having ſettled his own tempo-
rary plan of operations, lord Cornwallis marched from Peterſburgh
on the twenty-fourth of May, and croſſed James River at Weſtover,
about thirty miles below Fayette's encampment *. The Britiſh army
was already greatly ſuperior to the continental force in Virginia, and
about this time it was conſiderably increaſed by the arrival of two Bri-
tiſh regiments, and two battalions of Anſpach troops from New York,
ſent by the commander in chief (who had not yet received intelli-
gence of lord Cornwallis's arrival) to reinforce general Philips,
under an apprehenſion that when the Americans heard of lord Corn-
wallis's march to the northward, they might make ſome attempt to
overpower general Philips before a junction of the two armies.
could be effected. Of this reinforcement the forty-third regiment
alone joined the army: The other Britiſh regiment, and the two
battalions of Anſpach, were ſent to ſtrengthen the garriſon at
Portſmouth.
The force under Fayette being ſo much inferior to that which
was oppoſed to him, he decamped from the neighbourhood of Richim
mond, as ſoon as he heard that lord Cornwallis had croſſed James
River, and retired towards the back-country, inclining his route to
* The channel of the river where the Britiſh croſſed exceeded two miles. The paſſage was
effe&ted by ſwimming the liorfes over a part, and wading through the reſt.
3
the
AMERICAN WAR.
387
XLIV.
Britiſh army
the northward, that he might be in readineſs to form a junction C HA P.
with general Wayne, who was on his march through Maryland to
reinforce him with eight hundred men of the Penſylvania line. The
1781.
for ſome time followed the route taken by the mar-
quis de la Fayette, and in this direction proceeded as far as the
upper part of Hanover County, deſtroying in their
way whatever
public ſtores they found. But Fayette's movements were ſo rapid,
that lord Cornwallis foon found it would be in vain to follow him,
and impoſſible to prevent a junction between him and general
Wayne: His lordſhip's attention was therefore directed to other
objects more attainable, which the intelligence received on his march
had preſented to his view.
One of theſe objects was to break up the ſeſſion of the general
aſſembly, then met under a guard at Charlotteville, for the purpoſe
of voting taxes, draughting the militia, and making an addition to
the regular force of the ſtate. The other object was to ſtrike at the
baron Steuben, who was ſaid to be at the Point of Fork, on James
River, guarding a conſiderable quantity of ſtores, with a ſtrong de-
tachinent of troops called eighteen-months men *, and inilitia. To
accompliſh the firſt, Tarleton was detached with one hundred and
eighty cavalry of the legion, and ſeventy mounted infantry of the
twenty-third regiment, under the command of captain Champagnet:
And the execution of the laſt was entruſted to lieutenant-colonel
Simcoe, with the queen's rangers, and the ſecond battalion of the
ſeventy-firſt regiment, commanded by captain Hutchinſon, the whole
So called from the time for which they engaged to ſerve.
+ The 71ſt regiment was ordered to accompany Tarleton on this ſervice; but upon re-
ceiving the order the officers drew up a remonftrance, and preſented it to lord Cornwallis,
ſtating their unwillingneſs to ſerve under Tarleton, from a recollection of his conduct at the
Cowpens, where the other battalion of the 71ſt was taken by Morgan. In conſequence of
this remonftrance, the 71ſt regiment was attached to colonel Simcoe.
detach-
3 D 2
388
HISTORY OF THE
F
1
XLIV.
1781.
1
Charlotte-
1
Tarleton.
CHA P. detachment amounting to five hundred men. Tarleton proceeded
to Charlotteville, with great expedition ; and on his way overtook
twelve waggons loaded with arms and clothing for the uſe of the
army in South Carolina, all of which were burnt and deſtroyed.
The Revanna, a branch of James River, waſhes the foot of the
hill on which Charlotteville ſtands. Through this river Tarleton
ville ſurpriſed
by colonel charged at the head of his cavalry, and took or diſperſed the guards
ſtationed on the oppoſite bank. With the like rapidity he entered
the town, and took priſoners ſeven members of the aſſembly. The
reſt made their eſcape. So unexpected was Tarleton's viſit, that the
enemy had not time to remove their ſtores. A conſiderable quantity
was found, and the whole deſtroyed * Tarleton, after performing
this ſervice, proceeded down the Revanna, according to his orders,
to co-operate with Simcoe, if he ſhould haỹe occaſion for his aſſiſt-
ance. The Point of Fork, to which lieutenant-colonel Simcoe was
directing his march, is ſo called from being the point of land that
intervenes at the conflux of the two great branches of James
River, the Fluvanna and Revanna. The united ſtreams from the point
of junction take the name of James River. As the greateſt part
of his detachment conſiſted of infantry, his progreſs could not be
fo rapid as that of Tarleton; but it was as expeditious as the na-
ture of his detachment would admit : And by the prudent precau-
tions taken for ſecuring every perſon met or ſeen on the road, he
effectually concealed his march from the enemy. By ſome of his
priſoners he found that baron Steuben was appriſed of Tarleton's
march, but knew nothing of Simcoe's; and from the ſame perſons
he learnt that the baron had begun to tranſport his ſtores to the ſouth
* Stores deſtroyed at Charlotteville:-
1000 new firelocks, made at Fredericſburgh.
Upwards of 400 barrels of gunpowder.
Several hogſhčads of tobacco, and ſome continental clothing.
fide
Armenian
AMERICAN WAR.
389
1
baron Steu-
ſide of the Fluvanna, and meant to follow them with his whole de- C HA P.
XLIV.
tachinent. Upon receiving this intelligence, Simcoe preſſed for-
1781
ward with ſtill greater celerity, hoping at Icaſt to cut off the baron's
rear-guard before it had time to paſs the river. But upon his
arrival at the Point of Fork, he found that not only the ſtores, but
the baron's whole force, had paſſed the river, except about thirty
perſons then on the bank ready to embark. Theſe were imme-
diately ſecured by the cavalry. As both the enemy's ſtores and Stratagem
pradiled
troops were now completely out of Simcoe's reach, a deep and un- with ſucceſs
by colonel
fordable river intervening, with the boats all ſecured on the other Simcoe, on
ſide, he conceived the deſign of endeavouring to impreſs the baron bero
.
with the belief, that the troops now at the Point of Fork were
the advance of the Britiſh army, hoping, if he was ſucceſsful in his
endeavours for that purpoſe, that the baron, for the ſake of moving
off with greater expedition, might be induced to leave behind the
greateſt part of the ſtores.
In purſuance of this deſign, Simcoe diſplayed his force to as great
advantage as poſſible, upon the heights oppoſite to the baron's en-
campment; and the deception ſucceeded beyond his expectation.
In the following night the baron moved off, leaving the bank of
the river oppoſite to the Point of Fork, covered with arms and
ſtores. In the morning it was apparent that the enemy had fled, and
ſome ſmall canoes being procured, captain Stevenſon, with twenty
of the light-infantry, and cornet Wolſey, with four huſfars, paſſed
the river, the huſfars carrying with them their faddles. Wolſey
was directed, after mounting his huſfars on ſuch ſtraggling horſes
as had been left by the enemy, to take poſt, at ſome diſtance from
the bank of the river, upon the road by which the enemy retreated;
and ſhould any of their patroles appear, he was directed to raiſe
a ſhout, and make an appearance of purſuing, in order to raiſe a
belief that the Britiſh army had paſſed the river. This ſtep was
taken
399
HISTORY OF THE
XLIV.
CHA P. taken for the ſecurity of captain Stevenſon and his ſmall detachment
of light-infantry, who were in the mean time employed in bringing
1781.
off or deſtroying the ſtores abandoned by the enemy; and it an-
ſwered
every purpoſe that was expected from it. In the courſe of
the day a patrole of the enemy appeared, which fled with the ut-
moſt precipitation, upon ſeeing the Britiſh huſſars; and from the re-
port made by this patrole to the baron Steuben, he was induced,
though already thirty miles from the Fluvanna, to continue his
march twenty miles farther without halting.
In the mean time the marquis de la Fayette, who upon the advance
of the Britiſh army had retreated acroſs Rappahannock River, being
joined by general Wayne with his detachment, re-croſſed that river,
and followed the Britiſh army in its march to Williamſburgh: On
the road he was alſo joined by the baron Steuben, with his eighteen-
months men, and militia.
Unfavour-
able aſpect of
Although a dawn of proſperity had begun to appear in South
American
Carolina, under the auſpices of Greene, the general ſtate of Ame-
affairs.
‘rican affairs ſeemed at this time to be in a ruinous train, and faſt
verging towards that period when the conteſt muſt ceaſe, on the
part of the congreſs, for want of reſources to maintain it. The
bills of credit, by which they had hitherto ſupported the war,
now failed them. The depreciation had become ſo immenſe, that
they no longer anſwered the purpoſes for which they were
iſſued, and, in the courſe of the preſent year, funk under their
own bulk, and were annihilated in the hands of thoſe that poſſeſſed
then.
The failure of this medium of commerce multiplied beyond
calculation the difficulties under which the congreſs laboured, and
had a fatal influence on their ſervice throughout the whole extent of
the union. The agents for public departments could no longer make
their purchaſes; and warrants of impreſs became neceſſary to force
from individuals whatever was wanted for the public ſervice, and the
ſupport
1
AMERICAN WAR.
391
1781.
1
fupport of the army. Even the troops were ready to mutiny in CHA P.
ſeveral places for want of pay and clothing. Although general
Waſhington's army was greatly diminiſhed, he found it ſtill too
Targe for the means he had of ſubſiſting it. In a letter written by
him on the tenth of May, is the following paſſage:--" From the
poſts of Saratoga to that of Dobb's Ferry, incluſive, I believe
" there is not at this moment on hand, one day's ſupply of meat
" for the army.” And in another letter, dated almoſt two months
afterwards, he intimated his fears of being obliged to diſband, his
army for want of ſubſiſtence. The marine force of the congreſs
was not in a better condition than their army: Of all the armed
veſſels that had been fitted out by them, two frigates alone remained;
the reſt had been all either taken or deſtroyed. The immenſe value
of the public property and ſtores deſtroyed in Virginia, darkened
the gloomy proſpect, and ſeemed to haften with rapid ſtrides the
æra of public bankruptcy. Nor could they derive any comfort
from the commerce carried on by individuals, which was now
almoſt annihilated, in conſequence of the captures made by the
Britiſh cruizers, and the great loſſes ſuſtained at the taking of St.
Euſtatius. The people too, in many of the colonies, were become
tired of the war, and ſeemed to languiſh 'under the long conti-
nuance of their diſtreſſes and difficulties.
Some ſignal ſucceſs, fome atchievement of importance, that
ſhould reflect luſtre on the American arms, was therefore ne-
ceſſary to reſtore the declining ſtate of their affairs, to rouſe .
afreſh the ſpirit and energy of the people, and even to cnable
congreſs to maintain their authority. But no enterpriſe that pro-
mifed ſucceſs could be attempted againſt any of the Britih poſts
in America, without the co-operation of a French fleet and
army
The congreſs had been already diſappointed in their expectations
.
of ſuch a co-operation for three years ſucceſſively; but as they
had
392
HISTORY OF THE
1
XLIV.
CHA P. had renewed their applications on that head, towards the end of
the preceding year, and had at the ſame time made the court of France
1781.
acquainted with the deſperate ſtate of their 'affairs, which the effect
of ſuch a co-operation could alone ſave from ruin; they hoped that
the intereſt of that court, as much as its friendſhip, would induce
a compliance. Waſhington looked forward with eagerneſs to ſuch
an event, as the only thing that could enable them to prolong the
conteſt: And, as ſoon as he heard of the arrival of M. de Bar-
ras, who was ſent out froin France to take the command of the
fleet at Rhode Iſland, and brought with him diſpatches for the
count de Rochambeau, he haſtened to Connecticut, that he might
have a conference with the French general. The count's diſpatches
ſeem to have given full ſatisfaction to Waſhington, as at this
interview it was agreed between him and the French general, to
carry into execution the attempt againſt New York, which they had
meditated the preceding year; if their force, when aſſembled, ſhould
be found equal to the enterpriſe : But, in all events, it was their
determination, upon the arrival of the count de Graffe, to ſtrike a
blow at one or other of the Britiſh poſts, where ſucceſs was moſt
reaſonably to be expected. This interview took place on the
twenty-firſt of May, and immediately after it, letters were written
by Waſhington, requeſting, that the battalions compoſing his army
might be filled up to their full complement, and at the ſame time he
made a requiſition to the New England ſtates, for ſix thouſand two
hundred militia, to be ready to march whenever he ſhould call for
them. The expreſs carrying the letters written by Waſhington to
congreſs, after this interview with the French general, was inter-
cepted in the Jerſeys; and the letters were carried to fir Henry Clin-
Apprehen-
ton. They diſcloſed the nature of the enterpriſe in agitation, and
ſeem to have alarmed him for the ſafety of New York. In conſe-
the ſafety of
quence of the information gathered from theſe letters, the com-
6
mander
fions of fir H.
Clinton for
New York.
1
1
AMERICAN WAR,
393
XLIV.
178:
mander in chief made a requiſition of part of the troops under lord C HA P.
Cornwallis's coinmand in Virginia, and directed that they ſhould be
fent to New York without delay, unleſs his lordſhip ſhould at the
time be engaged in ſome important movement that might render it
peceſſary to detain them ſome time longer; or unleſs he ſhould be
diſpoſed to execute the plan which the commander in chief ſeems to
have had much at heart, of carrying the war to the upper part of
the Cheſapeak, and upon the Suſquehanna, where a number of loy-
aliſts had aſſociated for their mutual defence, and were ſaid to be
ready to act whenever the king's troops ſhould appear amongſt them.
At the time of receiving the diſpatches containing this requiſition,
lord Cornwallis was engaged in no important operation : He had
returned from his expedition up James River, and was then with
his army at Williamſburgh: Neither did he mean to engage in the
expedition to the upper part of the Cheſapeak, of which he diſap-
proved, without expreſs orders from the commander in chief, which
would exempt him from all reſponſibility, at leaſt for the plan of
that expedition. Under theſe circumſtances he prepared, without
delay, to comply with the commander in chief's requiſition for
troops ; and as, after their embarkation, he was of opinion that
thoſe which remained would not be ſufficient to enable him to re-
main at Williamſburgh, he took the reſolution of paſſing James
River, and retiring to. Portſmouth. An expreſs was ſent off to ac-
quaint the commander in chief with this determination, and with the
ſteps taking for an immediate compliance with his requiſition. In
the diſpatches written on this occaſion, which bear date the thirtieth
of June, lord Cornwallis takes occaſion to mention, that upon view-
ing York (which had been propoſed as a defenſive poſt, proper to
be taken for the ſecurity of ſhipping), he was clearly of opinion that
it far exceeded his power, conſiſtently with the commander in chief's
plans, to make defenſive poſts there and at Glouceſter, both of which
VOL. II.
would
3. E
394
HISTORY OF THE
XLIV.
1781.
CH A P. would be neceſſary for the protection of ſhipping; and apparently
mchagrined with the idea of having his force reduced ſo far as to be
obliged to act upon the defenſive in a province where, in his own
opinion, the moſt vigorous offenſive operations were neceſſary, he
intimated a willingneſs, if the commander in chief approved of it,
to return to Charleſtown, and take the command in South Ca-
rolina, although in that quarter nothing but mortification and diſap-
pointment was to be expected.
The reſolution of paſſing James River being taken, the army
marched from Williamſburgh on the fourth of July, and encamped
on a piece of ground that covered a ford into the iſland of James
Town; and the ſame evening the queen's rangers paſſed the river.
On the fifth the wheel-carriages, and on the ſixth the bat-horſes
and baggage; were paſſed over; whilſt the army continued in the
ſame encampment. In the mean time the marquis de la Fayette,
thinking that the main body of the Britiſh army had already croſſed
the river, advanced by forced marches to ſtrike a blow at the rear-
guard. Information of his approach was communicated to earl
July. Cornwallis about noon of the ſixth of July, and ſome pains were
taken, by ſuffering the piquets. to be inſulted and driven in, 10 con-
firm him in the belief that only the rear-guard of the Britiſh army
remained. About four in the afternoon, ſome of the outpoſts were
attacked by rifle-men and militia; but Fayette, with the main body,
did not appear till towards ſunſet, when he paſſed a inoraſs with nine
hundred continentals, fix hundred militia, and ſome artillery, and
began to form in front of the Britiſh encampment. The Britiſh
troops were immediately ordered under arms, and advanced to the
attack in two lines. On the right, the affair was ſoon over; the
Britiſh troops in that quarter being oppoſed only by militia, who
were quickly put to flight: But, on the left, lieutenant-colonel
Dundas's brigade, conſiſting of the forty-third, ſeventy-ſixth, and
eightieth
AMERICAN WAR.
395
XLIV.
1781
eightieth regiments, being oppoſed by the Penſylvania line, aſlifted CH A P.
by part of Fayette's continentals, with two pieces of cannon, the
action, while it laſted, was ſharp and bloody. After a ſevere conteſt
the provincials were routed, and their cannon taken. They fled
acroſs the moraſs in great confuſion; but by the time of their flight
it was dark, and to that circumſtance alone' tlicy owed their ſafety :
An hour more of day-light would have probably been attended with
the ruin of Fayette's whole detachment, as the cavalry were in readi-
neſs to purſue, and the light-infantry and other troops on the right
of the Britiſh line in excellent condition to ſupport them, from hav-
ing ſuſtained no loſs in the action. In this action the king's troops
had five officers wounded, and about ſeventy privates killed and
wounded. The loſs of the enemy in killed, wounded, and priſon-
ers, amounted to about three hundred. The weight of the adion
fell upon the ſeventy-ſixth and eightieth regiments, both of them
lately raiſed; and their firmneſs and intrepidity did them ſingular
honour: The gallantry and good conduct of lieutenant-colonel
Dundas, who commanded them, merited and obtained the higheſt
commendation. The army having paſſed James River, the troops
ordered for embarkation were ſent forward to Portſmouth, whilſt Lord Corn-
lord Cornwallis followed by eaſy marches with the reſt.
James River,
After the embarkation of the troops, but before the tranſports put Portimoth.
to ſea, an order arrived from the commander in chief to countermand
their failing. He wrote at the ſame time to earl Cornwallis, ex-
preſſing his ſurpriſe that he ſhould have taken the reſolution of
quitting the neck of land at Williamſburgh without conſulting him
directing him, if he was ſtill there, to remain until further orders ;
or,
if he had left it, to endeavour to repoffefs it, for the purpoſe of
eſtabliſhing a defenſive poſt for the protection of ſhips of the line,
which he ſuppoſed might be found ſomewhere within that neck, and
probably either at Old Point Comfort on Hampton Road, or York
Town
wallis crofles
and retires to
ز
3 E 2.
Componente
396
HISTORY OF THE
C HA P. Town on York River : And as the firſt of theſe places was recom-
XLIV.
mended by the admiral, lord Cornwallis was directed to examine it,
1781.
and, if found eligible, to occupy it either with or without York
Town, as ſhould ſeem expedient. For the purpoſe of eſtabliſhing
ſuch a poſt-as was, wanted, his lordſhip was to be at liberty to retain
all or any part of the troops ordered for embarkation, that ſhould be
found neceſſary: And, in the strongeſt terms, the commander in
chief deprecated the idea of quitting the Cheſapeak entirely; on the
contrary, he declared, that as ſoon as the ſeaſon for acting in that
country returned, he ſhould probably ſend there all the troops he
could ſpare from the different poſts under his command: He there-
fore recommended it to lord Cornwallis, if he had quitted York, to
re-occupy it, or at leaſt to hold Old Point Comfort, if it was poſſible
to do it, without at the ſame holding York.
Upon the receipt of thoſe diſpatches, lord Cornwallis, who by
that time had reached Portſmouth, directed Old Point Comfort to be
viewed by the engineers and the officers of the navy. From their
report it appeared, that works conſtructed on Old Point Comfort
would neither command the entrance into Hampton Road, nor ſe-
cure his majeſty's ſhips when lying at anchor within it: It could
therefore be of no uſe as a defenſive ſtation for ſhips: And as Portſ-
mouth was admitted, on all hands, not to be ſuch a poft as was
deſired, from its giving no protection to ſhips of the line, lord Corn-
wallis was of opinion, that the ſpirit of his inſtructions left him no
other option than to fortify York and Glouceſter, the only places
that remained capable of affording the requiſite protection to ſhips
Auguft.
of that denomination. Meaſures were accordingly taken for ſeizing
and fortifying theſe poſts, and for evacuating Portſmouth. Part of
the army, in tranſports and boats, proceeded up the Cheſapeak, and
force at Yoik took poſleſſion of them on the firſt of Auguſt; and the evacuation
of Portſmouth having been completed on the twentieth, lord Corn-
wallis's
Evacuates
Portſmouth,
and concen-
trates his
and Glou-
ccfter.
AMERICAN WAR.
397
1
:
the foices of
and Rocham.
beau.
wallis's whole force on thie twenty-ſecond was concentered at York CHA P.
and Glouceſter.
1781.
In the mean time, general Waſhington had aſſembled his army at
Peek's Kill towards the end of the month of June, and marching
from thence to White Plains, was there joined on the ſixth of July
by the count de Rochambeau with the French troops from Rhode
Illand. In the evening of the twenty-firſt, the whole American and Junction of
part of the French army marched from their encampment towards Waſhington
King's Bridge, and appearing before it early next morning, were
drawn up in order of battle, whilſt the French and American officers
reconnoitred the poſition of the Britiſh works. The ſame ſcene was
re-acted in the morning of the twenty-third, and in the afternoon
the confederated armies returned to their former encampment. Both
the French and American commanders had been for fome time im-
patiently expecting diſpatches from the count de Graffe. At length
they arrived about the middle of Auguſt, and announced the inten-
tion of the count de Graſle to enter the Cheſapeak with his fleet
about the end of the month, and commence his operations there.
They alſo gave intimation, that he could not remain long upon the
American coaſt.
If any doubt exifted before, as to the point of attack, it was now
removed. Nothing could any-where be done without a covering
fleet; and as the count de Graſſe had determined to enter the Che-
ſapeak, it was agreed between Waſhington and Rochambeau, that
Virginia ſhould be the ſcene, and an attack upon lord Cornwallis the
object, of their joint operations. Letters to this effect were dif-
patched to meet the count de Graffe on his paſſage, and in the mean
time meaſures were taken to continue ſir Henry Clinton in tlie belief
that New York was ſtill the object of their enterpriſe. After ſeveral
movements, and various deceptions practiſed to induce this belief,
the
398
HISTORY OF THE
XLIV.
1781.
Naval opera-
tions.
CHA P. the allied army ſuddenly marched acroſs the Jerſeys to Philadelphia,
where it arrived on the thirtieth of Auguſt.
That the count de Graſſe intended to viſit the American coaſt
during the hurricane months in the Weſt Indies, was no ſecret to
the commander in chief at New York. He had made this diſcovery
from Waſhington's intercepted diſpatches, and communicated it to
earl Cornwallis ; and he had alſo received ſimilar information from
the miniſtry in England. Sir George Rodney, who commanded the
Britiſh fleet in the Weſt Indies, ſeems alſo to have been convinced
that ſuch was the count de Graffe’s intention, and that the bay of
Cheſapeak was the place where he might be expected. Advices to
this effect were diſpatched by him to the commander of the king's
fleet on the coaſt of America, who was alſo advertiſed, that at the
proper ſeaſon he might expect to be reinforced by a detachment from
the Weſt India fleet, ſo as to enable him to meet the count de
Grafle, and fruſtrate his intended operations. Sir George Rodney
does not appear ever to have entertained the idea, that count de
Graffe would proced to North America with his whole fleet; and,
indeed, the contrary was rather to be preſumed, as it was natural to
ſuppoſe that part of it muſt be detached as a convoy for the home-
ward-bound French trade then collected at Cape François. Upon
the approach of the liurricane feaſon, fir Samuel Hood was diſ-
patched to North America with fourteen ſhips of the line; which,
with the fleet then at New York, it was thought would be an over-
match for any force the count de Graffe could bring, even if he
ſhould be joined by the fleet from Rhode Iſland. Sir Samuel Hood
made the land to the ſouthward of the Capes of Virginia on the twenty-
fifth of Auguſt, and having met with none of the Britiſh frigates
that were ſtationed to look out for him, proceeded to Sandy Hook,
where he arrived on the twenty-eighth. Admiral Graves com-
3
manded
AMERICAN WAR.
XLIV.
399
manded on the American ſtation, having ſucceeded admiral-Arbuth- CHA P.
not as the next ſenior officer, upon his departure for England in the
1781.
month of July, and was at this time with his fleet, conſiſting of
ſeven ſail of the line, in the harbour of New York. Only five of
theſe were in readineſs for ſea, the two others being under repair.
From the intelligence brought by ſir Samuel Hood, it was conjec-
tured that the count de Graſſe had either by this time arrived, or
would foon make his appearance on the American coaſt. No time
could be ſpared to wait for the ſhips under repair; the five that were
in readineſs were ordered out of the harbour to join the ſquadron
under fir Samuel Hood; and admiral Graves, as ſenior officer, tak-
ing the command of the whole, failed from the Hook on the thirty-
firſt of Auguſt. Previouſly to his departure, intelligence had been
received, that the French ſquadron under M. de Barras at Rhode
Iland had failed on the twenty-fifth ; ſo that the moſt ſanguine
expectations were entertained that one or other of the French ſqua-
drons could not fail to be intercepted. But the event turned out
very different from thoſe expectations : It was not then known that
the count de Graſſe had already arrived in the Cheſapeak, and that
the fleet under his immediate command, excluſive of the Rhode
Iſland ſquadron, conſiſted of twenty-eight ſhips of the line. The
count de Grafle arrived in the Cheſapeak on the thirtieth of Auguſt, The French
and was immediately joined by an officer from the marquis de la
Fayette's army, who had been for ſome time waiting at Cape Henry intele Chelas
in expectation of his arrival, to communicate to him the ſtate of peak.
things in Virginia, and the poſts occupied by lord Cornwallis's army,
In conſequence of the information received from this officer, mca-
ſures were immediately taken for blocking up York River, on the
banks of which lord Cornwallis had taken poſt, and for conveying
up James River the French land force brought from the Weſt Indies,
that it might form a junction with the troops under the marquis de
la
fleet under
count de
400
HISTORY OF THE
.
CHA P. la Fayette. In theſe ſervices four of the count de Graffe's line-
of-battle ſhips and ſeveral frigates were employed; and with the
1781.
reſt he remained at anchor in Lynhaven Bay juſt within the
capes.
In the mean time adıniral Graves having examined the entrance
of the Delaware by means of his frigates, and finding no enemy to
be there, proceeded on to the Capes of Virginia, in ſight of which
he arrived on the morning of the fifth of September. His advanced
frigates fpeedily announced by ſignal the appearance of an enemy's
feet at anchor within the capes ; and the wind being very fair, the
Britiſh fleet entered to offer it battle. As foon as the count de Graſſe
perceived that the fleet about to enter the bay was the Britiſh fleet,
and not the Rhode Iſland ſquadron which he expected, he gave or-
ders for his ſhips to flip their cables, and form the line promiſcuouſly
as they could get up, with their heads to the eaſtward ; that by get-
ting out of the capes he might have more ſea-room, and be able to
Partial action avail himfelf of his fuperiority in numbers. The Britiſh fleet having
ſtretched in, and its rear being now nearly even with the enemy's
van, the admiral made the ſignal for the whole fleet to wear, by
which mancuvre it was put upon the fame tack with the enemy,
and lay to windward in a line nearly parallel to them. Both fleets
were now ſteering to the eaſtward and getting clear of the capes, the
Britiſh fleet bearing down upon the enemy as it advanced. At four
in the afternoon a partial action commenced between the van and
part
of the centre of the two fleets, which continued until night pue
an end to it. The French van appeared to be conſiderably worſted,
as it was obliged to bear away, in order to give an opportunity to the
centre to advance to its ſupport: But no ſhip on either ſide was
taken. Admirał Graves preferved the weather-gage during the
night, and intended to have renewed the battle next morning, until
he found, from the report of the captains, that ſeveral of his ſhips
were
between the
count de
Grafle and
admiral
Graves,
1
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1
i
1
AMERICAN WAR.
401
.
very near.
power, from
were ſo much diſabled, as not to be in a condition to engage until CH A P.
their damages were repaired. Nevertheleſs, the two fleets conti-
1781.
nued in ſight of each other for five days, and were at ſome times
The French, although it was ſeveral times in their
option, from having gained the wind, ſhewed no inclination to re-
new the action; and it was not in the Britiſh admiral's
the crippled ſtate of his fleet, to compel them. At length the count
de Graſſe, on the tenth, bore away for the Cheſapeak, and the next
day anchored within the capes. Upon his arrival he had the ſatisfac-
tion to find that M. de Barras had got into the Cheſapeak in ſafety,
whilſt the two fleets were at ſea, bringing with him fourteen tranſ-
ports laden with heavy artillery and all ſorts of military ſtores proper
for carrying on a ſiegé. The loſs of men on board the Britiſh fleet
in this action amounted to ninety killed and two hundred and forty-
fix wounded. The whole of the van diviſion under admiral Drake
had ſuffered conſiderable damages in their maſts, fails, and rigging :
But the Terrible proved ſo leaky after the action, that on the eleventh
it was found neceſſary to abandon her. Her people, proviſions, and
ſtores, being taken out, ſhe was ſet on fire, and burnt. The French
accounts make their loſs in this action amount to about two hun-
dred and twenty men, including four officers killed and eighteen
wounded. Admiral Graves, after reconnoitring the poſition of the
French fleet upon their return to the Cheſapeak, and finding that
they blocked up the entrance, determined, in purſuance of the advice
of a council of war, to return to New York before the equinox, and
there uſe every means for putting his ſhips in the beſt poſſible ſtate
for ſervice *
In
* The reader is requeſted to run his eye over the Plan of this action, by which it will appear,
that the advantages ariſing from the ſituation of the French were not improved as they might
have been;
n; for when the Britiſh fleet arrived, under a very favourable and leading wind, the
French fleet was lying promiſcuouſly at anchor; they were obliged to flip their cables, and ſeven
VOL. II.
3. F
of
402
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P.
XLIV.
'
In the mean time the commander in chief at New York, with a
view of making a diverſion in Connecticut, and drawing general
1781.
Waſhington's attention that way, detached brigadier-general Arnold
with a conſiderable force to make an attempt upon New London.
The troops embarked on this expedition conſiſted of the thirty-
eighth, fortieth, and fifty-fourth regiments, the third battalion of
New Jerſey volunteers, the loyal Americans, the American legion,
fome refugees, a detachment of yagers, and another of the royal
artillery. They paſſed through the Sound in tranſports, and landed
in the morning of the ſixth of September, about three miles from
New London, in two diviſions, one on each ſide of the harbour.
That on the Groton fide, conſiſting of the fortieth and fifty-fourtlı
regiments, the third battalion of New Jerſey volunteers, with a de-
tachment of yagers and artillery, was commanded by lieutenant-
colonel Eyre, and that on the New London ſide, conſiſting of the
reſt of the troops, by brigadier-general Arnold. On the New
London fide no great oppoſition was made: A redoubt, from which
the enemy had begun a cannonade, was abandoned by them upon
the approach of general Arnold with part of his diviſion; and ſoon
afterwards Fort Trumbull, that commanded the harbour, was en-
tered by captain Millet at the head of four companies of the thirty-
eighth regiment, through a ſhower of grape-ſhot which the enemy
diſcharged from their cannon, but without doing much miſchief,
only four or five being killed or wounded in the aſſault. General
New London Arnold loſt no time in taking poſſeſſion of New London: He was
neral Arnoid. oppoſed by a ſmall body of the enemy with a field-piece ; but they
of them ftretched acroſs, and ſtood out to ſea from the reſt of their fleet: The re-
mainder was obliged to make ſeveral tacks in working out of the bay.
nerally faid, that had the Britiſh fleet continued its courſe, the wind ſtill being as favourable
as it could blow, the ſeven French ſhips fo advanced muſt have been cut off from the reſt of
their fleet. But for ſome reaſon, which has never been explained, the Britiſh admiral
hauled his wind. The advance of the Britiſh becoming their rear, the fleet ſtood out to ſea,
and were followed by the French. In a ſhort time the action commenced.
Tvere
taken by ge-
1
It was very gco
AMERICAN WAR.
403
XLIV.
1781
were ſoon fo hard preſſed as to be obliged to fly, and leave their picce C II A P.
of artillery behind. On the Groton ſide of the harbour was Fort
Griſwold, a regular work of conſiderable ſtrength. It was aſſaulted
on three ſides by the fortieth and fifty-fourth regiments, under lieu-
tenant-colonel Eyre, and defended by the enemy with the moſt ob-
ſtinate bravery.
At length the gallant efforts of the aſſailants were ſucceſsful; and
with fixed bayonets they entered the works through the embraſures,
in the face of the enemy, who were armed with long ſpears to op-
poſe them. A conſiderable carnage now enſued, until the enemy
were driven from the ramparts, and liad ceaſed from all farther re-
fiſtance. The honour obtained by the Britiſh troops in this aſſault
was great, but too dearly purchaſed. Two officers, and forty-ſix
ſoldiers, were killed, and eight officers, with one hundred and thirty-
five ſoldiers, wounded. General Arnold, upon his landing, had been
informed that the works at Fort Griſwold were incomplete, and its
garriſon inconſiderable: But when he arrived at New London, and,
from an eminence, had viewed its great ſtrength, he diſpatched an
officer to countermand his orders for an aſſault, who unfortunately
reached colonel Eyre a few minutes too late. The fort had refuſed
to ſurrender, and the attack was begun. Of the garriſon eighty-five
were killed, including colonel Ladyard, their commander; fixty were
wounded, moſt of them mortally, and ſeventy made priſoners. Ten
or twelve of the enemy's ſhips were burnt, and among them three
or four armed veſſels, and one laden with naval ſtores. The reſt
ran up Norwich River in the morning, and made their eſcape. A
great number of ſtore-houſes were burnt, that contained an immenſe
quantity of European and Weſt India goods. Unluckily they alſo
contained ſome gunpowder, unknown to general Arnold, by the ex-
plofion of which the flames were communicated to the dwelling-
houſes in the town; and a great part of it was conſumed, notwith-
3 F 2
ſtanding
404
HISTORY OF THE
XLIV.
CH A P. ſtanding every endeavour to ſtop the progreſs of the conflagration.
Upwards of fifty pieces of cannon, and a great quantity of military
1781.
ſtores found in the different works, were alſo deſtroyed *.
* Return of Ordnance, &c. taken in Fort Griſwold and its Dependencies.
In Fort Griſwold: Iron ordnance, mounted on carriages, i eighteen-pounder, 14 twelve-
pounders, 2 nine-pounders, i fix-pounder, i four-pounder, i three-pounder. Travelling; I
twelve-pounder, 2 four-pounders. In the Fleche; travelling, 3 four-pounders. On the lower
battery, 7 eighteen-pounders, 2 twelve-pounders. Total of iron ordnance, 35.—Muſquets,
French, 106.—Pikes, 80.-Round ſhot, 1680 eighteen-pounders, 2100 twelve-pounders, 290
nine-pounders, ico fix-pounders, 200 four-pounders, 40 three-pounders. Grape ſhot, 230
eighteen-pounders, 340 twelve-pounders, 75 nine-pounders, 70 fix-pounders, 90 four-pounders,
75 three-pounders.-Cartridges, filled, 12 eighteen-pounders, 23 twelve-pounders, 8 nine-
pounders, 4 fix-pounders, 14 four-pounders, 6 three-pounders. Muſquet cartridges 10,000 ;
powder, corned, 150 cwt. ſpare carriages, 1 garriſon thirty-two pounder, 1 travelling twelver
pounder, two ammunition waggons, ſtores for the laboratory, &c.
Return of Ordnance found and ſpiked on the New London fide.
Nine iron eighteen-pounders, mounted at Fort Trumbull, 6 ſix-pounders at ditto, 6 twelve,
or nine-pounders, mounted at Fort Folly ; 2 ditto difmounted; 1 twelve-pounder on the road
to New London. Total 24.
In Fort 'Trumbull, 14 eighteen, and three fix-pounders.
A quantity of ammunition and ſtores of different kinds was deſtroyed in the magazine at
Fort Trumbull, and at the meeting-houſe in New London.
AMERICAN WAR,
405
CH A P.
XLV.
The Confederate Armies arrive at Williamſburgh in Virginia-Lord
Cornwallis vindicated from the Charges of Colonel Tarleton
The Combined Armies encamp before York Town—-York Town
regularly inveſted-Surrendered to General Waſhington-Efforts
of Sir H. Clinton for the Relief of Lord Cornwallis-Recapture
of St. Euſtatius–Succeſsful Cruize of Admiral Kempenfeldt.
ment.
ALTHOUGH the damage done to the Americans by this attack CHLA. P.
upon New London was immenſe, it was not of fufficient im-
1781.
portance to ſtop general Waſhington in his progreſs to Virginia.
The enterpriſe in which he was now engaged was of the utmoſt mo-
If ſucceſsful, it would have a material influence in ſhorten-
ing the duration of the war, and was not therefore to be abandoned
for any partial conſideration whatſoever. The combined armies, after
paſſing through Philadelphia, marched to the head of Elk River,
which falls into the Cheſapeak at its interior extremity. Tranſports
from the French fleet were fent thither to receive them, and by the
twenty-fifth of September the whole were landed in the neighbour- The confe-
hood of Williamſburgh, and joined the troops under the marquis de
la Fayette and monſieur de St. Simon. General Waſhington, and liamſburgh in
Virginia.
the count de Rochambeau, with their ſuites, left the army upon its
arrival at the head of Elk, and proceeded by land to Williamſburgh,
where they arrived on the fourteenth. They immediately repaired
on board the Ville de Paris, to wait upon the count de Graſſe; and
derate armies
arrive at Wil-
at
406
HISTORY OF THE
.
2
CHA P. at this meeting a council of war was held, in which the plan of their
future operations was finally ſettled and agreed upon.
1781.
About this time a party of North Carolina loyaliſts, to the num-
ber of ſix hundred and forty, under the command of Macneil,
a colonel of militia, ſurpriſed Hillſborough, ſurrounded a church
where a body of continentals were ſtationed, and took about two
hundred priſoners, among whom was Mr. Burke, the gover-
nor of North Carolina, his council, two colonels, four or five cap-
tains, five ſubalterns, together with ſeveral other men of rank; and
releaſed fixty men that were in gaol on account of their fidelity and
attachment to the Britiſh government. On their return they were
attacked by a body of about three hundred of the enemy, who lay
in ambuſh near the banks of the Rain Creek. An action took
place, in which the loyaliſts ſuffered the loſs of their colonel Mac-
neil, and captain Doud, killed, and ſeveral other officers, with
twenty privates, wounded; but in which, now under the com-
mand of Macdougald, they forced the enemy to leave the field,
with the loſs of one colonel and one major killed, and thirty-ſeven
rank and file wounded. The loyaliſts then proceeded on their march
with governor Burke and the other priſoners, till they arrived, on
the ſeventeenth, at a place called Raft Swamp, where they were
joined by a ſmall party of friends under colonel Kay. Before their
junction with this party they were ſo much reduced as ſcarcely to
be ſufficient for guarding the priſoners. They had offered to liberate
Burke on his parole ; but he would not accept this favour, hoping
to be retaken by general Butler, who was marching with his army
with all poſſible ſpeed, down Cape Fear River in purſuit of the
loyaliſts. Soon afterwards Macdougald with his party arrived
at Wilmington, and delivered his priſoners to major Craig, the
governor.
Whilft
AMERICAN WAR.
407
1781.
Whilſt that powerful combination between the French and Ame- CH A P.
XLV.
ricans was forming, earl Cornwallis took every opportunity of com-
municating to the commander in chief at New York the danger of
his ſituation, in conſequence of the French fleet having taken poſ-
ſeſſion of the bay: And from him he received aſſurances bearing
date the ſixth of September, that he would join him with four
thouſand troops, who were then embarked, as ſoon as the admiral
ſhould be of opinion that he might venture. He was alſo informed
that admiral Digby was upon the coaſt, and daily expected to arrive,
with a reinforcement of ſhips and troops. In the mean time the
troops under his lordſhip were buſily employed in fortifying York,
the works at which having been begun later than thoſe on the op-
poſite ſide, and being alſo more extenſive, were not in the ſame
ſtate of forwardneſs. It has been ſuggeſted * that about this
period, that is, between the time of the junction of the French re-
inforcement from the Weſt Indies with the marquis de la Fayette,
and the arrival of the confederate army from the head of Elk,
lord Cornwallis ought to have attacked the former of theſe
their junction, and while they lay at Williamſburgh, and that he
had a ſufficient force to have attempted it with every proſpect of
ſucceſs. But lord Cornwallis's character for enterpriſe, of which Lord Corn-
his conduct during all his campaigns in America affords the ſtrongeſt cated from
evidence, forbids even a ſuſpicion that any opportunity of ſtriking a
the charges
blow at the enemy was loſt, which could have been embraced, con- Tarleton.
ſiſtently with the orders under which he acted, the inſtructions he
had received, and the intelligence which had been from time to time
forwarded to him. It has alſo been ſaid t that if this meaſure was
not thought eligible, in that caſe he ought to have abandonnd York
Town, and returned with his army to South Carolina. But it ought
corps after
wallis vindi-
of colonel
* Tarleton, p. 367, &c.
† Tarleton, p. 369.
to
408
HISTORY OF THE
XLV.
CHA P. to be recollected, that, ſome little time before this, he had been made
acquainted with the commander in chief's deſign of commencing
1781.
ſolid operations in the Cheſapeak, as ſoon as the ſeaſon of the year
would permit: And if he had at this time withdrawn his army
from Virginia, that plan of operation, which he alſo knew was
agreeable to the wiſhes of the Britiſh miniſtry, muſt have been en-
tirely fruſtrated. With this information before him, and with even
a conditional aſſurance of relief, he would ſcarcely have been juſti-
fiable in taking a ſtep that would have been attended with ſuch a
conſequence, except under circumſtances of a more prefling neceſſity
than yet exiſted. Beſides this, by his march to Carolina he muſt
have abandoned and given up to the enemy, a conſiderable quantity
of artillery, the ſhips of war, tranſports, proviſions, ſtores, and hof-
pitals with the ſick and wounded. It ſeems, therefore, under all
the circumſtances, that ſuch a ſtep at that time could not have been
juſtified: And had he attacked the marquis de la Fayette, previouſly
to the arrival of Waſhington and Rochambeau, he muſt have greatly
impeded the progreſs of the works at York, by drawing off the
troops employed upon them, from whoſe unremitting labour during
the month of September, they were in greater forwardneſs by the
time the combined army aſſembled at Williamſburgh than could have
been expected, although they were not even then nearly finiſhed.
. The works conſtructing for the defence of York were of two kinds, the
one for the immediate defence of the town, and the other a range
of redoubts and field-works at ſome diſtance from it, calculated to
impede the enemy's approach.
In this untoward poſition the Britiſh troops were ſtationed, when
the combined army of French and Americans appeared in ſight of
York, on the twenty-eighth of September, having marched from
Williamſburgh that morning. They encamped that night about
two miles from the works, and the next morning were ſeen extend-
6
ing
The com.
bined armies
cncamp be-
fore York
Town.
AMERICAN WAR,
409
XLV.
army and
ing themſelves towards the left of the Britiſh army, but at a cau- C HA P.
tious diſtance. The latter wiſhed to be attacked, but the enemy ap-
1781.
peared diſpoſed to proceed with great circumſpection. Nothing ma-
terial happened on this day, either within or without the lines, until
the evening, when an expreſs arrived with diſpatches from the com-
mander in chief at New York, bearing date the twenty-fourth of
September. In theſe earl Cornwallis was informed, that at a coun-
cil held that day, between the general and flag officers, it was agreed
that upwards of five thouſand troops ſhould be embarked on board
the king's ſhips; that every exertion would be made, both by the
navy, to relieve him; and that the fleet, conſiſting of twenty-
three ſail of the line, might be expected to fail by the fifth of Octo-
ber: And in a poſtſcript his lordſhip was advertiſed, that admiral
Digby, with three more ſhips of the line, had juſt arrived at Sandy
Hook. Upon the receipt of theſe diſpatches, lord Cornwallis in
the night withdrew his army within the works of the town, in full
expectation of being able to hold both the poſts of York and Glou-
ceſter until the promiſed relief arrived, provided it came within
any
reaſonable time. The works abandoned by the Britiſh troops were
occupied the next day by detachments from the combined army:
The ſame day the town was regularly inveſted ; and in the night York Town
the enemy began to break ground, the French making their regularly in-
approaches on the right of it, and the Americans on the left, the
extremities of the two armies meeting at a moraſs in front of the
centre of the Britiſh works. The fame day the duke de Lauzun,
with his legion, and a body of Virginia militia under general Wee-
don, took a poſition in front of the other Britiſh poſt at Glouceſter
Town, and kept it from that time blockaded. In the night of the
fixth of October the enemy made their firſt parallel at the diſtance
of fix hundred yards from the Britiſh works, and by the afternoon
of the ninth, their batteries were completed, which immediately
VOL. II.
opened
veſted.
3 G
4:10
HISTORY OF THE
1
XLV.
CHA P. opened upon the town.
From this time an inceſſant cannonade was
u kept up: And the continued diſcharge of ſhot and ſells from a
1781.
number of heavy cannon and mortars, in a few days damaged the
unfiniſhed works on the left of the town, ſilenced the guns that
were mounted on them, and occaſioned the loſs of a great number
of men.
In the night of the eleventh the enemy, with indefatiga-
ble perſeverance, opened their ſecond parallel three hundred yards
nearer to the works than the firſt. In the mean time the garriſon:
did every thing in their power to interrupt them in their work, by
opening new embraſures for guns, and keeping up a conſtant fire
with all the howitzers and ſmall mortars they could man; and
about this time, the loſs of men ſuſtained by the enemy was more
conſiderable than at any other period during the fiege. They were
particularly annoyed and impeded in their approaches by two re-
doubts, advanced about three hundred yards in front of the Britiſh
works. Theſe they reſolved to aſſault; and to excite a ſpirit of
emulation, the reduction of the one was committed to the French,
of the other to the Americans. The attempt was made in the night
of the fourteenth, and in both inſtances ſucceeded; and by the un-.
wearied labour of the enemy both redoubts were included in their
ſecond parallel before the morning. The Britiſh troops having been:
weakened by ſickneſs, as well as by the fire of the beſiegers, lord
Cornwallis could not venture to make ſo large forties as to hope
from them much ſucceſs: But at the preſent criſis fome attempt of
that fort became neceſſary, in order to retard the opening of the
enemy's batteries in their ſecond parallel, againſt the fire of which,
it was foreſeen that the Britiſh works on the left, already half-
ruined, could not ſtand many hours. A ſortie of three hundred
and fifty men, under the direction of lieutenant-colonel Abercrom-
bie, was therefore ordered againſt two of the enemy's batteries, that
feemed in the greateſt ſtate of forwardneſs. A detachment of the
guards,
AMERICAN WAR.
411
XLV.
guards, with the eightieth company of grenadiers, under the com- C HA P.
mand of lieutenant-colonel Lake, of the guards, was ordered to
1781.
attack the one; and a detachment of light-infantry, under the com-
mand of major Armſtrong, was to attack the other. The two de-
tachments accordingly fallied forth a little before day-break of the
fixteenth of October, forced the redoubts that covered the batteries,
ſpiked eleven heavy cannon, and after killing or wounding about
one hundred of the French troops, who had the guard of this part
of the trenches, returned within the lines with
lines with very
little
loſs. But this action, although honourable to the officers and
ſoldiers who performed it, yielded little public advantage. The can-
non, having been haſtily ſpiked, were ſoon rendered fit for ſervice;
and before the evening, the whole battery and parallels appeared to
be nearly complete. At this time not a gun could be ſhewn by the
garriſon on that ſide of the works attacked by the enemy, and the
ſhells were nearly expended ; lord Cornwallis was therefore reduced
to the neceſſity of either preparing to ſurrender, or attempting to
eſcape with the greateſt part of the army ; and he determined to at-
tempt the latter, on the Glouceſter ſide of the river, where briga-
dier de Choisé now commanded, and lay with a ſmall corps at ſome
diſtance, in front of the works. It was determined that he ſhould
be attacked before break of day by the whole Britiſh force; and the
ſucceſs of the attack was not in the leaſt doubted. The horſes taken
from him (for he had a conſiderable corps of cavalry) would in
part mount the infantry, and the reſt might be ſupplied by others
-collected on the road. As no baggage was to be carried, his lord-
Thip intended to have proceeded to the upper country by rapid
marches, leaving his future route uncertain, until he came oppoſite
to the fords of the great rivers; when he meant to have turned off
ſuddenly to the northward, upon a ſuppoſition that the enemy's
meaſures would be principally directed to prevent his eſcape to the
fouth-
3 G2
1
412
HISTORY OF THE
XLV.
CH A P. fouthward. After turning to the northward, it was his lordſhip’s
deſign to force his way through Maryland, Penſylvania, and the
1781.
Jerſeys, and join the commander in chief at New York. Undoubt-
edly the attempt was beyond calculation hazardous, and the iſſue
totally precarious; but, if it afforded even a glimpſe of hope, it was
preferable to an immediate ſurrender.
In purſuance of this deſign the light-infantry, the greateſt part of
the guards, and part of the twenty-third regiment, were embarked in
boats, and tranſported to the Glouceſter ſide of the river before
midnight, when a violent ſtorm aroſe, which not only prevented the
boats from returning, but drove them a conſiderable diſtance down
the river. The paſſage of the reſt of the troops was now become
impracticable, and, in the abſence of the boats, thoſe that had
already croſſed could not poſſibly return. In this divided ſtate of
the Britiſh force, the enemy's batteries opened at break of day :
Fortunately the boats returned ſoon afterwards, and brought back in
the courſe of the forenoon the troops that had been carried over in
the night, without much loſs, although the paſſage between York
and Glouceſter was greatly expoſed to the enemy's fire. In the
mean time, by the force of the enemy's cannonade, the Britiſh
works were tumbling into ruin: Not a gun could be fired from
them, and only one eight-inch and little more than an hundred
cohorn ſhells remained. They were in many places affailable ala
ready; and if the fame fire continued a few hours longer, it was the
opinion of the engineer and principal officers of the army, that it
would be madneſs to attempt to maintain them with the preſent
garriſon, exhauſted by the fatigue of conſtant watching and unre-
mitting duty, and reduced in its numbers by ſickneſs even more than
by the enemy's fire. Under ſuch circumſtances his lordſhip, on the
ſeventeenth of October, unwilling to expoſe the remains of his gal-
lant army to the danger of an aſſault, which, from the enemy's
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REFERENCES. .
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B.Redoubt taken by assault on the 1.7 Oct:ut Night by the French.
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2 RO
********** hofft de fotos
AMERICAN WAR,
413
XLV.
1781.
numbers and the ruined ſtate of the works, could not fail to be fuc- C HA P.
ceſsful, made propoſals for a capitulation. The terms were adjuſted
in the courſe of the next day, which, though not altogether agreeable
to earl Cornwallis's wiſhes or propoſals, were nevertheleſs ſuch as his
deſperate ſituation obliged him to accept; and on the nineteenth the
poſts of York and Glouceſter were ſurrendered to general Waſhing- Surrendered
ton as commander in chief of the combined army; and the ſhips of Walhington,
war, tranſports, and other veſſels, to the count de Graſſe, as com-
mander of the French fleet. By the articles of capitulation, the
garriſon of York and Glouceſter, including the officers of the navy
and ſeamen of every denomination, were to ſurrender as priſoners of
war to the combined army: The land force to remain priſoners to
the United States, and the ſeamen to the moſt chriſtian king. The
garriſon was to be allowed the ſame honours which the garriſon of
Charleſtown had obtained when it ſurrendered to fir Henry Clinton.
The officers and ſoldiers were permitted to retain their private pro-
perty; and the officers had liberty to proceed upon parole either to
Europe, or any maritime poft on the continent of America in the
poſſeſſion of the Britiſh troops. Although the article for exempting
from puniſhment ſuch of the natives or other inhabitants of America
as had joined the Britiſh army, and were then at York, was rejected
by general Waſhington, the ſame thing was in effect obtained in a
different form, by the permiſſion granted to earl Cornwallis to fend
the Bonetta floop of war to New York with his diſpatches without
being ſearched, and with as many ſoldiers on board as he ſhould
think fit, ſo that they were accounted for in any future exchange.
By this permiſſion he was tacitly empowered to ſend off ſuch of the
inhabitants as were obnoxious to puniſhment; which accordingly
:
my
was done,
By the ſurrender of the poſts of York and Glouceſter the Ame-
ricans became poffeffed of a large train of artillery, many of
which
414
THE
HISTORY OF OF
XLV.
1781.
Efforts of fir
ton for the
relief of lord
Cornwallis.
C HA P. which were of braſs, together with a conſiderable quantity of arms,
ammunition, warlike ſtores, and proviſions; and to the French were
delivered up one frigate, two ſhips of war of twenty guns, and a
number of tranſports and other veſſels. The Charon, of forty-four
guns, and another ſhip of war, were ſet on fire by the enemy's ſhells,
and deſtroyed during the fiege. The combined army conſiſted of
ſeven thouſand French and nearly the ſame number of continental
foldiers, and about five thouſand militia. On the day previous to
the ſurrender, the rank and file of the garriſons of York and Glou-
ceſter amounted to five thouſand nine hundred and fifty; but fo
great was the number of the ſick and wounded, that only four thou-
ſand and ſeventeen were reported fit for duty.
In the mean time ſir Henry Clinton had draughted from the gar-
Henry Clin-
riſon at New York a corps of ſeven thouſand of his beſt troops, with
which he propoſed to embark on board the king's ſhips, and impa-
"tiently waited for the moment when the fleet would be ready to ſail.
He had already informed lord Cornwallis, that it was hoped the
fleet would “ ſtart from New York about the fifth of October;" and
afterwards, from the aſſurances given him by the admiral, that it
might paſs the Bar by the twelfth, if the winds permitted, and no
unforeſeen accident happened : But the fleet did not finally leave
Sandy Hook until the nineteenth, the day on which lord Cornwallis
ſurrendered. The commander in chief embarked with the troops, as
he had propoſed, and the event of the fiege not being then known,
both the navy and army put to ſea with a determined reſolution to
make the moſt vigorous efforts for the relief of earl Cornwallis,
and with confident hopes that thoſe efforts would be attended with
the moſt complete ſucceſs. It was, therefore, with extreme mortifi-
cation, when they arrived off the Capes of Virginia on the twenty-
fourth, that they received accounts which led them to ſuſpect that
earl Cornwallis had already capitulated. They however remained
off
AMERICAN WAR.
4.1.5
XLV.
1781.
off the mouth of the Cheſapeak until the twenty-ninth. The intel- C HA P.
ligence received during this interval was ſo uniform in its tendency,
that no doubt at laſt remained about the iſſue of the ſiege. It was
apparent, that the Britiſh armament had arrived too late to afford
earl Cornwallis the promiſed relief; and as that relief was the fole
object of the expedition, the admiral determined to return to New
York. The Britiſh fleet at this time conſiſted of twenty-five ſhips of
the line, two fifty-gun fhips, and eight frigates : That of the French
amounted to thirty-ſix ſail of the line, beſides frigates. Unfortu-
nately, the letter written by earl Cornwallis to the commander in
chief, acquainting him with the ſurrender of the poſts of York and
Glouceſter, and narrating the cauſes that led to that event, with the
motives that influenced his own conduct, produced a difference be-
tween them, which terminated in an appeal to the public. Such
was the fate of the army; which, if ſucceſs were the uniform réſult
of merit, would have undoubtedly ſhared a different fate: If bravery
in the field, and patient, and even cheerful, fubmiſſion to fatigue,
inclement ſkies, and the want not only of the comforts, but ſome-
times even of the neceſſaries of life *, have any claim to eſteem and
admiration. It has been obſerved, and juſtly, that in almoſt all the
general actions to the northward, the troops under fir William Howe
were ſuperior in number to thoſe under general Waſhington; but,
on the contrary, in every general action to the ſouthward, the enemy
greatly outnumbered the Britiſh either under lord Cornwallis or lord
Rawdon.
The misfortune that happened in Virginia was ſoon afterwards
followed by another in the Weſt Indies, which, although not of equal
* The writer of this narrative relates theſe things from his own knowledge. The fouthern
army
had no proviſion in the field but what paſſed through his hands. Their allowance was:
freque.cly canty, and generally bad. The army under lord Cornwallis, in marches and :
counter-saries, marched above 7500 miles.
3
magnitude,
416
HISTORY OF THE
XLV.
St. Euſtatius.
CH A P. magnitude, was the cauſe of much diſcontent, as it ſeemed to have
ariſen from groſs negligence or ſtill greater miſconduct. This was
1781.
Recapture of the recapture of the Dutch iſland of St. Euſtatius by the marquis de
Bouillé. The marquis having received minute information, by
ineans of ſome of the traders, of the ſtate of the iſland, together with
the careleſſneſs of the governor, he determined to attempt the re-
duction of it by ſurpriſe. It has been already noticed, that the iſland
of St. Euſtatius might be conſidered as a natural fortification, with
only one ſafe landing-place, where the town ſtood, and which was
protected by a fort. But at the back of the iſland were alſo ſome
ſmall bays, where a landing might be effected in very moderate wea-
ther, although at all times accompanied with conſiderable riſk and
danger. Of one of theſe, which had been left unguarded, the mar-
quis de Bouillé had received intelligence; and there he determined
to attempt a deſcent. Having embarked about two thouſand men in
a number of ſmall veſſels, he failed from Martinique, and took his
meaſures ſo as to arrive before the place where he propoſed to land
early in the night. So hazardous was the attempt, that in embark-
ing, many of the boats were daſhed to pieces, and a number of ſoldiers
loſt; and with all the efforts he could make, not more than four hun-
dred men were landed by an hour before daylight; and as almoſt the
whole of the boats were by this time daſhed to pieces, no hopes
remained of being able to land the reſt. As the troops which had
been landed were not equal in number to the garriſon, the marquis
de Bouillé was ſenſible that nothing but a bold attempt to take the
fort by ſurpriſe could poſſibly ſucceed. He accordingly put his
troops in motion, and marched with the utmoſt expedition towards the
fort, diſtant about ſix miles. The way to it was not only difficult, but
interſected by a defile where a handful of men might have ſtopped
an army. But in his ſituation every riſk was to be run. His retreat
being cut off, nothing but ſucceſs could poſſibly ſave him and his
troops
AMERICAN WAR.
4.17
XLV.
1781.
troops from deſtruction or captivity. A diſcharge of muſquetry from CHA P.
the French at a diviſion of the Britiſh troops, which was ſeen ex-
erciſing in a field at ſome diſtance from the fort, gave the firſt alarm
to the garriſon. Thoſe who were in quarters immediately hurried
to the fort, and ſo loaded the draw-bridge, that it could not be raiſed
until the enemy arrived, and entered with them. Lieutenant-colonel
Cockburn the governor, who had been taking an early ride according
to cuſtom, ſeeing ſome ſtrange veſſels off the iſland, took the alarm
and returned ; but the French in the mean time had reached the
town, and made him priſoner before he diſmounted *.
Thus was the iſland of St. Euſtatius reduced by the marquis de
Bouillé on the morning of the twenty-ſixth of November, with no
other loſs than ten ſoldiers killed and wounded. With the ifland the
conquerors became poſſeſſed of a large ſum of money, eſtimated at
two millions of livres, being the produce of the late ſales of prizes.
Whilft St. Euſtatius was in the poſſeſſion of Great Britain, ſome
pains had been taken to fortify it. Sixty-eight pieces of artillery
were mounted for its defence, and the garriſon conſiſted of two
regiments, muſtering fix hundred and ſeventy-ſeven men. The de-
pendant iſlands of St. Martin's and Saba were attacked immediately
afterwards, and ſhared the ſame fate as St. Euſtatius.
After all theſe misfortunes, the year 1781 cloſed with a ſucceſsful Succeſsful
cruize of admiral Kempenfeldt in the European ſeas. Information crize of ad-
had been received in England, that a large convoy of tranſports with penfeldt.
troops, and of ſtore-ſhips and proviſion veſſels, was getting ready at
Breſt, and to fail in the month of December, the greateſt part of it
being deſtined for the fleet under the count de Graſſe, and the
* Lieutenant-colonel Cockburn, a native of Aberdeen, was afterwards tried by a court.
martial, and found guilty of culpable neglect in not taking the neceſſary precautions for the
defence of the iſland, notwithſtanding he had received the fullclt intelligence of an intended
attack.
VOL. II,
remainder
3 H
2
418
HISTORY OF THE
XLV.
1-81.
CHA P. remainder for M. de Suffrein's ſquadron in the Eaſt Indies; and
the whole to be convoyed a certain diſtance by a fleet of ſhips of
war under the coinmand of the count de Guichen. To cruize for
and endeavour to intercept this fleet and convoy, admiral Kem-
penfeldt was diſpatched in the beginning of December with twelve
ſhips of the line, a fifty-gun ſhip, four frigates, and a fire-ſhip, being
all that were then in readinefs for fea. On the twelfth of that
month he fortunately got fight of them in a hard gale of wind,
when the French fleet was much diſperſed, and the convoy conſider-
ably aftern.
The admiral determined to profit by the enemy's
accidental ſituation, and by carrying a preſs of fail to endeavour to
cut off their convoy ; in which attempt he in part ſucceeded. A
conſiderable number of prizes were taken, fifteen of which arrived
fafe in Britiſh ports, while ſome that had ſtruck afterwards eſcaped
in the night. Two or three were ſaid to have been ſunk; and many
others loſt their voyages in conſequence of the great diſperſion of the
convoy that neceſſarily enſued. In the mean time the count de
Guichen was collecting his ſhips, and forming the line. Towards
the evening the Britiſh admiral found it neceſſary to do the ſame;
and, after taking meafures for keeping his fleet connected, went
upon the ſame tack with the enemy, intending to engage them in
the morning. But when day-light appeared, and he ſaw the French
feet to leeward, conſiſting of nineteen ſhips of the line and two
others armed en flute, he did not think it prudent to riſk an engage-
ment; and contenting himſelf with endeavouring to ſecure the prizes
already made, returned with his fleet to Portſmouth. The Aga-
memnon, however, and the frigate la Prudente, were detached to
follow the French fleet, with a view of capturing any of the convoy
that might chance to be ſeparated. It does not appear that they met
with
any ſucceſs in this deſign; but on the twenty-fifth of December
they made prize of five large ſhips bound from Bourdeaux to Marti-
nique,
A
AMERICAN WAR.
419
XLV.
nique, which were deſtined to join the convoy under the count de C HA P.
Guichen. The prizes carried to England had on board near eleven
1781.
hundred land forces, and between fix and ſeven hundred ſeamen.
They were almoſt all freighted on the French king's account, and
were chiefly laden with braſs and iron ordnance, gunpowder, ſmall-
arms, flints, bomb-ſhells, cannon-balls, and a vaſt variety of other
ordnance and military ſtores. Some of them were laden with cables,
ſail-cloth, and cordage ; and others with wine, oil, brandy, rum,
flour, biſcuit, and ſalted proviſions. From the nature of the lading
with which theſe ſhips were freighted, the importance of the capture
is very apparent; and fortunately for the ſafety of the Britiſh Weſt
India iſlands, the remainder of the French convoy, that eſcaped
being taken, was fo ſhattered and diſabled by ſtormy weather, that
only a few of them, accompanied by two ſhips of war, were able to
hold on their courſe and join de Graffe. The reſt put back to repair
their damages.
1
1
3H
1
420
HISTORY OF THE
CH A P. XLVI.
Effects of the Capture of Lord Cornwallis's Army-Meeting of
Parliament Siege of Fort St. Pbilip's in the Iſland of Minorca-
Capitulation of Fort St. Philip's-Reduction of the Iſand of St.
Chriſtopher's-General Carleton appointed Commander in Chief in
America infead of Sir Henry Clinton--Naval Engagement be-
tween Admiral Rodney and the Count de Graſſe—Proſperity of
Britiſh Affairs in the Eaſt Indies---Conduet of the new Admini-
Aration-Repulſe and Diſcomfiture of the Spaniards and French
before Gibraltar-Relief of Gibraltar.
C 1H A P:
XLVI.
AFTER SO
1782.
Effects of the
capture of
lord Corn-
FTER ſo many defeats and loſſes to which the arms of congreſs
had been ſubjected for ſeveral years paſt, fo brilliant an event
as the capture of a whole army, and at its head a commander who
was eſteemed one of the braveſt and moſt enterpriſing of their foes,
*allis's army. could not fail to give thein the moſt heart-felt fatisfaction, and was
accordingly celebrated with ſuitable rejoicings and every other demon-
Stration that could ſerve to convey to the people a proper idea of its
importance. By ſuch means the authority of congreſs, which had
begun to be ſhaken, was again eſtabliſhed; the clamours of thoſe
who had become tired of the war, and wiſhed for peace upon almoſt
any terms, were filenced; the deſponding were re-aſſured; the active
and zealous invigorated; and all claſſes, for a time, reconciled to
bear their preſent diſtreſſes with patience, in the hope that fo ſignal
an advantage would ſpeedily operate their relief. But greatly as the
views
AMERICAN WAR. *
421
XLVI.
views of congreſs were forwarded by the influence of this event CHA P.
upon the people of the revolted colonies, the benefits thence derived
1782.
were inconſiderable compared with thoſe that ſprung from the effects
produced by it upon the people of Great Britain. The ſums raiſed
by parliament for the ſupport of the war, which ſeemed to increaſe
every year of its continuance, were already ſo immenſe, that the
public burdens impoſed for the payment of the intereſt were nearly
inſupportable. The murmurs of the people had been hitherto ſup-
preſſed, from the hopes held out of a ſpeedy and ſucceſsful termina-
tion of the war; and with the recovery of the revolted colonies,
accompanied by the monopoly of their trade, they were taught to
expect ſuch an influx of wealth as would ſpeedily compenfate for
the preſent extraordinary expenditure. But after the events of the
laſt campaign, no one could be found ſo ſanguine as to expect that
the revolted colonies could be recovered by. force of arms. The
experience of nearly fix years ſerved to ſhow, that although a pro-
vince might be over-run and ſubdued, it could not be ſecured and
preſerved without the concurrence of the inhabitants : And the war
waged in the ſouthern colonies for two years paſt, eſtabliſhed the
fact beyond contradiction. Although Georgia had been completely
reduced, and civil government re-eſtabliſhed: Although all reſiſt-
ance had ceaſed in South Carolina, and a general ſubmiſſion taken
place among the inhabitants : Although the Britiſh commanders in
thoſe provinces had been uniformly ſucceſsful in all general actions
they fought, and had not in a ſingle inſtance been defeated : Yet
Charleſtown and Savannah, the two capitals, with a few dependant
.poſts, were all that at this time remained to Great Britain of thoſe
extenſive provinces. Theſe facts naturally led to this inference, that
it was madneſs to perſiſt in an expenſive war, in which even ſucceſs
failed to produce its natural conſequences. Such were the ſenti-
ments beginning to prevail amongſt the people, when the parliament
:
met
porni
4.22
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
C H A P. met on the twenty-ſeventh of November of the preceding year. In
u the king's ſpeech the loſſes in America were neither diſſembled nor
1782.
Mciting of palliated; but ſtated as a ground for requiring the firm ſupport of
parlianent.
parliarnent, and a more vigorous, animated, and united exertion of
the faculties and reſources of the people ; whilft his majeſty, at the
ſame time, expreſſed his determined reſolution to perſevere in the
defence of his dominions until ſuch a pacification could be made as
might conſiſt with the honour of his crown and the permanent in-
tereſt and ſecurity of his people. An addreſs of thanks being moved
for in the uſual form, was violently combated by the oppoſition,
under an idea, that if they agreed to it, they bound themſelves to
ſupport his majeſty in proſecuting the American war; and an amend-
ment of a different tendency was offered by Mr. Fox. But the
amendment was rejected, and the addreſs carried in its original form,
by a conſiderable majority of two hundred and eighteen againſt one
hundred and twenty-nine. In the courſe of this debate, although the
miniſters did not ſeem to be perfectly agreed amongſt themſelves, it.
appeared to be their determination no longer to carry on the war
internally in the colonies, but to keep poſſeſſion of thoſe poſts which
they at preſent held, and direct their principal efforts againſt France,
Spain, and Holland.
This diſcloſure of a change in the mode of conducting the war,
although it muſt have operated as a relief to the colonies, gave no
ſatisfaction to the oppoſition, who maintained that the general voice
of the nation demanded a peace with America; whereas the mi-
niſtry ſtill avowed the deſign of carrying on that war, and had only
varied the form. The oppoſition rów looked forward with eager
expectation to the æra of the diffolution of that miniſtry which had
ſo long ſucceſsfully withſtood their rudeſt attacks. The misfortunes
of the laſt campaign gave them advantages which all the influence
and power of the adminiſtration were unable to ſurmount. By this
time
AMERICAN WAR.
423
1
XLVI.
1782.
1
tunes.
upon this
time the American war was generally difreliſhed amongſt the people; CHA P.
and by the oppoſition it was reprobated, together with the incapa-
city and miſconduct of miniſters, as the cauſe of all our misfor-
The proſecution of it, unfortunate as it had been, was ſtill
ſuppoſed to be a favourite meaſure with the court. The oppoſition,
on the other hand, loudly maintained, that to put an end to it was
the only means of ſaving the nation from bankruptcy and ruin:
And this ground, the ſtrongeſt they could adopt, as being that
on which they expected to be ſupported by the nation, they conti-
nued to haraſs and diſtreſs adminiſtration by a ſucceſſion of motions
in the houſe of commons, until at laſt, on the twenty-ſeventh of February.
February, they ſucceeded in carrying a vote for addreſſing his ma-
jeſty to direct his miniſters no longer to wage an offenſive war
againſt the revolted colonies, and to aſſure him that they would moſt
cheerfully concur in ſuch meaſures as may be found neceſſary to ac-
celerate the bleſſing of returning peace. This victory gained by the
oppoſitiori with a majority of two hundred and thirty-four againſt
two hundred and fifteen, was conſidered as a prelude to the diffolu-
tion of the old adminiſtration, which accordingly, about the end of
March, gave place to a new one, formed under the auſpices of the Marckt.
marquis of Rockingham. The cabinet, including the marquis as
firſt commiſſioner of the treaſury, was compoſed of the earl of
Shelburn and Mr. Fox, appointed ſecretaries of ſtate; lord Camden,
preſident of the council; the duke of Grafton, privy ſeal; lord John
Cavendiſh, chancellor of the exchequer; admiral Keppel, firſt com-
miſſioner of the admiralty ; general Conway, commander in chief
of the forces; the duke of Richmond, maſter-general of the ord-
nance; colonel Barré, treaſurer of the navy; and Mr. Burke, pay-
maſter-general.
During theſe contentions for power, between the old adminiſtra-
tion and thoſe who ſucceeded them, the intelligence that arrived of
4
new
424
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
CHA P. new misfortunes and loſſes ſuſtained abroad in the beginning of the
preſent year, undoubtedly ſerved to haften the overthrow of the
1782,
former, and to complete the triumph of the latter. It may be re-
membered, that in the preceding year a joint expedition having
been planned by France and Spain againſt the iſland of Minorca, an
armament fitted out at Cadiz was landed upon the iſland on the
twentieth of Auguſt, which was ſoon afterwards joined by a conſis
Siege of Fort derable body of French troops from Toulon. The duke de Crillon
St. Philip's
in the island commanded the expedition: He carried with him an immenſe ar-
of Minorca.
tillery of one hundred and nine pieces of the heavieſt cannon, and
thirty-ſix mortars, for the ſiege of Fort St. Philip's; and after the
jundion of the French, his army amounted to fixteen thouſand men.
General Murray, an officer of undoubted bravery and great expe-
rience, commanded at Minorca: The garriſon conſiſted of about
two thouſand ſeven hundred men, four hundred of whom were inva-
lids ſent from England in the year 1775; but the works of St. Philip's
Caſtle were ſo numerous and extenſive, that the garriſon did not
amount to half the number which would have been neceſſary com-
pletely to man them. Notwithſtanding this weakneſs, the defence
of the place was brave and ſpirited, and ſuitable to the high military
character of the officer who commanded. For three months after
the commencement of the ſiege, the enemy made ſcarcely any im-
preſſion on the works, and did little injury to the garriſon; but
after they had finiſhed their batteries, and mounted all their guns
and mortars; the fire from ſo tremendous an artillery began to da-
mage
works of the caſtle, and rendered a number of the
guns mounted upon them ynſerviceable. Still, however, the body
of the works remained uninjured, and the garriſon not much di-
miniſhed. But, about this time, a moſt inveterate ſcurvy began to
prevail amongſt the troops, which, baffling all medical ſkill, by the
beginning of February had ſpread ſo widely, that of the whole
gara
riſan
the upper
1
1
AMERICAN-WAR,
425
!
of Fort St.
riſon only ſix hundred and fixty: were' capable of bearing: arms. CHA P.
.
Under theſe circumſtances general Murray was reduced to the ne-
1782
ceffity of capitulating. In the articles of capitulation every. thing Capitulation
was granted that he required, except the clauſe for freeing the gar- Philips
riſon from being priſoners, to which the duke de Crillon was pro-
hibited from conſenting by a ſpecial inſtruction of the king of Spain;
but in order to ſoften the rigour of this inſtruction, the troops were
allowed to be ſent to Great Britain, under the cuſtomary condition
of not ferving until they were regularly exchanged. The terms of
capitulation having been ſettled, St. Plilip's Caſtle was ſurrendered
on the fifth of February: And thus the iſland of Minorca was re-
ſtored to the crown of Spain, after it had been in the poſſeſſion of
Great Britain about ſeventy-four years. The whole lofs of the gar-
riſon, in killed and wounded, during the fiege, amounted to two
hundred and eight: Of theſe fifty-nine were killed, and one hun-
dred and forty-nine wounded.
Nearly about the ſame time the iſland of St. Chriſtopher's in the Reduction of
Weſt Indies was reduced by the marquis de Bouillé. After the re- St. Chriſto-
turn of the count de Grafſe with his. fleet from North America,
pher's.
an expedition was planned between him and the marquis de Bouillé
againſt the iſland of Barbadoes, in conſequence of which the latter.
embarked with eight thouſand troops, and the fleet failed from Marti-
nique on the twenty-eighth of December. By contrary winds it was
driven greatly to leeward, and as Barbadoes was to windward of
Martinique, and much time would be loft in beating up, the French
commanders determined to change the object of the expedition, and
proceed againſt the iſland of St. Chriſtopher's, where the troops were
landed on the eleventh of January. Brigadier-general Fraſer, a.
brave old officer who commanded the few Britiſh troops that were
in the iſland, finding himſelf totally unable to oppoſe the landing
of the French, took poſt with his little garriſon upon Brimſtone
VOL. II.
3 I
Hill,
F
I
1
426
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
1
CHA P. Hill, where he was joined by governer Shirley with ſome militia of
the iſland. The regular force under Fraſer conſiſted of the firſt
1782.
battalion of the firſt regiment, the two flank companies of the fif-
teenth, and a detaclıment of the royal artillery, the whole amount-
ing to fix hundred men. T'he militia who joined him with gover-
nor Shirley, were about three hundred. Brimſtone Hill, where he
took poſt, was a place of great natural ſtrength, from its height and
inacceſſibility: Some works had been erected upon the top of it,
but in no reſpect ſuitable to the natural ſtrength and importance of
the place. The French, having landed, immediately began to inveſt
Brimſtone Hill, whilſt the count de Graſſe with his fleet lay at an-
chor in Baffe Terre Road, to cover the fiege. Sir Samuel Hood,
who in the abſence of ſir George Rodney commanded the Britiſh
fleet in the Weſt Indies, and was then at Barbadoes, having received
intelligence of the deſtination of the French armament, failed with
his fleet for the relief of St. Chriſtopher's, where he arrived in the
evening of the twenty-third of January. The next morning at
dawn he began to form his line, with a view of bearing down
and attacking the French fleet at anchor. His own fleet conſiſted
of only twenty-two ſhips of the line: That of the count de Graffe
amounted to thirty-two; but even with this inferiority, relying on
the ſuperior ſkill and valour of Britiſh ſeamen, he determined to make
a bold attempt for the relief of the iſland. From the circumſtance of
two of his ſhips running foul of each other, he was prevented from
executing his deſign on that day; and in the mean time he took a
French frigate from Martinique, loaded with ordnance ſtores for
the fiege of Brimſtone Hill, the capture of which greatly delayed
the enemy in making their approaches. The next morning the
Britiſh fleet having formed the line, advanced to the attack. The
count de Graſſe, on perceiving their deſign, left his anchorage
ground and ſtood out to ſea, with a vicw of obtaining room to avail
himſelf
AMERICAN WAR.
427
XLVI.
himſelf of his ſuperiority in number. Sir Samuel Hood immedi- C H A P.
ately ſaw the advantage to be gained from this movement of the
1782,
enemy, and ſtill preſerving the appearance of an attack, in order to
draw them farther from the land, at laſt puſhed by them with full
fail, and took poffefſion of the anchorage which they had quitted.
The count de Graſſe attempted to cut off the Britiſh rear; but com-
modore Affleck, who commanded it, ſupported by his ſeconds, cap-
tain Cornwallis and lord Robert Manners, kept up ſo tremendous
a fire, that he could make no impreſſion, and, with little loſs to them-
ſelves, greatly covered the other ſhips of the diviſion whilſt getting
into their ſtations in the anchorage-ground.
Two attacks were
made the next day by the count de Graſſe üpon the Britiſh fleet at
anchor; but in both he was repulſed, and in the laſt with fo con-
ſiderable loſs, that during the remainder of the ſiege he kept at a
diſtance. The loſs of the Britiſh fleet in theſe attacks amounted to
ſeventy-two killed, and two hundred and forty-four wounded :
That of the French is unknown, but it was ſaid that they fent a
thouſand wounded men to St. Euſtatius. The ſucceſsful manceuvre
practiſed by the Britiſh admiral of decoying the count de Graffe
from the road of Baſſe Terre,' and occupying it in his ſtead, pro-
duced at firſt flattering expectations that the iſland' might yet be
preſerved. But- the great fuperiority of the French force on ſhore,
compared with, that of the garriſon, foon enabled the marquis de
Bouillé to inveſt the fort on Brimſtone Hill ſo clofely, that all com-
munication between it and the Britiſh fleet was entirely cut off,
whilſt, in conſequence of the ſame cauſe, his own communication
with the count de Grafle was open, by means of every other land-
îng-place upon the iſland, except that of Baffe- Térre Road. The
French, although expoſed to a vigorous fire from the garriſon, and
conſiderably delayed by the capture of one of their ordnance veſſels,
and the loſs of another, wrecked upon the rocks, continued to ad-.
3 I 2
vance.
A
+
428
HISTORY OF THE
+
XLVI.
3
+
CH A P. vance their works and profecute the attack with unremitting induſ-
try, until they had mounted on their different batteries twenty-four
1782.
large mortars, and twenty-three pieces of heavy cannon. The effect
of the fire from ſo powerful an artillery acting upon a ſpot, the
greateſt diameter of which was not more than two hundred yard:,
may be eaſily conceived : Early in the fiege, every houſe on the
hill was either conſumed or torn to pieces by the enemy's bombard-
ment and cannonade: 'In the latter part of it, almoſt all the guns
were either diſmounted or diſabled ; and at laſt an entire and per-
fect breach was made on the north-weſt ſide of the works, "which,
from the want of intrenching tools, it was impoſſible to repair. By
this time alſo, from the great deſertion of the militia, and the number
of the killed and wounded, thoſe who remained in the garriſon, fit
for duty, did not exceed five hundred men. After all the efforts of
courage and perſeverance; governor Shirley and general Fraſer were
reduced to the neceſſity of capitulating. Very liberal terms were
obtained both for the inhabitants and the garriſon: And on the
twelfth of February, the fort at Brimſtone Hill, and the iſland of
St. Chriſtopher's, with the dependent iſland of Nevis, were ſurren-
dered to the marquis de Bouillé. The whole loſs of the Britiſh re-
gulars in garriſon at Brimſtone Hill during the ſiege, amounted to
one hundred and ſeventy-ſix; thirty-eight being killed, one hun-
dred and twenty-five wounded, and thirteen miſſing. There being
no farther occaſion for the Britiſh fleet to remain in Bafle Terre
Road, fir Samuel Hood put to ſea in the night of the fourteenth,
unperceived by the enemy, and directed his courſe to Barbadoes,
where he expected to meet fir George Rodney with a reinforcement
of fhips from England. The ſurrender of Montſerrat, as was ex-
pected, ſucceeded the loſs of St. Chriſtopher's and Nevis; a detach-
ment from the French flect, on its return to Martinique, having ap-
peared before it on the twenty-ſecond of February.
From
1
1
1
+
<
AMERICAN WAR.
429
XLVI.
Carleton ar-
mander in
chicfin Ame.
A
From the avowed principles and ſentiments of thoſe who held the C HA P.
chief offices in the new adminiſtration, no doubt was entertained
1782.
that peace with the revolted colonies would be one of the firſt objects
of their attention, and that the claim of independence fet up by the
latter, would be no bar to a ſettlement. In the preceding year the
American congreſs had granted full powers to five of their agents
in
Europe to treat of a peace; and with thoſe perſons, or ſome of
them, means were found to open-an-intercourſe early in April: But
ſo many previous difficulties were to be cleared away, that ſome
time muſt be expected to elapſe before they could enter on the final
diſcuſſion of the buſineſs.
One of the laſt acts of the former adminiſtration was to appoint General
general Carleton (now lord Dorcheſter) commander in chief in pointed cora-
America in the room of fir Henry Clinton. He was continued in
office by the new adminiſtration; and, in conſequence of the rica inftead
of fir Henry
inſtructions he received, a ſort of tacit ceſſation of hoſtilities' was Clinton.
obſerved between the two armies in the neighbourhood of New
York; neither of them attempting to moleſt the other.
parts of the world, the war was ſtill to be proſecuted with vigour
againſt France, Spain, and Holland. The two former of theſe
powers had agreed to renew their attempt this year againſt the
iſland of Jamaica ? And to fruſtrate their deſigns, ſir George Rod-
ſoon after his arrival in England in the fall of the preceding
year, was diſpatched to reſume his command in the Weſt Indies withi
a reinforcement of twelve ſhips of the line. He failed from the
Channel in January, and arrived at Barbadoes on the nineteenth of
February. In conſequence of the intelligence there received of the
attack made on St. Chriſtopher's (the news of its ſurrender not
having then arrived), he put to ſea immediately, with an intention
of joining ſir Samuel Hood, and attempting its relief. On his paff-
age he met the Britiſh fleet returning from St. Chriſtopher's; and as
the
In other
1
ney,
th
430
HISTORY OF THE
1
XLVI.
CH A P. the iſland was already ſurrendered, and the count de Graſſe had
failed for Martinique, he proceeded with the whole fleet to St. Lucie,
1782.
the moſt convenient ſtation for watching the enemy's motions. For
this purpoſe ſome of his frigates were ſtationed ſo as to give him the
earlieſt intelligence; whilſt the reſt of the fleet took on board provi-
ſions and water to laſt them for five months. As the ſafety of Ja-
maica, and indeed of every other Britiſh iſland in the Weſt Indies,
depended upon the exertions now to be niade to bring the count de
April.
Graſſe to action, before he could form a junction with the Spaniſh
fleet to leeward, the intervening ſpace of time was probably a period
not only of great expectation, but of much anxiety and diſquietude,
to the Britiſh admiral.
On the fifth of April intelligence was received, that the French
were embarking troops on board their ſhips of war; and on the
cighth, at break of day, a ſignal from the Andromache, captain
Byron, announced that their fleet was coming out of Fort Royal
Bay, and ſtanding to the north-weſt. Sir George Rodney immedi-
ately threw out the ſignal for weighing anchor, which was inſtantly
obeyed with ſo much alacrity, that the whole Britiſh fleet, conſiſting
of thirty-fix ſhips of the line, was clear of Gros Illet Bay before
noon, and proceeding with a preſs of fail in purſuit of the enemy.
Before day the next morning the enemy was diſcovered under Do-
minique; and in this ſituation both fleets were for fome time :
becalmed. The enemy got the breeze firſt, and ſtood towards
Guadaloupe: The van of the Britiſh fleet, commanded by fir
Samuel Hood, received it next, and ſtood after them with a preſs.
of fail; whilſt the centre and rear were ſtill becalmed. Although it
was obviouſly the deſign of the count de Graſſe to avoid an engage-
ment, the opportunity which now preſented itſelf of overpowering
the Britiſh van, whilſt the centre and rear lay becalmed, was not to
be refifted : When, therefore, fir Samuel Hood's diviſion had ap-
3
proached
1
AMERICAN WAR.
431
1
proached fo near as to engage, the count de Graſſe bore down upon CJL A P.
it with his whole force. At one time, it is ſaid, the Barfleur, la
1782.
Hood's ſhip, had ſeven of the enemy's ſhips firing upon her, and
during the greateſt part of the action not leſs than three: And
although every ſhip of his diviſion had a ſuperior force to contend
with, ſo nobly did they ſupport each other, and with ſuch effect
return the enemy's fire, that no advantage could be obtained over
them ; and, as it afterwards appeared, the enemy in this unequal
conflict received more damage than they occaſioned. At length
part of the centre got near enough to engage, and take part in the
action: But when the breeze reached the rear of the Britiſh fleet,
the count de Graſſe withdrew his ſhips from action, and, having the
advantage of the wind, kept at ſuch a diſtance as to baffle all the en-
deavours of the Britiſh commander to renew it. In this action the
Royal Oak and Montagu, the two leading ſhips of the van, ſuſtained
conſiderable damage, and the ſervice a heavy loſs, in the death of
captain Bayne, of the Alfred. Two of the French ſhips were fo
much diſabled as to be obliged to quit the fleet, and take ſhelter in
Guadaloupe. The Britiſh fleet lay-to the night after the action to
repair their damages, and the next morning made fail to windward
in purſuit of the enemy; but with ſo little effect, that by the morn-
ing of the eleventh the French fleet had got ſo far to windward, that
fome of their ſhips were ſcarcely viſible. In the mean time the rear
diviſion of the Britiſh fleet, commanded by admiral Drake, had been
tranſpoſed to the van, which now became the rear. Fortunately,
about noon of the eleventh, one of the enemy's ſhips was ſeen a
great way to windward, apparently in a diſabled condition, and re-
pairing her damages: A general chaſe was immediately ordered;
and towards evening one of the leading ſhips approached ſo near,
that ſhe muſt inevitably have been taken, had not the count de
Graſſe, ſeeing her danger, borne down with his whole fleet for her
protection,
+
.
1
432
HISTORY OF THE
1
XLVI.
1982.
Naval CR-
van.
and the count
de Graſſe.
CH A Po protection. This movement brought the two fleets ſo near, that
nothing but the approach of night prevented an immediate engage-
ment; which muſt neceſſarily happen in the morning, if things
were preſerved in their preſent relative ſtate during the night. Such
meaſures were immediately taken by ſir George Rodney as he
thought would be effectual for that purpoſe ; and when day-light
appeared, he had the ſatisfaction to perceive, that what he had ſo
much deſired was on the point of being accompliſhed ; and that it
was not in the power of the count de Graſſe, if ſo inclined, to avoid
a general engagement. The ſignal for cloſe action was thrown out;
and, about half after ſeven in the morning, the action was begun by
busem admis. captain Penny in the Marlborough, the leading ſhip of the Britiſli
ral Rodney
The two fleets met on oppoſite tacks, and there being little
wind, the Britiſh ſhips ranged ſlowly along, and cloſe under the lec
of the enemy's line, delivering and continuing a moſt tremendous
fire, which the French received and returned with the utmoſt firm-
neſs. About noon fir George Rodney, in the Formidable, having
paſſed the Ville de Paris, the count de Graſſe's ſhip, and her ſecond,
ſo cloſe as to be almoſt in contact, and having made a viſible impreſ-
fion upon thein by a fire ſo quick and well directed, that it was almoſt
inſupportable, ſtood athwart the enemy's line between the ſecond:
and third ſhip aftern of the Ville de Paris, followed and nobly ſup-
ported by the Duke, Namur, and Canada ; the reſt of his diviſion
coming up in ſucceſſion. The Formidable immediately wore rounding
and a ſignal being made for the van diviſion under admiral Drake to
tack, the Britiſh fleet thus gained the wind, and ſtood upon the ſame
tack with the enemy. By this bold mancuvre the French line was.
effectually broke and ſeparated, and the whole thrown into confu-
fion: It decided the fate of the day, although it did not end the
action, which continued with unremitting fury till fun-ſet. The
rear of the Britiſh fleet being becalmed, did not for ſome time get
into
1
3
A
AMERICAN WAR.
433
1
XLVI.
1782.
into action, and when the breeze ſprung up, it was ſo ſmall, that fir CHA P.
Samuel Hood, in the Barfleur, took an hour and a half to paſs the bo
enemy's line only ſo far as the opening made by the Formidable,
keeping up, during all this time, a moſt tremendous, well-connected
fire. The French ſhips being crowded with men, the carnage on
board their fleet was prodigious: Still however they fought with
ſuch obſtinate bravery, as if the fate of their country depended upon
the iſſue-of-the-day.-Count.de Graffe, with his own and the other
ſhips in the centre, withſtood till evening all the efforts of the
various ſhips that attacked him. The gallantry of captain Corn-
wallis of the Canada, a ſeventy-four gun ſhip, was on this occaſion
the admiration of the whole fleet: Having fought the Hector, a
French ſhip of equal force with his own, until ſhe ſtruck her co-
lours, he left her to be taken poſſeſſion of by a frigate; and, as if
emulous to revenge his brother's cauſe, puſhed on to the Ville de
Paris, which he engaged for two hours, notwithſtanding the in-
equality of his force, and left her almoſt a wreck. Still, however,
the count de Graſſe refuſed to ſurrender, and ſeemed unwilling to
ſtrike to any ſhip without a flag. Towards ſun-ſet ſir Samuel Hood,
in the Barfleur, reached the Ville de Paris, and poured in a moſt
deſtructive fire. The count de Graſſe bore it for about ten minutes,
when he ſtruck-his-flag, and ſurrendered. At this time, it is faid,
only three men were left alive and unhurt upon the upper deck, of
whom the count de Graſſe was one. Previouſly to the ſurrender of
the Ville de Paris, the Hector, as already mentioned, had ſtruck to
captain Cornwallis.
The Ardent, of fixty-four guns, taken by
d'Orvilliers in the Britiſh Channel, was retaken; the Cæſar and
the Glorieux, both of ſeventy-four guns, had alſo ſurrendered, but
not till they were reduced to mere wrecks; and the Diadem, another
ſeventy-four, had been ſunk by a ſingle broadſide from the For-
midable in a generous exertion to ſuccour the Ville de Paris. Night
VOL. II.
3 K
at
I
1
1
"
1
+
434
HISTORY OF THE
.
CHA P. at length putting an end to the engagement, the Britiſh admiral
threw out the ſignal for his fleet to bring-to, that he might keep it
1782.
collected, and ſecure the prizes. But unfortunately the Cæſar, one
of them, blew up by accident in the night of the engagement; and
a lieutenant and fifty Britiſh ſeamen, with about four hundred pri-
ſoners, periſhed by the exploſion. On board the Ville de Paris
were found thirty-ſix cheſts of money deſtined for the
pay
and ſub
ſiſtence of the troops in the deſigned attack on Jamaica ; and it ſeems
to have been fingularly providential, that the whole train of artillery,
with the battering cannon and travelling carriages meant for that ex-
pedition, were on board the ſhips now taken. The Ville de Paris
was the largeſt ſhip in the French king's ſervice : She was a preſent
from the city of Paris to Louis the Fifteenth ; and no expence was
ſpared to render the gift worthy both of the city and the monarch.
Her building and fitting for ſea are ſaid to have coſt one hundred and
feventy-fix thouſand pounds ſterling.
· Sir George Rodney in this engagement happily exemplified the
great advantage derived from bringing Britiſh ſhips and ſeamen into
cloſe action. The whole loſs of men on board the Britiſh fleet,
in the actions of the ninth and twelfth of April, amounted only to
two hundred and thirty-ſeven killed, and ſeven hundred and fixty-
ſix wounded: Whereas the loſs of the French, in the ſame actions,
was computed at three thouſand flain, and more than double that
number wounded. That the computation was not exaggerated,
appears probable from the known loſs on board particular ſhips : In
the Ville de Paris alone were killed upwards of four hundred, and
in ſeveral other ſingle ſhips between two and three hundred. And,
by the confeſſion of the French themſelves, their ſhips that eſcaped,
were ſo ſhattered in the action as to be little leſs than ruined. The
Britiſh line conſiſted of thirty-ſix, and the French line only of
thirty-two ſhips, after the two diſabled in the action of the ninth
had
AMERICAN WAR.
435
6
XLVI.
had left it. But when it is conſidered, that fix ſhips of Hood's divi- C HA P.
fion, from the ſcantineſs of the wind, never could be brought into
1782.
action, it will be found that the ſuperiority in number of thoſe
actually engaged, was at leaſt on the ſide of the French.
The enemy's ſhips that eſcaped, made off to leeward the night
after the action in the beſt manner they could, and before morning
were entirely out of ſight. Four of them ran down to the Dutch
iſland-of-Guraçoa-z-but-the-greater-party-under. Bougainville and
Vaudreuil, the ſecond and third in command, kept together, and
directed their courſe for Cape François. The next morning fir
George Rodney, after receiving a report of the ſtate of his ficet,
attempted to purſue, but was becalmed for three days under Gua-
daloupe, which greatly favoured the eſcape of the enemy. He
afterwards, by means of his frigates, examined the French ports to
windward, to diſcover whether any ſhips of their fleet had taken fhel-
ter in them; and being at laſt convinced that they were all gone to lec-
ward, he diſpatched fir Samuel. Hood, whoſe diviſion had ſuffered little
in the action, to the weſt end.of Hiſpaniola, in hopes of meeting with
ſome of their diſabled ſhips, whilſt he himſelf followed with the reſt
of the feet to join him off Cape Tiberoon. In the Mona paffage,
between Hiſpaniola and Porto: Rico,pfir: Samuel. Hood got fight of
five French ſhips, two of them of the line, and three frigates; all:of
which were taken, except one frigate, that eſcaped by a ſudden ſhift
of the wind. Thus the enemy by this action loft in all, eight ſhips
of the line, and two frigates. Sir George Rodney now proceeded.
to Jamaica with the prizes, and ſuch of the Britiſh ſhips as were
moſt diſabled, leaving fir Samuel Hood, with twenty-five fail of the
line, to keep the ſea, and watch the enemy's motions.
In conſequence of the defeat of the French fleet, the expedition
againſt Jamaica was entirely given up; and the action of the twelfth
of April may be ſaid to have terminated the war in the Weſt Indies.
3 K 2
The
1
1
Motor
1
.
436
HISTORY OF THE
1
1
CHA P. The reduction of the inconſiderable Britiſh ſettlement on the Bahama
XLVI.
Iſlands by an armament fitted out at the Havannah, was the only hof-
1782,
tile attempt made in that quarter of the world by either of the allied
powers after the period of Rodney's victory. The reports carried to
the governor of the Havannah of the weak ſtate of the garriſon, pro-
voked the attack; and that thoſe reports were not unfounded, ſeems
probable from the facility with which the conqueſt was made. On
May.
the ſixth of May, in the evening, the Spaniſh armament, conſiſting
of three frigates and ſixty ſail of tranſports, having on board two
thouſand five hundred troops, appeared before them: And on the
next day, upon the firſt ſummons, the governor, after holding two
conſultations, one with his council and the other with the officers of
the garriſon, conſiſting of only one hundred and ſeventy invalids,
and the principal inhabitants of the place, agreed to ſurrender on
terms of capitulation,
Proſperity of
Whilſt ſir George Rodney triumphed over the enemies of Britain
in the Weſt; the credit and reputation of her arms were nobly,
ſupported in the Eaſt, under the auſpices of the governor-general of
Bengal, Mr. Haſtings, and the more immediate direction of fir
Edward Hughes by ſea, and fir, Eyre Coote by land. The latter,
under many diſadvantages, amongſt which a ſcarcity of proviſions
for the ſubſiſtence of the army was not the leaſt, baffled all the at-
tempts of Hyder Ally to regain that footing in the Carnatic, which
he had loſt the preceding year: And the former, although he had
to contend againſt M. de Suffrein, one of the ableft officers in the
naval ſervice of. France, who commanded a very ſuperior force,
defeated him in four hard-fought actions within the ſhort ſpace of
ſeven months. But that which ſerved moſt to advance and ſecure
the Britiſh intereſt in India, was the means that were found to make
a peace with the Mahratta States, and detach them from the intereſt
of Hyder Ally. This event took place in the month of May; and,
by
Britiſh affairs
in the Eaſt
Indies.
AMERICAN WAK.
+
437
1
.
the new ad-
11
by one of the articles of the pacification, the contracting parties CHA P.
became bound to coinpel Hyder Ally to reſtore all the places taken
1782.
from the India Company ſince the commencement of the war.
Thus the Mahrattas were not only detached from the intereſt of
Hyder Ally, but proviſionally became bound to act againſt him.
In Europe the principal aim of the new adminiſtration ſeem sto Conduct of
have been to obſtruct, as far as was in their power, the failing of the miniſtration.
enemy's-convoys, to protect-the-outward-and-homeward bound
Britiſh trade; to prevent the Dutch fleet from forming a junction
with that of France and Spain; to relieve the garriſon of Gibraltar,
by furniſhing it with the cuſtomary annual ſupplies; and, in general,
rather to preſerve things in their preſent ſtate during the conferences
for a peace, than incur the riſk of loſs from the deſire of obtaining
any poſſible advantage. In the month of April admiral Barrington
failed on a cruize with twelve ſhips of the line to intercept a convoy
ſaid to be then ready to leave Breſt, and on the twentieth fortunately
got ſight of it. The convoy conſiſted of eighteen tranſports, having
troops on board, and laden with proviſions and ſtores for the uſe of
the French fleet in the Eaſt Indies : It failed from Breft under the
protection of the Pegaſe and Protecteur, of ſeventy-four guns each,
l'Actionaire, of ſixty-four guns, but armed en flute, and a frigatë.
A general charë was immediately ordered by the Britiſh admiral :
And, in the courſe of it, the Pegaſe was taken by captain Jarvis in
the Foudroyant, l'Actionaire by captain Maitland in the Queen, and
eleven or twelve of the tranſports by the other ſhips of the ſquadron.
After this ſucceſsful cruize admiral Barrington returned to Portf-
mouth about the end of the month. Intelligence being received
about this time, that the Dutch fleet was ready to ſail from the
Texel, lord Howe, with a ſuitable ſquadron, was diſpatched to the
coaſt of Holland to watch its motions. The Dutch fleet, inſtead of
being only in a ſtate of preparation for coming out, had already
1
r
failed;
2
+
+
438
HISTORY OF THE
+
XLVI.
1782.
1
CHA P. failed; but, upon receiving intelligence of lord Howe's deſtination,
returned again into port, where it quietly remained during the time
June. of his lordſhip’s cruize, which laſted about a month before he carried
his ſquadron back to Spithead. About the beginning of June the
combined fleets of France and Spain, under the command of the
count de Guichen and don Louis Cordova, failed from Cadiz; and
in its progreſs tº the northward took eighteen ſhips of a fleet
of Britiſh merchantmen, bound for Newfoundland and Quebec,
chiefly laden with proviſions. The reſt of the merchantmen,
amounting to about ten ſail, with the ſhips of war appointed for
their convoy, made their eſcape. As the combined fleet proceeded
to cruize about the mouth of the Channel, great apprehenſions
began to be entertained for the ſafety of a homeward-bound Jamaica
fleet that had failed under the convoy of only three ſhips of the
line. The utmoſt exertions were therefore made to forward the
equipment of the Channel fleet, that it might proceed to ſea for its
protection : But with all that could be done, not more than twenty-
two fail of the line were in readineſs in the beginning of July.
With theſe lord Howe received orders to put to ſea; and he ac-
cordingly failed from St. Heleu's on the ſecond of the month.
It does not appear that his lordſhip, during his cruize, either ſaw
the combined fleet, or that for whoſe protection he failed : But for-
tunately the latter got ſafe into the Channel on the thirtieth of
July; and about ten days after, the Britiſh fleet returned into
port.
Repulſe and In the mean time the mighty preparations made by the king of
Spain, for the reduction of Gibraltar, and the vaſt expectations
formed from them, drew the attention of all Europe towards that
fore Gibral. fortreſs. The ſucceſſive diſappointments which the Spaniards had
already met with, it would ſeem, ought to have taught them wif-
dom, and induced them to abandon the attempt as hopeleſs; eſpe-
cially as their arms' might have been employed in other quarters
more
1
diſcomfiture
of the Spa-
niards and
French be.
+
tar.
}
1
AMERICAN WAR.
1
439
XLVI.
1
more beneficially to themſelves, and conſequently more injuriouſly CH A P.
to Great Britain : But their obſtinacy and perſeverance feemed to
increaſe with their diſappointinents, and the difficulties which they
1782,
had to ſurmount. Towards the cloſe of the former year, their ad-
vanced works upon the Iſthmus, after being completed at a vaſt ex-
pence, were demoliſhed in one night by a ſucceſsful fortie from the
garriſon. The guns and mortars mounted upon the batteries were
{piked, and the batteries themſelves ſo effettually Tet on fire, that be-
fore morning they were nearly conſumed. After this misfortune,
the enemy feem to have principally relied on an attack by water
with floating batteries. The plan of theſe batteries was the con-
trivance of the chevalier d'Arcon, a French engineer of ſome dif-
tinction. They were to be of ſuch thickneſs and ſtrength as to be
impenetrable by ſhot from the heavieſt cannon, and to be con-
ſtructed of materials calculated to reſiſt the action of fire. From
ſhells they were to be protected by a floping roof, which by means of
a mechanical contrivance might be raiſed or lowered at pleaſure.
Thus ſecured, ſuch a ſhort diſtance might be choſen, that the heavy
artillery with which they were to be mounted, could not fail in i
little time to ruin the works of the garriſon, and render an affault
practicable. The engineer had the addreſs to repreſent his ſcheme
in-ſo-favourable a point of view, that the moſt flattering hopes of
its ſucceſs were entertained, and no expence was ſpared to complete
the machines according to his 'plan. Whilſt they were in a ſtate of
preparation, the duke de Crillon, after his ſucceſs at Minorca, was
áppointed to command the Spaniſh army before Gibraltar : That
army was reinforced by twelve thouſand auxiliary French troops ;
and to add ſplendour to the ſcene, two of the French princes of the
blood, the count d'Artois, and the duke de Bourbon, with a number
of the firſt nobility, both of France and Spain, repaired to the
Spaniſh camp. The battering machines required ſo much time in
prepa-
!
/
440
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
1782.
1
:
CHA P. preparation that they were not in readineſs before the beginning of
September, about which time the combined fleet of France and
Spain arrived in the bay. When joined by the ſhips already at
Algeſiras, it conſiſted of forty-eight or forty-nine ſhips of the line.
The battering machines were ten in number, and were commanded
by admiral Don B. Moreno: They were mounted with one hundred
and fiſty-four pieces of heavy braſs cannon, and had on board up-
wards of fix thouſand men, a great proportion of which were ar-
tillery-men, thirty-ſix being allotted for the ſervice of each gun.
They had alſo on board a number of ſpare guns to replace any that
might be damaged in action. To give the utmoſt effect to the at-
tack, it was propoſed that when the battering ſhips ſhould take their
ſtation, the Spaniſh gun and mortar boats, of which they had a
great number, ſhould place themſelves ſo as to flank the Britiſh bat-
teries on the water, and if poſſible drive the artillery-men froin their
guns. The combined fleet was to cover and aſſiſt the battering ſhips :
And to diſtract the attention of the garriſon, à furious cannonade
was to commence from all the batteries on the Iſthmus. An im.
menſe number of large boats, that had been collected from all the
ports in Spain, were alſo to be in teadineſs to carry over the bay
and land troops in the fortreſs as ſoon as the battering 'fhips
ſhould produce their expected effect. The plan being arranged, and
every thing in readineſs, the battering ſhips got under way about
ſeven in the morning of the thirteenth of September, and between
nine and ten anchored in a regular line, between the Old and New
Mole, at moderate diſtances from each other, and about half a mile
from the Britiſh works. Immediately a furious cannonade began,
not only from them but from all the enemy's numerous artillery
upon the Iſthmus, which was returned by the garriſon with ſhowers
of ſhells and red-hot balls towards every quarter from whence the
attacks were made. The hills all around were covered with ſpec-
tators
T
AMERICAN WAR.
441
XLVI.
1782.
tators to behold a ſcene beyond deſcription grand, awful, and terrific. C H A P.
So fiercely did the garriſon return the enemy's cannonade, that con- and
tinued torrents of fire and ſmoke ſeemed to iſſue from every quarter
of the rock: But the attention of the beſieged was principally fixed
on the battering fhips, which for ſome time appeared to anſwer
every expectation that had been forined from them. Neither thot or
ſhells ſeemed to affect them. At length, about two o'clock, ſmoke
was ſeen--to-iſſue-front. the upper part of Don-Moreno's ſhip:
And the people on board were diſcovered uſing fire-engines, and
pouring water into the ſhot-holes. Not long afterwards the prince
of Naſſau's ſhip, the next in ſize to the admiral's, was obſerved to
be in the ſame condition. This ſight, without doubt, animated the
garriſon to freſh exertion, and had an oppoſite effect upon the
enemy.
The other battering fhips were evidently affected with the
ſituation of their admiral and his ſecond, ſo that the fire of the gar-
riſon had gained a viſible ſuperiority before the evening, and it was
continued with unremitting fury during the night. 'About one in
the morning the flames burſt forth on board the two ſhips already
mentioned, and ſeveral of the others were viſibly on fire. Signals
of diſtreſs were now made; and boats were fent, off from the ſhore
to their aſſiſtance. Captain Curtis,,, who commanded the Britiſh
nayal force at Gibraltar, ſeized this opportunity of completing the
deſtruction of thoſe machines, which had created fo much appre-
henſion. He ſtationed his gun-boats ſo as to flank the line of the
battering ſhips, and by keeping up a conſtant fire, to cut them off
from that aſſiſtance which they had begun to receive from the ſhore.
In this dreadful ſituation the battering ſhips remained during the
reſt of the night, expoſed to a direct fire from the garriſon, and a
raking fire from the gun-boats, cut off from'aſſiſtance, and the flames
increaſing every inſtant . When day-light appeared, it preſented
ſuch a ſcene of diſtreſs, that every hoſtile idea was for a time ex-
Vol. II.
tinguiſhed,
1
!
3 L
!
1
442
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
1782,
1
CHA P. tinguiſhed, in compaſſion for the miſerable wretches who yet re-
mained on board the enemy's battering ſhips. The fire from the
fortreſs ceaſed: And the braveſt exertions were made by captain
Curtis and the Britiſh ſeamen, at the riſque of their own lives, to
reſcue the Spaniards from the ſurrounding flames. By their intrepid
efforts about four hundred of thein were faved from inevitable de-
ſtruction. Nine of theſe :battering machines blew up ſucceſſively in
the courſe of the day; and the tenth was burnt by captain Curtis,
after he found that ſhe could not be brought off. In this attack
by ſea the enemy were ſuppoſed to have loſt about one thouſand
five hundred men, including the priſoners and wounded. Thus
diſaſtrouſly ended the laſt attempt of the Spaniards for the reduc-
tion of Gibraltar.
About the time of this attack lord Howe failed from the Britila
channel with the grand fleet, conſiſting of thirty-four ſhips of the
line, to' eſcort a number of tranſports carrying troops, and laden
with thoſe ſtores and ſupplies which were to enable general Elliot
to continue his brave defence. His lordſhip was much delayed on
his paſſage by contrary winds; but he at laſt reached the Straits, and
entered them on the eleventh of October. That ſame evening part
of the tranſports got ſafe to Gibraltar: The reſt, from the ſtrength of
the current, were unexpectedly carried paſt'it into the Mediterranean.
Lord Howe followed with his fleet, and collected them; and by the
cighteenth conducted the whole ſafely into the bay, where they
diſembarked the troops, and landed their cargoes. Fifteen hundred
barrels of gunpowder were alſo ſpared from the fleet, as an addi-
tional ſupply to the garriſon. To the honour of his lordſhip it is
to be remarked that the whole of this ſervice was ſucceſsfully per-
formed in the face of the combined fleet, which lay in Gibraltar
Bay at the time of his arrival. The enemy either depended fo
greatly upon the ſuperiority of their number, or were ſo much
overowed
Relief of
Gibraltar.
A
-
1
AMERICAN WAR.
443
11
XLVI.
overated by their opponent's maſterly diſpoſition for defence, that C HA P.
they did not attempt to moleſt him. The relief of Gibraltar being
1782.
effected, his lordſhip on the nineteenth took advantage of an eaſt-
erly wind to repaſs the Straits, and enter the Atlantic. The com-
bined fleet followed, and on the twentieth, towards ſunſet, bore
down ſo far as to commence a diſtant cannonade, which was held
in ſo much contempt by the Britiſh commander, that although three
of their number were firing upon his own ſhip, he did not deign to
return a ſhot. They afterwards made an attempt to cut off ſome
ſhips in the rear ; but were ſo warmly received as to be obliged to
ſheer off with loſs. In the morning, the combined fleet being a
great way to windward, and apparently ſteering for Cadiz, lord
Howe proceeded on his return to England, diſpatching on his way
eight ſhips of the line to the Weſt Indies, and fix to the coaſt of
Ireland.
During theſe tranſactions a partial change had taken place in the
Britiſh adminiſtration. Upon the death of the marquis of Rocking-
ham, about the beginning of July, the earl of Shelburne was ap-
pointed firſt lord of the treaſury in his ſtead. In conſequence of
this appointment, or from ſome other cauſe, Mr. Fox, and ſeveral
other principal members of adminiſtration, reſigned their offices, and
were ſucceeded by others, "more in the intereſt of the earl of Shel-
burne.
Thoſe changes, however, did not affect the negotiations carrying
on at Paris for putting an end to the war. Mr. Oſwald, a Britiſh
merchant, and the particular friend of preſident Laurens, who had
been ſo long confined in the Tower, was appointed to negotiate with
the American commiſſioners; and Mr. Thomas Grenville firſt, and
afterwards Mr. Fitzherbert, were ſucceſſively deputed to treat with
the miniſters of the other allied powers.
The later events of the
preſent year had all a tendency to bring the powers at war. more
nearly
3 L 2
1
444
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
1782.
CHA P. Dearly upon a level. At the cloſe of the former year, Great Bri-
utain ſeemed nearly overwhelmed by the ſtrength and ſucceſles of
hier numerous foes: But the ſignal victory obtained by ſir George
Rodney in the Weſt Indies, with the blow given to the naval force
of France in that quarter of the world; the defeat of the Spa-
niards before Gibraltar, and the ſucceſsful relief of its garriſon, in
the view of a ſuperior fleet; and the ſplendid effects of the Britiſh
policy and arms'in Aſia; raiſed the reputation of the nation to its
wonted level amongſt the powers of Europe, and gave her addi-
tional weight, either for the accompliſhment of peace, or the far-
ther proſecution of the war. But the derangement of the finances,
both of France and Spain, was the principal cauſe which diſpoſed
thoſe powers to liſten to the terms of accommodation.
The internal diſtreſſes in every quarter of the revolted colonies,
the mutinous diſpoſition of their armies, from the want of all neceſ-
fary ſupplies, and the utter inability of the congreſs to furniſh them,
were well known to the American commiſſioners, and ſtrongly
prompted them not to let paſs the preſent opportunity of reſtoring
to their country the bleſſings of peace. The negotiations with thoſe
commiſſioners were therefore firſt brought to a concluſion: And,
on the thirtieth of November, proviſional articles of peace were
ſigned by Mr. Oſwald on the part of Great Britain, and by Mr.
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens,
on the part of the revolted colonies, now the United States of Ame-
rica, which were not to take effect until peace ſhould be agreed upon
between Great Britain and France. By thoſe articles the thirteen
united ſtates of America were acknowledged to be free, ſovereign,
and independent: The limits of their country were aſcertained, as
far as was practicable, by natural boundaries; and thoſe limits were
extended ſo far to the weſtward as to contain within them an im-
menfe extent of territory, partly unſettled, and partly ſtill inhabited
4
by
។
I
!
.
AMERICAN WAR.
445
XLVI.
1,82,
3
by the Indians, the original proprietors: A right was granted to CH A P.
them to fiſh on the banks and coaſts of Newfoundland, in the
Gulph of St. Laurence, and on the coaſts, bays, and creeks of all
the other Britiſh dominions in America, and to cure and dry their
fiſh in any of the unſettled bays, harbours, and creeks of Nova
Scotia, Magdalen Ilands, and Labrador: It was ſtipulated that
creditors on either ſide ſhould meet with no lawful impediment in
the recovery of their debts: A recommendation was to be made by
congreſs to the legiſlatures of the different ſtates, to reſtore the con-
fiſcated eſtates and properties of real Britiſh ſubjects; alſo of thoſe
reſident within the Britiſh lines in America, who had not borne arms
againſt the United States; and alſo of perſons of any other deſcrip-
tion, upon their refunding to the preſent poſſeſſors the price bona fide
paid by ſuch poffeffors at the time of purchaſing ſuch eſtates : It
was ſtipulated, that no future confiſcations ſhould be made, nor any
proſecutions commenced, for the part taken by any perſon during the
war, nor any future loſs be ſuffered by any one, either in his perſon,
liberty, or property, on that account: It was agreed that priſoners
on both ſides ſhould be ſet at liberty, and that the Britiſh poſts
within the United States ſhould be evacuated with all convenient
{peed: The navigation of the Miſſiſſippi to remain free, and open
to the ſubjects.of-botlr powers. And ſhould any place be taken on
either ſide, before the arrival of theſe articles in America, ſuch place
to be reſtored without compenſation.
The preliminary articles of peace with France, upon which thoſe
with America were to take effect, were not ſigned till the twentieth
of January 1783. Thoſe with Spain were executed at the ſame
time. The general ground of thoſe articles was the mutual reſtitu-
tion of all places taken on either ſide during the war, with ſome few
exceptions. France was to retain Tobago and Senegal ; Spain, Mi-
norca and Weſt Florida.; and Great Britain to cede Eaſt Florida to
Spain.
446
HISTORY OF THE
XLVI.
CHA P. Spain. The Dutch Iſland of St. Euſtatius, and the provinces of
Demerara and Iſſequibo, to be reſtored by France to the United Pro-
1783
vinces. At the ſame time a ſuſpenſion of hoſtilities with the Dutch
was agreed upon, until terms of peace with that nation could be
finally adjuſted.
: Thus ended tlie moſt extenſive, difficult, and burdenſome war in
which Great Britain was eyer engaged *
1
riceve
ST
r
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is the grandeſt effect of com-
bination that has yet been exhibited to the world: A combination
formed by popular repreſentation and the art of printing t. So vaſt
a force as was exerted by Great Britain had never been ſent to ſo
great a diſtance, nor reſiſted by any power apparently ſo unequal to
the conteſt. The military genius of Britain was unimpaired; ſhe
1
+ The foreign debt of America, incurred by the war, amounted to 7,885,085 dollars; the
domeſtic debt to 34,115,290 dollars ; ſo that taking the dollar at 4s. 6d. ſterling, the foreign
and domeſtic debt amounted to 9,450,084 pounds ſterling, the intereſt of which, at 6 per cent.
which is the intereſt generally paid in America, amounts to 567,005 pounds. The war is
computed to have coſt. Great Britain 115,654,914 pounds, and the additional annual burden,
in conſequence of that * war; 415571575 pounds, from January 1775 to the peace in 1783.
America is faid to have loſt by the ſword and natural deaths in the army and navy, not leſs
than 109,000 men. The number of men killed in the Britiſh ſervice, during the war, amounted,
by the returns at New York, to 43,633.
By computation the whole territory of the American States contains a million of ſquare
miles, in which are 640 millions of acres; •of theſe, 51 millions are water, which being de-
ducted, the total amount of acres of land in the United States of America is 589 millions.
+ Cartai NewTE, in his philoſophical and very intereſting Tour in England and Scotland,
having delineated Scotland and the North of England as ſhaped by the hand of nature, is led,
from the names of places, to ſpeak of the geographical knowledge, and the natural quickneſs in
general, of mankind in a favage ſtate. On this fubject he fays: “ In the country of the
“ Illionois, a chief of the Caſcaſkias conceived the ſublime idea of uniting all Indian nations
" and tribes into one grand alliance, offenſive and defenſive. If this had been realized, Dr.
“ Franklin's confederation of tlre thirteen States would have cut but a poor figure on the
“ American continent, and the natural map would have outdone the philofopher."
roſe
1
9
aut
1
1
AMERICAN WAR,
447
XLVI.
rofë with elaſtic force under every blow; and feemed capable, by the CH A P.
immenſity of her revenues, of wearying out, by perſeverance, the bar
adverſity of fortune : But wiſdom, vigour, and unanimity, were
wanting in her public councils: : The eloquence of ſome legiſlators
in oppoſition to government; the narrow views of miniſters at home;
and the miſconduct of certain commanders abroad, through a ſeries of
puſillanimity, procraſtination, diſcord, and folly; brought this coun-
try, in-fpite-of-the-gallant efforts of the Britiſh officers and ſoldiers
by land and ſea, the juſtice of their cauſe, the firmneſs of their ſo-
vereign, and the general vows of the people, to'a criſis; 'which has
not indeed been followed (fo‘limited are our proſpects into futurity)
by all that calamity which was generally apprehended, but which,
nevertheleſs, although the national cliaracter, for ſpirit and enter-
priſe, was abundantly ſuſtained by individuals, cannot be regarded
otherwiſe than as á diſgrace 'to the Britiſh : Since it exhibited, in our
public conduct, the triumph of .party over genuine patriotiſin, and
a ſpirit of peculation and pleaſure prevailing in too many inſtances
over military. diſcipline, and a ſenſe of military honour. The Britiſh
miniſter did not poſſeſs that towering genius which is alone fitted, in
difficult and turbulent times, to overcome the feditious, and rouſe the
remiſs to their duty. Thoughía man of fine talents, as well asian
amiable diſpoſition, he was conſtitutionally. indolent : And, beſides
this, there was not that degree of cordiality and perfect unani-
mity that the miniſter was led to ſuppoſe amongſt the friends of
his majeſty's government in America. It is, perhaps, a matter of
doubt whether the loyaliſts were not, on the whole, too ſanguine in
their expectations. But it is the nature of men to cheriſh the hope
of relief with an ardour proportioned to the greatneſs of their miſ-
fortunes.
On the whole, the Britiſh government did not proceed on any
grand ſyſtem that might control particular circumſtances and events;
but
2
448
HISTORY OF THE
1
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XLVI.
power and
A
CHAP. but ſtudied to prolong their own authority by temporary expedients.
They courted their adverſaries at home, by a ſhare of
profit; and the public enemies of the ſtate, by partial conceſſions.
But theſe availed much more to the eſtabliſhment of new claims,
than all the declarations of parliamentary rights and royal preroga-
tives with which they were accompanied, did to maintain the rights
of eſtabliſhed government: For: facts, quickly paſs into precedents;
while manifeſto is oppoſed to manifeſto, and argument to argu-
ment. Had the meaſures adopted by Britain, been adopted in time*,
perhaps they would not have been adopted in vain. Their concel-
ſions, as well as their armaments, were always too late. Earlier
conceſſion, or an earlier application of that mighty force which was
at the diſpoſal of the commanders in chief in 1777, might perhaps
have prevented or quaſhed the revolution.
While the natural ſtrength and ſpirit of Great Britain were em-
barraſſed and encumbered with the diſadvantages and errors now
enumerated, the Americans, in ſpite of a thouſand difficulties and
wants, by the energy of liberty, the contrivance of neceſſity, and
the great advantages ariſing from the poſſeſſion of the country, ulti-
mately attained their object. The Americans, indeed, were not fired
with that enthuſiaſtic ardour, which nations of a warmer tempera-
ment, in all ages, have been wont to diſplay in the cauſe of freedom.
But they were guided by wiſe councils; they were ſteady and
per-
ſevering; and, on all great occaſions, not a little animated by the
courage of general Waſhington, who has been proverbially called a
Fabius, but in whoſe character courage, in fact, was a feature ſtill
more predominant than prudence. The American generals, having
the bulk of the people on their fide, were made acquainted with
.
1
Beſides a mighty navy, Great Britain liad a force in America, amounting nearly to
42,000 men, beſides from 25,000 to 30,000 loyaliſts, who were actually enliſted in the ſeveral
provincial corps raiſed during the war.
every
AMERICAN WAR.
449
1
XLVI.
every movement of the Britiſh ariny, and enabled, for the moſt CHA P.
part, to penetrate their deſigns: To obtain intelligence, on which
ſo much depends, was to the Britiſh commanders a matter of
pro-
portionable difficulty. The Americans had neither money nor
credit : But they learned to ſtand in need only of a few things; to
be contented with the ſmall allowance that nature requires ; to ſuffer,
as well as to act.
as to act. Their councils, animated by liberty, under the
moſt diſtreſſing-circumſtances, took-a-grand-and-high-ſpirited courſe,
and they were finally triumphant.
The Revolution of America, though predicted by philoſophy,
was generally conſidered as a remote contingency, if not a thing
wholly ideal and viſionary. Its immediate cauſes were altogether
unforeſeen and improbable. It came as a ſurpriſe upon the world:
And men were obliged to conclude, either that the force of Great
Britain was ill-directed, or that no invading army, in the preſent
enlightened period, can be ſucceſsful, in a country where the people
are tolerably united.
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N. B. The Numerals refer to the Volumes, and the Figures to the Pages.
A.
able and reſpectable character, 251. General
Clinton ſtrongly ſolicits Waſhington in his fa-
vour, 252. In vain, ibid. His melancholy
fate, ibid.
Arbuthnot, admiral, fucceeds fir George Collier
in North America, ii, 152. Co-operates with
fir Henry Clinton at Charleſtown, 179.
Arnold, general, propofes to Waſhington to ſur-
prife Quebec, i. 138. Difficulties of the en-
terpriſe, ibid. Diſappointed, 139. Summons
it to ſurrender, ibid. In great want of artil-
lery,, ! 40., Attacks the city, 141. Wound-
ed, ibid. Raiſes the fiege, 168. Engaged in
the action at Still Water, 336. Diftinguiſhes
himſelf greatly, 337.
Wounded, fighting
againft Burgoync, 341. Diſguſted with the
American ſervice, ii. 247.
Cauſes of that
diſguſt, 248. Forms a ſcheme for delivering
up a ſtrong poſt to the Britiſh, 249. Eſcapes
to New York, 251.
Aſemblies, provincial, of America, oppoſe the
ftamp-act, i. 35. Diffolution of, by the go-
vernors, hurtful by diffufing diſcontent through
the country, 72.
ABERCROMBIE, colonel
, killed at Bunker's
Hill, i. 128.
Abercrombie, colonel, expedition of, i. 372.
His
fortie from York, ii. 410.
Adams, Samuel, a leader in the provincial con-
greſs of Maſſachuſett's Bay, i. 120. Excepted
from the proffered pardon by government, 124.
Allegany mountains, i. 3.
Allen, Ethan, ſurpriſes Ticonderoga, i. 131. And
Crown Point, 132.
Anerica. See Colonies, Congreſs, and the ſeveral
provinces by name
Americans, fertility of genius of, i. 167. Driven
out of Canada, 178. Defeated at Long Iland,
195. Glorious retreat of, 197. Diſheartened
by their loſſes, 206. Animoſities between the
northern and ſouthern troops, 207. Burn part
of New York, 209. Principle of their army,
222: Become deſpondent on the ſucceſs of the
Britiſh arms, 225. Of Carolina and Virginia,
defeat the Indians, 250. Fleet of, burnt, 305.
Diſcontents of, on the diſappointment at Rhode
Inand, ii. 38. Alliance of, with France, unites
and rouſes the Britiſh, 75. Army of, with
that of France, beſieges Savannah, 127. At-
tacks the Britiſh lines, 130. Repulſed, 131.
Junction of forces under Sumpter, Clarke, and
Brannen, 228.
André, major, adventure of, äi. 250. His ami .
iſg
B.
Baillie, colonel. See Eaſt Indies.
Barrington, admiral, fails with the Britiſh flect
againſt St. Lucie, ii. 86. Engagement with
the French, 97. Wounded, 98.
Boſton,
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Bojlon, riotous oppoſition to the ſtamp-act, i.
39. Oppoſes the board of cuſtoms, 59. Riot
about the cuſtoms, 63. People propoſe hold-
ing a convention, 6.4. Inſult the foldiers, 74.
Riot, 75. Meeting at, 82. Petition the go-
vernor againſt the judges, ibid. Affembly
at, denies the right of parliament to legiſlate
for the colonies, 83. Petition his majelty to
remove the governor, 84. Riot about the in-
troduction of tea, 86. People deſtroy the
cargoes of two ſhips laden with tea, 87. Port
ſhut by an act of parliament, 88. Proceed.
ings in, on hearing of the port-bill, 92. Ex-
hort the other colonies to give up all trade with
Britain, 93. Cauſe of, eſpouſed by thc other
colonics, 96. Meeting of delegates at, 100.
Effects of ſhutting the port of, 112. Block-
ade of Britiſh troops at, 166. Evacuated by
the Britiſh, 167. Riot at, between the Amc.
rican and French ſailors, ii. 38. See Mala-
chufest's Bay.
Britnin, government of, reſolves to perſiſt in co-
ercive meaſures, i. 122. People of, generally
for the war, 258. Sends commiſſioners to treat
with the Americans, ii. 6. Breaks with France,
ibid. With Spain, 156. Differences between,
and Holland, 257. Sce Parliament, miniſters,
admirals, generals, and foreign nations by
name.
Bunker's Hill, deſcription of, i. 125. Battle of,
I 26. Errors committed in this action, 129.
Burford, the American colonel, defeated by co-
lonel Tarleton, ii. 193.
Burgoyne, general;' appointed commander of the
Britiſh northern army, i. 318. Employs the
favages, 319. Number of his troops, 320.
His manifeſto, 321. Impolicy of threatening
manifeſtocs, 322. Inveſts Ticonderoga, ibid.
And alſo Mount Independence, ibid. Which
forts are abandoned by the Americans, 323.
The ihips of the Americans are deſtroyed at
Skecneſborough, 324. He compels the Ame-
ricans to abandon their works, ibid. Part of
his army engages the Americans at Hubberton,
325
Defeats them, ibid. Stratagem of the
Americans, 326. Blamcable for the route he
took, 327. Meets with great difficulties at
Fort Edward, 330. Sends colonel Baum with
a detachment to Bennington, ibid. Which is
defeated, 333
This defeat owing to Bur-
goyne's neglecting to ſend a ſufficient number
of troops, ibid. Colonel St. Leger detached
by, invetts Fort Stanwix, 334. Obliged to
raiſe the ficgc, 335. 'That failure owing to
the inadequacy of the force given him by Bur-
goyne, ibid. Oppoſed by general Gates, who
6
takes the chief command of the Americans,
336. Action at Still Water, 337. Neither
party is victorious, ibid. The Britiſh might
have gained a deciſive victory, had Burgoyne
not burdened himſelf with more artillery than
was neceſſary, ibid. The battle ſhowed that
the Americans could fight with courage and
conduct on plain ground, ibid. Diftrefied fitu-
ation of his army, 333. Deſerted by the In-
dians, 339. Retreats to Saratoga, ibid. His
army nearly ſurrounded, 340. Bloody battle
with the Americans, 341. General Fraſer
killed, ibid. Loſs of the Britiſh very conſider-
able, ibid. Critical ſituation of the Britiſh
army, 342. He attempts to draw the Ame-
ricans to a general engagement, ibid. Which
they decline, ibid. Attempts to retreat to Fort
George, 343. Impracticable, ibid. Attempts
to retreat to Fort Edward, ilid. But finds his
retreat cut off, ilid. Is completely furrounded,
344. Endeavours to force the Americans to
fight, ibid. Makes overtures to general Gates
fór a convention, 34.5. Propoſals on both ſides,
346-348. Convention ratified, 349. Re-
flections on this event, 352. The conduct of
Burgoyne diſcuſſed, 353. Attempts to throw
the blame of his miſcarriages on fir William
Howe, and on lord George Germaine, 355.
General cauſe of his miſcarriage, 356. His
deportment after his misfortunc, 357. Throws
himſelf into oppoſition, ibid.
Burke, the celebrated Edmund. See Parliament.
Byron, admiral, fails from Portſmouth with a
fleet for North America, ii. 25. Fleet of,
diſperſed by ſtorms, 46, 47. He arrives at St.
Lucic, 91, Sails to St. Chriſtopher's to protect
thie 'homeward. bound trade, 92. Returns to
St. Lucie, 96. Action with the French, 97,
The French admiral avoids a cloſe engagement,
98. French fleet eſcapes during the night, 99.
'The loſs of the French the greater, ico.
1
C.
Calder's, fir Henry, ſervices at the reduction of
St. Lucie, ii. 87.
Cambridge, in New Hampſhire, provincial con-
grefs at, i. 113. Hoſtile deligns of, ibid.
Pailes reſolutions for preparing arms, ibid.
American army aſſembles at, 121.
Camden, lord, applied to by the aſſembly of Mal-
ſachuſett's Bay to ſecond their petition to the
king, i. 60. Diſmiſſed from his office of lord-
chancellor, 73.
Campbell, lieutenant-colonel (late fir Archibald),
taken
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III.
taken priſoner at Boſton, i. 168. Mal-treated, between the Aincrican Frerich failors, ij. 39.
ibid. Letter of, to fir William Howe, defcrip Many of the inhabitants join tlie Britiſh after
tive of the cruelties and indignities he ſuffered, the reduction of Charlettown, 192. Again
ibid. Expedition of, with Fraſer's Highland. become difaffected to Britain, 198. Many of
ers, to deſtroy the American privateers, ii. 42. them found guilty of treachery, 213.
For
Expedition under, againſt Georgia, 48. Ope which fome are puniſhed, 214.
rations and brilliant ſucceſſes, 66, 65. Maſterly Chamblé: Fort taken, i. 135.
movements, by which he compelled the Ame Charleſtocun, near Boſton, defcription of, i. 125.
ricans to fight, 70. Defeats them, 71. Re.
South Carolina, defcription of, ii.
duces Savannah, ibid, Praiſe of him and his
See Clinton, fir Henry.
troops, 72. Reduces Sunbury, 103. Expc Chriſtopher's, St. iſland of, reduced by the mar-
dition of, to Auguſta in Georgia, 105. Is quis de Bouillé, ii. 425.
ordered to retire from Georgia, and return to Climate, greater degrees both of heat and cold in
Savannah, 103
North America than in the ſame latitudes of
Canada, act for ſettlement of, i. 9o. People of, Europe, i. 3. Effect of, on the manners of
addreſſed by the aſſembly of Maſſachuſett's the ſeveral provinces, 5, 6.
Bay, 103. Deſcription of, 130. Act for Clinton, fir Henry, ſervices of, at Bunker's Hill,
ſettlement of, not popular, becauſe deemed i. 127. Makes an attempt upon the ſouthern
arbitrary, ibid.
See Carlton, and other com provinces, 183. Iſſues a proclamation, in-
manders by name:
viting the Americans to return to their allc.
Carlton, general (now lord Dorcheſter), unpo giance, ibid. Which produces no effect, ibid.
pular in Canada, becauſe active in framing the Makes an attempt againſt Charlettown, 184.
act for ſettlement of, i. 137. Neglects the Which proves unſucceſsful, 186. Sails for
merchants, cultivating the nobleſſe only, ibid. New York, 187. Expedition of, againſt Rhode
Almoſt taken by the Americans, 139. But Iſland, 220. Succeſsful, ibid. An unwiſe mea-
eſcaping, arrives at Quebec, ibid. Summoned ſure, 221. Expedition of, up the North River,
by Montgomery to Turrender Quebec, ibid. 358. Reduces Forts Montgomery and Clinton,
Refuſes, ibid. Gallant defence of Quebec by, 360. Appointed to ſucceed fir William Howe as
140. The Americans are forced to raiſe the commander in chief, 388. Evacuates Phila,
ficge, 170. Expedition againſt the Cedars, delphia, ii. 14. Marches to New York by
ibid. Which capitulates, 172,
He equips an Sandy Hook, 17. Battle of Freehold Court
armament againſt Crown Point and Ticonde Houſe, 19. Arrives at New York, 23. En .
roga, 252. Difficulty of the enterpriſe, 253. deavours to make a defcent at New London to
Defeats the Americans on the Lakes, 255. deſtroy the American privateers, 39. The
Reduces Crown Point, 256. Returns to St. unfavourable wind prevents him from landing,
John's, 257. Offended with the appointment. ibid. Sends foveral; detachments to deſtroy the
of general Burgoyne to the command of the American privateers, 41. Attacks Verplank's
northern army, 318. Much, ſuperior to Bur Neck and Stoney Point on the Hudſon River,
goyne in ſkill, cxpérience, and knowledge of
140. Reduces them, 141. Expedition of,
the country, 319. Reſigns his government, againſt Connecticut, 142. Receives a rein-
ibid.
forcement, 152. Expedition of, to South Ca.
Carliſle, earl of. See® Commiſioners.
rolina, 176. Tortifications of Charleſtown
Carolina, North and South, originally the ſame deſcribed, 178. Garriſon of, 179. Siege of,
ſettlement, planted in the reign of Charles II., 181. Reduction of, 185. Great praiſe of
i. 10. Receives a conſtitution from Mr. Locke, the officers and troops by fir Henry, 187. Ad.
which, though apparently wife in theory, not dreſs to the people of South Carolina, 190.
reducible to practice, ibid, Danger of ſpecu-
Departs for New York, 195. Applies to gc-
lative refinement in legiſlation, ibid. Expe-
neral Waſhington in behalf of major André,
rience the only ſure guide, ibid. Proceedings 251. In vain, 252.
of North Carolina agair.ft their governor, Mr. Collier, fir George, arrives at Long Iſland
Martin, 151. Who is forced to leave the pro rith a reinforcement from England, i. 199.
vince, 152. Proceedings of South Carolina Commands the fleet on the American ſtation,
againſt lord William Campbell
, their governor, ii. 134. Operations, 136. Expedition of, to
ilid. Efforts of the Britiſh in North Carolina, deſtruy the magazines of the Americans, ibid.
17. Of the Scotch emigrants, ibid. Rints Sails to aſſiſt general Maclean at Penobſcot,
I go.
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150. Relieves the garriſon, 151. Reſigns his
command, 152. Succeeded by admiral Ar-
buthnot, ibid.
Colonies naturally ſeize all opportunities of aſcer-
taining their independence, i. 1.
American, had no reaſon to expect that
they could maintain independence againſt Eng.
land, but the contrary, i. 1, 2. Geographical
deſcription of, 1-3. Divided into northern,
middle, and ſouthern, 4. Diverſities of man-
ners and inhabitants, and their cauſes phyſical
and inoral, ibid. Hiſtory of the ſettlement of,
7-9. State of commerce and revenue at the
peace 1763, IC12.
See each by name.
Commiſioners for peace (earl of Carliſle, governor
Johnſtone, and Mr. Eden, with the general and
admiral for the time being) arrive in America,
and enter on their office, ii. 9. Send their
ſecretary (the famous Dr. Adam Ferguſon)
to ſtate to the congreſs the terms which they
were authoriſed to offer, 11. To whom a
paſſport is refuſed by the Americans, ibid.
Their propoſals rejected by the Americans,
who will hear of no terms without the previous
acknowledgment of their independence, 12.
Return to England, 48. Review of their pro-
ceedings, 49. Remonftrance of, on the deten-
tion of Burgoyne's troops, 57. Manifeſto of,
58.
Concord, detachments ſent to deſtroy ſtores at, by
general Gage, i. 116. Sce Lexington.
Congreſs, general, propoſed by the aſſembly of
Maſſachuſett's Bay, ii. 31. Held at New
York, 39. Profeſſes loyalty to the king, 41.
Affected moderation of their proceedings, ibid.
Effects of the mecting of, 42.
Aſſociations
are entered into againſt the importation of
Britiſh manufactures, ibid. Sowed the ſeeds
of revolution, by uniting the grievances and
complaints of the ſeveral colonies, 57. Meots
at Philadelphia after the paſſing of the Boſton
port-hill, 102. Unanimous in reprobating the
act, and in denying the right of parliament to
tax the colonies, ibid, Number of delegates,
iliil. They fix that each colony ſhould have a
vote, 103. Precautions to prevent the whole
of their deliberations froin tranſpiring, ibid.
They publiſh a declaration of the Itate of af-
fairs in Maffiachuſett's Bay. ibid. Send a letter
to general Gage, ibid. íffue a declaration of
rights and grievances, ibid. Ground their
claim of rights on the law of nature, on the
Britiſh conſtituti n, and on their ſeveral char.
ters, 1:4. Petit on the king, 195, · Addreſs
the people of Britain, ilid. Recommend the
conduct and cauſe of the Boſtonians in an ad-
dreſs to the colonies, 106. Addreſs the Cana-
dians, ibid. Their addreſs to Canada a very
able and hurtful performance, ibid. Deſigns
of, on Canada, 130. Send deputies to Eng-
land to petition the king, 153. They are told
that no anſwer would be given, 154. Proceed
to form a conſtitution for America, 188. New
declaration of rights, 189. Of independence,
ibid. Affect to ground their aſſertion of inde-
pendence on the king's refuſal to redreſs their
grievances, ibid. Vigour of, 228. Wiſe mea-
ſures of, for increaſing the army, ibid. Ani-
mating and ſucceſsful addreſs to the people,
229. Committee of, forms a plan of a conſti-
tution for America, 244. Approve of, and
tranſmit the plan to the ſeveral ſtates, 248.
Paſs reſolutions inimical to the conciliatory
plan of Britain, ii. 2. Refuſe to fulfil the
terms of Gates's convention with Burgoyne,
Manifeſtly guilty of injuſtice, 8. Will
not admit Dr. Ferguſon to lay the Britiſh
propoſals before them, nor liſten to any terms,
without the previous acknowledgment of their
independence, 12. Groſs violation of the
convention of Saratoga, 58. From conſider-
ations of policy averſe to a general exchange
of priſoners, 2; 3;
Connecticut, means of ſubſiſtence, and employment
of the inhabitants, i. 4. Chiefly occupied in
agriculture and paſturage, ibid. Planted by
Puritans flying from the bigotted tyranny of
Laud, 7. Expedition of Clinton againſt, ii.
142. Great loſs to the inhabitants, 144. The
people think themſelves neglected by Waſhing-
ton and the congreſs, ibid. Murmurs there-
upon, itid.
Connelly, Mr. his ſcheme for attacking the Ameri-
cans from the back ſettlements, i. 150. Fruſ-
trated, 151.
Coote, fir Eyre. See Eaſt Indies.
Cornwallis, lord, penetrates into the Jerſeys, i.
219. Strikes terror into the Americans, ibid.
But is reſtrained by an order from general
Howe from taking advantage of their panic,
220. Takes the command of the Jerſey army,
236. Endeavours to bring Waſhington to a
battle, who retreats, ibid. Marches to the re-
lief of Brunſwick, 238. Takes poſſeſſion of
Philadelphia, 295. Commands a ſtrong de-
tachment againſt South Carolina, ii, 184. Left
by Clinton commander in chief there, 195.
Adminiftration of, in South Carolina, 196.
Wife regulations for the government of the
province, 197. Sets out for Camden, 205.
Battlc
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son
Battle there with general Gates, 208. Victo-
rious, 20). Conduct as a general univerſaliy
admired, 211. Marches into North Carolina,
215. A wiſe meafure, but not followed by
ſucces in proportion to its wiſdom, ilid,
Obliged to return to South Carolina, 22.4.
Falls fick, ibid. Difficulties of the army, 225.
Grcat attachment of the army to their general,
ibid. Arrives at Wynneſborough, 226. Joined
by a large reinforcement under general Leſlie,
317. Marches from Wynneſborough, 330.
Croffes the river Catawba, 327. Joined by
colonel Webſter, pr: fues general Morgan, 330.
Drives general Gruene from North Carolina,
332.
Greene re-enters that province, -333
Lord Cornwallis retires, 334. Battle with
ge-
neral Greene at Guildford, 337. Victorious,
343. But with very conſiderable loſs, 344.
Retires towards Croſs Creek, 348. Diſap-
pointed in his expectations of being joined by
the loyaliſts, ibid. Iflues a proclamation, in-
viting the Americans to return to their alle-
giance, 351. Benevolent and feeling letter
to announce the death of colonel Webſter to
his father at Edinburgh, 353. Sends meſſen-
gers to lord Rawdon, who are unfortunately
intercepted, ibid.
Embarraſſment of, 354.
Determines to march through North Carolina
into Virginia, 355. Marches from Wilming-
ton, ibid. Joined by general Arnold, 385.
Endeavours to ſtrike a blow at the marquis de la
Fayette, 386. Who decamps and eſcapes with
his army, 387. Part of his troops are ſent for
by Clinton, 393 Sets off from Williamſburgh,
394. Croſſes James River, and retires to Portf.
mouth, 395
Evacuates Portſmouth, 396.
French and American forces join, 397. "He
concentrates his troops at York and clouceſter,
ibid. The combinauunnies, under Waſhington
and Kochambeau, inveſt York Town, 409.
Cornwallis's troops make ſeveral fallies, 410,
411. Surrenders to general Waſhington, 413.
Efforts of fir Henry Clinton for the relief of,
414. Effects of the capture of, 420.
Crillon, duke of, commands the Spaniſh army
before Gibraltar, ii. 439.
Crown Point, important fituation of, i. 131.
Reduced by the Americans, 132. Abandoned
by them, 323
Cunningham, his Hiſtory of Great Britain, a clear,
accurate performance, ſuperior to any in the
language for particular and intelligible accounts
of military operations, i. 374.
Dawſon, captain of the Renown of fifty guns,
engages with a French ſhip of eighty-four, ii.
31.
Deane, Silas, American ambaſſador at Paris, ii. 5.
Delaware, lower counties on, i, 9. Seizure of
poils 0.1, u:accountably neglected by general
Howe, 238.
D'Eduing, iails with a fleet from Toulon to North
America, ii. 23. Comes to anchor off New
York, 26. Arrives at Rhode Illand, 27. In-
tends to co-operate with the American general
Sullivan, to expel the Britiſh from Rhode
Illand, 28. Fruttrated, ibid. Is oppoſed by
lord Howe, 29. Offers ha:lle to the Britiſh
admiral, ibid. Who declines fighting on ac,
count of the wind, ibirl. Tlie Üritith admiral
appearing at laſt willing to fight, is feparated
from him by a ſtorm, 30. His fleet is ſhat-
tered, 32. Which he refits at Boſton, ibid.
Sails to the Weit Indies, 47., Attempts to re-
lieve St. Lucie, 87. But is repulfed, 92. Is
reinforced by De Graſſe, but declines an en-
gagement with the Britiſh admiral, ibid. On
the departure of Byron commences offenfive
operations, ibid. Reduces St. Vincent's, 93.
Attacks Grenada, 94. Which ſurrenders, 95.
Battle with the Britiſh, 98. Declines a cloſe
engagement, though ſuperior ia force, 99.
Departs for Hiſpaniola, 102. Sails to North
America, 122. Arrives off Georgia, ibid. Sum-
mons Savannah to ſurrender, 125. Conduct,
precipitate, ibid. Attacks the Britiſh lines,
130. Repulſed with great loſs, 131. Raiſes
the fiege, 132. Returns to France, ibid.
Digby, admiral, conducts home the Spaniſh prizes,
Dominica, conquered by the French under the
marquis de Bouillé, ii. 84.
Donop, colonel, a German, bravery and conduct
of, at Red Bank, i. 302. Wounded, ibid.
Dunmore, earl, and governor of Virginia, ſends
to government a very unfavourable Itate of the
province, 143. Unpopular, makes a conci .
liatory propoſition to the council of Virginia,
144. Rejected, 145. Apprehenſive of a de
ſign to detain his perſon, 146. Narrowly eſ-
capes being ſeized, ibid. Retires to Norfolk,
ibid. Iſſues a proclamation to eſtabliſh martial
law, 11). Emancipates all flaves who ſhould
join the British, ibid. Attempts to diſlodge the
enemy from their ſtrong poſts, 148. Com-
pelled, with the loyaliſts, to abandun Norfolk,
ibid. Joins the army at New York, 149.
!
11, 257.
D.
Darby, admiral, fucceeds Geary, ii, 264.
E.
Eden, Mr, See Commiſſioners for Peace.
England.
1
Į
t
1
1
I N D E X.
1
21.
England. See Britain.
- New, phyſical and moral charallers of
the people of, i. 5. Carries on a clandeſtine
trade with Spaniſh America, 15. Diſpleaſed
with the commercial regulations of Britain,
Denies the authority of parliament to
levy taxes, 21.
Endeavours to excite oppo-
fition in the other colonies, 26. Active in
oppoſing parliamentary ſupremacy, 28. See
Naſachuſett's Bay, and the other provinces.
Tirſkine, fir William, routs a conſiderable body of
Americans, i. 281.
5. Ac.
T.
Ferguſon, Dr. Adam, appointed ſecretary to the
commiſſioners for peace, ii. 10. Refuſed a paſr-
port, 11. See Commiſſioners for Peace,
-major, appointed to command the
South Carolina loyaliſts, ii. 192.
Com
mands a body on the frontiers of North Caro-
lina, 220. His high character as an officer,
ibid. Attacked and ſurrounded by a great
nunber of Americans, 222. Intrepid courage
and mafterly conduct of, ibid. Talls, 223.
-, George, governor of Tobago, attacked
by the French, ii. 287. Sends an expreſs to
Barbadocs, ibid. Aſiſtance does not arrive in
time, ibid. Surrenders the iſland, 288.
Fleet, Engliſh See Keppel, Pallifer, Hood, Rod-
France, manifeſts a difpofition hoſtile to Britain,
i. 259. Harbours American privateers, ibid.
Ships of, accept commifions from the Ame-
ricans, 260. Carry on depredations againſt the
Britiſh trade, ibid.' Buſy in warlike prepara-
tions, ibid. Treatment of Portugal, the ally of
Britain, ibid. Enters into comincrcial and po.
litical treaties with the Americans, ii.
knowledges the independence of Anierica, ibid.
Notifics the treaties to Britain, 6. Which is
conſidered by Britain as a declaration of war,
ibid. Flect of, fails for America, 25. Com-
plains that Britain had commenced hoſtilities,
77. Fleet' of, engages Keppel, 78. Com.
bined fleets of, and of Spain, threaten an in-
vaſion of Britain, 162. Appcar off Plymouth,
163. An armament from, arrives at Rhode
Iſand, under Rochambeau and Ternay, 245-
Chief command of the troops given to Waſh-
ington, ibid. French forces join the Ameri-
cans againſt lord Cornwallis, 397. French ficet
enters the Cheſapeak, 399. Partial action bc-
tween De Graſle and admiral Graves, 400.
The armies of, and of America, arrive at
Williamſburgh in Virginia, 405. Encamp be-
fore York Town, 408. York and Glouceſter
inveſted, 409. Britiſh army under lord Corn-
wallis furrenders, 413. The French, under the
marquis de Bouillé, take the Dutch iſland St.
Euſtatius from the Britiſh, 416. A French
and Spaniſh armament befieges St. Philip's in
Minorca, 424. Compels general Murray, the
commanding officer, to capitulate, 435. The
marquis de Bouillé reduces St. Chriſtopher's,
ibid. Engagement between De Graſſe and fir
Samuel Hood, 426. Engagement between
De Graffc and admiral Rodney, 432. French
completely defeated, 433. Sce D'Efaing, and
other French commanders by name.
Franklin, Dr. Benjamin, appointed agent for the
province of Maſſachuſett's Day at the Britih
court, i. 84. Gets into his poſſeſſion ſome let-
ters of governor Hutchinſon, ibid. Tranſmits
theletters to the provincial aſſembly,ibid. Which
cxcites a flame againſt the governor, ibid. Is
diſmiſſed from his office of deputy poſt-maſter-
general for America, 85. Retires to America,
192. Becomes a leading member in the con-
greſs, ibid. Applied to by lord Howe con-
cerning peace, 193. His anſwer, ibid. Ap-
pointed ambaſſador to the court of France, ii.
5. Principally inſtrumental in concluding an
alliance with that power.
Frafer, general, repulſes the Americans at
Trois Riviers, 177. Engages the Americans,
324. Is killed, 325.
ney, &c.
French. See D'Eſtaing, de Grafe, &c.
Spaniſh.' Scc Spain.
Dutch. Sec Holland.
Ruſſian. See Neutrality.
Florida, Eaſt, preparations of the Americans to
attack, ii. 105
General Lincoln takes the
command of their troops.
,Weſt, reduction of, ii. 168. Invaded by
the Spaniards, 169. Reduced by them, ibid.
Honourable terins granted to the inhabitants,
ibid,
Fort Chamblée taken by the American general
Montgomery, i. 135.
Saint John taken, i. 136.
Edward, expedition of colonel St. Leger
to, i. 330.
Stanwix, inveſted by St. Leger, 334• Siege
of, raiſed, i. 334.
Montgomery reduced by colonel Campbell,
i. 36o.
Clinton, reduced by fir Henry Clinton,
Fox, "Hon. C. J. made fecretary of ſtate, i.
423
Plan of his adminiftration reſpecting the war,
437
1
i. 360.
Gage,
+
1 N DE X:
1
G.
4
army, ibid.
Grafton, duke of, prime minifter, i. 52. Procures
an act for duties on articles imported to Amc-
Gage, general, notifies to the affernblics of Mar rica, 53. Reſigns, 73. But continues on the
lachuſett's Bay that they muſt remove to Sa fide of government, ibid.
lem, i. 95. Finds it neceſſary to order troops Grant, general, expedition of, to the Weſt Indies,
to Boſton, 98. Fortifies Boſton, 100. Rea ii. 48. His operations there, 86. Defcats
ceives a letter from the firſt congreſs, declaring the French, go.
their rights and grievances, 103. Admoniſhes Greene, general, fucceeds Gates in the command
the congreſs of Maſſachuſett's Bay to delift of the ſouthern army, ii. 233. Haraiſes the
from their unconſtitutional proceedings, 108. British outpoſts in South Carolina, 318. Driven
Proclamation of, prohibiting feditious meet out of North Carolina, 352. Re-enters it,
ings, ibid.
Sends a detachment to deſtroy 333. Action with lord Cornwallis near Guild-
military ſtores of the Americans, 116. The ford, 337. Defeated, 343. Marches againit
detachment-driven back-to-Bolton, 118.dord Rawdon at Camden, 353. Compels Fort
by the provincial congreſs of Maſſachuſetts, Watſon to fürrender, 360. Encamps at Mill
declared an enemy, 121. Receives a reinforce Creek, 361. Beſieges Ninety-fix, 364. Sum-
ment from England, 124. Offers the Amc mons it to ſurrender, 368. Raiſes the siege,
ricans a pardon if they would return to their 373. Purſued by lord Rawdon, ibid. Battle
allegiance, ibid. Engagement with the Ame between, and colonel Stuart, near the Eutaw
ricans at Bunker's Hiil, 125
Springs, 378. Both parties.claim the victory,
Galloway, Mr. an evidence in the inquiry.con 380.
cerning general Howe's conduct, .i. 398. Grenville, George, prime miniſter, meaſures of,
Gaming, of every ſpecies, permitted and fanc concerning the colonies diſpleaſing to the inha-
tioned in the Britiſh army, i. 309. General bitants, i. 26. Propoſes the ſtamp-act, 27.
bad effects of that vice on the human mind and Which is ftrenuouſly oppoſed by the parlia-
body, ibid. Particular bad effects of, on the ment, 28. But carried by a great majority,
ibid. Diſmiſſed from his office, 27. His difa.
Garth, general, takes poffeffion of New Haven million favourable to the colonies, ibid. Cauſes:
in Connecticut, ii. 142.
of his diſmiſſion, ibid.
Gates, general, takes the command of the Amc Grey, major-general, defeats the American gc-
rican army in the north, i. 336. Commands at neral Wayne, i. 295. Expedition of, to Buz-
the battle of Still Water, 337. Declines, ha zard's Bay, ii. 39. Deſtroys the American .
zarding a general engagement, 342. Huma privateers on the Aculinet River, 40,
nity of, to the fick and wounded of the Britiſh,
ibid. Completely ſurrounds the Britiſh army
at Saratoga, 343. Orders of, againſt plunder-
H
ing, 344. Receives propoſals from
general
Burgoyne for a convention; 345. The con Hamp bire, New, inſurrection in, i. III.
vention at leogth;3497 Generous bchaviour Hancock, John, riot at Boſton concerning a ſhip
of, to the unfortunate Britiſh, 352. Appointed belonging to him, i. 63. Made preſident of
commander of the ſouthern army, ii. 200. the congreſs of Maſſachuſett's Bay, 108.
Defeated at Camden, 209. Reſigns the com Hardy, fir Charles, takes the command of the
mand, 233
Channel fect, ii. 161. Is paſſed by the com-
Geary, admiral, takes the command of the Chan bíned fleets, 162. His death, 263.
nel fleet, ii. 263. Falls in with a fleet of Haſtings, Mr. his conduct as governor-general of
French merchantmen, ibid. Religos, 264
Bengal, ii. 436.
Germaine, lord Gcorge, ſecretary of late for the Heiſter, de, the Heſtian' general, routs the Amc,
American department, accuſed by Burgoyne ricans at. Flat Buſh, i. 195..
of being the cauſe of his diſcomfiture, i. 355. Henrj, Patrick, of Virginia, violent ſpeech of, on
Satisfactorily vindicates himſelf from that the ſtamp-act, i. 33.
charge, ibid. Accuſed by fir W. Howe, 394. Holland, differences of, with Great Britain, ii,
Afferts that Howe had power to act according 257.
Carries naval ſtores to France, 258.
to circumſtances and his own diſcretion, 396. The ſhips of, ſeized by the Britiſh, ibil. Suf ..
Gibraltar, repulfe and diſcomfiture of the Spa penſion of treaties of, with Britain, 262.
niards and French before that fortreſs, ii. 438. Commercial treaty between her and America,..
Relieved by a deet under the command of lord 272.
War between her and Britain, 273.
Howe; 443...
Dutch iſland of St. Euſtatius captured, 280. .
VOL, LI..
3 N
Dutch
+
!
1
I N D E X.
200.
Dutch ſettlements on the Spaniſh Main taken, brother, to treat with the Americans, 192.
281. Action between the Britiſh and Dutch Writes to doctor Franklin and general Waſh-
fleets at the Dogger Bank, 296.
ington reſpecting peace, 193. Conference at
Hotham, commodore, his important ſervices on Staten Inand with a committee from congreſs,
Hudſon's River, i. 352. In the Preiton, a ſhip
Attacks Mud Iſland, 301.
Takes it,
of fifty guns, fights the Tonant, a French ſhip 304. Defends the harbour : New York with
of eighty, ii. 231. Commands a ſquadron fent a ſmall force, ii, 26. Sails to Rhode liland to
to the Weſt Indies, 232.
oppoſe d'Eſtaing, 30. The ficets ſeparated by
Honduras, attack upon, by captain Luttrell, ii. a ftorm, ibid. Refigns the command to ad
270.
miral Gambier, 33. See Howe, general.
Howe, general, his conduct at Bunker's Hill, i. Huyne, major-general, ſervices of, at Charleſtown,
127. Evacuation of Boſton, 166. Embarks ii. 187.
for Halifax, ibid. Cenſured by many for not Hutchinſon, governor of Maſſachuſett's Bay, i.
going rather to Long Inand, 190. Arrives 84. "Letter of, diſguils the aſſembly, ibid.
at Sandy Hook, ibid. Lands the Britiſh troops Petitions for a removal of, from his office,
at Staten Iſland, 191. Detail of his forces, ibid.
ibid. Is joined by lord Howe with a large re-
inforcement from Britain, ibid. The late arrival
J.
of the troops a great injury to the Britiſh
cauſe, 192. Empowered, with lord Howe, to Jamaica, and other Weſt India iſlands. See Ieft
treat with the Americans, ibid. Opens the
Indies, Barrington, Byron, and Rodney.
campaign, and puts the enemy to flight at Jarvis, captain (now admiral fir J.), captures the
Long Iſland, 195. Declines' attacking the Pegaſe, a French line-of-battle ſhip, ii. 437.
American lines, 196. The Americans eſcape Jerſey, attempt on, by France, ii. 131. Re-
from the iſland, 197. His orders for purſuit
pelled, ibid.
too late, 198. Makes overtures for peace to
New, peopled by the Dutch and Swedes, i.
the Americans, 200. Takes poffeffion of New 8. Operations there, fee Cornwallis and
York, 205. Engages the Americans at White Waſhington. For loſs of, fee Howe, general.
Plains, 212. Cenſured for dividing his army Indies, Weſt, clandeſtine trade of, with the Spa-
into ſmall unconnected detachments, 229. niſh ſettlements, beneficial both to theſe iflands
Blamed for giving an important command to and to Britain, i. 14. Diſtreſs of, from the
colonel Rhalle, 234. Difafter at Trenton at war, 258. Expedition of general Grant and
tributed to that cauſe, ibid. Neglects to fortify commodore Hotham to, ii. 48. Alarm of,
the poſts on the Delaware, 235. Suffers the on the ſucceſſes of the French, 102. Quieted
Jerſeys to be recovered, 239. His conduct by the departure of d'Eſtaing for Hiſpaniola,
contratted with that of general Waſhington, ibid. See Barrington, Byron, and Rodney.
241. Cloſes the campaign 1776, 243. Opens
Eaſt, Pondicherry taken by fir Hector
the campaign 1777, 277. Endeavours to bring Monro and fir Edward Vernon, ii. 82. An
Waſhington to action, 284. Relinquiſhes the armament ſets fail for, under general Mcadows,
Jerſeys, ibid. Proceeds to Cheſapeak Bay, 306. Carnatic invaded by Hyder Ally, 307.
ibid. 'Action at the Brandywinc, 292. Defeats Defeat and deſtruction of a detachment under
the Americans, 293. But does not improve colonel Baillie, 309. Gallant behaviour of the
the victory, ibid. Action at German Town, Britiſh, and barbarity of Hyder, 310. The
298. Suffers the Americans to remain undir Carnatic ravaged by Hyder, 312. The preſi-
turbed the whole winter at Valley Forge, 310. dency of Madras apply to the governor.general
General cenſure of his conduct, 311. Reſigns of Bengal for aſſiſtance, ibid. Vigorous mea-
the command of the army, 391. Imputes his ſures of Mr. Haſtings and the ſupreme council
reſignation to the want of ſupport from admi for their defence, 313. Sir Eyre Coote takes
niſtration, ibid. That allegation manifeltly un the conimand of the army at Madras, ibid.
founded, 382. Miſchianza, a feſtival in honour General Coote defeats Hyder in ſeveral battles,
of, 385. Du Portail's letter reſpecting his 314. Sir Edward Hughes takes Hyder's fea-
conduct, 384. Returns to England, 393. ports, ibid. Sir Eyre Coote prevents Hyder
Complains of defamation, itid. Obtains a par Ally from returning to the Carnatic, ibid.' Sir
liamentary inquiry, 396. Reflections on that Edward Hughes defeats Suffrein, the French
inquiry, 398.
admiral, in four battles, ibid. Haſtings detaches
lord, arrives at Sandy Hook with a fleet the Mahrattas from the intereſts of Hyder Ally,
from England, i. 190. Empowered, with his
437.
6
Indian
1
1
>
.
1 Ν D Ε Χ.
1
1
Indian favages employed by Burgoyne, i. 319.
Deſert him, 339.
Johnſtone, governor, one of the commiſſioners for
peace. See Commiſioners. Sends private letters
to members of congreſs, ii. 50. Obſervations
on theſe letters, 54. Withdraws from the
commiſſion, ibid. Makes prizes of four Dutch
Fones, Paul, action between, and a Britiſh con-
voy, ii. 164. Deſperate courage of, 165.
Fudges, American, new regulations concerning,
i. 81. Diſguſting to the Americans, 82,
Fury, trial by, claimed by the Americans on the
promulgation of the plan for trying certain
criines in England, though committed in Ame-
rica, i. 70.
i. 10.
Puryſburgh near Savannah, 106. Attempts to
ſtraiten the Britiſh quarters, 108. Truſtrated
by general Prevolt, 109. Attacks the Britiſh
under colonel Maitland, 117. Repulſed, ibid.
Is abandoned by a great part of his troops,
119.
Retires to Charleſtown, 179.
Sum.
moned by Clinton to ſurrender, 180. His firm
anſwer, 181. Capitulates, 185.
Locke, the diſtinguiſhed philoſopher, forms a code
of laws for Carolina, apparently excellent in
theory, but by experience proved ineffectual,
Loyaliſts, American, exert themſelves in Virginia,
and afterwards retire to Norfolk with lord
Dunmore, i. 147. In North Carolina fet up
the king's ſtandard, 178. Join with the
Scotch Highland emigrants, 179. Divided in
their councils, 180. Proceed to Wilmington,
ibid. Attack the Americans, 182. Defeated,
ibid. Thoſe of Jerſey and New York pillaged
and inſulted, 242. Conduct of thoſe of Phi-
ladelphia on the departure of the congreſs, 230.
Stratagem of, 371.
Luttrell, commodore, reduces the Spaniſh fort
Omoa, ii. 170.
Lutwych, commodore, deſtroys the American gal-
lies at Skencíborough, i. 324.
K.
Keppel, admiral, appointed to the command of the
Britiſh ſleet in the Channel, ii. 75. Hoſtilitics
commenced between France and England, 76.
Engagement between the Belle Poule, a French,
and the Arethuſa, an Engliſh frigate, 77. En-
gagement between the Engliſh and French
Heets, 79. Difference between Keppel and
it Palliſer, 81. Keppel tried, ibid. Honourably
acquitted, ilid. Rejoicings in London on his
acquittal, ibid. Receives the thanks of the
houſe of commons, ibid. Is appointed firſt lord
of the admiralty, 423.
Knyphaufen, general, arrives at Long Iland with
a body of Heſſians, i. 212. His ſervices at
Fort Waſhington, 217. At Brandywine, 297.
His conduct at Freehold Court Houſe, ii. 20.
Left commander of the garriſon of New York,
177. . His prudent mealures for the defence
of New York, 239.
M.
>
L.
Lee, the American general, taken priſoner, i.
226. His character and abilities, 227. His
conduct at Freehold Court Houſe meritorious,
though it met with puniſhment, ii. 20.
Leſlie, major-general, his important ſervices at
Charleſtown, ii. 187. Sent by Clinton to co-
operate with Cornwallis, 226. Ordered to join
him at Wynneſborough, ibid. Joins him there,
318. Commands part of ille army at the battle
of Guildford, 338.
Liberty, too exalted ſpeculative ideas of, lead into
moſt fatal conſequences in practice, i. 10.
Lincoln, the American general, commands in the
ſouthern colonies, ii. 105. Arrives at Charleſ-
town, ibid. Eitabliſhes his head-quarters at
Macartney, lord, governor of Grenada, ſurrenders
the iſland, ii. 195.
Maclean, colonel, character of, i. 134. His
vigorous meaſures to oppoſe the Americans in
Canada, ibid. Haftens to the defence of Que.
bec, 138. Dircets the artillery and fortifica-
tions, 139.
colonel Francis, forms a fettlement in
Penobſcot, ii. 148. Attacked by the Ame-
ricans, 150. His vigour and conduct diſap-
point the attempts of the enemy, 151. Relieved
by fir George Collier, 152.
Maitland, major, expedition of, up the Delaware,
i. 376. Deſtroys a great quantity of ſtores
and proviſions, and a number of ſhips, ibid.
Succeeds gencral Prevoſt in the command at
John's Iſland, ii. 116. Attacked by general
Lincoln, 117. Whom he repulſes, ibid.
Marches to the aſſiſtance of general Prevoſt at
Savannalı, 125. His death and character, 133.
captain of the Queen, captures l'Ac-
tionairc, a French ſhip of war, ii. 437.
Manners, influence of climate and foil on, illuſ-
trated in the northern, middle, and ſouthern
colonies of North America, i. 5-10.
Maryland, firſt ſettlement of, i. g. Carrics on a
3 N 2
con-
1
I N D E X.
Houſe, 236. Publicly thanks 'the colonci
and men for their ſervices, 238. Gazette acu
count of that affair mutilated, 239.
Meadows, general, his gallant and judicious
conduct at St. Lucie, ii. 89. Mafterly diſpo-
fition for the defence of his poſt, 99. Wounded,
ibid. Sails for the Eat Indies, 305.
Mililippi, the navigation of that river by the peace
to remain free to particular powers, ii. 445.
Moncrieff, captain, his exertions and ſervices as
chief engineer at Savannah, ii
. 133. His im-
portant ſervices as chief engineer at Charleſ-
towi, 187. His great abilities and profeſſional
character, ibill.
Montgomery's the American general, marches to
attack Canada, i. 133. Takes Fort Chamblée,
135. St. John's, 136. Montreal, ibid. Sum-
mons Quebec to ſurrender, 139. Attempts to
ſtorm it, 140. Killed, 142. His character,
ibid.
Montreal taken by the Americans, i. 130.
1
N.
conſiderable trade with Liſbon and the Medi-
terranean, 15. Delegates of, fecede from con-
greſs when declaring America independent,
189.
Mafſachuſett's Bay, fetiled by Puritans flying from
the perfecution of Laud, i. 7. Soon begins to
flouriſh, 8. Pleaſed with duties impoled by
parliament, 21. Aſembly denies the right of
the Britiſh parliament to levy taxes, 22. That
denial imputed to the continuance of the re-
publican principles of the firſt fettlers, ibid.
Propoſes aſſembling a general congreſť, 36.
This propoſal generally approved of, 37. Tu-
mults in, on the promulgation of the ſtampact,
57, 58. Diſagrecment between the inhabitants
and the governors, ibid. Afſembly of, enters
into a general confideration of grievances, 59.
Petition of, to the king, -ibid. Sends a circular
letter to the other colonies, ſtating grievances,
60. That letter ſeverely condemned by go-
vernment, but moſt favourably received by the
other colonies, 61. Aiffembly required to re-
fcind the reſolution which produced it, 62.
Which they refuſe, ard are therefore diſſolved,
ibid. The diſcontents of the people break out
into open violence, ibid. They form aſſocia-
tions for diſtreſſing the trade of Britain, 67.
Diſpleaſed with new regulations about the
judges, 81. Aſſembly denies the right of the
Britiſh parliament to legiſlate for them, 83.
Apologize afterwards for their violence, 84.
Pray for the removal of
their governor, ibid.
The people enter into aſſociations againſt the
importation of tea, 86. The people, by the
recommendation of the aſſembly, enters into re-
folutions for breaking off all trade with Bri-
tain, 97. Violence of the populace, and civil
government diſſolved, ibid. Army and mili-
tary ſtores begin to be collected, iod. Dele-
gates of the county of Suffolk meet at Boſton,
ibid. The conduct of the people receives the
unqualified approbation of the general congreſs,
101. Provincial congreſs held at Salem, 108.
Interferes in the regulation of the militia, 109.
Provide arms and military ſtores, ibid. Pro-
vincial congreſs meets at Cambridge, 113.
Prepares for hoftilities, ibid. An army raiſed,
See Boſion.
Muwhool, lieutenant-colonel, expedition under,
to aſſiſt the loyaliſts in Jerſey, i. 367. Action
at Quintin's Bridge, 368. Ingratitude of an
American ſoldier, ibid. Allion at Hancock's
Bridge, 369.
Mathew, major-general, commands at King's
Bridge, ii. 235. Sends a detachment under
colonel Norton to attack a ttrong poſt a:Young's
Newfoundland, fiſhery of, ſuffers by the diſpute
of Britain with America, ii, 58. St. Pierre
and Miquelon, iſlands near, taken from the
French, ii. 83.
Newte, captain Thomas, curious and intereſting
extract from his Tour in England and Scot-
land, ii. 446.
New York,trade of, i. 14. General congreſs held
at, 39. Reſolutions againſt the ſtamp act, 40.
(See Congreſs.) Aſſembly refuſes to ſupply the
troops with the articles directed in the new
mutiny act, 52. Legiſlative function of the
aſſembly ſuſpended by act of parliament, $9.
But afterwards reſtored, 67. Preparations to
impede the progreſs of the Britiſh, 191. Bri-
tiſh forces take poffeffion of, 205. Part of it
burned by the Americans, 208.
North, lord, made prime miniſter, i. 73. Intro-
duces a plan for repealing all duties in Ame-
rica, excepting on tea, ibid. Increaſes the
demands of the coloniſts, 79. See Parliament,
Norton, colonel. See Mathews.
Neutrality, armcd, an account of, ii. 259.
I 20.
0.
Omoa, a Spaniſh fort, key of the Bay of Hon-
duras, taken by the Britiſh, ii. 172. Heroiſm
of a Britiſh ſeaman, ibid. .
Oppoſition members ſupport the cauſe of the Amc-
ricans,
I N D E X.
ificáns, i. 69. Their ſpeeches are the means of
tailing a party at home favourable to the Ame-
ricans, ibid. Defend the conduct of the inhia-
bitants of Maſſachuſett's Bay, 70. Impede the
meaſures of government reſpecting America,
91.
Their forebodings excite the
Americans
to act as they had foretold, 91. Propoſe treat-
·ing with the congreſs,159. Support and vindi-
cate general Burgoyne after the difafter of Sara-
toga, 357. Alſo general Howe on his return
from America, and infilt on an inquiry into
the conduct of the war, 390.
Oſwald, a Britiſlı merchant, negotiates the peace
on the part of Great Britain, ii. 444.
P.
*
Paper currency of the colonies, an act pafled for
reſtraining, i. 18. State of, ig. Obſervations
on paper currency, 24.
Paine, Thomas, powerful effects of his pamphlet
called Common Senſe in producing the decla-
ration of American independence, i. 190.
Writes the Criſis, a fevere ſatire on general
Howe's feſtival, 396.
Palliſer, admiral, commands the rear of the Chan-
nel fleet under Keppel, ii. 80. Difference be-
tween, and Keppel, 81. Tried and acquitted,
ibid.
Parker, fir Peter, expedition of, againſt Rhode
Illand, i. 220.
fir Hyde, commands an armament againſt
Georgia, ii. 48. Succeſs of that expedition,
71. Engages the Dutch fleet near the Dog-
ger Bank, 296.
Parliament, actof, for the ſuppreſſion of ſinuggling,
i. 12. For impoſing duties on certain kind of
merchandiſe in America, 17. Objects of this
act, the commerce or tlie colonies, and reve.
nue of the ſtate, ibid. A&t for regulating the
paper currency of America, 18. Theſe acts oc-
caſion great diſcontents in America, 25. Act
for impoſing ſtamp duties, 27. (See Stamp aa.)
Oppoſed in America as unconſtitutional, 40.
The right of parliament to levy taxes on the
Americans denied by the congreſs, ibid. Act
for repealing the ſtamp act, 45. Accompanied
by an act declaring that parliament had a right
to legiſlate for America in every caſe, ibid. Act
for providing for the more comfortable ſubfift-
ence of the troops in America, 51. Act for
levying duties on imports into America,
53. Attacked in colonial pamphlets and news.
papers, 56. Addreſſes his Majeſty on the diſ-
orderly itatc of Maſſachuſett's Bay, 68. Dir.
continues all the duties in America, except on
tea, 73. Act for exporting tea free of duty,
85. Diſguſting to the New Englanders, ibid.
Act for ſhutting the port of Boſton, 88. Act
for changing the conſtitution of Naſſachuſett's
Bay, 89. Act for the better government of
Maſſachuſetts, go. For the ſettlement of Ca-
nada, ibid. For prohibiting the moſt diſaffected
colonies from trading with any country but
Britain, 122. Makes a conciliatory propofi-
tion to America, 123. Not accepted, 124.
His majeſty's ſpeech at the opening of, after
commencement of hoftilities, 155. Arguments
for and againſt coercive meaſures, 157, 158.
-Coercion reſolved on, 158. Meaſures adopted
accordingly, 160. Takes the American peti-
tion into conſideration, 161. Rejects it, 162.
Conciliatory bill propoſed by Mr. Burke, ibid.
Rejected, 163. Act for prohibiting all inter-
courſe with America, ibid. Conciliatory motion
by Mr. Hartley, ibid. Rejected, ibid.' By the
duke of Grafton, 164. Rejected, 165. De-
batcs on the proclamation of the Howes, 264,
265. Bill for ſecuring perſons accuſed of
high treaſon, 269. Motion by lord Chatham
for addreſſing the king againſt the war, 272.
Manly ſpeech of the ſpeaker to his majeſty re-
ſpecting the public moncy, 275. Bills for re-
conciliation with America, ii. 3.
Patterſon, general, ſervices of, at Charleſtown, ii.
18.
Penobſcot, Britiſh ſettlement in, by general Mac-
lean, and ſucceſsful defence of, ii. 151.
Penſylvania, planted by Penn with Quakers, i.
9. Aſſembly of, ſecedes from congreſs, 189,
See Philadelphia.
Penn, William, ſettles Penſylvania, i.9.
Richard, preſents a petition from congreſs
to his majeſty, i. 153.
Percy, lord (now duke of Northumberland), fent
with a detachment to ſeize the military ſtores
at Concord, near Boſton, is 116. Annoyed by
the Americans, ibid. Acquires a high charac-
ter as an officer, 120. Commands a body at
Long Iſand, 194. Carries the advanced poſts
of the enemy's camp, 218.
Pitcairne, major, killed at Bunker's Hill, i. 128.
His character, ibid.
Pitt, William (earl of Chatham), inimical to the
ſyſtem reſpecting America propoſed by govern-
ment, i. 26. His motion for an addreſs to the
throne for peace, 271.
Pigott, major-gencral, his ſucceſsful defence of
Rhode Mand, ii. 35.
Preſcot, general, carried off by the Americans, i.
286.
Prevoll,
I
A
1
Ι Ν D Ε Χ.
Pr:viſt, general, defcats the Americans, ii. 109.
Unſucceſsful attempt of, againſt Charleſtown, ii.
2. Departs for Savannahı, 116. Beſieged there
by the Americans and French, 127. His lines
attacked, 130. Repulſes the enemy with great
Putnam, general, commands a detachment from
Connecticut, i. 121. Account of, ibid. Makes
good his retrcat from New York with the Ame-
rican army, i. 207.
loſs, 132.
Spain, favours the Americans, i. z6o. Joins
the confederacy againſt Britain, ii. 158.
Blockade of Gibraltar, 167. Spaniards re-
duce Weſt Florida, 169. Attack the Britiſh
logwood-cutters in the Bay of Honduras, ibid.
Attack Gibraltar, but are repulſed, 438-442.
See France.
Stamp-aê, oppoſed by a powerful party at home,
i. 29. Cauſes of that oppoſition, 32. Not a
new ſyſtem, but a continuation of the old, 44.
Produces alarms in Britain as well as America,
45. Repeal of, ibid. Declaratory act paſſed,
ibid. Repcal of, cauſes great joy in America,
ibid. Conſidered as the dawn of independence,
ibid.
St. Leger, expedition of, i. 330. Inveſts Fort
Starwix, 334. Obliged to raiſe the fiege, 335.
Sumpter, the American colonel, defeated by Tarle-
ton, ii. 213. Joins Clarke and Brannen, 228.
1
R.
T.
Rawdon, lord (carl of Moira), commands a di-
viſion of the forces at the battle near Camden,
ii. 209. Commendation of his vigour and
enterpriſe, ibid. On the tickneſs of lord Corn-
wallis takes the command of the ſouthern army,
224. Difficult march of, in South Carolina,
225. Hard hips encountered by the troops,
ibid. . Commands the troops in South Carolina,
whither Greene alſo marches, 351. Attacks
the camp of general Greene at Hobkirk's Hill,
354. Defeats Greere, 356. Maiterly general-
fhip of, 358. Returns to Europe, 36 .
Rhode Ipand, inſurrection in, i. 111. Attempt
upon by Clinton and Parker, 220. Conquered,
ibid. Attempt of the Americans on, ii. 39:
Rivers, on the caſtern fide of North America,
navigable to near their ſource, a:d thus favour.
able to commerce, but open to naval war, i.
3.
Rockingham party come into adminiſtration, 1.
37.
Rodney, admiral (late lord), appointed to com-
mand the Britiſh fleet in the Weſt Indies, ii.
299. Convoys the proviſions to the relief of
Gibraltar, ibid. Revives the naval glory of
England, 256. Takes a ficct of Spaniſh mer-
chantmen, ibid. Gains a complete victory over
the Spaniſh fleet, 257. Relieves Gibraltar,
ibid. Gains a' molt glorious victory over the
Taxation. Sec Parliament, Stamp;a&, &c.
Tarleton, 'colonel, defeats the American colonel
Burford, ii. 193. Surpriſes and defcats the
Americans under colonel Sumpter, 212. Re-
pels Marion, the American partizan, 227. Ac-
tion with the Americans at Blackſtock's Hill,
231. Defeated by general Morgan, 323.
Ticonderoga, capture of, i. 131.
V.
ti
ii. 192.
Vaughan, general, commands a detachment of
Clinton's army, i. 306. Inveſts Fort Fayette,
Virginia, ſettled in the beginning of James the iſt's
rcign, i. 6.
General afſembly of, oppoſe the
ſtamp act, 31. Paſs a reſolution for a faſt on
account of the Boſton port-bill, 97. Propoſe an
annual congreſs of the citizens, 95. See Gorn-
wallis.
Trench, 432.
S.
Saratoga. See Burgoyne and Gates.
Savannah, beſieged by the French and American
armies, ii. 127. Siege is raiſed, 130.
Simcoe, major, ſtratagem of, i. 374.
Smuggling, prevalent to a very degree in the colo-
nics, l. 12. Regulations to prevent, ibid.
Procluce murmurs among the Americans, 13.
Affect branches of fair and lucrative trade, 14,
15.
Wallace, fir James, deſtroys the American gallies
in Æſopus Creek, i, 366.
Wayne, general, ſurpriſes Stoney Point, ii. 145.
Waſhington, general, ſmallneſs of his army at the
opening of the campaign 1776, i. 192. Applics
to general Howe for the relcaſe of Lee, 227.
Surpriſes the Britiſh troops at Trenton, 231.
This victory animates the Americans, 233.
Marches
+
Ι Ν D Ε Χ.
general character, ibid. Death of, fee Corne
wallis,
Y.
Marches into the Jerſeys, 235. His judicious
retreat, 236. Action with colonel Mawhood,
237. Recovers a great part of the Jerſeys,
239.
Wiſdom and activity of, in the winter
campaign, and well-timned proclamation, 291.
Diſtreſſed fituation of luis army, 308. Pre-
pares to impede the Britiſh in their retreat
from Philadelphia, i. 116. Battle of Freehold
Court-houſe, ji. 19. Sends a detachment to
encourage the diſaffected Carolinians, 199.
Diſtreſſes of this army. See Howe, Clinton, and
Cornwallis.
Webſter, lieutenant-colonel, his conduct at the
battle of Camden greatly praiſed, ii.211. High
York, New, granted by Charles II. to his brother,
i. 8. Averſe to giving up trade with Britain,
112. Refuſes to accede to the reſolutions of
congreſs, ibid. Local ſituation of, 205. Taken
poffeffion of by the Britiſh, ibid. Britiſh gar-
riſon of, in danger from the rigour of the
winter, îi. 233.
THE END.
1
1
Directions for placing the Plates.
210
VOL. I.
BATTLE of Bunker's Hill,
to face page 127
Battle of Long Illand, or Brooklyn
195
Fort Waſhington, afterwards called Knyphauſen
Battle of White Plains
214
Camp at Saratoga
352
Attack of Fort Clinton
362
Fayette's Poſition, Barren-Hill Church, and Matſon's Ford 377
!
210
VOL, IT.
Siege of Savannah
132
Siege of Charleſtown
185
Battle of Camden
Britiſh Troops croſſing the Catawba
329
Battle at Guildford Court Houſe, North Carolina
342
Battle at Hobkirk's Hill, South Carolina
358
Poſition of the Engliſh and French I'leets immediately previous
to the Action of the 5th of September 1781
400
Siege of York and Glouceſter in Virginia
412
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