Q__ CALiFO%> J> [3DNY <<^ [ ' ^ P"miv HISTORY O F T H E VOLUME THE SECOND. 'THE OF THE, O * THE AMERICAN WAR. By C. STEDMAN, SERVED UNDER SIR W. HOWE, SIR H. CLINTON, AN 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, CAVNDISH-SQyARE. 1794* 93622 1 . , " ; U'At V 55 \ 2, CONTENTS CHAP. XXL Page T?FFECTS of the Surrender cf Saratoga Bills brought into Parliament for 'Reconciliation and Peace 'with the Americans 'Treaties entered into between the French King and the Thir- teen revolted Colonies CommlJJioners appointed for fettling the Differences between the Mother-country and. her Colo- nies Rupture between Great Britain and France Fate of Burgoyne's Army The CommiJJioners for Peace arrive In America^ and enter on the Execution of their Office. c C H A P. XXII. The Evacuation of Philadelphia General Wajhlngton pre*- parts to impede and harafs the Britifh Troops In their Re- treat Sir H. Clinton purfues his March to New York by Sandy Hook Difpojltion of the American Army And of the Bri- ti/Jj Battle of Freehold Court Houfe in the County of Mon- moutb The Briti/Jj Army arrives at New York. 14 _\ f~ ,*. 3 CHAP, C O N T E N T S. H A R XXIIL Fags ?be French Fleet Jets fail from Toulon to North America Thither alfo a Briti/Jj Fleet fets fail under Vice-Admiral Byron The Count D'EJiaing, miffing the Britijh Army In Phila- delphia, comes to an Anchor of New York The Harbour of this Place defended by a fmall Fleet ^ under Lord Howe D* Eftaing fets fail to the Southward but changes his Courfc, and arrives at Rhode I/land American Preparations for an .Attempt on Rhode I/land -frujlrated Naval Operations Lord Howe rejtgns the Command of the Fleet to Admiral Gambier. 2$ CHAP. XXIV. A particular Account of the Progrefs and Iffue of the American Attempt on Rhode I/land^ already generally mentioned* 34 Vvp.c\V;-m,V vv' ,:.. CHAP. XXV. Difcontents and Clamours in the American States Riots betwcett the American and French Seamen at Bojfon and at Charlef- town 9 South Carolina Expedition to Buzzard's Bay Expe- ditions againjl Little Egg Harbour, a noted Rendezvous for Privateers The Weather this Summer uncommonly boifterous in the Atlantic Ocean Difperjion and Fate of the Fleet under Admiral Byron The Admiraljt niggles in vain agaitifl adverfe Fortune The Count D'Eftaing fets fail to the Weji Indies. 38 CHAP. CONTENTS, vii CHAP. XXVI, Page Expedition to the Weft Indies under the Command of General Grant 'The Britljh CommiJJloners return to England Re- view of their Proceedings Expedition againjl Georgia Re- duction of Savannah* 48 CHAP. XXVTL ar between the Americans and Indians War between France and England Channel Fleet commanded by Admiral Keppd Engagement between the French and Engli/Jj Fleets Irre- conclleable Difference between the Admirals Keppel and Pal- lifer Ittflamed by the Zeal of their refpective Partisans War In the Eaft Indies* CHAP. XXVIIT, General Alarm throughout the Britljh Weft India I/lands Quieted by the Departure of Coynt d*FJlaing to Hifpanlola Reduction cfSunbury In Georgia Colonel Campbell's Expedition to Au- gujla Circuit for the Encouragement of the Loyalifls per- formed by Colonel Hamilton Colonel Hamilton quits Augujla and returns to Savannah Attempt of General Lincoln tojlralten the Britijh Quarters Frujlrated by Colonel Prevojl Unfuc- cefsful Attempt of General Prevoft on Charlejlo'wn General Prevojl retires from Charleftoivn, and takes pojl at Johns I/land.. .-- ro2' CHAP, viii CONTENTS. CHAP. XXIX. Page General Pr-evojl departs ...from Johns I/land to Savannah Suc~ cecded in the Command at Johns I/land by Lieutenant Colonel Maitland BritiJJd Troops under Colonel Maitland attacked by General Lincoln The Americans repnlfed General Prevojl having eftablifhed a Pojl in the I/land of Port Royal, retires with the rejl of the Army to Georgia. * 115 CHAP. XXX. The Count d 'EJlaing fets fail for the American Continent and arrives on the Coaft of Georgia Efforts Military and Naval for the Prefervation of Savannah Count d* EJtaing fummortr Savannah to furrcndcr to the Arms of his Mojl Chriftian Majejly General Prcvojl fuccoured by Colonel Maitland The combined Armies of France and America be/icge Savannah / ./ O attack the Briti/Jj Lines repulfed with tonfiderable Lofs raife the Siege The Campaign to the f out h ward of North America concluded Campaign in other Parts of the American Continent fpe?it in defultory Operations Naval Operations of Sir George Collier. 1 2 1 CHAP. XXXT. ReditcTJVn of two Jlrong Pofts on Hudfons River Expedition againft Connecticut * Ravages Murmurs in Conne.cJicut Fort Stvney Point furprifed by General Wayne Stoney Point evacuated by the Americans Again poffeffed by the Britifo Briti/h Settlement in Penobfcot attacked in vain by the Americans CONTENTS. fe fage AmericansReinforcement brought to the Briti/h Army ly Ad- mlral Arbuthnot, whofucceeds Sir George Collier in the Com- mand of the Navy American Incur/ions info the Country of the Indians Incur/ions of the Indians into the American Set- tlements* ' 140 CHAP. XXXII. The Confederacy againft Great Britain joined by Spain "French Attack on Jerfey repelled Naval TranfacJions The com- bined Fleets of France and Spain threaten an Invajion of Great Britain Engagement between Captain Paul Jones and the Convoy of a Briti/h Fleet from the Baltic Blockade of Gibral- tar Incurfton of the Americans into Weji Florida Weft Flo- rida reduced by the Spaniards The Spaniards attack the Bri- ti/h Logwood-cutters in Honduras Reduction of the Spani/Jj Fort Omoa, the Key of the Bay of Honduras Protection afforded to the Briti/Jo Commerce General Retrofpeffi of Bri- tijh Affairs at the Conclufion of 1779. CHAT. XXXIII. Expedition under Sir Henry Clinton to South Carolina Forti- Jications of Cbarleftown defer ibed Garrifon of Cbarleftown Siege and 'Reduction of Cbarleftown- Incurfion of the Spa- niards into Weft Florida Confequences of the Fall of Charlef- town Three new Expeditions fet on foot by the Briti/h Com- mander His Addrefs to the Inhabitants of South Carolina Its Effecl Defeat of the American Colonel Burford Difpoft- tipn of the Britifi Troops in South CarQlmaAdminiftration of VOL, IL A Earl CONTENTS. fagc Cornwallis there^-Counter-rtvolittion aviovg tbofe who had fulmltttd to the Power of Britain on the Fall of Charlef- town Detachment from Wafbingtons Army fent Into North Carolina Movements of the American Colonel Sttmpter His Attempt on the Britfo Pojl on Rocky Point. 176 CHAP. XXXIV. Earl Cornwallis fcts out from Cbarleftown to CamdenAcJion between the Americans under General Gates , and the Brltljh under Earl Cornwallis , near Camden The American Force under Colonel Sumpter furprlfcd by Colonel Tarleton Perfidy of the Americans Retrained by Examples of Severity Lord Cornwallis marches into North Carolina ~Def cat and Fall of Major Fergufon. 204 CHAP. XXXV. The Americans under Colonel Clarke make an Attack on Au- gujla Retreat of Clarke The Detachment under Major Fer- gufon attacked and overpowered by American Mountaineers Lord Cornwallis falls back to South Carolina Colonel Tarleton checks the Inroads of the American Partisan Ma- rion Jun&ion of the American Forces under Sumpter , Clarke y and BrannenAtfion at BlackflocKs Hill between Sumpter and Tarleton. 219 CHAP. XXXVI. EffecJs of the Defeat and Fall of Major Fergufon General Gates reftgns the Command of the Southern American Army to CONTENTS, xi Page to General Greene Danger arifmg to the Britijh Garrifon in New York from the extreme Rigour of the Winter Meafures taken for the Defence of New York Unfuccefsful Attempt to ejlablijh the royal Standard in the Jerfeys. 232 CHAP. XXXVII. The Americans diflodged from Springfield^ and that Town de- Jlroyed A French Armament arrives at Rhode I/land A Scheme formed by one of General Wajhingtons Officers, Arnold^ for delivering an important Pojl into the Hands of the Bri~ tijh Army Adventure and Fate of the Britijh Adjutant- General Major Andre A general Exchange of Prifoners The Troops on both Sides retire into Winter Quarters. 243 CHAP. XXXVIII. TranfaEiions in Europe and the Weft Indies Succejjes of the Britijh Fleet under Admiral Rodney Relief of Gibraltar Growing Differences between Great Britain and Holland Armed Neutrality^ cr AJJociation among Neutral Maritime Powers, for the Jfttrpofe of ejtablijhing the DoElrine that Free Ships make Free Goods Sufpenfion of the Treaties be- tween Great Britain and Holland Naval Transitions Commercial Treaty between America and Holland War on the Part of Great Britain againfl the Dutch. - 255 _ CHAP. XXXIX. Trench Attempt on the IJland of Jerfey defeated Naval Ex- ertions of both France and Britain Relief of Gibraltar A 2 Capture CONTENT S. Capture of the Dutch IJland Si. Euftatlus And of Demarary and Ijfequibo, Dutch Settlements on the Spamjh Main Fruit- lefs Attempt of the French on St. Luck The IJland of "Tobago fur rendered tq the French. . 274 CHAP. XL. Reduction of Penfacola by the Spaniards T'he combined Fleets of France and Spain, to the Amonnt of f event y Sail, threaten DeJlrucJion to the marine Force of England The Briti/Jy Admiral, with twenty-one Ships of the Line, prudently retires- into forbay where the Enemy do not think it advifable to attack him Caufes ivby the Combined Fleets enjoyed a tern- porary Superiority over that of Great Britain AcJion between a Briti/h and a Dutch Fleet, near the Dogger Bank Briti/h Armament fent againft the Dutch Settlement at the Cape of Good Hope attacked by the French Admiral Snjfreln The Dutch Garrifon at the Cape reinforced by the French Com- modore yohnjlone makes Prinzes ff four Dutch Eajl India- men- The Briti/h Armament under General Meadows falls for the F,ajl Indies Invafwn of the Carnatic by Hyder Ally Defeat and Difajler of a Britifb Detachment under Colonel Baillie Ravages committed in the Carnatic by Hyder Ally The Command of the Briti/h Army in the Prefidency of Madras committed to Sir Eyre Coote Operations of the Bri- tift Fleet in India. 290 CHAP. XLI. Difaffeclion to Great Britain of the Southern Colonies-~Tbe Bri- tifk Army under Lord Cvrnwallis joined by a large Reinforce- ment CONTENTS. Page mcnt under General Lejlie Aft ion at the Cowpens, between General Morgan and Colonel Tarkton Colonel Tarleton de- feated Confluences of Colonel 'Tarletoti's Defeat The Army tinder Lord Cornivallis croffes the River Catawba Lord CornwalliS) joined by the other Divifion of the Army under Colonel Webjler^ purfms General Morgan A Junction formed between the two Divijions of the American Army General Greene driven out of North Carolina The Royal Standard eretled at Hill/borough General Greene, again crojjing the Dan, re-enters North Carolina Lord Cornivallis falls back from Hilljbor'ough, and takes a new Pojition EffecJs of this retrograde Movement AcJion near Gu'ildford between Lord Gornwallis and General Greene. - CHAP. XLII. Proclamation by Lord Cornwallls The Briti/h Army arrives in the Vicinity of Wilmington General Greene marches againjl Lord Raw don at Cam den Embarrajftnent of Lord Corn- wallis Lord Cornwallis determines to march through North Carolina into Virginia Lord Razvdon refolves to attack the Camp of General Greene at Hobkirk's Hill Fort VVatfon . furrenders to the Americans A Detachment under Colonel Watfon 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- ti/I} Outpojis reduced by the Americans Augujlafurrendered to the Americans. 350 CHAP. X1Y CONTENTS. CHAP. XLIII. .State of the Eriti/h Army at Ninety-ftxThe Siege of Ninety- fix raifed Lord Rawdon, having arrived at Ninety-fix, purfues General Greene Lord Rawdon, with Half his Force, marches to the Congaree Retires to OrangeburghHoJti- lities fufpended by the intenfe Heat of the Seafon Lord Rawdon, on account of his Health, embarks for Europe AcJion between Colonel Stuart and General Greene, near the Eutaw Springs Victory in this Aftion claimed by both Parties. 364 CHAP. XLIV. Operations of the Eriti/Jj Army in Virginia under the Command of General Philips DeJlrucJion of American Stores Death of General Philips Junction between the Armies under Lord Cornwallis and General Arnold Charlotteville fur- prifed by Colonel Tarleton Stratagem pracJifed with Succefs by Colonel Simcoe on Baron Steuben Unfavourable Afpett of American Affairs Apprehenfton of Sir Henry Clinton for the Safety of New York Lord Cornwallis crojjes 'James River, and retires to Portfmouth Evacuates Portfmouth, and concentrates his Force at Tork and Glocejler Jun&ion of the Forces of Wajhington and Rochambeau Naval Ope- rations The French Fleet under Count de Grajfe arrives in the Chef apeak Partial Action between the Count de GraJJe and Admiral Graves~-New London taken by General Arnold. 382 CHAP. CONTENTS, CHAP. XLV. Page The Confederate Armies arrive at William/burgh in Virginia Lord Cornivallis vindicated from the Charges of Colonel Tarleton The Combined Armies encamp before Tork Town Tork Town regularly invejled Surrendered to General Wafoington Efforts of Sir H. Clinton for the Relief of Lord Cornwallis Recapture of St. Eujlatius Succefsful Cruize of Admiral Kempenfeldt. 405 CHAP. XLVI. Effects of the Capture of Lord Cornwallis's Army Meeting of Parliament Siege of Fort St. Philip's in the I/land of Minorca Capitulation of Fort St. Philip's Reduction of the I/land of St. Chriflophers General Carleton appointed Com- mander in Chief in America inftead of Sir Henry Clinton Naval Engagement between Admiral Rodney and the Count de GraJ/e Profperity of Briti/h Affairs in the Eajt Indies Condutt of the new Adminiftration Repulfe and Dif- comjititre of the Spaniards and French before Gibraltar Relief of Gibraltar. -. * 420 HISTORY O F T H E AMERICAN WAR. CHAP. XXI. EffecJs 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 CommiJJioners appointed for fettling the Differences between the Mother-country and her Colonies Rupture between Great Britain and France Fate of Burgoyne's Army The Commijfioners for Peace arrive in America^ and enter on the Execution of their Office. T HE furrender of Saratoga forms a memorable sera in the CHAP. -A.-A.1. hiftory of the American war. Although the fuccefs of the Britifh arms had not been fo brilliant, nor the progrefs made in re- Effeas of>he preffing the fpirit of revolt fo confiderable, as either the magnitude of the force employed under fir William Howe, or the military cha- racter of that general, gave reafon to exped ; flill, upon the whole, until the unfortunate expedition from Canada, the advantages that had been gained were on the fide of Great Britain. VOL. II. B Whenever HISTORY OF THE p - Whenever the Britifti and American armies had been oppofed to J each other in the field, the fuperiority of the former was confpi- 177 * * cuous in every thing, and, in general, even in numbers. The Ame- ricans themfelves, imprefTed with an opinion of their own inferiority, were difpirited ; and it was with reluctance that they ever attempted to engage the Britifli troops upon equal, 'or even nearly equal, terms. But fo uncommon an event as the capture of a whole army of their enemies animated them with frefli ardour, invigorated the exertions- of the congrefs, leflened in the mind of the American foldier the high opinion which he had entertained of Britifli valour and difci- pline, and infpired him with a jufter confidence in himfel The confequences, however, which this event produced in Europe were of ftill greater moment. In Great Britain the moft fanguine expectations had been raffed from the Canada expedition, the rapid fuccefs of which, in its firft ftages, feemed to promife the moft for- tunate ifTue. A junction of the northern army with that at New York was confidently expected j and it was hcped that by this junction a decifive blow would be given to the rebellion, by cutting off the northern from the middle and fouthern colonies. The Bri- tifli nation, elevated with fuch hopes, and encouraged to cherrfli them by the firft intelligence from Canada, which brought an account of the almoft iaftantaneous reduction of Ticonderoga, and the de- ftrudtion or capture of the provincial naval force in Lake Cham- plain, fufFered proportionate difappointment upon hearing of the- ultimate failure of the expedition and the total lofs of the army. But if the difappointment of the nation was great,, that of the mi- niftry was ftill greater ; and in a fit of defpondency, it would feem,, they determined, for the fake of peace, and of getting rid of a troublefome and expenfive war, to give up every thing for which they had originally contended. To, the furprife of all, and to the BO fmall mortification of thofe who had hitherto zealoufly fupported the AMERICAN WAR. 3 the meafures of adminiftration, the minifter in the month of Fe- c *? A P. bruary introduced two bills into the houfe of commons, which were u. <*- ,* paffed through both houfes of parliament with great difpatch, and Bills brought received the royal aflent on the eleventh of March. By the firft of thefe the duty payable on tea imported into America, which was the original caufe of difpute, was repealed, and a lee;iflative declaration with the American*. was made, that the king and parliament of Great Britain would not in future impofe any tax or duty whatfoever payable in the colonies, except only fuch as mould be neceflary for the regulation of trade, and in fuch cafe that the nett produce of the duty fo impofed mould be applied to the particular ufe of that colony in which it mould be collected, in the fame manner as other duties collected under the au- thority of the afiemblies. By the other of thefe acts, authority was given to the king to appoint commimoners with full powers to treat, confiilt, *and agree, with any afiemblies of men whatfoever in Ame- rica, and even with individuals, concerning any grievances exifting in the government of any of the colonies, or in the laws of Great Britain extending to them, concerning any contributions to be fur- niihed by the colonies, and concerning any other regulations which might be for the common good of both countries; with a provifo, however, that fuch agreement fhould not be binding until ratified by parliament. But in the following inftances the commiflioners were to be invefted with abfolute power, exercifeable however ac- cording to their difcretion, for proclaiming a ceiTation of hoftilities by fea and land, for opening an intercourfe with the mother-country, for fufpending the operation of all acts of parliament relating to the North American colonies pafied fmce the tenth of February 1763, and for granting pardons to all defcriptions of perfons. Never perhaps was there a moment during the whole of the Bri- tilh hiftory, in which the nation had greater caufe of mortification than at the time of pafling thefe acts: And it will be difficult to de- B 2 fend 4 HISTORY OF THE c ** A p - fend the minifters of that day againft the imputation of either want -X. Al. <~ v ' of wifdom or want of firmnefs. If what was now propofed was a _o right meafure, it ought to have been adopted at firft, and before the fword was drawn : On the other hand, if the claims of the mother- country over her colonies were originally worth contending for, the ftrength and refources of the nation were not yet fo far exhaufted astojuftify minifters in relinquishing them without a further druggie. But fuch was the difappointment in confequence of the failure of the expedition from Canada, and fo great an alteration had it produced in the opinions of thofe who directed the councils of the nation, that the coneeffions which had been repeatedly refufed to the petitions of the colonifts 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 defpondence, humiliation, and debafement, was feized by the court of Verfailles to give a fatal blow to the over- grown power of her rivaL Ever fmce the commencement of the rebellion the American colonifts had been encouraged in their revolt by fecret aflurances of affiftance from the court of France, and by fupplies of money, arms, and ammunition, clandeftinely conveyed to them. The French were in the mean time making preparations; and their original defign was, probably, to abftain from an open de- claration , until Great Britain and her colonies had mutually weak- ened each other in their civil contention.. But the difafter which happened to general Burgoyne's army, and the confequent concilia- tory meafures about to be adopted by the Britifh cabinet, at laft obliged them to throw off the mafque. They knew that the Ame- ricans, notwithftanding their fuccefs at Saratoga, ftill laboured under very great difficulties; and that, for want of internal refources, whilft their foreign trade was almoft annihilated by the Britifh cruifers, it was impoflible for them, without affiftance, to keep a refpectable army in the field for any length of time ; and they dreaded, left, under fuch fuch unpromifing circumftances, they mould be induced to accept CHAP. the very liberal terms which they knew were to be offered to them*. \ __ v ./ _ ^ Q To prevent this, and to defeat the effect of the conciliatory meafures Treaties en- about to be adopted by the Britifh cabinet, two treaties were now entered into between the French kino: and the thirteen revolted co- Fr nc * 1;ia .g and the thir- lonies ; one of commerce, and another of defenfive alliance; which teen revolted were finally figned at Paris the fixth of February in the prefent 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 firft of thefe, 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 fecure the fovereignty and independence of the revolted colonies ; it being ftipulated, that if a war in confequence of this treaty fhould break out between Great Britain and France, the two contracting parties mould mutually affift each other according to their power and ability, and that peace fhould not be made without the confent of both, nor until the fovereignty and independence of the colonies, both in matters of government and commerce, fhould be either ex- prefly or -tacitly acknowledged by the king of Great Britain. A meafure of fuch confequence could not, even in France, efcape the vigilance and penetration of the lord vifcount Stormont, the Britifh ambaflador at "Paris, who, with the utmoft purity of 'morals, and even in the midft of literary purfuits, knew how to eftimate the friendly profeffions, and to penetrate the real views and defigns, of ambitious courts. Intelligence of the engagements between' France and America was quickly tranfmitted by the vifcount to the Britifh * Before the recefs of parliament for the Chriftmas holidays it was known that new and very liberal terms of reconciliation were to be offered to the Americans : And on the 24th of December the treaties between France and the revolted colonies were firft agreed upon, although they were not formally figned till the 6th of February following. miniftry ; 6 HISTORY OF THE xxi^ P * m ^ n ^ r 7 " an ^ this was the caufe why the conciliatory bills were pa-fled with fo much difpatch through the two houfes of parliament. It was, perhaps, hoped that they might reach America before the congrefs 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 foon as they were introduced into parliament, were imme- diately difpatched to the commander in chief in America, to be for- warded to the congrefs. The conciliatory acts of parliament being pafled, and a commiffion made out under the great feal, the earl Commlfilon- o f Carlifle. William Eden, and George Tohnftone. efquires (who, ers appointed for fettling with the admiral and the general commanding in America, or, in ences be- cafe of the abfence of the latter, fir Henry Clinton, were the perfons mothcr-cotm- named in the commiflion, and entrufled with the execution of the try and hr powers for fettling the differences between the mother-country and her colonies), failed for America on the twenty-fecond of April. Somewhat more than a month previous to the failing of the com- Bntam and miflioners, the French ambaflador, by order of his court, formally notified to that of London the nature of the engagements entered into between his fovereign and the American colonies, and fome days after quitted London and returned to France, about the fame time that the Britifh ambaflador quitted Paris. This notification was con- fidered as amounting to a declaration of war ; and although war was not actually declared, both kingdoms vigoroufly prepared for open hoftilities. Fate of Bur- Such was the train of political confequences which, in fucceffion, goyne's army. followed the capture of general Burgoyne's army. Here it may be proper to notice the fubfequent fate of thofe brave but unfortunate men, whom the chance of war had thus fubje&ed to the power of the Americans. By one of the articles of capitulation it was ftipu- 2 lated AMERICAN WAR. 7 lated that the furrendering army fhould be at x liberty to tranfport c ^ A P. itfelf to Great Britain, upon condition of not ferving againft Ame- rica during the war. Boflon was fixed upon as the place from which it was to embark ; and thither the Britifh troops were marched to wait for tranfports. When the army had reached its afligned quar- ters, it was found that it would be much eafier, and more expedL tious, to march the troops acrofs the country to Rhode Ifland, to meet the tranfports, than at that feafon of the year, it being the middle of winter, to bring the tranfports from thence round to* Bofton. An application was accordingly made by general Burgoyne to the congrefs, for leave to change the place of embarkation from Bofton to Rhode Ifland, or fome other port in its neighbourhood. But the congrefs, probably reflecting that the moment the conven- tion troops landed in England, an equal number could be fpared from thence to fuppfy their place in America, determined, infiead of com- plying with the general's requeft, to prohibit the embarkation of the Saratoga troops from any port whatfoever, " until a dirKnct and ex- " plicit ratification of the convention at Saratoga mould be properly " notified by the court of Great Britain to congrefs;" and entered upon their journals a refolution to that efFedt. This refolution was evidently a breach of the convention. It was 'admitted to be fo by the congrefs themfelves ; but as a kind of juftification, they pre- tended to fet forth fome grounds of fufpicion that the Britifh troops did not hold themfefves bound by the convention, and meant, if they were fuffered to depart, inftead of returning to Great Britain,.. to join the army at New York. They alfo attempted to fpecify fome inftances in which, on the part of the Britifh troops, the conven- tion had already been broken ; but the inftances on which they relied were of a nature fo frivolous and unimportant, that it was clear to. alUhe world that the congrefs, by this proceeding, facrificed national faith andl honour to prefent convenience, It 8 HISTORY OF THE It was in vain that general Burgoyne remonftrated to the congrefs -> againft the injtiftice of this refolution, and proved, to a demonftra- tion, that there was no breach of the convention on the part of the Britifh troops, even in thofe inftances, frivolous and futile as they were, on which that aflembly relied. In order to remove every doubt, and filence every objection, he offered to enter into a new engagement, mould it be defired, and to engage his officers to join In it, for fulfilling all the articles of the convention. But the con- grefs determined not to be fatisfied, and obftinately perfifled in the refolution 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 MafTachufet's Bay, was marched from thence as far to the fouthward as Virginia, in the in- terior parts of which new quarters were afligned to it ; nor were any of the convention troops releafed during the war, except fuch as were exchanged for American prifoners ; although repeated offers were made by fir Henry Clinton, and by the American commif- fioners, to ratify or renew, on the part of Great Britain, all the ar- ticles of that convention. We mould now return to the two armies, which we left towards the middle of the prefent year, the one in Philadelphia, and the other encamped in huts in the woods at Valley Forge, upon the Schuylkill, where general Wafhington had determined to remain, that he might be enabled to fend out detachments during the winter to hover round the Britifh quarters, for the purpofe of preventing a communication between them and fuch of the inhabitants in the country as were well affected to the Britifh caufe : An object which, as we have feen, for fome time, he in part accomplifhed. But before we refume the narrative of military operations it w r ill Jbe proper to advert to certain political tranfactions and circumftances 4 by by which thefe were immediately preceded, and, in Tome meafure, CHAP. -\ XI. AMERICAN WAR. h thefe wei affected. Within lefs than a fort .light after fir William Howe's departure Thicomv from Philadelphia, the Britiih commiffioners fent to offer peace to ' 1 ' * OC2.Cc 3rl*l VC North America, arrived in the Delaware, and without delay entered in America, and enter on on the execution of their office. the execution Here it may be proper, before we proceed, to relate the fteps which they took to fulfil the purpofes of their miffion ; to throw into one point of view fome previous proceedings of the congrefs, 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 affembly had determined not to accept the terms which they had to offer. In the month of November of the preceding year, the congrefs, with a view of removing the only obftacle or ground of apprehenfion which impeded the fuccefs of their application to the court of France, entered into a refolution, declaring that all propofals for a treaty with the king of Great Britain, inconfiftent with the independence of the United States, or with fuch alliances as might be formed under their authority, would be rejected. And in the month of April of the prefent year, upon the arrival of the rough draughts of the conciliatory bills, they paffed refolutions of fuch a contemptuous, infulting, and provoking nature, as left no hope that any reafonable terms of accommodation would be ac- cepted *. In thefe refolutions they affected to confider thofe bills as the fequel of an infidious plan formed by the Britifh government for enflaving America. The object of them, they maintained, was to difunite the colonies, create divifions, and prevent foreign powers from interfering in their behalf. They pretended to demonftrate * See the Refolutions of Congrefs of the 2zd of April 1778. VOL. II. G that jo HISTORY OF THE CHAP, that thofe bills were an evidence either of the weaknefs or wicked- XXI. * -,' _ nefs of the Britifh government, or both ; and, after various other farcaftic ftrictures, they finally refolved, that any man, or body of men, who mould prefume to make a feparate agreement with the Britifh commiffioners, ought to be confidered as open and avowed enemies ; and that the United States neither could nor would hold any conference with thefe commiffioners, unlefs they fhould, as a preliminary thereto, either withdraw their fleets and armies, or elfe in pofitive and exprefs terms acknowledge the independence of the United States. It happened too, that the conciliatory bills, after they had been pafled through both houfes of parliament, and re- ceived the royal aflent, being immediately difpatched to America, reached that country fome days previous to the arrival of the com- miffioners. They were forthwith forwarded to congrefs ; but that aflembly returned no other anfwer * than to refer to the aforefaid refolutions, in which they alledged that they had already exprefled their fentiments upon bills not eflentially different from thofe which were now tranfmitted to them. Although thefe previous proceedings afforded a very unfavourable profpect of the fuccefs of the negotiation, which was rendered ftill more hopelefs by the arrival of Silas Deane at York Town on the fecond of May, with copies of the treaties, already men- tioned, entered into between the French king and the American plenipotentiaries at Paris, the commiffioners neverthelefs entered upon the execution of their office with apparent alacrity. They difpatched their fecretary, doctor Adam Fergufon, a name well known in the literary world, to proceed to York Town, and lay before the congrefs a copy of their commiffion, with the concilia * Refolutions of Congrefs of the 6th of June 1778. atory AMERICAN WAR, n atory acts of parliament upon which it was founded, and a letter c ^ A p - explaining the extent of their powers, and fetting forth in detail the nature of thofe terms which they were authorifed to offer for fettling the differences between the mother-country and her co- lonies ; and propofmg to the congrefs that they fhould appoint a place for the Britifh commifTioners to meet them, either collectively or by deputation, for the further difcuffion of every fubject of dif- ference. A previous application had been made to general Wafh- ington for a paflport and fafe-conduct for Dr. Fergufon, which it was not doubted would have been granted ; but upon his arrival at the firft out-poft of the American army, he was not fuffered to proceed any farther, general Wafhington having refufed to grant a, paffport, until he fhould confult the congrefs, and have their per- miflion. Thus a man, whofe unftained integrity precluded fufpi- cion, and the celebrity of whofe writings, it might have been fup- pofed, would have fecured to him a favourable reception in any ci- vilized country on the face of the earth, was refufed permiffion even to pafs through the American territory, although the meflenger of peace and reconciliation. Such are ever the harfh and ungracious effects of ftern republican policy. Dr. Fergufon, being thus denied a paflport, returned to Philadelphia ; and, that no delay might enfue, the papers of which he was intended to have been the bearer were now forwarded to congrefs by the ordinary military pofts of their army, and reached York Town on the thirteenth of June. After deliberating for fome days on the fubject of thefe communications, the congrefs, through their prefident, returned for anfwer, that the acts of parliament, the commifiion and the commhTioners letter, all of them fuppofed the people of the American States to be fubjects of the king of Great Britain, and were founded on an idea of de- pendance which was utterly inadmiflible : But that they were ready C 2 tO i% HISTORY OF THE ** 4 p< to enter Upon the confederation of a treaty of peace and commerce, -XXI. v t not inconfiftent with treaties already fubfifting, whenever the king of Great Britain fhould demonftrate a fincere difpofition for that purpofe ; the only proof of which would be an explicit acknowledg- ment of their independence, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies ; and they approved of general Wafhington's conduct in re- fufing a paflport to Dr. Fergufon. Such was the anfwer of congrefs to the Britifh commiffioners ; an anfwer which (hewed that all ne- gotiation, except upon the ground of acknowledging their inde- pendence, would be unavailing, and that nothing but conqueft could re-unite the colonies to the Britifh empire: And fuch the ifTue of this fecond attempt to bring about a reconciliation; which, whatever might be the effect of it in Great Britain towards inducing a greater union of fentiment on the fubject of colonial affairs, produced in America no good confeqUence whatfoever. It flattered the pride of the American republicans, confirmed them in purfuing the meafures which they had adopted, and finally eftablifhed the authority of congrefs, which thq commiflioners had in fact recognized by offer- ing to treat with them. On the other hand, it had a moft unfavour- able effect upon all the inhabitants of the colonies who were attached to the Britifh caufe : Thofe who had not yet openly declared their fentiments, were difcouraged and difheartened ; whilft the active and perfecuted loyalift was plunged into the deepeft defpair. Even th? officers of the army felt themielves lowered in their own efti- mation, when, without any apparent neceflity, 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 profcribed loyalifts, the, contemptuous proceedings of congrefs, in confequence of an appli- cation which was confidered as the greater! act of condefcenfion oa the part of the mother-country, was peculiarly oflfenfive, and gave a new AMERICAN WAR. a new edge to their refentment. They hoped, as all reafonable c ** profped of accommodation was at an end, that the moft ftrenuous exertions would be made to take fignal vengeance on the authors and abettors of the rebellion, whofe guilt was now aggravated by their infolence ; and they looked with impatience for the moment when they fhould be led out to aflail the American camp at Valley Forge. 14 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXII. Evacuation of Philadelphia General Wajhington prepares to impede and harafs the Britifh Troops in their Retreat Sir H. Clinton purfucs his March to New York by Sandy Hook Difpofition of the American Army And of the BritiJJj Battle of Freehold Court Houfe in the County of Monmoutb The Britijh Army arrives at New York. P * "R^T t ^ ie ^ r ^- a &i ve rneafure of the campaign did not accord with fuch expectations. This was no other than the evacuation of ___Q Philadelphia, and the retreat of the army to New York. Prepara- tions for this purpofe were making even while the commiffioners vtere tranfmitting their difpatches to congrefs ; and before an an- fwer was received the evacuation had actually taken place. Through the interference of a hoftile maritime power, the com- mand of the fea was about to be difputed by the contending parties. Hence greater circumfpedtion became necefTaiy in the choice of pofts for the Britifh army. It was uncertain where the French might attempt to ftrike a blow ; whether upon the continent of America, or in the Weft Indies. It was therefore proper that the army mould occupy a ftation from which reinforcements might be moft eafily and expeditioufly fent wherever they mould be required. But of all the ftations hither to occupied by the fouthern army, Phi- ladelphia was the leaft adapted to fuch a purpofe. It was diftant fronv the fea not lefs than a hundred miles, and communicated 3 with AMERICAN WAR. 15 H A XXII. with it only by a winding river. Thefe, or other more weighty ' [ A p * .confiderations, influenced the miniftry fo far, that orders were fent ^ / 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 Schuylklll, where the boats and vef- fels belonging to the navy were ready to receive them. And fo ju- dicious was the admiral's arrangement, on this occafion, that the whole army, with its baggage, was pafTed over the Delaware, and encamped on the Jerfey fhore, by ten in the forenoon ; meeting with little interruption from the enemy, though the Americans entered Philadelphia before the Britifh entirely left it. The fame fleet of tranfports that carried the foldiers, provifions, and ftores, carried alfo the property of the Philadelphian merchants attached to govern- ment. The great body of the loyalifts of Philadelphia went along with the army : Such of them as had the imprudence to remain be- hind were treated with great feverity. Some were banifhed. Seve- ral were thrown into prifon, and tried for their lives. Two of thefe, Roberts and Carlifle, very refpe&able characters, of the feel: of Quakers, fufFered death. The country through which the Britifh army had to march being naturally ftrong, and abounding with difficult pafles, which, if oc- cupied by the enemy, might greatly retard its progrefs, fir Henry Clinton thought it neceflary, in order to guard againft the confe- quences of fuch obftructions, to carry along with him a confider- able quantity of baggage and a large fupply of provifions. The progrefs of the army, thus heavily incumbered, was uncommonly flow. The preparations and arrangements previous to the evacuation could not be made fo fecretly but that intelligence of them was con- veyed to general Wafhington. From this intelligence he was en- abled 16 HISTORY OF THE c ** ^ p> abled to penetrate the defign, and had detached general Maxwell Jv-A.il. u v ' with a brigade into New Jerfey, with orders to afiemble the militia, break down the bridges, and, by every means in his power, im- pede and harafs the Britim troops in their retreat, until he, with the main army, fhould crofs the Delaware and fall upon their rear. There are two roads leading from Philadelphia to New York ; one along the weftern more of the Delaware, as high as Trenton Ferry; the other, that which was taken by the Britim army, running paral- lel with the firft, but on the eaftern bank of the river. The route of the Britim army being along the eaftern bank of the Delaware as high as Trenton, general Wafhington was obliged to make a confi- derable circuit to crofs it higher up. But, even after he had effected his paflage, he kept for fome time a very cautious and refpectful diftance, fending forward detachments of his light troops to watch the motions of the Britim army, and hang on its flanks and rear. A little to the left of the moft northerly road leading from Trenton to New York, the country of New Jerfey becomes high and moun- tainous. This country general Wafhington entered when he pafled the Delaware at Correll's Ferry, and he thought that the very flow movement of the Britim army indicated a defign in fir Henry Clin- ton to draw him down from his advantageous fituation, 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 w T ith which he approached a re- treating enemy. The courfe of the Britim army now pointed from the Delaware ; and the farther it advanced in this new direction, the more general Wamington ftrengthened his detachments; all of which were compofed of chofen men. Sir Henry Clinton had hitherto met with very little moleftation from the enemy. His light troops had been fufficient to drive the Americans from the pafles which they occupied; and the greateft impedi- AMERICAN WAR. 17 impediments which he met with, arofe from the deftrucVion of the c *? A P. -X.A.11, bridges. His courfe, fo far as he had yet gone, was the fame, whe- v v ther he meant to proceed to New York by the way of Sandy Hook, or by South Amboy, oppofite to Staten Ifland, and the North River; but he had now arrived at that point where the highways diverge, and where it was neceflary for him to make an option which of thefe roads, during the remainder of his march, he would purfue. The roads which led to Staten Ifland and the North River on the left, were the fhorteft ; but in that direction the river Rariton intervened, the paffing of which, in the face of an enemy fuperior in number, might be both difficult and dangerous ; more efpecially as intelli- gence had been received that general Gates, with another army, was advancing from the northward to form a junction with general Wafh- ington, near that river. This confideration determined the Britifh SIr H - P In - ton purlues general to take the road which led to Sandy Hook, as that which his march to prefented the feweft impediments to obftruct his progrefs, and by Sa^ndy Hook- inclining to the right carried him clear of the courfe of the Rariton altogether. Along this road, therefore, the Britifh army was or- dered to march ; and having proceeded fome miles, they encamped on the twenty-feventh of June on fome high grounds in the neigh- bourhood of Freehold Court-houfe, in the county of Monmouth. General Wafhington had from time to time fo powerfully rein- Dtfpofitlon . J ofthcAme- forced his advanced detachments, that the marquis de la Fayette rican army, firft, and afterwards general Lee, were in fucceffion fent to take the command of them. They now amounted, according to general Wafhington's account, to more than five thoufand men, and had taken poft at Englifh Town, a few miles in the rear of the Britifh army. A corps of fix hundred men under colonel Morgan, ho- vered on the right flank of the Britifh, and eight hundred of the Jerfey militia, under general Dickenfon, were on the left ; whilft VOL. II. D general c HA P. general Wafhington, with the main body of the American army, XXII. J encamped about three miles in the rear of his advanced corps. Such was the difpofition of the two armies on the evening of the twenty-feventh of June ; and as it was now obvious, from the courfe which the Britifh army had lately taken, that their march was a real retreat, and not a feint ; this difcoyery feems to have at lafl de- termined the American general to rifque an attack ; which he refolved to make the following morning, before the Britifh troops fhould reach an advantageous pofition, about twelve miles in their front. Orders were accordingly fent to general Lee to begin the attack with the advanced corps as foon as the Britifh army fhould be in motion, with an intimation that general Wafhington, with the main body of the American army, would advance and fupport him. ' Sir Henry Clinton was fufficiently apprized that general Wafhington, with the American army, was near him, from the frequent appearance of his light troops during the preceding day j and judging that his defign was rather to make an attempt upon the baggage, in which he thought himfelf vulnerable, than to rifque a general engagement, he made a new difpofition in order more effectually to protect it and of the The army marched in two divifions j the van commanded by ge- neral Knyphaufen, and the rear by lord Cornwallis j but the whole of the baggage was now put under the care of general Knyphau- fen's divifion, that the rear divifion, under lord Cornwallis, which confifted of the flower of the Britifh army, being difincumbered, might be ready to act with vigour, as circumftances fhould require. This arrangement being made, general Knyphaufen's divifion, con- futing of the German troops, the yagers excepted, and the fecond battalion of light infantry, with the baggage, marched in purfuance June 28, of orders at break of day on the twenty-eighth of June, whilfl the other divifion, with which the commander in chief remained, did not AMERICAN WAR. 19 not move till near eight, that it might not prefs too clofe upon the ( H ^. p - baggage, which was fo enormous as to occupy a line of march of u- < -J j '77*'" near twelve miles in extent. But fcarcely had the rear-guard of the Britiih army defended 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 feen approaching, and foon after- wards defcending into the plain from the fame heights which the Britiih army had juft before quitted. About the fame time intelli- 5 att ! e ^ f gence was brought that large columns of the enemy were feen march- Court-houfe ing on both flanks. This intelligence confirmed the Britiih general O f Mon- in his firft opinion, that the defign of the enemy was upon his baggage ; and as that was now engaged in defiles which would con- tinue for a confiderable diftance, no other mode of affording relief to general Knyphaufen's divifion appeared to him fo eligible as that of making a vigorous attack upon the corps which appeared in his rear, and, if fuccefsful, of preffing it fo clofely, that the detachments fent forward on his flanks might be recalled to its afliftance. A difpo- fition was accordingly made for commencing the attack in the plain; but before it could be carried into execution the provincials retired, and took poft on the high ground from which they had before de- fcended. This was a ftrong pofition : But it was neceflary to at- tempt fomething decifive for the relief of the baggage, and orders being given for the Britim troops to afcend the heights, the attack was made with fo much fpirit, that the provincials were quickly obliged to give way. Their fecond line, which was *lfo ftrongly pofted, now prefented itfelf to view. Here the refiftance was greater ; but notwithstanding the heat of the day, which was ex- treme, the Britim troops, fatigued as they were, advanced to the charge with fo much order, firmnefs, and intrepidity, that their fuc- cefs in this fecond attack was not lefs complete than in the firft. The D 2 provin- CHAP, provincials now fled on all fides ; when, in this critical moment, i_. t '_ general Wafhington coming up with the main body of his army, took pofleffion of fome ftrong ground behind a defile, over which the Britifh troops muft neceflarily pafs in purfuit of the fugitives ; and by his timely arrival, and the judicious pofition which he took, probably faved his advanced corps from total ruin. Already part of the fecond Britifh line had moved to the front, and occupied fome ground upon the left flank of the enemy, which was actually turned by the light-infantry and queen's rangers; but the Britifh general having reconnoitred their pofition, and feeing, in confequence of the difficulty of the defile, the impoflibility of attacking them in front with any profpecl: of fuccefs, and being alfo confident that the end was gained for which the attack had been made, recalled his victorious troops, ready to fink under the heat and fatigue of the day, and retiring to the advantageous pofition where the firft attack had been made, fuf- fered them to reft till ten in the evening j when he refumed his march to join general Knyphaufen's divifion with the baggage, car- rying his wounded along with him, except fuch as could not with fafety be moved. Some attempts had been made upon the baggage by the enemy's light troops, which were quickly repelled through, the able difpofition made by general Knyphaufen for its fecurity ; and the two brigades of the enemy which had been fent forward on this fervice, one on each flank, were foon recalled, in confequence of the events which happened in the rear. In the different engage- ments of this day, the whole lofs of the Britifh army in killed, wounded, miffing, and thofe who died of fatigue^ amounted to three hundred and fifty-eight men, including twenty officers- Amongft the flain the officer of greateft note was the honourable lieutenant- colonel Monckton, who fell at the head of the fecond battalion of grenadiers, greatly and defervedly lamented : And fuch 4 was AMERICAN WAR. 21 was the extreme heat of the day, that three ferjeants, and fifty-fix c ** A P. -X-A.il. men, dropped dead without a wound. Colonel Monckton had been v- -> -J 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 efteem and the affec- tion of both the officers and the men. Thefe paid the moft marked tribute of refpect to his memory. During the confufion of a dan- gerous cannonade, the battalion in parties relieved each other, until, with their bayonets (being deftitute 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 moiftened with their tears. The lofs of the Americans exceeded, by a little, that of the Bri- tifh 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 vic- tory ; but with what juflice the particulars which we have related will ferve to fhew. And, independently of thefe, it is apparent that general Wafhington had, in this day's engagement, received fuch a check as determined him to draw off his troops towards the North River, and moleft his retreating enemy no farther. Wafhington, in his public, letter, fays that he lay clofe to the Britifh army after the action ; but that it went off in fuch filence, as to give no alarm of its retreat to the Americans. This filence, however, it is well known, met with one interruption ; for, juftas the Britifh were beginning; to move, fome horfes or cattle were ftraggling 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 Wafhington dates his letter to Lee, on that fame night, from Eng- Ufh Town, three miles from the field of battle* The 22 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. The conduct of general Lee on this day, which was fo feverely N i ! . < v ; arraigned, and unjuftly punifhed by the Americans, was worthy of applaufe and admiration. He had been betrayed acrofs fome nar- row paries of a marfh by the perfuafion that he had to deal with a rear-guard of only two or three battalions. When he fuddenly per- ceived fix thoufand men, including the Britifh light-infantry and grenadiers, forming to receive him, he retired with fuch quicknefs of decifion, though not attacked, that he had repafled the marfh be- fore our line was in readinefs to move. Had he, in expectation of fupport, maintained his ground on the plain, until the Britifh had attacked him, he rmift 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 fubject of animadverfion. Why, it was afked, did general Clinton encumber himfelf with fo 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 bufmefs to gain a com- munication with the fleet as quickly as poflible ; as it was of Wafh- ington again to cut it off. At no time on the march did general Clinton fhew any other difpofition than that of retreating to New York. Oeneral Washington's caution is therefore cenfurable. He ought to have attacked fo encumbered an army with all his light troops, and, in fpite of partial defeats, contended, in fuch favourable circumftances, for ultimate victory. The check that the advanced guard of the American army fuflained did not, it was faid, appear to be fo great as to juflify a declination of all farther attempts againfl the Britifh army, even at that very time." Having come up with the main body of his army, frefh and untired troops, he mould have endeavoured to turn one of general Clinton's flanks. Had he Succeeded, AMERICAN WAR. 23 fucceeded, that part of the Britiih army muft have been deftroyed, c H A p - A..A.11. as, immediately after quitting the plain, any regular mode of retreat would have been impracticable ; for, on one fide, 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. Thefe, continued on both fides for five or fix miles, precluded the action of flanking parties, at the fame time that the fummit of the precipice, open to an aflailing army, would have poured eafy de- flruction on a retreating enemy. Succefs in this quarter would have fecured equal fuccefs on the part of the army that was encumbered with baggage. And to all thefe circumftances, fo much in favour of the American general, was added the almoft immediate appearance of a French fleet on the coaft of America- Yet, in fuch a conjuncture of affairs, it was obferved the Britifli general rifked, and even courted an action, while the American fu- fered the important occafion to pafs by, when he might have termi- nated the war by one great and decifive effort. The Britifli army proceeded on its march, until, the baggage hav- ing reached Sandy Hook, there was no farther apprehenfion for its fecurity. The fleet from the Delaware was there ready to receive it; and whilft preparations were making, by a bridge of boats, for tran- porting the troops acrofs an inlet of the fea which feparates Sandy Hook from the continent, fir Henry Clinton, with the army, lay encamped at the diftance of fome miles in the country, eagerly ex- pecting general Wafliington to come up, and fully determined to give him battle. But Wafhington was, by this time, on his march to the North River ; and the Britifh general having remained for two days in this fituation, without feeing any thing of the provincials, proceeded from thence to Sandy Hook, where the army was em- barked on the fifth of July, and the fame day landed at New York. k * 4 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. ft may be mentioned as a fat in natural hiftory, but not uncon- -X.-A.1 L. < .r-J nested with this narrative, that the peninfula of Sandy Hook, by The Britifh the ftorms of the preceding winter, had been converted into an at NewYorL ifl an ^ which made it necefTary to pafs the troops acrofs the channel J uI 7- by a floating bridge. The queen's rangers, who formed the rear guard when the bridge was broken up, embarked from the Jerfey fide in boats. AMERICAN WAR, CHAP. XXIII. The French Fleet fets fail from Toulon to North America Thither alfo a BritifJ} Fleet fets fail under Vice-Admiral Byron The Count D'Eftaing, miffing the Britl/h Army in Philadelphia, comes to an Anchor off New York The Harbour of this Place defended by a fmall Fleet, under Lord Howe D'Eftaing fets fail to the South- ward but changes his Courfe, and arrives at Rhode I/land Ame- rican Preparations for an Attempt on Rhode I/land frujlrated Naval Operations Lord Howe refigns the Command of the Fleet to Admiral Gambler. THE French, as foon as they had determined to take an open CHAP. .A. -A. 1 11. and active part in behalf of the revolted colonies, began im- '- - v - * mediately to arm by fea. At Toulon they equipped a fleet of twelve A French fhips of the line and fix frigates ; which, with a confiderable num- Toulon S to m ber of troops on board, failed from thence on the thirteenth of North Amc " * r nca. April, under the command of the count D'Eftaing ; but from ad- verfe winds, did not pafs the ftraits of Gibraltar till the fifteenth of May. The Britifh miniftry, who were not unapprized of this equip- T J Jt . h Fr *J fo 7 ' r1 ^ . ^ r a Britifli fleet ment, got ready a fleet of an equal number of fhips, the command fets fail from of which was given to vice-admiral Byron. With this fleet the ad- un der vice- miral left Portfmouth on the twentieth of May, and proceeding to * Plymouth, finally failed from thence on the ninth of June, after fuch advices had been received as no longer left it doubtful that the VOL, II. E Touloa HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXIII. The count D'Eftaing, npifiing the Britifh army in Philadel- phia, comes to an anchor off New York, The harbour of this place defended by a faiall fleet under lord Toulon fquadron was bound to North America. Thefe advices were brought by captain Sutton of the Proferpine, who, from the ftraits of Gibraltar, had followed the French fleet for ninety leagues on its pafiage. The count D'Eftaing, thus poffefled of the advantage of being firft at fea, proceeded on his paflage, and arrived on the coafl of Virginia on the fifth of July, the fame day on which the Britifh 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 fituation, it is not eafy to determine what might have been the confequence of a joint ope- ration between him and general Wafhington. Some have thought that the fate of both the Britifh fleet and army would have been periloufly critical ; whilft others, lefs prone to defpondence, have maintained with much confidence 3 that nothing was to be appre- hended by either, fo long as their provifions lafted ; of which they had a fufficient (lock to enable them to hold out till the arrival of admiral Byron. The. count D'Eftaing, difappointed in his firft objeft by the eva- cuation of Philadelphia, of which he received intelligence whilft he lay off the mouth of the Chefapeak, coafted along the American fhore to the northward, and on the eleventh of July in the evening came to an anchor off New York, with an apparent defign of at- tempting to enter the harbour. The naval force under lord Howe, although much inferior to the fleet under the count D'Eftaing, was neverthelefs refpectable ; the flaips being well manned, and moft ably officered. It confifted of fix fhips of the line, and four of fifty guns, with a number of frigates and fmaller veffels i And, Intelligence of the count D'Eftaing's approach having been received fome days before he came in fight, a mafterly difpofition of this force, for the defence of the harbour, had been- made under the immediate direction of the admiral, whofe AMERICAN WAR. 27 whofe exertions were moft nobly feconded by the univerfal ardour C f A P. which prevailed not only in the navy, army, and tranfport fervice> but amongft all ranks and clafles of people at New York, who ran in crowds to offer their fervice as volunteers. A Britifh fleet blocked up in one of its own ports was fuch a phenomenon as filled them with indignation. For fome time after the count D'Eftaing came to an anchor the wind was unfavourable to the execution of his fuppofed intention ; but on the twenty-fecond of July it changed to the eaftward, and the French fleet were feen getting under way. The long-meditated attack, it was now fuppofed, was inftantly to be made ; and fo con- fident were all, that it would prove abortive in confequence of the preparations made for defence, that the critical moment which was to decide, not only the fate of the Britifh fleet, but of the army, was waited for with impatience. But the count D'Eftaing, to their great The count difappointment, as foon as his mips had weighed anchor, inftead of f ets faiklfthe attempting to enter the harbour, made fail to the fouthward, and was fouthward foon out of fight. Whether he ever ferioufly intended to make an atterrpt upon the harbour of New York, but, after reconnoitring its fituation, with the difpofitions made for defence, relinquifhed the defign as impracticable ; or whether his appearing before that har- bour was only a feint to draw the attention of the Britifh com- manders from the place where his attack was really intended; is un- certain : But after quitting New York, and Handing to the fouth- ward, as far as the mouth of the Delaware, he changed his courfe, but changes and fleered directly for Rhode Ifland, before which he arrived on and arrives at the twenty-ninth of July. Here at leaft it was foon obvious that he July meditated a real attack, in which general Sullivan, with a detach- ment from Wafhington's army, and a force collected from the aeigh^ bouring country of New England, was to co-operate. E t The HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXIII. < - T _i 1778. American preparations for an attempt on Rhode liland, fruftrated. Naval opera- tions. Auguft. The expulfion of the Britifli troops from Rhode Ifland had been in the contemplation of the provincials for feveral months paft. In the fpring of this year general Sullivan was fent to take the com- mand in its neighbourhood, and made preparations for invading it. To thefe preparations major-general fir Robert Pigott, who com- manded at Rhode Ifland, was not inattentive ; he readily perceived their object, and in order to retard them,, projected about the end of May two different enterprifes into Providence Plantation ; one con- ducted by lieutenant-colonel Campbell of the twenty-fecond, and the other by major Eyre, of the fifty-fourth regiment, both of which were fuccefsfully executed. In the firft, under lieutenant-colonel Campbell, feveral houfes at Briftol and Warren, filled with military and naval (lores, fome gallies and armed floops, and one hundred and twenty-five boats, many of them fifty feet long, which had been collected or built on the Hickamuct river, for the purpofe of the invafion, were burnt and deftroyed ; and eighteen pieces of ordnance, moft of them of heavy metal, were rendered unfervice- abk. And in the laft expedition under major Eyre, a large quan- tity of boards, plank, and other materials for {hip-building, were burnt. The loflTes fuftained by the provincials in thefe expeditions re- tarded their preparations fo much, that when the count D'Eftaing arrived off Rhode Ifland they were not in readinefs for co-operation ; and for the prefent he contented himfelf with ftationing two of his frigates in the Seaconnet Paflage on the eaft, and two of his line-of- battle {hips in the Narraganfet Paflage on the weft fide of the ifland, to interrupt the communications of the garrifon, whilft, with the remainder of his fleet, he anchored off Brenton's Ledge, at the fouth-eaft end of the ifland, in a fituation open to the fea. In this po- fition he remained until the eighth of Auguft, when, every thing being in AMERICAN WAR. 29 in readinefs on the part of the provincials, he entered the harbour CHAP. JkjLZlM with his fleet, receiving and returning the fire from feveral batteries u v ' as he palTed them, and came to an anchor between Newport and Conanicut. Upon the firft appearance of the French fleet at Rhode Ifland, a difpatch-boat was fent to New York with intelligence of this ; and on the fixth of Auguft lord Howe, after being detained for four days by contrary winds, put to fea with the Britifh fleet, which was now increafed to eight line-oS-battle fhips, five {hips of fifty guns, two of forty-four guns, and four frigates, with three fire-fhips, two bombs, and a number of fmaller veflels. With this force his lordihip appeared in fight of Rhode Ifland on the morning of the ninth of Auguft, and after having communicated with the garrifon, and informed himfelf exactly of the fituation of the French fleet, came to an anchor the fame evening off Point Judith, which forms the entrance on the fouth-weft fide into the great bay, or bafon of water which encompafles Rhode Ifland, and the other fmaller iflands adjacent. If any advantage could have been gained by finding the count D'Eftaing in a confined fituation, where his large fhips could not act with freedom, and where they were alfo liable to be annoyed by the batteries from the fhore, it was loft by the Britifh admiral's coming to an anchor fo far to the fouthward, and at fuch a diftance from the mouth of the harbour : For on the following morning, the wind having changed to the north-eaft, the French admiral embraced this opportunity of failing out of the har- bour, with all his fhips, and forming them in order of battle as they came out, bore down upon the Britifh fleet. The Britifh admiral, for the prefent, thought it prudent to decline an engagement, and ranging his fhips in order of battle, flood to the fouthward, in the hope that a fhift of wind might enable him to gain the weather- gage. Thus arranged, and thus relatively fituated, the two fleets continued in fight of each other for two days ; when the Britifh admiral, 3 o HISTORY OF THE C H A P. admiral, defpairing of a change of wind, and having failed in -X.X111. m r~* i 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 frefhening into a tremendous ftorm, not only parted the two fleets from each other, but feparated and difperfed the individual fhips of each fquadron. The Britifh admiral, in the Apollo frigate, to which fhip he had fhifted his flag from the Eagle, that he might be the better enabled to direct the operations of his fleet when in pro- fpect of an engagement, on the day on which the ftorm began, now, when the weather cleared up, found himfelf left with only fix fhips ; and the Apollo having fuftained fo much damage in the ftorm as rendered it neceflary to fend her immediately into port, he again fhifted his flag to one of the other fhips, to endeavour to collect his fcattered fleet : But having in vain looked out for them for feveral days, he at length directed his courfe for Sandy Hook, which he reached on the feventeenth, and there found the reft of his fquadron already at anchor. In his pafTage thither, the Britifh admiral nar- .rowly efcaped the French fleet, having come in fight of ten of their fhips, fome of them at anchor in the fea, about twenty-five leagues to the eaftward of Cape May. The reparation and difperfion of the two fleets gave occafion to the accidental meeting of fmgle fhips, and produced engagements between them, which terminated fo much to the honour of Britifh valour and feamanfhip, as to excite deep regret, that, after the Britifh admiral had at laft determined to engage, the ftorm fhould have intervened to prevent the action. In the evening of the thir- teenth captain Dawfon, in the Renown, of fifty guns, fell in with the French admiral's fhip, the Languedoc, of eighty-four guns, dif- mafted; and notwithftanding her great fuperiority offeree, refolutely -afTailed her with apparent advantage, until darknefs put an end to the the engagement, which would have been renewed the following CHAP. morning, had not the appearance of fix other fhips of the enemy's fleet obliged the brave captain Dawfon to defift. The fame evening, a fimilar engagement happened between the Prefton of fifty guns, commanded by commodore Hotham, and the Tonant, a French {hip of eighty guns, with her main-maft only Handing, the reft being carried away in the ftorm. The event of this engagement was fimi- lar to that of the former : It was bravely begun and fu flamed by commodore Hotham, till darknefs put an end to it in the evening, and it could not be renewed in the morning, becaufe of the appear- ance of the reft of the French fleet. But the laft of the engage- ments, produced by this untoward occurrence, of fhips of difpro- portionate force, puts all naval calculation from weight of metal at utter defiance, and gives the palm to undaunted bravery and fuperior fkill and feamanfhip. In the afternoon of the fixteenth of Auguft the Ifis, a fhip alfo of fifty guns, commanded by captain Raynor r fell in with the Caefar, a French fhip of feventy-four guns, not dif- mafted nor injured by the ftorm, but capable of chafing, and bravely engaged her for an hour and a half with fuch advantage, that at the end of this period the French fhip fheered off, and putting before the wind, left the Ifis incapable of purfuing from the damage which fhe. had fuftained in her mafts, fails, and rigging. In other refpects hec damage was inconfiderable,. and only one man was killed and: fifteen- wounded : Whereas the French fhip had been fo roughly handled^ and fo much injured in her hull,, that fhe was obliged to bear away for the harbour of Bofton to refit ; and her killed and wounded amounted to fifty, including in the latter her captain,, the celebrated Bougainville, whofe arm was fhot away in the action. If we rea- fon by analogy, thefe fpirited actions, thus nobly fuftained; againfb fliips of fuch fuperior force, can leave no room to doubt that, had the two fleets come, to action on the day on which an engagement CHAP. was expected, the event would have proved highly honourable to v v ' the Britifh flag. Of the two fleets, the French appears to have fuf- fered the moft by the ftorm, but both of them had fuftained confi- derable damage. The Britifh {hips which were difabled went into the harbour of New York to refit ; and the French admiral, after collecting his (nattered fquadron, bore away for the harbour of Bofton, in his paflage to which he again anchored off Rhode iiland, for the purpofe of communicating with the provincials, who had effected a landing upon that ifland the day before he failed out of the harbour. On this fecond vifit to Rhode Ifland he remained only one day, when he fhaped his courfe for Bofton. As foon as lord Howe's fquadron, which was now further increafed by the arrival of the Monmouth, one of admiral Byron's fleet, was fufficiently refitted, he put to fea 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 Bofton before it; but in this hope he was difappointed. Upon his entering that bay, on the thirtieth of Auguft, he found the French fleet already in the har- bour, and fo well fecured by lying within certain points of land, on which batteries had been erected to cover and command the an- chorage ground, that all attempts againft them, in this fituation, ap- peared impracticable. Having advanced to the mouth of the har- bour, and reconnoitred their pofition, he determined to quit the bay of Bofton, and proceed to the relief of Rhode Ifland ; but that ifland being evacuated by the provincials before his arrival, and his afliftance in that quarter no longer being neceflary, he returned with September, the fleet to New York, towards the middle of September. During his abfence fix more fhips of admiral Byron's fquadron had arrived at that port ; and as, in confequence of thefe arrivals, the Britifh naval force in America was now unqueftionably fuperior to the fleet under the count D'Eftaing, and would be ftill farther increafed by the ar- rival AMERICAN WAR. 33 rival of admiral Byron, in the Princefs Royal, who was daily ex- CHAP. A..X III. peeled from Halifax, his lordfhip thought this a proper moment for V- - J availing himfelf of the leave which he had fome time before obtained Lord Howe of retiring from the American ftation, on account of his health ; command^f and, refigning the command of the fleet to admiral Gambler, took tl ] e ? e< * to admiralGam- his departure for England. bier. . VOL. ir, 34 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXIV. A particular Account of the Progrefs and IJfue of the American At- tempt on Rhode I/land^ already generally mentioned. [ A P. A s our attention hitherto has been occupied in detailing the XXIV. more momentous operations of the two fleets, and the in- 177$. vafion of Rhode Ifland by the provincials has only been inci- dentally mentioned, we mail now briefly relate the progrefs and ifliie of that invafion, which would not have been undertaken but in the profpect of a co-operation from the count D'Eftaing, and which was abandoned as foon as that profpect was with- drawn. Previoufly to the arrival of the French fleet, Rhode Ifland was fufficiently protected againft an invafion from the provincials, by the garrifon which was placed in it, and by the frigates and other fmaller veflels of war which were ftationed round it for its fecurity : and foon after the arrival of the French fleet upon the American coaft, the garrifon was reinforced with five battalions under general Prefect; for it was forefeen that, if the French fleet mould appear before it, the Britifh naval fqrce ftationed there would be rendered ineffective, and the fecurity of the place muft, for a time at leaft, depend chiefly upon the ftrength of the garrifon. The event jufti- fied this precaution ; for as foon as the count D'Eftaing had detached ( two of his line-of- battle mips into the Narraganfet Paflage, and as many frigates into the Seaconnet Paflage, the retreat of fuch of the Britifh mips as were advanced beyond them was cut oflf: They X could AMERICAN WAR. could neither put to fea nor return to the harbour of Newport; and c in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of the French, ^- were difmantled and burnt *. Sir Robert Pigott, too, being threat- ened with a defcent in feveral quarters at the fame time, was obliged, notwithftanding his reinforcement, to withdraw his out-pofts, and concentrate his force in an intrenched camp in the neighbourhood of Newport. Thus all the north part of the ifland was neceffarily left unguarded ; and there the provincials, under general Sullivan, fuppofed to amount to ten thoufand men, effected a landing on the ninth of Auguft, the day after the count D'Eftaing had entered the harbour of Newport. They did not, however, make their appear- ance before the Britifh lines till the fourteenth, when, taking poffef- fion of Honeyman's Hill, they began to conftruct batteries, form lines of communication, and make regular approaches, which were continued without intermiflion until the morning of the twenty-fixth. But the re-appearance of the French fleet, in its {nattered and dif- abled condition after the ftorm, and its final departure for the har- bour of Bofton to refit, threw a fatal damp upon the fpirits of the men who compofed general Sullivan's army. Great part of it con- fifted of volunteers : And thefe, diflieartened by the departure of the French fleet, returned home in fuch numbers, three thoufand of them having gone off in the courfe of one day, that, according to the American accounts, the force which at laft remained did not greatly exceed that of the Britiih garrifon.. General Sullivan's army being thus weakened by defertion, he faw the impoffibility of fuc- * Britifh Ships deHroyed at Rhode Ifland, 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, funk. Orpheus ditto ditto. King's Fifher 16 guns, burnt. Flora ditto funk. F 2 ceeding, 3 6 HISTORY OF THE CHAP ceeding, and took meafures for effecting a retreat. Orders were dif- A^l V v -y ; patcLcd to repair and ftrengthen the works in his rear, upon the north part of the ifland, and alfo at Briftol and Tiverton upon the conti- nent : Such parts of his heavieft baggage as could be fpared were fent off; and every previous preparation that was neceflary being made, he began his retreat in the night of the twenty-eighth of .Auguft. By evacuating his works in the night, general Sullivan gained a march of feveral hours, unperceived by the Britifh army, and by porting his light troops on various eminences in his line of inarch, and leaving them behind him with orders to fkirmifh with the Britifh 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 fituation at the north end of the ifland ; which, as we have feen, he had previoufly flrengthened with fome additional works, for the purpofe of covering his retreat. Day-light in the morning of the twenty-ninth difcovered to fir Robert Pigott the retreat of the enemy ; and a purfuit being in- ftantly ordered, the whole day was fpent in fkirmifhes, in which the covering parties of the provincials were fucceffively driven from the different pofts occupied by them, until they fell back upon the main body of their army, by this time encamped on the advantageous ground already mentioned. Thefe fkirmifhes were terminated by a fharp action in front of the American encampment, obftinately maintained for half an hour, at the end of which the troops engaged on both fides were withdrawn. The lofs of the provincials in killed, wounded, and miffing, during the various engagements of this day, amounted to two hundred and eleven men, including officers ; and fo obftinately did they difpute the ground with their purfuers, that the lofs of the Britifh troops was not much inferior. The latter were now, in their turn, become the aflailants, and during the following day preparations were made for attacking the provin- 5 dais AMERICAN WAR, 37 HAP. XXIV. cials in their encampment ; but, in the evening of that day, general c [ A Sullivan, after having purpofely exhibited every appearance of an intention to maintain his ground, filently ftruck his tents as foon as it was dark, and withdrew his troops unperceived j which, with the help of the numerous boats that attended upon him, were, in a few hours, tranfported acrofs the channel to the continent. His artilkry and baggage had been pafled over during the pieceding day. Fortunately for the provincials, fir Henry Clinton, who was haftening with four thoufand men to the relief of Rhode Ifland, was detained for fome days by contrary winds in his paflage through the Sound, otherwife 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 Ifland the day after it was evacuated. 8-3622 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXV. Diftontents and Clamours in the American States Riots between tfi? American and French Seamen at Bofton and at Charhjloivn^ South Carolina Expedition to Buzzard's Bay Expeditions againfi Little Egg Harbour, a noted Rendezvous for Privateers The Weather this Summer uncommonly boifterous in the Atlantic Ocean - D 1/per/ton and Fate of the Fleet under Admiral Byron The Ad- miral ftrifggles In vain againft advcrfe Fortune The Coun$ D'EJtalng fets fail to the Wejl Indies* CHAP. npHE total failure of the expedition againft Rhode Ifland occa- XXV. \__ T ' fioned great murmuring throughout the American continent^ jBtoiti particularly amongft the inhabitants of the northern ftates, who were and clamours mo fl. i n t e refted, and had in a more efpecial manner exerted themfelves in the Ame- rican ftates. to promote its fuccefs. In thefe ftates the clamours of the people- were loud againft the count D'Eftaing, for deferting them in the midft of an expedition which he knew was undertaken only in confequence of his promife of co-operation. Thefe murmurings the governing, powers prudently endeavoured to fupprefs, that they might not give offence to their new allies ; but they were neverthelefs, in part, the Riots be- caufe of a dangerous riot that happened at Bofton,, between the American 6 American and French feamen ; in which feveral of the latter were and French feverelv wounded. Nearly about the fame time. too. a fimilar riot feamen at Boftonj happened at Charleftown, in South Carolina, between the fame Charief- clafles of people, but more fatal in the effects, as fome lives on both town, South r j Carolina. lldes AMERICAN WAR. 39 fides were loft. Indeed, the manners of the people were yet fo C H A P. -2*.,/k little aflimilated, that a cordial agreement could fcarcely be expected, u -, . ,t At both thofe places, however, means were fallen upon to appeafe the tumults, and great pains were taken to give fatisfaction to the French, whom, at this early ftage of the connexion, it would have been highly imprudent to difp-uft. Sir Henry Clinton, having been difappointed in cutting off the retreat of the provincials from Rhode Ifland, returned with the fleet of tranfports towards New York, as far as New London ; at which place he propofed making a defcent, for the purpofe of deftroying a number of privateers, which, rendezvoufmg at this port, greatly infefled that part of the trade to New York which pafled through the Sound. But as he approached the mouth of the river which, paffing by New London, empties itfelf 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 fame un- favourable wind, the commander in chief here left the fleet, and continued his paffage to New York, having firft given orders to major-general, now fir Charles Grey, upon whom the command of the troops on board the tranfports now devolved, to proceed to the eaftward upon a fimilar expedition in Buzzard's Bay. The object of this expedition was to deftroy the privateers upon Expedition the Acufhnet river in Plymouth county in New England, together Grey to Buz- with a number of prizes which they had lately taken 5 and never was z $ ay * a fervice more effectually performed. The fleet of tranfports hav- ing proceeded to the eaftward with a fair wind, landed the troops on the banks of the Acufhnet river at fix in the evening of the fifth of September. And fuch 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 deftroy ed all the mips in the whole extent of the river, amounting to more than feventy fail. They alfoburnt at Bedford and c ** P * an ^ Fairhaven, the one of thefe towns fituated on the weft, and JvXV. HISTORY OF THE one of thefe towns fituated tbe other on the eaft fide of the river, a number of ftorehoufes _ __o filled with provifions, merchandife, naval and warlike ftores, and the cargoes of the prize-fhips, with feveral wharfs, and two large rope-walks. They alfo difmantled and burnt, on the eaft fide of the river, an inclofed fort mounting eleven pieces of heavy cannon, with a magazine, and barracks for two hundred men*: Thisfervice being performed with the lofs of only one man killed, four wounded, and fixteen miffing, in exchange for 'whom fixteen perfons were brought from Bedford. The troops being re-embarked, the fleet proceeded to the ifland called Martha's Vineyard, where they alfo Took or burnt feveral veflels, deftroyed a falt-work, and obliged the inhabitants to deliver up their arms, and furnifh a contribution of ten thoufand fheep, and three hundred oxen; and with this feafonable fupply of provifions the fleet returned to New York f . Another * Veflels, Stores, &e. deftroyed on Acuflinet River* the 51!* of September 1778,, by tha Troops under Major General Grey. & fail of large flu'ps, from 200 to 300 tons burden, moft of them prizes. 6 armed veflels, from 10 to 16 guns. Ajiumber of floops and fchooners, amounting in all to 70, besides whale-boats and others. 26 ftore-houfes at Bedford, and feveral at M'Pherfon's Wharf, Cran's Mills, and Fair- haven, filled with rum, fugar, melafles, coffee, tobacco, cotton, tea, medicines, gunpowder^ 'fail-cloth, cordage, Sic. Two large rope walks. 13 pieces of ordnance deftroyed at the fort, the magazine blown up, and the platform and, barracks for zoo men burnt, f Veflels, Stores, &c. taken or deftroyed by the Troops under Major GeneralGrey, atFalmouth,. in the Vineyard Sound, and at the Ifland of Martha's Vineyard, At Falmouth, 2 floops and a fchooner taken, and one floop burnt.. At Martha's Vineyard, one brig of 150 tons, and one fchooner of 70 tons burden, burnt; yid four other veflels with 23 whale-boats, taken or deftroyed. A, ; jfe}t:wo.rk deftroyed", and a confiderable quantity of fait taken. 38* ftand AMERICAN WAR. 41 Another expedition was foon afterwards planned againft Little Egg c ** A P. .A..A. \ Harbour, on the eaft coaft of New Jerfey, which was alfo a noted i , * rendezvous for privateers. The vicinity of this, otherwife infigni- Expeditions ficant, little port, to that trad of the fea through which veflels ufually pafs either in entering; or comine from the harbour of New bou f j a noteci J f rendezvous York to the fouthward, rendered it a moft convenient fituation for forprivateers, annoying the trade of that place ; and on that account the expedi- tion againft it became an object of fome confideration. To favour the fuccefs of this, as well as to procure forage, and open the coun- try on both fides of the North River, for the admiflion of provi- fions, the army was put in motion. The firft divifion, under lord Cornwallis, advancing on the weft fide of the North River into the country of New Jerfey, took a pofition between that river and New- Bridge, on the Hackinfack, the right of this divifion extending to the North River, and the left to the Hackinfack ; whilft general Knyphaufen, with the other divifion of the army, took a parallel pofition on the eaft fide of the North River," his left reaching to that river at Wepperham, and his right to the Brunx. From the rela- tive fltuations of the two divifions feparated from each other only by the North River, the whole, by means of the flat-bottomed boats, could have been aflembled on either fide of the river in lefs than twenty-four hours ; whereas general Wafhington, from not having the command of that river, could not have aflembled his troops in lefs than ten days. Senfible of thefe difadvantages, and probably forefeeing that this advanced pofition of the Britifh army was only a temporary movement, he did not attempt to -draw his 388 Hand of arms taken, with bayonets, pouches, flints, fome gunpowder, and a quantity of lead. 300 oxen, and ro,ooo fheep. loooh fterling in paper, the amount of a tax collected in Martha's Vineyard by the au- thority of the congrefs, was received of the collector. VOL. II. G troojMi 4* HISTORY OF THE c HA P. troops together, but fent forward detachments to interrupt and con- u-~, -j fine as much as poffible the operations of the Britifh foragers. One of thefe detachments was in front of lord Cornwallis'a divifion, and occupied the villages of Old and New Taapan ; a regiment of light- horfe, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Baylor, being quartered at the firft of thefe places, and a body of militia at the other- Intel- ligence of their pofition having been received, a plan was laid by lord Cornwallis for cutting them off. Lieutenant-colonel Campbell,, with the feventy-firft regiment, and the queen's rangers from gene- ral Knyphaufen's divifion, was to pafs the North River, and attack the provincials at New Taapan, whilft another column from lord Cornwallis's divifion, led by major-general Grey, fhould advance on the left, and attack thofe at Old Taapan. By fome delay which oc- curred in tranfporting lieutenant-colonel Campbell's column acrofs the North River, the boats not having arrived ia> time, and by the intelligence carried to the enemy by fome deferters from this co- lumn, the provincials at New Taapan were alarmed in time to make their efcape. But the village of Old Taapan was fo completely fur- rounded in the night by the left column, under major-general Grey, whofe prompt execution and unrivalled fuccefs in enterprifes of this nature had been the terror of the provincials ever fince the fur- prife of general Wayne, that very few of the regiment which was quartered in it were able to make their efcape. The greateft part either fell victims to the carnage incident to the confufion and un- certainty of a nightly attack ; or were fortunate to be made pri- foners ; and amongft the latter was their commander, dangercufly wounded.. The regiment was entirely ruined ; and the fuddennefs and feverity of this nightly enterprife ftruck fuch terror into the provincials that the Britifh foragers were not afterwards interrupted. In the mean time, the fquadron deftined for Little Egg Harbour, failed from New York under the direction of captain Collins of the 4 Zebra. AMERICAN WAR. 4 \^' ^ Zebra. This little fquadron confifted of the Zebra, Vigilant, Nau- C H A P tilus, fome gallies, fmall armed veflels, and tranfports. On board v. the tranfports were embarked three hundred troops from the fifth regiment, and the New Jerfey volunteers, the whole under the com- mand of captain Patrick Fergufon, of the feventieth regiment, an active, zealous, and able officer, who, in this expedition, was en- trufted with the conduct: of the land fervice. Although this fqua- 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 the country had been alarmed by receiving intelligence of the place of its deftination ; which gave an opportunity to four privateers to put to fea and make their efcape, whilft the other veflels 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 lofe no farther time in carrying it into execution. On the morning of the fixth, the wind ftill preventing the tranfports from entering the harbour, the troops were embarked on board the fmaller veflels, which, with the row-gallies, proceeded about twenty miles up the river to a place -called Chefnut Neck, where were feveral veflels, and a fmall village with ftore-houfes, 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 thefe batteries, and a breaft-work which they had alfo thrown up, they at firft made a formidable fhew of refiftance ; but as foon as the troops were landed under cover of the row-gallies, fled. The batteries, with the houfes and ftores, were immediately demolifhed by the troops, whilft the fea- men fet on fire and burnt ten large prize fhips, which in confequence of the previous alarm had been fkuttled by the provincials, and G 2 could 44 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, could not be brought off. It had been propofed to penetrate by the v.., . t ~ / fame 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 fmall train of artillery, and a corps of light-horfe ; and as, from the fhallownefs 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 enterprife as im- practicable. The troops were accordingly re-embarked, and proceeded down the river. In their paflage they were twice landed, and de- ftroyed three falt-works, and fome houfes and ftores belonging to perfons either concerned in fitting out privateers, or whofe activity in the caufe of America, and unrelenting perfecution of the loyalifts, marked them out as proper objects of vengeance. After the gallies and fmaller veflels had joined the fquadron in the harbour, they were prevented from putting to fea for fome days by contrary winds; and during this interval an officer and fome privates, deferters from Pulalki's American legion, having come on board, gave fuch an ac- count of the pofition of that corps, lying only at the diftance of twelve miles up the river, as fuggefted to the active and enterprifing mind of captain Fergufon the probability of furprifmg it. Pulafki's corps, confifting of three companies of foot, three troops of horie, and a detachment of artillery, with one brafs field-piece, was quar- tered about a mile beyond a bridge, which captain Fergufon pro- pofed to feize, for the purpofe of fecuring his retreat : And two miles beyond Pulafki's corps, lay a provincial colonel with a detach- ment of artillery, fome field-pieces, and the militia of the country.. Captain Fergufon having minutely informed himfelf of their fitua- tipn, communicated his ideas to captain Collins ; and it was agreed that the attempt mould be made. At eleven at night, two hundred, and. fifty troops were embarked in the boats, which, rowing ten miles. AMERICAN WAR. 45 up the river, landed them at four in the morning. The bridge being c HA P.' -A..X. V. immediately fecured, and left under the guard of fifty men, the reft < v ' I *7 *7 8 of the detachment pufhed forward, and furrounding the quarters of Pulafki's infantry, cut them to pieces. Very few efcaped, and only five were made prifoners. The Americans themfelves numbered fifty- that were flain, and amongft thefe three officers ; one of whom was- of rank ; the baron de Bofe, a lieutenant-colonel. As this furprife was effected within two miles of a force fuperior in number to the- aflailants, not only celerity of execution, but an immediate retreat, became necefTary, which, in confequence of the bridge having been previoufly fecured, was made with eafe and fafety. The troops were re-embarked without any other lofs than two men miffing, and one officer and two privates wounded ; and as foon as the wind proved favourable the fquadron returned to New York. The furprife of Baylor's dragoons at Old Taapanj and that of Pulafki's legion near Little Egg Harbour, both of which happened; nearly about the fame time, gave frefh occafion to the Americans to pour forth much virulent invective againft the cruelty of the Britifh- troops. But whilft we admit the feverity of the execution on both, thefe occafions, candour requires us to add, that as both thofe attacks, were made by furprife, and both in the night, and as the fuccefs of: a furprife depends in a great meafure upon celerity of execution, it'. 19 impoiTible, under fuch circumftances, for a commander, however humane, to prevent carnage. In the laft of thefe enterprifes, it is alfo to be remarked^ that captain Fergufon's foldiers were highly- irritated by intelligence immediately before received from, the de- ferters, that count Pulafki had given it out in public orders to his; legion, no longer to grant quarter .to the Britiih troops. This in- telligence afterwards appeared to be falfe ; but in the mean time captain Fergufon's foldiers acted under the imprefiion that it was. tsue ; and. to his honour it is to be related* that although .he did not; fcreen k CHAR XXV. ^_ T _|t 1778. The weather this fummer uncommonly tempeftuous in the Atlan- tic ocean. Difperfion and fate of the fleet un- der admiral Byron. fcreen the guilty, he was careful to fpare the innocent. The dwell- ing of a perfecuting committee-man he razed to the ground, but faved from the flames the houfe of a peaceable, inoffenfive Quaker, although it contained part of the baggage and equipage of PulafkTs legion, which it was an object to deftroy, and which he had not time to deftroy in any other way than by fetting fire to the houfe ; but the houfe, belonging to a peaceable man, was faved, and with it the baggage. Before the fquadron from Little Egg Harbour returned to New York, the Britim army was withdrawn from its forward pofition ; and in this quarter nothing material was undertaken or atchieved on either fide during the remainder of the feafon. The weather, throughout the whole of this fummer, appears to have been uncommonly boiflerous in the Atlantic ocean. From this caufe admiral Byron's fleet, which failed from England on the ninth of June, to counteract the defigns of count D'Eftaing on the Ame- rican coaft, was not only delayed in ksjpaflage, but was at length, on the third of July, difperfed and feparated by a ftorm. Some of the {hips arrived fmgly at New York, in the manner we have already feen ; and fix of them, under admiral Parker, having been fortunate enough to keep together, reached that port on the twenty-ninth of Auguft. But admiral Byron himfelf, in the Princefs Royal, which {hip was at laft left alone, after having made good his paflage within thirty leagues of Sandy Hook, came in fight of twelve {hips, on the eighteenth of Auguft, about ten miles to leeward of him, which, from their fignals, he at length difcovered to be the French fleet ; and as thefe {hips from their fituation equally obftruded his courfe to New York or to Rhode Ifland, he was obliged, by a neceflity 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 thefe ftihips being refitted with the utmoft AMERICAN WAR. 47 utmoft difpatch, he failed again on the fourth of September, and CHAP. Jv-X V arrived at New York about the middle of that month. The mips of u v ' _. M _ o his fquadron which arrived there before him were fo mattered and torn to pieces in the different florms they had encountered, that with all the difpatch that could be ufed they were not in readinefs.to pro- ceed to fea till the eighteenth of October. On that day the admiral The admiral failed again in queft of the count D'Eftaing, but his ill fortune ftill vahfagainfl: continued to perfecute him. Scarcely had he reached the bay of advr Bofton, when, on the firft of November, another tremendous ftorm arofe, drove his mips out to fea, and fo difabled them that he was obliged to return to Rhode Ifland to refit, and leave the bay of Bofton unguarded. The count D'Eftaing, whofe mips were by this time completely refitted, embraced the favourable opportunity of putting to fea, which the departure of the Britim fleet had given him ; and leaving the harbour of Bofton on the third of November directed Ms courfe to the Weft-Indies* 4 8 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXVI. Expedition to the Weft Indies under the Command of General Grant The Britijh CommiJJioners return to England Review of their Proceedings Expedition agaitift Georgia Reduction of Savannah. CHAP. npHE feafon for active operation between the two grand armies u. -y -i being now over, and no greater force being neceflary to be 177 ' kept at New York, during the winter, than would be fufficient for the defence of the different pofts occupied by the Britifh troops ; as foon as admiral Byron had failed from thence for the bay of Bofton, a detachment of five thoufand troops Was put under orders for em- Expedition barkation, to proceed to the Weft Indies, under the command of to the Weft Indies under general Grant. This force failed from Sandy Hook on the third of of general ' November. The tranfports were efcorted by a fquadron of fix fhips Grant. Q f war ^ un( j er t h e command of commodore Hotham. Towards the end of the fame month another embarkation took place, the object of which was the reduction of the province of Georgia. The troops fent on this fervice were commanded by lieutenant-colonel Camp- bell, of the feventy-firft regiment, and the naval force by commo- dore Hyde Parker. The Britifh About the time of the laft of thefe embarkations the Britifh com- comrmffion- ers return to miffioners took a final leave of America, and failed for England. We fhall here, therefore, interrupt the thread of hoftile detail, for the fake of giving a fummary account of their proceedings fubfe- quent to the anfwer of congrefs to their firft application. In that 5 anfwer, AMERICAN WAR. 49 anfwer, the congrefs, as a preliminary to all negotiation, had re- c quired either an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of America, or elfe that the Britifh fleets and armies fhould be with- drawn : And even then they confined the extent of the negotiation to fuch an agreement as mould not be inconfiftent with treaties already Review of fubfifting between them and foreign powers. Although the Britim cecdings. commiffioners, after receiving this anfwer, muft have been convinced that all farther attempts at negotiation with the congrefs muft be fruitlefs, they neverthelefs thought it neceflary to reply, that it might clearly appear to the world not to be owing to any backwardnefs in them, if the negotiation mould not fucceed. In this reply, dated at New York the eleventh of July, they rejected the laft of the two alter- native preliminaries, which regarded the withdrawing of the Britifh fleets and armies, as entirely inadmiflible j not only for the fake of guarding againft the defigns^ of the natural enemy of Great Britain, but for the fafety of thofe who, in America, had taken an active part in favour of the mother-country : And, with refpect to the firft of the alternatives, they declared, that if the congrefs, by the inde- pendence of America, meant no more than the entire privilege of the people of that continent to difpofe of their own property and to go- vern themfelves without any reference to Great Britain beyond what is neceflary to preferve an union of force for the fafety of the whole empire, fuch an independence had been already acknowledged in the firft letter from the commiflioners. They alfo reminded the congrefs that they had furnifhed that aflembly with a copy of the powers under which they acted, and as a reciprocal mark of confi- dence they expected that the congrefs would make known to them the powers with which they were entrufted by their conftituents to contract alliances with foreign powers ; and, as thefe alliances were to have an influence on the negotiation, fo they alfo expected copies of the treaties on which they were founded. But the congrefs took no further notice of this fecond letter of the commifljoners, than VOL. II. H barely 50 HISTORY OF THE C YYVT P ' k are ty * en * er a resolution upon their journals, importing that no v v -J anfwer mould be given to it ; as neither of the preliminary condi- f M fm Q * tions upon which alone a negotiation could commence, had been yet complied with. General Burgoyne's army being ftill retained in captivity, in direct violation of the convention under which it had furrendered, a re- monftrance on this fubject, bearing date the feventh of Auguft, was the next paper addrefTed to the conjrr^ by the Britifh commiflioners. In this remonftrance they complained with fome feverity of the de- tention of thofe crObps, demanded a free entrance for tranfports into the haj^Qftj. o f Bofton to tranfport them to Great Britain, according to the terms of the convention ; and, to remove every poffible difficulty, offered to renew and ratify on the part of Great Britain every article of that convention, more efpecially the article by which the troops were bound not to ferve againft America during the war ; and to this reprefentation they demanded a fpeedy, direct, and explicit anfwer. But the congrefs, inftead of returning a direct anfwer, tranfmitted to them a remonftrance on the conduct of governor Johnftone, one of the commiflioners, in which he was charged with attempting to bribe and corrupt fome of their members : And this remonftrance was ac- companied with a declaration that it was incompatible with the ho- nour of congrefs to hold any farther communication or intercourfe with governor Johnftone, more efpecially upon affairs in which the caufe of liberty and virtue was interefted. This charge was founded on letters written by governor Johnftone to individual members of congrefs *, with fome of whom he was per- * In confequence of an order of congrefs, that all letters received by members of that bodyy er their agents, from any fubjeA of the king of Great Britain, of a public nature, fhould b& laid before them, the following letters were laid on the table from governor Johnftone :. To FRANCIS DANA, Efq. (Private.) " DEAR Si*, I j gives me great pleafure to find your name among the lift of congrefs, becaufe I am per- AMERICAN WAR. , and for others had receiv dudion from their friends in England. Governor Johnflone had not perfonally acquainted, and for others had received letters of intro- CHAP. i 1778. only perfuaded, from perfonal knowledge of me, and my family and connexions, you can entertain no jealoufy that I would engage in the execution of any commiflion that was inamicable to the rights and privileges of America, or the general liberties of mankind ; while, on the other hand, your character muft be fo well known, that no man will fufpect you will yield any point that is contrary to the real intereft of your country; and therefore it will be prefumed we will lofe no opportunity, from falfe punctilio, of meeting to difcufs our differences fairly, and that, if we do agree, it will be on the moil liberal, and therefore the moft lafting terms of union. There are three fads I wilh to affure you of. Firft, That Dr. Franklin, on the 2 8th of March lad, in difcuffing the feveral articles we wifh to make the bafis of our treaty, was perfectly fatisfied they were beneficial to North America, and fuch as me mould accept. Second, That this treaty with France was not the firft .treaty that France had exaSed, and with which Mr. Simeon Deane had put to fea, but granted and acceded to after the fentiments of the people of Great Britain had fully changed, after the friends to America had gained tkeir points for reconciliation, and folely with a view to difappoint the good effects of our endeavours. You will be pleafed to hear the pamphlet wrote by Mr. Pulteney was a great means of opening the minds of the people of England to the real date of the queftion between us, and that it has run through thirteen editions. The third fact is, That Spain, unafked, had fent a formal meffage, difapproving of the conduct of France. All thefe I will engage to prove to your fa- tisfadtion. I beg to recommend to your perfonal civilities, my friend, Dr. Fergufon. He is a man of the greateft genius and virtue, and has always been a fteady friend to America. Private. '-^y f > ,\?', - - i *\ /*,. '* If you follow the example of Britain in the hour of her privilege, infolence, and mad- nefs, and refufe to hear us, I ftill expect, fince I am here, to have the privilege of coming among you, and feeing the country, as there are many men, whofe virtues I admire above Greek and Roman names, that I mould be glad to tell my children about. " I am, with efteem and affection, dear Sir, " Your friend and fervant, Plnladelpb'ia, June 10, 1778. " GEO. JOHNSTONE." To General JOSEPH REED. SIR, 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 Robertfon of your great worth and confequencc in the unhappy difputes that have fubfifted between Great Britain and Hz her L 5 * HISTORY OF THE CHAP. on ]y been an uniform but a flrenuous advocate in the Britifh par- - '-; liament for the rights originally claimed by the Americans ; and there- her defendants. Your pen and your fword have both been ufed 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 firft and fuperior of all human duties, muft ever command my warmeft friendship and veneration. " In the midft of thofe affecting fcenes, my feeble voice has not been wanting to flop the evils in their progrefs, and to remove, on a large and liberal footing, the caufe of all jealoufy ; that every fubjedt of the empire might live equally free and fecure in the enjoyment of the bleffings of life ; not one part dependant on the will of another with oppofite interefts, bait a general union on terms of perfect fecurity and mutual advantage. " During the conteft, I am free to confefs, my wifhes have ever been, that America might fo far prevail as to oblige this country to fee their error, and to reflect and reafon fairly in the cafe of others, heirs to the fame privileges with themfelves. It has pleafed God in his juftice fo to difpofe of events, that this kingdom is at length convinced of her folly and her faults. A commiffion under parliamentary authority is now iffued for fettling in a manner con- fiftent with that union of force on which the fafety of both parties depends, all the differences that have or can fubfift between Great Britain and America, fhort of a total feparation of in- terefts. In this commiffion I am an unworthy aflbciate. Though no man can feel the defire of cementing in peace and friendfhip every member of what was called the Biitifh empire, ftronger than myfelf ; yet I am fenfible that it might have fallen to the lot of many perfons better qualified to attain the end propofed. All I can claim is ardent zeal and upright in- tentions ; and when I reflect that this negotiation muft depend much more upon perfect in- tegrity than refinement of underftanding, where a fenfible, magnanimous people will fee their own intereft, and carefully guard their honour in every tranfaction, I am more inclined to hope, from the good-will I have always borne them, I am not altogether unqualified for the tafk. " If it be (as I hope it is) the difpofition of good men in the provinces to prefer freedom, in conjunction with Great Britain, to an union with the ancient enemy 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 fure the people in America will find in my brother-commiffioners, and myfelf, a fair and cheerful concurrence in adjufting every point to their utmoft wifh, not inconfiftent, as I faid before, with a beneficial union of interefts, which is the object of our commiffion. " Nothing could furpafa the glory you have acquired in arms, except the generous mag- nanimity of meeting on the terms of juftice and equality, after demonftrating to the world, that the fear of force could have no juft influence in that decifion, The AMERICAN WAR. 53 therefore, probably, thought himfelf entitled to take greater liberties c ** p> .A. Jv VI* with thofe whofe caufe he had fo powerfully fupported, than the 1778. " The man vvho can be inftrumental in bringing us all to aft. once more In harmony, and unite together the various powers which this conteft has drawn forth, will deferve more from* the king and people, from patriotifm, humanity, friendfhip, and all the tender ties that are affedled by the quarrel and reconciliation, than ever wa& yet beflowed on human kind. " This letter from Mr. de Berdt I fhall confider as an introduction to you, which line of com- munication I fhall endeavour by every means to improve, by public demonftrations of refpecl:, or private friendfhip, as your anfwer may enable me. " I am, with great refpeft, Sir> " Your moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, London, April u, 1778. " GEO. JOHNSTONE." To ROBERT MORRIS, Efq. (Private.) " DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, June 1 6, 1778. ** I CAME to this country in a fincere belief that a reconciliation between Great Britain and America could be eftablifhed on terms honourable and beneficial to both. I am perfuaded,. and can prove, that the laft treaty with France mould be no bar, and the firft treaty, if ever you faw it, mould be an inducement. " Suppofing every obftacle to prevent us from treating removed, we are then to confider whether the terms propofed are advantageous. I inclofe you my fentiments on the fubjedl at large ; if they concur with yours, we mall join in the work with all the prudence, and all the means poffible and virtuous. I believe the men who have conducted the affairs of America incapable of being influenced by improper motives. But in all fuch tranfadtions there is rifle, and I think that whoever ventures fhould be fecured, at the fame time that honour and emolu- ment mould naturally follow the fortune of thofe who have fteered the veflel in the ftorm, and brought her fafely to port. I think that Wafhington and the prefident have a right to every favour that grateful nations can beftow, if they could once more unite our interefts, and fpare the miferies and devastations of war. I wifh above all things to fee you, and hope you will fo contrive it. Do not think Great Britain is fo low ; remember fhe never can be lower than you were at Trenton. It is the fame blunderers who produced the war who have conducted it. When the fenfe of the nation is roufed, believe me me can make ftruggles that few have conceived, but which I mould be forry to fee exerted on fuch an occafion. " Whatever may be our fate, I fhall ever retain the ftri&eft private friend/hip for you and yours ; but let me entreat you to recall all thofe endearing ties to your recollection. " I am, with affection and efteem, dear Sir, " Your obedient fervant, GEO. JOHNSTONE." othec 4 HISTORY OF THE xxvi ** ot ^ er comtniflioners ; and being alfo fully of opinion that the pri- vileges now offered to the colonies, which were abundantly fufficient for fecuring their liberty, peace, and permanent happinefs, and more extenflve than thofe originally claimed by themfelves, ought to be thankfully accepted, perhaps he was, for that reafon, lefs fcru- pulous about the means of inducing acceptance. Although, in the extracts of the letters which were publifhed on this occafion by the congrefs, 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 thofe who fhould be inftrumental in cementing the disjointed parts of the empire, and putting an end to the horrors and devaftations of war. If we fuppofe the members of congrefs, to whom thefe letters were addrefled, to have been actuated by the pure principles of virtue, patriotifm, and love of their country, fuch letters, which held out felfim confiderations as motives to influence their conduct in a public concern of fuch magnitude, muft necefla- rily have been offenfive ; and it was probably owing to fome of- fended feeling of this fort that governor Johnflone's private cor- refpondence .was at firft difclofed, and afterwards became the fub- ject of public reprehenfion. Upon the receipt of this complaint and declaration, governor Johnftone immediately withdrew from the commiflion, and in the public act executed by him on this occafion to teftify his refolution, which was tranfmitted to the congrefs and bore date the twenty-fixth of Auguft, he feverely recriminated on that affembly, and indirectly charged them with laying hold of this pretence to avoid returning an anfwer to the requifition of the com- miffioners on the fubject of general Burgoyne's army ; in the fame manner as on a former, occafion they had pafled refolutions about the cartouch-boxes of that army, to afford a feeming juftification for breaking through the convention by which it had furrendered. And And as he had accepted the office of a commiffioner only from the CHAP. .A. /L VI. AMERICAN WAR. ted the office of a commiffi defire of furthering the work of peace and reconciliation, fo he T ** *7 $2 fignified to them his determination, that no act done by him fhould furnifh a pretence for retarding fo defirable an end. He therefore declared, that he would take no farther part in any thing that fhould be done under the commiffion, referving to himfelf, however, the privilege of publifhing, if he fhould think fit, a refutation of the afperfions which the congrefs had attempted to throw upon him. The other commiflioners at the fame time tranfmitted a declaration, fpecifying, that they were utter ftrangers to the letters, and to the feveral things mentioned in the remonftrance of the congrefs refpect- ing governor Johnftone, until they had feen them publifhed in the newfpapers : That they neither meant to admit the conftruction put upon thofe letters by the congrefs, nor to enter into an expla- nation of governor Johnftone's conduct, whofe abilities and inte- grity required no vindication from them ; but that, in juftice to him and to themfelves, and for the honour of the commiffion, they thought it necefiary to declare, that in all the converfations held with him on the fubject of their miffion, the principle of his rea~ foning feemed to be, that the terms which they were empowered to offer to America were calculated to promote and eftablifh the liber- ties, peace, opulence, increafe, fecurity, and permanent happinefs of the inhabitants of that continent, and that no other connexion or form of government could be equally conducive to thofe ends. As the commiffioners feem to have been of opinion that the recent connexion with France was the principal obftacle which they had to encounter, they embraced this opportunity of adducing in their letter to congrefs fome new topics of reafoning to enforce their for- mer communications on that fubject, and endeavoured to demon- ftrate, that the interference of that power was rather from enmity to Great Britain than friendfhip to America, and merely intended I to 56 HISTORY OF THE p - to prolong the conteft, and fruftrate the effects of the liberal con- J ceffions made by the mother-country. They concluded by inti- mating that, in their opinion, the general congrefs, upon the ground of their connexion with France, even if they had been legally au- thorifed to enter into it, were not entitled to aflume fo decifive a part as they had taken, without firft confulting with their conftitu- ents, the provincial affemblies, and laying before them a ftate of facts upon which a true judgment might be formed. The com- miffioners, along with this declaration, difpatched again their for- mer remonftrance on the detention of the Saratoga troops, figned only by the earl of Carlifle, fir Henry Clinton, and Mr. Eden : And thefe were the laft of their papers particularly addrefled to the congrefs. The congrefs were probably difconcerted by the readinefs with which governor Johnftone withdrew from taking any further part in the execution of the commiffion. It was obvioufly their wifh to detain the Saratoga troops as prifoners until they mould be redeemed by exchange. It was alfo their intention not to enter upon any ne- gotiation with the Britifh commiffioners compatible with their powers, left they mould give umbrage, or create jealoufy in their new allies : And, to effect both thefe ends, it is probable that they would have willingly laid hold of the pretence of governor John- ftone' s conduct to break off all communication or correfpondence with the Britifh commiffioners, more efpecially as they knew there was ftill a moderate party in all the colonies, which thought the terms offered by the commiffioners fufficiently liberal to be accepted, and viewed with extreme concern and appreheniion the new con- nexion formed with France ; a kingdom which they had been taught to confider as proverbially faithlefs. The ftumbling-block being removed which the congrefs had endeavoured to raife in the perfon of governor Johnftone, they were under a neceflity, for their own AMERICAN WAR. 59 briefly recapitulated the different fleps taken by them to accompliih c ** ^ p * -X.-A. V 1. the object of the commiflion, and the refuial of the congrefs even to < -v ' 1 77S open a conference with them. They again fet forth the extent and beneficial with the duty we owe to our country, or with a juft regard to the characters we bear, to per- fift in holding out offers, which, in our eftimation, required only to be known to be moil gratefully accepted ; and we have accordingly, excepting only the commander in chief, who Avill be detained by military duties, refolved to return to England, a few weeks after the date of this manifello and proclamation. " Previous however to this decifive ftep, we are led by a juft anxiety for the great objects of our million, to enlarge on fome points which may not have been fufficiently underftood, to recapitulate to our fellow-fubjects the bleffings which we are empowered to confer, and to warn them of the continued train of evils to which they are at prefent blindly and obftinately ex- pofing themfelves. ** To the members of the congrefs then, we again declare, that we are ready to concur ia all fatisfactory and juft arrangements for fecuring to them, and their refpective conftituents, the re-eftablifhment of peace, with the exemption from any impofition of taxes by the par- liament of Great Britain, and the irrevocable enjoyment of every privilege confident with that union of intercfts and force on which our mutual profperity and the fafety of our common religion and liberty depend. We again afiert, that the members of the congrefs were not au- thorifed by their cohftitution, cither to reject our offers without the previous confideration and confentofthe fevtral afTemblies and conventions of their conftituents, or to refer us to pre- tended foreign treaties, which they know were delufively framed in the firft inftance, and \vhich have never yet been ratified by the people of this continent. And we once more re- mind the members of the congrefs, that they are refponfible to their com. men, to the world, and to God, for the continuance of this \var, and for all the miferies with which it inuft be attended. " To the general affemblies and conventions of 'the different colonies, plantations, and pro- vinces, above mentioned, we now foparately make the offers which we originally tranfmitted" to the congrefs"; and we hereby call upon and urge them to meet, exprefly for the purpofe of confidenng whether every motive, political as well as moral, mould not decide their resolution to embrace the occafion of cementing a free and firm coalition with Great Britein. It has not been, nor is it, our wifh, to feek the objects which we are commiflioned to purfue, by fo- menting populu- di\ifion.s and partial cabals ; we think fuch conduct would be ill Anted to the generous offers made, and unbecoming the dignity of the king and the ftate which makes them. But it is both our wifh and our duty to encourage and fupport any men, or bodies of men, in their return of loyalty to our fovercign, and of affection to our fellow-fubjects. "** To all others, free inhabitants of this once happy empire, we alfo addrefs ourfelves. Such I 2 f <* HISTORY OF THE JLr p * beneficial tendency of the terms which they were empowered to offer.. - v ' Notwithftanding the obftru&ions which they had met with, they ftiH declared their readineis to proceed, in the execution, of the. powers of them as are actually in arms, of whatfoever rank or defcription, will do well to recollect, that the grievances, whether real or fuppofed, which led them into this rebellion, have been for ever removed, and that the juft occafion is arrived for their returning to the clafs of peaceful' citizens. But if the honours of a military life are become their, object^ let them feek thofe honours under the banners of their rightful fovereign, and in fighting the battles of the united Britifli empire againft our. late mutual and- natural enemy. *' To thofe whofe profeffion it is to exercife the functions of religion on this continent, it cannot furely be unknown, that the foreign power with which the congrefs is endeavouring to connect them, has ever been averfe to toleration, and inveterately oppofed to the interefts and freedom of the places of woriiiip which they ferve ; and that Great Britain, from whom they are for theprefent feparated, muft,, hoth.fram the principles of her conftitution, and of pro- teftantifm, be at all times- the beft guardian of religious liberty, and moil difpofed to promote and extend it. To all thofe who can eftimate the bleffings of peace, and its influence over agriculture, arts, and commerce, who can feel a due anxiety for the education and eftabliftiment of their chil- dren, or who can place a juft value on domeftic fecurity, we think it fufficient to obferve, that they are made, by their leaders, to continue involved in all the calamities of war, without hav- ing either a juft objeA to purfue, or a fubfifting grievance which may not inftantly be re- dreffed. " But if there be any perfons, who, diverted of miftaken refentments, and uninfluenced by felfifh interefts, really think that it is for the benefit of the colonies to feparate themfelves 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 we are empowered and difpofed to renew and-improve; with fuch perfons we wiU not difpute a pofition which feems to be fufficiently contradicted by the experience they have had. But we think it right to leave them fully aware of the charge which the maintaining fuch a pofition muft make in the whole nature and. future conduct of this war; more efpecially when to this pofition 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 diftrefs a people, ftill confidered as our fellow-fubjects, and to defolate a country fhortl.y to become again a fource of mutual advantage : But when that country profefles the. unnatural defign,.not only of eftranging herfelf from us, br* of mortgag- ing herfelf and her refources to our enemies, the whole conteft is changed ; and the queftion is, how far Great Britain may, by every means in her power, deftroy or render ufelefs a con- nexion, contrived for her. ruin, and for the aggrandizement of France.. AMERICAN WAR. t>wn credit, of paying fome attention to the remonftrance of the ( Britim commiffioners on the detention of the convention army ; but inftead of repelling the charges which had been brought againft them, of having violated the law of nations by infringing a military convention, they again laid hold of a miferable fubterfuge, and ad- hering to a literal interpretation of their former refolution regarding general Burgoyne's army, they pafTed another, bearing date the fourth of September, as an implied anfwer to the remonftrance of the commiffioners, which imported that no ratification of the con- vention of Saratoga that might be tendered in confequence of powers which may reach that cafe by conftruction and implication, or which may fubject whatever is tranfacted relative to it to the future appro- bation, or difapprobation, of the parliament of Great Britain, could be accepted. That this refolution was evafive is apparent, when we reflect that it was pafled without any previous inquiry into the powers under which the commiffioners offered to renew the con- vention. For any thing that the congrefs knew, the commiffioners might have had fpecial authority delegated to them by the king, for this particular purpofe, and independent of their general commiffion. But, to drive that afTembly from every fubterfuge, and to remove every previous objection, fir Henry Clinton, on the nineteenth of September, tranfmitted to them an extract from an inftruction fent to him by the fecretary of ftate, and received fmce the date of the remonftrance made by the commiffioners, by which he was author- ifed, not in implied, but exprefs 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 feemed to be of that pofitive and precife nature which fubftantially removed every pre- vious objection. But the congrefs were not to be fatisiied ; and to 11 up the climax of that fyftem of evafion which they had purfued IL I ia HISTORY OF THE p> in all their deliberations on this fuhjecl', they affeded to confider fir v - ~> Henry Clinton's letter as deficient in refpefb, from tlie cafual ufe of an exprefucn of difapprobation, which, in the warmth of his feelings as a foldier, when vindicating the rights of foldiers grofsly violated, he had incautioufly fuffered to efcape him ; and inftead of anfwering or complying with the requifition, directed their fecretary to write to the' Britifli general, " that congrefs gave no anfwer to " infolent letters." Thus thofe brave troops who har furrendered at Saratoga, upon the faith of a convention, which ilipulated for their return to Great Britain, were, ^by the profs violation of it,, obftinately perfifted in by the congrefs, ftill deiiined to bear all the ills incident to a ftate of captivity. ' * j The Britilh commiffioners, finding all efforts to open a negotiation with the congrefs vain and fruitlefs, at laft, on the third of October, published a manifefto and proclamation, addrefled not only to the congrefs, but to all the provincial aflemblies, and to all the inha- bitants of the colonies of whatever denomination *, in which they briefly * MANIFESTO AND PROCLAMATION. Jo ; *' To the Members of the Congrefs, the Members' of the General AfTemblies or Conventions of" the feveral Colonies, 'Plantations, and Provinces of New Hampshire, JNiaiT.ichufett's Bay, Rhode Ifland, Conneftictit, New York, New Jcrfey, Penfylvania, the three lo\ver Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North .Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and all. others, Inhabitants of the faid Colonies, of every Rank and Denomination. 61 Uy the Earl of Carlifle, Sir Henry Clinton, and William Eden, Efq. Commiflioners ap- pointed by his Majefly, in purfuance of an Act of Parliament, made and pafled in the i8th Year of his Majelry's. Reign, to enable his Majefty to appoint Commiffioners to treat, con- fult, and agree upon the Means of quieting the Diforders now fubfiiling in certain, of the Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces in North America. .< " HAVING amply and repeatedly made known to the congrefs, and having alfo pro- ' tlaimed to the inhabitants of North America in general, the benevolent overtures' of GreaL Britain towards a re-union and coalition with her colonies, we do not think it confident either with. AMERICAN WAR. 65 getting feverally to the confideration of each of thefe claffes fuch c ** , P- .X..A.V 1. motives as might be fuppofed to have the greateft influence, adjured i- -, .' 1 ^ T 8 them all not to let pafs ib favourable an opportunity of fecuring their liberties, plantations, and provinces, and to fcveral perfons both in civil and military capacities within the faid colonies, plantations, and provinces ; and for the further fecurity in times to come of the feveral perfons, or numbers or defcriptions of perfons, who are, or may be, the objects of this rnanifeflo. and proclamation, \ye have -fet our hands and feals to thirteen copies thereof, and. have tranfmitted the fame to the thirteen colonies, plantations, and provinces, above mentioned; and we are willing to jhope that the whole of this manifefto and proclamation will be fairly and freely publifhcd and circulated, for the immediate, general, and mod ferious conficJeratioft and benefit of all his rnajefty's fubjects on this continent. And we earneflly exhort all perfons who by this inftrument forthwith receive the benefit of the king's pardon, at the fame time that they en- tertain a becoming fenfe of thofe lenientand affectionate meafures whereby they are now free from grievous charges which might have rifen in judgment, or have been brought in queftion, againft them, to make a wife improvement of the fituation in which this manifefto and proclamation places them, and not only to recollect that a perfeverance in the prefent rebellion, or any adherence to the treafonable connexion attempted to be framed with a. foreign power, will, after the prefent grace extended, be confidered as crimes of the moft aggravated kind; but to vie with each other in eager and cordial endeavours to fecure their own peace, and promote andeftablifh the profperity of their countrymen, ajid the general weal of the empire. " And purfuant to his majefty's commiffion, we hereby require all officers, civil and military,, and all other his majefty's loving fubjects whatsoever, to be aiding and aflifting unto us in the. execution of this our manifefto and proclamation, and of all the matters herein contained. " Given at New York, this 3d day of October 1788. (L. S.) CARLISLE. (L. S.) HEN. CLINTON. (L. S.) WM. EDEN. ** By their Excellencies command, ADAM FERGUSON, Secretary.?* . Cn the thirtieth of October the following Manifefto was publifhed by Concrefs:. 7 6 " Bj tie Congreft rf the United States of jtmtricti. ' I A NI FES TO. AaqWat ^ V THESE United States havir,g been diiven to hoftilities by the oppivfiive r.nd tyrannous. meafures of Great Britain ; hav/jig been compelled to commit the eflential riLjIits of man to the decifion of arms; and having been at length forced tc Hiakt uu a yoke \\hich h;;d grown too burdenfome-te bear, they, declared themielv^ fixe and iudtpcndwit." ** Confiding HISTORY OF THE H xy A P. liberties, and their future profperity and happinefs, upon a perma- v -~J nent foundation. They alfo proclaimed a general pardon for all . treafoiis and rebellious practices committed at any time previous to the " Confiding in the juftice of their caufe, confiding in Him who difpofes of human events, although weak and unprovided, they fet the power of their enemies at defiance. " lu this confidence they have continued, through the various fortune of three bloody cam- paigns, unawed by the powers, unfubdued by the barbarity, of their foes. Their virtuous ci- tizens have borne, without repining, the lofs of many things which made life defirable. Their -brave troops have patiently endured the hardships and dangers of a fituation, fruitful in both Beyond example. " The congrefs, confidering themfelvcs bound to lov their enemies, as children of that Being who is equally the Father of all, and defirous, fince they could not prevent, at leaft to alleviate, the calamities of war, have ftudied to fpare thofe who were in arms againft them, and to lighten the chains of captivity. " The conduct of thofe ferving under the king of Great Britain hath, with fome few ex- eeptions, been diametrically oppofite. They have laid wafte the open country, burned the defencelefs villages, and butchered the citizens of America. Their prifons have been the ;flaughter-houfes of her foldiers, their fhips of her feamen, and the fevereft injuries have been aggravated by the grofleft infults. " Foiled in their vain attempt to fubjugate the unconquerable fpirit of freedom, they have meanly aflailed the reprefentatives of America with bribes, with deceit, and the fervflity of adulation. They have made a mock of humanity, by the wanton deftruftion of men ; tfcey have made a mock of religion, by impious appeals to God, whilft in the violation of his facred commands ; they have made a mock even of reafon itfelf, by endeavouring to prove, that the liberty and happinefs of America could fafely be entrufted to thofe who hzvefo/d their own, unawed by the fenfe of virtue or of fhame. " Treated with the contempt which fuch conduft deferved, they have applied to indivi- duals ; they have folicited them to break the bonds of allegiance, and imbrue their fouls with the blacked of crimes ; but fearing that none could be found through thefe United States, equal to the wickednefs of their purpofe, to influence weak minds, they have threatened more wide *3evaftation. " While the fhadow ef hope remained, that our enemies could be taught by oar example to refped thofe laws which are held facred 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 fince their incorrigible dif- pofitions cannot be touched by kindnefs and compaflion, it becomes our duty by other means to vindicate the rights of humanity. . " We, therefore, the Congrefs of the United States of America, DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE ANI* AMERICAN WAR.. 6t powers contained in their commiflion, and to treat not only with c H ' j\- deputies from all the colonies conjunctly, but with any provincial aiTembly or convention individually, at any time within the fpace of " Under fuch circumftances, the laws of felf-prefervation muft direct the conduct of Great Britain ; and if the Britifh colonies are to become an acceflion to France, will direct her to* render that acceflion of as little avail as poflible to her enemy. " If, however, there are any who think that, notwithflanding thefc reafonings, the inde- pendence of the colonies will, in the refult, be acknowledged by Great Britain, to them we anfwer, without referve, that we neither poflefs or expect powers for that purpofe ; and that if Great Britain could ever have funk fo low as to adopt fuch a meafure, we mould not have thought ourfelves compcllable to be the inflruments in making a conceffion which would, in- cur opinion, be calamitous to the colonies for whom it is made, and difgraccful, as well as ca- lamitous, to the country from which it is required". And we think proper to declare, that iff. this fpirit and fentiment we have regularly written from this continent to Great Britain. " It will npw become the colonies in general to call to mind their own folemn appeals to heaven in the beginning of this conteft, that they took arms only for the redrefs of grievances; and that it would be their wifh, as well as their intereft, to remain for ever connected witE Great Britain. We again afk them, whether alfth'eir" grievances, real or fuppofed, have not been amply and fully redrefled ; and we infill that the offers we have made leave nothing to be wifhed, in point of either immediate liberty or permanent fecuriiy : If thefe offers are now re- jected, we withdraw from the exercife of a commiflion, with which we have in vain been ho 5 - noured ; the fame liberality will no longer be due from Great Britain, nor can it either in juftice or policy be expected from her. " In fine, and for the fuller manifeftation, as well of the difpofition we bear, as of the graciou* and generous purpofes of the commiflion under which we aft, we hereby declare, that whereas-" his majefty, in purfuance of an act of parliament, made, and paffed in the eighteenth year of his majefly's reign, entituled, * An acl to enable his majefty to appoint commiffioners, with ' fiifficient powers to treat, confult, and agree, upon the means of quieting the diforders now ' fubfifting in certain of the colonies, plantations, and provinces of North America,' having been pleafed to authorife and empower us to grant a pardon or pardons to any number or de- fcription'of perfons within the colonies, plantations, and provinces of New Hampfhire, Maf- fachufett's Bay, Rhode Ifland, Connecticut, New York, New Jerfey, PenfylvaTiia, the three- lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina-; and Georgia; and whereas the good effects of the faid authorities and powers toward! th'e people at large, would have long fmce taken place, if a due ufe had been made of our firft conmra- nications and overtures, and have thus far been fruftrated only by the precipitate refolution of the members of the congrefs not to treat with us, and by their declining to confult with their conflkuents j. we now, in making our appeal to thofe conftitucnts, and to the free inhabitants ; 2. <* HISTORY OF THE CHAP. O f forty d a y S f rom t h e date of their manifefto ; and then, addrefT- \- - v - -> ing themfelves to perfons -of every defcription; whether in civil, military, or ecclefiaftical capacities, or in private ftations, and fug- gelling difputably committed long ago by the court of France, in leaguing I ~ " S with the rebellious fubjects of the crown of Great Britain, which would have juftified inftant vengeance on the part of the latter. But on this point the Britifh miniftry feem to have been peculiarly delicate ; for although admiral Keppel feized and detained two of the French king's frigates, for improper conduct in one of their com- manders, he fuffered the .peaceful merchantmen to pafs through his fleet unmolefted ; nor were letters of reprifal iflued in Great Britain until fome time after they had been iffued by the court of France. By the feizure of thefe frigates, admiral Keppel obtained fuch in- formation of the ftrength of the French fleet fitting out at Breft, 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- . feventh of June. Thither the firft lord of the admiralty immediate- ly repaired, to concert meafures for reinforcing the fleet ; and with fuch expedition were thefe meafures executed, that the admiral was again at fea by the middle of July, with an addition to his fleet of ten mips of the line. It now confifted of thirty fhips of the line, one of them of the firft rate, fix of them of ninety guns, and the re- mainder of the third rate, which were formed into three divifions, the centre commanded by the admiral himfelf, and the other two divifions by vice-admirals fir Robert Harland and fir Hugh Pallifer. By this time the French fleet, under the command of the count d'Orvilliers, was alfo at fea, having left the harbour of Breft on the eighth of July; and no fooner had it failed than general letters of reprifal againft the king of Great Britain and his fubjects, grounded on the capture of the Pallas and Licorne, were iflfued by the court of Engagement France. The two fleets being thus at fea, in the fummer feafon, it French and could not be long before they met. On the twenty-third of July, a ft ern0 on, they came in fight of each other, when the Britifh fleet AMERICAN WAR. 79 fleet happened to be much difperfed. A fignal for forming the line CHAP, was immediately thrown out ; but night came on by the time the ^ fhips were able to get into their proper ftations; and before the morn- ing the French fleet had obtained the weather-gage. For four days fucceflively did the Britifh admiral, by chafing to windward, endea- vour to bring the French fleet to an engagement; but his leeward fituation rendered all his endeavours fruitlefs. Although the fleet of the count d'Orvilliers outnumbered that of admiral Keppel by two fhips of the line, and a much greater proportion of frigates, he never- thelefs carefully kept the advantage of the wind, and with equal caution avoided an engagement. But on the morning of thetwenty- feventh, whilft the Britifh fleet ftill chafed to windward, endeavour- ing to profit by a flight variation in its favour, a fudden fquall came on, at the very inftant in which the French fleet was in the acl: of performing an evolution, and fo 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 fleet during; the Iquall had fallen to leeward, and was now fo near the leading fhips in the van of the Britifh fleet, commanded by fir Robert Harland, as to begin to cannonade them. At this inftant the fignal for battle was thrown out by the Britifh admiral; and an engagement began between the two fleets as they pafled on contrary tacks,, and in oppofite directions, which lafted about two hours.. When' the fleets had pafled each other,, and the firing had ceafed, the Britifh admiral wore his fhip to return upon the enemy, and threw out a fignal for the reft of his fleet to follow his example, and form the line;, but at this moment, obferving that fome of his fhips, difabled in the engagement, had fallen to leeward* and were in danger of being cut off by the enemy, he was in the firft place obliged to take meafures for their fafety. , By the ma- noeuvres neceflfary for this purpofe, and by the length of time re- quired. 80 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, quired for repairing the damages fuftained by the fhips of the rear yvJv V 1 1. \~ , - > divifion, under fir Hugh Pallifer, which had come laft out of the _ f- Q engagement, before they could be again brought into their ftations in the line, the day was fo far fpent, 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 eveiy ap- pearance as if he meant to wait the attack of the Britifh admiral in the morning ; but in the night he quitted his ftation, and fleered for the coaft of France, leaving three of his frigates to fhew lights at proper intervals, correfponding to the leading (hips of the three di- vifions of his fleet, thereby to conceal his flight from the Britiui admiral. In the morni-ng the French fleet was at fuch a diftance as fcarcely to be difcernible. A fignal was made for chafing the fri- gates, but it was found impradti cable to overtake them ; and the fleet to which they belonged being ftill at a greater diftance, with the wind favourable for carrying it into port, a purfuit was deemed ufelefs. The Britifh 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 beft of his way to the harbour of Breft, for a fimilar purpofe. The lofs of men on board the Britifh fleet in this day's engagement amounted to one hundred and thirty-three killed, and three hundred and feventy-three wound- ed : What the lofs on the fide 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 fhip carries a greater number of men than a Britifh fhip of equal force, but as the Britifh feamen point their guns at the hull, whilft the French feamen principally aim at the fails and rigging. Irrcconcilc- One very unfortunate confequence which followed from this en- able difference between the gagement, was, an irreconcileable difference which it occafioned be- perand Pal" tween the naval commander in chief and fir Hugh Pallifer, one of fer - hit AMERICAN WAR. His vice-admirals, who commanded the rear divifion of the fleet on c the day of the engagement : A difference which, inflamed by the in- v- difcreet zeal of the partifans on both fides, rofe to fuch a height, as had n.early created a fatal diflenfion in the naval fervice. At laft 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- ftances particularly honourable. He was not only fully and honour- ably acquitted, but the charges againfl him were by the fentence of the court-martial pronounced to be malicious. When the news of his acquittal reached London, very general illuminations, inftigated by his political partifans, took place for two fucceffive nights ; and the thanks of both houfes of parliament were voted to him for his conduct. One member only, Mr. Sturt, had the firmnefs (for many it was believed had the inclination), when the queflion was put for thanks to admiral Keppel, to fay, in a-very audible and impreflive tone of voice, No. But after all thefe teflimonies, fo honourable to the naval commander in chief, fo violently had this difpute been agitated in the daily publications, and fo confidently did the parti fans on each fide charge the other with criminal mifconduct or ne- glect, that an opinion feems to have become rooted, and ftill in a great meafure prevails, notwithftanding the acquittal of both the admirals, ftiat fo much was not done on the twenty-feventh of July as might have been done. One happy circumftance attending admiral Keppel's engagement, was, that it took place at a critical time, when feveral Britifh fleets of homeward-bound merchantmen were expected in the channel : And as, after the engagement, the count d'Orvilliers was obliged to return into Breft to refit, it fortunately happened, that during this interval thefe fleets arrived in fafety. Both the French and Britifh fleets put to fea as foon as their da- mage was repaired j but they did not again meet during the prefent VOL, II. M year. 82 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, year. By their reciprocal operations the trade of both countries fuf- AA.Vlli u v ' fered a little ; but the balance of captures at the end of the year was. confiderably in favour of Great Britain. War in the Whilft the French, with almoft equal fuccefs, thus difputed the Juaft Indies, empire of the fea in Europe, they had nearly loft all their pofleflion* in the Eaft. When a rupture was feen to be inevitable, fo expedi- tioufly had the Englifh Eaft India company tranfmitted their orders^ and with fo much promptitude were thefe orders executed, that the: war broke out in India almoft as foon as in Europe. Chanderna- gore and all the factories belonging to the French in Bengal, at Yanaon, and Karical, with their fettlement at MafTulipatam, were wrefted from them during the fummer ; and, in the month of Oc- tober, the town and fortrefs of Pondicherry, the capital of the French, pofleffions, and the feat of their government in India, with an im- menfe train of artillery, and a garrifon of three thoufand men, nine hundred of which were Europeans, after being invefted for two months and ten days by an army under major-general Hector Munro by land, and by a fquadron of (hips of war under commodore fir Edward Vernon by fea, was furrendered by capitulation. * And thus in lefs than four months from the commencement of hoftilities,, the French power in Bengal, and on the coaft of Coromandel, was entirely annihilated. But in the weftern hemifphere, to which we muft now again re- turn, the fuccefs of thefe two great contending powers, in their aL* * Artillery, Anns, Ammunition, and Stores, taken at Pondicherry, in the Eaft Indies.. 210 pieces of iron ordnance 60 wall pieces. 58 pieces of brafs ditto 45 carbines, 6 howitzers 556 piflols 20 brafs mortara 930 fwords 2 iron ditto 80 barrels gunpowder 6182 muflcets 2,1708 fhot of different flies. 168 rifle-barrel pieces AMERICAN WAR. 83 ternate endeavours to wreft from each other their foreign poflefilons, CHAP. much more equally balanced. The French having been permitted by the treaty of Paris, in 1763, to {hare in the Newfoundland fifhery, which is juftly efteemed a Weft * moft beneficial fource of commerce ; and being, by the fame treaty, allowed during the fifhing feafon the temporary ufe of the two fmall iilands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, for the purpofe of curing their fi(h, and preparing them for market ; it was therefore thought to be an objed of fome importance to deprive them of thefe advantages fo foon as it was apparent that they no longer held themfelves bound by the treaty through which fuch privileges had been fecured to them. No fooner, therefore, had vice-admiral Montague, who com- manded on the Newfoundland ftation, received advices of the hoftile operations of the count d'Eftaing on the coafl of America, than he> in purfuance of orders previoufly tranfmitted to him from England, uifpatched commodore Evans in the Rornney, with a fquadron 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- poflefs the French of thefe two iflands, and deftroy their temporary fettlements. This fervice was performed without any difficulty. The fquadron appeared in the road of St. Pierre on the fourteenth of September; and the French governor, being totally unprovided with the means of defence againft fuch a force, furrendered upon the firft fummons. The arms of the inhabitants, their fifhing veflels, and furniture, with a confiderable quantity of oil, fifh, and fait, were deli- vered up to the captors*; and the inhabitants themfelves, amounting * Arms, Ammunition, Veflels, Fifh, &c. taken at St. Pierre and Miquelon, in Newfoundland, 173 mufkets, with bayonets and cartouch-boxes 165 fhallops without decks 83 fwords 82 canoes 106 belts *6J35 quintals of fifh *o fliallops with ihift'ng decks 201 hogflieads of oil 22 ditto with fixed ditto 244 ditto of fait. M 2 tO 4 HISTORY OF THE c *J A p - to fomething more than two thoufand men, were fhipped off for France, XXV 11. * v ' Every thing valuable, which could not be removed, was deftroyed ; 177$. and the French fettlements on thefe iflands were entirely laid wafte. In the fame month, and almoft with the fame eafe, the marquis de Bouille, governor of Martinique, the principal of the French wind- ward iflands in the Weft Indies, made himfelf mafter of the Britifh ifland of Dominica. The contiguous fituation of thefe two iflands^ and the defencelefs ftate of the latter, rendered this an enterprife of little difficulty. In the evening of the fixth of September, two thoufand men were embarked on board tranfports at Martinique, and with thefe, efcorted by four frigates and Jen fmaller armed vef- fels, the marquis de Bouille, early in the morning of the feventh, appeared off the fouth end of Dominica. A detachment was im- mediately landed to attack fort Cachacrou, fituated upon a point of land jutting out into the fea, round which the fleet muft pafs to reach Rofeau, the capital" of the ifland ; and from the weaknefs of the garrifon, of which the marquis de Bouille had been previoufly apprized, this fort became an eafy conqueft. The garrifon was foon overpowered ; and the fleet pafled round the point unmolefted. A. general debarkation now took place at Point Michel ; and as foon as a landing was effected, the French troops marched on towards Ro- feau. The battery of Loubiere lay in their way, but it was evacu- ated as they approached, after the garrifon had expended all their ammunition. The regular troops in the ifland confifted only of & party of the royal artillery, and a detachment from the forty-eighth regiment. Thefe, with all the militia which could be got together, did not amount to five hundred men; and it was foon perceived that their refinance againft a force fo fuperior,. could not long avail.. De- tachments of the French were already in poffeflion of the heights behind Rofeau ; their main body approached the town from the place of their debarkation.: The frigates were advancing to batter the AMERICAN WAR. the forts; and preparations were making for an afTault. In this critical juncture, a deputation from the council and principal inhabit- < - ants of the ifland requefted the governor to call a council of war : Their requeft being complied with, and the opinion of the council of war being in favour of a capitulation, an offer for that purpofe was made by the governor, which was immediately accepted by the marquis de Bouille ; and fuch liberal terms of capitulation were granted as fecured the inhabitants in the enjoyment of their pro- perty, and of all the rights, privileges, and immunities which they held under the Britifh. government, with the further advantage of exporting their produce to whatever part of the world they thought fit, upon the payment of fuch duties as the inhabitants of the French iflands had been accufto-med to pay in the iilands or in Europe. The inhabitants were even allowed to retain their arms, upon condition of not ferving againft France during, the war. The garrifon of re- gular troops, after marching out with all the honours of war, and depofiting their arms, were to be tranfported to Great Britain under the condition of not ferving againft the king of France until they were exchanged. And as a particular mark of refpect for governor Stuart, he was to be at liberty to go where he pleafed, and to continue in the fervice of his- prince without reftraint. So haftily was this bufi- nefs fettled, that the capitulation for the furrender of the whole iiland was fignecL, and the French put in pofieffion of Fort Young before night. The marquis de Bouille having thus made himfelf mailer of Dominica, returned without delay to Martinique, leaving fifteen hundred of his troops to garrifon the ifland. His return was probably haftened by the rifk which he incurred of being intercepted by admiral Barrington, who was then at Barbadoes, with a fleet of two mips of the line and feveral frigates ; and the fame caufe may account for the facility with which he granted in the terms of capi- tulation alrnoft every thing which was afked. This $6 HISTORY OF THE C YvvTT P * This fadden an d fuccefsful attack created an univerfal alarm in all .A.j\. V XX X- -- -j the Englifh Weft India iflands. But the French force at Martinique was ftill infufficient for any diftant operation ; and fortunately be- fore the arrival of the count d'Eftaing in the Weft India feas, the re- inforcement of {hips and troops which, we have feen, failed from New York on the third of November, had reached Barbadoes, and joined admiral Barrington, who had been waiting there for fome time in expectation of that junction. The troops under general Grant being defigned for immediate ofFenfive operations, were not difembarked : And on the twelfth of December, only two days after their arrival, admiral Barrington, with the whole fleet, left Barbadoes, and failed for the French ifland of St. Lucie, where he arrived the following day. The ifland of St. Lucie, on the weft fide, is indented by three great bays, fepa- rated from each other by narrow ridges of high and ftrong ground jutting out into the ocean. The rnoft northerly of thefe is called the Bay of Du Cheque ; that in the middle, the Carenage Bay, at the head of which ftands Morne Fortune, the capital town of the ifland, and the feat of the government ; and the moft foutherly of thefe bays is called the Grand Cul de Sac. It was this laft bay which the Britifh 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, which compofed the referve, being forthwith landed, forced the heights on the north fide 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 ifland, and took poflfeflion of a battery of four guns which had annoyed the fleet as it entered the bay : And in the mean time brigadier-general Prefect was landed with five regiments, to fecure the other pofts round the bay, and to preferve a communication with the referve. On the following morning, the whole of the troops 2 being AMERICAN WAR. ' Being difembarked, and brigadier-general fir Henry Calder, with c ** A P: A. A V 11. four battalions, being left to guard the landing-place, to preferve a <^ - * communication with the fleet, and to occupy the different paffes in the mountains on the fouth fide of the bay, the referve, under general Mea- dows, fupported by general Prefect's brigade, advanced towards the head of the Carenage, and without meeting with any material ob- ftruttion, took pofleffi.cn of the town of Morne Fortune, with the government houfe, hofpital, barracks, and all the ftores and maga- zines belonging to the ifland ; the governor having been obliged tc* retire from poft to poft as the Britifh troops advanced. From. Morne Fortune brigadier-general Meadows proceeded on to the im- portant poft called the Virgie, which commands the north fide of the Carenage harbour, and before the evening was> in pdfleflion of all the different batteries and pofls upon the neck of land which feparates, the bay of the Carenage from that of Du Choque. Scarcely had this been accomplimed, when the count d'Eftaing's fleet appeared in full view. That commander, upon his arrival at Martinique* had been joined by a fleet of tranfports, with nine thoufand troops; on board, and with thefe and his fuperior fleet he was elated with the hope of crufhing the fmall naval force under admiral Barrington,. and reducing moft of the windward Britifh iflands before admiral Byron could come to their afliftance. With hopes thus fanguine, he: failed from Martinique ; Barbadoes,, St. Vincent's, Grenada, Tobago, were all in their turn threatened with fubjection to his irrefiftible force. But the unexpected attack upon St. Lucie, information of which was conveyed to him by a veffel which efcaped from the ifland, and met him at fea,difarranged all his fchemes, and for the prefent obliged him to give up his vifionary plans of conqueft. The relief of that iflancl was firft to be provided for; and with- his fuperiority offeree he did not doubt of being able to accomplifh it. Thither, therefore, he di- rected his courfe, and appeared in fight, as we have already mentioned,, almoft HISTORY OF THE immediately after the Britifh troops had completed the circuit * ' of the Carenage, and fecured the high grounds which command it on the north fide. He was yet unapprized of the extent of their progrefs ; and on the following morning fleered with his whole fleet for the bay of the Carenage, fuppofmg it not to be poflefTed by the Britifh troops ; but a battery which opened upon his fleet as it entered the bay, and flruck his own fhip the Languedoc, foon con- vinced him of his miftake, and obliged him, after returning this falu- tation with a broadfide, to fland out to fea. The count d'Eftaing, being thus difappointed in his attempt upon the Carenage, after difcovering by his movements fome degree o* embarraflment and hefitation, directed his courfe towards the Grand Cul de Sac, where admiral Barrmgton, in expectation of an attack, had already made a difpofition for repelling it. Never, perhaps, was a greater flake committed to the defence of a force in appear- ance fo inadequate. Admiral Barrington, with only three fhips of the line, as many fhips of fifty guns, and the remaining part of his force confifling of frigates, was not only to defend himfelf againft twelve fhips of the line, with a numerous train of frigates and American armed fhips and privateers, but alfo to protect a large fleet of tranfports, having on board the provifions, ammunition, flores, and baggage of the army, which there had not yet been time to land ; and thus the fate of the army on fhore became implicated in that of the fleet. Yet fuch was 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 fuccefs ; nor did the event difappoint their moft fanguine expectations. During the night, and in the morning, the tranfports being warped into the bay, and the fhips of war ftationed without them, in a line acrofs the entrance, fo jufl a difpofition of his very inferior force did the Britifh AMERICAN WAR; 89 Britim admiral make, that the count d'Eftaing was repulfed with CHAP. lofs in two different attacks which he made during the day; the firft < v -/ with ten of his largeft (hips, and the laft with his whole force. The lofsfuftained by the Britim fleet in thefe attacks, confided only of two men killed and eight wounded. One folitary trophy fell into the enemy's hands, a fmgle tranfport, loaded with the baggage of fome officers of the army, which there had not been time to warp within the line of mips of war. The count d'Eftaing being thus completely foiled in his naval operations, both at the Carenage and the Grand Cul de Sac, determined to difembark 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 feen (landing into his fleet, with a number of fignals flying, he plied to windward beyond the Carenage Bay, and came to an anchor off Grofs Iflet. In the night, and during the following day, his troops were landed from the tranfports, which had anchored in the bay of Du Cheque ; and as the pofleffion of the poft of the Vergie would have enabled his fleet to enter the Carenage with fafety, an attack upon that poft was the firft military operation that he projected. Two days before, the fafety of the Britifh army depended upon the fuccefsful refiftance of the fleet ; and now the fafety of the fleet was in its turn to depend upon the exertions of the army: Formouldthe countd'Eftaing fucceed againft general Grant by land, admiral Barrington could not long withftand a combined attack from his fuperior fleet by fea, and his batteries on more. The high grounds of the Vergie were occupied by brigadier- general Meadows, with the referve of the army ; and he prepared to defend them with a refclution fuitable to their importance, and the high expectations formed from his known gallantry, and the bravery of the felect corps which he commanded. Every thing being in readinefs for the afiault, the French en the eighteenth of December advanced in three columns, led by the count d'Eftaing, the marquis de Bouille, and the count Lovendahl. Thrice did they rum on to the attack, VOL. II. N and 9 6 HISTORY OF THE C XXVII. ' an ^ ^ s f ten were they repulfed. In the emphatic language of ge- "~~"T~ > ' neral Grant, " their two firft attacks were made with the impetuo- " fity of Frenchmen ; and they were repulfed with the determined " bravery of Britons." In the third attack they were foon broke, and fled in confufion. General Meadows, although wounded early in the day, would not quit the field ; but on horfeback vifited every quarter where "his prefence was neceffary, and continued to give his orders, notwithftanding the anguifh of his wound, until the triumph of the day was completed, in the final rout and difcomfiture of the French. In the different actions of this day, the French artillery which had been taken upon the ifland was turned againft themfelves> 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 lofs, exceeding in number the whole of the Britifti troops which were engaged, evinces the defperation and perfeverance with which the French made and fupported their attacks, and places far beyond the reach of praife the mafterly difpofition formed by general Meadows for the defence of his poft, and the bravery and firmnefs of the troops to whom that defence was entrufted. The whole lofs of the Britifli troops amounted to one hundred and feventy-one: Of thefe thirteen only were killed, one hundred and fifty wounded, and eight mif- ing. After this fevere defeat, the count d'Eftaing 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. Whilft the French fleet was yet in fight, the chevalier de Micond offered to capitulate for the furrender of the ifland ; and although he was now deftitute of all hope of relief, and entirely at the mercy of the Britifh commanders, who might have infifted on a furrender at difcretion, fuch liberal terms were granted as his deferted and defperate fituation gave him little Teafon to expert. The governor and his garrifon were allowed to 3 march AMERICAN WAR. gi march out of their pofts with the honours of war, and to retain c ' ** , p - AA. Vll_ their baggage ; and having delivered up their arms, were to be tranf- < v 1 ported to Martinique, as prifoners of war, not to ferve 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 fecured in the pofleflion of their habitations and property, and in the exercife of their religion, to be governed ac- cording to the eftablifhed laws of the colony, and to be entitled to the fame protection as Britim fubjects, and not to be obliged to bear arms againft the troops of the king of France. Thefe terms being granted, all ftores of ammunition and provifions, and every thing in general belonging to the king of France, were to be faithfully accounted for, and delivered up to the Britim commiflioners*. On the fixth of January 1779, admiral Byron's fleet, which had ^79. been fo long expected, arrived at St. Lucie, juft eight days after the departure of the count d'Eftaing ; and had it not been detained in the harbour of Newport, at Rhode Ifland, by contrary winds and ftormy weather for fourteen days after it was ready to fail, it is pro- bable, either that the retreat of the count d'Eftaing to Martinique would have been cut off, or that a general engagement muft have been rifked in order to effect it. But all the proceedings of admiral Byron had hitherto been marred by the oppofition of the elements ; and even in his prefent paflage from Rhode Ifland, the Fame, one of his mips, was difmafted. By his arrival the Britim naval force in the Weft Indies became equal, if not fuperior, to that under count d'Eftaing, who was henceforward obliged to act upon the defenfive, and {helter his fleet .'* * * Ordnance, Ammunition, Stores, Ice. taken at St. Lucie in December 1778. 59 pieces of ordnance of different fizes 200 whole barrels corned powder 5766 round mot 333 mufkets 407 langridge ditto l8,loo muflcet cartridges filled with ball 2899 cartridges for ordnance 2 cvvt. 2 qrs. muflcet ball. N 2 within 9 2 HISTORY OF THE c H v ^ ** within the bay of Fort Royal. So apprehenfive did he appear to t_ - T _. be of the effects of a general engagement, that for fix months to- gether he only ventured twice to put to fea ; and both times haflily returned as foon as the Britilh fleet was feen {landing towards him. The iflands of Martinique and St. Lucie are fo near to each other, that the French fleet could fcarcely come out of Fort Royal Bay without being feen from St. Lucie; and fome fmall faft-failing vef- fels were alfo appointed to watch its motions. Frequent fquadrons were fent to cruife off the mouth of Fort Royal harbour, and, if poflible, provoke the count d'Eftaing to come out and rHk an en- gagement; but no mortification of this fort could induce him to de- viate from his defenfive plan. Both fleets were reinforced during the winter; that of admiral Byron by a fquadron of {hips from England, under commodore Rowley, who had under his convoy a fleet of merchantmen for the Weft India iflands ; and that of count d'Eftaing by a fquadron from France, under the command of the count de Grafle : But notwithftanding this reinforcement, the count d'Eftaing ftill remained in the harbour of Fort Royal. When the feafon arrived for the departure of the Weft India fleet of merchant-ftiips for England, admiral Byron was obliged to quit his ftation, and put to fea, for the purpofe of enabling the {hips from the different iflands to aflemble with fafety at St. Chriftopher's, which was appointed to be the place of general rendezvous. Thither, therefore, he directed his courfe, having left St. Lucie on the fixth of June. The departure of the Britim fleet for the protection of the homeward-bound trade, was the fignal for the French to com- mence their operations. A force, coniifting of four hundred and fifty men, under the command of the chevalier de Trolong du Remain, was embarked at Martinique, on board of four veflels, and failed for the ifland 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 ifland, AMERICAN WAR. 93 ifland, who yet retained the pofleffion of fome part of it. Between c ^ A R XXVII. them and the Britifh fettlers a war had broke out fome few years \ v ; before, which, after much bloodflied on both fides, terminated in the fubjugation of the former. But the Caribs, compelled ta fubmit, were not reconciled : They ftill retained their ancient refentment. They confidered the Britifh fettlers as unjuft intruders upon their pofleffions, and were ready to join the French as foon as they land- ed. The garrifon of the ifland confided of feven companies of the fixtieth regiment, amounting to four hundred and fixty-four men, rank and file, befides officers, under the command of lieutenant- colonel Etherington, as appears by a return of it made on the firft day of April in the prefent year ; but of thefe only three hundred and fifty-feven were actually effective, the reft being confined with ficknefs either in the barracks or hofpital. The French, joined by the Caribs, advanced againft Kingfton, the capital of the ifland, without meeting with any opposition. On the fixteenth of June they took pofleffion of the heights behind the town ; and on the fame day, without a mufket having been fired, the whole ifland was furrendered by Valentine Morris, efquire, [the governor, with the confent of the commander of the garrifon, on terms fimilar to thofe which had been granted by the marquis de Bouille to the in- habitants and garrifon of Dominica. The eafy conqueft of St. Vin- cent's feems to have been the caufe of much furprife to general Grant, who commanded at St. Lucie : But although no fatisfactory reafon has been yet given to the public, for this tame fubmiffion on the part of the civil governor, and the commander of the king's troops in St. Vincent's, unlefs the dread of the Caribs, whofe fero- city during the former war was ftill remembered, can be admitted to be fuch ; it is neverthelefs prefumable, that fuch reafons did exift, becaufe it is fcarcely credible, that a Britifh officer, bred in the army from his infancy, w r ho had arrived at the rank of lieutenant-colonel, would 94 . HISTORY OF THE xxvil. ' would have confented to furrender his troops in this quiet and in- *- "* - ; ofFenfive manner, if there had been any reafonable hope of a fucceflf- ful refiftance. The ifland of St. Vincent having thus become an eafy conqueft, the count d'Eftaing, whofe fleet had by this time been increafed by another reinforcement of mips under the command of monfieur de la Motte Piquet, failed from Martinique towards the end of June, to make an attack upon Grenada, during the abfence of admiral Byron. His fleet confifted of thirty-four mips of war, befides a number of tranfports carrying nine thoufand land forces. Of the mips of war, twenty-fix were of the line, and the reft large frigates. With this formidable force he arrived at Grenada on the fecond of July. The fleet came to an anchor in the bay of Moliniere ; and the troops were im mediately landed. Detachments from thefe, during the night, took pofTeflion of fome heights in the vici- nity of the town of St. George, the capital of the ifland, from which the count d'Eftaing, on the following day, was enabled to reconnoitre the defences of the place. Thefe confifted of a fort, and an intrenched hill, upon which the hofpital flood. This hill, which nearly commanded the fort, conftituted the principal defence of the place, being fteep and of difficult afcent, and ftrengthened alfo with pallifadoes, and fome lines of entrenchment. The whole regular force of the ifland did not exceed one hundred and fifty men, of whom twenty-four were artillery recruits, and the reft belonging to the forty-eighth regiment : To thefe were joined about four hundred militia, confifting chiefly of French inhabitants, who had become fubjedts after the peace of 1763, and of people of colour; but in the night after the landing of the French, fo many of the militia deferted, that the whole effective force of the garrifon was reduced under three hundred men. To a fummons fent by the count d'Eftaing, demanding a furrender of the ifland, lord Macartney, the gover- AMERICAN WAR. 95 governor, refolutely anfwered, that he was unacquainted with the c Jxvn P * force of the befiegers, but that he knew his own, and was deter- < -% ' mined to defend himfelf as long as he could. The count d'Eftaing had hoped that the difplay which he had made of the magnitude of his force, both by fea ar?d land, would have induced the governor to capitulate, from a conviction that all oppofition would be fruit- lefs; but the anfwer which he now received announced an obftinate refiftance, from which the fiege, if carried on by regular approaches, might be protracted until the arrival of admiral Byron with the Britifli fleet. He therefore determined, after viewing the works, to ftorm the lines upon the hofpital hill, whatever number of men it might coft him. A difpofition was accordingly made ; and the following night the lines were aflaulted in three different places, the column which made the principal attack being commanded by the count d'Eftaing in perfon. The French were at firft repulfed, and fuffered feverely, not only from the fire of the garrifon, but from the guns of a fhip of war in the harbour, which enfiladed one of their columns. In the next attack, however, they were fuccefsful, forced the lines, notwithftanding a brave refiftance made by the gar- rifon, and gained the fummit of the hill. The cannon found on the hofpital hill were on the following morning turned againft the fort ; and the fort being commanded by the hill, Lord Macartney was reduced to the neceffity of fending a flag of truce with an offer of furrendering the ifland by capitulation. In anfwer to his flag, he was allowed only an hour and a half to propofe his terms ; and although thefe were got ready, and prefented in due time, they were inftantly and wholly rejected by the count d'Eftaing, who, inftead of them, made propofals fo extraordinary and inadmiffible, that the governor, with the confent of the principal inhabitants, rather than accept of them, agreed to furrender at difcretion ; and in this manner, on the fourth of July, the count d'Eftaing became poffefled r of the ifland of Grenada, In HISTORY OF THE Tn flif mp^n fim XXVII. In the mean time, admiral Byron, who had failed with the home- ward-bound fleet from St. Chriftopher's, on the fifteenth of June* after accompanying them a proper diftance, and appointing a con- voy to efcort them during the remainder of their paflfage, returned with the reft of his fleet to his former ftation at St. Lucie, where, however, he did not arrive until the firft of July, having been for fome time retarded by a ftrong eafterly wind and lee-current, in his endeavours to weather the ifland of Martinique. At St. Lucie he was informed of the capture of St. Vincent's : And an arrangement for its recovery being inftantly made between him and general Grant, fo expeditioufly were the troops embarked, which were def- tined for this fervice, that the whole fleet failed on the third of July. In the paflage to St. Vincent's, information was received that the count d'Eftaing 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 veflels which had made their efcape, after the arrival of count d'Eftaing, and before the fur- render of the ifland, met the Britifh fleet ; and from the intelligence brought by them, the admiral was led to believe that the naval force at Grenada, under the count d'Eftaing, was inferior to his own : From the fame fource of intelligence he alfo learned that lord Mac- artney expected to be able to hold out for a fortnight. Admiral Byron's fleet, exclufive of tranfports, confifted of twenty-one {hips of the line, and one frigate ; the count d'Eftaing's force was repre- fented to be between fourteen and nineteen (hips of the line ; and under the influence of this intelligence, which afterwards appeared to be erroneous, the admiral made his fubfequent arrangements for the attack of the French fleet. On the evening of the fifth of July the Britifh fleet being fo near that it muft neceflfarily be in fight of Grenada on the following morning, the hips of war were drawfr from AMERICAN WAR. 97 , from amongft the tranfports, and thefe were left to windward under c ,** ^ T p - A. A V II. the care of rear-admiral Rowley, with three (hips of the line, who v. -v J had, neverthelefs, orders to quit the tranfports and join the reft of the fleet whenever on the following morning a fignal for that pur* pofe fhould be made. The van divifion of the Britifh fleet was com- manded by admiral Barrington, in the Prince of Wales ; the centre divifion by admiral Byron, in the Princefs 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 fight of -Grenada and the French fleet. One of the count d'Eftaing's frigates had brought him intelligence, during the night, of the approach of admiral Byron, and he, in confequence of this intelligence, had given orders for his fleet to get under way by day- light in the morning ; fo that when the French fleet was firft defcried by admiral Byron, part of it was already under fail, and the reft in a clufter getting under way as faft as they could, a fituation in which it was impoflible to afcertain their number. A fignal was imme- diately thrown out for a general chafe towards the quarter where the French fleet lay, another for rear-admiral Rowley to quit the tranfports and join, and foon afterwards a third for a clofe engage- ment ; the {hips to fall in and form the line as they got up. As the Britifh fleet bore down, that of the count d'Eftaing ftretclied out from tlie land, and formed a line to leeward. Its great fuperiority was now perceptible ; but if in confequence of this difcovery any alteration had been neceffary in the difpofition of the Britifh fleet, it was now too late to make it, as feveral of the advanced fhips were already engaged. Admiral Barrington in the Prifice of Wales, captain Sawyer in the Boyne, and captain Gardner in the Sultan, prefling forward with that ardour which has at all times diftinguifh- ed the Britifh naval fervice, had foon clofed with the enemy's fleet, and brought it to action, bravely fuftaining their fpirited attack until mey were joined by their companions. To fuccour thefe advanced VOL. IL O fliips, 98 RMSTORY OF THE H A I XXVII. I A P. {hips, and, if pofllble, to make the action decifive, the fame fignals were ftill continued. But it was not the count d'Eftaing's intention, notwithftanding the great fuperiority of his force, to rifk the fate of Grenada upon the uncertain iflue of a clofe engagement with an enemy, which, though inferior in number, was formidable enough to create apprehenfion ; he therefere kept his fleet at a cautious dif- tance, whenever the action had the appearance of becoming general, and clofed only when fingle mips of the Britim fleet, in confequence of their advanced fituation, were expofed to the fire of feveral of his own. His mips, too, being cleaner than thofe of admiral Byron, he had it too much in his power to increafe or diminim his diftance as it fuited his purpofe ; whence it happened that fome of the Bri- tim fliips were much difabled, whilft others were little injured, and fome few not at all engaged. The three mips already mentioned, which commenced the action, fuftained confiderable damage, and loft a number of men : The brave admiral Barrington was amongft the wounded. The Grafton, captain Collingwood, the Cornwall, captain Edwards, and the Lion, captain Cornwallis, hap- pening during fome part of the action to be to leeward of the Britim line, fuftained the whole fire of the French fleet as it pafTed, and were greatly difabled ; as was the Monmouth, captain Fanfhawe who gallantly bore down to ftop the van of the enemy, and bring them to clofe action. The Britim admiral feeing the difabled con- dition of fo many of his mips, hauled down the fignal for chafe, but continued that for clofe action; keeping at the fame time to windward, and forming his line as well as circumftances would per- mit, to prevent the enemy from doubling upon him, and cutting him off from his tranfports, an intention which fome of their move- ments plainly indicated. The defign of the count d'Eftaing againft the tranfports being thus fruftrated, he tacked to the fouthward with his whole fleet about three in the afternoon. The Britim admiral inftantly did the fame, that he might be in readinefs to protect the Grafton, AMERICAN WAR. 99 H A J XXVII, Grafton, Cornwall, and Lion, three of his difabled (hips, which c t A P. were far aftern, and the laft of them greatly to leeward. The Lion I T *? Q had loft fome of her mafts, and her fails and rigging were -To much cut to pieces that captain Cornwallis found it impoflible to beat to windward : As foon, therefore, as the French fleet had tacked, and appeared to ftand towards him, he bore away before the wind, and went with all the fail he could fet to the weftward. The other two (hips flood for the Britifh fleet, and from the extreme caution of the count d'Eftaing, were fortunate enough to rejoin it : So ftudioufly did he avoid every thing which could lead to a clofe engagement, that he made no effort to intercept them, although it was apparently much in his power. Night at laft put an end to the action, the French fleet being then about three miles to leeward. At the time when the Britifh fleet in the morning was neareft to the town of St. George, the white flag was feen flying on the fort and the different batteries, an appearance which left no doubt in the mind of the Britifh admiral that the French were already in poffeflion of the ifland ; and as in the prefent crippled ftate of his fleet nothing effectual could be done for recovering it, he fent orders in the evening to the tranfports to make the beft of their way to St. Chriftopher's, whilft he with the fhips of war fhould keep between them and the enemy. And the Monmouth, which had fuffered fo much as to ftand in need of immediate repair, was ordered to the fame place. As the French fleet was only three miles to leeward at the clofe of the engagement in the evening ; and as the count d'Eftaing during the action muft have clearly perceived his great fuperiority over the Britifh fleet in point of number ; admiral Byron expected to have been attacked as foon as day-light appeared in the morning; but in the morning the French fleet was not to be feen. It had return- ed during the night to Grenada: And as nothing farther could at pre- fent be attempted for the recovery of the ifland, the Britifh admiral fol- O 2 lowed HISTORY OF THE CHAP, XXVII. lowed the tranfports to St. Chriftop'her's, in order to refit his difabled mips. The Lion, which we have mentioned to have flood to the weftward at the time when the Ftfench fleet tacked on the day of the engagement, was fo entirely difabled, that captain Cornwallia was obliged to bear away for Jamaica to get her damage repaired. In mafts, fails, and rigging, the damage done to the Bntifh fleet was great ; but in men the lofs of the French was beyond all comparifon greater. Endeavours were ufed to conceal it ; but the beft accounts made it amount to one thoufand two hundred killed, including twenty-one officers, and nearly two thoufand wounded ; whereas the lofs on board the Britifh fleet amounted only to four officers and one hundred and feventy-nine men killed, and the fame number of of. Jficers 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 A&ion with the French Fleet off Grenada. ? R Hip] 1. Suffolk 2. Boyne 3. Royal Oak 4. Prince of Wales 5. Magnificent 6. Trident 7. Medway 8. Fame 9. Nonfuch 10. Sultan governor, garrifon, and inhabitants, were fubjected to the will of the v .j I *7 TO conqueror, except fo far as the law of nations, independent of all pofitive ftipulation, impofed limits to his authority. But even thefe, it is faid, were fhamefully tranfgrefled ; and the inhabitants expe- rienced all the rigorous oppreffion and feverity which flow from uncontrolled power, when exercifed by an unfeeling and unprin- cipled defpot. HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXVIII. General Alarm throughout the Briti/h Weft India I/lands Quieted by the Departure of Count cPEftaing to Hifpaniola Reduction of Sun- bury in Georgia Colonel Campbell's Expedition to Augufta Cir- cuit for the Encouragement of the Loyalifts performed by Colonel Hamilton Colonel Hamilton quits Augujla and returns to Savannah-^ Attempt of General Lincoln to Jlraiten the Briti/h Quarters Fruf- trated by Colonel Prevojl Unfuccefsful Attempt of General Prevojl on Charlejiown General Prevojl retires from Charlejlown y and takes Pojl at Johns I/land. CHAP. HPHE balance of conquefts in the Weft Indies was now greatly in XXVIII. t - T _ J_i favour of the French ; St. Lucie, the only Britifh acquifition, be- Genera?" ^ n S but a P oor recompence for the lofs of Dominica, St. Vincent's, a j i arm and Grenada ; and the great fuperiority of the French fleet in that the Britifli quarter threatened to make the balance ftill greater, and filled the Weft India iflands, inhabitants of the remaining Britifh Weft India pofleflions with general alarm and apprehenfion. But the approach of the hurricane feafon, added to the lofs of men in the laft adion, fet bounds for the pre- quieted by fent to the ambitious projects of the count d'Eftaing. After remaia- of count l ingfome time at Grenada, for the purpofe of fettling the govern- Hif P aniola t0 ment ^ e Billed with his fleet for Cape Fran9ois, in Hifpaniola. And here we mail leave him, in order to refume the relation of fuch events as happened on the American continent fince the commence- ment of the prefent year, The AMERICAN WAR. 103 The rigour of winter fufpended all military operations between CHAP. -A.A. V 111* the two great armies in the province of New York, until the return V- -.- ' T "" TO of fpring; but in the more foutherly climate of Georgia, the winter Eventsoiithe is the propereft feafon for action, and in this laft province it may be ^ c a r ^ remembered that lieutenant-colonel Campbell began his victorious nenu career as late as the end of December. We left him, after he had defeated the provincials, and driven them acrofs 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 fecurity of the province. He had alfo 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 Prevoft fhould enable him to under- take it. That general had met with many difficulties and delays in his march towards Georgia, from the want of horfes and carriages to tranfport his artillery, ammunition, baggage, and provifions. Thefe were carried in open boats, through the different inland water- courfes, with which the fea-coaft of Eaft 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 thefe circuits the troops, for want of other pro- vifions, were fometimes obliged to fubfift for feveral days together on oyfters, which the inlets from the fea fortunately afforded. At laft, however, they penetrated into Georgia, and reached Sunbury about the beginning of January, the fort of which they immediately invefted, being the only place of ftrength remaining in the poflef- fion of the Americans in the lower parts of the province. Lieute- nant-colonel Prevoft, the brother of the general, by making a forced march with part of the troops, had previoufly furrounded it to pre- vent the garrifon from efcaping, the commander of which at firft feemed 104 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, feemed determined to make an obftinaterefiftance; but after trenches X.X. V 1 1 1 u - ' were opened, and fome pieces of artillery had been brought up, he Reduaion of thought fit, on the ninth of January, to furrender the fort at difcre- *i n i w ^^ upwards of forty pieces of ordnance, and a confiderable quantity of ammunition*; an acquifition made with the lofs of only- one man killed and three wounded. The lofs of the garriibn in killed and wounded was equally inconfiderable ; but the furvivors, amounting to two hundred and twelve, were made prifoners of war. General Prevoft, after the reduction of Sunbury, proceeded to Sa- vannah, where he arrived about thejniddle of January; and as foon afterwards as the neceflary arrangements were completed, lieutenant- xolonel Campbell fet out on his expedition to Augufta. In war much depends upon the promptitude with which a com- mander feizes and improves thofe opportunities of action that are prefgnted by fortuitous circumftances. This obfervation 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 fo little lofs on his own fide ; 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 Prevoft, and had he not improved his firft fuccefs by rapidly purfuing 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 furrendered to General Prevoft. 24 pieces of brafs ordoance 3002 mufket cartridges, 500 carbine ditto i brafs feven-inch mortar 150 mufket ball, 1,800 cwt. lead in pigs 20 pieces of iron ordnance 28 powder barrels 824 round fhot of different fizes 400 mufket flints | loo cafe and grape fhot, 30 (hells, 50 hand 150 cartridge boxes, 72- pouches with powder - grenades horns 180 mufkets with bayonets, 12 rifles, 40 30 claw handfpikes with ladles, wad-hooks, fufees and carbines, and 4 wall pieces and fpunges. 5 the AMERICAN WAR. the province, it is probable that the conqueft of even the lower parts of Georgia, inftead of being effected in lefs than ten days, might have ^ v been a work not only of time, but of difficulty ; as a large reinforce- mentwas haftening toxvards it, which reached the northern banks of the Savannah juft in time to colled: the fcattered remains of the American general How's defeated army. The delegates from South Carolina and Georgia, with a view to the conqueft of Eaft Florida, had folicited the congrefs to appoint general Lincoln to the command of the troops, to the fouthward* That officer was the fecond in command in the army which captured general Burgoyne, a circumftance which of itfelf was fufficient to give him eclat. But his judicious, brave, and fpirited conduct on the occafion, gave him ftill better pretenfions to fame, and en- titled him, in the opinion of the Americans, to no fmall fhare in the glory of the atchievement. He was, in September of the laft year, ^^ appointed by congrefs to the command of the fouthern army, and arrived at Charleftown in South Carolina about the beginning of December. Long before Lincoln's arrival at Charleftown, general Wafhing- ton, through his fpies at New York, h ad received intelligence of the .. intended expedition againft Georgia ; and as foon as this informa- tion was conveyed to the fouthward, the provincial government of North Carolina, with a decifion which did them credit, embodied two thoufand of their militia to ferve for five months, and without delay fent them on to Charleftown, under the command of generals Afhe and Rutherford, where they were to be provided with arms. Thefe troops arrived in time at Charleftown to have reached general How at Savannah before he was attacked, had they been imme- diately furnifhed with arms. But the government of South Caro- lina refufed to fupply them, until it was finally afcertained by the proceedings of the Britifh, that Georgia, and not South Carolina, VOL, II, P was *o<3 HISTORY OF THE was the object of their expedition. The reinforcement which we. W v t have already mentioned to have met general How, as foon as he had crofled the Savannah, confifted of a detachment of thefe troops,, with two regular regiments from Charleftown, amounting in the, whole to nine hundred and fifty men ; and with thefe and the re- mains of the Georgia army, general Lincoln, on the third of Ja- nuary, eftablifhed his head-quarters at Puryfburg, on the north fide of the river, about fifteen miles above the town of Savannah. The inhabitants of feveral of the interior counties of North Caro- lina were known to be well affected to the Britifh government. The expedition up the Savannah, the courfe of which led towards thefe inhabitants, had, therefore, a double object, and was intended to open and eftablifh a communication with them, as well as to reduce the Colonel remaining part of Georgia. Augufta, the fecond town in Georgia,, wpe^tioAo ^ es u P on tne fouthern bank of the river Savannah, and is diftant Augufta m from the fea-coaft about one hundred and fifty miles. The previous Georgia. f arrangements neceflary for marching through fuch an extent of country, in many places thinly, and in fome not at all inhabited, , were fo well adjufted by lieutenant-colonel Campbell, that he met , with few interruptions, except fuch as arofe from the water-courfes . in his way, the bridges over which were in moft places deftroyed. Upon his approach to Augufta, a body of provincials, under the command of brigadier-general Williamfon, quitted the town, and> retreated acrofs the river.. Here, as well as at Savannah, the inha- bitants flocked in, took the oath of allegiance, and, for their own de- fence, were formed into companies,, under officers of their own. Circuit for Choice.. From Augufta lieutenant-colonel Hamilton of the North Carolina regiment was detached towards the- frontiers of Georgia,. theloyaMs, with two hundred infantry, mounted on horfeback, to encourage, performed by colonel Ha- fuch of the inhabitants as were attached to the Britifh government, , and to dUarm the difaffefted, In, his progrefs he foon. difcovered. i 'OEK AMERICAN WAR. that, although many of the people came in to take the oath of alle- giance, the profeffions of a confiderable number were not to be de- v- -v- pended upon ; and that fome came in only for the purpofe of gain- ing information of his ftrength and future defigns. In various quarters he met with oppofition \ and all their places of ftrength held out until they were reduced. The reduction of moft of thefe was not, however, a work of great difficulty, as they confided only of ftockade forts, calculated for defence againft the Indians. At laft, having nearly completed his circuit, he was attacked by a colo- nel Pickens, with five hundred militia, who had marched againft him from the diftrict of Ninety-fix, in the province of South Caro- lina; but -the militia were foon repulfed 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 progrefs of lieutenant-colonel Hamil- ton, a number of loyalifts in the interior parts of North Carolina had embodied themfelves under a colonel Boyd, and attempted to force their way into Georgia, and form a junction with the Britifh troops. It was to oppofe thefe, as well as to check colonel Hamil- ton's progrefs, that colonel Pickens had aiTembled his militia ; and finding that he could make no impreffion upon the latter, he turned his arms againft the loyalifts, who had by this time forced a paflage acrofs the Savannah in the face of a detachment which he had left to oppofe them. He came up with them at Kettle Creek, and an engagement enfued, in which the loyalifts, after an obftinate refift- ance, were defeated with the lofs of their commander, colonel Boyd, aiid a confiderable number killed and wounded. About three hun- dred of them, by keeping together, afterwards found means to join the Britifh army. The reft were difperfed, feme flying back to North Carolina, and others into South Carolina, where they threw tkemfelves upon the mercy of their countrymen, Of thofe who P 2 fled io8 HISTORY OF THE / C H A P. fl e d i n t o South Carolina, feventy were tried and convicted of trea- v v ' fon againft the new government, but five only were put to death. Lieutenant-colonel Campbell having received orders to retreat from Augufta, recalled the detachment from the frontiers, and about February, the middle of February retired down the Savannah by eafy marches until he reached Hudfon's Ferry, about twenty-four miles above Ebenezer, now the head-quarters of the army. At Hudfon's Ferry he left the advance of the army under the command of lieutenant- Colonel Campbell colonel Prevoft, and returned to Savannah, to eftablifh fome civil quits Au- ,.., . . i j r T- i gufta, and re- regulations in the province, previous to his departure ior JLngland,, tannah? ' which took place foon afterwards* The poft at Augufta was found too diftant to be fupported ; for as the Britifh troops extended themfelves along the fouthern banks of the Savannah, the provincials did the fame on the oppofite fide ; and general Lincoln, whofe force was every day increafmg, had not only eftablifhed feveral pofts in force on the north fide of the river, but was alfo enabled to detach general Aihe, with one thoufand five hundred militia, and fome regular troops, to ftrengthen the provin- cial poft oppofite to Augufta, and to improve any opportunity which might offer for croffing the river, in order to ftraiten the Britifh quarters. General Afhe, upon his arrival at the poft oppofite to Augufta, found that town already evacuated by the Britifh troops* who had retired down the river : He therefore, in purfuance of his orders, crofted the river, and followed them as far as Brier Creek,. behind which he took poft, about thirteen miles above Hudfon's Ferry. Attempt of General Lincoln was now forming a plan in concert with general cototo ftrait- Afhe, for confining the Britifh troops within ftill narrower limits ; entheBntifh but before lib could carry it into execution, lieutenant-colonel Pre- quarters voft, with a detachment confifting of three grenadier companies of the fixtieth regiment, fir James Baird's light-infantry, the fecond I batta- AMERICAN WAR. 109 battalion of the feventy-firft regiment, captain Tawes's provincial c *J ^ P. .X..X. V 111. troop of light dragoons, and fome rangers and militia, amounting in < -v > the whole to nine hundred men, by making a circuit, and croffing Brier Creek fifteen miles above the place where general Ame was encamped, found means to get into his rear unperceived ; and whilft major Macpherfon, with the firft battalion of the feventy-firft regi- ment, and fome 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 oppofite quarter by lieu- fmftrated by tenant-colonel Prevoft, and totally routed and difperfed, with the lofs of feven pieces of cannon, feveral ftand of colours, almoft 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 purfuit; twenty-feven officers, including brigadier-general Elbert, the fecond in command, with two hundred men, were made pri- foners ; and a much greater number perifhed in the river endeavour- ing to make their efcape. Of thofe who did efcape, many returned home : And of the whole detachment under general Ame, which was fuppofed to exceed two thoufand men, only four hundred and fifty rejoined general Lincoln. The lofs of the Britilh troops amount- ed only to five private foldiers killed, and one officer and ten privates wounded. The plan of this furprife was well imagined, and the execution admirably conducted ; and both ferve to exhibit in a very fuperior point of view the military talents of lieutenant-colonel Prevoft. In confequence of this fignal victory, the communication was again opened between the Britifh pofts and the frontier fettle- ments. In the mean time a new governor was elected for South Carolina, and to him and his council were delegated powers almoft dictatorial for the defence of the province. In confequence of the rigorous exercife of thofe powers, the army under general Lincoln was foon after- no HISTORY OF THE C J* A p< afterwards reinforced with a body of one thoufand militia; and this XXVIII. J ' v_ ^ ; reinforcement enabled him to refume his former defign of entering Georgia by the way of Augufta, in order to interrupt the commun*- cation which lieutenant-colonel Prevoft's victory had opened : He liad alfo another powerful motive for marching towards that place at prefent, which was to protect the provincial delegates for Geor- gia, who had agreed to meet and hold a convention at Augufta in the month of May. General Lincoln's force now amounted to five thoufand men : Of thefe he left about one thoufand to garrifon Puryfburg and Black Swamp, the former of thefe places under the command of colonel Macintofh, and the latter under general Moul- trie; and with the reft, on the twenty-third of April, he began his march up the Savannah. Five days after his departure general Pre- voft, with a view of obliging him to return, pafTed over the greateft part of his army into South Carolina. The American pofts at Puryfburg and Black Swamp were immediately abandoned ; and ge~ neral Moultrie, unable to withftand the force to which he was op- pofed, retreated haftily towards Charleftown^ deftroying all the bridges in his rear as he pafled them. Express were immediately difpatched after general Lincoln ; but he concluded that the irrup- tion of the Britifh 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 chofen troops to reinforce general Moultrie. The Britifh general's original intention was no other than what Lincoln fuppofed; but meeting with fcarcely any oppofition or impediment in his progrefs, except what arofe from the deftruction of the bridges, and receiving at. the fame time in- formation of the defencelefs ftate of Charleftown on that fide on which he would approach it, he began to cherifh the hope of being able to reduce it before general Lincoln could come to its relief 5 and the farther he advanced, his expectations became the more fan- guine, AMERICAN WAR. in guine, in confequence of the general fcope of the intelligence received from the inhabitants of the province, who joined him on , . , 17-79- his march.. At Charleftown all was buftle and confufion; and the inhabitants were for forne time in a ftate of the moft anxious fufpenfe, between the hope of being relieved by general Lincoln, to whom ex- preffes were daily fent, and the fear of being attacked before his re- turn. Charleftown ftands upon a point of land between the rivers Afhley and Cooper, which uniting juft below it, and inclofing the town between them, form a bay, opening into the fea, at the dif- tance of fome miles eaftward. Towards the bay, and the rivers on each fide, batteries had been erected, as in thefe quarters the town was expofed to an attack from a naval force ; but towards the land fide fcarcely any precautions had been taken for its defence, as on that fide they had hitherto apprehended no danger. It was in this quarter, however, that at prefent all their danger lay ; and the greateft efforts were made to put it into fome tolerable ftate of defence. The flaves, with which South Carolina abounds, were now of the greateft ufe. The houfes in the fuburbs being burnt down, and an immenfe number of flaves being employed, lines and abbatis were in a few days carried acrofs from Afhley to Cooper River, and can- non were mounted at proper intervals. Fort Johnfton, on the fouth fide of the bay, as being at prefent of no ufe, was difmantled, and the garrifoE withdrawn to Charleftown. 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 Pulafki too, with his legion, crofled Cooper River to Charleftown the fame day on which it was inverted by general Prevoft. The arrival of thefe different reinforcements all nearly about the fame time, infufed fome fpirit into the inhabitants, and encou- raged; ii2 HISTORY OF THE c H A P. raged them to ftand upon their defence. If numbers could give Jv-X. V 111. v. <~> them confidence, they had indeed every reafon to expect fuccefs; as, 1 770 in confequence of thefe reinforcements, the garrifon exceeded ge* neral Prevoft's army in number by at leaft one third* May. On the tenth of May, in the evening, the Britifh troops reached Unfticcefsful attempt of Afhley Ferry, and, having pafled the river, appeared before the lines volTon at Charleftown on the following day, the remainder of which was Charleftown. {^ ent ' m fkirmifhes of little moment. On the twelfth the town was iummoned to furrender ; and favourable terms of capitulation were offered, which however were rejected. But as it was of confequence to the garrifon and the people of the town to gain as much time as poflible, things were fo contrived that the whole day was fpent in fending and receiving meflages ; in the courfe of which a pro- pofal was made on their part for the neutrality of the province during the war, and that at the end of the war its fate fhould be determined by the treaty of peace. But after various meflages and explana- tions of this propofal, it was utterly rejected by general Prevoft; and the commiflioners from the town were told, that as the garrifon was in arms, they muft furrender as prifoners of war. This declaration put an end to the negotiation; and the inhabitants of the town now expected nothing elfe than an aflault. But on the following morn- ing they were agreeably furprifed when they found that the Britifli troops had been withdrawn during the night, and had re-crofled Aihley Ferry. After taking a view of the lines at Charleftown, ge* neral Prevoft was convinced, that* although unfmifhed, they were not to be forced without fuch a lofs of men as he could not fpare. He alfo knew that the garrifon, reinforced as it had been> was now more numerous than the troops which he had to lead againft it *; and that general Lincoln was by this time haftening to its relief * General Prevoft's force was about 2400 men j the garrifon 3300, including militia. from "3 from the back country, with a force flill greater. The Britifh ee- CHAP. J & xxviii. neral was therefore, at laft, prudent enough to retire, although with L- that lofs of credit which arifes from making an abortive attempt, the original defign of which appears to have been unwife, and the means ufed to accomplifh it incompetent and ineffectual. If general Pre- vofl had not a fufficient force to maintain the poft at Augufta, and preferve the proper communications with it ; that force was flill lefs adequate to garrifon Charleflown, even if he had taken it, and at the fame time preferve a communication with Georgia, or indeed leave a fufficient force for its defence. But if this confideration had been out of the queflion, he had not with him a train of artillery fufficient to cover an aflault. The Britifh troops having crofled Aftiley River, after foraging for fome days, retired towards the fea-coaft ; which, being interfered by a chain of inland water-courfes, leading all the way to the Sa- vannah River, afforded them, in confequence of their fhipping, not only the eafieft, but the fafeft means of effecting their retreat to Georgia, and tranfporting their baggage, unmolefted. From the main land they pafled to James 111 and, and from thence to John's Ifland, where they took poft until the arrival of a fupply of am- munition, which had for fome time been expected from New York. In the mean time general Lincoln had proceeded as far as Augufta, notwithftanding the intelligence he received of general Prevoft's irruption into South Carolina. But whilft he remained at this place, the daily exprefTes which arrived from Charleftown, with informa- tion of the rapid progrefs of the Britifh troops, foon convinced him that fomething more was now intended by this irruption, than a mere feint : And after eftablifhing a poft at Augufta, and march- ing for three days down the fouth fide of the river Savannah, a route which was preferred, as the diftance was nearly the fame, for , II, the ii 4 HISTORY OF THE purpofe of difplaying his force, and reanimating the almoft de- fponding hopes of fuch of the inhabitants of Georgia as were ftiH attached to the American caufe, he re-croffed the Savannah, and re- turned with hafty marches towards Charleftown, until he reached Dorchefter, at the entrance of what is called Charleftown Neck ; and here he eftablifhed his head-quarters, until the Britifh troops retired from Afhley Ferry towards the fea-coaft. CHAP. XXIX. General Prevoft departs from Johns I/land to Savannah Succeeded in the Command at Johns I/land by Lieutenant Colonel Maitland Britffi Troops under Colonel Maitland attacked by General Lincoln The Americans repulfed General Prevojl having ejlablijhed a Pojl in the I/land of Port Royal, retires with the rejl of the Army to Georgia. TOHN's Ifland, of which general Prevoft had taken pofleffion, is CHAP. feparated from the main land by an inlet to which has been given \_ - w -'j the name of Stono River; and the communication between the one and the other is preferved by a ferry. Upon the main land, at this ferry, a poft was eftablifhed, as well for the fecurity of the ifland as for the protection of the Britifh foraging parties ; which was thought of fo much confequence, that for fome time the garrifon confifted of fifteen hundred men under the command of lieutenant- colonel Prevoft. For the defence of this poft in front, three re- doubts were thrown up, which were joined by lines of communica- tion ; and its rear was covered by Stono Inlet, acrofs which, to John's Ifland, a kind of bridge was formed by the numerous (loops, fchooners, and other fmaller vefTels that attended the army. Although it was neither the intereft nor inclination of Lincoln to rifque a general engagement with the Britifh troops, it was obvi- oufly his wiih to attack their out-pofts, and cut them off in detail. With this view, on the fourth of June, he appeared with his army in front of the poft at Stono Ferry ; but, after viewing the lines, thought US HISTORY OF THE CHAP, thought proper to retire. Not long afterwards, on the fixteenth of -A..X.J.-A. June, lieutenant-colonel Prevoft departed for Savannah, carrying I '7 > 7Q General ' with him the grenadiers of the fixtieth regiment, and all the vefTels partTfrom" which had formed the bridge of communication except an armed John's Ifland fj at capable of containing twenty men. About this time it feems to Savannah ; Is fucceeded to have been determined to evacuate the poft ; and upon lieutenant- at colonel Maitland, who at Prevoft's departure was appointed to fuc- by lieutenant- cee ^ ^ m * n ^6 command, devolved the care of conducting that colonel Mait- fervice which the injudicious conduct of his predcceflbr, in carrying away the veflels that preferved the communication with John's Ifland, had rendered both difficult and dangerous. But every thing was done which could be expected from the zeal, ability, and expe- rience of this diftinguimed officer. The feventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth days of June were employed in tranfporting acrofs- the inlet the fick and wounded, the negroes and Indians, with the baggage and horfes belonging to the garrifon, and in deftroying all unnecefTary huts and buildings, and putting the poft in a proper ftate of defence againft a fudden attack. Such precautionary meafures had become tjae more neceflary in confequence of the prefent feeble flate of the garrifon, which confided of the firft battalion of the feventy-firft regiment, much weakened and reduced in its numbers,. part of a Heffian 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 ftate of the garrifon, which was not unknown to general Lincoln, tempted him to renew his defign of cutting it off;: and on the twentieth of June he advanced againft it with a force con- futing of two brigades of continental troops, a corps of light-infan- try, feveral regiments of North and South Carolina militia, and a detachment of artillery with eight pieces of cannon, the whole efti- mated by general Prevoft, in his official letter, at five thoufand men. i An AMERICAN WAR. 117 An attack made upon the Britifh picquets advanced a confiderable CHAP. A.-A.Uv* diflance in front of the works, about feven in the morning, which < v~^ was attended with a fmart firing of mufketry, gave the firft alarm to lieutenant-colonel Maitland. The garrifon was immediately ordered Britifhtroops J under colonel under arms, and two companies of the feventy-firfl regiment, under Maitland at- the command of captain Campbell, were fent out on the right to feel neralLiucoln. the ftrength of the enemy. The Highlanders are not the beft quali- fied for fuch a fervice : Their impetuofity is apt to hurry them on too far, and their obflinate bravery indifpofes them to retreat until it is often too late ; and fo it happened on the prefent occafion. 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 fo ob- ftinately maintained by the highlanders againft fo great a fuperiority 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 mufketry, which was fupported by the provincials with more than ufual firmnefs. The fierce at- tack made by the highlanders upon their left, inftead of intimidating, feemed to have animated them to copy their brave example. A re- giment of Heffians on the left of the Britifh line unfortunately gave way, and the provincials preffing forward, had already reached the abbatis of the works. At this critical juncture a judicious and rapid movement of part of the feventy-firft regiment, which was ordered from the right to the left of the Britifh line, flopped the progrefs of the Ame- ricans, and reftored the fortune of the day. By the great exertions The Amerf- of lieutenant-colonel Maitland, and the officers in general, the Hef- fians were rallied and again brought into action. The provincials were, in their turn, now obliged to retreat j but they retreated in good n8 HISTORY OF THE p * good order, carrying with them fome of their killed and all their . j wounded. The horfes belonging to the garruon had, m the view of its evacuation, been tranfported to John's Ifland before the day of the attack, fo that no purfuit could be made. The whole lofs of the Britiih troops in this day's action amounted to one hundred and twenty-nine : Of thefe, three officers and twenty-three men were killed, and ten officers and ninety-three men wounded, one only being miffing. The lofs of the provincials does not appear ever to have been publifhed, and perhaps never was fully afcertained. A lift of their killed and wounded officers, however, has been pub- limed, amounting to twenty-fix, juft double the number of Britifh officers who were killed or wounded : And if we fuppofe the lofs of men in proportion to officers, to have been nearly the fame on both fides> we fhall have reafon to conclude, that the whole lofs of the provincials in killed and wounded did not much fall fhort of three hundred men. The greatefl praife w r as due to lieutenant- colonel Maitland for the fuccefsful defence of his poft, with a handful of men, againft a force fo fuperior, in which he was bravely fupport- ed by all the officers of the garrifon. Lieutenant-colonel Hamilton of the North Carolina regiment, and majors M' Arthur, Frafer, and Skelly, in a particular manner diftinguilhed themfelves. The ar- tillery was moft excellently ferved, and did great execution under the direction of captain Fairlamb, and lieutenants Wilton and Wal- lace, all of whom were wounded, and the latter fo feverely, that he died a few days after. It would be endlefs to point out the merits of all who were entitled to praife ; but the fingular gallantry of an action performed by captain Moncrieff of the engineers in the fight of both armies cannot be omitted. That officer was on John's Ifland with the troops under general Prevoft at the commencement of the action ; but as foon as the firing was heard, he rode in all hafte to Stono Ferry, and crofling over, contributed by his diftin- guimed AMERICAN WAR. 119 V guimed fervices, during the remainder of the action, to the fuccefs c ,J* A r * .A.-X : ^\.. of the day. With twenty men only he fallied out in the face of ' -v * the whole provincial army, took an ammunition waggon, and brought it fafe within the lines. This was a moft feafonable fupply of what was greatly wanted ; for fuch was the fcarcity of ammuni- tion in the Britilh garrifon, that the laft charges were in the guns when the provincials gave way. The troops on John's Ifland were put in motion by general Prevoft as foon 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 afliftance of the garrifon, might, neverthelefs, have contributed to damp the ardour of the Americans and haften their repulfe. The militia under general Lincoln were difheartened by this un- fuccefsful attack; and the greateft part of them foon afterwards quit- ted the army and returned home. The Britifh troops were no far- ther molefted : The poft at Stono Ferry was evacuated ; and the army retiring along the fea-coaft, pafled from ifland to ifland until it reached Beaufort in the ifland of Port Royal. At Beaufort gene- General Pre- ral Prevoft eftablifhed a poft, the garrifon of which he left under the eftablifhcd a command of lieutenant-colonel Maitland, and returned with the reft fnand of Port of the army to Georgia ; that the troops might reft during the hot and R .y al > retires fickly feafon, which in this fouthern province prevents the operations of th e army c rr o. it i r j to Georgia. or an army as enectually, as the rigour or winter does in a more northerly climate. For the fame reafon the American army retired to Sheldon; and nothing of any confequence 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 fupply of provifions for the troops, the want of which had begun to be felt in Georgia, and the eftablilhing a poft at Beau- fort. But the American accounts have charged the army under general 120 CHAP, general Prevoft with gaining other advantages not of fo honourable -A.-X1./V.. i _. a kind, and with fuch an appearance of truth, that a regard to im- T 'T'TQ partiality obliges us not to pafs them over unnoticed. By thefe accounts they have been charged with plundering the inhabitants indifcriminately, and enriching thernfelves at their expence ; an im- putation, if true, of a moft difgraceful nature and ruinous tendency, not only to the army, but to the intereft of the Britifh nation ; as fuch a rapacious conduct muft have irritated the inhabitants in ge- neral againft the Britifh army, and alienated the attachment even of thofe who were the beft affe&ed to government* AMERICAN WAR. CHAP. XXX. The Count d"* Eftaing fets fail for the American Continent and arrives on the Coaft of Georgia Efforts Military and Naval for the Pre- fervation of Savannah Count d 'EJlaing fummons Savannah to fur- render to the Arms of his Moji Chriflian Majejly General Pre- voji fuccoured by Colonel Maitland The combined Armies of France and America befege Savannah attack the Briti/h Lines repulfed - / coaft, that the Experiment of fifty guns, commanded by fir James Wallace, and two ftore-fhips under his convoy, unapprehenfive of danger, had the misfortune to fall in with the French fleet off the bar of Savannah river, and were of courfe taken, but not till after a defperate refiftance made by the Experiment, although me had been previoufly difmafted in a ftorm. The Ariel of twenty-four guns> which had been on a cruife off Charleftown bar, fhared the fame 7 fate. $; As foon as intelligence of the arrival of count d'Eftaing reached South Carolina, general Lincoln, with the force which he had then, with him, inftantly marched towards Georgia : Orders were alfo iflued for affembling the militia, who were, with all expedition, to follow general Lincoln ; and veflels of a proper draught of water were difpatched from Charleftown to affift in landing the French troops. It does not appear that the Britifh commanders in Georgia were apprifed of the arrival of count d'Eftaing until the fourth of Sep- tember, when his whole force, confifting of forty- one fail, was feen to the fouthward of Tybee plying to windward. Information was immediately fent to general Prevoft ; in confequence of which, Efforts mOi- meafures were taken for increafmg the fortifications at Savannah, and * ai 7 f an( putting the town in a proper pofture of defence. The garrifon prefervation at Sunbury, under lieutenant-colonel Cruger, was withdrawn ; and orders were difpatched to Beaufort for lieutenant-colonel Maitland .with the troops, and captain Chriftian of the navy, with the (hips and gallies under his command, to repair in all hafte to Savannah. . In the mean time, captain Henry, who commanded the Britifh naval force in the river Savannah, was taking precautions as well for itsfafety'as for rendering it ferviceable in the defence of thetown^ R2 ^ 124- HISTORY OF THE H A XXX. [ A P. The leading marks upon the fhore, which point out the channel to {hips paffing the bar, were cut down; and the fquadron under cap- tain Henry, which confifted only of the Fowey, Rofe, Keppel armed brig, and Germaine provincial armed (hip, with fome gallies, was fo ftationed that it might retire with fafety towards the town of Savan- nah whenever future circumftances fhould render it expedient. The retreat of this fmall fquadron foon became a meafure of ab- folute neceflity. On the ninth of October the French fleet came to an anchor off the bar ; and as the line-of-battle {hips, from their, great draught of water, could not pafs it, nor come near the fhore, the fmall coafting veflels fent from Charleftown were employed in receiving the troops from the French {hips, and landing them at Beaulieu in Oflabaw Sound, an inlet of the fea fome miles fouth of the mouth of the river Savannah. On the following day four French frigates entered the anchorage ground at Tybce, and render- ed it neceflary for the Britifh naval force to move up the river to Savannah, Upon its arrival the guns were landed from the mips, and mounted on the batteries. The marines were incorporated with the grenadiers of the fixtieth regiment ; and the feamen were put on {hore to aflift in working the artillery. The Rofe, and Sa- vannah armed mip, with four tranfports, were funk acrofs the chan- nel below the town, ta prevent the French frigates from coming higher; and above it fome fmaller veiTels were funk, and a boom was laid acrofs to prevent fire-rafts from being fent down. The Ger- maine armed brig alone retained her guns ; and fhe was ftationed off YamlraW) above the town, to flank the right of the Britifh lines. Thefe difpofitions were made on the river, whilft on more the troops, affifted by fome hundreds of negroes, were employed in ftrengthen- ing the old, and erecting new works for the defence of the town. As foon as the debarkation of the French troops was completed the count d'Eftaing inarched againft Savannah, and without waiting for AMERICAN WAR. 125 for a junction with the American army, which was every inftant CHAP. expelled to come up, fummoned general Prevoft to furrender the \_ -. j town to the arms of his moft chriftian majefty, difplaying in his fummons, in terms bordering on extravagance, the magnitude of his force, and the valour of his troops, who had fo lately ftormed the fortifications at Grenada, and in fo fhort a time atchieved the con- queft of that ifland, and threatening to make general Prevoft anfwer- able in his own perfon, fhould he, after this premonition, wilfully perfift in making a fruitlefs defence. This hafty proceeding of the count d*Eftaing, without waiting for general Lincoln, or joining the American ftates in the fummons for a furrender, had nearly created a difference between him and his allies. By fome it was thought to be a plain indication that the French meant to conquer for them- felves ; but upon a remonftrance being afterwards made by genera^ Lincoln, the count d'Eftaing gave fuch an explanation of his motives and intentions as was deemed fatisfactory. General Prevoft, to whom it was of the utmoft importance to gain time, returned a civil meffage to the count d'Eftaing, acknowledging the receipt of the fummons, and defiring twenty-four hours to confider of an anfwer, and to prepare the terms on which a furrender might be made, fhould that be his ultimate determination. The requeft was granted without any difficulty ; the count d'Eftaing expecting nothing lefs than a furrender of the town at the expiration of the time fixed for an anfwer : But it was made with a very different view by general Prevoft. He hoped that the troops under lieutenant-colonel Mait- land might arrive during the interval ; and in this hope he was not difappointed. That officer, after ftruggling with difficulties during fome part of his route, which, to a mind lefs determined, would have appeared infurmountable, arrived at Savannah before the ex- General Prt> piration of the truce, with the beft part of his detachment, amount- ing to about eight hundred men. As the French were in poffeffion of HISTORY OF THE lower part of the river, he had no other way left of effect- v J ing a juaction with general Prevoft but by tranfporting his troops in boats through the marfties by an inland water-courfe called Wall's Cut, which for two miles was fo fhoal, that the men, wading up to their middle, were obliged to drag the boats by main force through the mud. The refidue of the garrifon at Beaufort, which for want of a fufficient number of boats could not be tranfported, remained with the mips and gallies under the command of captain Chriftian ; and their retreat being now cut off, they took a new pofition in Callibogie Sound, where, by creeling batteries on the more, they made fuch a ftrong difpofition for defence, that neither the French nor Americans attempted to moleft them during the fubfequent fiege of Savannah. The fafe arrival of fo confiderable a reinforcement, and that too of chofen troops, but above all, the prefence of the officer who com- manded them, in whofe zeal, ability, and military experience fo much confidence was defervedly placed by the army, infpired the garrifon of Savannah with new animation : An anfwer was return- ed to the count d'Eftaing, that the town would be defended to the laft extremity + The zeal and ardour of both the officers and men were, if poffible, increafed ; and new defences were daily conftruct- cd under the judicious eye and mafterly 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 diftance from the more, and a fcarcity of horfes and carriages, was a work of confiderable labour and difficulty. Retarded by fuch impediments, the com- bined armies of French and Americans did not begin to break ground for the purpofe of carrying on their approaches until the twenty- third of September, nor were their batteries ready to open until the fourth AMERICAN WAH. fourth of the following month. During this interval, attempts were c H r A p - made to interrupt their operations by two different forties ; the firft of t- * L-/ which, under major Graham of the fixteenth regiment, reached the Oftober. lines of the enemy, and threw them into con&ifion; and when this ^ecombm- * Co. srinics or detachment retired, it was incautioufly purfued fo clofe to the Britifh France and America be- iines, that the confederates in their retreat loft a great number of foge Savan- men, by a well-directed fire from the works. The other fortie under major M c Arthur, was fo 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- fiegers having opened with a difchargefrom fifty-three pieces of heavy cannon and fourteen mortars, a requeft was made by general Pre- voft that the women and children might be permitted to leave the town and embark on board veflels in the river, which mould be placed under the protection of the count d'Eftaing, and wait the iffue of the fiege : But this propofal, dictated by humanity, was rejected with infult. Fortunately, however, for the inhabitants as well as the gar- rifon, although an inceflant cannonade from fo many pieces of artil- lerv, was continued from the fourth to the ninth of October, lefs injury was done to the houfes in the town than might have been expected; few lives were loft, and the defences were in no refpect materially damaged. The French troops landed from the mips amounted to about five thoufand men, and no doubt being entertained ainongft the Ameri- cans of the fall of Savannah, the militia poured in as to a certain triumph, and joined general Lincoln in fuch numbers, that the com-' bined armies, it is faid, amounted to more than ten thoufand men- The force in Savannah, under general Prevoft, did not exceed two thoufand five hundred of all forts, regulars, provincial corps, feamen, militia, and volunteers. But the difparity in numbers was in fome degree compenfated by the extraordinary zeal and ardour which animated 128 HISTORY OF THE P * animated the'befieged, from the commander in chief down to the humble African, whofe inceflant and cheerful labours, in rearing 1770* thofe numerous defences which were completed with fo much expe- dition as to aftonifh the befiegers, ought not to be forgotten in a hiftory of this memorable fiege. When the French were firft land- ed, not more than ten or twelve pieces of artillery appeared upon the fortifications at Savannah : But fo inceflantly did the garrifon labour in ftrengthening and enlarging the old works, and in erecting new redoubts and batteries, that before the conclufion of the fiege near one hundred pieces of cannon were mounted. The town of Savannah being fituated upon thefouthern bank of the river of that name, had two of its fides fecured by natural boundaries, one by the river behind it, and the other by a thick fwamp and woody morafs communicating with the river above the town. The other two fides were originally open towards the country, which in front of them for feveral 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 traverfes thrown op behind to protect the troops from the fire of the befiegers ; and the whole extent of the works was furrounded with an abbatis. The redoubts on the right towards the fwamp were three in number :. That in the centre was garrifoned by two companies of militia, with the North Carolina regiment to fupport them, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Hamilton. Captains Roworth and Wylie, with the provincial corps of king's rangers, were pofted in the redoubt on the right ; and captain Tawfe, with his corps of provincial dra- goons difmounted, in that on the left, called the Springhill Redoubt, fupported by the South Carolina regiment. To the right of the whole was a failors battery of nine-pounders, covered by a company of the Biitifh legion, under the command of captain Stewart; and a between AMERICAN WAR. 129 between the centre and Springhill redoubt, was another of thefe bat- CHAP. JLJ&JM teries, under the direction of captain Manby, behind which were v_ v - . polled the grenadiers of the fixtieth regiment, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Glazier with the marines which had been landed from the {hips 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 ftrongly conftructed with a mafly frame-work of green fpongy wood rilled 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 loyalifts. Behind the impalements and traverfes in the centre of the works were pofted the two batta- lions of the feventy-firft regiment, two regiments of Heffians, 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 circumftances mould require, and to fupport any part of the lines that might be attacked* Such was the ftate of the works at Savannah, and fuch the pofition of the troops for its defence, at the time when the count d'Eftaing, grown impatient under the unexpected refiftance which he hard met with, refolved to difcontinue his regular approaches, and ftorm the Britifh. entrenchments. He had already fpent more time before Sa- vannah, without having made any fenfible impreffion upon the gar- rifon, than he had affigned for the completion of the whole enter- prife. His fleet, lying at anchor in the open fea, was expofed to the danger of being driven off the coaft, at this late feafon of the year, by tempeftuous weather, and leaving him and his troops be- hind : But this danger was nothing, compared to what might have been apprehended had the Britifh fleet followed him from the Weft Indies, and made an attack upon his {hips whilft they were weak- ened by the number of men and guns that had been landed for carry- VOL, II. S ing t 3 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. | n g on the fiege of Savannah. Thefe confiderations, the force of r -.-. * which was heightened by a joint reprefentation from his naval officers, added to the natural impatience of temper which charac- terifed the count d'Eftaing, determined him to rifque an aflault tinder all its prefent difadvantages, rather than wafte longer time in carrying on the fiege by regular approaches. To facilitate the fuc- cefs of the enterprife, an officer with five men, on the eighth of October, advanced under a heavy fire from the garrifon, and kin- dled the abbatis; but the dampnefs of the air, and the moifture of the green wood of which the abbatis was compofed, foon extinguifhed the flames. Attack the rpjj e mO rnmg of the ninth of October was fixed upon for |3rtU(h lines. making the afTault ; and two feigned attacks by the militia were to draw the attention of the befieged to their centre and left, whilft a ftrong body of chofen troops from the combined armies mould ad- vance on the right of the Britifh lines, and in two columns make the real attack. The principal of thefe columns was commanded by the count d'Eftaing in perfon, affifted by general Lincoln, and was deftined to attack the Springhill redoubt in front, whilft the other column, commanded by count Dillon, fhould filently move along the edge of the fwamp, pafs the redoubts and batteries, and get into the rear of the Britifh lines. The troops which compofed thefe two columns confifled of three thoufand five hundred French, fix hun- dred provincial regulars, and three hundred and fifty of the Charlef- town militia, a number more than double that of the whole Britifh garrifon, and were in motion long before daylight. Fortunately the column commanded by count Dillon miflook its way, from the dark- nefs of the morning, and was entangled in the fwamp, from which it was unable to extricate itfelf until broad daylight appeared, and cxpofed it to the view of the garrifon and the fire from the Britifli batteries. This was fo hot, and fo well directed, that it was never able AMERICAN WAR. 131 able even to form, and far lefs, by penetrating into the rear of the CHAP, Britifh lines, to accomplifh its original object. In the mean time the *__ -, '_ column led by the count d'Eftaing advanced againfl the Springhiil redoubt, juft as daylight appeared : And fuch was the darknefs of the morning, that it had approached very near before it was dif- cernible. But, as foon as it was difcovered, it became expofed to a continued blaze of mufquetry from the redoubt, and to a deftructive crofs 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 feveral times thrown into confufion ; but their places being inftantly fupplied by others, it ftill moved on until it reached the redoubt, where the conteft became more fierce- and defperate. The brave captain Tawfe fell in defending the gate of his redoubt with his fword plunged in the body of the third enemy he had flain with his own hand,, and a French and American ftandard were for an inftant planted upon the parapet* The conflict for the pofleflion of the redoubt neverthelefs continued to be obfti- nately maintained on both fides, and the event remained in fufpenfej when lieutenant-colonel Maitland, feizing the critical moment, or- dered the grenadiers of the fixtieth regiment, with the marines, ta move forward and charge the enemy's column, already ftaggering under the obftinate refiftance it had met with at the redoubt, the- flaughter which had been made by the artillery from the different batteries, and now alfo from the Germaine armed brig. This well- timed movement decided the fate of the attack. The aflailants were RcpulfaJ repulfed, driven out of the ditch of the redoubt, and routed with derabk redoubled flaughter, leaving behind them, in killed and wounded, fix hundred and thirty-feven of the French troops,, and two hun- dred and fixty-four of the Americans. No- purfuit was ordered, be- caufe the befiegers, although they had fuffered greatly in the aflault,. were, ftill three times more numerous than the garrifon ; but in theii S 2 flight^ 13.3 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, flight, as in advancing, they were expofed to a heavy fire from the i ,~-Lv Britifh artillery, which was well ferved under the direction of cap- tain Charlton. In this aiTault count Pulalki, who commanded an American corps, received a mortal wound; and the count d'Eftaing, who was feen by the garrifon to behave with great gallantry, was wounded in two places, but in neither of them dangeroufly. No good agreement, it has been faid, fubfifted between the French and Americans from the commencement of the fiege ; and their mu- tual diflike was now increafed by their difappointment. After the aflault the French could no longer conceal their contempt for their new allies; they ftyled them infurgents, in common converfation, and even in written memorials. But the haughty demeanour of the count d'Eftaing towards the garrifon feems to have been foftened by his misfortunes : An apology was made for refufmg leave to the wo- men and children to retire to a place of fafety, 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, efpecially after a previous infulting refufal of what was now tendered ; and it was with great propriety rejected by general Prevoft. Raife the Tn e iflue of the aflault determined that of the fiege. The French liege. and Americans kept pofleflion of their lines only until the artillery and heavy baggage were withdrawn, and re-embarked on board the fleet. As foon as this was accomplifhed the fiege was raifed, and the allies feparated, the Americans retreating into South Carolina, and the French returning to their fhips ; on board which they had fcarcely embarked when their fleet was difperfed by a ftorm. The count d'Eftaing, with part of the fhips, returned to France, and the reft proceeded to the Weft Indies. Such was the termination of the fiege of Savannah, during which it is faid that the allied armies loft in killed, wounded, and by de- fertion, AMERICAN WAR. fertion, more than one thoufand five hundred men j whereas the CHAP. JE^cL*fL lofs of the garrifon in the whole did not exceed one hundred and u- .. 1779." twenty. It is impoffible to do particular juftice to all who by their exertions contributed to the fuccefsful iflue of the fiege. The officers, naval and military, "vied with each other who fhould render the moft ef- fential fervices to their king and country. The feamen and foldiers were animated with the fame fentiment; and no fmall {hare of praife is due to the former for their brave affiftance and peculiar adroitnefs in managing the artillery at the batteries. The cool, Heady, prudent, and firm conduct of general Prevoft, affifted by the able counfels and fervices of that diftinguifhed officer lieutenant-colonel Maitland,the fecond in command, who in a peculiar degree enjoyed the love, efteem,and confidence of the garrifon; the fkilful defigns, prompt execution, and indefatigable exertions of captain Moncrieff in his de- partment, as commanding engineer; the active and able fervices of cap- tain Charlton of the artillery; the wife precautions taken by captain Henry of the navy for the fecurity of the river; the tried courage, manly firmnefs, and obflinate refiftance of the provincial regiments and militia on the right of the lines, to whofe lot it fell to bear, and nobly to withftand, the fury of the afTault ; and the bold, de- cifive, and irrefiftible charge made by lieutenant-colonel Glazier with the grenadiers and marines, which completed the overthrow of the enemy; are all deferving of the higheft commendation, and rank the fuccefsful defence of Savannah amongft the moft brilliant at- chievements of the war. One circumftance alone ferved to cloud the joy of the garrifon on their recent fuccefs. This was the death of that highly-efteemed and much- beloved officer the honourable lieutenant-colonel Maitland, who fell a martyr to a bilious diforder contracted from the peftilential vapours which arife from the marines during the hot and fultry feafon in that unwhole- 134 HISTORY OF THE' CHAP, unwholefome climate. He was attacked by it before he left Beaufort, XXjC. u.. - v ; It gathered flrength in his route through the marfhes to Savannah, and, preying upon him during the fiege, foon afterwards put a period to the exiftence of this gallant officer ; whofe memory will be dear to Britons, fo long as manly fortitude, unftained honour, and highly-improved military talents, are held in eftimation. The cam- With the raiting of the fiege of Savannah ended the campaign to paign to the fouthwardof the fouthward, v/hich, although it clofed with an achievement fo honourable to the Britifh arms, was neverthelefs unproductive of rica con- thofe advantages which had been expected at the commencement of it. Campaign in The campaign in the other parts of America was fpent in deful- partsofthe tory operations and partial expeditions, the object of which feems rican h contT- C ~ to nave been to diftrad the attention of the Americans by their mul- Hent fpent in tiplicitv, and to weaken them by cutting off their refources, and de- defultory ' f > ' t operations, ftroying their magazines of naval and military ftores. Naval opera- Admiral Gambier, who fucceeded lord Howe in the command of tions of fir G* 1 n r Collier. the Britifh fleet on the American coalt, was recalled in the fprmg of the prefent year, and in the month of April refigned the command to fir George Collier. This brave and zealous officer, who now fuc- ceeded to the command of the Britilh navy in North America, had been employed on the Halifax ftation. from the commencement of the war. In the Rainbow of forty-four guns he made one of a con- voy which efcorted a fleet of transports with the firft divifion of the Heffian troops, and a detachment of the guards, to America, in the year 1776. This fleet arrived at Sandy Hook in Auguft of that year, a little before general Howe began his operations againft the provincials ; and foon after their defeat on Long Ifland fir George Collier received orders to repair to Halifax and take the command of his majefty's fliips upon that important ftation, in the room of commodore Arbuthnot r who was recalled. On this ftation he con- t tinued AMERICAN WAR. i 35 linued until the fpring of the prefent year, and during the whole CHAP, J\.A.-\. time of his command diftinguifhed himfetf as a brave, zealous, active, < ^- > enterprifmg, and vigilant officer. The timely relief of Fort Cum- berland, at the head of the bay of Fundy, which was inverted by the provincials from the eaftern parts of Maflachufets 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 largeft of a fleet of {hips of war which were fitted out at Bofton to annoy the trade on the coaft of Nova Scotia, and the Britim fifhery on the Banks of Newfound- land : The driving off and difperfing the provincials, who in fmali veflels had a fecond time made a defcent near St. John's River in Nova Scotia ; and, at a fubfequent period, the deftruction of the pro- vifions, clothing, and military ftores, which with great pains they had collected at Machias, in the eaftern parts of Maflachufets Bay, for accomplifhing their favourite object, the invafion of Nova Scotia j and in the deftruction of thefe ftores, the defeating the defigns of the Americans againft that province : The fcouring of the eaftern coafts of New England with his cruifers, keeping them in a conftant ftate of alarm, and taking their privateers, running up their rivers with his {hips, appearing before their towns and (hewing the prac- ticability of a bombardment in cafe their hoftile conduct fhould de- mand fuch a punifhment, and thereby convincing them that it was their intereft to be quiet, and not farther moleft the peaceable inha- .bitants of Nova Scotia: The number of prizes carried into Halifax, and of Britim veflfels 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 fimery in the gut of Canfo fecured againft moleftation : Thefe are but a few of the many meritorious fervices performed by this officer during his command at Halifax, for wKkh, on more than one occafion, he received the thanks of the 136 HISTORY OF THE xxx P ' t ^ le c l n y conveyed to him through the governor, council, and *~ -- -* aflemblyv J 779' From fuch a line of ufeful and aclive fervice fir George was called to New York to take the command of the Britifh fleet on the North American ftation ; and not long after his arrival an expedition to the Chefapeak in Virginia, was concerted between him and fir Henry Clinton, the commander in chief of the army.. By the exports of -tobacco from the Chefapeak, the credit of congrefs with foreign na- tions was principally, if not wholly, fupported ; and by the inland navigation of that bay large quantities of faked provifions, the pro- duce both of Virginia and North Carolina, were conveyed to the middle colonies for the fubfiftence of the American army. The eftablifhment of a permanent poft in Virginia, in fuch a fituation as to obftruct the commerce of the Chefapeak, both foreign and do- meftic, was an object of the utmoft importance : But the feeble ftate of the army would not admit of a fufficient force to be de- tached for that purpofe. A defultory expedition to interrupt the commerce of the bay for a few weeks, and to deftroy fuch maga- zines, whether of provifions, merchandife, or naval and military ftores, as were acceflible, was all the commander in chief, under the prefent fituation of affairs, could confent to. A detachment from the army, confifting of the grenadiers and light-infantry of the guards, the forty-fecond regiment, a regiment of Heffians, and the royal volunteers of Ireland, with a detachment of artillery, amount- ing in the whole to one thoufand eight hundred men, under the command of brigadier-general Matthew, was afligned for this pur- pofe, and embarked on board tranfports.. The commodore, in the Raifonable of fixty-four guns, attended by the Rainbow, Otter, Diligent, Haarlem floop, and Cornwallis galley, and forrie private veflels of war, undertook to convoy them, and to conduct in perfon the naval part of the expedition. The troops being embarked, the fleet. AMERICAN WAR. 137 H A XXX. fleet, with a favourable wind, paffed the bar at Sandy Hook on the c HA P fifth, and entered between the Capes of Virginia on the eighth of 1 7 7Q May. The Otter (loop, with the privateers, was immediately fent up the Chefapeak, and the reft of the fleet, with the tranfports, on the following morning proceeded to Hampton Road, a large bafon of water formed by the confluence of Elizabeth, Nanfemond, and James rivers, Some miles above its mouth Elizabeth River is fe* parated into two branches, one called the eaftern, and the other the* weftern branch, and below the confluence of thefe branches, on the eaftern fide, once flood Norfolk, the principal commercial town in Virginia, and oppofite to it, on the weftern fide, Portfmouth, a place of fome trade, which, although not equal" to Norfolk, was an- nually increafmg, and in time threatened to rival it. A little above thefe, upon a point of land intervening between two of the branches of the river, was Gofport r where the government of Vir- ginia, fmce the commencement of the war^ had eftablifhed a marine yard, and collected an im-menfe quantity of timber for (hip- building. As a defence for this yard and the adjoining docks, they had with great labour and expence conftructed a fort upon the bank of the river, about half a mile below Portfmouth, which towards the water was already finimed and mounted with cannon ; the wallsr of which confifted of an outward cafe of logs of timber ftrongly dove-tailed together, with the intermediate fpace filled up with hard*- rammed earth, being fourteen feet in height, and fifteen feet thick* Portfmouth was the place which the commanders on this expedi- tion propofed to occupy ; and the reduction of the fort was of courfe the fir ft thing to be attempted. As the Raifonable, from her great draught of water, could proceed no higher than Hampton Road, the commodore fhifted his broad pennant on board the Renown; and on the morning of the thirteenth of October the whole fleet, except the Raifonable, got under way, and entered the mouth of Elizabeth VOL. II. T River* i 5 S HISTORY OF THE CHAP. River. The ebbing of the tide foon obliged the fhips to come to i_ - t ... an anchor, but the troops being embarked on board the boats, pro- ceeded, and effected a landing under cover of the Cornwallis galley, and fome gun-boats, about three miles below the fort, at a place called the Glebe, the firft diviiion at two in the afternoon and the fecond before fun-fet. No oppofition was made to their landing, except an ineffectual cannonade from the fort, which was "too diftant to do any mifchief. It was propofed that the troops ihould, on the following morning, florm the fort on the land fide, where the fortifications were yet unfinimed, whilft the Rainbow {hould move up and batter it from the water : But a forward movement of the troops having been made that" fame evening as foon as the fecond divifion had landed, the provincial garrifon, fearful of being furrounded, and having their retreat cut off, haftily evacuated the fort, leaving behind all the artillery, ammunition, baggage, and (lores. Such was their trepidation, that they did not even wait to ftrike the American flag, but left it flying. General Matthew having thus eafily pofleffed himfelf of the fort, took a ftrong pofition with the army between Portfmouth #nd the country, the right wing reaching to the fort, the left to the fouth branch of Elizabeth River, and the centre covered in front by an impenetrable fwamp. Detachments were fent to Norfolk and Gofport ; and all the veffels in Elizabeth River, except fuch as were burnt by the provincials before their retreat, with an im- menfe quantity of naval and military flores, merchandife, and provifions, were either taken or deftroyed by the Britifh troops. Detachments were alfo fent to Kemp's Landing, in Princefs Ann county, and to the town of Suffolk in Nanfemond county, and at each of thefe places, particularly the latter, an immenfe quantity of provifions and ftores of all forts, with fome veffels richly laden, 'were either taken -or deftroyed. 2 The AMERICAN WAR. 139 The Otter floop, and the privateers which went up the Chefapeak, c were alfo fuccefsful, and took a number of prizes. In the mean < time the fort was demolifhed, and the marine yard burnt, with all the timber it contained. Thefe fervices 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 abfent only twenty-four days. The damage done to the provincials was aftonifhingly great, and has been eftimated at half a million fterling. The Americans themfelves, before their flight from Portfmouth, fet fire to a fhip of war of twenty-eight guns belonging to congrefs, and ready for launching ; and alfo to two French merchantmen in the river, one loaded with bale-goods,.. and the other with a thoufand hogfheads of tobacco. Befides thefe, eight other mips of war, in different forwardnefs upon the flocks, and feveral merchantmen, were burnt by the Britim troops ; and* cxclufively of all other lofles, the number of veflels alone which were taken or deftroyed, during this fhort expedition, amounted to- ne hundred and thirty-feven. T 2 . HISTORY OF THE CHAP. CHAP. XXXL _ Reduction of ttvojlrong Pofts on-Hudfons River Expedition againjl Connecticut Ravages Murmurs in Connecticut Fort Stoney Point furprifed by General Wayne Ston-ey Point evacuated by the Ame- ricans Again poffeffed by the Britijh Britifb Settlement in Pe- nobfcot Attacked in vain by the Americans Reinforcement brought .to the Britijh Army by Admiral Arbuthnot^ who fucceeds Sir George Collier in the Command of the Navy American Incurfwns into the Country of the Indians Incurfions of the Indians into the Ame- rican Settlements* PREVIOUSLY to the arrival of the fleet from Virginia, fir Henry i v _; Clinton had made preparations for attacking two ftrong pcfts on I '7'7O May." Hudfon's River, about fixty miles above New York, which the pro- vincials were then fortifying. Thefe were the important pofts of Verplank's Neck and Stoney Point, on oppofite fides of the river, commanding the paflage at King's Ferry, which was the moft direct and convenient courfe of communication between the northern and middle colonies. To gain thefe pofts was an object of fome confe- quence, as, by the lofs of them, the provincials, in order to main- tain an intercourfe between the provinces on the eaft and weft fides of Hudfon's River, would be obliged to make a circuit of more than fixty miles through the mountains. A detachment from the army at New York was already embarked on board of tranfports, and thefe being joined by the tranfports with the troops from Virginia, the whole, on the thirtieth of May, proceeded up the North River, under AMERICAN WAR. 141 vnder the direction of fir George Collier, who, as well as the com- c *J^ P. l-wt A_AAi mander in chief of the army, accompanied this expedition. The < ^ r principal divifion of the army, under major-general Vaughan, was landed on the eaftern fide of the river, about feven 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 weftern fide of the river, that divifion was landed alfo. Stoney Point, by its high and commanding fituation, is a place of great natural ftrength ; but, as the works were yet unfmifhed, the provincials were afraid to rifque an aflault, and quitted it as foon as the Britiih fleet appeared in view, having firft fet fire to a block- houfe which they were conftructing upon the fummit of the emi- nence. It was taken pofleflion of towards the evening, and fome heavy cannon and mortars were immediately landed from the fleet. Thefe were with much labour dragged up the hill during the night ; and fuch expedition was ufed under the direction of major-general Pattifon, of the artillery, to whom this fervice was committed, that, by five the next morning, a battery of cannon and mortars from the fummit of Stoney Point opened upon Fort Fayette on the oppofite fide of the river. Fort Fayette was a fmall but complete work, inclofed with pallifades, a double ditch, chevaux de frize, and abbatis, and had a block-houfe in the centre, which was bomb-proof; but as it was commanded by the fuperior height of Stoney Point, the cannonade from the latter, as well as from the gallies and armed veflels upon, the river, foon made a fenfible impreffion. During the cannonade it was inverted by general Vaughan on the fide towards the country, and the gallies being fo ftationed as to prevent an efcape by water, the garrifon, furrounded in eveiy quarter, furrendered as prifoners of war, without ftipulating for any other condition than a promife of good ufage. And thus thefe two important pofts were gained with gthe trifling lofs of only one man wounded. Orders were given for coitf- i 4 2 HISTORY OF THE c H A P. completing the fortifications at Stoney Point ; and garrifons having Jx.Jv.2vl. <* r~ ' been appointed for both the forts, the fleet, with the reft of the troops, fell down the river, and returned to New York. Expedition Soon afterwards an expedition was planned againft the province OI of Connecticut, which, abounding with men as well as provifions, was a principal fupport to the American army. One purpofe of this expedition was to convince the people of Connecticut that their province was not inacceffible, and that it was owing only to the forbearance of the Britifh government, which rather wifhed to re- claim than to punifh, that their country had not yet experienced the calamities and devaluations of war ; and another object was, to oblige general Wamington to quit his ftrong fituation upon the North River, and defcend into the low country for the defence of the fea- coaft. On the fourth of July the tranfports, with the troops deftined for this expedition, which amounted to two thoufand fix hundred men, weighed anchor at the entrance into the found, and proceeded towards New Haven, the capital of Connecticut. The command of the land force was given to major-general Try on - y and the commodore, in the Camilla frigate, accompanied by the Scorpion floop, Halifax brig, and HufTar galley, efcorted the tranfports^ and took upon himfelf their direction. At fome diftance below the town of New Haven, brigadier-general Garth, of the guards, difem- barked with the firft divifion of troops, and notwithftanding a con- tinued oppofition from the inhabitants during a march of feven miles, which he was obliged to make in order to pafs the head of a reek, he at laft forced his way and took pofleflion of the town.. Major-general Tryon, with the fecond divifion of the troops, landed on the oppofite fide of the harbour, and took pofleflion of a fort upon the heights, by the guns of which the harbour was com- manded. A communication was opened between the two divifions cf the army ; and brigadier-general Gaxth remained in pofleflion of AMERICAN WAR. 1,43 . 1 'U i *. it it n r>i T-T of the town erasing the night. All the artilkry, ammunition, and CHAP, public (fores, and all the vefiels" in the harbour, were either taken or *_ -.*_ deflroyed ; but the town itfelf was faved, and private houfes as much as poffible exempted from plunder. This was a degree of lenity which the conduct of the inhabitants fcar.cely merited ; for befides the oppofition made to the troops in their march to the town> they were annoyed from the windows, even after they had pofleflion of it ; and feveral of the centinels placed at private houfes to prevent plunder were wounded upon their pofts. On the following day, after a proclamation calling upon the inhabitants to return to their allegiance, in which cafe they were promifed protection, fupport, and encouragement, and denouncing vengeance and punimment if they fhould ftill perfift in a rebellious oppofition to the mother- country, had been diftributed, 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 refiilance and oppofition were experienced more obftinate and inveterate than at New Haven : And as the lenity and forbearance fhewn at the laft of thefe places feemed to have produced no effect, the prefent was thought a fit moment to .give an example of feverity. At Fairfield not only the public (lores of all forts, with the veffels in the harbour, were either taken or de- ilroyed, but the town itfelf was laid in afhes. As 4he fleet and troops proceeded in fulfilling the purpofes of the expedition, the op- pofition which they met with feemed to increafe with the extent of their progrefs : Norwalk, therefore, and Greenfield, at each of which places the troops were fucceffively landed, fhared thd fame fate as the town of Fairfield. A defcent at New London, which was a rendezvous for privateers, was the ultimate object of the expedition; but as a greater oppofition was expected there than at either of the other places, it was thought neceflary to obtain a further fupply of aminu- HISTORY OF THE P ammunition anrl a xxxr. f A p - ammunition and a reinforcement of troops before they made the attempt *. For this purpofe the fleet returned to Huntington Bay in Long Ifland, and the commodore proceeded to Frog's Neck, to confer with the commander in chief of the army on the fubjc& of their future operations. During this fhort expedition, which had lafted only nine days, the injury fuftained by the inhabitants of Connecticut in the lofs of property both public and ; private, was very confiderable : But not- withflanding the conflagration of fo many towns on the fea-coaft, general Wafhington could not be prevailed upon to abandon his. ilrong frtuation in the neighbourhood of the North River. His apparent apathy, and that of the congrefs, with refpect to Connec- ticut, produced murmurs amongft the inhabitants, which at length broke forth into open complaints. Some of the principal inhabitants, confidering protection and allegiance to be reciprocal duties, began to think of withdrawing their fubjection from a power which feemed to neglect them in their diftrefs, and of making terms with the Britifh commanders for themferves. Such certainly was the import of the intelligence from Connecticut communicated to fir Henry Clinton, about the prefent period ; and the conference between him and the commodore at Frog's Neck, was on the fubject of this in- telligence, and with a view of arranging matters, fo that the in- tended expedition agaihfl New London might ferve to imprefs the inhabitants more ftrongly with thofe fentiments which they had already begun to entertain. But, whilft the Britifh commanders were thus devifmg meafures for improving the difpofition which had manifefted itfelf in Con- necticut, general Wafhington had already atchieved an enterprife which difcojicerted all their prefent defigns againft that province, and, * The lofs of the Britifh troops in this expedition was 20 killed, 96 wounded, and 32 miffing. called; AMERICAN WAR. 1 called their attention to a different quarter. This was the iurprife c ** A J\. Jx A. 1. of the fort at Stoney Point, which was taken by aflault in the night \ ^- of the fifteenth of July. As the Americans had been but lately dif- poiTefled of this poft, it is prefumable that they were well acquainted with all the acceffible approaches which led to it, as well as with thofe parts of the works which were mod aflailable. But even with thefe advantages it was an enterprife of difficulty and danger ; and the American general Wayne, who conducted it, deferved great praife for his gallantry and good conduct, as did the troops which, he commanded for their bravery. Thefe being divided into two columns, entered the works in oppofite quarters, and met in the centre of them about one in the morning of the fixteenth of July. The furprife was not fo complete but that refiftance was made ; and the lofs in killed and wounded was nearly equal on both fides. Lieute- nant-colonel Johnfon of the feventeenth regiment commanded the Britifh garrifon, which confifted of the feventeenth regiment, the grenadier company of the fevcnty-firft, a company of the regiment of loyal Americans, and a detachment of artillery, amounting in the whole to about fix hundred men. Of thefe one hundred and fifty-two were either killed or wounded, and the reft, with their commander, were made prifoners. The force under general Wayne has not been afcertained ; but, from the number of corps of which it confifted, it may be fuppofed to have amounted to fifteen hundred, all of them chofen men. The conduct of the Americans upon this occafion was highly meritorious ; for they would have been fully juftified in putting the garrifon to the fword : Not one man of which was put to death but in fair combat. Colonel Johnfon's conduct was moft defervedly and juftly cenfured. The plan formed by general Wafhington for thefe operations on the North River comprehended Fort Fayette as well as Stoney Point. VOL. II. U Both 14.6 HISTORY OF THE C XXXI P * ^ ot ^ Were t0 ^ ave k een attac k e ^ tne f ame ght ; but the detachment < s, -/ under the American general How, which was fent againft Fort Fayette, did not arrive in time. Still, however, it was advancing ; and, to fa- vour the attack, general Wayne, as foon as he poffeiTed himfelf of Stoney Point, turned the cannon of that garrifon againft Fort Fayette, Avhere lieutenant-colonel \Vebfter commanded, with a garrifon con- fiding of the thirty-third regiment, part of the regiment of loyal Americans, a detachment from the feventy-firft 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 juft after his conference with fir George Collier, the expe- dition againft New London was for the prefent laid afide, the tranf- 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 fent up the river in tranfports, to the afliftance of lieutenant-colonel Webfter; and the commander in chief, with a greater force, foon afterwards followed, from an expectation that general Wafhington might be tempted to quit his faftnefTes, and rifque an engagement for the pofleffion of Stoney Point. But this was not general Wafhington's intention ; and therefore, when intelligence was received of a Britifli 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 . ,' , ' ^/ J the Ameri- been deftroyed as the time would permit. In the mean time lieute- nant-colonel Webfter defended his poft on Verplank's Neck with prudence and bravery. To the cannonade from Stoney Point he returned not a mot, as it would have been ufelefs and ineffectual : But, againft the provincials under general How, who were advan- cing to attack him on the other fide, every effort was made that could prevent their fuccefs ; and, before they were able to make any im- preffipn prefTion upon the fort, the arrival of brigadier-general Stirling with CHAP. A. A. X.i. his detachment, put an end to their hopes, and obliged them to re- ' - * ' I ** *7 O treat. The poft at Stoney Point was again taken poffeffion of; and Again poffef. upon the arrival of the commander in chief, orders were ifTued for Britifc. repairing the works. A larger garrifon was affigned for its defence, and brigadier-general Stirling was appointed to command it. As it was now apparent that general Wafliington did not mean to quit his fecure pofition in the high lands for the fake of contefting the pof- fefiion of Stoney Point, the tranfports were ordered to fall down the river, and the troops returned to their former quarters. Scarcely had fir 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 veflels, with tranfports and troops, had failed from Bofton to attack a Britifh poft, which general Maclean was then endeavouring to eftablifh. at Penobfcot, in the eaftern part of the province of MafTachufet's Bay. Orders were immediately iffued for getting in readinefs fuch of his majefly's fhips as were then at New York ; and on the third of Auguft the commo- dore in the Raifonable, accompanied by the Greyhound, Blonde, Virginia, Camilla, Galatea, and Otter floop, failed from thence for the relief of the garrifon at Penobfcot. In the month of June general Francis Maclean, who commanded BritiA fettle- the king's troops in Nova Scotia, with a detachment of fix hundred ' and fifty men from the feventy-fourth and eighty-rfecond regiments, embarked in tranfports, and, efcorted by three floops of war, ar- rived in the bay of Penobfcot, in order to form a lettlement, and eftablifh a poft which might not only ferve to check the incurfions of the provincials into Nova Scotia, but be the means of obtaining a conftant fupply of fhip timber, with which the neighbouring country abounded, for the ufe of the king's yards at Halifax *nd other places, The bay of Penobfcot is about feven leagues U a in HISTORY OF THE * in hrparltVi nf tlip XXXI. I A P. i n breadth at the mouth, and feventeen leagues in length, termi- i nating where the river Penobfcot empties itfelf into the head of it ; and the lands all round were then covered with wood, fcarcely any fettlements having heen made upon them. About nine miles be- low the mouth of Penobfcot river, on the eaftern fide of the bay," is a fmall but convenient harbour, which ftill retains its ancient Indian name of Majabagaduce ; and a peninfula, or point of land, forming one fide of that harbour, was the fpot fixed upon by general Maclean for creeling a fort to protect the fettlement. The land was firft 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 fquare form with a baftion at each angle, inclofing a fpace of ground capa- cious enough to admit of a cavalier or block-houfe in the centre, with barracks for the men, and apartments for the officers ; and every exertion was made to get this work in forwardnefs, which was to ferve for their future defence. In the mean time, intelligence of what was doing at Penobfcot having been carried to Bofton, the executive government of Mafla- chufet's Bay determined to fit out an armament with the utmoft dif- patch, in order to obftruct or finally ruin the fettlement. An em- bargo was immediately laid upon all the fhipping in Bofton harbour, and bounties were offered to fuch perfons as would engage in the Penobfcot expedition. By fuch means a fquadron was foon got in readinefs, which confifted of nineteen armed mips and brigantines, the largeft carrying thirty-two, and the fmalleft ten guns. To thefe were added twenty-feven tranfports, having on board three thoufand troops; the fleet being under the direction of commodore Saltonftall, and the troops under the command of general Lovel. Againft fo confiderable a force it was thoug htthat general Maclean, with his handful of men, could not long defend himfelf : And upon the de- parture AMERICAN WAR. 149 parture of the fleet, his furrender, and the ruin of the fettlement, c ** * p - were confidered by the people of Maflachufet's Bay as events, of the completion of which no doubt could be reafonably enter- tained. Intelligence of the failing of this armament was brought to general Maclean on the twenty-firft of July, only four days before its arrival at Penobfcot. All that time, two of the baftions 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 thicknefs. The ditch in moft 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 prefent thoughts of finifhing the fort were laid afide, and the troops were employed day and night on fuch works as were immediately neceflary to fecure them againft an aflault ; a mode of attack which they had the greateft reafon to apprehend would be purfued by the enemy, in confequence of their very fuperior force. Although the provincials arrived in the bay of Penobfcot on the twen- ty-fifth of July, they were unable to effect a landing until the twenty- eighth. The three floops of war, under the direction of captain Mowat, being fo ftationed as to command the mouth of the harbour, prevented the provincial fleet from entering and effecting a landing on that fide of the peninfula ; and on the other fide the natural fteepnefs and rug- gednefs of the fhore rendered it an enterprife of difficulty and dan- ger. At length, however, they effected their purpofe before day in attacked In the morning of the twenty-eighth, at a place which had been . _ r " *.** *-"_ , thought inacceffible ; and on the thirtieth opened a battery againft the works, at the diftance of feven hundred and fifty yards. From the inceflant labour of the garrifon, during the interval between the twenty-firft and thirtieth of July, the gorge of one of the unfinifhed baftions was filled up with logs of timber ; and the 150 HISTORY 'OF THE H A : XXXL CHAP. the other, containing the well which fupplied the garrifon with wa- ter, was furroimded with a work of fafcines and earth, ten feet .thick; platforms were laid, and artillery mounted ; a fort of che- vaux de frize was carried round the fort ; and the whole inclofed with an abbatis ; fo that by the time the enemy had opened their bat- tery, general Maclean and his garrifon thought themfelves tolerably prepared to refill an aflaiilt. The enemy's fleet made frequent at- tempts to enter the harbour, but were conftantly repulfed by the fire from the {hips of war, and a battery ereded to fupport them on fhore. The provincial land force, neverthelefs, continued to make approaches, and -eret new batteries; and a brifk cannonade was kept up between them and the garrifon for near a fortnight. Fre- quent {kirmiflies too happened without the fort, the garrifon being under the neceflity of preferving a communication with the {hip- ping and the battery which covered it. On the twelfth of Auguft Intelligence was conveyed to general Maclean by a deferter, that on the following day an aflault was to be made on the fort, and an attack upon the {hips of war at the fame time ; and every neceflary preparation was made by the general for repelling them. But the approach of the fquadron under fir George Collier, as it afterwards appeared, prevented the provincials from executing their intention ; and, on the morning of the fourteenth, the garrifon, to their great furprife, difcovered that the works had been evacuated during the preceding night, and that the provincial troops, with the greateft part of the cannon, were re-embarked on board the {hips. The caufe of this fudden retreat was then unknown to the garrifon; but by ten in the forenoon the appearance of the Britifla fquadron ftanding up the bay quickly unveiled the myftery. The provincial fleet appeared to be in diforder; and for fome time the commanders feemed undetermined what to do. ' At length an ignominious flight look place ; every one endeavouring to provide for his own fafety, and AMERICAN WAR. 151 and none daring to wait the fhock of the Britifh fquadron. Two c H ' & p - -X.A..?il. of the provincial armed fhips endeavoured to get to fea by paffing u v ' 1 ** *7 O round Long Ifland, which lies in the middle of the bay ; but they were foon intercepted, the firft being taken, and the other rim a-fhore and blown up by her crew. The reft of their fleet, with the tranfports, fled in the utmoft confufion to the head of the bay, and entered the mouth of Penobfcot river. They were purfued by the Britim fquadron* By this difgraceful flight the provincials be- came expofed to a danger ahnoft as great as that which they had efcaped. They were landed in a wild uncultivated country, without provifions or any other neceflaries, and had to explore their way for more than an hundred miles through this pathlefs defert before they could reach a place from which fupplies might be obtained. In this forlorn and deflitute fituation mutual reproaches- pafTed between the feamen and landfmen ; and each accufed the other of being the caufe of their prefent misfortunes*- A battle enfued, in which fifty or fixty were flain; and a much greater number, exhaufted with famine and fatigue, before they could reach the fettled parts of the province, perifhed miferably in the woods. Such was the iflue of the provincial expedition againft the Britim fettlement at Penobfcot ; for the fuccefsful defence of which, under fo many difad vantages, general Maclean is entitled to the greateft praife. And in the pro- grefs and iflfue of this expedition we fee how much may be effected by a very inconfiderable force, when Britim officers act with zeal and unanimity in the fervice of their king and country *. The * The lofs* of the garrifon amounted to 70, killed, wounded, and mifiing. The Iof on . board the fleet was 1 5 killed and wounded. The American fleet taken or deftroyed on this expedition was as follows : Warren of 32 guns, 1 8 and 12 pounders. Monmouth 24. Vengeance 24. Putnam 22. Sally 22, blown up Hampden, 2Ognns, taken. Hedor 20, blown up. Hunter, 18, taken. Black Prince 18 ; and Sky Rocket i6j blown np. Brig* i 5 2 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. T he relief of the garrifon at Penobfcot, with the total deftrudioii ./v,A.-/\..L u- , v . ,,> of the naval armament that had been lent againft it, was the lafl of Keinforce- thofe meritorious fervices performed by fir George Collier during the fhort but aaive P eriod in which he had the command of the army by ad- Britim fleet on the coaft of North America. On his return to New rmralArbuth- not, whofuc- York he found himfelf fuperfeded by the arrival of admiral Arbuth- Collier in the not from England with fome fhips of war and a fleet of tranfports, C bringing a reinforcement of troops, and a fupply of provifions and ftores. To the admiral he refigned the command, and foon after- wards embarked for England. The reinforcement brought by admiral Arbuthnot had been long and impatiently expected by fir Henry Clinton, who, from the feeble {late of the army, was unable, until its arrival, to engage in any en- terprife of importance. Although it was now late, the feafon for action was not yet entirely over ; but the appearance of the count d'Eftaing with his formidable fleet on the coaft of Georgia, intelli- gence of which, as well as of his threatened attack againft New York, was brought about this time, obliged the commander in chief to give up all thoughts of ofFenfive operations during the remainder of the campaign, and to concentre his force, that he might be pre- pared to meet the fhock which he was to expect from a combined attack of the French by fea and the Americans by land. In this view, Rhode Ifland was evacuated, and the garrifon withdrawn to New York. And in this refpect alone, by obliging fir Henry Clin- ton to change his fyftem, and act upon the defenfive during the re- mainder of the campaign, the expedition of the count d'Eftaing to the coaft of North America, otherwife unfortunate, may be faid to have been ferviceable to the American caufe. Brigs Aaive i6guns; Defence 16; Hazard 16 ; Diligence 14; Tyrannicide 14; Pro- vidence floop 14; blown up. Spring Bird 12, burnt. Nancy 16, Royer 10, taken. Together with 24 fail of fhips and veflels, as tranfports, all burnt. Nothing AMERICAN WAR. 153 Nothing elfe of moment happened upon the fea-coaft, except a c H A p - bold and fuccefsful attack made by the American major Lee upon u v * the Britim poft at Paulus Hook, on the Jerfey more, oppofite to Bold attack New York, which, although it had no effect upon the general iflue tfaafea me * of the campaign, neverthelefs merits notice, as it ferves to (hew how PadusHook. dangerous it is for the beft-difciplined troops to live in a ftate of fecurity, even when oppofed to an enemy which they defpife ; and alfo as it affords one example out of many how well the provin- cials were furnifhed with intelligence of every thing that pafled within the Britim lines. Major Sutherland, who had the com- mand of the poft at Paulus Hook, detached on the nineteenth of Auguft a part of the garrifon to proceed on fome particular fer- vice, into the country ; and intelligence of this movement being immediately communicated to major Lee, who commanded fome provincials in the neighbourhood, he refolved to avail himfelf of the opportunity, which the abfence of a part of the garrifon af- forded, to make an attempt upon the poft. The defign 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 miftaken by the centinel for the officer who commanded the party that had marched into the country in the morning, and was fuffered to pafs, together with his detachment ; and in fuch an unfoldierly ftate of fecurity did he find the garrifon, that he feized a block-houfe and two redoubts, before the alarm was given. Major Sutherland now threw hirnfelf into a redoubt, with fixty Heffians, and by keeping up an inceffant fire upon the provincials, foon obliged them to quit the poft, without their attempting to fpike up the cannon, or doing any injury to the works; and fo precipitately as to give occafion to fir Henry Clinton to remark, in his official difpatches, that their retreat was as difgraceful as their attack had been fpirtted and well-conducted. They neverthelefs carried off with them about VOL. II. X forty C H A F. XXXI. \_ _ 1779. American in- oftheln- Incurfions of into the"pro- ments. HISTORY OF THE forty prifoners. It was not their intention to remain in pofleffion of the poft ; the object of the attack being no other than to give fome eclat to the American arms, and to promote a fpirit of enter- prife amongft the officers and foldiers. In the interior country the war of devaftation was ftill carried oa between the provincials and Indians. Againft the latter an expe- dition, of more than ordinary magnitude, was planned by the con- grefs, to revenge the bloody incurfions of the preceding year. The command of it was given to major-general Sullivan; and the force employed amounted to five thoufand men. With this force, formed into two divifions, and accompanied by fome artillery and field- pieces, general Sullivan entered the Indian country. The. Indians, feeing no profpect of being able to oppofe fuch a force^ quitted their fettlements as he approached them, and fled into other parts. The war of devaftation now commenced ; and the barbarous favage had the mortification to find that the civilized inhabitant of the fea-coaft could outdo him in deliberate acts of mifchief. Eighteen of their towns were laid in afhes, and more than one hundred and fifty thoufand bufhels of corn were deftroyed: Their gardens were laid wafte : Even their fruit-trees were cut down ; and nothing was fufFered to remain that could be fuppofed to afford them any fufte- nance. But whilft the provincials were thus laying wafte the Indian towns, the Indians on their part were making inroads into the pro- vincial fettlements, and much mifchief was done on both fides. Re- venge for an injury received is a point of honour which an Indian never gives up r A fevere 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 fue 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 *^- i. f , * the expence which it coft, or the expectations which had been formed AMERICAN WAR. 155 formed from it ; and all who were concerned in planning it feem to c H A p * have been difappointed. The congrefs was diflatisfied ; General \ <- I 7 ^ u Wafhington did not approve of the conduct of the expedition j and general Sullivan, foon after his return from the Indian country, re- figned his employments in difguft, and retired from the public fervice. This expedition was undertaken againft the northern Indians, which border on the provinces of Penfylvania and New York. Si- milar expeditions were alfo fet on foot in the fouthern colonies againft the Indians on their frontiers, which, although not fo ex- penfive as that of general Sullivan, were proportionably more ein cacious : And, during this fummer, both the northern and fouthera Indians fuffered a fevere chaftifement. HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXXII. - 'T 'The Confederacy againft Great Britain joined by Spain French Attack on Jerjey Repelled Naval Tranfaflions The combined Fleets of France and Spain threaten an Invafioii of Great Britain Engage- ment between Captain Paul Jones and the Convoy of a J3riti/b Fleet from the Baltic Blockade of Gibraltar Incurfion of the Americans into Weft Florida Weft Florida reduced by the Spaniards 'The Spaniards attack the Briti/h Logwood-cutters in Honduras Reduc- tion of the Spanifh Fort Omoa, the Key of the Bay of Honduras Protection afforded to the Briti/h Commerce General Retrofpeffi of Briti/Jo Affairs at the Conclufton of 1779. CHAP- TT'ROM America we muft now pafs to Europe, where, through the XXXII. \_ - '_j intrigues of the court of France, one power openly joined the Theconfede- con federacy againft Great Britain, and another, her ancient and racy agamil much-favoured ally, became fo lukewarm in her attachment, that Great Bri- J tain joined her friendfhip was no longer to be depended upon. When France firft determined to acknowledge the independence of the American colonies, and to enter into a treaty with them, Spain was folicited to join in it. But, however defirous this branch of the houfe of Bourbon, as well as the other, might be to reduce the power of Great Britain, the propofition was at that time re- jected; very probably from an apprehenfion that Great Britain might be difpofed to retaliate by ftirring up a rebellion in the Spanifh co- lonies. The court of France, neverthelefs, unceafmgly continued its AMERICAN WAR. '57 its felicitations, which, in the fall of the preceding year, appear to c P A p - have become effectual. The king of Spain, in the month of Sep- v_- ^ -j temher of that year, interpofed fo far as to offer to mediate between the belligerent powers. However unfuitable, in point of impartiality, it might appear for one branch of the houfe of Bourbon to undertake to mediate be- tween another branch of the fame houfe and a third power, Great Britain neverthelefs accepted the mediation of Spain; and the propofals of the court of France, for putting an end to the differ- ences which fubfifted between it and Great Britain, were prefented to the court of London by the Spanifh ambaffador. Thefe were found to be fo totally inadmiffible, as to create a fufpicion that the king of Spain had engaged in the mediation only for the purpofe of furnifhing himfelf with a pretext to take a part in the war ; and they were inftantly rejected by the court of Great Britain. The king of Spain, in his character of mediator, now prefented other terms, as from himfelf, which he called ultimate propofals : But thefe were fo nearly the fame in fubftance with thofe offered by the court of France, that they were equally inadmiffible. They were however rejected with much civility; and, in the anfwer delivered to the Spanifh ambaffador, a wifh was expreffed that nothing that had paffed might interrupt the harmony fubfifting between Great Britain and Spain. * 'I'.y fj:j r :.,i, detention, the French might have become acquainted with the force under admiral Arbuthnot, and the value of his convoy, which was irnmenfe, and thence been tempted to form fome fcheme for at- tacking him on his paflage, and intercepting the convoy. To pre- vent the effect of fuch a fcheme, if it was formed, and for the greater fecurity of the convoy, ten fliips from the channel fleet were detached, under admiral Darby, to accompany Arbuthnot a certain diftance on his paflage : And the weakening of the channel fleet, by fending away fo confiderable a detachment, was the caufe of delaying the execution of the plan for blocking up the harbour of , Breft. The French did not fail to profit by the delay : So eager were they to fend the Breft fleet to fea, that eight thoufand land- forces were embarked to fupply the want of fo many feamen ; and with this kind of equipment it failed from Breft on the fourth of June. Count d'Orvilliers, who commanded it, had two objects in view : One was, to intercept the fquadron under admiral Darby in its return ; and the other, to form a junction with the Spanifh fleet. In the firft he failed, admiral Darby having returned in fafety to the channel ; but in the fecond he fucceeded, and joined the fleet of Spain on the twenty-fourth of June. The two fleets, when united, amounted to more than fixty fail of the line, with nearly an equal number of frigates ; and foon after the junction they fteered for the Britifh channel. The Britifh fleet, under fir Charles Hardy, who was appointed to the command upon the refignation of admiral Keppel, was by this time alfo at fea. It confifted of thirty-eight {hips of the line, with fometing lefs than its due proportion of frigates, and cruifed in that part of the fea which, in nautical phrafeology, is called the chops, or mouth, of the channel. The great fuperiority of thq VOL. II, Y com- HISTORY OF THE xxxii * ? * om ^ ne ^ ^ eet > * n tne number of {hips, guns, and men, feemed to juftify the forebodings of thofe who prognofticated the ruin of the 1779* ITie com- Britifh empire ; and, to add to the dangers of the prefent moment, of France and preparations were made on the French coaft, and an invafion of Great Britain was threatened under cover of the combined fleet. On of Great Bn- t ^ e o t ner hand, every precaution was taken by the Britifh govern- ment, which prudence fuggefted, for defeating the .expected attack, A proclamation was iflued, ordering the cattle and draught-horfes to be driven from thofe parts of the fea-coafl on which a landing fhould be effected ; the militia was embodied ; and numerous cruifers were Rationed in the narrow feas, to watch the enemy's motions* And thefe efforts of the government were nobly feconded by thofe of private individuals ; for fuch energy had the national fpirit ac- quired under the -profpect of the difficulties that furrounded, and the dangers that threatened, that meetings were held in moft of the principal towns, and voluntary contributions made to raife men fop the defence of the nation, About the middle of Auguft, count d'Orvilliers, with the com- bined fleet, panned the Britifh fleet under fir Charles Hardy, in the mouth of the channel, without either fleet having difcovered the other, and proceeded on as far as Plymouth -; taking in the way the Ardent, a Britifh fhip of war, on her paiTage to jom fir Charles Hardy. The count d'Orvilliers made no attempt to land, but con- tinued for feveral days parading with the combined fleet in fight of Plymouth, until a flrong eafterly wind fet in, and compelled him to quit the channel. As foon as this abated, he returned to the coaft of England, and cruifed off the Land's End. The fame eaflerly wind had alfo driven the Britifh fleet to fear; but, on the laft day of Auguft, fir Charles Hardy regained his former ftation, 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. channel, where their great fuperiority in number would have lefs C J V 4, p * JkjfcjCkJLjLa availed them ; and they followed him as high as Plymouth, but u < >- / chofe to proceed no farther. Their crews were faid to be fickly ; their {hips to. be in bad condition i And the feafon for equinoctial gales was faft approaching. They therefore foon afterwards quitted the Englifh Channel, and entered the harbour of Breft. Thus all the apprehenfions which had been raifed were quickly diflipated: And nothing was done anfwerable to the mighty expectations that had been formed from the union and co-operation of two fuch power- ful fleets. Even during their cruife, commodore Johnftone, wit,h a fquadron of Britifh fhips, hovered on the coaft of France and kept it in alarm. The trade of the enemy was every-where an- noyed by the Britifh cruifers, and their merchant-fhips taken, even at the entrance of their harbours. On the other hand t the Britifh trade was lefs injured than in the preceding year: One of her homeward-bound fleets from the Weft Indies, confuting of one hundred and twenty-five fail, arrived in fafety juft before the com- bined fleets entered the channel ; and fcarcely had they left it, when another fleet from the Eaft Indies was equally fortunate. Sir Charles Hardy continued to cruife with the channel fleet until it was late in the feafon i And, notwithstanding the apparent fuperiority of the enemy, Great Britain, in effect, flill remained mafter of the fea. The only one of the homeward-bound Britifh fleets that feemed to be in any danger, was that from the Baltic,, under the convoy of the Serapis, captain Pierfon,. and the Countefs of Scarborough, cap- tain Piercy, the firft a fhip of forty-four,, and the other of twenty guns. This fleet was attacked near Scarborough, on the northern coaft of England, by a fquadron under the command of captain Paul Jones, in the fervice of congrefs, a man of a favage and ferocious, difpofition, hardened by his crimes, and rendered defperate by the. &ar of punifhment, Jones's fquadron confifted of the Bon Homme. Y 2 Richard,, HISTORY OF THE ~"-. f p< Richard, a fhip of forty guns; two frigates, one of thirty-fix, and . ; the other of thirty-two guns j the Vengeance brig of twelve Engagement and SL butter ; atid was fitted out from Port 1'Orient in the end of J ul 7> for the purpofe of intercepting the Britifh fleet from the Baltic. -^ Ut by tne Sd conduct and perfevering bravery of cap- Britifh fleet tain Pierfon, the convoy was faved, although both the king's {hips from the Bal- J P. tic. were taken. As foon as the enemy was difcovered, a fignal was made for all the (hips of the convoy to run in fhore, and endeavour to make a harbour, whilft captain Pierfon fet all the fail he could to get between them and the enemy ; and as foon as he came nea enough to difcover the fuperior force which he had to contend with, another fignal was made for the Countefs of Scarborough to join him. Jones fhewed no back ward hefs to engage : He fleered di- reclly for trie Serapis, and brought-to within mufket-fhot of her larboard bow, about half after feven in the evening. An engage- ment immediately commenced, and not more than two or three broadfides were exchanged, when Jones attempted to board the Serapis ; but he was foon repulfed, and obliged to fheer off. In a fecond attempt the two fhips became entangled, and dropped along- fide of each other fo clofe, that the muzzles of the guns touched the fides of the oppofite fhip. In this fituation the engagement was continued till half an hour after ten, during which the Serapis was frequently fet on fire by the combuftibles thrown into her from the Bon Homme Richard ; and, in the confufion, a cartridge took fire, which, communicating to others, blew up all the officers and men ftationed abaft the main-malt, and rendered the guns in that quarter of the fhip totally unferviceable. Throughout the whole of the adion, the Alliance, the largeft of Jones's frigates, failed round, and, as opportunities offered, poured her broadfides into the Serapis ; and, towards the conclufion of the engagement, coming under her ftern, raked her fore-and-aft, and killed or wounded fo many of her men, AMERICAN WAR. 165 men, that captain Pierfon," feeing no profpect of being able to extri- CHAP. cate the Serapis, thought it cruelty to his people longer to continue v_ -. , f the action, and ftruck his Colours. The Countefs of Scarborough, although fo 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 ftrike ; her rigging being cut to pieces, feven of her guns difmounted, four of her people killed, and twenty badly wounded : And, to cut off all hopes of fuccefs from a further refiftance, jufl before me ftruck, 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 beft account that captain Pierfon was enabled to give, to forty-nine killed, and fixty- eight wounded ; but he had reafon to believe, although this was all the lofs which he was able to afcertain with precifion, that in reality it was much greater. His fhip too had fuftained very confi- derable damage ; and the mainmaft went by the board juft as me ftruck. But the fcene which prefented itfelf on board the Boa Homme Richard was horrible beyond defcription. Her quarter and counter on the lower deck were entirely driven in, and the whole of her guns on that deck difmounted. She was on fire in two di- ferent places ; had feven feet of water in her hold ; and her decks ftreamed with the blood of the killed and wounded, which, accord- ing to captain Pierfon's account, amounted to three hundred and fix, a number more than three-fourths of her crew. Under fuch circumftances of accumulated horror and diftrefs, none but a defpe- rado would have continued the engagement; but their ruffian com- mander was feen feveral times during the action without his coat, and with his iliirt-fleeves tucked up beyond his elbows, running about the (hip, and brandifhing a naked cutfefs to keep his men at their quarters. To him, who, it feems, was a native of Galloway in Scotland, and who, it is faid, had, by his crimes, forfeited his life 4 to 166 HISTORY OF THE c H A P. to the laws of his country, before he entered into the fervice of -\jV^v 1 1. congreis, 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 entrufted to his care, are an object of the utrnoft at* tendon ; and, to fuch a commander, refiftance appears unjuftifiable,, after it becomes hopelefs. The iflue of the engagement in favour of the Bon Homme Richard may therefore be afcribed to the dif- ferent circumftances under which the two commanders acted, as much as to the difparity of force. The damage done to the Bon Homme Richard was fo great that it could not be repaired ; the water gained upon her fo faft, that fhe funk in lefs than two days afterwards, with fome of her wounded men on board. By this en- gagement two of his majefty's {hips were loft ; but a valuable con- voy were faved. The brave refiftance made by captain Pierfon gave the mips of the convoy time to efcape ; and enabled them to take.- fhelter in the different harbours on the, fea-coaft before they could bet overtaken.. The declaration which announced hoftilities on the part- of the: Spanifli nation was not made until every thing had been previoufly prepared for acting with effect.. The grand Spanifh fleet had eitherr failed, or was ready to fail : Troops were in motion to occupy the: works at St. Roque, and inveft. Gibraltar by landj whilft a naval- force was proceeding to block it up by fea : And orders had been,- difpatched to the governors of their foreign pofleffions to prepare them for the rupture. With the help of fuch previous arrange- ments it was hoped> whilft Great Britain was embarrafTed with the- complicated- operations of fo extenfive a war, that Spain might with ; cafe recover, back fome of the. pofleffions that had been wrefted from-, her in lefs aufpicious times; and Gibraltar in Europe, and the pro- vince of Weft Florida in North. America, appear to have been: narked out as the firft obje&s of attack, General AMERICAN WAR. itf- General Elliott, that brave and gallant veteran, commanded at Gibraltar ; and the garrifon had been largely reinforced. With fuch advantages, added to the natural ftrength of the place, the re- duction of it was thought impracticable, in any other way than by blockade : It was therefore inverted both by fea 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 furnifh it with fupplies. But in this refpeft the Britifh miniftry had anticipated the views of Spain, and, under the apprehenfion of a rupture, had not only largely reinforced Gibraltar with troops, but plentifully fupplied it with provifions and ftores ; fo that an attack upon a place of fuch ftrength, fo amply provided with every thing neceflary to hold out againft a fiege, in which the enemy might unprofitably wafte their blood and treafure, was rather to be wifhed than regretted. It was far otherwife with Weft Florida, a province of large ex- tent, thinly fettled, and defended by an inconfiderable force. Its weftern extremity, at a great diftance from Penfacola, the feat of the government, bordered on the Spanim province of Louifiana, from which it was feparated only by the river Miffiflippi. Weft Florida was therefore peculiarly expofed to an attack, not only from its weak ftate of defence, but from its contiguity to the Spanifh territories. And Don Bernardo de Galves, the governor of Loui- fiana, having been previoufly inftructed, had made all neceffary pre- parations, and was ready to pafs the boundary, as foon as he fhould receive information of the commencement of hoftilities, intelligence of which, it appears, was communicated to him early in Auguft, ^and long before it reached the governor of Weft Florida. In the preceding year a predatory incurfion had been made into Incurfio* of this province by a captain Willing, an American partizan, who, cans * j nto l from having been a fettler upon the MifTiflippi, previous to the Wcftflonda > was well acquainted with the countries bordering upon that river. x68 HISTORY OF THE river. He fet out from Fort Pitt, and, defcending by the courfes of the Ohio and Mifliffippi, arrived at a Britifh fettlement in Weft Florida, called Manchac, at the confluence of the river Ibberville with the Mifliffippi ; and fuch was the weaknefs of this frontier fettlement, that with twenty-five men only he entered it, took by furprife a Britifh merchant-fhip, mounting fixteen guns, that lay there loading with tobacco and indigo, and made himfelf mafter not only of that fettlement, but of fome others that adjoined it upon the river Amit. Some of the principal inhabitants made their efcape, and flying to Penfacola, applied to the governor for afii fi- ance. At that time there were not more than five hundred regular troops in the province, a number not more that fufficient to garrifon Penfacola, and the fort at Mobille ; from which fervices none of them could be fpared. But the fuperintendant for Indian affairs, having confented to permit a few of the hunters, who were attached to his department, to afllft the inhabitants of Manchac in the reco- very of their pofleffions ; with this fmall reinforcement they re- turned, drove out the Americans, and re-poflefled themfelves of their former eftates and habitations. This irruption of the Ame- ricans, together with the apprehenfion of the hoftile intentions of Spain, was the caufe of a reinforcement being fent to Penfacola in the beginning of the prefent year. It confifted of a regiment of Germans, and the Maryland and Penfylvania 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 thoufand eight hundred men. Weft Florida Soon after the arrival of general Campbell, he detached lieutenant- the Spaniards, colonel Dickfon, 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 obftrudions that occurred, the fort was AMERICAN WAR. 169 was not nearly finifhed when Don Bernardo de Galves, about the c Ji JK p * Jm.JLn.ll> end of Auguft, entered the province with two thoufand men, hav- V- - .* I77Q. ing firft intercepted feveral veflels with fupplies for the fort, and Auguft. 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 Dickfon had taken poft with his detachment, and thrown up fome works that were yet unfmimed. The place was immediately in- vefted, and approaches were made and continued until the twenty- firft of September, when a battery of heavy cannon was opened upon the works. Thefe, after an inceflant cannonade for three hours, were found to be untenable: A flag of truce was fent out with propofals ; and a capitulation was finally entered into for the furrender of the poft. Honourable terms were obtained not only for the garrifon but the inhabitants of the neighbouring diftricts ; and in this manner the Britifh fettlements upon the Miffiffippi, from, the Natches downward, were yielded to the crown of Spain. But this lofs was foon afterwards in part compenfated by an acquifitioa made in a different quarter. It feems evident that the fame provifionary orders for hoftilities had The Spam- been fent to all the governors of the Spanifh provinces that bordered theBritifti on any Britim fettlement ; for nearly at the fame time when Don Bernardo de Galves entered the province of Weft Florida, the Honduras. Spanifh governor of Honduras made an unexpected attack upon the Britim logwood-cutters, took many of them prifoners, and ex- pelled the reft from their principal fettlement at St. George's Key. General Dalling, governor of Jamaica, who, in confequence of the rupture with Spain, was apprehenfive that fuch an attack would be made, had already difpatched captain Dalrymple, with a fmall de- tachment of the Irifh volunteers, to the Mufquito Ihore, to colled a force for the affiftance of the logwood-cutters in the Bay of Hon- 1 VOL. II. Z duras. 17* HISTORY OF THE c J 1 A p - duras. The tranfports which conveyed this detachment, carried .XXXII. ^., ./ alfb a fupply of arms, ammunition, and ftores, and arrived at Black River on the Mufquito fhore on the twenty-feventh of September. The fame day on which they arrived, intelligence was received of the attack made by the Spaniards on St. George's Key ; and in con- fequence of this intelligence the fquadron again put to fea, as foon as captain Dalrymple had enlifted fome volunteers, and collected about fixty Indians. In their paflage to Honduras they fell in with a fquadron of fhips of war under the command of commodore Lut- trel!, confiding of the Charon, and the Loweftoff and and Pomona frigates, that had been fent by fir Peter Parker, admiral on the Ja- maica ftation, to intercept fome Spanifh regifter-fhips, of which he had received intelligence. From commodore Luttrell, information was received that the fet- tlers at Honduras, with their flaves, had retired to Truxillo, and the ifland of Rattan, on the Mufquito fhore; that the Spaniards had been already difpofTefled of St. George's Key, by his majefty ? s armed fcho oner Racehorfe ; and that the regifter-fhips, which were the object of commodore Luttrell's crurfe, had taken fhelter in the harbour of Omoa, and were too ftrongly protected by th fortifi- cations on fhore to be attacked by fea. Under fuch circumftances it was agreed between the commodore and captain Dalrymple to unite their force, proceed againft Omoa, and attack it both by fea and land. The united fquadron accordingly failed firft for Truxillo, where a number of bay-men and logwood-cutters were collected, armed and embodied ; and from thence proceeded againft Omoa. Reduction of On the fixteenth of October in the evening, the land-force, which, even w kk t ^ le m armes and mtifquetry-men of the fhips, and the re- Ae key of inforcement from Truxillo, did not much- exceed five hundred men, fehe Bay of Honduras was difembarked at Porto Cavallo, a harbour which was fuppofed to be not more than nine miles diftant from Omoa. It had been in- tendecu AMERICAN WAR. 171 tended to march forward in the night, -furprife the fort, and take it C H A P. .A.A.-A. LJL by efcalade, before the morning ; but the country through which u. -v ..* the march was to be performed was difficult, being in forne parts in- terfetted by lagoons and morafles, and in others by fteep precipices, rendered almoft impafiable by the late rains ; and through this diffi- cult country only a narrow path led to the fort, which, in the dark- nefs of the night, they were obliged to explore with lighted fplinters of the cabbage-tree : The diftance too was found to be greater than had been reprefented. By thefe obftructions the march was fo much retarded, that, when morning appeared, captain Dairy mple found himfelf ftill fix miles from the fort, and his men much fa- tigued. He fuffered them to refrefh themfelves for two hours, and then continued his march, putting the Indians in front to fcour the woods. A body of the enemy was difcovered lying in ambufh, about a mile from the fort, and quickly difloged. The heights round the town, and the fort, with the roads leading to them, were fecured : Pofts were eftablifhed ; and fome of thefe being galled by a fcattering fire from the houfes in the town, captain Dalrymple found it neceflary to burn it down. Whilft the town was' in flames, commodore Luttrell's fquadron entered the bay ; and the fort was now invefted both by fea and land. Some days were fpent in land- ing cannon, and erecting batteries ; but, after they were opened, it was quickly perceived, that, although they annoyed the garrifon ex- ceedingly, they made no impreffion upon the walls of the fort ; and that, in this mode, the fiege might be protracted to an indefinite length. It was therefore determined to cut the matter fliort by at- tempting to take the fort by efcalade, efpecially as the ditch was ob- ferved to be dry. The attempt was to be made at four in the morn- ing, by one hundred and fifty Europeans, confiding of feamen and marines, with a few of the loyal Irifh, under cover of a cannonade from the mips in the bay, and the batteries on the heights. At Z 2 three HISTORY OF THE C HA P. three the detachment allotted for this fervice moved down from the XXXII. i - v _L; heights ; and in the valley, being formed into four columns, waited with impatience for the fignal of attack. A little after four the cannonade began, which fo engaged the attention of the enemy, that the aflailants, with their fcaling-ladders, advanced, unper- ceived, clofe to the ramparts. As they were ready to enter the ditch, they were difcovered : The enemy's drums beat to arms, and the alarm was given. The aflailants, for a moment, fhrunk back, but, almoft inftantly recovering themfelves, rufhed on into the ditch. The fcaling-ladders were applied ; and the feamen mounted the walls with alacrity. Two, who firft reached the top of the ramparts, prefented their pieces at a body of the enemy af- fembled to oppofe them, but, according to their orders, referved their fire until they were joined by more of their companions- Thefe followed fo clofely, that the Sj*aniards were ftruck with con- ilernation, and feemed to lofe the power of refiftance, notwithftand- ing the exertions of their officers to encourage them* About one hundred efcaped over the walls on the oppofite fide of the fort ; the reft fled to the cafements ; and the governor and principal officers, now feeing their fituation defperate, came and furrendered their fwords, with the keys of the fort, to captain Dalrymple. Such was the humanity of the aflailants, and fuch the good order preferved in the aflault, that only two Spaniards were wounded with the bay- onet, while in the acl: of refiftance, and not one was plundered. An inftance of heroifm in a feaman is mentioned, to which hiftory affords nothing in its kind fuperior. He had fcrambled up the walls with a cutlafs in each hand, and meeting with an unarmed Spanifh officer, the generous tar difdained to take advantage of his helplefs fituation ; but, prefenting him with one of his cutlafies, added " Now you will be on a footing with me." The Spanifh gentleman was too much afie&ed with the fingular generofity of the action to 2 accept AMERICAN WAR. 173 accept of the offer, and quietly furrendered. Unfortunately the name of this brave fearaan has not been preferved. The Spaniards, v_ * during the fiege, loft, in killed and wounded, about thirty men ; and three hundred and fixty-five, with a confiderable number of officers, were made prifoners. The whole lofs of the befiegers, in killed and wounded, did not exceed twenty. Thus eafily was acquired the important fortrefs of Omoa, the key of the Bay of Honduras, and, in time of war, the receptacle of the treafure fent from Guatimala. The fort was built of ftone, raifed out of the fea, and brought from the diftance of twenty leagues. Its walls were eighteen feet thick; and,' although it had coft the Spaniards twenty years labour, the out-works were not then, fmifhed. But, to the captors, the mod important part of the ac- quifition was the two regifter-fhips, the value of which, with that of fome other prizes of lefs note taken in the harbour, was efti- mated at three millions of dollars. A convention was made for an exchange of prifoners ; and it was agreed, that thofe who were taken in Fort Omoa fhould be exchanged for an equal number of Bri- ,tih fubjeclis taken in the Bay of Honduras. The Spanifh governor offered to ranfom the fort at the expence of three hundred thoufand dollars. But as Omoa was thought to be a poft 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 fimi- lar one for two hundred and fifty quintals of quickfilver, an article neceflary for working the Spanifh mines, and for which a fum of money would have been given more than double its value. When the Britifh fquadron quitted Omoa, a garrifon was affigned to it, fuch as could be fpared, and a floop of war left in the har- bour for its further protection : But it did not long remain in the poffeffion of Great Britain. The weaknefs of the garrifon tempted the 174 HISTORY OF THE CHAP 1779, Prote&ion afforded to the Britim commerce. Spaniards in the neighbourhood to colled a force and inveft the fort. For a confiderable time it was defended with great bravery : But, at laft, both the officers and men, amongft whom an epidemi- cal fever began to rage, and who, in the whole, amounted only to eighty-five, were fo weakened and overcome with the fatigue of conftant duty, one centinel being obliged, by fhifting his place, to ferve for five, that they faw it would be impoffible to withftand an aflault, which the enemy were preparing to make. They therefore determined to evacuate the fort ; but to leave it as unferviceable as in their circumftances they could poflibly make it. After the guns _ had been fpiked, and the ammunition and military ftores deftroyed, the garrifon, without lofing a fingle man in the evacuation, em- barked on board the veflels in the harbour, and took a final leave of Omoa. It has already been obferved, that had the Britifh fleet under ad- miral Byron followed that of France under the count d'Eftaing, when he made an unfuccefsful attack upon Savannah, it is more than probable, that, to the difgrace of a repulfe from that town, would have been added the lofs of a great part of his fleet. But the Britifh fleet, in the ftation on which it did remain, performed very eminent fervices to the ftate under the command of rear-ad- miral Hyde Parker, who fucceeded admiral Byron in the fall of the prefent year. The Britifh commerce in the Weft Indies was pro- tected, whilft that of the enemy was almoft ruined by the capture of their merchantmen. Great part of a convoy bound to Marti- nique was either taken or deftroyed, in fight of the ifland, and of the French fquadron at Fort Royal, under Monfieur 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 Britifh fleet, then cruifing off the mouth of the 4 bay. AMERICAN WAR, i 7? / / bay. And to the captures of their merchantmen are to be added CHAP. A.X..XI1. four of the count d Eftaing s frigates, on their return to the Weft v. - T - _f Indies from the coaft of America *. Thus Great Britain continued to make a noble ftand againft the machinations of her foes. And, although the year 1 779 muft be confidered as unfortunate, in which (he loft two valuable iflands, without gaining from her enemies a territorial equivalent; it may, neverthelefs, be doubted whether the lofs of thefe iflands was not overbalanced by the damage done to the French and Spanifti com- merce, not only in Europe and the Weft Indies, but in every quar- ter of the globe. h The firft of thefe frigates was taken on the 24th of O&ober ; and from her admiral Parker firft learnt with certainty, that count d'Eftaing had gone, with all his fleet, to Nortb America. 1 7$ HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXXIII. Expedition under Sir Henry Clinton to South Carolina Fortifications V of Charlejiown defcribcd Garrifon of Charlejiown Siege and Re- duction of Charlejiown Incur/ion of the Spaniards Into Weft Flo- rida Confequences of the Fall of Charlejiown 'Three new Ex- peditions fet on foot by the Britijh Commander His Addrefs to the Inhabitants of South Carolina Its Effect Defeat of the American Colonel Burford Difpojition of the Britijh 'Troops in South Carolina Admini/lration of Earl Cornwallis there Counter-revolution among thofe who hadfubmitted to the Power of Britain on the Fall of Charlejiown Detachment from Wajhingtons Army fent 'into North Carolina Movements of the American Colonel Sumpter His Attempt on the Britijh Poft on Rocky Point. CHAP. GIR Henry Clinton having been cramped in his operations i_ - t . * by the proceedings of the French fleet under the count Expedition d'Eftaing, whofe unfuccefsful attack upon Savannah, together final departure from the American coaft, has already ton to South b ee n related ; no fooner received certain information of the de- -Carolina. . parture of d Eftaing than he fet on foot an expedition, the object of which was the taking of Charleflown, and the reduction of the province of South Carolina. The troops defigned for this expedi- tion were immediately embarked on board the tranfports ; and thefe, efcorted by admiral Arbuthnot with an adequate naval force, failed December, from Sandy Hook on the twenty-fixth of December 1779. Sir Henry Clinton accompanied the expedition, leaving the garrifon at New AMERICAN WAR. 177 New York under the command of lieutenant-general Knyphaufen. XXXIIL The paffage might have been expected to be performed in ten days; v "C^ but fuch was the uncommon feverity of the feafon, that the fleet was very loon feparated, and driven out of its courfe by tempeftuous weather; and fcarcely any of the fhips arrived at Tybee, the ap- pointed place of rendezvous, before the end of January. Some few draggling veflels were taken ; fome others were loft ; and all received more or lefs damage. Almoft all the horfes belonging to the artil- lery or cavalry perifhed during the paflage ; and amongft the (hips that were loft was one which contained the heavy ordnance. For- tunately, however, the crews were all faved. Thofe fhips being refitted that flood in need of immediate re- pair, the fleet failed from Tybee to North Edifto Sound, in the province of South Carolina ; and on the eleventh of February the troops were difembarked on John's Ifland, about thirty miles from Charleftown. Part of the fleet was immediately fent round to block up the harbour of Charleftown by fea ; whilft the troops, flowly advancing through the country, pafled from John's to James Ifland ; and from thence, over Wappoo Cut, to the main land, until they at length reached the banks of Afhley River, op- pofite to Charleftown. So great were the impediments that they met with in their progrefs, or fuch the extreme caution of the com- mander in chief, in eftablifhing and fortifying pofts to preferve his communication with the fea, that it was not until the twenty-ninth of March that the advance of the army crofled Afhley River at the ferry, and landed on Charleftown Neck, fome miles above the town. The flat-bottomed boats had been brought from North Edifto Sound, through the inlets by which the coaft is interfered, until they en- tered Afhley River, by Wappoo Cut ; and the pafling over of the troops was conducted with much addrefs by captain Elphinftone of VOL. II. A a the i 7 8 XXXIII. l - f 1780. Fortifica- tions of Charleftown defcribed. HISTORY OF THE the navy. On the following day the troops encamped in front of the American lines ; and on the iirft of April began to break ground before Charleftown, at the diftance of eight hundred yards from the provincial works. The flow advance of the Britifh army had given time to the pro- vincials not only, to ftrengthen, but greatly to enlarge, the defences of Charleftown. Thefe now confifted of a chain of redoubts, lines and batteries, extending from Aihley to Cooper River, upon which were mounted upwards of eighty pieces of cannon and mortars. In front of the lines a canal had been dug, which was filled with water; and from the dam at either end a fwamp oozed to each river, forming natural impediments where the ^artificial terminated. Behind thefe were two rows of abbatis, fome other obftructions, and, immediately in front of the works, a double- picketted ditch. The works on the right and left were not only of great ftrength, but advanced fo far beyond the range of the inter- mediate lines as to enfilade the canal almoft from one end to the other : And in the centre was a horn-work of mafonry, which, being clofed during the fiege, became a kind of citadel. Such were-the defences of Charleftown on the only fide on which it could be approached by land ; and, towards the water, numerous batteries coy>er,ed with artillery forbad the approach of mips. But, befides the fecurity which Charleftown derived from its mjmerous batteries, it was ftill more effectually protected . by die .bar, pr fand- bank, at the mouth of the inlet that led frofn^fye fea. t, .-This bar was impaflable by the larger mips of war,- and rendered the entry pf others difficult and dangerous; and, j uft ; t within it, JRiYje fathom Hole, of a fufficient depth of water, furnished a convenient Ration for a fquadron to command the bar, .and render the paflage of it ftill more difficult and dangerous. This ftation was occupied by the American 179 AMERICAN WAR. American commodore Whipple, with a fquadron of nine fail under his command, the largeft carrying forty-four, and the finalleft fix- v ^ ; teen, guns. After the perils and difficulties of the bar were fur- mounted, before a fleet could reach Charleftown, Fort Moultrie, upon Sullivan's Ifland, was to be pafled, the fire from which had, on a former occafion, proved fo deftructive to a Britifh fquadron under fir Peter Parker ; and, fince that period, the works on Sullivan's Ifland had been confiderably ftrengthened and enlarged. General Lincoln, trufting to thofe defences, and at the fame time Gamfon of expecting large reinforcements from the other colonies, inftead of re- 1 maining with his army in the open country, fhut himfelf up in Charleftown, at the earneft requeft of the inhabitants, and with the force under his command, amounting to feven thoufand men of all denominations under arms, refolved to defend it to the laft extre- mity. Great expectations were, undoubtedly, at one time, enter- tained of the fuccefsful defence of the bar, from the advantageous pofition of the American fquadron; but it foon appeared that thefe were illufory : For no fooner did the Britifh fleet, on the twentieth of March, approach the bar, with an intention to pafs it, than com- modore Whipple quitted his ftation and retired to Fort Moultrie, leaving admiral Arbuthnot to enter at his leifure, and occupy the ftation which the American fquadron had juft before quitted. Before the Renown, Roebuck, and Romulus could pafs the bar, it was ne- ceflary to lighten them, by taking out their guns, provifion, and water ; and in that deftitute fituation they lay for fixteen days, be- fore a favourable opportunity offered for making the attempt. But, when the attempt was made, they effected their paflage without any oppofition, except from fome gallies left by commodore Whipple, which fired upon the boats of the fleet, and endeavoured to prevent them from founding the channel. Not long afterwards, commodore A a 2 Whipple i8o HISTORY OF THE C H A ii P * Whipple retired to Charleftown with his fhips, part of which he JLJUULJIJ* u 1 ftationed in Cooper River ; and the reft, with fome other veffels, were funk acrofs the mouth of it, to prevent the Britifh fleet from entering. This was a moft important precaution ; for had the Bri- tifh fleet been permitted to gain the poffeffion of Cooper River, the larger mips might have been fo ftationed 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 fupplies and reinforcements cut off, and the duration of the fiege, in all probability, greatly fhortened. As foon as the Britifh began to erect batteries againft the town, admiral Arbuthnot embraced the firft favourable opportunity that offered for pafling Fort Moultrie; and on the ninth of April, with a ftrong foutherly wind and flowing tide, he weighed anchor, and effected his purpofe with very little lofs. His fquadron confifted 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 fhip ; and although, in pafling, the mips were expofed to a heavy cannonade from Fort Moultrie, their whole lofs of men, in killed and wounded, amounted only to twenty-feven ; and the damage done to them- in other re- fpects was equally inconfiderable. As their entry into Cooper River was precluded, they anchored near Fort Johnfton, juft without the jange of mot from the batteries of the town. The fame day on which the fleet paffed Fort Moultrie, the firft parallel of the befiegers was finimed ; and the town being now al- moft completely inverted, both by fea and land, the Britifh com- manders fummoned general Lincoln to furrender. His anfwer was fhort, but firm, and conveyed an implied reflection againft the Bri- tifh commanders for their fuppofed tardinefs in making their ap- 3 proaches ; AMERICAN WAR. preaches : " Sixty days," faid he, " have pafled fmce it has been CHAP. r\ JvAAlII. ; known chat your intentions agamlt this town were hoftile, in which u. . v - *j ^Q " time has been afforded to abandon it ; but duty and inclination " point to the propriety of fupporting it to the laft extremity." The fummons being ineffectual, the batteries of the firft parallel Sf8* f Gharle flown. were opened upon the town, and foon made a vifible impreflion. But ftill the communication between the country and the garrifon was kept open acrofs Cooper River; and on the very day on which the fummons was fent to general Lincoln, the American general Woodford pafled Cooper River with feven hundred continental troops, and entered the town. To aflift in preferving this commu- nication, general Lincoln had left his cavalry without the lines, with orders to traverfe and keep open the country to the eaftward of Cooper River, as being that through which he expected to re- ceive his reinforcements ; and by the fame route he hoped to be able to make good his retreat with the garrifon, if at laft he fhould find the town no longer tenable *. To * The underwritten Letter was intercepted and publiflied by Sir Henry Clinton's orders during the fiege of Charleilown. South Carolina, May 11, 1780. From B. Smith to Mrs. Benjamin Smith, dated Charleftown, April 30, 1780. HAVING never had an opportunity of writing to her fince the enemy began to aft with, vigour, and knowing that a thoufand evil reports will prevail to increafe her uneafinefs mine 1 have fupported pretty well until lafl night, when I really, almoft funk under the load : Nothing remains around to comfort me but a probability of faving my life, After going through many difficulties, our affairs are daily declining, and not a ray of hope remains to aflure us of fuccefs. ... The enemy have turned the fiege into a blockade, which, in a mort time, muft have the defired effect ; and the moft fanguine do not now enter- tain the fmalleft hope of the town being faved. The enemy have continued their approaches with vigour continually, fmce I wrote the inclofed, and are now completing batteries about two hundred yards diftance from our lines ; they fire brt feldom from their cannon, but their popping off rifles and fmall-arms do frequent mifchief, and -vt-y nir.ht throw out an amazing number of (hells amongit our people at the lines, vhich, though noi attended with the damage that might reafonably be expeded, do fome mifchief. Our cc.nmunication is en- tirely HISTORY OF THE Tn r-nr r,#* tl-i^ ri XXXIII, To cut off the retreat of the garrifon, and to prevent it from re- v > ceiving reinforcements, were objecls of fuch importance that they had not efcaped the attention of the Britifh general. But the main- taining his own communications with the fea had required all the troops he could fpare from the immediate operations of the fiege, until the Britim fleet pafled Fort Moultrie, and. gained the com- mand of the water between it and Charleftown. From this time fir Henry Clinton felt no farther apprehenfion about his own com- tirely cut off from the country (excepting by a fmall boat at great rifque) by lord Corn- \vallis,who occupies every landing-place from Haddrill's Point, a codfiderable way up the river, with two thoufand five hundred men. When I wrote laft, it was the general opinion that we could pvacuate the town at pleafure ; but a confiderable reinforcement having arrived to the enemy, has enabled them to ftrengthen their pofts fo effectually as to prevent that meafure. The fame caufe prevents our receiving further fupplies of provifions or reinforcements, and a fhort time will plant the Britifh ftandard on our ramparts. You will fee by the inclofed fum- mons that the perfons and properties of the inhabitants will be faved ; and confequently I ex- pect to have the liberty of foon returning to you j but the army muft be made prifoners of war. This will give a rude (hock to the independence of America ; and a Lincolnade will become as common a term as Burgoynade: But I hope we mail in time recover this fevere blow. However, before this happens, I hope I mall be permitted to return home, where I muft ftay, as my fituation will not permit me to take any further an aftive part ; and therefore my abandoning my property will fubjeft me to many inconveniencies andlofles, without being any way ferviceable to the country. - - - This letter will run great rifque, as it will be furrounded on all fides ; but as I know the perfon to whofe care it is committed, and feel for your uneafy fituation, I could not but truft it. Allure yourfelf that I fhall fhortly fee you, as nothing prevents Lincoln's furrender but a point of honour in holding out to the laft extre- mity. This is nearly at hand, as our provifions will foon fail ; and my plan is to walk off as foon as I can obtain permifllon. - - - - Should your father be at home, make him ac- quainted with the purport of this letter, and remember me to him ; alfo to your mother, but do not let the intelligence go out of the houfe, - - - - but a mortifying fcene muft firft be encountered : The thirteen ftripes will be levelled in the duft, and I owe my life to the clemency of a conqueror. Your ever affectionate hufband, (Signed) B. SMITH. ' t;-c. < . . ' Note. Thofe parts filled up with hyphens contain expreffions of tendernefs to his wife, no way interefting to the public; for which reafon we have omitted to publifli them. munications, AMERICAN WAR. 1*5 munications, and was enabled to detach lieutenant-colonel Webfter, C X xxni P " with one thoufand four hundred men, to cut offthofe of the enemy. \- ** ' * 1780.. By the advanced guard of this detachment, compofed of Tarleton's legion and Fergufon's corps, the American cavalry, with the militia attached to them, were furprifed in the night of the fourteenth of April, at Biggin's Bridge, near Monk's Corner, thirty-two miles from Charleftown, and completely routed and difperfed, with the lofs of all his ftores, camp equipage, and baggage *. , * Forty-two large waggons, one hundred and two waggon-horfes, eighty-two dragoon, horfes, and feveral officers horfes j a quantity of ammunition, flour, butter, clothing, camp and horfe equipage ; harnefs for all the waggons ; all the officers clothing and baggage ; toge- ther with five puncheons of rum, fix hogfheads of mufcovado fugar, four barrels of indigo, a- quantity of tea, coffee, fpices, nails in cafks, fome French cloth, three barrels of gunpowder, light-dragoon fwords, &c. &c. found in a ftore, which was fet on fire, and blown up by the careleflhefs of the centinel, who, in going to draw fome rum, fet it on fire, and in a fhort time the flore was blown up. The lofs of the Americans, in men, was major Birnie of Pulafki's legion of dragoons, three captains, one lieutenant, and ten privates, killed j fifteen privates, one captain, and two lieutenants, wounded ; fifty-eight privates, two captains, and three lieu- tenants, taken prifoners, including the wounded. Major Birnie was mangled in the mofl fhocking manner ; he had feveral wounds, a fevere one behind his ear. This unfortunate officer lived feveral hours, reprobating the Americans for their conduct on this occafion, and even in his laft moments curfing the Britifh for their barbarity, in having refufed quarter after he had furrendered. The writer of this, who was ordered on this expedition, afforded every afliftance in his power ; and had the major put upon a table, in a public-houfe iq the village* and a blanket thrown over him. The major, in his laft moments, was frequently, infulted by; the privates of the legion : Some dragoons of the Britifh legion attempted to ravifh feveral ladies, at, the houfe of fir John Collington, in the neighbourhood of Monk's Corner. Mrs. the wife of Doctor of Charlqftown, was moft barbaroufly treated ; fhe was i a meft delicate and beautiful woman. L^dy received one or two wounds with a fwprd. Mifs - " , fitter to major , was alfo ill treated. The ladies made their efcape, and came to Monk's Corner, where they were protected ; a carriage being provided, they were efcorted to the houfe of Mr. " . The dragoons were apprehended and brought to Monk's Corner,, where, by this time, colonel Webfter had arrived and taken the command, ..The ^ e colonel Patrick Fergufon (of whom we fhall have occafion to fpeak hereafter] was for putting the dragoons to inftant death. But colonel Webfter did not con- ceive that his powers extended to that of holding a general court-martial. The prifoners were iiowever fent to head-quarters, and, I bejieve, were afterwards tried and whipped.. By 1 84 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. By this defeat a paflage was opened acrofs the head branches C -y-J/ of Cooper River for the remainder of the detachment to move forward and occupy the country to the eaftward of it. Some days afterwards, by the arrival of a reinforcement from New York, the commander in chief was enabled to fend another detachment acrofs Cooper River ; and the command of the whole was given to earl Corn- wallis. The force detached to the eaftward of Cooper River was now fo confiderable as to cut off from the garrifon all reafonable hopes of effecting a retreat. A council of war was called ; and by their advice, an offer was made for furrendering the town on certain con- ditions : But the conditions propofed were of fuch a nature as could not be acceded to by the Britifh commanders, and were of courfe inftantly rejected. In the mean time the befiegers were daily advancing their works : The fecond parallel was completed on the twentieth of April, and the third on the fixth of May. The laft of thefe had been pufhed fo near to the provincial works as to be clofe to the canal ; and the canal, for a confiderable part of its extent, was quickly drained of its water by a fap carried to the dam. The misfortunes of the befieged now crowded faft upon them. On the fame day on which the third parallel was completed, the garrifon of Fort Moultrie furrendered to captain Hudfon of the navy, who had been landed on Sullivan's Ifland, with two hundred feamen and marines, to attack the fort by land, whilft the ihips prepared to batter it from the water ; and, on the fame day alfo, 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. Whilft the Americans lay under the preflure of thefe accumulated misfortunes, the Britifh commanders, with a view of favingthe effufion of blood, thought pro- per once more to open a correfpondence with general Lincoln for the fur- AMERICAN WAR. 185 furrender of the town : But the garrifon or the inhabitants were not c _*? A P. XXXI 1 1. yet fufKciently humbled to accept of the terms that were offered ; < and hoftilities were recommenced. The batteries of the third parallel opened upon the town, and did great execution ; and at this fhort diftance the Heflian yagers, pofted advantageoufly, fired their rifles with fuch effect, that numbers of the befieged were killed at their guns, and fcarcely any efcaped who ventured to fhew themfelves over the lines. During this fire, xvhich continued for two days without intermiflion, the befiegers gained the counterfcarp of the outwork that flanked the canal ; the canal itfelf was pafled ; and the works were advanced almoft to the verge of the ditch. The hopes of the inhabitants now forfook them : All the horrors of an afiault prefented themfelves 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 fent out with a propofition to that effecl. And, whatever fevere juftice might have dictated, the Britifh commanders, unwilling to prefs to unconditional fubmiflion a reduced enemy, whom clemency might yet reconcile, accepted the propofition, and agreed to grant the fame terms which had been before rejected. The capitulation Reduftion of was figned on the twelfth of May ; and on the fame day the gar- rifon laid down their arms, and major-general Leflie took pofleffion of the town. By the articles of capitulation the garrifon were allowed fome of the honours of war: They were to march out and depofit their arms between the canal and the works of the place; but the drums were not to beat a Britifh march, nor the colours to be uncafed : The continental troops and feamen, keeping their baggage, were to remain prifoners of war until exchanged : The militia were to be permitted to return to their refpedive homes as prifoners on parole ; VOL. II. B b and, HISTORY OF THE anc ^ while they kept their parole, were not to be molefted in their ,-ovt f 5 property by the Britifh troops : The citizens of all defcriptions were to be confidered as- prifoners on parole, and to hold their property* in the town on the fame terms as the militia : The officers of the army and navy were to retain their fervants, fwords, piftols, and baggage, unfearched ; they were permitted to fell their horfes, but not to remove them out of the town : And a flag of truce was to be furnifhed to carry general Lincoln's difpatches to Philadelphia- unopened. The lofs of the Britifh troops, during the fiege, amounted to* feventy-fix killed, and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded ; that of the garrifon was not, in the whole, quite fo much : But in the number of the flain was greater. The prifbners taken in Charlef- town, including the deputy governor, and the council of the pro- vince, feven 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 thoufand men; to whom muft be added about one thoufand American and French fea- men, and near four hundred pieces of ordnance, with a confider- "T4l n i ij c * able quantity of Hores*, > , '.-'A Return of the Ships and Veflels taken or deftroyed at: the Surrender of CharMown. The Bricole, pierced for 60, mounting 44 guns, twenty-four and eighteen pounders, funk ; Mier captain, officers, and company prifoners. The Truite, 26 twelve pounders, funk; her captain, 8tc. prifoners. Queen of France, 28 nine pounders, funk ; her captain, &c. prifoners.,. (general Moultrie, 20 fix pounders, funk; ditto. Notre Dame (brig), 16 ditto, funk; ditto. Providence, 32, eighteen and twelve pounders, taken ; captain and company- prifoners. Bofton, f the fame force, taken ; ditto'. Ranger, 20 fix pounders, taken ;.dkto. French Ships. L'Avanture,,26 nine and fix pounders, commanded by the Sieurde Bru- lot, Lieutenant de Vaiffeaux, taken and company. Polacre, 16 fix pounders, taken. Some, empty brigs, lying at fcke wharfs; with other fmall veflels, were alfo taken, and four armed galleys. The r? v- * n AMERICAN WAR. ibifr fii tafb'Iom vf OT ton 3'ipw ^knr.c iK-Jj Ja^d varf j o!:H?/ '-. - v ' * The commander in chief, in his public orders iflued alter the fur- c H A p .A. A. A. I lit* render of the town, and in his diipatches to the fecretary of ftate, was lavifh in encomiums upon the officers who ferved under him, ind the troops he commanded. The afliftance he received during the fiege from his general officers, earl Cornwallis, major-generals Leflie, Huyne, and Kofpotch, and brigadier-general Patterfon, is not only honourably remembered but thankfully acknowledged. The merits of captain Elphinflon of the navy, who conducted all the naval operations relating to the army in its progrefs from North Edifto to Charleftown, and in the paflage of Afhley River, and alfo of all the other officers and feamen ferving on fhore during the fiege, are warmly recommended to the notice of the king, together with the fervices of the officers and foldiers of the royal artillery, the corps of engineers, and in fhort of every other corps, whether Britifh or Heffian, but more particularly of the yager detachment. The names of lieutenant-colonels Webfter and Tarleton, but above all of the chief engineer major Moncrieff, 11 up the lift of brave and meritorious officers that are particularly mentioned. The fer- vices of the two firft of thefe have been already noticed in the pro- grefs of the fiege : By the bravery of the one, and the good con^ duel: of the other, the country to the eaftward of Cooper River was opened to the Britifh troops, the American cavalry routed and dif- perfed, and the communication between the town and the country cut off : And with refpefl to the laft of thefe officers, no language can exprefs more forcibly than that of the commander in chief, the fenfe which he entertained of his very, extraordinary merit. Thefe are his words : " But to major Moncrieff, the commanding engi- " neer, who planned, and, with the afliftance of iuch capable offi- ** cers under him, conducted the fiege with fo much judgment, *-' intrepidity, and laborious attention, I wifh to render a tribute of B b 2 " the HISTORY OF THE xxxm * " C P * " *ke very higheft applaufe and mod permanent gratitude ; per- " fuaded that far more flattering commendations than I can beftow "will not fail to crown fuch rare merit." Of this officer it may be remarked, that he was not more happy -, :-f .-, V I * | ' 1. ^ * *-' '* in the pofleflion of fuperior talents than fortunate in occafions to difplay them. The fucceflive fieges of Savannah and Charleftowa furnifhed him with opportunities of exemplifying his {kill in the two principal branches of his profeffion, the art of defence, and that of attack : In both, his mafterly defigns were crowned with fuccefs; nor is it eafy to determine in which of them his great attainments in his profeflion {hone with brighteft luftre. locurfiort of . Whilft the Britifti arms were thus employed in South Carolina,, the Spaniards t Weft the Spaniards made a frefli incurfion into Weft 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 confifting of fixteen armed vefTels, and a number of tranfports, having on board one thoufand five hundred regular troops, and five hundred people of colour. On his paflage he was overtaken by a ftorm, in which feveral of his yeflels were loft, with a number of his troops, and great part of his provifions, artillery, and ammunition. With the reft he arrived ofF the entrance into Mobille Bay, and landed upon the point of land forming the eaftern extremity of that inlet, where he remained, until he obtained a reinforcement of men, and a frefli fupply of pro- vifions, artillery, and ammunition. When thefe arrived, Don Ber- i 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 againft the fort, and proceeded to make regular approaches, a wafte of labour and time that feemed unneceflary againft a place fo totally unprovided for de- fence.. ^ .' >#- .jt I I V AMERICAN WAR. fence. The fort had been originally built only as a protection C Y ** - jrfii againft the Indians ; and, after it came into the pofleffion of Great Britain, had been fuffered to go to decay, until the beginning of the prefent year, when captain Durnford, the chief engineer at Penfa- cola, was fent to put it in a ftate of defence. iBut this, it feems, v was impoffible, without an immenfe 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 garrifoned by a. company of the fixti'eth regiment, amounting to eighty-two men, including officers ; and to thefe were added, upon the approach of the Spaniards, thirty-fix failors, forty-five militia, and fixty people of colour. On the fourteenth of March the Spaniards opened a battery upon the fort, of eleven pieces of heavy cannon, which, in twelve hours, damaged its defences fo entirely, and rendered it fo untenable,, that the commanding officer thought fit to capitulate. Honourable terms were obtained ; and, although it was fcarcely poflible for the garrifon to hold out longer, their fiirrender at this critical moment was, afterwards, a caufe of regret, when they were r informed that general Campbell, with feven hundred men, was then on his march from Penfacola to their relief, and at no great diftance when the capitulation was figned. I \ -i T^ii By the fall of Charleftown, the capture of the deputy governor, Confequences and the greateft part of the council, and the defeat and difperfion of Charleftown. the only regular force which general Lincoln had left without the lines, the war in South Carolina feemed entirely fubdued: And Thn *. ? expeditions three expeditions, fet on foot by the commander in chief, imme- fetonfootby diately after thefe events, appeared well calculated to deepen the im- commander. preffion that had been made, and to extinguifh every idea of further refiftance amongft the people of the interior country, if any fuch idea could at that time be fuppofed to exjft. The firft of thefe ex- pedition* HISTORY OF THE ^ ^ -Did bns ?marf " ^JUsr* ? t * ; T r ' '-aT^Y jcfc- 'i ;" t: ' : > V 1W '?&* CHAP, peditions, under lord Cornwallis, was intended to overpower, or XX A. I II. drive out of the province, a body of continental troops under a co- lonel Burford, who, arriving too late in the fiege to be able to throw fuccours into Charleftown, had taken poft on the northern banks of the Santee ; and, being joined by thofe of the American cavalry who had furvived their laft defeat by Tarleton, made a (hew of oppofition to the Britim intereft, and endeavoured to keep alive the expiring hopes of the Americans. The fecond of thefe expedi- tions was to proceed up the fouth-weft fide of the Santee to the di trict of Ninety-fix, in order to confirm and encourage the loyal, and reduce the difaffeded : And the third, with a fimilar intention, to move up the banks of Savannah to Augufta, In the mean time the commander in chief, who had received in- formation that a French armament, with tranfports and troops, might be expected on the coaft of America, to co-operate with general Waftiington, was bufily employed in preparing for his return to New York., and in eftablifhing fuch regulations for furthering and fecuring the Britifh intereft in South Carolina, as were neceflary, Hisaddrefsto previous Jo his departure. A hand-bill was publifhed and circulated ants of South amongft the inhabitants, by which they were reminded, that as Carolina.^ ^g commander in chief, upon his firft arrival in the province, had taken no ftep whatfoever to excite the loyal inhabitants to rife in favour of government, whilft the king's troops employed in the fiege of Charleftown might be unable to affift them in their efforts, nor wifhed to draw the king's friends into danger whilft any doubt could remain of their fuccefs ; fo now, that fuccefs was certain, he trufted that one and all would heartily join, and by a general con- currence give effecT: to fuch neceflary meafures as might from time to time be pointed out. The helping hand of every man, it was id ? was wanted to re-eftabli(h peace and good government. Thofe who vr AMERICAN WAR. 191 who had families might form a militia to remain at home and pre- CHAP. -X.yvA.ill, ferve peace and good order in their own diitridts ; whilft thofe who v, were young, and had no families, it was expected would be ready to affift the king's troops in driving their oppreflbrs, and all perfons whatfoever acting under the authority of congrefs, far from the province ; and, for this purpofe, that they fhould prepare themfelves to ferve with the king's troops for any fix out of the next twelver months, under officers of their own choice, and with this exprefs- fHpulation, that they ihould be allowed, when on fervice, the fame pay, ammunition, and provifions, as the king's troops, and fhould not be obHged to march beyond North Carolina on the one fide, or Georgia on the other. Having ferved for that period, it was faid, that they would have paid their debt to their country, would be freed from all further claim of military fervice, except the ufual militia duty at home, and would be entitled to enjoy undif- turbed that peace, liberty, and fecurity of property, which they had contributed to efiablifh. A proclamation was alfo iflued by the commander in chief, on the twenty-fecond of May, by which effectual countenance, protection, and fupport, were promifed to the king's faithful and peaceable fubje&s, and the moil exemplary fe- verity, with confifcation 1 of property, denounced againft thofe who fhould hereafter appear in arms within the province againft his majefty's government, or who fhould attempt to compel any others to do fo, or who fhould hinder or intimidate any of the king's faithful and loving fubjects from joining his forces, or per- forming thofe duties which their allegiance required. And on the firft of June another proclamation was iflued, in the name of fir Henry Clinton and admiral Arbuthnot, as commiflioners for re- ftoring peace to the colonies, by which a full and free pardon was promifed to all thofe who, having been nufled from their duty, Should- 192 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. fhould -immediately return to their allegiance, and a due obedience .X..X..&I11. .! K j to the laws, excepting only fuch as were polluted with the blood of their fellow-citizens, fhed under the mock forms of juftice for their , loyalty to their fovereign, and adherence to the Britifh government: By the fame proclamation, the promife of effectual countenance, protection, and fupport, was renewed to the loyal and well-affected ; and, as foon as the fituation of the province would admit of it, a reinftatement of the inhabitants in the poffeffion of all thofe right* and immunities which they formerly enjoyed under the Britifh go- vernment ; and alfo an exemption from taxation, except by their own Its effect. Jegiflature, Thefe meafures feemed well calculated to encourage the loyal, and intimidate the difaffected j and appear to have produced a confiderable effect. Moft of the people round Charleftown came in, and offered to ftand forth in defence of the Britifh government ; and not a few actually took up arms, and placed themfelves under the direction of major Fergufon, who was appointed to command them. General Williamfon, and the militia of the diftrict of Ninety- fix, fubmitted to the officer who commanded the expedition into that part of the country ; and the inhabitants in the fouthern parts of the province made the like fubmiflion to the Britifh officer commanding at Beaufort. Nearly about the fame time alfo, the commander in chief received the pleafmg intelligence that the continental troops and militia undercolonel Burford had been completely routed and difperfed by lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, who was fent by lord Cornwallis in purfuit of them. Immediately after the furrender of Charleftown colonel Burford, whofe force confuted of three hundred and eighty continental infantry, a detachment of Wafhington's cavalry, and two fix pounders, quitted his m poft on the banks of the Santee, and began a retreat up the north-eaft fide of that river, with a view of retiring into the back country of North Carolina to join a reinforce- 4 meat :s , < . ,, .. .. ) ment which he expected to meet him by that route. Earl Corn- c H A p - wallis did not begin his march in purfuit of him until the eighteenth u. - v - / of May, and then moved on towards Camden. After croffing the San tee, 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 Cbrnwallis difpatcheci lieutenant- colonel Tarleton, with forty men of the feventeenth regiment of dragoons, one hundred and thirty of the cavalry of the legion, and one hundred mounted infantry of the fame corps, to endeavour by forced marches to come up with him. By this officer, after a march Defeat f the ' American of one hundred and five miles in fifty-four hours, Burford was C A overtaken at Waxhaws, on the borders of North Carolina, on the twenty-ninth of May, and defeated, with the lofs of almoft all his detachment, and the whole of his artillery, ammunition, and bag- gage. The execution done in this action was fevere: One hundred and thirteen were killed on the fpot, and two hun- dred and three made prifoners, of whom one hundred and fifty ^were badly wounded. Burford made his efcape by a precipitate .flight on horfeback. The king's troops were entitled to great com- mendation for their activity and ardour on this occafion, but the virtue of humanity was totally forgot. The lofs of the Britifh .troops was trifling; two officers and three privates being killed, and one officer and fourteen privates wounded *. The * Upon the march to Camden the Britilh troops were fupported from the country througlt which they pafied, A number of negroes, mounted on horfes, were employed under proper conductors in driving in cattle for the fupport of the army, and, though they were in general very fmall, the army was plentifully fupplied. The cattle were delivered alive to the regi- ments, who found their own butchers. On the ift of June the royal army took poiTeffion of Camden, in a day or two after which colonel Tarleton joined the army at Camden, diftant aearly one hundred miles from Charleftown. Upon the approach of the army to Camden the author, who had the honour of being commiflary to the troops under lord Cornwallis, was loy his lordmip ordered to move on in front, to poft centincls, and take charge of fuch ftores as might be found ia the towo. In confequence of that order, a mill belonging to a colonel Vox. U. C Kerfhaw HISTORY OF THE laft remains of the continental force in South Carolina being W- -- extirpated by the defeat of Burford at Waxhaws, and the inhabitants in moft parts of the province having either fubmitted to the Britifh government, or taken paroles from the officers commanding the de- tachments fent amongft 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 thofe who had fub- mitted upon parole; and, inftead of confidering them any longer aa prifoners, to require of them the duties, and entitle them to the rights, of active citizens and loyal fubjects. For this purpofe a proclama- tion was iiTued, bearing date the third of June, declaring that all the inhabitants of the province who were prifoners on parole, except thofe who were in the military line, and thofe who were in Fort Moultrie, or in Charleftown, at the time of the furrender of thofe places, or who were then in actual confinement, fhould, from and after the twentieth of that month, be freed and exempted from all fuch paroles, and be reftored to all the rights and duties of citizens and inhabitants : But, by the fame proclamation, it was alfo declared that all perfons under the above defcription, who Ihould afterwards neglect Kerfiiaw was taken pofleffion of; in it was found a quantity of wheat and flour. In a {lore belonging to Jofeph and Eli Kerfkaw was found a quantity of merchandize; 21 rice tierces, 3 hogfheads and a half of indigo, fome tea, fugar, coffee, and linen, which were fent to the general hofpital. A quantity of fait, 20 barrels of flour, r8 ditto Indian corn meal, one fiogmead of rum, a quantity of bacon and hams, butter, brimftone> axes and wedges, fent to. the engineer department. Rhubarb in root, damaged, fent to the general hofpital. A num- ber of hats, and fome green cloth, diftributed to the troops. In a barn near the river ninety hogfheads of tobacco, part of which was deftroyed by the troops, the reft was ordered by lord Cornwallis to be fent to Charleftown. We mail have occafion hereafter to mew how the indigo and tobacco were difpofed of. Near too head of cattle were found in and near the town, together with fome fheep. Lord Cornwallis ordered the commifTaries to give no receipt to colonel Kermavv for the property taken from him, as he was deemed a very violent man, and who was faid to have perfecuted the loyalifts. We will hereafter affign our reafons for being fo particular. A return was made every night to lord Cornwallis of all fpecies of property taken in the courfe of the day, of its diftribution, and of the amount in hand. to AMERICAN WAR. 195 to return to their allegiance, and a due fubmiflion to his majefty*s go- CHAP. xv^vJ^lli* vernment, fhould be confidered as enemies and rebels to the fame, v . - v ~.^ f *78r> and be treated accordingly. Thefe general regulations having been eftablifhed, the commander in chief, on the fifth of June, embarked J une - for New York, carrying with him all the troops that could be fpared, leaving lieutenant-general earl Cornwallis in the command of thofe that remained, with the charge of profecuting the war in North Carolina as foon as the feafon of the year, and other circum- jftances, would permit. The 'force left under lord Cornwallis amounted to about four Difpofitioa thoufand men ; and as the expedition into North Carolina was ne- in South C- cefTarily delayed, from the heat of the feafon, the impoflibility of ro " fubfifting an army in that province until the harveft was over, and the neceffity of forming magazines, with a chain of communica- tions properly fecured before the expedition was begun, the troops were in the mean time fo difpofed in cantonments as to cover the frontiers both of South Carolina and Georgia, and fecure their in- ternal quiet. The principal force upon the frontiers was at Camden, under the command of lord Rawdon : It confifted of the twenty- third and thirty-third regiments, 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 feventy-firft, was advanced to Cheraw Hill, upon the river Pedee, to cover the country between Camden and Georgetown, and to correfpond with the highland fettlement on Crofs Creek, in North Carolina : And Georgetown was garrifoned by a detach- ment of provincials under captain Saunders of the queen's ran- gers. Camden was connected with the diftric~t of Ninety-fix by a ftrong poft at Rocky Mount, upon the Wateree, garrifoned by the New York volunteers, and fome militia, under lieutenant-colonel C c 2 Turn- HISTORY OF THE I'* ""} i * .-.- .*:' " , w < ' -' ' ' - C H A P. Turnbull. At Ninety-fix were ftationed three battalions of provm f* i f f n Ui.'-y ./ cials, and fome companies of light-infantry; at nrft commanded by lieutenant-colonel Balfour, and afterwards by lieutenant-colonel Cruger. Major Fergufon*s corps of provincials, and a body of loyal militia, were not ftationary, but traverfed the country between the Wateree and 'the Saluda, and fometimes approached the con- fines of North Carolina. At Augufta lieutenant-colonel Brown commanded with his own, and detachments from fome other regi- ments. The reft of the troops were ftationed at Charleftown, Beau- fort, and Savannah: Brigadier-general Patterfon commanding at the firft of thefe places,, and lieutenant-colonel Alured Clarke at the And at Camden was to be formed the principal magazine for the ii tended expedition. Adminiftra- Upon earl Cornwallis, as commander in chief in South Carolina; Cornwallis, devolved alfo the care of adjufting the internal affairs, and eftablifh- ?nh?cf t" * n S ^ uc ^ re g u l at i ns > whether civil or commercial, as- might be ne South Caro- ceflary for its future profperity; and, to enter upon this arduous tafk, he repaired to Charleftown, as foon as he had fixed the ports,, and cantoned the troops in the manner already mentioned. A cor- refpondence had been kept up with the loyalifts in North Carolina:-' And, as the expedition into that province was neceflarily delayed, his lordfhip fent emiiTaries ainongft them to requeft the well-affected to attend to their harveft, collect provifions, and remain quiet till the king's troops- were ready to enter the province, which would not be till the end of Auguft, or beginning of September. But, unfor-- tunately, this prudent and necefTary admonition was not attended to.. A number of leyalifts- in Tryon County having prematurely aflem- bled in arms under a colonel More, towards the end of June, were quickly routed and difperfed by a provincial force under general' Rutherford. This unfuccefsful infurrection furnifhed a pretence for AMERICAN WAR. 197 perfecuting the loyalifts in other parts of the province ; their gaols c x ]?xiii P * were filled with loyalifts, and every day added a victim to their u. < , j gibbets : Such were the fufferings of the loyalifts ; and fo harafTed and opprefied were they, that about eight hundred of them, who had intended to wait the approach of the king's troops, at length loft all patience, and, aflembling under a colonel Bryan,, quitted their ha- bitations and marched towards South Carolina,, where they were fortunate enough to arrive unmolefted, and joined major M* Arthur's- detachment at Cheraw Hill. Never was a finer body of men col- lected ; ftrong,. healthy, and accuftomed to the feverity of the climate; had they been properly difciplined, they might have ren- dered the moft important fervices.- Upon their- marching into Cam- den they prefented to our view the horrors of a civil war. Many f them had not feen their families for months, having lived in the ill Ll' ' t H woods to avoid the perfecution of the Americans. Numbers of them were in rags, moft of them men of property. There were men in Bryan's corps who pofiefFed fome hundred acres of land, farms highly cultivated, and well flocked : Thefe, with families and friends, they abandoned, to manifeft their attachment to the Britifh government. In the mean time lord Cornwallis was bufily employed at Charleftown 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 eftablifhed for the adminiftration of juftiGe, until the fituationof the province fhould admit of the regular reftoration of its formers-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- affifting in the defence of the province. In moft cafes paroles- were exchanged for protections, accompanied with a renewal of alls- HISTORY OF THE CHAP, allegiance ; and for fome weeks an univerfal calm fucceeded the agi* u 9 tations with which the province was lately diftraded *. But it was not long before the feeds of difcontent appeared, which, when fully matured, produced a counter-i evolution in the minds whohadfub- anc [ inclinations of the people as complete and as univerfal as that mitted to the power of Bri- which fucceeded the fall of Charleflown. Of thofe originally at- >f Charlef- tached to the American caufe, who, fmce the capture of Charlef- town, had fubmitted to the Britifh government, either by taking the oath of allegiance, or obtaining a parole, fome were influenced by the ruinous appearance of American affairs, the defpair of ul- timate fuccefs, and a wifh to fave the remains of their property that had efcaped the ravages and devaftations of war ; others were influ- enced by the fear of punifhment, if they perfifted longer in main- taining an oppofition apparently fruitlefs ; and not a few by the hope of being fufFered to live quietly upon their eftates, as prifoners upon parole, and enjoying a kind of neutrality during the remainder of the war. The determination of congrefs to fend a part of general Wafhington's army to the affiftance 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 fame pur- pofe, quickly difpelled the apprehenfions of the two firfl of thefe clafles, and roufed afrefti their hopes : And the laft of thefe clafTes of men was very early difgufted by the proclamation of fir Henry Clinton, which, without their confent, abrogated the paroles that * From the time that the Britifh army entered Camden, until this period, it was wholly fupported by fupplies from the neighbouring diftricls. The militia were employed in colleft- ig Indian corn to be ground into meal, which, iflued when new, made a good fubllitute for wheat. They were alfo employed in collecting cattle and fiieep ; they were allowed four (hil- lings and eight-pence per head for cattle, and two {hillings and eleven-pence flerling per head for ftieep (for driving only). The owners had either a receipt, or a certificate, given then>X>| (ualefs avowedly hoftile) . . . 11 1(1 3T8XH AMERICAN WAR. i 99 - had been granted, and, in one inftant, converted them either into- CHAP. A.X.X 1 Ll. loyal fubjects or rebels. If it was proper policy at firft to hold u v ' a middle courfe between thefe oppofite extremes, the fame po- licy required that it fhould have been continued fome time longer j and that the condition of the inhabitants fhould 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 difcrimination might have been made between the in- habitants who were really loyal, and thofe who were nominally fo : But, by purfuing the oppofite courfe, they were all blended indif- criminately together. Even the violent revolutionift, unlefs he chofe to leave the country, was obliged to aflume the appearance of loyalty : And thus the foundation of mutual jealoufy and diftruft was laid amongft the inhabitants themfelves. The revokitionifls complained that their condition was altered without their concur- rence ; and the loyalifts murmured becaufe notorious rebels, by taking the oath of allegiance, and putting on a fhew of attachment, became entitled to the fame privileges with themfelves. Whilft thefe difcontents began to prevail, intelligence arrived Thedetach- that major-general baron de Kalbe, with a detachment confifting of nerai Wafh- two thoufand men, from Wamington's army, had advanced as far f"nto North as Hillfborough, in North Carolina, and was preparing to move Carohna * forward to Salifbury, where colonel Porterfield, with three hundred Virginians, and Rutherford, with fome North Carolina militia, had taken poft : That Cafwell, with one thoufand five hundred militia of the fame province, had marched from Crofs Creek to Deep River, in order to join the baron de Kalbe on the road to Salifbury ; that two thoufand five hundred Virginia militia were upon their march to the fouthward ; and that the aifembly of Virginia had voted five thoufand men to be immediately draughted from the militia,, who- were- 20O c H A -P. were to ferve as corps of obfervation. This intelligence increafecl the JfV-A.Alll. u -V .1 ill-humour of thofe inhabitants of South Carolina who were difaf- fected to the Britifh government, and cherifhed the fpirit of revolt, which began to difcover itfelf ; when not long afterwards informa- tion was received that congrefs had determined to make a bold effort for the recovery of South Carolina and Georgia, and that major-general Gates, whofe fame had been already eftablifhed at Saratoga, was appointed to the command of the fouthern army. Movements Befides thofe corps of the enemy already mentioned, a colonel of the Ame- r J J colonel Sumpter, who had fled out of the province after the conqueft of Charleftown, had influence enough to attach to himfelf a number of the people in that part of North Carolina where he had taken re- fuge, and with thefe, joined to fome refugees from his own pro- vince, fSrming a kind of flying camp, he had advanced as far as the Catawba fettlement. In confequence of fuch threatening move- ments on the part of the enemy, lord Rawdon found it neceflary to make an alteration in the difpofition of his pofts, with a view of making them more compact; and major M' Arthur, whofe poft at Cheraw Hill was moft expofed, received orders to fall back. About this time, that fpirit of revolt, which had been hitherto reftrained by the diftance of the continental force now advancing to the fouthward, burft forth into action ; And it made its ap- pearance in two different quarters of the province nearly about the fame inftant of time. Ever fmce the fall of Charleftown the com- mand of the militia, in the diftrict bordering on the rivers Tyger and Enoree, had been given to a colonel Floyd, their former commander, colonel Neale, a violent perfecutor of the loyalifts, having fled out of the province. 'One Lifle, who had belonged to this corps whilft it was under the command of Neale, and who bad been banifhed to the iflands upon the fea-coaft as a prifoner 4 upon AMERICAN WAR. 201 upon parole, availing himfelf of the commander in chief's procla- C x ^ X ni P4 mation of the third of June, took the oath of allegiance, and ex- v -y -f changed his parole for a certificate of his being a good fubjecl;. Returning to his former abode, he obtained a command under co- lonel Floyd, and as foon as the battalion of militia was fupplied with arms and ammunition, had the traiterous addrefs to cany it off to colonel Neale, his former commander, who had joined Sumpter in the Catawba fettlement. This inftance of treachery happened in the north-weft quarter of the province ; and nearly about the fame time a fimilar inftance occurred in the north-eaft part of it. When it became neceffary 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 Britifh poft at Georgetown, under an efcort of militia commanded by colonel Mills ; but as foon as the boats had proceeded fo far as to be out of the reach of afliftance from major M'Arthur, the militia rofe upon their commanding officer, and carried the fick into North Carolina as prifoners. Colonel Mills with fome difficulty made his efcape. Sumpter being joined by the battalion of militia under Lifle, His attempt i r si i i t <"f on t* 16 Britifh completely armed and lurmmed with ammunition, his active genius poftatRocky led him to undertake without delay fome enterprife againft the Britifh out-pofts. Towards the end of July he marched from the Catawba fettlement with nine hundred men ; and on the thirtieth of that month made an attack on the Britifli poft at Rocky Mount, where lieutenant-colonel Turnbull commanded, with one hundred and fifty of the corps of New York volunteers, and fome militia. Rocky Mount was ably defended by Turnbull, with his little gar- rifon ; and Sumpter, after being repulfed in three different attacks, with a confiderable lofs of men, was obliged to defift. He re- VOL. II. D d treated 20* HISTORY OF THE CHAP, treated again towards the Catawba fettlement, without being difcou- -A.-X.-A.ill . u -v- ' raged by the want of fuccefs ; and, as foon as he had recruited a fufficient number to make up for the lofs of men fuftained at Rocky Mount, he returned towards the Britifh cantonments, and made an attack upon the poft at Hanging Reck. This poft was occupied by the infantry of the legion, part of Brown's corps of provincials, and colonel Bryan's North Carolina refugees ; the \vhole being under the command of major Garden of the prince of Wales's American regiment. Sumpter directed his attack againft that quarter of the poft which was occupied by colonel Bryan and his refugees, and was fortunate enough to furprife them: This corps was but ill fup- plied with ammunition, and had no bayonets. It is difficult even for the beft difciplined men to withftand the effects of a furprife ; but, for undifciplined men it is impoflible. The refugees fled with the utmoft precipitation, and fpread confufion through every quar- ter of the poft. Sumpter, profiting by the confufion, advanced with rapidity, and for a time feemed to carry every thing before him. At length the legion infantry, and the detachment from Brown's corps, by making three defperate charges with the bayonet, checked his progrefs. Still, however, he perfevered, 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 confided only of forty mounted infantry of the legion 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 haftily retreated, leaving behind them about one hundred of their killed and wounded, 3 The AMERICAN WAR. 203 The lofs of the Britifh troops in repelling this attack, does not CHAP, appear to have been exactly afcertained, but it is admitted to have '_ w - it been confiderable ; and it fell principally upon the legion, and I78 f the detachment from Brown's regiment, the refugees having fled fo early that few of them were either killed or wounded. Major Garden expofed himfelf to cenfure and difgrace, by refigning the command to captain Roufslet of the legion in the heat of action. Dd 204 HISTORY OF THE > - . .. j Mh te- al , ^i^Kr CHAP. XXXIV. dr/ Cornwattis fefs out from Charlejlown to Camden Aftion be- tween the Americans under General Gates ^ and the Brifi/b under Earl CornwalliS) near Camden The American Force under Colonel Sumpter fnrprifed by Colonel Tarleton Perfidy of the Americans Retrained by Examples of Severity Lord Cornwallis marches into North Carolina Defeat and Fall of Major Fergufon. CHAP. TN the mean time the different corps of continental troops and XXXIV. i t - ^j " militia, commanded by the baron de Kalbe, Cafwell, Rutherford, I78 * and Porterfield, having formed a junction, entered the province of South Carolina. General Gates joined them on the twenty-feventh of July ; and the whole, under his command, advanced by the main road towards Camden. In order to flop their progrefs, lord Raw- don moved forward, with the force under his command at Camden^ and took a ftrong pofition about fourteen miles in front of it, upon the weft branch of Lynche's Creek. General Gates advanced on the oppofite fide ; and the two armies continued for feveral days oppofed to each other, with the creek only intervening between their advanced parties. Whilft the oppofite armies lay in this fitua- tion, orders were fent to lieutenant-colonel Cruger to forward with all hafte 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 fent to the Britifh officer commanding at Rugeley's Mills, to evacuate his AMERICAN WAR. 205 his poft, which was expofed on account of its advanced fituation, C H A P. and, after fending part of his detachment to 'join the army, to retire ^ v > with the reft to Camden. By the evacuation of the poft at Ruge- ley's Mills the road leading from Waxhaws to Camden was left un- guarded; and lord Rawdon, fearing that general Gates might at- tempt to pafs him by this road, and get into his rear, found it ne- ceflary to fall back from Lynche's Creek, nearer to Camden, and took a new pofition at Logtown. By this time almoft all the inha- bitants between Black River and Pedee had openly revolted and joined the Americans ; and, in other quarters, they feemed difpofed to follow the example, whenever it could be .done with fecurity. Sumpter, with his force increafed by a detachment of continental foldiers, was fent acrofs the Wateree to favour the revolt of the in- habitants on the fouth-weft fide of that river, and to intercept the fupplies and reinforcements on the road to Camden ; and general Gates, in order to preferve a communication with Sumpter, moved to his right up the north fide of Lynche's Creek, and took poft at Rugeley's Mills, intending to advance from thence, by the Waxhaw road, to Camden. Information of thefe movements on the part of the enemy being regularly tranfmitted by lord Rawdon to Charle- town, earl Cornwallis thought it necefTary to poftpone the comple- tion of the civil arrangements in which he had for fome time paft been engaged, and to proceed to Camden, where the threatening afpet of affairs required all his immediate attention. He fet out The earl from Charleftown in the evening of the tenth, and arrived at Cam- |j 8 ^fro m den in the evening of the thirteenth, of Auguft. The following Charfeaown day he fpent in examining the condition of his own force, and in Auguft. obtaining information of that of the enemy : Nearly eight hundred Britim troops were fick at Camden. The number of thofe who were really effe&ive, amounted to fomething more than two thou- fand, including officers, of whom about fifteen hundred were regu- lar?, 206 HISTORY OF THE C H A p. i ars> or belonged to eftablifhed provincial corps, and the reft, militia .A..X..A..I.V. u v . ) and refugees from North Carolina. The force under general Gates i ** 5? r\ r *" was reprefented to amount to fix thoufand men, exclufive of Sump- ter's corps, which was eftimated at one thoufand: The American accounts, fmce publifhed, fay that general Gates's army, even includ- ing Sumpter's corps, did not much exceed five thoufand men ; but we have ground for believing that general Gates's force was little lefs, than fix thoufand ftrong. But almoft the whole country feemed upon the eve of a revolt*. The communication between Camden and Charleftown appeared in danger of being cut off by the enter- prifmg movements of Sumpter, whofe numbers were daily in- creafmg by the junction of difaffeded inhabitants. The fafety of the army depended upon preferving a communication with the fea- coaft ; and fomething was necelTary to be done immediately for ex- tricating it from its perilous fituation. At this juncture a retreat to Charleftown might have been effected without much difficulty ; but the fick muft have been left behind, the magazines of ftores cither * The militia of South Carolina were in general faithlefs, and altogether difiatisfied in the Britifh fervice. One great caufe of complaint with them was, that their horfes were frequently prefied for the cavalry and quarter-mafter-general's department; and that thofe .who could ob- tain certificates for them at a fair price, were neverthclefs great lofers by difpofing of thofe certificates to men who purchafed them at an enormous difcount, a {peculation which very much injured the public credit in that colony. It is to be obferved that a diftinftion was made between a RECEIPT and a CERTIFICATE. Where the word Receipt was made ufe of, it was intended that the proprietor mould be paid upon his prefenting the receipt at Charleftown, and many of thofe receipts were afterwards actually paid by orders on the paymafter-general. Where the word Certificate was made ufe of, it was intended as an evidence in the hands of the holder, of fuch and fuch property being taken, its payment to depend on contingencies. This regulation governed the conducl of the commifiary until lord Cornwallis moved from Wynnefborough in January 1781; then, when receipts were given, they not only fpecified the property, but the value of that property, which gave them a negotiable authority. When certificates were given, the property was fpecified, 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 refufed ; but certificates never, unlefs the perfan whofe property had been taken was known to be a decided enemy, and his character marked by afts of inhumanity towards the loyalifts. aban- AMERICAN WAR. 207 1 t f- tj" -, . abandoned or deftroyed, and the lofs of the wHoie country would c *J ^ p - r-VN-r' .A-AAiV. have neceflarily followed, except- indeed Charleftowh, in which there <- / ' was already a fufficient garrifon for its defence. 'A defeat could not be much more injurious in its confequenees than fuch a retreat : And where the motives for action fo ftrongly preponderated, there was not much room for deliberation in the breaft of an officer of fo much enterprlfe as lord Cornwallis. Confiding in the valour and dilcipline of his troops, however inferior in riiimber, he refolved to move forward and attack the enemy, w'hofe prefent fituation at Rugeley's Mills inclined him to execute his intention without delay. Meaning to attack them early in the morning of the fixteenth of Auguft, and to point his attack principally againft the continental regiments, whofe pofition, 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 Auguft, committing the defence of Camden to major M'Arthur, with fome provincials, militia, convalefcents of the army, and a detachment of the fixty-third regiment, which was expected to arrive during the night. The army marched in the following order: The front divifion, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Webfter, confifted of four companies of light-infantry, and the twenty-third and thirty-tlii rd regiments, preceded by twenty cavalry, and as many mounted infantry of the legion, as an advanced guard. The centre divifion confifted 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 feventy-firft regiment followed as a referve ; the dragoons of the legion forming the rear-guard, It is not a little fingularthat the fame night, nearly about tiu r ame 'time, and with a fimilar intention, ge- neral Gates fhould have H left his encampment at Rugeley's Mills, and moved forward towards Camden, Boih armies marching on the fame: HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXXIV. 1780. Action be- tween the Americans, under general Gates, and the Britifli, under the earl Corn- wallis, near Camden. fame road, in oppofite directions, their advanced guards met and fired upon each other about two in the morning. Some prifoners were made on both fides ; and from thefe the refpective command- ers became acquainted with the movements of the other : Both armies halted and were formed ; and the firing foon afterwards ceafed as if by mutual confent. The ground on which the two armies had accidentally met was as favourable for lord Cornwallis as he could have wifhed : A fwamp on each fide fecured his flanks, and narrowed the ground in front, fo as to render the fuperiority of the enemy in numbers of lefs confequence : He therefore waited with impatience for the approach of day; and as foon as it appeared made his laft difpofition for the attack. The front line was made up of the two divifions of the army already mentioned under lord Rawdon and lieutenant-colonel Webfter, Webfter's divifion being to the right, and lord Rawdon's to the left. Thefe divifions were difpofed in fuch a manner, that the thirty-third regiment, on the left of Webfter'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 feventy-firft regiment, with two fix-pounders, formed a fecond line, or referve, one battalion being pofted behind each wing ; and in the rear of the whole, the cavalry were ready either to charge or purfue, as circumftances might require. The American army was alfo formed in two lines, general Gift's brigade of continental troops being on the right, the North Carolina militia in the centre, and the Virginia militia, which had joined the army only the day before, with the light-infantry, and Porterfield's corps, being on the left. The firft Maryland brigade formed a fe- cond line or corps de referve : And the artillery was divided between the two brigades. The AMERICAN WAR. 209 1 ^ A. H 3k The oppofite armies being thus ranged in order of battle, and c H A p - A..A..Aul\ fome movement being obferved on the left of the provincial line, as v -, .-/ if a change of difpofition had been intended, lord Cornwallis deemed O A ' this the critical moment for beginning the action, and gave orders to lieutenant-colonel Webfter to advance and charge the enemy. The order was immediately executed with fuch alacrity, and the charge made with fo much promptitude and fuccefs, that the Vir- ginia militia, quickly giving way, threw down their arms and fled, and were foon afterwards followed by the greateft part of the militia of North Carolina. The American referve was now brought into action ; and general Gates, in conjunction with general Cafwell, retiring with the militia, endeavoured to rally them at different ad- vantageous pafles in the rear of the field of action, but in vain ; They ran at firft like a torrent, and afterwards fpread through the woods in every direction. Lord Rawdon began the action on the left with no lefs vigour and fpirit than Webfter had done on the right ; but here, and in the centre, againft part of Webfter's divi- fion, the conteft was more obftinately maintained by the Americans, whofe artillery did confiderable execution. Their left flank was, however, expofed by the flight of the militia ; and the light-infantry and twenty-third regiment, who had been oppofed to the fugitives, inftead of purfuing them, wheeled to the left and came upon the flank of the continentals, who, after a brave refiftance for near three quarters of an hour, were thrown into total confufion, and forced to give way in all quarters. Their rout was completed by the ca- valry, who continued the purfuit to Hanging Rock, twenty-two miles from the field of action. Between eight and nine hundred of tfce enemy were killed in the action, and in the purfuit, and about one thoufand made prifoners, many of whom were wounded. Of this number, were major-general baron de Kalbe, and brigadier- general Rutherford. The former of thefe officers, at the head VOL. II. e of -TO HISTORY OF THE c M A P. O f a continental regiment of infantry, made a vigorous charge on .X. A..X.1 V . ^ v ' the left wing of the Britifh army, and when wounded and taken prifoner would fcarcely 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 confiderable quantity of military ftores, and all the baggage and camp equipage of the provincial army, a number of colours, and feven 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 firft to Charlotte, ninety miles from the place of action; and from thence to Hillfbo- rough, in North Carolina, one hundred and eighty miles from Cam- den. General Gift alone, of all the American commanders, was able to keep together about one hundred men, who flying acrofs a fwamp on their right, through which they could not be purfued by the Britifh dragoons, made good their retreat in a body. The lofs of the Britifh troops in this battle amounted to three hundred and twenty-five, of whom fixty-nine were killed, two hundred and forty- five wounded, and eleven miffing. The weight of the action fell upon the thirty-third regiment in the left of Webfter's divifion, and the volunteers of Ireland in the right of lord Rawdon's ; and of courfe, by them the greateft lofs was fuftained, which amounted to two thirds of the whole. The road for fome miles was ftrewed with the wounded and killed, who had been overtaken by the legion in their purfuit. The number of dead horfes, broken waggons, and baggage, fcattered on the road, formed a perfect fcene of horror and confufion : Arms, knapfacks, and accoutrements found were innume- rable ; fuch was the terror and difmay of the Americans. The num- ber of killed, wounded, and taken> exceeded the number of Britifh regular troops in the action by at lead three hundred. Lord Cornwal- lis's judgment in planning, bis promptitude in executing, and his forti- tude AMERICAN WAR. tlf and coolnefs during die time of action, juftly attracted tmiverfal CHAP. applaule and admiration. The lord Rawdon, who was only twenty- five years of age, bore a very confpicuous part in this day's action. Colonel Webfter's conduct was confident with his general character: Cool, determined, vigilant, and active in action, ha added to a re- putation eftablifhed by long fervice, the univerfal efteem and refpect of the whole army, as an officer of great experience and obfervation as well as bravery and rigid difcipline. In a word, every Britifh officer and foldier evinced in this day's action the moft perfect in- trepidity and valour. The American wounded were treated witk the utmoft humanity. General Gates's conduct has been much cenfured. We are told n place was appointed for rendezvous in cafe of a defeat : His baggage fhould have been much farther in the rear : By delay Gates muft have added to his ftrength every hour, but he was confident of fuccefs. General Gates's army being thus completely ruined and difperfed, the only provincial force in South Carolina which remained entire was that under Sumpter on the other fide of the Wateree. Had he been permitted to retire into North Carolina unmolefted, his force, fmall as it was, would have been fufficient to occupy a conve- nient ftation for collecting the fcattered remains of the American army : It was therefore of importance to ftrike at his corps, and en- deavour to cut it off. An object of fo much confequence did not efcape the attention of the commander in chief; and in the evening of the day of the engagement orders were fent to lieutenant-colonel Turn- bull, who, with the New York volunteers, upon evacuating the poft at Rocky Mount, had joined major Fergufon's corps on Little River, to endeavour to intercept Sumpter in his retreat. The light- infantry and the legion, who were deilined to proceed on the fame fervice, being exhaufled with the fatigues of the day, were fuf- fereid to repofe thenafelvcs during the night, but received orders to fie 2 1* HISTORY OF THE C H A P. b e i n readinefs to march early the next morning, under the com- .X.J'v.A.i \ . < -~>-j mand of lieutenant-colonel Tarleton. On the following morning- The Ameri- tn is adive and enterprifing officer, in purfuance of his orders, fet out w ^^ ^' 1S detachment, amounting to three hundred and fifty men, er fur- an j receiving intelligence, during his march, of the retreat of Sump- priicd by co- lonel Turk- ter along the weftern banks of the Wateree, purfued fo clofely,. tPA* that, after pafTmg the river at Rocky Mount Ford, he overtook him. at two in the afternoon of the eighteenth of Auguft, 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 fo. much difpatch, that, thinking himfelf already out of all danger, he had encamped at this early hour to give his men fome repofe during the heat of the day. The furprife was fo complete, that the Britifh. foldiers,. both cavalry and infantry, entered the American camp, and cut off the provincials from their arms and artillery before they had time to affemble. Some oppofition was however made from behind the waggons in front of the militia, but the univerfal confirmation which prevailed rendered it ineffectual. One hundred and fifty of the provincials were either killed or wounded, and upwards of three hundred made prifoners. Sumpter' s force confifled of one hundred; continental foldiers, feven hundred militia, and two pieces of cannon :; And he had in his train about two hundred and fifty prifoners, part, of them Britifh foldiers, and the reft loyal militia,, and a number o" waggons laden with rum and other ftores for the Britifh, which he. had taken, in the neighbourhood of Camden, on the oppofite fide of the river. The prifoners were all' releafed,. and the waggons re- taken : And the whole of the provincial ftores., ammunition, and' feaggage,. with their artillery, and one thoufand ftand of arms, fell into the hands of the conquerors. Sumpter, by riding off without; waiting to put. on his coat, which he had laid afide on account of the; die heat of the weather, made his efcapej but the reft of his de- c n A p - AMERICAN WAR. ther, made his efcapej but tachment were all either killed, taken, or difperfed. The rapidity of Tarleton's march had been fo great, that when he arrived at Fifhing Creek, more 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 purfuit j and with this fmall number the victory was atchieved. The lofs of the Britim detachment was inconfiderable : It amounted to only nine killed, and fix wounded ; but unfortunately, amongft the for- mer, was captain Charles Campbell, who commanded the light- infantry, a young officer of the moft promifing abilities, whofe death was greatly lamented. By the victory gained over general Gates at Camden, and the rout and total difperfion of his army, followed fo foon after by the defeat and ruin of the corps under Sumpter, the provincial force to the fouthward feemed for a time entirely annihilated ; and nothing- prevented carl Cornwall^ from proceeding immediately on his long- projected expedition into North Carolina,, but the want of fome fupplies for the army, which were on their way from Charleftown. In the mean time ernilTaries were again fent into North Carolina, with inftructions to the friends of government to take arms, and feize the moft violent of their perfecutors, with all the magazines and (lores for the ufe of the American government, under an aflur- ance that the Britim army would march without lofs of time to their fupporf. The delay occafioned by waiting for the ftores, gave time to the commander in chief again to employ his thoughts upon the internal affairs of the province, and to form fome new regulations which recent events and circumflances had rendered more immediately ne- eefiary. It was now apparent, by the revolts that had taken place Perfidy of th J J _ Americans the approach of general Gales, and by the number or militia i 4 HISTORY OF THE C II A l. m ilitia who had joined him after exchanging their paroles for .X.X../V.I. \ . v , - j protections, and fwearing allegiance to the Britifh government, 1 1 5?D that thofe perfons were not to be depended upon, that the lenity which had been {hewn to them had been abufed, and that it was become neceflary to reftrain their perfidy by examples of fe- reftrainedby verity, and the terrors of punifhment. With this view, the eftatet example* of . . ^verity. of all thofe who had left the province to join the enemies of Great Britain, or who were employed in the fervice, or held commiffiont under the authority of congrefs, and alfo of all thofe who continued to oppofe the re-eftablimment of his majefly's government within the province, were ordered to be fequeftered : A commiffioner was appointed to feize upon them ; and after a fufficient allowance wat made for the fupport of the wives and families of fuch delinquents, the refidue of the annual produce of their eflates was to be accounted for to the paymafter-general of the forces, and to be applied to ths public fervice. Inftant death was again denounced againft thofe who, having taken protections from the Britifh government, kould after- wards join the enemy; and, to impreis them with an idea that this punifhment would be hereafter rigoroufly inflicted, fome few of the moft hardened of the 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 feems, was not confined t the lower ranks of men : By letters found upon fome of the officers of general Gates's army, it was difcovered that even perfons of fuperior rank, prifoners upon parole in Charlcflown, had held an improper correfpondence with their friends in the country. Im confequence of this difcovery, thofe perfons, and fome others, againft whom there were ftrong circumftances of fufpicion, were at firft put on board the prifon-fhips, and afterwards fent to St. Auguftine, in Eaft Florida, where paroles were again allowed to them, but under fuch reftrictions as their recent conduct rendered neceflary. i At AMERICAN WAR. As foon as the necefTary fupplies arrived, lord Cornwallis on the c ** -J _ p * XXX.IV. eighth of September began his march from Camden, proeeeding < v ' through the hoftile fettle inent of Waxhaws to Charlotte-town, in Lord Com- the back parts of North Carolina. This march was no doubt pro- marches into jected with a view of bearing down all oppofition : His lordfhip |5 orth Caro " was to pafs through the moft hoftile parts of either province with the main army, whilft major Fergufon, with his corps of loyal militia, was to advance ftill nearer to the frontiers; and lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with the cavalry, and the light and legion infantry, to purfue an intermediate courfe, and move up the weftern hanks of the Wateree. On the right of his lordfhip's march, but at a confi- derable diftance, was the- friendly fettlement of highlanders, at Crofs Creek, and on his left another friendly fettlement in Try on 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 fettlements on the right and left, a powerful afliftance derived from their co-operation* and the fpeedy reduction of the whole province reafonably expected. The previous meafures 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 wifdom, and fet at nought the arrogance and prefumption of man, unex- pected incidents daily arife in the affairs of human life, which, con- ducted by an invifible hand, derange the beft-concerted fchemes, as will be exemplified in the event of the prefent expedition. The march of the main army was performed without any mate- rial occurrence, except that a number of the convalefcents relapfed into their former ftate of illnefs, and were left behind at Blair's Mills, under the care of major M'Arthur, who remained there, with the feventy-firft regiment, for their protection, for the fecurity of the mills, and for preferring the communication with Camden. Tarleton, 2i6 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. Tarleton, with the cavalry and light-infantry, received orders to JLJvA.1V. L, i pafs the Catawbi at Blair s Ford : And Charlotte was taken poflef- fion of after a flight refiftance 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, interfering the two principal ftreets, flood a large brick building, the upper part being the court-houfe, and the under part the market-houfe. Be- hind the fhambles a few Americans on horfeback had placed them- felves. The legion was ordered to drive them off; but, upon re- ceiving a fire from behind the flails, this corps fell back. Lord Cornwallis rode up in perfoa, and made ufe of thefe words : " Legion, remember you have every thing to lofe, but nothing to " gain;" alluding, as was fuppofed, to the former reputation of this corps. Webfter's brigade moved on and drove the Americans from behind the court-houfe; the legion then purfued them; but the whole of the Britim army was actually kept at bay, for fome mi- fcutes, by a few mounted Americans, not exceeding twenty in, number. The vicinity of Charlotte abounded with mills*; and the army, during its flay, was fufficiently fupplied with provifions, notwith- ftanding the hoftile difpofition of the inhabitants. So inveterate was their rancour, that the mefTengers, with expreffes for the commander in chief, were frequently murdered ; and the inha- bitants, inftead of remaining quietly at home to receive payment for the produce of their plantations, made it a practice to way-lay the Britim foraging parties, fire their rifles from concealed places, and then fly into the woods f, Neverthelefs Charlotte, from its inter- * In colonel Folk's mill was found twenty-eight thoufand weight of flour, and a quantity of wheat. f There were feveral large, well-cultivated farms in the neighbourhood of Charlotte: An abundance of cattle; few fheepj the cattle being moilly milch-cows, or cows 4 with AMERICAN WAR. Intermediate pofitlon between Camden and Salifbury, was ar con- venient fituation to be occupied whenever the army {hould advance <> v farther into North Carolina ; and here, accordingly, lord Corn- Defeat and Wallis intended to eftablifh a poft. But whilft he was taking meafures for this purpofe, the unwelcome news arrived of the defeat of major Fergufon ; the fall of that officer, and the deftruction, capti- vity, or difperfion of his whole corps. The total lofs of fo confider- \vith calf, which at that feafon of the year was the beft beef; for the cattle in North and South Carolina run wild in the woods, and at this feafon are in general very poor. As am inflance, when the army was at Charlotte, we killed upon an average loo head per day. The amount of rations iflued, including the army departments, militia, negroes, &c. wa* 4100 per day. The leannefs of the cattle will account for the number killed each day. This was not confined to Charlotte, for they were poor at this feafon throughout the Carolinas ; very few of the oxen were fit to kill. In one day no lefs than 37 cows in calf were flaughtered : Neceffity only juftified this meafure. At this period the royal army was fup- ported by lord Rawdon's moving with one half of the army one day, and colonel Webfter, with the other half, the next day, as a covering party, to protect the foraging parties and cattle-drivers. This meafure was rendered neceflary from the hciiile difpofition of the inha- bitants. Wheat and rye were collected in the ftraw, Indian corn in the hufk, and brought in waggons to Charlotte, where (in the court-houfe) it was threfhed out by the militia and negroes, and then fent to the mill. This was attended with much trouble and fatigue to the army ; neverthelefs 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 feven, years, without ever being brought out. Indi- vidual farmers have marked from twelve to fifteen hundred calves in one year. It would never anfwer to fodder fuch a number of cattle. The climate being very much to the fouthward, admits of their running in the woods all the winter, where a fpecies of coarfe wild grafs grows moft luxuriantly all the year. Penfylvania and Maryland do not raife black cattle fufficient for their own confumption. The drovers from Penfylvania go to the Caro- Knas, purchafe thefe lean cattle at a very low price, and bring them to Penfylvania, where they are fatted in the rich meadows on the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers for market. This will explain, in fome degree, why the Carolinas fuffered fo much during the war; for the planters property confifted chiefly in cattle and negroes, there not being white inhabitants fufficient to cultivate the land ; the planters aflerting, that, without negroes, indigo and rice could not be cultivated, the whites not being able to bear the heat of the limatc. The negroes in general followed the Britifli army. VOL. II. F f able HISTORY OF THE C H A . a ble a detachment, from the operations of which fo much wa u -v~^ expected, put a ftop, for the prefent, to the farther progrefs of the commander in chief, and obliged him to fall back into South Carolina, for the protection of its weftern borders againfl the incurfions of a horde of mountaineers, whofe appearance was as unexpected as their fuccefs was fatal to the profecution. of the in- tended expedition. A H lU'-i* 3;i , EMEU AMERICAN WAR. ,ft s&t I JflSibict jStt ; - :l#t*rf *faft A . Jl'f^ Ji^ij^rpttJ, i. SPM/M ^t:;pa||p|ppft !irma* .v/ tr ^'4a. i $a,.< oia:^ -jr^:: CHAP. XXXV. - * * i * ' " 1 f I Americans under Colonel Clarke make an Attack on Augufla Retreat of Clarke The Detachment under Major Fergnfon attacked and overpowered by American Mountaineers Lord Cornwallis **"* k ' ***'*/ * >* ^ * /**' " r i I * * > falls back to South Carolina Colonel Tarleton checks the Inroads of the American 'Partisan Marion Junction of the American Forces under Sumpter, Clarke^ and ,BrannenA,cliQn at Black" floctis Hill between Suwpter and Tarleton. -m? m*\ TN order to trace the caufes of an event fo important in its con- CHAP. XXXV fequences as the defeat of major Fergufon, it will be necefTary to \_ -, ,/ go a little farther back. A colonel Clarke, an inhabitant of Georgia, I?80 ' who had fled from that province after its reduction by colonel Campbell in 1 779, having attached to himfelf fome followers on the frontiers of North and South Carolina, made his way through thefc provinces, his numbers increafing as he advanced, until he reached the province of Georgia, where, during the march of lord Cornwalli$ from Camden to Charlotte, he made an attack upon the Britifh poft at Augufta. Here lieutenant-colonel Brown commanded, with a garrifon of one hundred and fifty provincials; and , as the town did TKe Ameri- cans under not afford an eligible pofition for defence, he marched from thence colonel (~i3t*kc nUrCff with his garrifon, and fome friendly Indians whom :he had called to an attack 09 his afliftance, towards Garden Hill, an eminence on the banks of ' the Savannah. This hill he found was already occupied by the enemy j but, bringing his cannon to bear upon them, , and at the F f 2 fame HISTORY OF THE C H A v ?. fame time making a charge with his whole force, the enemy were XXXV . ft* c i. - v ~ > ; diflodged, after a defperate conflict of twenty minutes, at the end of which, lieutenant-colonel Brown gained poffeffion of the hill, although with the lofs of his cannon, the troops which he had under him not being fufHcient in number to force the one and fecure the other. This poft, fo gallantly won, he bravely maintained, under many difadvantages, until lieutenant-colonel Cruger, who had intel- ligence of Clarke's motions, arrived from Ninety-fix, and brought a detachment to his afliftance. Clarke, receiving information of Cruger's march, endeavoured by menaces of cruelty to intimidate Brown into a furrender of the poft ; but finding his menaces inef- fectual, he haftily decamped, upon the nearer approach of the rein- forcement, and retreated with his followers. Thefe had originally amounted to about feven hundred men ; but in the different con- flicts with the garrifon, and in the blockade of Garden Hill, Clarke had loft about one fixth part of his number. On the part of the Britifh troops, captain Johnfoa was killed, and lieutenant-colonel Brown wounded : The lofs in other refpects was inconfiderale, and Retreat of f e ll principally upon the Indians. The retreat of Clarke and Clarke. his followers was fo precipitate, that, although a purfuit was ordered, very few prifoners were made, but the Britifh cannon were retaken. Still, however, it was hoped that Clarke's retreat might be cut off, as major Fergufon, with his corps, traverfed the country between him and North Carolina ; and intelligence was accordingly fent to that officer, acquainting him with the route which he had taken. Major Fergufon, whofe zeal in the fervice of his king and country * was equal to his other great qualities as an officer, did not fail to take immediate meafures for accomplifhing an object fo defirable, and advanced nearer to the mountains than the other purpofes of his expedition probably required : But, unfortunately for his fuc- efs, another ejaemy appeared at this juncture, whofe fuperiority in numbers AMERICAN WAR. numbers it was hazardous to encounter, and whofe rapidity of mov^- CHAP. ment rendered a retreat difficult in his prefent advanced fituation. i_j.-. _' This enemy was compofed of men who had afTembled from dif- ferent views and with different objects, and the union of their force againft Fergufon was in a great meafure accidental. The firft divifion of thefe men confifted of the wild and fierce inhabitants of Kentucky, and other fettlements weftward of the Alleganey Moun- tains, who, aflembiing under the colonels Campbell and Boone, patted the mountains, with an intention of feizing upon a quantity of prefents which they underftood were but flightly guarded at Au- gufta, and which were about that time to have been diftributed amongft the Creek and Cherokee Indians. After pafling the moun- tains they heard of Clarke's repulfe at Augufta, and from hi-s failure conceiving their own force to be infufficient for attempting the poft, they turned their thoughts towards Fergufon, whofe movements on the frontiers, indicating an approach to their country, gave them confiderable alarm. In this new defign they were joined by a colo- nel Williams, an American partizan of the diftrit of Ninety-ilx, with a confiderable number of followers. The other divifion of thefe men, confifting of the inhabitants about Holfton River, Powel's Valley, Berkeley, Botetourt, and Fincaftle, on the frontiers of Vir- ginia, had aflembled under the colonels Cleveland, Shelby, Sevier, Brandon, and Lacy, with a view of oppofmg the advance of the Britifh army towards their fettlements : But after they had proceeded fome diftance on their march, thinking themfelves unable to attempt any direct oppofition to the army under lord Cornwallis, they too bent their force againft the devoted Fergufon, who they under- ftood had taken poft with his corps at Gilbert-town, in the vi- cinity of the mountains : Thither^ therefore, they directed their march. Thefe men were all well mounted on horfeback and armed with rifles : Each carried his own provifions in a wallet, 6 that Ill HISTORY OF THE no incumbrance of waggons, nor delays of public departments, v . * ' impeded their movements. Fergufon's vigilance neverthelefs pre- vented a furprife : Whilft they were yet at fome diftance he received intelligence of their approach, by means of his emiffaries, and im- mediately began a retreat towards the Britifh army, fending forward meffengers to acquaint lord Cornwallis with his danger ; but thefe unfortunately were intercepted. When the different divifions of mountaineers reached Gilbert-town, which was nearly about the fame time, they amounted to upwards of three thouiand men. From thefe, fifteen hundred of the beft were feleded, who, mounted on fleet horfes, were fent in purfuit of Fergufen, and overtook him at King's Mountain on the ninth of Odober. At this place he had halted, upon the near approach of the enemy, and, after occupying the beft pofition he could find, determined to wait the attack. King's Mountain, from its height, was undoubtedly an eligible fituation for receiving an attack ; but in another refpect it was advantageous to the affailants : Being covered with wood, it afforded them an oppor- tunity of fighting in their own way, by placing themfelves behind The detach- trees. When they approached the mountain they divided into dif- maioVFergu- f erent bodies, and under their refpective leaders made the attack ion attacked f rom different quarters. Colonel Cleveland's detachment firft en- and over- * powered by gaged, but was quickly obliged to retire from the approaching bay- mountaineers- 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 fuccefsful, and obliged this detachment alfo to fall back. By this time the party under co- lonel Campbell had afcended the mountain, and renewed the attack from a different quarter. Major Fergufon, whofe conduct was equal to his courage, quickly prefcnted a new front, and was again fuc- cefsful. But as often as one of the American parties was driven back, anothef returned to its former ftation, and, flickered behind the AMERICAN WAR. the trees, poured in an irregular but deftructive fire. In this man- C ner the engagement was maintained for near an hour, the moun- t- taineers flying whenever they were in danger of being charged with the bayonet, and returning as foon as the Britifh detachment had faced about to repel another of their parties. Already an hundred and fifty of major Fergufon's corps were flain, and a greater num- ber wounded: Still, however, the unconquerable fpirit of that gal- lant officer refufed to furrender : He perfevered, and repulfed a fuc- ceffion of attacks from every quarter, until he received a mortal wound. By the fall of major Fergufon his men were undoubtedly disheartened : Animated by his brave example, they had hitherto perfevered under ail their difadvantages : In the refources of his fruitful genius they deiervedly placed the ut noft confidence ; and with him perifhed all their hopes of fuccefs. Under fuch circum- ilances, the fecond i T eovmiand, judging all farther refiftance to be vain, offered to furrender, and fued for quarter. The prifoners, including the wounded , amounted to eight hundred and ten : Of thefe, about one hundn y were Britifh regulars. The lofs of the Americans, in the m r>tr of killed, was trifling, but they had a confiderable number wcnnded: And brilliant as their fuccefs was, they lhamefully ftained the laurels they had won by cruelties ex- crcifed upon the prifoners, ten of whom were hanged immediately after the adion. Much had been expected from the exertions of major Fergufon in collecting a force upon the frontiers : And by his unfortunate fall, and the flaughter, captivity, or difperfion of his whole corps, the plan of the expedition into North Carolina was entirely de- ranged. At Folk's Mill, near Charlotte, a fmall detachment of the twenty-third regiment was poftecf, commanded by lieutenant Guy on, a very young man. The Americans made an attack upon the mill, with a very fuperior force, but Were repulfed. Lieutenant Guyon's 4. conduct HISTORY OF THE c 'Ji v A , **' conduct was highly applauded. The weftern frontiers of South Ca- .A..X..X. V. i. , --- ; rolina were now expofed to the incurfions of the mountaineers ; and it became neceffary for lord Gornwallis to fall back for their pro- tection, and to wait for a reinforcement before he could proceed farther upon his expedition. Fortunately the friends of govern- ment in North Carolina, rendered cautious by their misfortunes in former infurredions, had not been fo ready to take arms as was ex- pected : No general rifing had taken place ; fo that the retreat of the British army did not much increafe, although it prolonged their fufferings. Lord Com- On the fourteenth of Odober, which was as foon after lord feack toSouth Wiillis received certain intelligence of the lofs of Fergufon's detach- ment as the army 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 fome time ; the command devolved on lord Rawdon. In this retreat the king's troops fuffered much, encoun- tering the greater! difficulties ; the foldiers had no tents ; it rained for feveral days without intermhTion ; the roads were over their fhoes in water and mud. At night, when the army took up its ground, it encamped in the woods, in a mofl 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 fupported upon Indian corn, which was collected as it flood in the field, five ears of which were the allowance for two foldiers 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 difcovered them grating their corn, which was done by two men of a mefs breaking up their tin canteens, and with a bayonet punching holes through the tin ; this made a kind of rafp, on which they grated their corn : The idea was communicated to the adjutant-general, and it was afterward* 2 Adopted AMERICAN WAR. 225 adopted throughout the army. The water that the army drank was c I? p - A.-A..A. V . frequently ay thick as puddle. Few armies ever encountered greater '< / difficulties and hardfhips ; the foldiers bore them with great patience, and without a murmur : Their attachment to their commander fupported them in the day of adverfity ; 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 refolution and patience, they could not have proceeded but for the perfonal exertions of the militia, who, with a zeal that did them infinite honour, rendered the mofl important fervices* The continual rains had fwelled the rivers and creeks prodigioufly, and rendered the roads almoft impaiTable. The waggon and artillery horfes were quite exhaufted with fatigue by the time the army had reached Sugar Creek. This creek was very rapid, it banks nearly perpendicular, and the foil, being clay, as flippery as ice. The horfes were taken out of fomc of the wag- gons, and the militia, harneiTed in their ftead, drew the waggons through the creek. We are forry to fay, that, in return for thefe exertions, the militia were maltreated, by abufive language, and even beaten by fome officers in the quarter-mafter-general's depart- ment : In confequence of this ill ufage, feveral of them left the army next morning, for ever, chufing to run the rifque of meeting the refentment of their enemies rather than fubmit to the derifion and abufe of thofe to whom they looked up as friends *. At * The militia, mofl of them beirrg mounted on herfeback, wre not in fo weak a ftate as . t?ie regulars; but they were not without their (hare of toil and trouble, added to their exer- tions already mentioned : For as foon as the army had taken up its ground for the night, to endeavour to procure a limited and fcanty reft, the duty of the militia began. They were aiTem- bled by the author, who always attended them in perfon, and went in queil of provifions, which were colle&ed daily from the country through which the army marched : Nor were their diffi- culties on this fervice trifling ; they were obliged to ride through rivers, creeks, woods, and fwamps, to hunt out the cattle. This fervice was their conflant and daily duty ; they were frequently oppofed ; fometiraes worfted, and with no inconfiderable lofs. In fliort, fo efien- VOL. U. G g tially *26 HISTOPvY OF THE XXXV P ' ^ k n S tn tne army readied the Catawba, which was forded by the troops. This river is fix hundred yards wide, and three and a half feet deep. Two hundred rifle-men placed on the oppo- fite bank muft have deflroyed many of our men before we could have gained the fhore. On the twenty-ninth of October the .army arrived at Wynnefborough, an intermediate ftation between Cam- den and Ninety-fix: The army, thus encamped, was at hand either to fuccour Camden or Ninety-fix ; and covered from the enemy's incurfions all the country behind to the fea-coaft. Lord Cornwallis, however, did not expect to remain long without fuch a reinforcement as would enable him to profecute his further defigns ; as he had under his orders a detachment commanded by general Leflie, which had been fent to Virginia by fir Henry Clinton, as foon as he re- ceived information of the defeat of Gates at Camden. This detach- ment was fent to Virginia with a view of co-operating with lord Cornwallis, upon a fuppofition that he would proceed upon his ex- pedition into North Carolina immediately after the battle of Cam- den; and the detachment was of courfe put under his lordfhip's orders. But as that expedition was necefTarily poftponed, earl dornwallis fent orders to general Leflie to bring his detachment by water round to Charleftown, and join him at Wynnefborough. In the mean time the mountaineers, contented with their fuccefs againft Fergufon, had gone home and difperfed : But the north-earl parts of the province were infefted by the depredations of an enter- prifing partizan of the name of Marion. This man, previous to the defeat of general Gates, had been active in ftirring up the in- habitants upon Black River to revolt; but after that event had tiatty neceflary was this unfortunate description of people, that it was impoffible to have fup- ported his majefty's army in the field without them. Cattle-driving was of itfelf a perfeft bu- fmefs ; it required great art and experience to get the cattle out of the woods. The commif- fary was under the greateft obligations to thofe people, without whofe affiftance he could not poffibly have found provifions for the army. 3 thought AMERICAN WAR. 227 thought it prudent for fome time to retire out of the province. He CHAP. JS.JY.X.V. had now -again returned, and, traverfmg the country between the v. ^- / rivers Pedee and Santee, without oppofition, was fo fuccefsful in flirring up rebellion, that the whole of that diftrict was upon the eve of a revolt. The number of his followers too had fo increafed that he was enabled to fend parties acrofs the Santee, and threatened to interrupt the communication between Camden and Charleftown. To reprefs his incurfions, lieutenant-colonel Tarleton was fent ol< ? nel Tarleton againft him with the light-Infantry and legion. That officer, after checks them- obtaining information of Marion's ftrength, which he found to be American not fo great as it had been reprefented, endeavoured, by concealing iz his own, to invite an attack, and had nearly fucceeded. Marion ad- vanced within two miles of the Britifh encampment ; but being then informed of his danger, immediately retreated amongft the fwamps and marfhes, through which it was impoffible to follow him. This expedition was however ferviceable in another refpect, by convincing the inhabitants, that if they fwerved from their alle- giance, there was ftill a power in the province capable of punifhing them. Nearly about the fame time, and whilft the light-infantry and November-. cavalry were abfent upon this expedition, Sumpter again made his appearance in the north-weft part of the province. After his defeat on the eighteenth of Auguft he had retired into a remote part of the province called the New Acquifition, the inhabitants of which had not yet fubmitted to the Britim arms. Here he was in- defatigable in ftirring them up to take arms ; and the reputation he had already acquired, with his peculiar talent for enterprife, in a. fhort time procured him a number of followers. With thefe he now advanced towards the Britifh quarters, intending to form a jundion with colonels Clarke and Brannen, and with their united force to attack the Britifh poft at Ninety-fix. Eari Cornwallis re* G g 2 ceiving 228 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, ceiving intelligence of his approach, laid a plan for furprifing him, v. y / in his camp at Filh Dam, upon Broad River, the execution of which was committed to major Wemyfs, of the fixty-third regiment. That officer accordingly marched from Wynnefborough in the even- ing, with the fixty-third regiment mounted, and about forty of the legion cavalry that had been left behind when Tarleton marched into the eaftern parts of the province, intending to make his attack at day-break in the morning ; but reaching the place of his deftina- tion fooner than he expected, and fearful left the enemy mould dif- cover him before it was light, and have time to efcape, 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 mot only, that were fired before the piquet retired, he received two dan- gerous wounds ; and to this accident Sumpter probably owed his fafety. The command now devolved upon a young lieutenant, un- acquainted with the plan, the ground, or the ftrength of the enemy, and all was confufion. Sumpter had time to draw out his. troops ; and the Britifh detachment was repulfed, and obliged to re- tire, leaving behind their commander, and about twenty of their Junaion of number killed or wounded. Sumpter now crofied the Broad River, forces under and formed the intended junction with Clarke and Brannen; and oSeTand * ord Cornwallis, alarmed for the fafety of Ninety-fix, fent an ex- Brannen. prefs to recall Tarleton with the light troops from the eaftern parts of the province. He had orders to proceed by the neareft route againft Sumpter : The fixty-third regiment was fent forward to join him upon his march ; and the feventy-firft advanced to take poft at Brierley's -Ferry for fupporting him. Sumpter moved for- ward with great confidence, becaufe he knew of the abfence of the Britifh light troops in the eaftern parts of the province ; and Tarle- ton, after receiving lord Cornwallis's exprefs, came back with fo much expedition, that he had nearly got behind Sumpter's corps before AMERICAN WAR. 229 H A 1 XXXV. before the latter was aware of his return. In the night preceding ( the day on which Tarleton expeded to efFecT: his purpoie, by march- < v ' ing up the banks of the Enoree, Sumpter was apprifed of his dan- ger by a deferter 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 purfuit with his ufual 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 parled the river feme hours before. The rapid river Tyger croffed the line of march which Sumpter was purfuing at fome diftance in his front, and if he was fuffered to pafs it un- molefted, it was feared that all farther purfuit would be fruitlefs. Tarleton, ioiprefled with thij> idea, moved on with as much expedi- tion as he could, confiftently with another object, which a know- ledge of Sumpter' s force rendered it neceflary for him to have fteadily in view. This was to keep his detachment compact, that the infantry and cavalry might be at hand to fupport each other. But, at the hour of four in the afternoon of the twentieth of No- vember, finding that, unlefs he altered his difpofition, Sumpter would have time to pafs the Tyger before he could come up with him, he took the refolution of preffing forward with the cavalry, and eighty mounted men of the fixty-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-* . taeeoufly pofted on an eminence called Blackftock's Hill, near the Blackftock's . . Hill between 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, ^hich were more than double the Britim 230 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. Britifli force at this moment oppofed to him, perhaps would not u v - - ' have availed on equal ground ; but the advantages of a ftrong fitu- ation gave him a moft decided fuperiority, efpecially over cavalry. " That part of the hill to which the attack was directed was " nearly perpendicular, with a fmall rivulet, brumwood, and a railed " fence in front. The rear of the Americans, and part of their " right flank, were fecured by the river Tyger, and their left was " covered by a large log barn, into which a confiderable divifion of " their force had been thrown, and from which, as the apertures *' between the logs.ferved them for loop-holes, they fired with fe- " curity. Britilh valour was confpicuous in this action ; but no " valour could furmount the obftacles and difadvantages that here " flood in its way. The'fixty-third regiment was roughly handled : " The commanding officer j~, two others J, with one third of their " privates, fell. Lieutenant-colonel Tarlcton, obferving their fitua- " tion, charged with his cavalry ; but unable to diflodge the enemy, " either from the log barn on his right, or the height on his lefr, " he was obliged to fall back. Lieutenant Skinner, attached to the " cavalry, with a prefence of mind ever ufeful in fuch emergencies, " covered the retreat of the fixty-third ; and in this manner did the " whole party continue to retire, till they formed a junction with " their infantry, who were advancing to fupport them, leaving " Sumpter in quiet pofleffion of the field. This officer occupied the " hill for feveral hours, but having received a bad wound, and " knowing that the Britifh would be reinforced before next morn- " ing, he thought it hazardous to wait. He accordingly retired, " and taking his wounded men with him, crofled the rapid river " Tyger. The wounded of the Britifli detachment were left to the " mercy of the enemy ; and it is but doing bare juftice to ge- t Major Money. J Lieutenants Gibfon and Cope. " neral AMERICAN WAR. 231 ** neral Sumpter to declare that the ftri&eft humanity took place c ** ,A P * A. .A. A. V " upon the prefent occafion ; they were fupplied with every comfort *~ ^ ' ..... ^ 1780. '. in his power . Although Tarleton was repulfed at Blackftock's Hill, the immedi- ate effects of the action were nearly the fame as thofe of a victory. Sumpter being difabled by his wound from keeping the field, his followers difperfed, after conveying him to a place of fafety. * The whole of this account of the a&ion at Blackftock's is taken from Mackenzie's Stric- tures on Tarleton's Campaigns. The account is there faid to have been compiled from the concurrent teftimony of feveral officers prefent in the adtion ; and it has been preferred to Tarleton's own account, becaufe his claim of victory is evidently inconfiftent with fome other circumflances which he admits, particularly this, that he did not gain pofleffion of the field of adion until the next morning, after it had been quittedby the Americans in the night. HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XXXVI. r. EffecJs of the Defeat and Fall of Major Fergufon General Gates refigns the Command of the Southern American Army to General Green Danger arifing to the Britl/h Gar? ; /bn in New York from the extreme Rigour of the Winter Mea/ures taken for the Defence of New York Unfuccefsful Attempt to ibli/Jj the royal Standard in ibe Jerfeys. CHAP. T^HE poftponine; the expedition into North Carolina was not the XXXVI. t_ _ '_ only injurious confequence that followed from the defeat and Effea^of the ^ ^ ma j or Fergufon. By that unfortunate event the loyal inha- defeat and bitants in both the Carolinas were difcouraged from joinine; the fall of major Fergufon. king's ftandard j and the expiring embers of the war were lighted up afrefh. The difafter 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 ftate of defpondence which followed the fucceflive defeats, of Gates at Camben, and Sumpter near the ford of Catawba. The governments of Virginia and North Carolina continued to raife men and make draughts from their militia : And the officers who efcaped from Camden were indefatigably active in collecting the difperfed remains of their broken army. By thofe means fome- thing like a force was after a time aflembled at Hillfborough, where general Gates eftablifhed his head-quarters. As this force increafed, head-quarters were advanced, firfl to Salifbury, and afterwards to AMERICAN WAR. 233 to Charlotte ; and ftill more to encourage the reviving fpirits of the c fouthern troops, general Green, who was fuppofed to enjoy the v ^fteem and confidence of Wafhington more than any other officer of the army, was fent to command them. He arrived at Charlotte on General J Gates refign* the fecond of December, and on the following day general Gates the command refigned the command of the army. With thefe tranfactions clofed em America* the campaign of the year 1780 in the fouthern colonies, the events of which, for the fake of perfpicuity, have been given in a connected feries. We muft 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 prefent year, and frm thence pafs to thofe that occurred in other quarters of the world, to which the war in its progrefs extended itfelf. The winter that preceded this campaign was the fevereft ever re- Dangers membered in North America. The rivers from Virginia northwards rt gam- were frozen up for the greateft part of three months : And even the y" r from arms of the fea were in many parts paiTable upon the ice. When the extre me . . . rigour of the fir Henry Clinton departed upon his expedition againft Charleftown, winter. he left a garrifon fully adequate to the fecurity of New York in ordinary feafons : But by the unexpected rigour of the winter it was deprived of thofe defenfive advantages which its infular fitua- tion at other times afforded, and became expofed to an attack from general Wafhington. By the middle of January the North River, which conftituted its greateft natural defence, was fo completely covered with thick ice, that the largefr, army, with the heavieft ar- tillery and baggage, might have pafled it on the ice with eafe. In other quarters, towards the country, New York was not lefs accef- fible ; whilft its communication with the fea was entirely cut off, the VOL, II. H h 234 HISTORY OF THE c *J A P. fhips of war that remained for its defence, and all the other veflels JxJvJi. V 1. in the harbour, being frozen up in the ice. _ ^ o Meafures In this perilous fituation, the veteran lieutenant-general Knyphau- defenceof '" ^" en ? who commanded, took fuch precautionary meafures as prudence New York. dictated. The feamen were landed from the fhips and tranfports, and formed into companies : The inhabitants were embodied and officered, and took their routine of duty with the regular garrifon. In the mean time the danger to be apprehended from an attack was not the only evil to which the garrifon and inhabitants were fubjecled : They were deprived of thofe fupplies which a communication by water would have afforded, and in particular fuffered feverely for want of fuel. Such was their diftrefs for want of this article, that it became neceffary to break up fome old tranfports, and to pull down fome uninhabited wooden houfes, to fupply their moft prefling neceffities. But the fame zeal animated them, and the fame ardour ran through the whole fervice, as when, in a former year, the count d'Eflaing 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 confequence : It was however fufficiently apparent, that he would have met with the moft determined refiftance. But ge- neral Wafhington was ia no condition to .make the attempt : His army had been weakened by the large detachments drawn from it for the relief of Charleftown; and amongft the troops that re- mained with him a mutinous fpirit began to appear, in confequence of their fufferings from the fcarcity of provifions and the want of all other neceffaries. The definition of the continental magazines v by the defultory expeditions of the preceding year, againft dif- ferent parts of the fea-coaft, probably laid the foundation of this fcarcity : An,d the evil was increafed by the rapid depredation of AMERICAN WAR. 235 the paper money iffued by congrefs, which rendered it difficult for c H A p * J^.J\.2\. V 1 their contractors to procure fupplies. Thus, in confequence of the reciprocal weaknefs of the two armies, the winter pafled 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 Ifland. He marched over the ice v. from the Jerfey fhore in the night, furprifed a fmall poft, and made a few prifoners ; but was foon obliged to retreat, and in his retreat loft fome of his own men, who ferved to exchange for the prifoners that he had taken. The enemy having eftablifhed a poft at Young's Houfe, in the neighbourhood of the White Plains, which greatly annoyed the provincial loyalifts, as well as the Britifh army, by the interception of cattle and provifions intended to be brought to New York, it became an object of importance with the governor and commander of his majefty's troops, if poffible, to diflodge that party, confuting of about three hundred men. Much as it had been the wifh of both to drive the enemy from this poft, no means had been ufed for that end, on account of their diftance, twenty miles from the out-pofts of our army, till the month of February 1780, when, after a great fall of fnow, it was fuggefted that a detachment of foldiers might be conveyed in fleighs in one night, and furprife the enemy by break of day. Major-general Mathew, who commanded at King's Bridge, on the fecond of February communicated to lieutenant-colonel Nor- ton of the guards the intention of general Tryon and lieutenant- general Knyphaufen, to fend a detachment of troops to Young's Houfe in fleighs, 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 fay any thing that might feem to retard the fer- vice, or throw difficulties in the way of the intended expedition, Hh .2 yet 236 HISTORY OF THE C P ' his duty to point out the improbability of the fleighs XXVT % -f anfwering the purpofe : And fo convinced was general Mathew, from the rcafons which lieutenant-colonel Norton adduced, of the very little chance of fucceeding by means of the fleighs, that ge- neral Mathew, in the handfomeft manner, in the event of the fleighs upon trial not being found to anfwer, left lieutenant-colonel Norton at liberty to aft with the detachment as he pleafed ; either to convert it to a foraging party, to proceed, or to return, as he fhould think moft advifable. Under thefe circumftances, lieutenant- colonel Norton, on the evening of the fecond of February 1780, fet out with the four flank companies of the guards, two companies of Heflians, and a party of yagers, in the fleighs ; two three-pounders, a detachment of yager cavalry, and the mounted Weft Chefter re- fugees. The fleighs, being foon found, inftead of accelerating, to retard the progrefs of the troops, were ordered back, and the de- tachment moved on. Not long after the men had quitted the fleighs, and were marching forward, word was brought to lieutenant-colonel Norton, that the horfes were not able to draw the guns through the fnow ; he was therefore obliged to leave the guns, and with them a guard fufficient to enfure their return. The detachment continued its march through bye-ways, and acrofs the country, in order to avoid falling in with the enemy's patroles, ftill in hopes, by perfe- verance and exertion, to reach Young^s Houfe by break of day* At fun-rife, they learned from the guides that they were yet feven miles fliort of the enemy's poft : A long way for men wearied with marching all night in bad roads, and with the fnow in many places above two feet deep. Their fituation was, now, not a little embarrafling. As the guns, intended to open the doors of the ftone houfe, were left behind, to furprife the enemy was impoflible. To proceed, and not to carry the point, would be to expofe the detach- ment, in their return, already fatigued with a long and toilfome 2 march, AMERICAN WAR. 237 march, to be harafled for the fpace of twenty miles, by an enemy C Y H Y A p< in force, frefh, and with a perfect knowledge of the country. In < v - / thefe circumftances, the colonel, unwilling to return without ac- compliming fome object that might anfwer the expectation of thofe who had placed their confidence in him, determined, at all events, to march to the enemy's poft, and then act according to circumftances; availing himfelf of fome 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 houfe. When the detachment arrived within two miles of the enemy, the cavalry were ordered to advance, and in- veft the houfe in fuch a manner as to prevent either a retreat or reinforcement. This order, from the depth of the fnow, could not be carried into execution, and the cavalry drew up on an eminence at fome little diftance from the houfe. As the flank companies of the firft battalion of guards approached, parties of the enemy were obferved marching very" deliberately to reinforce lieutenant-colonel Thomfon, in Young's Houfe. The difpofition for attack was then foon made, by defiring lieutenant-colonel Hall, with his company of light-infantry of the guards, to afcend the hill on his right, be- low which flood the houfe, whilft the firft 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 houfe at a fmall diftance from Young's. Very fhortly after the feparation of the two leading companies, the fire- ing began between the party in the houfe and lieutenant-colonel Hall's men : Nor was it long before the grenadiers came up with the party of the enemy juft mentioned, who were in readinefs waiting for them in the orchard adjoining to Hammond's houfe, and received them with a degree of coolnefs and courage that did the Americans honour. To fuperior force they were obliged to give way j and by the timely arrival of lieutenant-colonel Pennington, with a part of the fecond company of grenadier guards, who had advanced in a ftraight line, the HISTORY OF THE P ' tne h ou f e was carried, and the enemy defeated. So fharp was the . * conflict, and fo fpeedily terminated, that the whole of lieutenant- colonel Pennington's company had not time to come up, which made it impoffible for the fecond company of light-infantry, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Guydickens, or the other troops, which were in the rear of the line of march, to (hare in the action *r The prifoners, being put under a proper efcort, 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 fame evening f . For * No accurate account was taken of the killed of die enemy, but from the numbers that lay dead around the houfe, there was reafon to believe not lefs than forty. Ninety were made prifoners, among which were the lieutenant-colonel commandant of the diftricl, I captain, i captain-lieutenant, 2 lieutenants, and z enfigns. j- Twelve of the prifoners were fo feverely wounded, that they were obliged to be left at dif- ferent houfes on the road. Eighty-feven were conducted to New York. The lofs fuftained by the detachment under colonel Norton : Yagers, 3 men wounded. Refugees, I captain wounded. Firft light-infantry company of the guards, I rank and file wounded. Firft grenadier company ditto, 2 rank and file killed. Wounded, i lieutenant, i ferjeant, 1 2 rank and file. Second grenadier company of the guards, i ferjeant, 3 rank and file wounded. Tojal; 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 prifoners * taken. In the afternoon of the 4th, the major of the brigade, in a polite letter to lieutenant- colonel Norton, inclofed him a copy of the after-orders of the 4th inftant, viz. Public Orders^ King's Bridge, /(th 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 conducl and fpirited behaviour on the morning of the 3d inftant, and for their intrepidity and perfeverauce in that duty: The fuccefs of which claims the general's higheft approbation/' On the 5th of February 1780, the following Order was given out from Head Quarters at New York. " His excellency lieutenant-general Knyphaufen defires his thanks may be given in public orders to iieutenant-cdlonel Norton of tlie guards, for hts good conduct and gallant behaviour in AMERICAN WAR, 239 HAP XXXVI. For fome days in the winter, general Wafhington's army was ' f A P. entirely without bread. Occafional fupplies were afterwards re- ceived, in attacking and forcing a confiderable body of the rebels, advantageoufly pofted at Young's Houfe, in the neighbourhood of White Plains, on the morning of the 3d inftant. Hrs excellency returns his thanks to the officers and private foldiers of the different detachments employed on this fervice ; and the general is particularly obliged to the officers and men of the Weft Chefter refugees for their very determined behaviour upon this as Avell as former occafions." Subfequent 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 excurfion to Young's Houfe, and to mention as many circumftances as he mould deem worthy of notice, giving him to underftand the report would be tranfmitted to England. Lieutenant-colonel Norton accordingly made his report to major-general Mathew, which was fent to fir Henry Clinton, the commander in chief, then at Charleftown ; 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 tohe fecretary of ftate's office. The only account given to the public of this expedition in the Gazette, was dn 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 horfe, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Norton, to attack a poft at John's Houfe, upon the White Plains. This did not fucceed entirely to his wifhes ; but the rebels, who were pofted in a houfe, were however attacked and diflodged, with the lofs of 40 men killed and 97 made prifoners." An al of generofity was upon this occafion difplayed, which ought not to be paffed over in filence : The wounded Americans were placed in houfes, and a fum of money given by the Britifh officers to the occupiers or inhabitants of thofe houfes, as an encouragement or reward for the trouble they might 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 Knyphaufen, and mewed it him. General Knyphau- fen exclaimed, * * This is not my account ! for my account of this expedition was perfectly agreeable to the order of thanks I gave, and my letter to the minifter fpoke in the hand- fomeffc manner of colonel "Norton's conduct, and the officers and men under his command." But this mutilated, mod untrue, and unjuft account, was not without its object, it being in- tended to wound the feelings of the father through the fon, 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 fpfakc r of the houfe of commons, he iddrefled his majefty upon preferring a bill, rpraniitig fupplks to his majefty, oathe-y&cf May * 4 o HISTORY OF THE C H A P. celvecl, but fo fcanty, that the fufferings of the troops neceffarily A..X..A. V 1. ^. -^ * produced difcontent ; and towards the end of May two regiments actually mutinied. Means however were found to pacify them ; and after fome time they returned to their duty. By the thawing of the ice upon the approach of fpring, New York was reftored to its infular fituation ; and all further apprehen- fions for its fafety being at an end, the Britifh commanders there were at liberty to employ their force ofFenfively againft the enemy, and to take advantage of any favourable circumftances that might occur for annoying them. Intelligence of the mutinous difpofition of the American army being carried to New York, and information being alfo received that the inhabitants of the Jerfeys were difcontented with the new ftate of things, and wifhed to re-eflablifh their old form of government, general Knyphaufen was induced to detach a confiderable force under brigadiers-general Mathew and Sterling, which landed at Elizabeth-town, in the Jerfeys, on the feventh of June. If the inhabitants were difpofed to throw off the yoke of congrefs, the force fent to their affiftance would enable them to do May 1777 (vide voL I. page 273 275), fir Fletcher Norton's fpeech gave great offence to the mimilers; and although generalsKnyphaufen's and Mathew's moft favourable account of the ex- pedition to Young's Houfe, together with the very handfome and well-deferved 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 aiddu-camp to fir Henry- Clinton) to lord George Germaine in perfon, as the minifter for American affairs; yet we fee, 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 blafted for either private or party purpofes, all emula- tion, the great incentive to glorious actions, would be fupprefled and deftroyed. It is well obferved by the great Roman hiftorian TACITUS (of whofe admirable writing* Mr. Murphy has, at a very feafonable time, prefented to the Englifh reader an excellent tranf- lation), " That it is incumbent on the writer of hiftory to rejudge the actions of men, to the 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 deed* at the tri- bunal of pofterity. In this confts the chief part of the hiftgria' duty.'* AMERICAN WAR. 241 it : And if a mutinous difpofition (till prevailed amongfl the foldiers c H Y A T P * A.A.A VI. of the American army, fome advantage might probably be gained v ,- / over general Wafhmgton. It foon however appeared that part of this intelligence was falfe, and the reft greatly magnified. Although the inhabitants of the Jerfeys had murmured in confequence of the depredations committed upon them by the American foldiers in the time of their diftrefs for want of provifions, they had never thought of deferting the American caufe : On the contrary, they made the greateft exertions to relieve the neceffities of thofe very men to whofe depredations they were expofed ; and it was principally owing to thefe exertions that the American army had not been ac- tually difbanded. A mutinous difpofition had alfo certainly difco- vered itfelf amongft the foldiers of the American army : But it arofe from diftrefs, and not difaffeclion ; and the two regiments which had already mutinied, were foon pacified. Under fuch circumftances the Britifh commanders experienced a grievous difappointment : Inftead of being received in the Jerfeys as friends, the militia very generally turned out to oppofe them. During their march from Unfuccefsful Elizabeth-town to Connecticut Farms, a diftance of only feven miles, eftSh the they were annoyed by parties of militia the whole way ; who, if [ they were unable to make any imprerfion, or do any confiderable injury, fhewed at leaft that it was not from want of inclination : And when the Britifh troops approached Springfield, a detachment from that army, which was reprefented to be mutinous, was feen drawn up in force on the other fide of the river ready to difpute their paffage. It being now apparent that the information, upon which this expedition had been undertaken, was not to be depended upon, the Britim troops in the evening returned to Elizabeth-town, and would have crofied the fame night to Staten Ifland, had not the ebbing of the tide, -which on that fhore leaves a large fpace covered with deep mud between the high land and the water, rendered it VOL. IL I i impof- HISTORY OF THE CHAP, impoflibe to embark the cavalry till the next morning ;' and to cover XXXV 1. v. -v ' their embarkation it was neceffary that the infantry fhould remain with them. In the mean time, the Britifh commanders had leifure to reflect upon their difappointment, and the confequences of their fruitlefs expedition ; and it was determined, for the credit of the Britifli arms, to remain fome days longer in New Jerfey, left their precipitate retreat ihould be reprefented as a flight. .i.v\v*M *;;<~.iott? -;r?f ItO : -,.. . ' AMERICAN WAR), 243 - ; CHAP. XXXVII. IbW 1 The Americans dijlodged from Springfield^ and that Town dejlroyed A French Armament arrives at Rhode I/land A Scheme formed by one of General Wajhingtons Officers , Arnold^ for delivering an important Pojl into the Hanfis of the Britifh Army Adventure and Fate of the Britijh Adjutant-General Major Andre A. gene- ral Exchange of Prifoners The Troops on both Sides retire into Winter Quarters. 'HILST, in confequence of this determination, the Britifh army lay at Elizabeth-town, fir Henry Clinton arrived from South Carolina ; and the poft at Springfield having been reinforced and .put under the command of general Green, a refolution was taken to attack and diflodge him before the army returned to New York. In purfuance of this refolution 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 difpute the further progrefs of the Britifh troops at two different pafles upon the river, but were diflodged from both after a confider- The Amen, able refiftance, nearly about the fame time, and forced to flee to the fodged'fi-om heights in their rear, where they again took poft. The town of S r fl i ? gfield ' Springfield was burnt : And the Britifh army, .having refted a few deftroyed. hours after the action, returned the fame 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 Britifh, pafled over to Staten Ifland without moleftation, by means of a bridge of boats. I i 2 Before HISTORY OF THE Before the Britifh troops marched out from Elizabeth-town, fome pains had been taken to miflead general Washington, as to the real defign of the Britifh commander. The tranfports were aflembled, and troops embarked, as if an expedition had been intended up the North River againft Weft Point ; and by fuch indications general Wafhington was fo far alarmed, that he actually marched from his camp in the Jerfeys towards the North River. But he marched with great deliberation, cautioufly intending not to remove too far from Morris-town, until the future movements of fir Henry Clinton, fhould enable him to difcover his real intention ; and he had pro- ceeded only fifteen miles, when information was brought to him, that the Britifh troops, inftead of going up the North River, were inarching out in force towards Springfield. General Wafhington, immediately halted, and fent back a detachment to reinforce general Green ; but before it arrived the action at Springfield was over, and the Britifh troops had retreated to Elizabeth-town. The real object of the expedition was probably againft the American magazines at Morris-town : But the oppofition made at Springfield was an indi- cation to the commander in chief, that every mile of his future inarch through a country naturally difficult, and abounding with ilrong pafTes, would be not lefs obftinately difputed, and determined him to abandon an enterprife, which, even if it fhouM be fuccefsful, might coft him too much ; more efpecially as the expected arrival of a powerful French armament on the coaft of America, obliged him not to engage In any expedition that would either require much time, or carry him a confiderable diftance from New York. The Britifh army having quitted New Jerfey, general Wafhingtoa on his part planned an enterprife againft a Britifh poft at Bergeu Point, on the North River, oppofite to New York, which was gar- rifoned by feventy loyalifts. This enterprife had for its object not only the redu&ion of that poft, but the carrying away of the cattle AMERICAN WAR. 245 upon Bergen Neck, from which the garrifon of New York was oc- c !** ^ p - JS.-X..A. V IJ. cafionally fupplied with frefh provifions, through the poft occupied v, by the loyalifts : And the force appointed for carrying it into execu- tion, amounted to about two thoufand men, under the command of general Wayne, who had rendered himfelf famous by the furprife of Stoney Point. At Bergen Point, the defences of which confided of a block-houfe furrounded by an abbatis, this brave little band of loyal refugees defended themfelves againft a cannonade of three hours, and repulfed an attempt to take the place by aflault : In the aflfault the Americans loft a number equal to the whole amount of the garrifon, and in their retreat fome ftragglers were made prifoners, 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 from France arrived at Rhode Ifland. It confifted of feven fliips of rives at the line, fome frigates, and a number of tranfports, having on board fix thoufand troops ; the fleet being commanded by the chevalier de Ternay, and the troops by the count de Rochambeau : And in order to prevent difcuflion, and obviate every difficulty that might arife upon the junction of the French troops with the American army, a commiflion was fent to general Wafhington, appointing him a lieutenant-general of France, which of courfe put the count de Rochambeau under his orders. The arrival of fo confiderable a reinforcement diffufed a general joy amongft the adherents of congrefs throughout the American ftates, and excited them to frefli exertions. Thofe ftates, which had lately turned a deaf ear to the applications not only of general Waihington, but of congrefs, were now eager to raife and fend for- ward their quotas of men: And the American army, which, from the various caufes already mentioned, had been reduced to a ftate of imbecility, began again to make a refpectable appearance. When the French arrived at Rhode Ifland, the Britifh fleet under admiral Arbuthnot was inferior to that of the chevalier de Ternay ; and A plan 246 HHST>ORY OF THE CHAP, plan was laid for attacking New York : But the arrival of fix {hips XXXVII j_ T - _' of the line from England, which followed clofe on the track of the chevalier de Ternay, foon gave admiral Arbuthnot the fuperiority ; and the Britifh commanders, inftead of waiting to be attacked, made preparations in their turn for acting offenfively againft the French at Rhode Ifland. Sir Henry Clinton, with the tranfpdrts and troops deftined for this expedition, proceeded to Huntington Bay, in the Sound, whilft admiral Arbuthnot, with the {hips of war, faile.d round Long Ifland, in order to co-operate by fea. But in the mean time general Wamington, whofe army had been increafed by the arrival of considerable reinforcements, fuddenly paffed the North River, and approached King's Bridge. So unexpected a movement obliged fir Henry Clinton to abandon the expedition againft Rhode Ifland, and return with the troops for the protection of New York, leaving admiral Arbuthnot to block up the French fleet by fea. The object of this expedition was loft, from a circumftance but too frequent in the hiftory of this country, a difagreement between the commanders in chief of the land and naval fervice. Upon the return of the Britim commander, general Wamington drew off his forces to a greater diftance, cautioufly avoiding fuch a pofition as might be the means of bringing on a general engagement. About this time the count de Guichen was expected from the Weft Indies, with a land force, and twenty {hips of the line. In view of this afliftance the New England militia had affcmbled very readily, and marched to Rhode Ifland, when their allies the French were threatened with an attack from fir Henry Clinton : General Wafliington's army too, as has been already mentioned, had been greatly increafed by the arrival of frefh reinforcements. And with thefe different bodies of men, when united, it was intended to at- tack New York by land, whilft the count de Guichen, joined by the fquadron under the chevalier de Ternay, fliould block it up by fea. But the count de Guichen, as we {hall fee hereafter, when we come AMERICAN WAR. 2 47 come to the tranfactions in the Weft Indies, had been fo roughly CHAP. . iv XXXVII. handled in his different engagements with admiral Rodney, and his u. / / {hips were in fo {nattered a condition, that inftead of proceeding to America, according to the original defign, he returned with his fleet to France, taking under his convoy the trade from the French iflands. The failure in fo confiderable a part rendered impracticable the further profecution of the fcheme againft New York ; and as foon as general Waftiington was made acquainted with the departure of the count de Guichen, it became neceffary for him to concert new meafures with the French commanders at Rhode Ifland, for their future operations. For this purpofe an interview took place between them at Hartford in Connecticut, about half way between the French and American camps. Whilft general Washington was abfent from his army upon this A fcheme fervice, a deep-laid fcheme was formed by one of his own officers, oneofgeneral for delivering up to fir Henry Clinton the ftrong poft of Weft Point, in the high lands upon the North River, the poffeffion of which would have nearly cut off all communication between the northern important poft into the and middle colonies. The officer engaged in this defign was the hands of the famous general Arnold, whofe fervices in the caufe of America had been of the moft meritorious kind, and whofe brilliant actions in the field juftly raifed him to fuperior notice and regard. After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the Britim troops in the year 1778, he was appointed to command the American garrifon that took pof- feffion of it ; and while he acted in that capacity had the misfortune to difguft many of the inhabitants, and even to fall under the dif- pleafure of congrefs. He lived expenfively, and, as was fuppofed, confiderably beyond his ftated income; but he was at the fame time concerned in trading fpeculations, and had {hares in feveral priva- teers ; and upon the profits expected from thofe adventures, he pro- bably relied, aa means of enabling him to keep up the ftate and ftyle 6 of 242 HISTORY OF THE claims againft the public to a * ' confiderable amount ; and upon the payment of them he depended as a fund to fatisfy the immediate demands of his creditors, who were beginning to become importunate. But the trading fpecula- tions in which he had engaged proved unproductive ; his privateers were unfuccefsful ; and a confiderable portion of his demand againft the public was cut off, by the commiffioners appointed to examine his accounts. From the decifion of the commiffioners, general Ar- nold appealed to the congrefs, who appointed a committee of their own members to revife the fentence : But the committee of con- grefs were even lefs favourable to his views than the commiffioners, from whofe decifion he had appealed. They reported that the ba- lance already allowed by the commiffioners was more than general Arnold was entitled to receive. . So many difappointments could not fail to ruffle a temper lefs irritable than general Arnold's : Recollecting his former fervices, he gave full fcope to his refentment, and complained of ill-ufage and ingratitude in terms better calculated to provoke than to mollify, and fuch as were peculiarly offenfive to congrefs. His enemies availed themfelves of his indifcretion to fwell the tide of popular clamour which already ran flrongly againft him. A court-martial was appointed to examine into his conduct during his command in Philadelphia, and by the fentence of that board it was in general terms reprehended, and himfelf fubjected to the mortification of re- ceiving a reprimand from general Wafhington, From this moment it is fuppofed that Arnold formed the defign of quitting the American fervice and joining the Britim ; and only delayed the execution of his purpofe until an opportunity fhould offer of performing fome efTential fervice to the power which he was about to join, that might render his acceffion of more import- ance. A correfpondence was opened with fir Henry Clinton : The a deli- AMERICAN WAR. delivering up the poft at Weft Point, where Arnold, now com- C V *J manded, was the fervice he propofed to perform ; and the interval of general Wafhington's abfence, when he went to confer with the , French commanders, was the time appointed for linifhing the nego- tiation. To facilitate the means of carrying on the previous cor- refpondence, the Vulture floop of war was ftationed in the North River, at fuch a diftance from Weft Point as to excite no fufpicion, but near enough to ferve for the intended communication ; and as general Arnold required a confidential perfon to treat with, major Andre, aid-du-camp to fir Henry Clinton, and adjutant-general of Adventure the Britifh army, undertook to confer with him, and bring the ne- the Britiflt gotiation to a conclufion. For this purpofe he repaired on board neral major the Vulture floop. At night, in purfuance of a previous arrange- ment, a boat from the fhore carried him to the beach, where he met general Arnold ; and day-light approaching before the bufmefs on which they had met was finally adjufted, major Andre was told that he muft be conducted to a place of fafety, and lie concealed until the following night, when he might return on board the Vulture without the danger of being difcovered. The beach where the firft conference was held was without, but the place of fafety to which major Andre was conducted to lie concealed during the day, was within the American out-pofts, againft his intention, and with- out his knowledge. Here, however, he remained with general Arnold during the day ; and at night, the boatmen refufmg to carry him on board the Vulture, becaufe fhe had fhifted her pofition du* ring the day, in confequence of a gun being brought to bear upon her from the fhore, he was reduced to the neceffity of endeavouring to make his way to New York by land. Laying afide his regiment- als, which he had hitherto worn, he put on a plain fuit .of clothes^. and receiving a pafs from general Arnold, under the aflumed name of John Anderfon, as if he had been fent down the country on VOL. IL K k public HISTORY OF THE public bufmefs, he fet out on his return to New York. His paf- port fecured him from interruption at the American out-pofts ; and he had already pafled them all, and thought himfelf out of danger, when three American militia-men, who had been fent out to patrol near the road along which he travelled, fuddenly fpringing from the woods, feized the bridle of his horfe and flopped him. The fud- dennefs of the furprife feems to have deprived major Andre of his wonted prefence of mind ; and, although a man of the greateft ad- drefs, he was entrapped by the rude fimplicity of clowns. Having inquired from whence they were, and being anfwered, " From be- '* low;" " And fo," faid he, " am I." It was not long before he difcovered his miftake; but too late, it would appear, to remove the impreffion which his firft anfwer had made. The men who had made him prifoners fearched 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 purfe of gold and his watch, to fufFer him to pafs : His promifes of an ample provifion, and getting^ them promotion, if they would accompany him to New York, were equally unavailing. The unfortunate Andre, after thefe efforts to regain his liberty, feems to have been regardlefs of what might be his qwn fate, and was only anxious to fave general Arnold. Before the commanding officer of the militia he continued to perforate the fuppofed John Anderfon, and requefted that a meffenger might be fent to general Arnold to acquaint him with his detention. A mef- fenger being accordingly difpatched, and fumcrent time having elapfed for general Arnold to make his efcape, he no longer dif- guifed his real name, and avowed himfelf to be major Andre, adju- tant-general of the Britifli army : He alfo wrote a letter to general Wamington, in his real name, acquainting him that he was his prifoner, and accounting for the difguife which neceflity had bliged him AMERICAN WAR. tj film to affume. The meflage fent to general Arnold, announcing c **A p ' .A..JSL.A. VII. the detention of John Anderfon, was fufficient notice to him to <* , -> provide for his own fafety : He quitted Weft Point without delay, got on board the Vulture floop, 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 patted during his abfence, together with Arnold's efcape, he rein- forced the garrifon of Weft Point with a ftrong detachment from his army, and appointed a board of general officers, to inquire into and report upon the cafe of major Andre. The candid, open, manly, and ingenuous explanation of his conduct, given by major Andre, before the board of officers, imprefled with admiration and efteem even his enemies who were about to ftied his blood. Difmiffing from his thoughts all perfonal confiderations of danger, he was only Anxious that the tranfaction in which he had been engaged, fhaded as it was by" the intervention of unfortunate circumftances, might be cleared from obfcurity, and appear in its genuine colours, at leaft with relpet to his intention, which was incapable of fwerving from the paths of honour. But the board of officers fixing their atten- tion upon the naked fact of his being in difguife within their lines, without perhaps duly confidering the unfortunate train of incidents which unexpectedly, and almoft unavoidably, led him into that fitu- ation, were of opinion that he came under the defcription, and ought to fuffer the punifhment, of a fpy. The concern felt at New York, in confequence of the capture of major Andre, was in the mean time inconceivably great : His gaU 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 deepeft anxiety. S'n' Henry Clinton, whofe efteem and regard he enjoyed in an emi- nent degree, immediately opened a correfpondeace with general K k 2 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, \Vafhmgton, by means of a flag of truce, and urged every motive .A.-X..A. V 1 1. ^ ^ i which juftice, policy, or humanity, could mggelt, to induce a re- million of the fentence. Finding his letters ineffectual, he fent out general Robertfon, with a flag, to confer upon the fubject with any officer that fhould be appointed by general Wafhington. An inter- view took place between general Robertfon and general Green, who had been prefident of the court-martial. But all efforts to fave the unfortunate Andre were unavailing: His doom was irrevocably fixed. The greatnefs of the danger which the American army had efcaped by the difcovery of Arnold's plot before it was ripe for exe- cution, feems to have extinguimed in the breail of the inexorable Wafhington, every fpark of humanity that remained. Although entreated by a moft pathetic letter from major Andre, written on the day previous to his execution, to change the mode of his death from that of a common malefactor to one more correfpondent to the feel- ings of a foldier, he would not condefcend to grant eveti this incon- fiderable boon to the fupplication of his unfortunate prifoner : And on the fecond day of October this accomplilhed young officer met his fate, in the manner prefcribed by his fentence, with a compofure^ ferenity, and fortitude, which aftoniihed the beholders, and excited thofe emotions of fympathy that would have been more honourably" and humanely exercifed in averting than lamenting his fate.. Thus fell the unfortunate Andre. If intention is neceflary ta eonftitute guilt ; and if guilt alone merits punimment, fome doubt may be entertained with refpect to the fentence of the board of" officers. Major Andre did not, at firft, knowingly enter within the American lines : He was then alfo in his regimentals : And when lie actually found himfelf within thofe lines, contrarily to his inten- tion, whatever he afterwards di'd, in order to extricate himfelf, by affuming a difguife, and ufmg a feigned paffport, ought rather to be afcribed to the impofed. neceflity of his fituation than tp choice. But. AMERICAN WAR. 253 But, even if the fentence pronounced againft him fhoukl be found CHAP. * XXXVII agreeable to the letter of the law of nations, fo unfuitable is the '_ -. _/ exercife of extreme jufticc to our imperfect ftate, that we turn with * 7 ( difguft from thofe tranfa&ions, in which the finer feelings of hu- manity have been facrificed to its rigour. Bright as the fame of Washington fhall fhine in the annals of America, as one of the mofl illuftrious fupporters of her independence, the fons of freedom will lament the cold infenfibility, that did not fuffer him to interpofe, in order to refcue from his fate fo gallant an officer, and even could withhold from him the poor confolation of meeting death like a foldier ; whilft a glance of indignation fhall dart from the eyes of her fair and compaflionate daughters, foftened only by the tear of pity for the fate of the accomplifhed Andre. From fo tragic an event, tending by its feverity to increafe, we pafs with pleafure to an arrangement calculated to leflen, the calami- ties of war. This was an agreement for a general exchange of pri- foners, finally fettled and adjufted towards the clofe of the prefent year, between major-general Philips, on. the part of the Britim army r and major-general Lincoln, on the part of the Americans, the for- mer having been an American prifoner ever fmce the convention of Saratoga, and the latter a Britim prifoner fince the fall of Charleftown. The congrefs had, from policy, hitherto refifted all propofals for a general exchange upon equitable terms. They knew the expence that attended recruiting the Britim army from Europe : They knew alfo that their own army would receive rto great increafe of ftrength by a releafe of the Americans detained as prifoners, becaufe the fhort periods for which the American; foldkrs enlifled, during the firft years of the war, would have generally expired before an ex- change could have been effected. But the clamours of their people,, fo long detained in captivity, and for whofe releafe they had fhewn fa much indifference, had now become fo loud j fo many of their 4. regular HISTORY OF THE p - regular foldiers had been made prifoners by the capture of Charle- town, and the defeat of general Gates at Camden 5 and in confe- quence of thefe difafters fo much difficulty had been experienced in recruiting their army during the prefent year ; that neceffity, rather than choice, obliged them at laft to yield to an equitable arrangement. An ineffectual attempt was made for the releafe of the privates of general Burgoyne's army, who had ,been prifoners fmce the con- vention of Saratoga : But nothing could prevail upon the congrefs to depart from their former refoiutions ; and the convention troops were deftined to captivity during the remainder of the war, The cold weather beginning to fet in, put an end to ail further active operations in the field. The Britifh troops went into winter quarters in New York and its dependencies : The French troops remained at Rhode Ifland : And general Wafhington continued to occupy the high grounds bordering on the North River, from whence in a fliort time he was obliged to difcharge a confiderable part of the levies, in conference of a want; of t>rea.d for their fubfiflence* AMERICAN AVAR. CHAP. XXXVIIF. In Europe and the Weft Indies Succefles of the Britifh Fleet under Admiral Rodney Relief of Gibraltar Growing Dif- ferences between Great Britain and Holland Armed Neutrality^ or AJJociation among Neutral Maritime Powers, for the Purpofe of ejlablijhing the Dottrine that Free Ships make Free Geods Sufpenjion of the Treaties between Great Britain and Holland- Naval TranfaEtions Commercial Treaty between America and Holland War on the Part of Great Britain againfl the Dutch. TYOT 1 the tranfa&ions in Europe and the Weft Indies now demand CHAP, our attention. Admiral Rodney, whom his fervices in the pre- ^_ _^_- '? ceding war had recommended to the notice of the miniftry, being appointed to command the Britifh fleet in the Weft Indies, failed for that ftation, with a reinforcement of fhips, about the beginning of the prefent year ; and advantage was taken of his convoy to fend a frefh fupply of proviilons and ftores for the relief of the garrifon at Gibraltar, which had been blockaded by the Spaniards from the commencement of the war with that nation. That this fervice might be performed without any danger of mifcarriage, a part of the channel fleet was put under admiral Rodney's command, which 'was to accompany him as far as Gibraltar. It feems to have been referved for this commander to revive, by his fuccefles, the memory of our glorious achievements in former wars* HISTORY OF THE fj xif^Jhr* ' p - wars. He had been but a few days at fea, when he fell in with and took a fleet of twenty-three fail of Spanifh {hips bound from St. Sebaflian to Cadiz, fixteen of them laden with provifions, naval ftores, and bale goods, and the reft {hips of war belonging to the royal company of Caraccas that had been afligned to the others as a convoy. The fame good fortune, about a week afterwards, brought him in fight of a Spanifh fleet of eleven {hips of the line and two frigates, that were cruifmg off Cape St. Vincent, under the com- mand of Don Juan Langara. A lee-fliore at no great diftance fa- voured the efcape of the enemy, and rendered a purfuit from the Britifh fleet hazardous ; and the mortnefs of a winter's day, already far advanced, with tempeftuous weather, increafed the danger. But the gallant Rodney, like the intrepid Hawke, chofe to rifque fome- thing, where the performance of a great national fervice was the expected confequence ; and threw out the fignal for a general chafe, taking the lee-gage to cut off the enemy from the fhore. Night came on; but the purfuit was ftill continued. The fliips of the Britiih fleet clofed *vith thofe of the enemy as fail as they could get up; and the action was not ended till two in the morning, when the Monarca, the headmoft of the enemy's fleet, ftruck to the Sand- wich, admiral Rodney's {hip. The San Domingo, one of the ene- my's {hips, blew up early in the engagement; and every foul on board perifhed. Four of their fleet, including the Phoenix of eighty guns, Don Juan Langara's {hip, were taken and carried into Gib- raltar, Two others had ftruck ; but after the officers had been fhifted, were driven on fliore by the tempeftuous weather, and one of them was entirely loft. The two frigates, and four {hips of the line, alone efcaped, two of tl\e 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, 00 AMERICAN WAR. on board the Britiih fleet. The weather continued fo tempeftuous, CHAP. .X.X..X.V 111. that it was with difficulty fome of the Britifh (hips, on the day after < -- ,/ t the action, were able to extricate themfelves from the dangerous ihoals of St. Lucar. The convoy being conducted fafely to Gibraltar, and the provifions 5^ ef , of and (lores having been landed, admiral Digby, taking under his charge the Spanifh prizes and homeward-bound tranfports, failed for England on the fifteenth of February, with the greateft part of the fleet ; and admiral Rodney, with the reft, proceeded to his ftation in the Weft Indies. The homeward-bound fleet under admiral Digby got fight of a French convoy, efcorted by feveral {hips of war, but at fuch a diftance that the greateft part of it efcaped by an early flight. The Prothee, a French fhip of fixty-four guns, one of the efcort, was however taken, and fome few of the merchant- fhips. In the mean time the differences fubfifting between Great Britain p rowl ' n g; dlf> - ferences be- and Holland were every day increafing, and verging faft towards a twecn Great -i /- Britain and {late of hoftihty. The Dutch merchants, particularly thofe of Am- Holland. ilerdam, had, from the beginning of the difturbances in America, maintained a correfpondence with the people of that country, and in the progrefs of the war fupplied them, not only with merchan- dife, but with warlike ftores, without which the very unequal conteft could not have been fo long fupported by the Americans. The carrying on a clandeftine intercourfe of fuch a nature, with thofe whom Great Britain claimed as her fubjects, was not to be endured, even in a nation ftridly neutral, and far lefs in one bound to her by the moft folemn engagements of ancient friendfhip and alliance. Various re- monftrances on this fubjecl: were accordingly prefented by the Bri- tifh ambafiador at the Hague, but no fatisfadtion was obtained. After the interference of France in the war, the unfriendly pro- ceedings of the Dutch became ftill more notorious: As they had VOL. II. L 1 heretofore 258 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, heretofore fupplied the Americans with whatever they wanted, and XXXVIII. ' j_. . _ indeed ftill continued to do the fame, fo now they became the car- f *7 Rrt riers of naval ftores for the French. The remonftrances prefented on this occafion having been found ineffectual, the commander of the Britim navy received orders to prevent a trade which the Dutch, from good faith, ought to have prohibited. In purfuance of thcfe orders, fuch of the Dutch merchant-fhips as were found laden with naval ftores for the ufe of the French, were brought into Britifh ports, from whence they were fuffered to depart as foon as the pro- hibited articles had been landed; and in the mean time full fatisfac- tion was made to the fhip-owners for their freight. This proceed- ing, however equitable, produced much difcontent among the Dutch merchants : They complained that by the feizure and detention of their veffels, the exprefs letter of the treaties fubfifting between Great Britain and the republic of the States General was grofsly violated ; whilft the real fact was, that they themfelves, by furnifh- ing the enemies of Great Britain with things necefiary for carrying on the war, which this proceeding was calculated to prevent, were acting directly contrary to the fpirit of all thofe treaties. By the vigilance of the Britim cruifers this trade was in fome de- gree checked ; and the fupplies, thus obtained by the French, be- came not a little precarious. But towards the beginning of the prefent year, a number of Dutch fhips, laden with naval ftores, being ready to fail for the ports of France, the owners availed themfelves of the opportunity of the departure of a Dutch fquadron that was proceeding to the Mediterranean, under the command of count By- land, to put their (hips under his protection in their paiTage through the channel. Timely information of their deiign being conveyed to the Britim court, commodore Fielding was difpatched, with a fufficient force, to cruife in the channel, examine the Dutch eonvoy, and feize fuch of the fhips as were found carrying oa the trade which AMERICAN WAR.. 259 tvliich Great Britain was determined to prohibit. The two fleets CHAP. XXXVIII met in the channel on the third of January. Permiffion to examine ' v - ..; the convoy being refufed, and the boats of the Britifli fleet fent for that purpofe being fired upon, commodore Fielding fired a mot acrofs the way of the Dutch admiral, which was anfwered with a broadfide from the latter. The Britifh commodore did not fail to return the falute, when the Dutch admiral ftruck his colours. In the mean time the greateft part of the convoy had borne away for the coaft of France, and efcaped : Thofe that remained were fafely conducted to Spithead, whither count Byland chofe 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 hoftility, increafed the clamours of the dlfcontented in Holland, and added flrength to the party attached to France, which was already too powerful. Whilft Great Britain was thus availing herfelf of her maritime Armed nea- . . trality, or af- power to prevent the Dutch from fupplymg her enemies with the fodation means of carrying on the war, another of her allies, upon whom trai"it!me {he had alfo ftrong claims of friendfhip, was actively engaged in J* e we J 8 ' J r of promoting; a fcheme for altering; the received law of nations, and b the doftrine, rendering fuch a trade legitimate as the Dutch had been attempting that free (hip* to carry on with France. It was obvioufiy the intent of the greater goods. maritime powers, when engaged in war, that the {hips of neutral nations mould be liable to a fearch, and mould not protect ene- my's property ; and fuch was hitherto held to be the law of nations, except in thofe inftances where it had been altered by treaties and conventions between particular powers : It was not lefs evidently the intereft of the weaker commercial powers, when engaged in war, that the mips of neutral nations mould pafs free and unmolefted ; becaufe, whenever the ftate of the war rendered them 'unable to carry on trade in their own mips, they might employ thofe of neutral powers. The alteration propofed L 1 2 by HISTORY OF THE fcheme was, that a free (hip fhould make free goods, or, irr A.-X.A V 111. v y 1 other words, that a neutral (hip, although loaded with a cargo be- longing to one of the powers at war, fhould pafs as free and unmo- lefted as in time of peace : A fcheme evidently intended to wound Great Britain in her molt eflential intereft ; and, to her furprife, Ruffia was the power that brought it forward. In the war of the latter with the Turks fome few years before, the conduct of Great Britain had been fueh as to entitle her to expect from Ruffia, fup- port and affiftance unHer her prefent embarraflments, rather than a regulation calculated to increafe them. But with nations, if not with individuals, views of intereft are the grand motives to action ; and their policy confifts in improving thofe opportunities that occur for promoting it : Friendfhip, gratitude, and the other virtuous affec- tions that adorn private life, feem to have little influence upon their conduct. In a war between Great Britain and the kingdoms of France and Spain, the local fituation of the former enables her in a great meafure to cut off thofe fupplies of naval ftores which the north of Europe alone can furnifh. Hence, in time of war between thofe powers, this kind of trade experiences confiderable inter- ruptions: Ruffia, Sweden, and Denmark, all partook of the lofs arifing from fuch interruptions: And the prefent embar- raffed flate of Great Britain was laid hold of as a fit op- portunity for compelling her to fubmit to fuch a regula- tion as might remove the incovenience complained of by thefe northern powers. This fcheme is faid to have originated with, the king of Sweden ; but it was firft promulgated by a declaration of the emprefs of Ruffia addreffed to the belligerent powers, which was followed by declarations of the like import from the courts of Sweden and Denmark : The bafis of the whole being, that neutral powers unconcerned in the war fhould be permitted to carry on their commerce in the fame unlimited manner as in time of peace, thofe articles called contraband alone excepted. The other neutral AMERICAN WAR. 261 neutral powers in Europe were invited to accede to the principles C V *? Y A P " -A.-X.A. V ill* contained in thefe declarations ; and as it was propofed to compel the u -- * practical execution of them by a maritime force, to be equipped by each of the contracting parties, hence the confederation gained the name of the armed neutrality. The declaration of the emprefs of Ruffia being conformable to the prefent intereft of the courts of France and Spain, was received by them with the utmoft fatisfaction ; and fuitable anfwers were re- turned. Great Britain alone was to fuftain an injury from it, and at another time, and under different circumftances, perhaps it might have been refented as an infult. But at prefent it was thought fit to return an anfwer which might neither give offence, nor derogate from the dignity of the Britim nation by a tame fubmiflion to the claims of the northern powers. The anfwer was decent and re- fpectful : But, far from admitting the principles laid down by the emprefs of Ruflia, the general law of nations, as it had been hi- therto underftood, was held out as the only rule of decifion in ma- ritime cafes, except fo far as it had been altered by treaties betweea particular powers; and that between thofe powers the treaties of courfe furnifhed the rule. The emprefs was aflured, that from the commencement of the war the ftricteft orders had been iflued to the Britim naval commanders for refpecting her flag, and obferving all the ftipulations contained in the commercial treaty fubfifting be- tween the two nations ; and that the fame orders would be conti- nued, and ftriclly executed. But fhould any infringement happen, the courts of admiralty, to whom the decifion in fuch cafes be- longed, would afford redrefs in fo equitable a manner as mould be perfectly fatisfadtory to her imperial majefty. By thefe proceedings of the northern powers it became fufHciently apparent that from them Great Britain was neither to expect aflift- ance nor fupport: And about this time it feems to have been deter- mined -- i6V HISTORY OF THE mined in the Britifh cabinet to put to the teft the fincerity of the - Dutch, and try how far they were to be relied on for the performance of thofe engagements to which they were bound by treaty. The ground of the alliance between Great Britain and Holland was mu- tual fafety and protection ; and in cafe either nation was attacked, the other was to furnifh certain fuccours. Thefe 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 furnifh the fuccours, or give a fatisfactory anfwer to the demand. The Britifh ambaiTador at the Hague was now inftructed to prefent a remonftrance on the fubject, to claim the fuccours ftipulated by treaty, and to declare, that, if a fatisfactory anfwer was not given to this requifition, within three weeks after the delivery of the re- monftrance, fuch a neglect en the part of the States General would be confidered as a declaration that they withdrew from the alliance between the two nations. The remonftrance was accordingly pre- fented on the twenty-firft of March, and no fatisfactory anfwer being given within the time limited, the threat held out was put in Sufpenfionof execution. By an order of the king in council, bearing^ date the between fevcnteenth of April, all the treaties fubfifting between the two na- and Holland. tlon s were to be fufpended, and the fubjects of the States General April. were in future to be entitled to no other privileges than thofe en- joyed by neutral nations, unconnected with Great Britain by treaty. By this decifive meafure the unfriendly difpofition of the Dutch towards the Britifh nation was laid open, or, at leaft, their total in- difference about its fate : And it feems to have been wife policy in the Britifh miniftry to put that difpofition to the teft ; fince it is fafer to have an open enemy than an infidious friend. Thefe fe- "veral tranfactions, which happened foon after the beginning of the prefent year, difclofed the temper of moft of the powers of Europe, upon whom Great Britain had any claim for afliftance; and from i them. AMERICAN WAR. 263 them it became manifeft, that me muft henceforward fupport the CHAP. .X.-X.-A. V 111 conteft againft the united power of the houfe of Bourbon, not only < v * without the aid of a (ingle ally, but under the conviction that the other nations of Europe viewed her danger with unconcern, and rather rejoiced in the profpect of her ruin, than wifhed to prevent it: A conviction mortifying no doubt in the extreme, but at the fame time not entirely without its ufe, as it had a tendency to ftimu- late to the braved exertions thofe who felt the genuine flame of pa- triotifm, and whofe love for their country was fuperior to all the confederations of party. Upon the death of fir Charles Hardy, in the month of May, the May. command of the channel fleet was given to admiral Geary, who failed in queft of the enemy, about the ufual time, with thirty fhips of the line. During his cruife, in the beginning of July, he came in fight of a fleet of about thirty fail, which he afterwards found to be a convoy of French merchantmen from Port au Prince, in the Weft Indies, bound to France. A general chafe was immediately ordered ; but it was evening before the headmoft of the Britifh fleet reached the enemy, and a fog foon afterwards coming on, twelve only of the merchantmen were -taken. The reft, with the two armed fhips that accompanied them as a convoy, efcaped in the fog. The French and Spanifli 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 cruifed in that tract through which the outward-bound trade from Great Britain to the Eaft and Weft Indies ufually paries, and from their number fpread over an immenfe extent of fea. A fleet for the Eaft Indies, and another for the Weft Indies, failed together from Portfmouth 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 Auguft, t6*4 HISTORY OF THE ' * Auguft, fell in with that divifion of the combined fleet which was j commanded by Don Lewis d Cordova. The Ramiliies, with the . two frigates, and a few merchantmen, efcaped : All the reft, amount- ing to more than forty fail, were taken and carried into Cadiz. .This misfortune was the more feverely felt, as a numher of the mips were loaded with naval and military ftores for the ufe of the fettlements in thofe parts of the world to which they were bcund. Not long afterwads admiral Geary refigned his command, and was fucceeded by admiral Darby. The oppofite grand fleets did not- this year come in fight of each other : Of courfe nothing decifive was done by fea. But feveral hard-fought actions took place between fmgle mips, in which Bri- tifh valour maintained its wonted fuperiority. In thefe actions the Belle Poule of thirty-two guns became a prize to the Nonfuch, com- manded by fir James Wallace : The Artois and Pearl, two French frigates, were taken by commodore Johnftone, in the Romney ; the Nymphe, by captain Peere Williams in the Flora; and the Count d' Artois, a private iliip of war, mounting fixty-four guns, by cap- tain Macbride in the" Bienfaifant. Nor muft 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 fiege and blockade of Gibraltar was ftill continued by the Spaniards; but with no greater profpect of fuccefs than when it com- menced. The danger of a famine, arifing from the long continu- ance of the blockade, was averted by the fupplies 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 fuccefsfully refifled by the determined fpirit and perfevering bravery of the garrifon. After AMERICAN WAR. 265 After relieving Gibraltar, in the manner already related, admiral CHAP- JV-A A. V 111. Rodney proceeded to his flation in the Weft Indies, and arrived at St. Lucie on the twenty- feventh of March. The reinforcement of fhips, which he carried out, brought the contending fleets nearer to an equality ; the fuperiority in numbers ftill, however, remaining with the French. But although, before the arrival of admiral Rod- ney, the French fleet was fo much fuperior to that of Great Britain in the Weft India feas, no advantage was obtained proportioned to that fuperiority : On the contrary, the trade of the enemy had been greatly annoyed, their force leflened by the capture of feveral of their frigates, and the empire of the fea difputed with an undaunted firmnefs which no fuperiority in number could difmay. Only two days before the arrival of admiral Rodney, monlieur de la Motte Piquet, who was cruifmg with four fhips of feventy-four guns, and two frigates, for the protection of the French trade, fell in with and attacked three Britifh {hips of war, one of them mounting fixty- four, another fifty, and the third only forty-four guns, the largeft commanded by the honourable captain Cornwallis. Notwithstanding the great difparity both in number and force, the Britifh command- er gallantly prepared to receive the enemy's attack, and to give a new difplay of Britifh valour on that element on which it feems pe- culiarly deftined to fhine. The engagement began about five in the afternoon, and was continued during the whole night, and part of the following day, when the combatants feparated, aaif^by mutual confent, to repair their refpective damages. On the third day in the morning, a Britifh fhip of fixty-four guns, and two frigates, having appeared in fight, captain Cornwallis refolutely bore down upon the enemy to bring them again to action : But the French fquadron had fuffered fo much in the firft engagement, that monfieur de la Motte Piquet declined to renew it, notwithstanding the fupe- riority of force, he ftill pofTefled. Alfo, previous to the arrival of VOL. II. ,M m admiral 266 HISTORY OF THE Rodney, the count de Guichen, w r ith twenty-five mips of -v ' the line, eight frigates, and a number of tranfports with troops, had appeared before St. Lucie, and difcovered an apparent defign of at- tacking it ; but after viewing the difpofitions made on more, by ge- neral Vaughan, and the judicious arrangement of the fquadron under admiral Hyde Parker, for repelling the attack, he thought proper to return to Martinique, without making the attempt. This vifit was returned by fir George Rodney foon after his arrival. On the fe- cond of April he failed for Fort Royal Bay, in Martinique, to offer battle to the enemy, and approached near enough to exchange fome mot with their batteries on more. 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 fome faft-failing veflels to bring the earlieft intelligence of any move- ment that mould 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 mips of the line, and a number of frigates. Immediate intelligence being conveyed to fir George Rod- ney, he inftantly put to fea, with twenty mips of the line. On the fixteenth, he got fight of the enemy, and on the feventeenth, after various manoeuvres practifed on both fides, 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 ceafe till four in the afternoon. The Sandwich, fir George Rodney's fhip, after beating three of the enemy's fleet in fucceflion, out of the line, en- gaged with the Couronne, the count de Guichen's mip, fupported 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 might be faid to be completely beaten; but fuch was the diftance of c H A p - XXXVIII. the van and the rear from the centre of the Britifh fleet, and fuch v. r :tillery. That the Britifh admiral might not lofe the opportunity of intercepting this armament, he ufed the greateft difpatch in refitting his fleet at Barbadoes ; and having put to fea as foon as it was in readinefs, cruifed in that latitude, in which, according to the information conveyed to him, there was the greateft chance of meeting with Don Solano. But the extreme cau- tion of the latter proved the means of his fafety, and defeated all the attempts of the Britilh admiral to intercept him. Inftead of failing directly to Fort Royal Bay in Martinique, the appointed place of ; ' r ' * - *3 '*' - -, rendezvous, he kept more to the northward, and flopped fhort at Guadaloupe, difpatching a frigate to acquaint count de Guichen of his arrival, and requefting a junction where he then was. The count de Guichen, upon receiving this intelligence, immediately failed, with eighteen {hips of the line, and keeping to leeward of the iflands, joined the Spanifh fquadron under Dominique. The combined fleet now pofleflfed fo great a fuperiority, that it had nothing to fear from fir George Rodney ; and the land force, that accompanied it, was fo confiderable as to portend ruin to the Britifh intereft in the Weft Indies by the fucceflive reduction of all the iflands. It was generally fuppofed that the conqueft of Jamaica was the principal object of the Spanifh armament, in effecting which the French fleet, without doubt, was to co-operate. But the Spanifh troops had been fo crowded on board the tranfports, that a peftilen- tial diftemper broke out amongft them : And it raged with fuch vio- lence about the time of their arrival in the Weft Indies, that it be- came neceflary to land the men in order to check its progrefs. For this purpofe the combined fleet proceeded to Fort Royal Bay in Mar- tinique : And the allies were for a time obliged to fufpend their ope- rations. 6 Sir 270 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. Si r George Rodney having been difappointed in his defign of in- .A..X..X.V111. ^ v > tercepting the Spanifh fquadron, returned to Gros Iflet Bay in St. Lucie, as the mofl convenient ftation for obtaliing early intelligence of any movement made by the enemy. Although their numbers had been lefTened by the contagious diftemper, they were ftill in fuf- ficient force to have attempted the conqueft of Jamaica with every July. profpect of fuccefs : But a difference of opinion between the two commanders proved fatal to the expedition. After remaining inac- tive for feveral weeks in the bay of Fort Royal, the combined fleets put to fea in the night of the fifth of July, without making fignals or mewing lights, and directed their courfe to Saint Domingo. Here they feparated, the count de Guichen with the French fleet putting in to Cape Francois, whilft Don Solan o with the Spanifh fleet pro- ceeded' to the Havannah. The count de Guichen remained at Cape Francois only until the homeward-bound trade from the French iflands had aflembled, 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 Wamington; and that he might be in readinefs to thwart the count's operations there, as he had already done in the Weft Indies, he failed for New York with eleven fhips 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 fhips had been fo mattered in his different engagements with fir George Rod- ney, that he found it necefTary to return as fpeedily as poffible to Europe, to give them a thorough repair. In the mean time an incident occurred, which opened more fully to the view of the Britifh cabinet, the hoflile defigns of the Dutch. So AMERICAN WAR. 271 CHAP, XXXVIII. So long ago as the month of September in the year 1778, a private ( c A p * interview had taken place at Aix la Chapelle, between William Lee, v. * 1780, formerly an alderman of London, and then an agent for the Ame- rican congrefs, and John de Neufville, a merchant of Amfterdam, 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 conclufion of their conferences, certain pro- vifionary articles were agreed upon, and figned by the refpective agents, as thofe upon the bafis of which a treaty might be hereafter formed. Duplicates of the articles were tranfmitted both to Holland and America ; and great fecrecy obferved to prevent the tranfaction from coming to the knowledge of the Britifh court. All this was done, whilft the Dutch were pretending to act the part of good and faithful allies to the king of Great Britain, and at his requifition formally prohibiting, in appearance, an intercourfe between their fub- jects and the revolted colonies : And perhaps it was not their origi- nal intention to carry the matter farther, but to fuffer the clandeftine commerce between the Dutch dominions and America, to be con- ducted agreeably to the provifions 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 fuited their intereft ; and accordingly nothing farther was done towards completing the treaty for near two years. But the finances of the congrefs had become deranged, and their paper -money had been depreciated to fuch an extent, that they faw it would be impoffible to maintain the conteft much longer without the aid of a foreign loan, which they found Jfrom experience could only be negotiated in Holland : And even there the monied men were averfe to trufting their property upon fuch fecurity as a people could HISTORY OF THE C H A P. C ould offer, whofe fovereignty and independence were yet unacknow- .X.A..A. V 111. u .. ; ledged by the States General. Befides the general intereft, therefore, which the congrefs had in getting the independence of the Ameri- can ftates acknowledged by as many of the European powers as pof- fible, they had a peculiar intereft in procuring that acknowledg- ment from the States General, in order to facilitate the negotiation of the propofed loan ; and they were encouraged to hope for fuccefs in their felicitations to that end, partly from the favourable difpofi- tion of the inhabitants of Amfterdam towards their caufe, who had already tafted the fweets of the American commerce, and partly from the prevalence of a party which the intrigues of the court of France had raifed in Holland in oppofition to the Stadtholder and the Britifh intereft. Commercial Moved by fuch confiderations, the congrefs in the prefent year ap- tween Ame- pointed their late prefident, Henry Laurens, to proceed to Holland as land!" their ambaflador, with full powers to bring the commercial treaty to a conclufion. Mr. Laurens accordingly embarked at Philadelphia in a veflel bound to Holland, carrying with him all the papers that in any manner related to the object of his miflion, and particularly the pro- vifional commercial articles fettled between William Lee and John de Neufville. But the veflel was taken on her paflage to Europe, and with her Mr. Laurens and his papers ; the box containing them, which, had been thrown overboard, having been prevented from finking by the alertnefs of a Britiili feaman. Mr. Laurens's papers having furnifhed the Britifh miniftry with full evidence of what they had long before fufpeded, the unfriendly difpofition of the Dutch, their connexion with the revolted colo- nies, and the underhand pra&ices of the penfionary Van Berkel to make that connexion ftill clofer ; they determined to demand inftant fatisfadion for the injury. For that purpofe the papers, which af- forded the evidence, were tranfmitted to the Britiih ambaflador at the AMERICAN WAR, the Hague, who was inftruded to prefent a memorial to the States CHAP. A.-A.X. V 111. - - General, requiring them to difavow the proceedings of the penfionary f >firt Van Berkel and his accomplices, and to inflict upon them a punifh- ment fuitable to the magnitude of their offence : He was further en- joined to declare, that, if fatisfaction in thefe refpects fhould be either refufed or delayed, the States General would be confidered as making themfelves parties to the injury, and fuch meafures be purfued as the law of nations authorifed for compelling a reparation of the wrong. The memorial was accordingly prefented ; and no fatisfac* tory anfwer being returned by the States General within the time expected, the Britifh ambaflador was recalled from the Hague, and on the twentieth of December, letters of reprifal were ordered to be War on the iflued againft the Dutch. In the mean time Mr. Laurens, after an examination before the fecretaries of (late, was committed on a *f ain , ft the Dutch. charge of high treafoa a clofe prifoner to the Tower of London, VOL. II. N n HISTORY OF THE f Sani.ll'.V -imiS-JJWfft-tpt-!-.' ('.'v-lnSrf'WKj-'vl >y.)i|*> STOW ~!i ' town > anc * fei ze d the heights adjoining to it. Whilft he lay in this C..--V -' fituation he received a fummons to furrender, agreeably to the capitu- lation ; to which he gallantly anfwered, that unlefs the French them- felves laid down their arms, and furrendered within twenty minutes they might expect to be attacked. An able difpofition of his troops was accordingly made ; and at the end of that time, the town being affaulted on all fides, the French were fo fiercely charged, that they retreated from every quarter to the market-place. Here, their force being concentered, the action was renewed with frefh vigour under the eye of their general, who,, divefting himfelf of the magnanimity attached to the character of an officer, and even of the feelings be- longing to a man, kept by his fide the lieutenant-governor during the heat of the battle, expofmg him, although a prifoner, to the fire of the Britifh troops. But at length, the baron de Rullicoirrt received a mortal wound : When the fecond in command, feeing his troops unable any longer to withftand the impetuofity of the aflailants, and defeated. his own fituation hopelefs, requefted the lieutenant-governor to re- fume his authority, and accept the fubmiffion of him and hi? troops as prifoners of war. In the attack of St. Helier's, the lofs of the aflailants was not fo great as might have been expected : Of the Bri- tifh regulars twelve only were killed, and thirty-fix wounded ; and. of the militia four were killed, and twenty-nine wounded. But the death of the brave major Picrfon, who fell at the end of the action and in the moment of complete victory, filled every one with re- gret. Ta hi& gallantry and good conduct, and to the brave exer- tions of the officers and troops under him, his country was indebted on the prefent occafion for the fafety of Jerfey. Although moft of the troops were new levies, they fought with the firmnefs of vete- rans : And the lofs, fuftained by the militia fhews that they were en- titled to a full (hare of merit for the fuccefs of the day. Of the nemy not one efcaped, all who furvived the action being made pri- AMERICAN WAR. 277 Toners of war. In this manner ended the fecond expedition under- CHAP. A. Jv A. 1 A . taken by the French againft the ifland of Jerfey, under all its circum- v. v ' fiances more difaftrous to them than the firft. In the mean time they were draining; every nerve to place their Naval exer - ' . tionsofboth marine upon a more refpectable footing, and to fit out fuch a fleet as- France and might give them a decided fuperiority in the Weft Indies during the following fummer : Whilft the Britifh miuiftry on the other hand exerted thernfelves not lefs ftrenuoufly, to equip fuch a force a$ might be adequate to the various fervices which the war in its exten- fion required them to provide for. That which was the moft prefT- ing, and demanded their immediate attention, was the relief of the garrifon of Gibraltar, more endangered by the want of fupplies, in confequence of the blockade, than by the tremendous fire from the enemy's batteries, Gibraltar having received no fupplies fmce thofe conveyed by fir George Rodney in the beginning of the preceding year, both the garrifon and inhabitants were at this time in the ut- moft diftrefs for want of provifions. The allowance to the garrifon had been reduced to a pound and a half in the week of falted meat for each man, which at length became fo bad as to be fcarcely eat- able. Frefh provifions, when they could be procured, fold at the moft enormous prices : Pigs at two guineas, turkies at three, geefe at thirty ihillings, fowls and ducks at ten millings, damaged bifcuit at a (hilling the pound, peafe at eighteen-pence ; and all other ne- ceffaries in proportion. Fuel was fo fcarce, that it was with dim** culty enough was found for dreflin^ tfieir victuals. Thefe diftreffes were known in England : The neceflky of attempting to relieve the garrifon was of cburfe urge at ; but the difficulty of accomplishing, it was great. The Spaiiiih fleet, under Don Louis de Cordova, had or- ders to criiife upon the coaft of Portugal, and was reprefented to-con- fift of thirty fhips of the line : A French fleet, not much inferior* almott ia readiaefs to put to fea from Breft 5 and all the force, which 278 HISTORY OF THE which the Britifh miniftry could fpare from other fervices for the re- ]ief of Gibraltar, confifted only of twenty-eight fhips of the line. Thefe, however, were commanded by the admirals Darby, Digby, and Rofs, all of them officers of great profeffional reputation. With this fleet admiral Darby failed from Portfmouth on the thirteenth of March, taking under his convoy the trade bound to the Eaft and Weft Indies; and having touched at Cork to receive the tranfports with provifions, and afterwards conducted the outward-bound trade as far as was thought neceflary, he left them to purfue their voyage, and fleered 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 Spanifh fleet, with- out daring to rifque an engagement. Whilft admiral Darby cruifed off Cadiz and the mouth of the Straits, keeping the Spanifh fleet in R .. . _ port, the tranfports with the provifions and ftores proceeded to the Gibraltar. place of their deftination, under the convoy of the divifion of the Britifh fleet corrimanded by admiral fir John Lockhart Rofs : And thus, to the utter mortification of Spain, Gibraltar was a fecond time relieved, and fupplied with every thing neceflary for fuftaining the fiege. Whilft the Britifh fleet was abfent on this fervice, that of France deftined for the Weft India ftation, and confifting of twenty-one fhips of the line, failed from Breft under the command of the count de Grafle. The French pofleflions in that quarter, from the infe- riority of the fquadron left for their protection by the count de Gui- chen when he returned to France at the end of the preceding fum- mer, had been expofed to the attempts of the Britifh commanders during the winter, and probably fome of them owed their fafety to the war with Holland. Sir George Rodney, after remaining at New York until the hurricane feafon was over, returned to the Weft In- dies towards the clofe of the former year, and in conjunction with general AMERICAN WAR. general Vaughan was meditating a defcent upon fome of the French CHAP. i f r" JvAJvlJv. iflands, when he received information of the rupture with the Dutch, '_ - T _j and inftru^lions to commence hoftilities againft their Weft India pof- feffions. Of thefe the little ifland of St. Euftatius claimed the firft attention, not from its intrinfic value, but as being a general depot of merchandife, from whence not only the American colonies, but the French iflands alfo, derived confiderable fupplies : And it was the more obnoxious to Britifh vengeance, that the commerce between it and the American colonies, connived at by the States General, was the original caufe of difference between the two nations, which at laft produced an open rupture. Of fmall extent, of barren foil, and without any native productions of value, the ifland of St. Euftatius was of no importance, except from its commerce. Being a free port, it was inhabited by people of all nations, who reforted thither for the fake of carrying on commerce with their refpective countries; and during the prefent war, from the great demands for merchandife of all kinds in America, the trade of the ifland had increafed to an amazing extent. So confiderable was the importation of merchan- dife into St. Euftatius, that the bulkier articles, for want of room in the warehoufes, lay in the ftreets. The whole ifland was a kind of natural fortification, with only one convenient landing-place ; but nothing had been done towards improving thofe defenfive advan- tages, nor was it even provided with any thing like a fufficient gar- rifon. Such was the fituation of St. Euftatius, when fir George Februai 7 Rodney and general Vaughan, on the third of February, appeared before it with a force of fhips and troops more proportioned to the importance than to the difficulty of the acquifition. A fummons was immediately fent to the governor, requiring him to furrender the ifland ; with which, knowing its defencelefs ftate, and his" utter in- ability to make any effectual refiftance, he thought it prudent with- out delay to comply : And thus the ifland of St. Euftatius, with all its *8o - HISTORY OF THE 9 c H A P. its ftores of merchandife, was furrendered at discretion to the Britifli XXXIX; v- v ' navy and army. The value of the merchandife thus furrendered 1781. Capture of was fuppofed to amount to four millions ; and whatever parts of it ifiandSt C u- belonged to the Dutch, the French, or the Americans, unqueftion- became lawful prize to the captors. But feveral Britifli agents having fettled there for the purpofe, as they pretended, of purchafmg American produce under the implied fandtion of an at of parlia- ment, it became a queftion, whether the property of fuch perfons, eonfidered as inhabitants of St. Euftatius, was or was not fubjeft to confifcation. Perhaps fome diftinction ought to have been made be- tween thofe Britifli agents, who had bonajftde fettled in St. Euftatius for the purpofe aforefaid, and thofe who were alfo concerned in car- rying on an illegal intercourfe, either with the revolted fubjects of Great Britain, or her open and avowed enemies ; and pofTibly it was not an eafy matter to make the proper difcrimination. However this might be, the proceedings of the Britifli commanders with re- fpecl: to the property of fuch perfons, became afterwards the fubjecT: of much controverfy in the courts of law, and of great vexation to the captors themfelves, in confequence of the oppofite decifions given by fome of the tribunals before whom the St. Euftatius prize caufes were fucceflively carried. A Dutch frigate of thirty-fix guns, five fliips 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 fhips richly laden, which had failed from St. Euftatius for Holland two days before its capture, were purfiied, overtaken, and brought back, together with their convoy, a (hip of fixty guns, commanded by an admiral. The furrender of St. Euftatius was followed by that 'of the iflands of St. Martin and Saba in its vicinity ; and the Dutch colours having been kept flying upon the forts of the captured iflands for fome time after the furrender, a number of French, American, and Dutch. veflel* AMERICAN WAR. 281 vefiels were decoyed by the fnare, and became an eafy prey to the C X xxix P * nev/ pofTeffors. < * ' 1761. After the capture of St. Euftatius, general Cunningham, gover- nor of Barbadoes, fent a fummons, by captain Fender, of his ma- jefty's Hoop Barbuda, to the inhabitants of the Dutch fettlements upon the Spanifh main bordering on the river Demarary and IfTe- and of De- , marary and quibo, informing them of that event, and requiring them to fur- Iffequlbo, render to his majefty's arms. Thefe were new fettlements, but from me u t *in the" the richnefs of their foil of great future expectation. Being totally unprovided for defence, the inhabitants, in anfwer to the fummons, fent a deputation to governor Cunningham, with an offer to fur- render upon the fuppofed terms granted to St. Euftatius. In the mean time a fquadron of Britifh privateers, chiefly belonging to the port of Briftol, upon hearing of the Dutch war, united their force, and boldly entering the rivers Demarary and Iffequibo, cut out even from under the Dutch forts and batteries, and brought off, almoft all the Dutch fhips of value in either river. The deputies fent fromthefe fettlements to governor Cunningham, of Barbadoes, were by him referred to fir George Rodney and general Vaughan at St. Euftatius, who difdaining to take any advantage of the improvident offer of the inhabitants to lhare the fame fate as the people of St. Euftatius, and thinking that a line of diftinction ought to be drawn between the inhabitants of thofe Dutch colonies, who, previoufly to the com- mencement of hoftilities againft Holland, had openly aflifted the ene- mies of Great Britain, in violation of the treaties fubfiftirig between the two nations, and fuch as, occupied in their own domeitic affairs, had given no fuch provocation, granted to the deputies, terms of capitulation fufficiently liberal, by which the inhabitants of thofe fettlements were fecured in the full pofTefiion of their civil govern- ment and private property. VOL. II. *8* HISTORY OF THE C H A F. Whilft fir George Rodney remained at St. Euftatius, and before XXXIX he had finifhed the variety of bufmefs in which he was involved, by fyf the capture of that ifland, the difpofal of the rnerchandife found in it, and the claims of the Britifh merchants, advice was brought to him of the failing of count deGrafle from Breft, with the French fleet deftined for the Weft Indies. Upon receiving this intelligence, fir Samuel Hood and rear-admiral Drake were immediately difpatched to wind- ward with eighteen (hips of the line, to endeavour to intercept and bring the count de Grafle to action, before his force was increafed by the junction of the French fquadron already at Martinique. April. Thefe admirals accordingly proceeded to Fort Royal Bay, off which they cruized until the twenty-eighth of April, when the advanced {hips announced by fignal the approach of the French fleet. A ge- neral chafe 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 ftill to wind- ward, and the convoy clofe in with the land : It was of courfe in the power of the count de Grafle, by bearing down, to engage when he pleafed ; but he kept at a diftance, and avoided an engagement. Every exertion was made by the Britifh commanders to bring him to action, and in the courfe of the various evolutions practifed by them with this intention, the French fquadron in Fort Royal Bay un- fortunately found an opportunity of coming out and joining their admiral. By the junction, he acquired a fuperiority of force over the Britifh fleet, in the proportion of twenty-four to eighteen, but ftill ayoided a clofe engagement. The endeavours of the'jBritifh commanders to come up with him were neverthelefs unremittingly continued ; and they fo far fucceeded, as to bring on a partial ac- tion. Only the van and fome fhips of the centre of the Britifh fleet could _ - AMERICAN WAR. 283 could get near enough to engage ; and in their ftruggles to clofe with the enemy, they were for a confiderable time expofed to a great fuperiority of fire, and fuftained much damage. The lofs of men was not great ; but at the end of the engagement, which lafted about three hours, the Ruffel was found to have received fo many {hots between wind and water, that {he was obliged to bear away for the ifland of St. Euftatius to refit : Four other {hips were alfo much difabled. The enemy did not efcape without damage ; but their fuperiority of force ftill remained. The next morning fir Samuel Hood endeavoured to gain the wind of the enemy, that he might engage with lefs difadvantage ; but it was to no purpofe. At laft,. finding all his efforts ineffectual, and feveral of his {hips fo crippled as to be unfit for immediate action, he bore away for Antigua to get them refitted, and was followed by the count de Grafle, with th whole French fleet. The next day fome {hips in the rear of the Britim 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- folute a ftand, that the count de Grafle, notwithstanding his great fuperiority, did not dare to perfift in the attempt ; but foon after- wards gave over the purfuit, and returned to Martinique. Whilft the Britifti fleet proceeded to Antigua to refit, an attempt was made by the French to regain poffeflion of the ifland of St. Lucie. In May., the night between the tenth and eleventh of May, a force from Mar- tinique, commanded by the vifcount Damas, acting under the orders of the marquis de Bouille, who accompanied him, landed upon the ifland in three different places, and early the next morning furprifed the town of Gros Iflet, and made prifoners fome fick of the forty- fixth regiment that were in the- hofpital. Pigeon Ifland, which commanded the anchorage-ground in Gros Iflet Bay, and was garri- foned by a company of the eighty-feventh regiment, under the com- mand of captain Campbell, and fome feamen under the direction of O o 2 lieutenant .8 4 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, lieutenant Miller, of the navy, was immediately fummoned to fur- f r r c t~ i. -y- ./ render, with a threat, that the garrifon, in eafe of refufal, might ex- pect to fufFer all the feverities 'authorifed by the laws of war : But captain Campbell, the commanding officer, bravely bid defiance to the enemy, and refolved to defend his poft to the lafb extremity. On the day after the landing of the troops, the count de Grafie ap- peared with twenty-five {hips of the line, and flood in for Gros Met Bay, as if with intention to anchor ; but was foon obliged to alter his defign, and fall to leeward, in confequence of a well-di- rected fire from the batteries on Pigeon Ifland. In the mean time general St. Leger, who commanded at St. Lucie, had made a moft judicious difpofition of his little force for the defence of the ifland : And the fortunate arrival of a frigate and two floops of war, fup- plied him with a reinforcement of feamen to affift in manning the Frultlefs at- batteries. So determined an appearance of refiftance entirely difcon- tempt of the . French on certed the views of the French commanders, who had expected an eafy conqueft. The enterprife was in confequence abandoned : Their troops were re-embarked in the night : And the next morning their whole fleet returned to Martinique. This fruitlefs attempt upon St. Lucie was followed by another againil the ifland of Tobago, which proved more fuccefsful. A fmall fquadron of {hips 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 ifland, did not exceed five hundred men of all denominations, including regulars, militia, and fome armed negroes. With thefe governor Fergufon took a ftrong pofition on Mount Concordia, having firft difpatched an advice-boat to Barbadoes, with intelligence of the attack. Mount Concordia was an eligible fuuation, becaufe from thence both fides of the ifland might AMERICAN WAR. 285 might be diftinctly feen ; and in this pofition the governor, and C x 9 x f x P * major Stanhope, who commanded the regular troops, defended < % -* themfelves until the firft of June. Immediately after the landing of June, the French troops, a fummons was fent to the governor to furrender the ifland, and an offer was made to grant the moft favourable terms ; but both were inftantly rejected. Threats were then made, that unlefs the militia returned to their homes, their plantations would be burnt : But thefe alfo were difregarded. The fieur Blanchelande, feeing fuch a mew of refiftance, difpatched a veflel to Martinique, requefting a reinforcement. His requeft was inftantly complied with : And a powerful reinforcement, commanded by the marquis de Bouille in perfon, and accompanied by the count de Grafle, with the whole French fleet of twenty-five mips of the line, arrived at To- bago on the thirty-firft of May. Upon the arrival of the French fleet with this reinforcement, a council of war was held between the governor and his garrifon : And the engineers being of opinion that Mount Concordia was no longer tenable againft fo fuperior force, a refolution was unanimoufly taken to retreat to a ftill ftronger pofi- tion upon the main ridge, the approach to which was by a road of fome miles in length, fo narrow that two men could not walk abreaft, and inacceflible' on each fide by impenetrable forefts. la purfuance of this refolution the garrifon left Mount Concordia at one in the morning of the firft of June, unperceived by the enemy, and without moleftation 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 ftorming the Britifh lines at Mount Concordia on the fame morning on which the garrifon had evacuated them. And as the marquis de Bouille, in confequence of the great fuperiority of his force, entertained no doubt of the fuc. cefs of the attack; ib his difappointment was extreme, upon finding that 2bT> HISTORY OF THE garrifon had efcaped to an inacceflible part of the ifland, where his own numbers could not avail, and where they might de- fend themfelves with eafe againft any force, fo long as their provifions lafted. His chagrin on this occafion feems to have betrayed him into unufual ats of feverity, inconfiftent with his former character for lenity and moderation. Fearful left the garrifon fhould hold out until the arrival of the Britifh fleet, which might fruftrate the whole expedition, he began to execute the threats made by the fieur Blanchelande. Two of the neareft plantations were immediatelyfet on fire : An order was iflued to burn four more within the fpace of four hours ; and a flag of truce was fent to acquaint the governor and inhabitants, that the like execution would be repeated every four hours, until the ifland fhould be furrendered. Thefe ruinous devaftations overcame the firmnefs of the militia. To fave 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 reprefented the natural Jtrength of the poft which they now occupied, and urged them to perfift in the defence of the ifland until the Britifh fleet mould coins *to their relief. They had already held out for more than a week againft a very fuperior force, in daily expectation of relief: They had alfo by this time received information that a reinforcement coming to their affiftance had been obliged to put back on account of the ar- rival of the French fleet. They defpaired of further relief; and they faw their habitations in flames. Under fuch circumftances no remonftrances of the governor could prevail ; and in order to obtain better terms for the inhabitants, he was at laft obliged to yield, and join in a meafure which he could no longer prevent. A treaty for a capitulation was entered upon, and terms were obtained for the inha- bitants, not lefs beneficial than thofe granted to the inhabitants of Pominica. The difference of opinion, that had taken place between the AMERICAN WAR. 287 governor and the commanding officer of the troops, was the caufe of their acting feparately in the treaty opened with the marquis de Bouille ; the terms which refpected the inhabitants being fettled by The ifland the governor with their concurrence, and thofe regarding the regular troops by major Stanhope, without the participation of the go- the French. vernor. In the mean time the fhips of the Britim fleet, that had been dif- abled in the late aclions between vice-admiral fir Samuel Hood and the count de Grafle, having been repaired, and fir George Rodney having as expeditioufly as poflible joined the vice-i^dmiral with fuch mips as had remained with him at St. Euftatius, the whole fleet, then amounting to twenty mips of the line, proceeded under hi* command to Barbadoes, where it arrived on the twenty-third of May, the fame day on which the French armament had firft appeared off Tobago. Governor Fergufon's difpatch-boat with advice of that ar- mament, and the attack on Tobago, reached Barbadoes early in the morning of the twenty- feventh ; and on the following day, admiral Drake was difpatched to its relief, with fix mips of the line, three frigates, and fome tranfports, having on board the fixty-ninth regi- ment, 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 foon as admiral Drake difcovered the enemy's fleet lying between him and the Lfland, he returned to Barbadoes, in pur- fuance of his orders, not to rifque his fquadron againft a fuperior force. Sir George Rodney now put to fea with the whole fleet; but before he reached Tobago, the ifland had furrendered. A train of unfortunate circumftances feems to have led to this event. The ifland might probably have been faved, had fir George Rodney failed wii^ faj^ whole fleet to its relief as foon as he was ap- $ prized 2 88 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, prized of its danger, inftead of fending only a fquadron of fliips XX.XIX. v ...j with a reinforcement. The previous intelligence conveyed to the inhabitants, that admiral Drake was on his paflage with this reinforce- ment, rendered the difappointment greater, when they found that he was obliged to put back, and, added to the burning of their plant- ations, threw them into a ftate of defpair. But even after all thofe unlucky circumftances, had there been a more cordial co-operation between the governor and the commander of the troops, it is polfible 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 furrender, fuch was the nature of the defile, according to governor Fergufon's defcription, that the re- gulars themfelves might have defended it againft any force, until the arrival of fir George Rodney. On the fecond of June, the capitu- lation for Tobago was figned ; and on the fourth fir George Rod- ney with the Britiih fleet appeared 'in fight of it. The Britim admiral, after receiving intelligence of the furrender, flood to the northward, and on the fifth of June came in fight of the French fleet lying to leeward between him and the Grenadilles. Towards the evening the two fleets, fteering both the fame courfe, ap- proached each other. Sir George Rodney, however, although to windward, did not think fit to bear down upon the enemy, left he ihould have got entangled amongft the iflands of the Grenadilles, and by the currents been driven to leeward into the channel between Grenada and the Spanim main; whilft the French fleet could fhelter itfelf in the harbours and under the batteries of that ifland, and thus gaining a windward fituation, endanger the fafety of Barbadoes be- fore the Britim fleet could beat up to its afliftance. But, as he trufted that the French, from their fuperiority, might be induced to follow him, and thus be led into a track where there would be more fea-room and lefs danger of being driven to leeward, he kept on his 3 courfe AMERICAN WAR. courfe to windward of St. Vincent's, and gave orders for all the c ** lights of his fleet to be made as confpicuous as poffible during the 1 78 1 night, that the enemy, if they were difpofed to engage, might know that their whiles in the morning would not be difappointed: In the morning, however, the 'enemy's fleet was not to be feen. In the night it had tacked and fleered for Courland Bay, in Tobago ; and during the remainder of the fummer, the count de Grafle, notwith- ftanding his fuperiority of five fhips of the line, cautioufly avoided to rifque a general engagement. . :S-A*.' VOL. II. P p o6s HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XL. trfs-.^Y? - f nlfji5M i htjflf;V-f]-:>i . fyf& Reduction of Penfacola by the Spaniards Tyfo combined Fleets of France and Spain, to the Amount of f evenly Sail^ threaten Dejtruc- tlon to the marine Force of England 'The Britifh Admiral^ 'with twenty-one Ships of the Line, prudently retires into Tor bay where the Enemy do not think it advifable to attack him Caufes 'why the Combined Fleets enjoyed a temporary Superiority over that of Great Britain AcJion between a Britijh and a Dutch Fleet ^ near the Dogger Bank Britijh Armament fent againft the Dutch Settle- ment at the Cape of Good Hope attacked by the French Admiral Suffrein The Dutch Garrifon at the Cape reinforced by the French Commodore Johnftone makes Prizes of four Dutch Eajl India- men The Britijh Armament under General Meadows fails for the Eajl Indies Invafwn of the Carnatic by Hyder Ally Defeat and Difajler of a Britijlo Detachment under Colonel Baillie Ravages committed in the Carnatic by Hyder Ally The Command of the Britijh Army in the Prefidency of Madras committed to Sir Eyre Coote Operations of the Brit'if!) Fleet in India. CHAP. TT7HILST the French were thus availing themfelves of the em- l_ - -' . barrafled ftate of Great Britain, to wreft from her her Weft- I7Sl * India iflands, the Spaniards were employed upon the continent of America, in recovering the pofleilions which had been taken from them in the former war. In each of the two preceding years, as we have already feen, they had conquered a part of Weft Florida ; and in the prefent year the conqueft of the whole province was at- chieved AMERICAN WAR. 291 chieved by the reduction of Penfacola. Don Bernardo deGalvez,intent CHAP, on making this conqueft, went from New Orleans to the Havannah, in v y 1 1781. the fall of the preceding year, to folicit a force that might be adequate to Redu'aion of the purpofe. In confequence of his reprefentations the expedition was undertaken, but the firft fleet that failed was difperfed by a ftorm, fome ards> of the {hips loft, and the reft obliged to return in diftrefs. The perfeverance 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 fix thoufand men, with a large train of artillery, was embarked on board tranfports j and the whole, under the convoy of fome fhips of war, having failed frpm the Havannah in the month of February, arrived in fafety off the bar of Penfacola on the ninth of March. General Campbell ftill .commanded the Britifh troops in Weft Flo- rida : But, reduced as they had been by the capture of lieutenant- colonel Dickfon's detachment on the Mifliflippi, and the garrifon under captain Durnford at Mobille, they did not -at this time exceed nine hundred and fifty men, confuting of Britifh regulars, German* auxiliaries, part of two provincial regiments, and fome militia. Notwithstanding the great difparity of' force between the befiegers and the ganifon, the Spanifh general thought fit -to fend for a rein- forcement. In the mean time the troops that" lie had with him were landed, and the Britifh works at Penfacota regularly inverted. After fome time the expected fuccours arrived, part of the Spanifh gar- rifon of Mobille having marched acrofs the country to join in the fiege, and a fleet of fifteen fhips of the line, under the command of Don Solano, having arrived from the Havannah,- with an addi- tional land force of three thoufand men. Although the defence made by tae garrifon was brave and fpirited, and the progreis of the befiegers hitherto proportionally flow ; it was apparent, from the force with which it was invefted, that the place muit ultimately fall: P p 2 But HISTORY OF THE A p - But its fate was unexpectedly precipitated by thebafenefs and perfidy J, of a traitor. A man of the name of Cannon, formerly an officer in 1 78 1 one of the provincial regiments in garrifon at Penfacola,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 foon 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 flate and fituation of all the Britifh works, and were thus enabled to direct their fire towards thofe quarters where it was likely to produce the greateft efFect. Indefatigable in his traiterous purpofe, he ufed to climb to the top of a tall pine- tree^ commanding a view of the Britifh works, from whence he was enabled to inform the Spanifh bombardiers where the {hells dil- charged from their mortars took efFect, and whether near or at a diftance from the Britifh magazines. Thus inftructed, and improved by repeated trials, they acquired fuch a knowledge as at length enabled them to do fatal execution. On the morning of the eighth of May, f fhell burfling at the door of a magazine in one of the advanced works, fet fire to the powder within, which in an inftant reduced the whole redoubt to a heap of rubbifh. By the explofion feventy- fix of the garrifon loft their lives, and twenty-four were badly wounded. The enemy immediately advanced to take advantage of the confufion ; but were repulfed in their firft attempt by thefirefrom 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 repulfe procured a fhort refpite to the garrifon, during \vhich thofe who had been wounded by the explofion were carried off, fome of the cannon re- moved from the flank works, which it was now judged necefiary to evacuate, and the reft fpiked up. The enemy, however, again ad- vanced in greater force, and under cover of the flank works, which 2 had AMERICAN WAR. 293 had been abandoned, kept up fo hot a fire of mufquetry upon ano- c HA P. ther redoubt, that the men could no longer ftand to their guns. * > -J There was alfo, it feems, a fcarcity of ordnance mot in the garri- fon, from the great number that had been already expended. Under thefe circumftances general Campbell thought fit to capitulate ; and thus the province of Weft Florida was once more re-annexed to the Spanifh dominions. In thefe military operations abroad the French and Spaniards acted feparately, but in Europe they undertook a joint expedition againll the ifland of Minorca. The plan of the expedition had been laid in the beginning of the year ; but the neceflary preparations delayed the execution of it until the middle of fummer. After the return of the Britifh fleet from conveying fupplies to Gibraltar, and whilft it cruized near our own coafts, for the protection of the homeward- bound trade, a French fleet of eighteen fhips of the line failed from Breft towards the end of June, and in the following month joined the Spanifh fleet at Cadiz. At Cadiz was prepared the principal ar- mament deftined againft Minorca: It confifted of ten thoufand men, ' with a fuitable train of artillery, and was commanded by the duke de Crillon, a French general of great reputation. When every thing was in readinefs, 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 fafety at Minorca. On the twentieth of Auguft the Spanifh troops were landed, and being foon afterwards joined by fix thoufand French from Toulon, St. Philip's Caftle, the principal fortrefs of the ifland, was regularly inverted: But, as the duration of the fiege was pro- tracted, in confequence of the brave defence made by the garrifon, until the month of February 1782, the account of its progrefs and termination will more properly belong to the tranfactions of that year, The 294 HISTORY OF THE C f H A P. Th e combined fleets having convoyed the armament againft Mi- J norca as far as the ftraits of Gibraltar, and feen it fafely into the o The com- Mediterranean, altered their courfe, and failed for the coafl of Eng- lanc *> with orders to fight the Britifh fleet. Arriving off the mouth Spam, to the o f ^he channel, they extended theinfelves in a line acrofs it from the amount or le- venty fail, iflands of Scilly to Ufhant, amounting in all to feventy fail, fifty of to them being of the line, and fome of thefe of the largeft rate. The of Eno-1 attention of all Europe was again directed to the operations of fo powerful a fleet, and the deftruction of the marine force of England The Britifh was confidently expected : But the race is not always to the fwift, admiral, with in *. t ^ r\ i twenty-one nor the battle to the Itrong. Admiral Uarby, who was then cruizing t- in* the channel, with only twenty-one {hips of the line, having for- mt tunate ty met w ith a neutral ,veflel that had pafled through the com- bined fleets a few days before, received from her information of their approach, as well as of their great ftrength, and prudently with- drew into Torbay, to wait for a reinforcement. In this fituation the enemy, vaft as their fuperiority 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, the fecond in command of the Spanifh fleet, were eager to make the attempt, but in a council of war, held for deliberating on the fub- ject, their opinions were over-ruled by a great majority. The de- think is ad- fign of attacking admiral Darby in Torbay being given up, the corn- attack him. manders of the combined fleets next turned their whole attention to in- tercepting the homeward-bound Britifh trade, but met with no fuccefs. The crews of their fhips being fickly, and their fhips themfelves in bad condition, the ftormy month of September quickly obliged them to put an end to their cruize. Early in that month they feparated, the fleet of France fleering for Breft, and that of Spain for Cadiz, where they feverally arrived much fhattered and difabled. In the mean time great apprehenfions were entertained in England for the fafety AMERICAN WAR. 295 H A XL. fafety of the homeward-bound convoys, more efpecially as admiral ( t A P. Darby was prevented from failing by contrary winds, for fome time after he received his reinforcements : But fortunately none of the merchant fleets that were expected, arrived upon the coaft until after the combined fleets had feparated and returned to port ; and by the time of their arrival, admiral Darby, with thirty fhips of the line, was at fea for their protection. By the various fervices, upon which, in confequence of the ex- Caufes why tenfion of the war, it became neceflary to employ feparate fquadrons, the grand channel fleet was unavoidably weakened ; and the com- bined fleets thereby obtained a more confiderable temporary fuperi- over that of ority. The war with Holland required that a fquadron fhould be tain. fent into the north fea, as well for the fafety of the Britifh trade to the Baltic, as for the obflruction of that of the Dutch. This fqua- dron confifted of an old eighty-gun fhip, that carried no heavier metal than a fifty, an old fixty-gun {hip that had been difcharged, but was lately refitted for fervice, two feventy-fours, a fixty-four, a fifty, a forty-four, and four frigates ; and the command of it was given to admiral Hyde Parker, a veteran officer of diftinguifhed bravery. Their Baltic trade being of the utmoft importance to the Dutch, they (trained every nerve to fit out a ftrong fquadron for its protection, which, when it went to fea, confifted of eight fhips of the line, and ten large frigates, under the command of admiral Zouttman. It fo happened, that whilft 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 fleet bound to the Baltic. The two fquadrons failing nearly in the fame track, and in oppofite directions, met upon the Dogger Bank on the fifth of Auguft ; and both without delay prepared for action, after taking fuch previous meafures as were neceflary for the fafety of their refpective convoys. One of the Dutch line-of-battle fhips 3 had, 296 C H 1 A&ion be- tween a 13ri- tifti and Dutch fleet near the Dogger Bank. HISTORY OF THE A p - had, from fome caufe or other> returned into port, but a forty-four gun fhip, carrying heavy metal, being fubflituted in her room, ad- miral Zouttman's line flijl confided of eight mips of two decks : That of admiral Parker confifted only of feven, and of thefe one mounted only fifty, and another forty- four, guns. His two fmalleft frigates were fent off with the convoy, and the two largeft ftationed fo as to be in readinefs to tow off any of the mips of the line that might be difabled in the adion. The Britifh fleet being to wind- ward, of courfe bore down upon that of admiral Zouttman, who* unlike fome modern naval commanders, pradifed no manoeuvres to avoid a decifive engagement ; but rather feemed to court it', and pre- pared to difpute the day with his opponent by dint of hard fighting. No gun was fired on either fide, until the two fquadrons came fo near as to be within half mufquet-fhot, when admiral Parker, ranging alongfide the Dutch admiral, and the other fhips of his fquadron bearing down in like manner upon thofe of the enemy that were oppofed to them, the adion began and continued with unremitting fury for three hours and a half ; at the end of which both fleets were fo difabled, that neither of them could form the line and renew the adion. They lay-to for fome time, at a fmall diftance from each other, repairing their damages, when the Dutch admiral, with his convoy, bore away for the Texel ; and the Britifh fleet was fo difabled as not to be in a condition to purfue. Although no fhip was taken on either fide, this was by far the hardeft-fought battle of any that had yet happened by fea during the war. The obftinate refiftance made by the Dutch inconteftably proved that however much their navy, in a long courfe of peace, had been fuffered to de- cline, their officers and feamen poffefled the fame intrepidity and defperate valour as in the days of Van Tromp and De Ruyter : And although admiral Parker obtained no trophy of vidory, the gaining an advantage, with an inferior force, over fuch an enemy, was AMERICAN WAR. 297 was a fufficient proof that Britifh failors, when boldly led to action, c ** / without wafting their time in nautical manoeuvres, ftill fupported ' -v ' 1781. their claim to that pre-eminence by fea, which has been fo long the pride and boaft of the nation. That an advantage was gained by admiral Parker was very apparent, from the Dutch admiral being the firft that bore away: The object of his failing was alfo completely defeated, as the convoy which he had under his charge, was obliged to put back, and could not, after the action, proceed with fafety on their voyage. The Britifh fleet alfo fufiered much ; and the lofs of men was great. It amounted to one hundred and four killed, and three hundred and thirty-nine wounded, amongft whom were a number of valuable officers. But the Dutch fhips were fo niifera- bly torn and fhattered, that it was with difficulty moft of them were kept above water until they reached a port ; and the Hollandia, one of them, actually funk the night after the engagement, with all her wounded people on board. The lofs of men fuftained by the Dutch has never been publimed by authority : It was, however, known to be great, and, according to private accounts from Holland, amounted to near twelve hundred men. Befides the lofs of one of their capital mips, and the unfervice- able condition of forne of the reft, in confequence of the damage fuftained in the action, it was a grievous mortification to the Dutch to fee their Baltic convoy obliged to return, and one of the moft be- neficial branches of their commerce, for this year at leaft, entirely interrupted. But this was not the only remaining mortification . which the fortune of war in this eventful year fubje&ed them to bear. For not long after the adion with admiral Parker, intelli- gence arrived in Europe of the capture of five of their Eaft India fhips in Saldanha Bay, on the coaft of Africa, by a Britifh fquadron under the command of commodore Johnftone. VOL. II. Q^q Previous HISTORY OF THE ' c ** A p - Previous to the commencement of the Dutch war, this fquadron i - j was in fome ftate of preparation, and is faid to have been defigned i 781 to favour an infurrection in the Spanifh colonies of South America. And as in another part of this work the interference of foreign powers in difputes between a fovereign and his fubjects has been ge- nerally condemned, and pronounced to be illegal and unwarrantable, it will be proper in this place to obferve, that however true fuch an aflertion, generally taken, muft be admitted to be, yet the conduct of the Britifh miniftry,- had they executed the defign here afcribed to them, would have been fairly juftifiable upon the ground of retali- ation, after the Spaniards had taken a part in the war between Great Britain and her colonies, and actually affifted the latter in their oppo- fition. 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 deftined.to act againft the Dutch pofleflions at the Cape of Good fquadron confifted of one fliip of feventy-four guns, againft the another of fixty-four. three fifty-gun (hips, three frigates of thirty- Dutch fettle- J ment at the two guns, two Hoops of war, two cutters, a bomb-ketch and fire- Good Hope, fhip> two ordnance ftore-fhips, eleven tranfports, five victuallers and thirteen Indiamen. On board the tranfports and Indiamen was diftributed a land force confifting of. the fecond battalion of the forty-fecond regiment, with Fullarton's and Humberftone's regi- ments, of one thoufand men each, but all newly raifed, four com- panies from other regiments, and a detachment of the royal artil- lery. The land force was commanded by general Meadows, who * Two new regiments, of one thoufand men each, viz. the gSth and the looth, were com- pleted in January 1781, by William Fullarton, Efq. the author of the plan, the reprefentative of an ancient family of that name in Airfhire; and Mr. Makenzie Humberftone, ,a young gentleman of great hopes, of the family of Seafortlu had AMERICAN WAR. 299 had gallantly diftinguimed himfelf, as may be feen in a former part P HA P. of this work, in the fuccefsful defence of the poft of the Virgie u^~ M ^ againft the furious attack of the count d'Eftaing in the year 1778, With this fquadron, commodore Johnftone 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 deftination, without any material occurrence, until he arrived at St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd Iflands, there, on the tenth of April, anchored his fquadron in Port Praya Bay, for the purpofe of procuring fupplies of frefh water and provifions. As the iiland of St. Jago belonged to the Portuguefe, a neutral nation, Praya Bay was of courfe a neutral port : And by the law of nations the mips and veffels of either of the powers at war, when lying in a neutral port, are exempted from infult or moleftation by the others. In fuch a fituation no danger was apprehended, more efpecially as an enemy's fquadron was neither known nor fufpected to be in thofe feas; from whence it happened that commodore Johnftone's mips were fuffered to fpread themfelves about in the bay, without much order, and rather with a view to their own convenience in readily fupplying their wants, whereby much time would be faved, than for the purpofe of defence. In this ftate of fecurity they were fud- denly attacked on the lixteenth of April, by a fuperior French fqua- dron under monfieur de Sufi-rein. Although commodore Johnftone's expedition was to be a fecret one, it fufficiently appears from what hap- pened, that both the Dutch and the French had either by their faga- city penetrated into the intention of the Britifh miniftry, or by their emiffaries and fpies difcovered the real objecl of the expedition. The former, confcious as they were of the weaknefs of the garrifon at the Cape, and feeing in jJl their extent the ruinous confequenccs that would follow its capture, were neverthelefs unable to equip a fleet in time for its protection, and in their diftrefs applied to the QJJ 2 French ^ A P. French for affiftance: And the latter, in order to give an earned of JLjLM 1-- i-y good faith to their neV aflbciates in the war, readily complied with the requifition. A fquadron, fuperior in force to commodore John- ftone's, was with all difpatch fitted out at Breft, and failed from thence only nine days after the commodore left St. Helen's. The fquadron confifted of five (hips of the line, and feveral frigates, with a number of Eaft India (hips and tranfports, having on board a con- fiderable land force, and a train of artillery. Monfieur de Suffrein, who commanded it, received orders to counteract the operations of commodore Johnftone wherever he might happen to meet with him, but in an efpecial manner to provide for the fecurity of the Cape of Good Hope. With fuch orders he proceeded on his expedition, and having difcovered the Britiih fquadron at anchor in Port Praya Bay, took the fudden refolution of attacking it, although in a neutral port, expecting probably, in that fituation, to find it unprepared for action, and to obtain an eafy conqueft. In the former of thefe expecta- admiral Suf- tions he appears not to have been miftaken, but in the latter was grievoufly difappointed. When the alarm was firft given, at leaft fifteen hundred perfons are faid to have been abfent from the (hips of the Britim fquadron, employed in the neceflary fervices of wa- tering, fifhing, and embarking live-ftock, and other frefh provifions. The commodore's firft fignal was for all perfons to return from the fhore, which he enforced by the firing of a gun ; another was foon afterwards made to unmoor, and a third to prepare for adion. But the French commodore gave them little time for preparation. The appearance of his fquadron was firft communicated by fignal from the Ifis, lying near the mouth of the bay, between nine and ten in the morning; and before eleven monfieur de Suffrein, having fepa- rated from his convoy, entered the bay with five fhips of the line. In the Heros, of fcventy-four guns, he led the way, and, firing at the Ifis as he paffed, kept on his courfe until he was within a cable's length AMERICAN WAR. 301 length of the Monmouth and Hero, two of the largeft {hips of the CHAP. x. i ... Britifh fquadron, and there dropped his anchor; the next French u. - v ~ -J -_g. fliip that followed was the Annibal, which {hot a-head of monfieur de SufFrein, and there dropped anchor j the third, the Artefien, an- chored about the fame diflance aftern : And in this fituation they began a heavy cannonade, fprings having been pafled on their cables before they entered the bay. The other two French {hips, the Sphynx and the Vengeur, did not anchor, but ranged about the bay, firing at every fhip as they pafled, and endeavouring to board the merchantmen ; but in this they had little fuccefs. Notwithstanding the fuddennefs of the attack, the fire of the French fquadron was returned with vigour and efFecT; by fuch of the Britifh mips as could Tiring their guns to bear. Captain Alms, in the Monmouth, kept up a well-directed fire ; and from the Hero, captain Hawler iflued a conftant, awful, heavy difcharge of artillery. On board the laft of thefe {hips commodore Johnftone removed, foon after the beginning t>f the action, finding that the Romney, from her particular fitua- tion, was likely to have no great fhare in it: He was accompanied by general Meadows, and captain Saltern. Captain Paifley, in the Jupiter, by working hard from the beginning of the bufmefs, had got a fpring upon his cable, by which means every {hot from his fliip took effedl:. Even the Eaft India {hips, recovering after a time from their furprife, materially affifted in the action. It was not long before the Artefien, that had anchored aftern of monfieur de Suf- frein, quitted her ftation, and went out to fea, carrying with her the Hinchinbroke Eaft Indiaman. She had alfo boarded the Fortitude; but her decks were quickly cleared of Frenchmen by the gallantry of captain Jenkinfon, of the ninety-eighth regiment, who, with his company, poured in upon them a conftant and well-directed fire of mufquetry. They had afterwards the fatisfaction of taking out of the water, and faving two of the enemy, who in the conflict had been 302 HISTORY OF THE c ** A p * been forced overboard, and could not regain their own fhip by Jckjbj* fwimming. About three quarters of an hour after the commence- ment of the action, the French commodore, finding his fituatiou too hot to be longer endured, cut his cable and followed the Arte- fien* The Annibal, the only remaining French fhip, was now left as a mark to be fired at by every Britifh fhip that could bring her guns to bear upon her, and in a fhort time was reduced to an appa- rent wreck. Such a picture of diftrefs, it is faid, was fcarcely ever feen. Having remained in this fituation for near a quarter of an hour, her cable was either cut or fhot away, when the fhip turn- ing round on her heel, drifted out to fea before the wind, her mafts tottering, her yards hanging different ways, and her fails in rags. As fhe paffed along, her mizen-maft firft, and afterwards her main-maft, fore-maft, and part of her bowfprit, in fueceffion fell into the fea. After fhe got clear of the Britifh fhips, fame of her compa- nions took her in tow, and, to the furprife of every one, the An- nibal, notwithftanding her difabled fituation, had the good fortune to efcape. The commodore, after fummoning by fignals all his cap- tains, and receiving from them a report of the flate of their fhips-, ordered a purfuit ; and, in the Romney, was the firft that got out of the bay. He was followed in fucceffion by the reft of his fqua- dron, except the Ifis, captain Suttpn, who being employed in re- pairing; his damages, did not obey his fignal for near three hours, although it was enforced by the repeated firing of guns. It is to be remarked, that although the Ifis, lying near the mouth of the bay, had very little fhare in the action, fhe had fuftained fome damage from the fire of the French fhips as they pafTed and repaffed her. The Ifis having at laft come out, the purfuit was continued ; but fo much time had been already wafted in waiting for her, that before the commodore could come near the French fquadron the fun had fet, and the wind become boifterous, , If he difcontinued the pur- fuit, AMERICAN WAR. 303 H A XL. fait, the probability was, that monfieur de Suffre'm would reach the c ** A p ' Cape before him : If he continued it, and engaged as foon as he <__ t came up, an action in the night was liable to fo much uncertainty as fcarcely to be reconcilable with the main object of the expedi- tion : On the other hand, if he purfued, but deferred the engage- ment until the morning, he would in the mean time be led fo far to leeward after the French mips, which were running before the wind with all their fails fet, that it would be impoffible for him afterwards to beat to windward and rejoin his convoy, whereby the expedition would be at once fruftrated, and a valuable convoy left unprotected. A fituation prefenting fo many difficulties muft have been a trying one to any commander, but efpecially to one of the cqmmodore's impatience and irafcibility. However, after confidering the matter in every point of view, he determined to follow that courfe which feemed moft confiftent with the nature of his inftructions. This was, to rejoin his convoy without delay; which he effected with fome difficulty, after plying to windward for feveral days. The Hinchinbroke Eaft Indiaman was retaken the day after the engage- ment, with twenty-five Frenchmen on board ; and the Infernal fire-fhip, which had been alfo carried off by the enemy, was aban- doned by them in the night, and, after fome days, reached Port Praya Bay in fafety : So that monfieur de Suffrein retained no trophy to confole him for his repulfe. The lofs of men in this engagement was not fo great as might have been expected, confi- dering the clofenefs of the action, the fmoothnefs of the waterj and the crowded fituation of the mips. It amounted to forty-three killed, and one hundred and thirty-four wounded, including officers, and was fo equally divided, that almoft eveiy fhip in the fquadron and convoy bore a part. Some of the mips having been difabled, particularly the Hinchinbroke Eaft Indiaman, they were refitted 2 with 304 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. w ith all poflible difpatch ; and on the fecond of May the whole AJL** v.. M ~t fquadron failed from Port Praya Bay. As it was much to be feared that monfieur de Suffrein would reach the Cape before the Britifh fquadron, which might render an? attempt upon it not only extremely hazardous, but perhaps alto- gether impracticable, the commodore, on the twelfth of June, dif- patchcd four of his fmaller faft-failing veffels to proceed a-head of the reft of the fquadron, for the purpofe of gaining intelligence, with orders to rejoin him in a certain latitude. The detached fquadron, having proceeded to the fouthward of the Cape, for- tunately, on the firft of July, fell in with and took a Dutch fhip bound for Ceylon, laden with ftores and provifions, and forty thoufand pounds in bullion, which had left Saldahna Bay only a few ^rifon^at* ^ a y s before. From her they learnt that monfieur de Suffrein, with the Cape re- n i s fquadron, and part of his convoy, had arrived at the Cape on the French, the twenty-firft of June, where he had landed five hundred men to reinforce the garrifon, amongft whom were eighty or ninety artil- lery men. They alfo received information that five Dutch Eaft India fliips, 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 fquadron returned, and ort the ninth of July joined the commodore at the appointed place of rendezvous. A confutation was now held between the commodore and general Meadows, on the fubjecT: of the intelligence received by the Dutch prize ; and the attempt upon the Cape was given over as impracticable. At this confultation colonel Fullarton was prefent, and urged the moft forcible reafons for refuming (now that the de- fign againft the Cape had mifcarried) the original project of an attack on the Spanifh fettlements in South America j from whence they might afterwards proceed to the Eaft Indies, through the Pacific 3 Ocean. AMERICAN WAR. 305 Ocean : But the commodore determined either to take or deftroy c *J A p - JM,M the fhips that lay in Said ah na Bay. In profecution of this defign he fleered for the land, and, as he approached the fhore, took the pilotage upon himfelf, judging his diftance from it by the depth of water. So ably was this enterprife conducted, that the Britifh. fqua- dron, arriying off the mouth of the bay in the night, entered it with fo much rapidity, the commodore in the Romney leading the way, that although the Dutch Ihips were run a-fhore, and fet on* Commodore fire by their crews, as foon as they difcovered an enemy's fquadron, the boats of the Britifh fleet neverthelefs arrived in time to extin- guifh the flames in all of them, except the Middleburgh, on board men of which the fire raged fo violently that it was impoflible to fave her. It was now neceflary to tow the burning {hip to a diftance from the reft ; a work which was undertaken with alacrity, and performed with fuccefs, although with imminent danger, as {he blew up with a violent explofion in ten minutes after the boats quitted her. The other prizes were got afloat the fame evening. Both the French and Britifh commanders had fecondary objects to which their inftructions extended, befides what related to- the Cape of Good Hope. Monfieur de SufFrein, after providing for the fecurity of the Cape, was to proceed with his fquadron to the Eaft Indies : And the inftru&ions to the Britifh commanders imported, that after either the fuccefs or failure of the expedition againft the Cape, a certain. number of the fhips fhould be fent to the Eaft Indies, to reinforce fir Edward Hughes ; and in cafe of failure, part of the troops was alfo to be fent, and the remainder to proceed to the leeward iflands in the Weft Indies. But the intelligence received by the Dutch prize of the invafion of the Carnatic by Hyder Ally, and of the cutting off of -a ftrong detachment of Britifh troops under colonel Baillie, determined the Britifh commanders to deviate from their inftrudions, and inftead .of dividing the land force, to fend the whole to the VOL. II. R r Eaft 3 o6 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. E a ft Indies, to replace the lofs of colonel Baillie's detachment. Ac- u. ' * cordingly, the Dutch prizes, after being fitted for fea, were dif- T "" l ^ T The Britifh patched without a convoy to St. Helena; and the commodore hav- undereeneral ' lu accompanied the detachment of fhips bound to India with his Meadows whole force to the fourth degree of longitude beyond the Cape, Eaft ladies, there feparated 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 feparated by a ftorm ; and two of the prizes were unfortunately loft. In a former part of this work we have already feen that in the firft year of the war with the French, the power of that nation in India was almoft annihilated. After the taking of Pondicherry, the iflands of Bourbon and Mauritius, with the port of Mahie, on the continent of Afia, were nearly all the pofleflions that remained to them in that quarter of the world. Neverthelefs they contrived to maintain their influence with the native powers, and at length, by means of their emiflaries, to excite a powerful combination amongft them, which threatened deftru&ion to the Britifh intereft. During the courfe of the former war, the Englifh Eaft India company had acquired fo immenfe an extent of territory, and feemed ftill fo de~ firous of grafping at more, that the native princes were become jealous of their greatnefs, and fecretly wifhed the deftruction of their power. Many of them had alfo private grounds of difguflr, arifmg from the rapacity and unprincipled conduct of feveral of that company's fervants. From fome caufe of difference a war had broken out between the Englifh company and the Mahrattas, a fierce and warlike nation, and one of the moft powerful in Hindoftan.. The celebrated Hyder Ally Cawn, regent of the Myfore country, was at the fame time engaged in a war with the Mahrattas. But in confequence of the intrigues of French agents, means were found to- fettle the differences between thefe two powers, and inftead of being enemies, AMERICAN WAR. 307 , to unite them as friends. Hyder agreed to join the Mah- c ** A p - in, the war : Powerful fuccours were promifed to be fent from < the French, iflands of Bourbon and Mauritius : And in the end a confederacy againfl the Englifh was entered into between the Mah- ratta ftates, Hyder Ally Cawn, the foubah of the Decan, and the rajah of Berar, to which moft of the lefTer powers of Hindoftan were prevailed upon to accede. Hyder's country is feparated from ibe territories belonging to the India company by a chain of moun- tains called the Ghauts. From thefe mountains Hyder, in the month of June 1780, after making all neceflary preparations, de- fcended with an army of an hundred thoufand men, who fpread themfelves like a torrent over the country below. For a confidera- ble time before this invafion, intelligence had been repeatedly con- veyed from the frontiers to the prefidency of Madras, acquainting them with the hoftile difpofition manifefted by Hyder towards the Englifh, and his preparations for entering the Carnatic. But that board treated with contempt all fuch intimations, and had taken no fufficient meafures for the defence of the eftablifliment againft fuch an attack. Amongft other evils flowing from their fhameful indif- In*afio of . the Carnatwr ference and inexcufable negligence, this was not the leaft, that the by Hyder company's troops on the coaft of Coromandel had not been col- lected together, but were fuffered to remain fcattered about the country in different diftricts and garrifons ; from whence it happened that when Hyder made his irruption no fufficient army could im- mediately be brought into the field to oppofc him. When at lafl the appearance of Hyder's horfe, in the neighbourhood of the Mount, convinced the prefidency of the truth of their previous in- telligence, the troops in Madras and its neighbourhood were afTem- bled ; and thefe, after being joined by the troops from Pondicherry, under colonel Braithwaite, amounted only to fifteen hundred Euro- peans, and four thoufand two hundred fepoys, With this force, R r 2 and * HISTORY OF THE *tT A ^' anc ^ an artu< I er y f forty-two field-pieces, five cohorns, and four J\Ltf v - ' battering cannon, general fir Hector Monro marched front the Mount to Conjeverara, the largeft village in the Carnatic, fixty miles diftant from Madras, and thirty-five from Arcot, then befieged by the enemy. The march of fir Hector Monro to Conjeveram, as had been forefeen, obliged Hyder Ally to raife the fiege of Arcot ; and this fervice being performed, the Britifh general determined to remain, in his prefent fituation until he mould be joined by colonel Cofby, with a detachment of fifteen hundred fepoys, and fome ca- valry, then on his march from the Tanjore country, in the fouth,and by another detachment of three thouland men, including two com- panies of European infantry, and fixty European artillery-men, with ten field-pieces, under colonel Baillie, coming from the Guntoor Circar in the north. The progrefs of the laft of thefe officers to> the fouthward had been retarded, partly by the contradictory nature of the orders received during his march, proceeding from the fluc- tuating and uncertain ftate of the Englifh 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 emiflaries, had exact intelligence of the colonel's motions ; and difpatched his fon Tippoo Saib, with thirty thoufand horfe, eight thoufand foot, and twelve pieces of artillery, to attack him at Perambaucum, and, if poflible, prevent his junction with fir Hector Monro. Numerous as the troops compofing this detachment were, compared with the fmall force under colonel Baillie, the latter, neverthelefs, with his ufual gallan- try, and with great flaughter, repulfed them in various fierce attacks, that lafted for feveral hours. Still however the enemy hovered round him, with an apparent intention of renewing their attacks whenever there mould be a favourable opportunity i And as their numbers feemed to jncreafe, colonel Baillie became doubtful whether AMERICAN WAR. . 309 i A XL. he {hould be able to effect a junction, and acquainted the comman- c t A P. der in chief with his apprehenfions. This intelligence reached fir Hector Monro on the fixth of September, and, in the evening of the eighth, twelve hundred chofen men under colonel Fletcher were detached to reinforce colonel Baillie. Thefe 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 foon as they were perceived Defeat and *J . * i j r n f i r diiaiter of a to be in motion, the enemy brought iome guns to bear upon their Britifh de- left flank, which did considerable execution. Thefe guns captain Rumley, with a detachment, was ordered to ftormj but being pre- Baillie% vented from reaching them by an unfordable water-courfe that in- tervened, he was obliged to return without effecting his purpofe. In confequence of the fire of the enemy, and this unfuccefsful movement, fome confufion and diforder arofe amongft the fepoys, which determined colonel Baillie to halt .till the morning. In the mean time Hyder Ally, who received minute information of every thing that pafled, determined to take advantage of colonel Baillie's embarraffed fituation, 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 himfelf environed on one fide 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 fhort lime fixteen were opened upon his right from the army of Hyder Ally. The cannonade was brifkly re- turned by colonel Baillie, and the attacks of the irregular cavalry were fuccefsfully repulfed for an hour and a half, when, fome of the tum- brils unfortunately blowing up, the Britifh guns were filenced, partly from a fcarcity of ammunition, and partly from the number of ar- tillery-men that had fallen. The enemy, obferving the confufion I arifmg 3 io HISTORY OF THE CHAP, arlfing from the blowing up of the tumbrils, now advanced nearer, j?a,-Lj \,. , ,i and feeming in a particular manner to threaten colonel Baillie's rear, T "78 I he found it neceffary to detach for its fupport captain Ferrier's com- pany of European grenadiers. 7'his movement being made from the front towards the rear, the fepoys, who were unapprifed of the caufe, and probably conceived it to be a retreat, as foon as they faw the grenadiers in motion, began to follow in great diforder. The grenadiers halted : And every method was taken to reftore order, but in vain. The other fepoys, who lay under a heavy cannonade, upon obferving the confufion and retreat of their companions, be- came fuddenly panic-ftruck, and, throwing down their arms, fled to a fmall coppice-wood at fome diftance. The Europeans immedi- ately collecting, took pofleffion of a rifing ground, where they de- fended themfelves againft repeated attacks, whilft the enemy's horfe made dreadful havoc amongft the fepoys. It was hoped that the main army, under fir Hector Monro, might ftill come to their re- lief: And in the mean time fo bravely did this fmall body of men defend themfelves againft Hyder's hoft, that although he advanced, both with his horfe and foot, within fifteen yards, he found it im- poflible to break them. But at laft all hopes of fuccour being at an end, and many having already fallen, the Britifh commander, know- ing that it was impofiible for fuch a handful of men to maintain their ground much longer againft fuch a multitude, and willing to fave the few that remained, ftepped 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 fooner complied with, than the enemy rufhed upon them in the moft ferocious manner ; and numbers were inftantly put to the fword. Nor would the carnage liave ceafed, notwithstanding the furrender, but for the humane in- terpofition of two French officers, Lally and Pimoran, who at laft prevailed upon the barbarian Hyder. to fpare the gallant remains of 2 the AMERICAN WAR. 3 U * ~JL t ta * the Britim detachment. The monfter gave orders to ftop the fur- c HA P. ther efFufion of blood : But could the brave men, who were thus become his prifoners, have forefeen the unexampled miferies 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, fuddenly 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 diflance 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 Britifh general became apprehenfive for the fafety of the detach- ments, and took the refolution of moving that fame evening to their afllftance. Verbal orders to that effect, it is faid, were given; but unfortunately, from fome caufe 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 miftake of the guide, the army was led by a circuitous route feveral miles too far to the right, by which fome time was loft. When at laft it arrived within two mile* of the field of action, the firing was obferved fuddenly to ceafe ; and foon afterwards fome wounded fepoys being brought in, that had efcaped 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 Heps to Conje- veram ; HISTORY OF THE * veram ; and after the heavy cannon had been fpiked, and fuch of ' the baggage and (lores deftroyed as could not be eafily moved, he 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 Cofby and his detachment, who, although he had to march through a large extent of country, entirely over-run and pofTefied by the enemy, had the good fortune to arrive in fafety, and preferve his cannon and baggage. By the rapidity of his move- ments, he in fome meafure eluded the defigns of the enemy ; and whenever he was harafled by their cavalry, the well-regulated dif- pofition of his march, with the good countenance preferved by the officers and troops, prevented them from making any ferious im- preffion. Ravages By the retreat of theBritim army to the Mount, the whole country the Camatic was laid open to be ravaged at pleafure by Hyder and his irregular hoft. .Ally. 7 C The dominions of the Eaft India company on the coaft of Coro- mandel, which of late were fo extenfive, might now be faid to be confined to Madras, and a few miles round it, and to fuch forts and garrifons fcattered about in different parts of the country as were ftill occupied by the company's troops. To reduce thefe, Hyder now directed his attention. Arcot, the capital of the Nabob's do- minions, foon fell into his hands, the reduction of it being battened by the treachery of fome of the Nabob's principal fervants. Not long afterwards Carangooly and Gingee, with many other inferior pofts, were added to the lift of his conquefts. And the prefidency of Madras, of late fo full of fecurity, now dreaded all the horrors and- miferies attendant upon a fiege. They had already applied to the governor-general and fupreme council of Bengal for affiftance : And to the vigorous meafures adopted and profecuted by that board muft in a great meafure be at- tributed the favourable change which not long afterwards took place in AMERICAN WAR. 313 in the company's affairs on the coaft of Coromandel. General c ** A P. fir Eyre Coote, commander in chief in India, who was then at v. **' I78l Calcutta, was requefted to take upon himfelf the command of the army at Madras ; and in order to enable him to carry his plans into execution, independently of the Madras prefidency, who feemed defirous of thwarting all the meafures of the governor-general and commander in chief, he was furnifhed with fifteen lacks of rupees^ over which fum that board (whofe difpofitions tow,ards the gover- nor-general, and the majority in his council, were well enough known) were not to poifefs any control. Sir Eyre Coote was alfo empowered to take a feat,*a the council of Madras ; and Mr. White- hill, the prefident, was fufpended. The commander in chief, al though then fixty-three years of age> cheerfully confented to under* take the arduous charge thus committed to him, of endeavouring to reftore the profperity of the company's affairs on the coaft 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, BritHhannt five hundred lafcars, fome pieces of cannon, and a large fupply of !u ^fjrL provifions ; whilft ten battalions of Sepoys, with twenty pieces of dras j ill!/' -rk ' ted tofir Eyre cannon, were under orders to march by land from Bengal to the Coote. Carnatic. Iriftructions were alfo fent to general Goddard, who commanded the army acting againft the Mahrattas, to fend by fea to Madras as many troops as he could fpare. Sir Edward Hughes was folicited to block up Hyder's fea-ports on the Malabar coaft, and prevent him from receiving fupplies from the iflands of Bourbon and Mauritius ; and the government of Bombay received orders to make a diverfion on the fame coaft in favour of the war carrying on in the Carnatic, and thus alarm Jiyder for the fafety of his own do- minions. VOL. II, S s Sit 314 HISTORY OF THE C H^ A P. $ u - Eyre Coote arrived at Madras on the fifth of November, aircf ^LJ_< v v ' after furmounting many difficulties and obftacles, which either from the incapacity of the prefidency had not been forefeen, or from their negligence were not provided for, took the field in the beginning of the year 1781, with a fmall but well-appointed army, and an ex- cellent train of artillery. The fieges of Vellore, Wandewam, Parma- coil, and Chingliput, then blocked up by Hyder, were immediately raifed ; and he, with his whole force, retired to a guarded diftance. From this moment the company's affairs on that coaft began to wear a more favourable afpect : Some of the forts that had been furprifed were in a fhort time retaken : Hyder's ravages were neceflarily con- fined within narrower limits in confequence of the caution wish which he avoided an engagement: And by the Britifh com- mander's taking the field, the credit of the company's arms, which had been at a low ebb ever fince the defeat of colonel Baillie, was- reftored, and the difaffe&ion of the natives,, which had begun to be general, was in a great meafure reprefled. In the courfe of the year fir Eyre Coote found means to worft Hyder in feveral battles ^ and although the latter ftill 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 fervices expeded of him : B f r Jtifh fleet Hyder's ports on the Malabar coaft were not only blocked up, bui his n India. (hipping deftroyed at Calicut and Mangalore, two of his principal ar- fenals,and his hopes of becoming a maritime- power thus nipped in the bud. Towards the clofe of this year aLfo, the Dutch fort of Nega- patam, in the Tanjore country, the garrifbn of which had been rein- forced by two thoufand three hundred of Hyder's troops, was taken by a joint operation of the fquadron under fir Edward Hughes, and a land force under fir Hetor Monro, which the commander in chief was> AMERICAN WAR. 315 was enabled to fpnre, after the favourable change that had taken c ** A p - AMI place in the Carnatic. The immediate confequence of the fall of . L ^ ^ 1 7 R r Kegapatam was the evacuation of all the forts and flrong places pof- fefled by Hyder's troops in the Tanjore country and its borders. Such were the effects of the vigorous mealures adopted by the go- vernor-rgeneral and fupreme council of Bengal for the relief and aiTiftance of the Madras government ; and fuch the fucceffes that attended the company's troops under the aufpices 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, fee Memoirs of the late War (1778 84) in Afia : With a Narrative of the Imprifonment and Sufferings of our Officers and Soldiers, by an Officer of Colonel Baillie'i Detachment. Ss 2 16 HISTORY OF TH CHAP. XLI. Difaffeclion to Great Britain of the Southern Colonies The ErltiJJj Army under Lord Cornwall!* joined by a large Reinforcement under General Lejlie Aclion at the Cowpens, between General Morgati and Colonel Tarleton Colonel Tarleton defeated Confequences of Colonel Tar let on s Defeat The Army under Lord CornwaUis crojfes the River Catawba Lord Cornwallis, joined by the other Divi- fion of the Army under Colonel Webfter^ purfuts General Morgan A Junction formed between the two Divi/ions of the American Army General Greene driven out of North Carolina The Royal Standard erecJed at Hill/borough General Greene, again crojjing the Dan, re-enters North Carolina Lord Cornwallis falls back from Hill/borough^ and takes a new Pojition Effects of this retro- grade Movement Aclion near Guildford between Lord Gornwallis. and General Greene* CHAP. \X7E muft now return to North America, the grand theatre of i_ ,-'_j the war, where it firft began, and where the events of the prefent year were of fuch momentous importance as to produce a total change in the future conduct of it, and in effect to place with- in the grafp of the revolted colonies that independence and fove- reignty for which they had been fo long contending. From the be- ginning of the year 1779 the principal efforts of the Britifh arms were directed againft the fouthern colonies, not only as they were deemed the eafieft to be reduced, but as, from the nature of their productions^ hey were the moft valuable to the mother-country. 4 Georgia AMERICAN WAR. 317 Georgia was accordingly recovered in the year 1 779, and the pro- CHAP. A.JLi.1.. vince of South Carolina reduced in the year 1780. For fome months < -v ' T "78 r after the taking of Charleftown, the capital of South Carolina, there was in that province the brighteft profpect of returning peace and tranquillity. But too foon the fky became overcaft ; and it was per- ceived in the fouthern as it had been already experienced in fome of the northern colonies, that the inhabitants, after their fubmimon, and even whilft the Britifh troops remained amongft them, did not perform the duties of their allegiance without reluctance, and when left to themfelves, quickly reverted to their old courfes, and joined the ftandard of revolt. In the tranfactions of laft year we have Dlfaffeftion rr to Great Bri- endeavoured to affign fome motives for this verfatihty of conduct tain of the amongft the inhabitants of South Carolina ; but to whatever caufe lonies! their difaffettion was owing, it gave much trouble to earl Cornwal- lis, and greatly retarded his operations. The efficient army for diftant fervice was fo much weakened by the large detachments left behind for overawing the inhabitants, that a fmgle misfortune was fometimes fufficient to render an expedition abortive. In the fall of the preceding year the lofs of major Fergufon's detachment obliged lord Cornwallis to return from his northern expedition and fall back to Wynnefborough in South Carolina. Still, however, the projected movement into, North Carolina was deemed fo efTential, that he only waited for a reinforcement to renew it. The expected The Bntlfh army under reinforcement arrived at Charleftown on the thirteenth of December, lord Corn- It confifted of a large detachment of troops under general Leflie, by a large re- who, upon landing, received lord Cornwallis's orders to march without delay, and join him with about fifteen hundred men* The general accordingly, after waiting fome few days to procure horfes and waggons, began his march on the nineteenth of December. In the mean time general Greene, who had fucceeded Gates in the command of the American army, finding it difficult to procure a fufficient 318 HISTORY OF THE c J* A P. fufficient fupply of provifions in the neighbourhood of Charlotte, as that country had been already exhaufted ; and being fenfible that his prefent force was too weak to attempt any direct operation againft lord Cornwallis; refolved to divide it, and by defultory incurfions in different, and nearly oppofite quarters, to alarm and harafs the Britifh out-pofts on the frontiers of South Carolina. By fuch means his troops would be kept in action, and, traverfmg different parts of the country, would not only be more eafily fupplied with provifions, but might in their progrefs infufe fome fpirit into the militia, without whofe affiftance and co-operation he faw that he could do nothing effectual. Accordingly the light troops, confifting of three hundred infantry, under colonel Howard, one hundred and feventy rifle-men, under major Triplet, and feventy light dragoons, under lieutenant-colonel Wafhington, were put under the command of general Morgan, who was directed to proceed by the heads of the rivers to the weftern frontiers of South Carolina, and threaten the Britifh poft at Ninety-fix; whilft the reft of the army under general Greene fhould march to the Pedee, and alarm the country in front of Camden* Towards the end of December earl Cornwallis received informa-r tion of the divifion of the American army, and foon afterwards an account of the movements of general Morgan, who had pafled both the Catawba and Broad River, and was faid to be rapidly advancing to Ninety-fix. Upon receipt of this intelligence, lieutenant-colonel Tarleton was detached with the light and legion infantry, the fu- fileers, or feventh regiment, the firft battalion of the feventy-firft regiment, about three hundred and fifty cavalry, two field-pieces, and an adequate detachment of the royal artillery, in all about one thoufand men. He received orders to pafs Broad River for the protection of Ninety-fix, and either to ftrike at Morgan, and pufh him to the utmoft, or at leaf! oblige him to leave the country. i Morgan, AMERICAN WAR. 319 Morgan, in his march, had collected about four or five hundred CHAP. -A.-L1. militia, and upon his approach to the diftric~l of Ninety-fix, was \__ -.- '._/ joined by two hundred more,^ who had fled from the frontiers of Georgia when Augufta was taken poffeflion of by the Britifh 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 fuperior *. The Britifh army now proceeded to the north-weft, between Broad River and the Catawba. This route, leading to the back country, was chofen, that the army might the more eafily be enabled to pafs the great rivers in its way at the fords near their fource : It alfo afforded a profpeft of cutting off Morgan's retreat, if he fhould elude Tarleton, or at lead of preventing his junction with the army under general Greene: Nor was the Britifh general with- out hopes, that by following this courfe he might get between * Dr. Ramfay, in his Hiflory of the Revolution of South Carolina, charges the Britidi \vith feizing the property of the Americans ; and their commiflaries and quarter-mafters with taking provifions, and all other things wanted by the army, wherever they could be found, charging them, at the fame time, to the Britifh government. That peculation was carried on in fome departments of the Britifli army, and that many individuals made large fortunes in this way, cannot be denied. But this never took place, in any great extent, m the fouthern army. And the writer of this, who was commiflarytothearmy under lord Cornwaflis, takes the pre- fent occafion of repelling the calumniesof Dr. Ramfay, as far as they may relate to himfelf, 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 ferved. The commiflary, during the time when he was at the Congarees, employed in collec"ting provifions, and fettling refugee families on the deferted plantations of the Americans, without being fupported by any troops, or covering party, furnimed fupplies to the army at Wynnefborough and Camden, each poft being about forty miles from the Congarees. He had feveral mills to attend and feed daily, fome of which lay fix miles apart. The number of perfons employed by the commiflary in this fervice was about one hundred and twenty negroes, one ferjeant of the rift regiment, one cooper, and four infpectors or overfeers. When the campaign opened in January 1781, there was about fifty thoufand weight of meal packed and ready for ufe. The whole expence, as charged by the commifiary to government for this fervice, guides, exprefles, colle&ing, {helling, grindingj packing, wages, &c. did not amouot to one hundred pounds fterling. Greene's / ^o HISTORY OF THE CHAP. Greene's army and Virginia, and force him to an action before he T_ - i was joined by his expedted reinforcements. The detachment under general Leflie, which had been purpofely halted at Camden, until lord Cornwallis fhould be ready to march from Wynnefborough,the longer to conceal from the American general the road which the Britifh 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 Leflie, encumbered as they were with baggage and artillery, was greatly retarded by the fwelling of creeks and water-courfes. Thefe obflacles Tarleton alfo experienced; but having the command of light troops, he more eafily furmounted them, and probably overtook Morgan fomething fooner than was expected. The latter, after retreating over the Pacolet, made a {hew of dif- puting Tarleton's paflage by guarding the fords. Tarleton however, on the fixth of January, found means to pafs over his detachment within fix miles of the enemy's encampment ; and Morgan was obliged to make a precipitate retreat, leaving in his camp the pro- vifions that were dreffing for his troops half cooked. Tarleton ad- vanced and took .pofTeflion of the ground that had been left by the enemy only a few hours before. At three in the morning the march of the Britifh light troops was refumed in purfuit of general Morgan; the baggage being left under a guard compofed of a detachment from each corps, with orders not to move till daylight appeared. Tarleton, after a fa- tiguing march through fwamps and broken grounds, at length came in fight of the enemy about eight in the morning : Two of their videttes were foon 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 himfelf hard prefled by the Britifh troops, had refolved to hazard an adion rather than be overtaken in AMERICAN WAR. 321 in the ford of the river. With this view he drew up his force in c *J two lines, the militia under colonel Pickens forming the firft line, and the continentals, under colonel Howard, with the Virginia rifle-men, the fecond. Wafhington's dragoons, with fome mounted militia, were drawn up at fome diftance in the rear, as a corps of re- ferve. The ground which he occupied does not appear to have been well chofen: It was an open wood, and confequently liable to be penetrated by the Britifh cavalry : Both his flanks were expofed ; and the river, at no great diftance, ran parallel to his rear. In fuch a fituation he gave a manifeft advantage to an enemy with a fuperior body of cavalry ; and in cafe of a defeat, the deftru&ion of his whole detachment was inevitable. Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, upon receiving the intelligence com- municated by the videttes, refolved, without lofs of time, to make an attack upon the Americans. Advancing within two hundred and fifty yards of their firft line, he made a hafty difpofition of his force. The light and legion infantry, and the feventh regi- Aaion at the ment, were ordered to form in line, a captain, with fifty dragoons, being attached to each of their flanks ; and the firft battalion of Morgan and 9 colonel the feventy-firft regiment, and the reft of the cavalry, were directed Tarleton. to form as a referve, and wait for orders. This difpofition being fettled, Tarleton, relying on the valour of his troops, impatient of delay, and too confident of fuccefs, led on in perfon the firft line to the attack, even before it was fully formed, and whilft major New- marih, who commanded the feventh regiment, was pofting his officers : Neither had the referve yet reached the ground which it was to occupy. The firft line of the Americans bejng compofed of militia, did not long withftand the charge of the Britilh regulars : It gave way in all quarters, and was purfued to the continentals. The latter, undifmayed by the retreat of the militia, maintained their ground with great bravery ; arjd the conflict between them and VOL. II. T t the 322 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. t ] ie Britifh troops was obftinate and bloody. Captain Ogilvie, with _O- A j J. his troop of dragoons on the right of the Britifh line, was directed to charge the left flank of the enemy. He cut his way through their line, but being expofed to a heavy fire, and, at the fame time, charged by the whole of Wafhington's cavalry, was compelled to retreat in confufion. The Britifh referve now received orders to move forward; and as foon as the line felt the advance of the feventy-firft regiment, the whole again moved on. The continentals, no longer able to fland the mock, were forced to give way. This was the critical moment of the action, which might have been im- proved fo as to fecure to the Britifh troops a complete victory. An order, it is faid, was difpatched to the cavalry to charge the enemy when in confufion ; but if fuch an order was delivered, it was not obeyed ; and the infantry, enfeebled by their fatiguing march in the morning, through fwamps and broken grounds, and by their fubfe- quent exertions in the action, were unable to come up with the flying enemy. The critical moment loft on the one fide was eagerly feized on the other. The American commander, rinding that the Britifh cavalry did not purfue, gave orders to Wafhington to cover with his dragoons the rear of the broken provincials, whilfl he ex- erted himfelf to the utmoft to rally them. His endeavours fuc- ceeded : The continentals were rallied and formed, and now in their turn charged the aflailants. In diforder from the purfuit, and unfupported by the cavalry, fuch of the Britifh infantry as were fartheft advanced, receiving this unexpected charge, fell back in con- fufion, and communicated a panic to others, which foon became general. Wafhington charged with his cavalry j and a total rout enfued. The militia who had fled, feeing the fortune of the day changed, returned and joined in the purfuit. The Britifh infantry were foon overtaken, as the fame caufes which retarded them in the purfuit, now impeded their flight; and almoft the whole were either AMERICAN WAR. 323 either killed or taken prifoners. The two field-pieces were alfo C *J A P. yvljl. taken, but not till the whole of the artillery-men attached to them u . ,,; were either killed or wounded. It was in vain that Tarleton en- deavoured to bring his legion cavalry to charge and check the pro- grefs of the enemy : They ftill flood 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 feventeenth regiment of dragoons : At the head of thefe he made Colonel a defperate charge on the whole of Wafhington's cavalry, and drove f ea ted, 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, feeing nothing farther to be done, retreated with the remains of this fmall 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 efcaped was the guard left with the baggage, which had not reached the Cowpens at the time of the acYion : Early intelli- gence of the defeat being conveyed to the officer who commanded it, by fome friendly Americans, he immediately deftroyed whatever part of the baggage could not be carried off, and mounting his men on the waggon and fpare horfes, retreated to the main army unmo- lefted. Few of the legion cavalry were miffing : One divifion of them arrived the fame evening in the neighbourhood of the Britifli encampment, with the news of their defeat, and another under Tarleton, who in his way had been joined by fome ftragglers, ap- peared the next morning. The whole lofs of the Britifh troops, in this unfortunate affair, amounted to at leaft fix hundred men ; and of them near one half was either killed or wounded. The lofs of the Americans, according to their report of it, was fo fmall as fcarcely to deferve credit. It amounted to twelve killed, and fixty T t 2 wounded. 324 HISTORY OF THE c ** A p * wounded. During the whole period of the war no other action re- -X..LI. u- v~- -' fleeted fo much difhonour upon the Britifh arms. The Britifh were 1781 fuperior in numbers. Morgan had only five hundred and forty con- tinentals, the reft militia. Tarleton's force compofed the light troops of lord Cornwallis's army. Every difafter that befel lord Corn- wallis, after Tarleton's moft fhameful defeat at the Cowpens, may moft juftly be attributed to the imprudence and unfoldierly conduct of that officer in the action. It was afked, why he did not con- fult majors M' Arthur and Newmarfh, officers of experience and reputation, who had been in fervice before Tarleton was born ? Colonel Tarleton, in his Hiftory of the Southern Campaigns in America, admits that the ground on which Morgan formed had been defcribed with great perfpicuity to him. He alfo admits, that he had obtained a very accurate knowledge of Morgan's fitua- tion, and of the ground on which Morgan had drawn up his army. That there was every profpedt of fuccefs from the animation and alacrity of his troops; that his troops moved in a good line; that his fire was well fiipported, and produced much daughter; that the continentals and back woodfmen gave ground, and the Britifh rufhed forward ; that the ground which Morgan had chofen was difadvan- tageous for the Americans, and as proper a fituation for action as colonel Tarleton <:ould have wiflied : Under all thefe advantages in favour of Tarleton, and difad vantages againft Morgan, Tarleton is completely defeated and totally routed. Is it poffible for the mind to form any other conclufion, than that there was a radical defect, and a want of military knowledge on the part of colonel Tarleton ? That he poflefles perfonal bravery inferior to no man, is beyond a doubt; but his talents at the period we are fpeaking of never exceeded that of a partizan captain of light dragoons, daring in fkirmlmes. He could defeat an enemy in detail, by continually ha- raffing, and cutting off detached parties. The AMERICAN WAR, 325 The defeat of his majefty's troops at the Cowpens formed a very C H A P. A&n. principal link in the chain of circumftances which led to the inde- '- .> > pendence of America. Colonel Tarleton acquired power without any extraordinary degree of merit, and upon moft occafions exercifed it without difcretion. Nothing could be more unexpected by lord Cornwallis, than the news of Tarleton's difcomfiture. If he judged from the events of former actions, where the numbers were not fo equally balanced, and the difproportion much more in favour of the Americans, he had reafon to look for a victory inftead of defeat. The difappoint- ment was galling ; and the lofs of credit caft a made over the com- mencement of the expedition. But another confequence of the de- Confequences of colonel feat was of a ftill more ferious nature : The lofs of the light troops, Tarleton'a at all times necefTary to an army, but on a march through a woody and thinly fettled country, almoft indifpenfable, was not to be repaired. Deeply as his lordfhip was affected with the weight of this mif- fortune, and greatly as he faw his difficulties increafed by it, he neverthelefs refolved to profecute the original plan of the expedi- tion into North Carolina, as the only means of maintaining the Britifh intereft in the fouthern colonies. The reinforcement under general Leflie not having yet come up, the eighteenth of January was fpent in forming a junction with it; and on the nineteenth the army refumed its march. Some hopes were entertained that Mor- gan, incumbered as he was with prifoners, might ftill be overtaken between Broad River and the Catawba. But that active partizan, fenfible of his danger, quitted the Cowpens immediately after the action, and proceeding to the upper fords on Broad River, pafled it with his detachment and the prifoners. The wounded, who were unable to travel, were left behind under the protection of a flag of truce. From Broad River Morgan directed his courfe to the Ca- tawba, 326 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, tawba, and moved with fo much celerity that he reached It before JkJuMH U - t ~ / the Britifh army. Yet, fo clofely had he been purfued, that the advance of the Britifh troops arrived at the banks of that river in the evening of the twenty-ninth of January, only two hours after the laft of Morgan's corps had crofled. A heavy rain, that fell in the night, fwelled the river fo much as to render it impaflable the next morning ; and, as it continued fo for two days, Morgan had time to make an arrangement for difmcumbering himfelf of the prifoners, and fending them off under an efcort of militia, by a dif- ferent route from that which he propofed to take. Whilft the pri- foners 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 affift him in guarding the fords, prepared to dif- pute the paffage of the Britifh army. Previoufly to the arrival of the Britifh troops on the banks of the Catawba, lord Cornwallis, confidering that the lofs of his light troops could only be remedied by the activity of the whole army, refolved to deftroy all the fuperfluous baggage. By firft reducing the fize and quantity of his own, he fet an example which was cheerfully followed by all the officers under his command, although by fo doing they fuftained a confiderable lofs. No waggons were referved except thofe loaded with hofpital ftores, fait, and ammuni- tion, and four empty ones for the accommodation of the fick or woundeH*. And fuch was the ardour both, of officers and foldiers, and their willingnefs to fubmit to any hardfhip for the promotion of the fervice ; that this arrangement, which deprived them of ail future profpecl: of fpirituous liquors, and even hazarded a re- gular fupply of provifions, was acquiefced in without a murmur. *!U . '3 *H . : Li . '. ' -' ' i\ %8&f$'$tlt * The remainder of the waggons, baggage, and all the ilore of flour and rum, were d- ftroyed at Ramfour's Mill In AMERICAN WAR. 327 place of their rendezvous, and appeared not unprepared to receive him. Tarleton* neverthelejs, refolved to attack them^ and ani- mating his men with a fHnging recollection of the action at the Cowpens, made a furious charge upon the enemy, broke through their centre, killed near fifty J upon the fpot, and quickly difperfcd the whole. The gallantry of the guards in pafling the broad river Catawba, in the face of the enemy, and the fubfequent rout and difperfion of the militia, firft at the ford, and afterwards by Tarle- ton, at Tarrant's Tavern, made fuch an impreffion on the inha* f\ *"* * *-^ * Lieutenant-colonel Hall was killed in afcending the bank, after he had crofled the river. f The following accidents happened to the horfes of the general officers in pafling the river : Lord Cornwallis's horfe was (hot in the water, but did not drop till he reached the fhore. General Leflie'e horfes were carried by the rapidity of the flream fame diftance down the river, until his groom got upon a rock and held them. Brigadier O'Hara's horfe rolled over with him in the water : The brigadier, no doubt, was thoroughly wet from tbi accident, but received no other injury. $ This is Tarleton's account, page 226 of his Campaigns ; but a Britifh officer, who rode over the ground not long after the action, relates, that be did not fee tea dead bodies of the provincials in the whole, VOL. II. U u bitanti, HISTORY OF THE C HAP. bitants, that although the country between the Catawba and th& '_-.-. ,i Yadkin was deemed the moft hoftile part of North Carolina, the T Y& T army in its progrefs to the laft of thefe rivers met with no farther moleftation from the militia. General Greene had hoped, by guarding the fords with the light troops under Morgan, aflifted by the militia, to prevent lord Corn- wallis from pafling, until the other divifion of the American army, under Huger and Williams, mould have time to come up. But the Britifh general, by forcing a paflage in the manner already related, quickly put an end to his hopes. The guards flationed at the dif- ferent fords were accordingly withdrawn ; and the light troops under Morgan began a precipitate retreat towards the Yadkin. The other divifion of the Britifh army, under colonel Webfter, ty . l , he ot r h f pafled the Catawba at Beattie's Ford, in the courfe of the day, and divifionofthe J . , . . . army under at night joined lord Cornwallis's divifion, about five miles from the t ITT L ^^ ^ fter, purfues ford, on the road to Salifbury. Early the next morning the Britifh general I troO p S marc hed in purfuit 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 fecond and third of February, and with the afliftance of all the boats and flats that could be collected, completed the paflage of his corps, /with their baggage, by the following evening, except ; only a few waggons left under an cfcort of rifle-men. The rifle-men, after a flight refiftance, fled under cover of the night, and their waggons were of courfe taken, foi^efi 5 jfktfijn* v a do/Vbn ib/h vd baA The American cavalry had pafled by the ford of the river ; but a ^eavy rain that fell during the day, rendered the river unfordable by the next morning : The fame rain, by fwelling the creeks, and ipcreafing the badnefs of the roads, had alfo retarded general O'Hara on his march j and thus Morgan's detachment, from fortunate inci* . .dents, had another hairbreadth efcape. *" -All Ail , J fcscr, AMERICAN WAR. 331 All the boats and flats having been fecured by Morgan on the ( **.* p> other fide of the river, the river itfelf being imfordable, and conti- ^ %- ' nuing to rife, and the weather ftill appearing unfettled, lord Corn- wallis determined to march up the weftern banks of the Yadkin, and pafs by the ihallow fords near its fource. All hopes of prevent- ing the junction of the two divifions of the American army were now at an end ; but ftill another object, not lefs eflential, 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 prefent numbers. As much, therefore, as it was the intereft of general Greene to fecure his re- treat, and avoid an action, fo much was it that of the Britifh conv- mander to intercept him, and compel it, before he was joined by his reinforcements. The lower fords, upon the river that feparates North Carolina from Virginia, were reprefented to be impafiable in the winter feafon, and the ferries to be fo diftant that a fufficient number of flats could not be collected to tranfport the American army in any convenient time. Lord Cornwallis, mifled 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 feafon of the year was reprefented to be practicable. In the mean time the two divifions of the American army formed Ajun&K>n formed be- a junction at Guildford Court-houfe. A council of war was held: tweenthct^o And by their advice a retreat into Virginia, without hazarding an the American action, was finally refolved upon. In order the more eafily to army< effect this, a light army was formed of the beft of the American troops, amounting in the whole to about feven hundred men, who were directed to manoeuvre in front of the Britifh line of march, whilft the reft of the army, with the baggage, proceeded by the neareft route to Boyd's Ferry, on the Dan, Orders were fent for- r U u 2 ward HtSTORY OF THE CHAP. war d to prepare every thing neceffary for facilitating the pafTage, _j\ 1 .. I v - y - -i whilft general Greene marched on with all poffible difpatch. At laft he reached the Dan, and fo much had lord Cornwallis been mifin- formed as to the means of paffing the river, that the American troops, both the main and the light army, with their baggage, in- ftead of meeting with any difficulty or delay, were pafled over with eafe, at Boyd's and Irwin's Ferries, in the courfe of a fmgle day, the fourteenth of February. The light army, which was the laft in driven out of crofiinc;, was fo clofely purfued. that fcarcely had its rear landed, North Caro- _ . .- r i_ i lina. when the Britim advance appeared on the opponte banks ; and in the laft twenty-four hours it is faid to have marched forty miles. The hardihips fuffered by the Britim troops, for want of their tents and ufual baggage, in this long and rapid purfuit, through a wild and unfettled country, were uncommonly great ; yet fuch was their ar- dour in the fervice, that they fubmitted to them without a murmur, from the hope of giving a decifive blow to the American army, before it cr-ofled the Roanoke. And that the latter efeaped without fufFering any material injury, feems more owing to a train of for- tunate incidents, judicioufly improved by their commander, than to any want of enterprife or activity in the army that purfued. Yet the operations of lord Cornwallis, during the purfuit, would pro- bably have been more efficacious, had not the unfortunate affair at the Cowpens deprived him of almoft the whole of his light troops. The royal Lord Cornwallis, having thus driven general Greene out of the province of North Carolina, returned by eafy marches from the banks of the Dan to Hillfborough, where he erected the king's ftandard, and invited by proclamation all loyal fubjects to repair to it) and take an active part in affifting him to reftore order and con- ftitutional government. The loyalifts in North Carolina were origin- ally more numerous than in any of the other colonies: But the misfortunes confequent on premature rifings had confiderably thinned AMERICAN WAR. thinned 'them. Some had fuffered, others had left the country and c HA P. jSUli joined the -king's troops to the fouthward, and thoie who remained v. /- / were become cautious from the recollection of paft mifcarriagep. Their fpirits may be faid to havebeen broken by repeated perfecutions. Still, however, the zeal of fome was not reprefled ; and, influenced by them, confiderable numbers were preparing to aflemble, when ge- neral Greene, alarmed with the intelligence of their motions, and the prefumed effect of lord Cornwallis's proclamation, and being, about the fame time, reinforced with fix hundred Virginia militia, under general Stevens, took the- refolution of again croffing the Dan, and re-entering North Carolina. Even with this addition to General his numbers, he had no intention of hazarding an action ; but he forefaw that his return into the province' would check the rifmg fpirit amongft the loyalifts ; and he hoped, by means of his light Carolin a- troops, ' to interrupt their communications with the royal army. Lieutenant-colonel Lee, -with his legion, was detached acrofs the river on the twenty-firft of February, and the next day general Greene parTed it with the reft of the army. A number of loyalifts being ready to aflemble, under a colonel Pyle, upon the' branches of Haw River, lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with the cavalry, and a fmall body of infantry, was detached to- j .,'t wards that part of the country, to give countenance to their rifing, and to afford them affiftance and protection. The American colonel Lee, having alfo received intelligence of the propofed infurrection^ haftened with his/ legion towards the fame qbarter, in* 'order ..to" counteract Tarleton's operations, and, if poflible, intercept and crufh the loyalifts before their junction with the Britifh troops. The loyalifts affembled, and on the twenty-fifth of February were proceeding to Tarleton's encampment, unapprehenfive of danger> when they were met in a lane by Lee, with ms legion. The loy- alifts, unfortunately miftaking the American 'cavalry for Tarleton's dragoons, 334 HISTORY OF THE c ** A P. dragoons, allowed themfelves to be furrounded before they difco- v- "v -./ vered their error. When at laft it became manifeft, they called out 1 781 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 ihudders at the recital of fo foul a rfiafiacre : But cold and unfeeling policy avows it as the moft effectual means of intimidating the friends of royal government. ^i^9n rn " The country round Hillfborough being nearly exhaufted of pro- wallis tails & j back from vifions, and this forward pofition being thought too diftant, after and takes a ' the return of general Greene's army, for affording effectual protec- tion to the great body of loyalifts who rcfided between Haw and Deep Rivers, lord Cornwallis thought it expedient to retire from Hillfborough, and take a new pofiticn between thefe rivers, fo as effectually to cover the country in his rear. This was accordingly done ; and the Britifh army, after palling Haw River, encamped on Allamance Creek. The bulk of mankind being guided by external appearances, nothing could be more unfavourable to lord Corn- wallis^ prefent views than this retrograde movement upon the ap- proach of general Greene's army. If the loyalifts were before cau- Effeasofthis tious arid flow, they now became timid to an excefs, and dreaded taking any active meafure whatfoever in behalf of the king's go- vernment, more efpecially when they reflected on the difafler that had happened to colonel Pyle, whofe 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 reafon to complain that he found himfelf amongft irrefolute friends, and adjoining to inveterate enemies. ; and that between the two he was fo deftitute of information that he had loft a very favourable opportunity of attacking the American army. . It has been already ftared that lord Cornwallis hoifted the royal ftandard, and iflued a proclamation, at Hillfborough. As much has - iir ;.-:*'ii. ^ been At AMERICAN WAR; 33$ been faid upon this fubject, as to lord Cornwallis' s leaving Hillf- c ** ^ J> - borough before the period ftated in his proclamation had expired, v -- y~ ' and of the confequent diftrefs of the loyalifts, the author, who had the honour of being commiflary to the army under his lordihip's command, not wifhing to fhrink from any refponfibility annexed to his lituation, feels it incumbent on him here to ftate a few 5 facts. The author ever believed, and is well founded in his aflertion, that one principal caufe of lord Cornwallis's leaving Hillfborough fo foon as he did, was in confequence of a written report being made by the author, as well as from feveral converfations held with lord Cornwallis upon the fubject, ftating the impoflibility of fupporting his majefty's army at Hillfborough. There being few cattle to be had in its neighbourhood, and thofe principally draught oxen, lord Cornwallis had promifed that they fhould not be flaughtered but in cafe ofabfolute neceflity; but that neceflity did exift, and compelled the author to direct that feveral of the draught oxen fhould be killed. This meafure, although the effect of neceflity, caufed much murmuring amongft the loyalifts, whofe property thefe cattle were. Moft of the cattle in the neighbourhood of Hillfborough had been confumed by the Americans, who held a poft for a very confider- able time in that town. During the time the royal army held Hillfborough, the au&or's cattle-drivers were obliged to go a confiderable diftance' from the army for cattle, and even- then brought in but a very fcanty fiipply. Lord CornwalHs could not have remained as tong as he did at Hill-^ borough had it not been for a quantity of falt-beef, pork, and fomehogs, found in the town. Such was ths fituation of the Bri- tifh army, that the author, with a file of rnerii w^s obliged to go from houfe to houfe, throughout the town, to take provifibns frorii- the inhabitants, many of whom were greatly difrrefled by this mea- fure, which could be juftified only by extreme* neceffity. fc|j/ As 336 HISTORY OF THE e H A P. A S lord Cornwallis retired, the American army advanced ; and A. J_*l. < -- ./ general Greene having pafied the Haw, near its fource, took poft between Troublefome Creek and Reedy Fork ; but not thinking himfelf yet ftrong enough to rifque an action, he changed his po- fition every night, in order- to avoid the poffibility of it. The American light troops and militia were pofted upon the branches of Reedy Fork, whilft general Greene, with the main army, at fome diftance, inclined towards Gurldford Courf-houfe. Whilft the Ame- rican army lay in this fituation, lord Cornwallis, receiving intelli- gence that their light troops, were carelefbly pofted, determined to beat up their quarters, and compel them to retire to a greater dif- tance ; being at the fame time in hopes, if general Greene fhould move to their afliftance, that a favourable opportunity might offer for attacking him to advantage. Accordingly, early in the morn- ing of the fixth of March, the Britifh army paffed Allamance Creek, and marched towards Reedy Fork. Fortunately for the American light troops, they received information of the march of the Britifh army, whilft it was yet at fome diftance, and haflily calling in their detachments, retired acrofs Reedy Fork. At Wetzell's Mill, upon that creek, they attempted to make a ftand, but were quickly diflodged with confiderable (laughter by the brigade under lieutenant-colonel Webfter. Greene, inftead of marching to their afiiftance, upon re- ceiving intelligence of the advance of the Britifh army, retreated over the Haw, in order to preferve his communication with the roads by which he expected his fupplies and reinforcements. Thefe were now faft-approaching ; and in a few days he was joined by another brigade or militia from Virginia under general Lawfon, two from North Carolina, under generals Butler and Eaton, and a con- fiderable detachment of regulars raifed for eighteen months. He had alfo been joined, fmce his laft return into North Carolina, by the militia from the frontiers under colonels Campbell and 3 Preftonj AMERICAN WAR. 337 Prefton ; fo that his numbers at this time probably exceeded five ( ** ^ p - thoufand men. 1781. General Greene, thus powerfully reinforced, knowing that the time of fervice of the militia would foon expire, determined to avail himfelf of his prefent ftrength by offering battle to lord Corn- wallis. Accordingly he again "advanced, and, repafling the Haw, moved forward to Guildford Court-houfe, within twelve miles -of the Britim army, which, fince his laft retreat, had taken a new po- fition at the Quakers' Meeting-houfe in the Forks of Deep River. The near approach of general Greene, and all his other move- ments, fmce he was joined by his reinforcements, indicating an in- tention of no longer avoiding an action, lord Cornwallis embraced with much fatisfaction the proffered opportunity of giving him battle. On the evening of the fourteenth of March, the baggage March. was fent off" to Bell's Mill, upon Deep River, efcorted 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 reft of the army was put in motion towards Guildford Court-houfe. About four miles from Guildford the ad- Aaion near vanced guards of both armies met, and a fharp conflict enfued, which was well fupported on both fides. Lieutenant-colonel Tarle- ton commanded the Britim advance, which confifted of the cavalry, Greene the light-infantry of the guards, and the yagers ; that of the Ame- t *kas Was commanded by lieutenant-colonel Lee, and was compofed of his legion, with fome mountaineers and Virginia militia. Lee .behaved with great bravery, and maintained his, ground with firm* -nefs, N uatil the appearance of the twenty-third regiment, advancing to fuppott Tarleton, obliged the Americans to retire with precipi- tation. '*: During the fkirmim general Greene drew up his army on very commanding ground, in order of battle, which jponfifted of three lines. The two brigades of North Carolina militia, ported be- Xx hind HISTORY OF THE CHAP, hind a fence in the fkirt of a wood, with open ground in front of -*Sk LJ J. v...~ v ) their centre, and their two flanks extending into the woods, com- pofed his firil line : The Virginia militia, under Stevens and Law- ion, formed the fecond line, and were pofled entirely in the wood, about three hundred yards in the rear of the firft : Two brigades of continental troops formed the third line, and were drawn up chiefly in open ground near Guildford Court-houfe, about four hundred yards in the rear of the Virginia militia. Colonel Washington, with the dragoons of the firft and third regiment, a detachment of con- tinental light-infantry, and a regiment of rifle-men under colonel Lynch, formed a corps of obfervation for the fecurity of the right flank; and Lee, with his legion, a detachment of light-infantry, and a corps of rifle-men, was appointed to the fame fervice on the left. As foon as the head of the Britifh column appeared in fight of the firft line of the Americans, a cannonade was begun from two fix-pounders, pofted upon the road in their centre, which was im- mediately anfwered by the royal artillery under lieutenant Macleod ; and, whilft this cannonade continued, the Britifh commander, with the utmoft difpatch, made his difpofition for the attack, which was in the following order : The feventy-firft regiment, with the re- giment of Bofe, led by general Leflie, and fupported by the firft battalion of the guards, under colonel Norton, formed the right of the Britifh line ; and the twenty-third and thirty-third regiments, led by lieutenant-colonel Webfter, and fupported by brigadier- general O'Hara, with the grenadiers and fecond battalion of the guards, formed the left. The light infantry of the guards, with the yagers, pofied on the left of the artillery, and the cavalry in column behind it on the road, formed a corps of obfervation. This riifpofition being made, the line received orders to advance, and moved forward with that fteady and guarded, but firm and de- termined, AMERICAN WAR. 339 termined, refolution which difcipline alone can confer. It has been c HA P. remarked by an eye-witnefs*, that " the order and coolnefs of L- *,./ " that part of Webfter' s brigade which advanced acrofs the open " ground, expofed to the enemy's fire, could not be fufKciently " extolled." At the diftance of one hundred and forty yards they received the enemy's firft fire, but continued to advance unmoved. When arrived at a nearer and more convenient diftance, they deli- vered their own fire, and rapidly charged with their bayonets: The enemy did not wait the {hock, but retreated behind their fe- cond line. In other parts of the line the Britifh troops behaved with equal gallantry, and were not lefs fuccefsful. The fecond line of the enemy made a braver and ftouter refiftance than the firft. Pofted in the woods, and covering themfelves with trees, they kept up for a confiderable time a galling fire, which did great execution. At length, however, they were compelled to retreat, and fall back upon the continentals. In this fevere conflict the whole of the Bri- tilh infantry were engaged : General Leflie, from the great extent of the enemy's front, reaching far beyond his right, had been very early obliged to bring forward the firft battalion of the guards, ap- pointed for his referve, and form it into line : And lieutenant-colo- nel Webfter, finding the left of the thirty-third regiment expofetj 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 fecond battalion of the guards. Webfter, moving to the left with the thirty-third regi- ment, fupported by the light-infantry of the guards, and the yagers, routed and put to flight the right wing of the enemy, and in his progrefs, after two fevere ftruggles, gained the right of the conti- nentals 5 but the fuperiority of their numbers, and the weight of f Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, p. 273 of hi Campaigns. X x 2 their 340 HISTORY OF THE "5j p * their fire, obliged him, feparated as he was from the reft of the l * -' Britifh line, to re-crofs a ravine, and occupy an advantageous pofi- tion on the oppofite bank, until he could hear of the progrefs of the king's troops on the right. The Britifh line, being fo much extended to the right and left, in order to {hew a front equal to the enemy, was unavoidably broken into intervals in the purfuit of the firft and fecond American lines ; foine parts of it being more ad- vanced than others, in confequence of the different degrees of re- fiftance that had been met with, or of other impediments arifing from the thicknefs of the woods, and the inequality of the ground. The whole, however, ftill moved forward ; and the fecond batta- lion of the guards, commanded by the honourable lieutenant-colo- nel Stuart, was the firft that reached the open ground at Guildford Court-houfe. Impatient to fignalize themfelves, they immediately attacked a body of continentals, greatly fuperior in number, that was feen formed on the left of the road, routed them and took their cannon, being two fix-pounders ; but, purfuing them with too much ardour and impetuofity towards the wood in their rear, were thrown into confufion by a heavy fire received from a body of cpn- tinentals, who were yet unbroken, and being inftantly charged by Wafhington's dragoons, were driven back with great flaughter, and the lofs 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 fpirited and well-direded cannonade he checked the purfuit of the Americans: Fortunately alfo, the / feventy-firft regiment, belonging to general Leflie's divifion, was feen 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 thefe regiments, general O'Hara, although feverely wounded, rallied with much gallantry and great expedition, the re- v mains of the fecond battalion of the guards ; and the Americans > * were AMERICAN WAR. 341 were quickly repulfed and put to flight, with once more the lofs of c H A p - -?V J^lft the two fix-pounders : Two other fix-pounders were alfo taken, V- ->-- being all the artillery which they had in the field, and two ammu- nition waggons. The feventy-firft pufhed forward to an eminence at the Court-houfe, on the left flank of the continentals. Lieute- nant-colonel Webfter again advanced acrofs the ravine, defeated the corps that was oppofed to him, and connected himfelf with the centre of the Britifh line. 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 feventy-firft regiments, with part of* the cavalry, were at firft fent in purfuit of the enemy, but afterwards received orders to return. It is probable that, as the Britifh com- mander became more acquainted with all the circumftances of the action, and the number of the killed and wounded, he found it ne- ceflary to countermand his orders, and defift from the purfuit. The action being now ended in the centre and on the left of the Britifli line, a firing was ftill heard on the right, where general Leflie, with the firft battalion of the guards, and the regiment of Bofe, had been greatly impeded in advancing by the exceflive thicknefs of the woods, which rendered their bayonets of little ufe. The broken corps. of the enemy were thereby encouraged to make frequent ftands, and to throw in an irregular fire; fo that this part of the Britim line was at times warmly engaged in front, flank, and rear, with fome of the enemy that had been routed in the firft attack, and with part of the extremity of th?ir left wing, which, by the clofenefs of the woods, had been paflTed unfeen. At one period of the action the firft battalion of the guards was completely broken. It had fuffered greatly in afcending a woody height to attack the fecond line of the Americans, ftrongly ported upon HISTORY OF THE CHAP, upon the top of it, who, availing themfelves of the advantages of J[X.L.L u >.,-' their fituation, retired, as foon as they had difcharged their pieces, behind the brow of the hill, which protected them from the fhot of the guards, and returned, as foon as they had loaded, and were again in readinefs to fire. Notwithftanding the difadvantage under which the attack was made, the guards reached the fummit of the eminence, and put this part of the American line to flight : But no fooner was it done, than another line of the Americans prefented itfelf to view, extending far beyond the right of the guards, and in- clining towards their flank, fo as almoft to encompafs them. The ranks of the guards had been thinned in afcending 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 drefled, returned immediately to join the battalion of guards to which he belonged. Some of the men, too, from fuperior exer- tions, had reached the fummit of the eminence fooner than others ; fo that the battalion was not in regular order when it received the fire of the third American line. The enemy's fire being repeated and continued, and, from the great extent of their line, being poured in not only on the front but flank of the battalion, com- pleted its confufion and diforder, and, notwithftanding every exer^ tion made by the remaining officers, it was at laft entirely broken* Fortunately, at this time, the Heffian regiment of Bofe, com- manded by lieutenant-colonel de Buiy, which had hitherto fuffered 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 Bofe prefented a favourable opportunity for forming again his battalion, and requeued the Heffian lieutenant-colonel to wheel his regiment to the right, and cover the guards, whilft their officers endeavoured to rally them. The AMERICAN WAR. 343 The requefl was immediately and moft gallantly complied with; c *J and, under the cover of the fire of the Heffians, the exertions of lieutenant-colonel Norton, and his few remaining officers, were at [aft fuccefsful in reftoring order. The battalion, being again formed, inftantly moved forward to join the Heffians : The attack was re- newed, and the enemy were defeated. But here the labours of this part of the line did not yet ceafe. No fooner had the guards and Heffians defeated the enemy in front, than they found it necefTary to return and attack another body of them that appeared in the rear ; and in this manner were they obliged to traverfe the fame ground in various directions, before the enemy were completely put to the rout. 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 Leflie wanted affiflance. But before Tarleton's arrival on the right, the affair was over, and the Britifh troops were flanding with ordered arms ; all refiftance having ceafed on the part of the Americans, except from a few hardy rifle-men, who, lurking behind trees, oc- cafionally fired their pieces, but at fuch a diftance as to do no niif- chief. Thefe Tarleton, when requefted, readily undertook to dif- perfe with his cavalry, and rufhing forward under cover of a ge- neral volley of mufquetry from the guards and the regiment of Bofe, quickly performed what was expected of him. In this affair Tarleton himfelf received a flight wound, but the reft of his corps returned unhurt. Thus ended the hard-fought action at Guildford Court-houfe. In this battle the Britifh troops obtained a victory moft honourable and glorious to themfelves, but in its confequences of no real advantage to the caufe in which they were engaged. They attacked and defeated 2 an 344 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. an army of more than three times their own number *, not taken u - ./ by furprife, but formed in regular order of battle and ready to en- gage ; an army too, that is allowed on all hands to have been ftrongly and judictoufly pofted, on ground chofen with care, and moft excellently adapted to the nature of the troops that occupied it. The "refi'ftance of the enemy was in proportion to the advantages they poffeffed ; rfbr did they yield but with extreme reluctance. Even the militia, encouraged by their pofition, fought with bravery, and greatly weakened the Britifh line before it reached the conti- nentals. The Virginia militia, who compofed the fecond American line, did not quit their ground, it is faid, until their commander, feeing them no longer able to withftand the attack of regular troops, and ready to be overpowered ? gave orders for a retreat. A vidory atchieved under fuch difadvantages of numbers and ground, was of the moft honourable kind, and placed the bravery and difcipline of the troops beyond all praife; 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 Britifh troops engaged had fallen. The whole lofs, according to the official returns, amounted to five hundred and thirty-two : Of thefe ninety-three were killed in the action, four hundred and thirteen were wounded, and twenty-fix miffing. Amongft the killed were the honourable lieutenant-colonel * By the return of the adjutant of the day it appears that the Britifli troops engaged in the action amounted to 1445. The cavalry are pot included in this return, and indeed they were not engaged, except for an inftant on the right, after the a&ion in the centre and on the left was over. The Americans were generally fuppofed to amount to 7000 men ; and a letter, found jn the pocket of one of their ferjeants that was flain, fpecifies 7000 to be the number of their army: But Gordon, in his Hiftory, who appears to have taken theb numbers from official documents, ftates them to be 1490 continentals, and 2753 militia; in all, 4243 foot foldiers and 200 cavalry. But he fcems not to have included the back woodfmen under Campbell and Prefton; fo that their whole number probably exceeded 7000 men. 6 Stuart AMERICAN WAR. 345 Stuart of the guards, lieutenant O'Hara of the royal artillery, CHAP, brother of the brigadier, lieutenant Robinfon of the twenty-third i__ -,- regiment, enfign Talbot of the thirty-third, and enfign Grant of the feventy-firft ; and amongft the wounded brigadiers-general O'Hara and Howard ; lieutenant-colonels Webfter and Tarleton ; captains Swanton, Schutz, Maynard, Goodricke, lord Dunglafs, Maitland, Peter, Wilmoufky, and Eichenbrodht; lieutenants Salvin, Winyard, Schwener, and Graife ; enfigns Stuart, Kelly, Gore, Hughes, and De Trott ; and adjutants Colquhoun and Fox. The lofs of the Americans in this action has been varioufly efti- mated, and does not appear ever to have been fully afcertained. If we are to credit their official returns, their whole lofs in killed and wounded, as well of militia as continentals, did not exceed two hundred and fifty men. But, by lord Cornwallis's difpatches, it appears that between two and three hundred of their dead were found upon the field after the action ; and if we proportion their wounded according to the number of the flain, their whole lofs in killed and wounded muft have greatly exceeded that of the Bri- tifh troops. The number of thofe who were miffing, according to their own returns, was confefledly great ; but as the Britifh troops took but few prifoners, it is probable that the greateft part of the miffing confifted of militia, who, efcaping from the action, fled to their own houfes, and did not afterwards return *. The * We (hall here relate an anecdote refpe&ing the late captain Maynard of the guards. He was naturally of a cheerful difpofition and great hilarity, and in feveral actions, during the courfc of the war, he had (hewn great gallantry ; but a certain prefcntiment of his fate on the day of the a&ioa at Guildford poflefied his mind, which prefentiment was too fatally realized. While the troops were marching on to form the line of battle, he became gloomy, and gave way to defpondency. Not lefs than two or three different times did he tell colonel Norton, who commanded the battalion, that he felt himfelf very uncomfortable, and did not like the bufi* nefs at all. Colonel, now the honourable major-general, Norton, endeavoured to laugh him VOL. II. Y y out 346 HISTORY OF THE C *x-ri P ' *^ ie wounc ^ e ^ f both armies were collected by the Britim as u -v- ..* expeditioufly as poflible after the action : It was, however, a fer- * fj Q 9 vice that required both time and care, as from the nature of the action they lay difperfed over a great extent of ground. Every afliftance was furnifhed to them, that in the prefent circumftances of the army could be afforded ; but, unfortunately, the army was de- ftitute of tents, nor was there a fufEcient number of houfes near the field of battle to receive the wounded. The Britim army had marched feveral miles on the morning of the day on which they came to action. They had no provifions of any fpecies whatever on that day, nor until between three and four in the afternoon of the fucceeding day, and then but a fcanty allowance, not exceeding one quarter of a pound of flower, and the fame quantity of very lean beef. The night of the day on which the action happened was remarkable for its darknefs, accom- panied with rain, which fell in torrents. Near fifty of the wounded, it is faid, finking under their aggravated miferies, expired before the morning. The cries of the wounded and dying who remained on the field of action during the night exceed all defcription. Such a complicated fcene of horror and diftrefs, it is hoped, for the fake of humanity, rarely occurs, even in a military life. Had lord Cornwallis had with him at the action at Guildford Court-houfe, thofe troops that were loft by colonel Tarleton at the Cowpens, on the fifteenth of March 1781, it is not extravagant to out of his melancholy ideas, but in vain j for even after the cannonade began he reiterated the forebodings of what he conceived was to happen. Early in the aftion he received a wound in, the leg ; unable to proceed, he requefted Mr. Wilfon, the adjutant of the guards, to lend him his horfe, that he might ride on with the battalion, and when in the acl; of mounting, another (hot went through his lungs, and incapacitated him from proceeding. After being conveyed, in a litter to Wilmington, and then lingering a few days, he died of his wounds, greatly re- gretted. fuppofe AMERICAN WAR, 347 fuppofethat the American colonies might have been reunited to 'the c ^ T ^- p> empire of Great Britain. v. Hiftory, perhaps, does not furnifh an inftance of a battle gained under all the difadvantages which the Britifh troops, aflifted by a regiment of Heflians and fome yagers, had to contend againft at Guildford Court-houfe. Nor is there, perhaps, on the records of hiftory, an inftance of a battle fought with more determined perfe- verance than was fhewn by the Britifh troops on that memorable day. The battles of Crecy, of Poictiers, and of Agincourt, the glory of our own country, and the admiration of ages, had in each of them, either from particular local fituation, or other fortunate and favourable circumftances, fomething in a degree to counter- balance the difparity of numbers : Here time, place, and numbers, all united againft the Britifh. The American general had chofen his ground, which was ftrong, commanding, and advantageous ; he had time not only to make his difpofition, but to fend away his baggage, and every incumbrance. His cannon, and his troops, in numbers far exceeding the Britifh, were drawn out in readinefs to commence the action, whe,n lord Cornwallis approached to attack , . -jW> StffflH) HO; him. General Greene, after paffing Reedy Fork Creek, three miles from the field of action, halted for fome little time on the other fide to collect his ftragglers, and then retreated to the iron works on Troublefome Creek, about twelve miles farther. When the extent of the Britifh lofs was fully afcertained, it became too apparent that lord Cornwallis was not in a condition either to give immediate purfuit, or to follow the blow the day after the action. Added to its other diftrefies, the army was almoft deftitute of provifions . Under fuch circumftances, although a victory had been gained, a retreat became neceflary towards that quarter from whence fupplies could be obtained. About feventy of the wounded, not in a con- Y y 2 dition 8 HISTORY OF THE ^LJ. P ' dition to travel were left at the Quakers' Meeting-houie, under the v - > protection of a flag of truce ; and on the third day after the adion, lord Cornwallis began to retire, by eafy marches, towards Crofs Creek *. * Lord Cornwallis was greatly difappointed in his expectations of being joined by the loy- alifts. Some of them indeed came within the lines, but they remained only a few days. I fhall here relate an anecdote connected with this fubjedt, and in itfelf not a little interefting : The commiflary, who confidered it as his duty not only to furnifh provifions to the army, but alfo to learn the difpofition of the inhabitants, fell in about this time with a very fenfible man, a Quaker, who, being interrogated as to the ftate of the country, replied, That it was the general wifh of the people to be reunited to Britain ; but that they had been fo often de- ceived in promifes of fupport, and the Britifli had fo frequently reliaquifhed pofts, that the peo- ple were now afraid to join the Britifli army, left they fhould leave the province, in which cafe the refentment of the revolutioners would be exercifed with more cruelty ; that although the men might efcape, or go with the army, yet, fuch was the diabolical conduct of thofe people, that they would inflict the fevereft punifhment upon their families. " Perhaps," faid the Quaker, " thou art not acquainted with the conduct of thy enemies towards thofe who wifh " well to the caufe thou art engaged in. There are fome who have lived for two, and even " three years in the woods, without daring to go to their houfes; but have been fecretly fup- '* ported by their families. Others, having walked out of their houfes, under a promifc of '* being fafe, have proceeded but a few yards before they have been fhot. Others have " been tied to a tree and feverely whipped- I will tell thee of one inflance of cruelty : A " party furrounded the houfe of a loyalift; a few entered ; the man and his wife were in bed; " the hufband was fhot dead by the fide of his wife." The writer of this replied, that thofe circumftances were horrid } but under what government could they be fo happy as when en- joying the privileges of Englifbmen ? " True," faid the Quaker, " but the people. " have experienced fuch diftrefs, that 1 believe they would fubmit to any government in the " world to obtain peace." The commiflary, finding 1 the gentleman to be a very fenfible, in- telligent man, took great pains to find out his character. Upon inquiry, l:e proved to be a man of the moll irreproachable manners, and well known to fome gentlemen of North Caro- lina, then in our army, and whofe veracity was undoubted. But a few days after this, the army had a ftrong proof of the truth of what Mr. , who ftill refides in North Caro- lina, and for that reafon muft not be mentioned by name, had faid. The day before the Britifli. army reached Crofs Creek, a nwn bent with age joined it : Me had fcarcely the appearance of being human ; he wore the fkin of a racoon for a hat, his beard was fome inches long, and he was fo thin, that he looked as if he had made his efcape fiom Surgeon 's-hall. He wore no fljirt, his whole drefs being fkins of different animals. On tits morning after, when this dif-, trefled man came to draw his provifions, Mr. Brice, the deputy mufter-mafter-general of the provincial forces, and the commiffary, alked hinvfeveral queftions. He faid, 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 CHAP. Americans, and was certain of inftant death whenever he (hould be taken ; that he fupported XLI. himfelf by what he got in the woods; that acorns ferved him as bread; that they had, from i->8i. long ufe, become agreeable to him ; that he had a family, fome of whom, once or twice in a year, came to him in the woods ; that his only crime was being a loyalift, and having given offence to one of the republican kaders in that part of the country where he ufed to live. .?.' !tp~; ; i> ~a.*r < i' 'rn I ' yi- "a *M to 'JDI! -*t.u ycl i iPii.oi Hi fti{.( Wir.tJ:-' < ':-n$l;'VO;4 .'Offv/ 1$btlK Jtlil ,.< I>'j*i- HISTORY OF THE axj asil n r eltotD lo Jnsm^tel 9ffi bur, . ; '- V CHAP. XLII^ .rl.bnsi/birf i : ". : " /ibu:>Jf .n>v 513/13 3T5fi ' ,; : diioili/^iq u-Birn./i -/{[uii^no!: Proclamation by Lord Cornwallis The Britt/h Army arrives in the Vicinity of Wilmington General Greene marches againfl Lord Rawdon at Camden Embarrajffment of Lord Cornwallis Lord Cornwallis determines to march through North Carolina into Vir* ginia Lord Rawdon refolves to attack the Camp of General Greene at Hobkirk's Hill Fort Watfon fnrrenders to the Ame- ricans A Detachment under Colonel Watfon 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 Britifh Qutpojls reduced by the Americans Au- giift a fur rendered to the Americans. . CHAP. PREVIOUSLY to the departure of the army from Wynneflbo- L--, _' rough, lieutenant -colonel Balfour, who commanded at Charlef- town, had been directed to fend round by water a competent force to take poffeflion of Wilmington in North Carolina, and occupy it as a poft with which lord Cornwallis, in his progrefs to the north- ward, might open a communication, for the purpofe of obtaining fupplies. Major Craig, who was detached on this fervice, took poffeflion of Wilmington, after a flight refiftance from the enemy, about the end of January ; and although his force was fmall, by great labour and perfeverance he fortified his poft in a fhort time, fo as to fecure it againft infult, and by fome fuccefsful excurfions into 3 the AMERICAN WAR. 351 H A XLII. the country had made himfelf refpected. As Wilmington lies near C I A P. the mouth of Cape Fear River, and the fettlement of Crofs Creek is _. M O r upon a branch of the fame river, about one hundred miles higher up the country, lord Cornwallis hoped, that by marching to the laft of thefe places, where there was a friendly fettlement of highlanders, the army would be plentifully furnifhed with provifions, the fick and wounded with refrefhments proper for them, and that, by means of the river, a communication might be eafily opened with major Craig, for obtaining fuch other fupplies as the country did not afford, but which the army was now greatly in want of. To thefe confiderations, another of fome importance muft alfo be added, that Crofs Creek was a centrical fituation for the junction of fuch friends of government as would be willing to (land forth and aflift in fup- prefling rebellion ; who would have time to make their arrange- ments for that purpofe, whilft the army halted for the recovery of the wounded. Imprefled with fuch fentiments, and ftill hoping to Proclamation V*V->W'' bylordCorn- roufe the loyalifts to action, lord Cornwallis, on the fame day oh wallis. which he began his march from Guildford Court-houfe, iflued a proclamation, reciting his victory, calling upon all loyal fubjects to ftand forth and aflift in reftoring order and good government, and promifmg protection in their perfons and properties to all thofe who had taken part in the revolt (murderers excepted), who fhould be defirous of returning to their allegiance, and mould actually furren- der themfelves, with their arms and ammunition, on or before the twentieth of April, with permiflion to return to their houfes, upon, taking a military parole, and a promife of fpeedy reftoration to all the privileges of legal and conftitutional government. Lord Cornwallis, having iflued his proclamation, proceeded ilowly towards Crofs Creek, as well for the convenience of the wounded, as the more eafy fubfiftence of the troops, where he arrived about the CHAP, the end of the month. General Greene followed through the fame v~~-^ -J trad of country as far at Ramfay's Mill, on Deep River : And occafional {kinnimes happened between the light troops, but nothing of moment between the two armies. Upon the arrival of the Britifh commander at Crofs Creek, he found himfelf difappointed in all his expedations : Provifions were fcarce: Four days forage not to be piocured within twenty miles; and the communication expeded to be opened between Crofs Creek and Wilmington, by means of the river, was found to be imprac- ticable, the river itfelf being narrow, its banks high, and the inha- TheBritifti bitants, on both fides, for a confiderable diftance, inveterately in the hoftile. Nothing therefore now remained to be done but to pro- Wilmington. cee d w ith *he army to Wilmington, in the vicinity of which it ar- rived on the feventh of April. The fettlers upon Crofs Creek, although they had undergone a variety of perfecutions in confe- quence of their previous unfortunate infurredions, ftill retained a warm attachment to their mother-country, and during the fhort ftay of the army amongft them, all the provifions and fpirits that could be collected within a convenient diftance, were readily brought in, and the fick and wounded plentifully fupplied with ufeful and comfortable refrefhments. During the march of the Britifh army to Wilmington, colonel . Webfter of the thirty-third, captains Schutz and Maynard of the guards, and captain Wilmoufki and enfign de Trott of the regi- ment of Bofe, all of them officers of merit, died of the wounds received at Guildford Court-houfe. The firft is faid to have " united all the virtues of civil life to the gallantry and pro- ** feffional knowledge of a foldier *." So amiable and diftin- * Tarleton, p. 281. guiflied AMERICAN WAR, 353 guimed a character could not fail to be univerfally refpeted, and CHAP. JvJ_ill. his death was lamented by the whole army *. i. -. / Lord Cornwallis being under the neceflity of repairing to a fea- port town, to obtain necefTary fupplies, particularly fhoes and clothing for the army, was apprehenfive left general Greene fhould return to South Carolina. Accordingly, feveral meflengers were dif- patched to lord Rawdon at Camden, to prepare him for fuch an event ; but unfortunately neither the meflengers nor their difpatches ever reached the place of their deftination. Not long after the arrival of earl Cornwallis at Wilmington, he General * . P ' * "* Greene received information that what he apprehended as probable had ac- marches tually taken place ; and that general Greene, upon his return to the Rawdon at upper country, had taken the direct road to Camden, and was marching with the utmoft expedition to attack lord Rawdon, This intelligence rendered the fituation of the Britiih commander more embarraffing than ever, and left him only a choice of difficulties, none of which were -unaccompanied with hazard, nor eafy to be * The fympathetic manner In which lord Cornwallis communicated to the reverend Dr. Webfter, of Edinburgh, the intelligence of his fon's death, is at once a proof of his lordfhip'g goodnefs of heart, his tender fenfibility, and of the high eftimation in which he held thi deceafed. The following is a Copy of his Letter on that occafion : " DEAR SIR, Wilmington, Aprilz^ 1781. " IT gives me great concern to undertake a talk which is not only a bitter renewal of my own grief, but muft be a violent (hock to an affe&ionate parent. " You have for your fupport, the affiftance of religion, good fenfe, and the experience of the uncertainty of human happinefs. You have for your fotisfa&ion, that your fon fell nobly in the caufe of his country, honoured and lamented by all his fellow-foldiers 5 that he led a life of honour and virtue, which muft fecure him everlaiting happinefs. When the keen fenfibility of the paffions begins to fubfide, thefe confiderations will give you real comfort. * That the Almighty may give you -fortitude to bear this feverefl of trials, is the carneft wifh of your companion in affliction, and moft faithful fervant, CORNWALLIS." VOL, II, 2 z 354 CHAP. XLII. 1781. EmbarrafiT- ment of lord Cornwallis. Lord Corn- wallis deter- mines to march through North Caro- lina into Virginia. HISTORY OF THE .*!./- '*' ' . *i -' "" ' furmounted. It was undoubtedly his wifli to afford fuccour to lord? Rawdon; but he knew that it was impoffible for him, after the pro-* grefs already made by general Greene, to arrive in time. The fate of lord Rawdon and his garrilbn muft be determined long before, the Britifh army could reach Cp.mden ; and,, fhould general Greene, be fuccefcful, there was danger that he might have it in his power to hem up his lordmip while on his march between the great rivers,., and, by cuiting off his fubiiftence, render his arms ufelefs. Or* the. other hand, if general Greene fhouk} be defeated, the return of the. Britifh army would be lefs neceffajy. A meafure pregnant with fo much danger in the execution, and promifmg fo little advantage in? the refult, was not to be haftily adopted : Yet fomething was ne- ceffary to be done. The effective force under his lordfhip, from, ficknefs, defertion, and the lofs fuftained at Guijdford Court-houfe v was now reduced to fourteen hundred and thirty-five men, a num- ber which he confidered as totally inadequate to acting offenfively ia North Carolina.. To remain where he was would not only be ufe-* lefs, but, as the heat of fummer increafed, endanger the. health of the troops. To return to South Carolina by land would be accom- panied with the hazards already mentioned *; and to return by water \vould not only be difgraceful, but take up much time in waiting for the tranfports, and in the end probably be attended with the lofs of all the cavalry and horfes belonging to the army. Upon fuch a view of the fuBjecl:, his lordmip determined to take advantage of- general Greene's abfence from. North Carolina, to march through that pro- * At this time colonel Tarleton propofed to lord Cornwallis that he might be permitted to inarch back through th country to Charleftown with his cavalry; which propofitfon his lord- fhip very judicioufly reje&ed. Colonel Tarleton, in his publication, has thought proper to eenfure lord Cornwallis for not returning to South Carolina, inftead of going to Virginia. But olonel Tarleton, threughout his whole Hiftory, betrays great impatience to get rid of that brden of gratitude which was due to his lordfhip for paft benefits conferred on him without any extraordinary degree of merit. vince AMERICAN WAR. 35S vince into Virginia, and join his force to a ftrong corps that had c ** & p - been acting there from the beginning of the year, firft under briga- u. * 1 di-er-general Arnold, and afterwards under major-general Philips, in ofder to make a diverfion in favour of the Britifh operations in North Carolina. This movement, it was thought, might have a tendency to draw general Greene back to the northward, and feems to have been more readily adopted, as it was the opinion of earl Cornwallis, that vigorous meafures purfued in Virginia, and the reduction of that province, if practicable, would be the moft effectual means of fecuring thofe poffeflions that had been already recovered in the fouthern colonies, and of fubjecting fuch as re- mained to be fubdued. Earl Cornwallis, having finally determined to proceed to Virginia, began his march from Wilmington on the twenty-fifth of April, where he had remained juft eighteen days, to refrefli 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 confe- quences of fomething nearly allied to a decifive defeat. He was not joined by the loyalifts, who were ftill overawed by the re- publicans. We muft 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 reprefent 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 feveral corps of militia. The garrifon at Camden, under lord Rawdon, amounted to fomething more than eight hundred men. Some well-affected militia, that came from a diftance to offer their fervices in this feafon of danger, were neceffarily, though reluc- Zz 2 tantly, "*' 324 HISTORY OF THE C HAP. tantfy, difmifTed, on account of a fcarcity of provifions ; but, by \ , 1 arming every perfoii already in the garrifon capable of bearing arms,, even muficians and drummers, he muftered an effective force of about nine hundred men. General Greene, whatever his force might be, thought it infumcient for ftorming the Britifh works, or even regularly inventing them. After various changes of pofitioa he at length retired to Hobkirk's Hill, about two miles from the Britifh lines, and there encamped, with an intention, it was fuppofed > of waiting for the junction of colonel Lee with his legion, and Marion with his militia, who were then acting at fome diftance in the eaftern parts of the province. Whilft 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 fome caufe or other, had been lent 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 abfence Lord Raw- of the militia, and before the coming up of the cannon. Accord- don refolves . ""*'' V. V\_ " - *" '"'' c \ r r -i r to attack the mgly, at nine m the morning or the twenty-fifth of April, he nem? Greene marched out with all the force he could mufter, and by making a at Hobkirk's c j rcu i t> anc j keeping clofe to the edge of a fwamp, under cover- of the woods, happily gained the left flank of the enemy undifcovered.. In that quarter the American camp was the moft aflailable, becaufe there the afcent of the hill was the eafieft ; but the impenetrable fwamp that covered the approach to it had freed the enemy from all apprehenfion of an attack on that fide. In this fancied ftate of fe- curity, the driving in of their piquets gave them the firft alarm of the advance of the Britifh army, which moved on to the attack in, the following order : The fixty-third regiment, fupported by the volunteers of Ireland, formed the right ; the king's American regi- ment, fupported by captain Robertfon's detachment, the left ; and the New York volunteers the centre of the Britim line. The South Carolina AMERICAN WAR. Carolina regiment and the cavalry were in the rear of the whole, c and formed a corps of obfervation. v. i ~H i The enemy, although apparently furprifed, and at firft in fome confufion, formed with great expedition, and met the attack with refolution and bravery; Their firft line confifted wholly of conti- nental troops, the Virginia brigade being on the right, and the Maryland brigade on the left. Their artillery arrived juft as the aclion began, and was polled in the centre. Their fecond line was formed entirely of militia. General Greene, after viewing the ad- vance of the Britifh troops, and the narrow front which they pre- fented, was fo confident of fuccefs, that, with a view of rendering it more complete, and hemming them in on every fide, he made an alteration in his firft difpofition. The right of the Virginia, and the left of the Maryland brigades, were ordered to take the Britifh troops in flank, whilft the remainder of thefe two brigades marched down the hill to attack them in front ; and in the mean time lieu- tenant-colonel Wafhington, with the cavalry, was detached to fall upon their rear. Had thefe feveral attacks fucceeded, undoubtedly nothing but ruin awaited the Britifh army : But lord Rawdon, dif- covering the enemy's defign, quickly extended his front, by bring- ing forward the Iriih volunteers, and forming them into line.. The Americans who defcended the hill in front, although they fought for fome time with great bravery, and were well fupported by a de- flrudive fire of grape-fhot from their cannon, could not long with- ftand the impetuofity of the afFailants. Being compelled to retire, they were purfued by the Britilh troops to the top of the hi]:. Lord Rawdon having gained the fummit of the eminence, and filenced the American cannon, which were immediately drawn off, was en- abled to bring the remainder of his force into adion, and at length put to rout the whole American army. The continentals feveral times rallied and returned to the charge, ~but were as often broke and- 358 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. anc j p u t to flight. In the mean time Washington with his dragoons, v. -v 1 having got into the rear of the Britifh troops, had made a few ftragglers prifoners, and exacted paroles from fome Britifh officers who lay wounded in the field. When the event of the day turned out different from his expectations, he was fortunate enough to dif- cover it juft in time to make good his retreat. Indeed, the Ame- ricans were fo greatly fuperior in cavalry, that lord Rawdon, after ordering a purfuit, 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 vtas indebted to accident for the fafety of his cannon : In the beginning of the retreat they were run down a fteep, amongft fome brufh-wood, which concealed them from the Britifh troops as they paffed in the heat of purfuit ; and before their return they were carried off by Washington's cavalry. Accord- ing to accounts faid to be taken from lord Rawdon's ftatement, the Americans loft in this action upwards of five hundred men : Of thefe about one hundred were made prifoners, and the reft either killed or wounded. But general Greene eftimates his lofs much lower : He makes it amount only to eighteen killed, one hundred and .eight wounded, and one hundred and thirty-fix miff- ing ; but at the fame time admits, not without fome degree of in- confiftency, that fome of the miffing were killed, and others wounded. It was a hard-fought action ; and the victory was not bloodlefs on the part of the conquerors : Although thirty-eight only were killed, their whole lofs, including the wounded and miffing, amounted to two hundred and fifty-eight, a number which, in the prefent pe- rilous itate of the province, could not be well fpared. One officer only was amongft the flam j but eleven were wounded. Had lord Rawdon, inftead of marching out to meet the enemy, remained in his works, fuch was the fuperiorhy of Greene, particu- larly in cavalry, that he muft have reduced his lordfhip, in a ihort time, AMERICAN WAR. 359 time, to the neceffity of furrendering through want of provifions. C \ P. The quick and marked decifion with which he acted on this, as he L- 1 had done on former occafions, formed a very general preface that he was one day to rank with the great military commanders ; though fo amiable a diftinction is not to be attained without the happieft unionr of courage and genius. A military leader cannot be formed, like many other characters of refpect ability in the ftate, by mere experience in the common courfe of bufmefs* At the fame thne that he endeavours to control accidents by general maxims and comprehend ve views, he muft vary his particular meafures with the varying moment of action. In the midft of danger, and at a mc*- ment's warning,' he muft call to his aid all the refults of his paft experience and obfervations ; banifh from- his- mind every extra- neous idea that fancy or cafual aflbciation might fuggeft to diftract his thoughts and miflead his judgment, and perceive, at a glance, the fhorteft and moft effectual procefs for attaining his object. Upon the approach of the American army, a very general (pint of revolt (hewed itfelF amongft the inhabitants of South Carolina, particularly in the diftrict of Ninety-fix, on the weftern frontier, and on the north-eaft in that tract of country which lies between the two great rivers Pedee and Santee. Even in Charleftown itfelf, many of the inhabitants, although awed and reftrained by the pre- fence of the garrifon, gave evident figns of difaffection. In the moft tranquil period of the province, Sumpter, on the north-weft frontier, and Marion in the north-eaft, had kept alive the embers of revolt, which', although at different times varioufly agitated, in confequence of the reft lefs difpofitiori of thofe partifans, were never- thelefs prevented from gaining ftrength by the afcendancy of the Britim anus; but they now burft forth into a flame, as foon as in- telligence arrived that general Greene had ente r ed the province. To encourage this -fpirit of revolt amongft the inhabitants, and -to make a di- 3 6o HISTORY OF THE c H A P. a diverfion in -the north-eaft part of the province m favour of the L_ -. J attempt upon Camden, general Greene had detached lieutenant- coloikl Lee, with his legion, from Deep River, to precede the army, and in conjunction with Marion, to attack foine of the Britiih polls, Lee marched with fo much expedition, that a junction was formed A r ril - between him and Marion on the fourteenth of April, and on the 'p-' fifteenth, in purfuance of their orders, they appeared before Fort Watfon, a Britifh poft on the Santee. Fort Watfon is fituated upon an eminence, about thirty feet above the level of the circumjacent plain. The eminence is an artificial mount, raifed by the Indians before they were difpoffeffed of the country, and for fome diftance round it were no trees to flicker the approch of an enemy. The garrifon was without artillery, and fo were the befiegers : Neither had the latter intrenching tools to affift them in making approaches. Buf the ingenuity of a colonel Maham quickly devifed a method of reducing* the fort, as unexpected as it was efficacious. Under his direction a work upon an unufual plan was fpeedily conftructed which overlooked the fort. Upon the top of this work American rifle-men were pofted, who fired at every one in the garrifon who ventured to make his appearance, and feldom miffed their aim : Preparations being made at the fame time for florming, the com- manding officer made overtures for capitulating upon honourable Fort Watfon terms. Thefe were readily granted : And Fort Watfon was fur- the Ameri- rendered on the twenty-third of April. After this exploit, Lee and Marion receiving intelligence that colonel Watfon, with five hun- dred men, was on his march through that part of the country to reinforce lord Rawdon at Camden, took the refolution of endea- vouring to obftruct his progrefs. They accordingly feized the pafTes upon the different creeks and rivers in his way, and guarded them fo effectually, that he found himfelf under the neceffity of returning down the Santee, and paffmg it near its mouth. By this interrup- 3 tion AMERICAN WAR. 361 tion much time "was loft, and many hardfliips were encountered CHAP. j\. j_j 1 1 . in marching through the fwamps and funken grounds : Colonel <~ v ~ -J Watfon, however, perfevered, and proceeding up the fouth fide May. of the Santee, pafled it again, a little below the confluence of its two menfumkr great branches, the Congaree and Wateree, and arrived at Camden, ? olo . ne . 1 ^ at : ion joins lord with his detachment, on the feventh of May. Rawdon at r* A The vidory at Hobkirk's Hill, like that at Guildford Court- houfe, although moft honourable and glorious to the officers who commanded, and the troops that were engaged, produced no confe- quences beneficial to the Britifh intereft. The general difarTedion of the province ftill continued ; the force under general Greene, although diminifhed, was yet refpedable ; and the American par- tifans were more than ever adive in making predatory incurfions into various parts of the province, aflaulting the weakeft Britifh pofts, waylaying convoys of provifion, and interrupting the com- munication between Camden and Charleftown. Lord Rawdon, therefore, even in the moment of fuccefs, faw the neceflity of aban- doning Camden, and contracting the Britifh pofts within a nar- rower compafs. But as he was now joined by the reinforcement under Watfon, which replaced the lofs of men fuftained in the action, he gallantly refolyed to make one effort more, before he evacuated his poft, to ftrike a blow at general Greene, who, after remaining fome days at Rugeley's Mills to collect his ftragglers,. pafled 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 pr.ofpect of fuccefs. Accordingly, with this view he marched from Camden in the night fucceeding the day on which colonel Watfon arrived. But general Greene had by this time decamped VOL. II. 3 A from. 362 HIS TO :Y OF THE idt siuyjjsi ui 5'KKur yjjfi ufi /JIY-'J; h f- '.--^' -A C H A P. from Twenty-five Mile Creek. Having received information of the i_ -, '_' arrival of Watfon's corps, and concluding that lord Rawdon, thus reinforced, would immediately attempt to ftrike at him, he changed his pofition for another at a greater diftance, much ftronger, and more eafily 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 fituation, he found it too ftrong to be attempted with- out fuffering fuch a lofs as could not be compenfated by a victory. Under fuch circumftances, his lordfhip relinquifhed his defign of at- tacking the American army, and on the fame day returned to Cam- Lord Raw- den. On the ninth of May fuch ftores were deftroyed as could riou's efforts" not be removed, and on the tenth Camden was evacuated ; lord nraT n iJjiv/ t T;jiuf jO CHAP. XLIII. State of the Briti/h Army at Ninety-fix The Siege of Ninety-fix raifed Lord Rawdon, having arrived at Ninety-fix, purfues Ge- neral Greene Lord Rawdon, ivith Half his Force, marches to the Cougar ee Retires to Orangeburgh Hoflilities fufpended by the intenfe Heat of the Seafon Lord Rawdon, on account of his Health, embarks for Europe Action between Colonel Stuart, and General Greene, near the Eutaw Springs Victory in this Action claimed by both Parties. CHAP. TN the mean time general Greene had laid fiege to Ninety-fix. i_ , '_' Nintety-fix took its name from being that number of miles diftant 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 ftockade for the protection of the inhabitants againft any fudden aflault from the Indians. After it came into the poflef- State of the * Britifli gam- fion of the Britifh troops, in the year 1780, fome other works were fix. 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- fifted of fixteen falient and re-entering angles, with a dry ditch, fraife, and abbatis : But the whole of the works were in an unfi- nimed ilate at the commencement of the fiege. When lord Rawdon found himfelf under the neceffity of evacuating Camden, and abandoning the upper country of South Carolina, he was well AMERICAN WAR. 365 well aware of the danger of Ninety-fix, from the difficulty of fending CHAP. yvijlll. fuccours to fupport a poft at fuch a diftance: Repeated exprefies were u- v -' therefore fent to lieutenant-colonel Cruger,who commanded the garri- fon, directing him to evacuate his poft, retire to Augufta,and, after join- ing his force with that under colonel Browne, and taking the com- mand of the whole, to act according to his difcretion, and as cir- cumftances mould point out. In cafe thefe mould fail, lord Raw- don had alfo taken the precaution of directing lieutenant-colonel Balfour to difpatch other meffengers from Charleftown with the like orders. But fo univerfal was the difaffection of the inhabitants of the country, and fo well had they guarded all the roads and paths leading to Ninety-fix, that not one of all the meffengers ar- rived in fafety. Lieutenant-colonel Cruger was therefore totally ignorant of the fituation of the army under lord Rawdon ; nor had he any information of the action at Hobkirk's Hill, and the fubfe- quent evacuation of Cam den, but from an American officer who happened to be made prifoner : But he knew well the difaffection of the province, and the inveterately hoftile difpofition of the inhabitants around him, and had alfo reafon to apprehend an attack from the American army. In this ftate of uncertainty, with refpect to the poffibility of obtaining fuccours, and under fuch circumftances of ap- prehended danger, he thought it incumbent upon him to put his poft in the beft poffible ftate of defence. The whole garrifon was im- mediately fet to work, the officers cheerfully maring in the labour with the common foldiers ; and by their united exertions a bank of earth parapet high was in a fhort time thrown up round -the ftdck- ade ; and the whole ftrengthened by an abbatis. Block-houfes were alib erected in the village, traverfes made for the fecurity of the roops, and caponiers or covered communications between different parts of the works. It has been already obferved that a regular work called the Star defended the right of the village; and on the 3 3 66 HISTORY OF THE c ** p< left of it was a valley, through which ran a rivulet that fupplied the ./v.Lroke ground ; but at the refpeclful diftance of four hundred yards, and beyond a ravine. From this point they continued to make re- gular and guarded approaches ; but worked fo expeditioufly, that although they were frequently interrupted by fallies from the gar- rifon, they had completed their fecpnd parallel by the third of June. * Lieutenant Roney of Dclancey's fecond battalion. ''"' .*.'"' ; i ' 3 68 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. The adjutant-general of the American army was now fent to fum- XL1II. i_ - T ' * jnon the Britifh commander to furrender his poft. He prefented to the officer who received him, a paper figned by himfelf; displaying in pompous language the late fuccefles of the Americans; declaring that the garrifon had every thing to hope from their generofity, and to fear from their refentment ; calling upon the commanding officer to furrender without delay; and threatening, if he perfifted in a fruitlefs refiftance, to make him perfonally refponfible for all the confequences. In anfwer to a paper of fo extraordinary a nature, not figned by general Greene, the Britifh commander contented himfelf with directing a meflage to be delivered to the American adjutant-general, importing, that lieutenant-colonel Cruger was de- termined to defend his poft to the laft extremity, and that general Greene's promifes and threats were alike indifferent to him. The American batteries were now opened from their fecond pa- rallel, and a heavy crofs fire commenced, which enfiladed feveral of the works. The enemy alfo pufhed on a fap againft the Star, and con- tinued to advance their batteries, one of which, conftructed of ga- bions, was erected within thirty-five yards of the abbatis, and raifed forty feet high, fo as to overlook the works of the garrifon. Rifle- men pofted upon the top of it did confiderable execution, and proved fo incommodious to thofe who worked the artillery, that the guns of the Star were neceflarily unmanned during the day, and ufed only in the night. The garrifon tried to burn the battery by firing heated fhot, but, from the want of furnaces, did not fucceed ; and the only precaution which they could take againft this deftructive 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 alfo did confiderable execution. An at- tempt was made by the enemy to fet fire to the barracks by fhooting African arrows: But the Britifh commander fruftrated their defign 'by AMERICAN WAR. 369 by directing all the buildings to be unroofed, a meafure from which CHAP. both officers and men were expofed, during the remainder of the u - J i ?8f fiege, to all the pernicious effects of the night-air : Neverthelefs, fuch was their zeal for the fervice, and fuch their confidence in lieutenant-colonel Cruger, that his orderAvas obeyed with the utmoft X alacrity. The garrifon were now deftined 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- gufta, he brought with him the Britifh prifoners ; and either to gratify his vanity, or for fome other caufe, hitherto unexplained, marched them paft Ninety-fix, in full view of the garrifon, with all the parade of martial mufic, and preceded by a Britifh ftandard re- verfed. If the intention was to difconrage the garrifon, it failed entirely of its effect, or rather produced an oppofite one. Fired with indignation at a fight fo unbecoming, they determined to encounter every danger, and endure every hardfhip, rather than fall into the hands of an enemy capable of difgracing their fuccefs by fo wanton an infult offered to their prifoners* The American army, ftrengthened by the junction of the troops who had reduced Augufta, began to make approaches againft the ftockade fort on the left of the village, which kept open the com* munication with the water. The operations on this fide were en- trufted to lieutenanNcolonel Lee, whilft general Greene continued to direct thofe againft the Stan In the night of the ninth of June a fortie was made by two ftrong parties of the garrifon. The party to the right entering the enemy's trenches, penetrated to a battery of four guns, which nothing but the want of fpikes and hammer* prevented them from deftroying- Here they difcovered the mouth of a mine intended to be carried under a curtain of the Star, and VOL. II. 3 BI had 370 HISTORY OF THE e ** A p. j ia j near iy taken the chief engineer of the Americans, who hap- \ ,~- ^j pened to be viewing it at the time of the fortie. In making his efcape he was wounded. The other divifion upon the left fell in with the covering party of the Americans, put a number of them to the bayonet, and ma^e their commanding officer prifoner. Although lieutenant-colonel Lee broke ground at a refpectful diftance from the ftockade on the left, and made -his approaches with great caution, he neverthelefs loft a conliderable number of men. Cha- grined with his lofles, and vexed at meeting with fo much oppofi- tion, he fuffered his impatience, on the twelfth of June, to get the better of his difcretion. At eleven in the forenoon he directed a ferjeant and fix men to advance with lighted combuftibles, and fet fire to the abbatis : The party advanced, and attempted to execute their orders, but not one of them returned. The garrifon fired upon them, and the whole fell a facrifice to the rafhnefs of their commander^ who was obliged to folicit a truce to bury the dead. When the cannon arrived- from Augufta which this officer had directed to be fent after him, he redoubled his efforts \ and by the feventeenth of June the ftockade fort was fo completely enfiladed by a triangular fire, that, being no longer tenable, it was, evacuated in the night, and without lofs* About this time the fufferings of the garrifon 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 piftol-fhot of the enemy,. In the day nothing could be done : But in the night, naked negroea being fent out, whofe bodies in the darknefs were not diftinguifh- able from the trees that furrounded them, with great hazard to them- felves, brought in a fcanty fupply. That the defence of the place t under fuch circumftances of diftrefs, could not be much longer pro- traced, appeajs obvious enough. But the Britifh commander, even * **! V*^jy**i A**^ *iH V.'*.. v AMERICAN WAR. 371 ' in this extremity, was not difcouraged. He placed his confidence c ** & in the well-known zeal, activity, and enterprife of lord Rawdon, who he did not doubt would come to his relief the moment he could do it with propriety, and in the mean time, under all his difficulties, he hoped to maintain his poft until his arrival. Whilft the Britifh commander was exerting himfelf to infufe fimilar fentiments into the garrifon, and encouraging them to perfevere, an American loyalift, in open day, under the fire of the enemy, having rode through their piquets and reached the village, delivered a verbal meflage from lord Rawdon, " that he had patted Orangeburgh, and was in " full march to raife the fiege." At fuch a crifis, the profpect of fpeedy relief difpelled the cloud from every brow : An unufual degree of animation fucceeded : Their prefent diftrefles were no longer thought of; -and the only object that occupied their minds, was the fucceff- ful defence of the place until the joyful period of lord Rawdon's arrival. ft i i ' Although that officer, upon receiving intelligence of the fiege of Ninety-fix, felt the ftrongeft inclination to relieve it,, an object of ftill greater importance, the fecurity of Charleftown in the ptefent difaffected ftate of the country, demanded his firft attention, and obliged him for fome time to remain near the fea-coaft. Fortunately, however, the arrival of three regiments from Ireland on the third of June, placed the one in a ftate of fafety, and enabled him to march to the relief of the other. On the feventh of June he left Charleftown, taking with him the flank companies of the three newly-arrived regiments, 1 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 intenfe, would per- mit. The route he took inclined a little to the right of the direct road to Ninety-fix, and was chofen for the fake of enabling him to get between general Greene and his detachments on the Congaree. 3 B a His 37* HISTORY OF THE . His whole force amounted to near eighteen hundred infantry, and one hundred and fifty cavalry. General Greene had regular intelligence of lord Rawdon's move- ments ; and finding from his progrefs that it would be impoffible to reduce Ninety-fix by regular approaches before his arrival, deter- mined to hazard an aflault. Although the American works were not entirely finimed, they were in a ftate of great forwardnefs : Their third parallel was completed, and a mine and two trenches had been pufhed 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 neareft to the works, and made lodgments in the ditch : Thefe were immediately followed by^other parties with hooks to draw down the fand-bags, and tools to reduce the parapet. The rifle-men in the mean time, pofted on their battery, were ready to take aim at every Britifh foldier 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 expofed to the fire of a three-pounder, as well as to that of the block-houfes in the village; and major Greene, who commanded in the Star, with much Jionour to him- felf, and benefit to the fervice, from the beginning of the fiege, had his detachment ready to receive them on the parapet with bayonets and fpears. As the main body of the American army did not ad- vance beyond the third parallel, and was contented with fupporting the parties in the ditch by an inceflant fire from the trenches, the garrifon determined to put a fpeedy period to the aflault by an. effort of gallantry which confounded the enemy. Two parties of thirty men each, one under captain Campbell of the New Jerfey vo- lunteers, and the other under captain French of Delancey's, iflued from the fally-port in the rear of the Star, entered the ditch, and taking AMERICAN WAR. 373 taking oppofite directions, charged the Americans who had made c H A P. -A.i.ii.11. the lodgment with fuch impetuofity, that they drove every thing u before them until they met in the oppofite quarter. The bayonet being the only weapon ufed, 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, feeing The flege of it ufelefs any longer to continue fo hopelefs an attempt, called off ^jjjjf" his troops, and in the evening of the following day finally railed the fiege. His baggage having been previoufly fent off, his army marched with great expedition, and on the twentieth crofled the Saluda. The lofs of the enemy, during the liege, according to their own accounts, amounted to one hundred and fixty-fix men, includ- ing one colonel, three captains, and five lieutenants : But as the lofs of the militia, who, it is faid, on this occafion bcve the pro- portion of three to one to the troops in the pay of congrefs, was not included in their returns, their total lofs muft have been much greater. That of the garrifon amounted to twenty-feven killed, and fifty-eight wounded. Lieutenant Roney was the only commiflioned officer killed ; and captains French and Smith of Delancey's, with captain Barbaric and lieutenant Hatton of the New Jerfey volun- teers, were amongft the wounded. On the twenty-firft of June in Lord Raw. the morning lord Rawdon arrived at Ninety-fix, and when he found that general Greene had retreated acrofs the Saluda, neither the heat Ninety-fix puriues ge of the weather nor the fatigue of the troops, after fo long a march, ral Greene. prevented his lordfhip from fetting out in purfuit of him the fame evening. But fo rapid was the flight of the Americans, that he foon perceived there was little profpecl: of overtaking them. Nevcr- thelefs the purfuit, under many wants, and the rage of a burning fun, was continued as far as the banks of the Enoree, when his lordfliip, finding it in vain to proceed any farther, returned towards Ninety-fix. As the poft of Ninety-fix was now to be evacuated,, 2- being 74. HISTORY OF THE CHAP, being witliout the limits to which the Britifh commanders, from re- '_-, __ cent circumftances, had determined to confine their defence, lord j "81 . Rawdon thought it neceflary to pay all due attention to the loyal inhabitants who had remained faithful to their engagements. He convened the principal perfons amongft them, and offered, if they chofe to remain, and would undertake the defence of their diftrict againft their own difaffected inhabitants, to leave a party for their countenance and affiftance, and from time to time to fend fuch re- inforcements from the Congaree as might be equal to any force that general Greene could fpare for invading them ; but if they were un- willing to remain, he promifed that care Should be taken for the re- moval of them and their families within the new frontier about to Lord Raw- be eftablifhed. The inhabitants accepted the laft of thefe propofals : his force, And in order effectually to grant that protection which he had pro- Rawdon left more than half his force with lieutenant- colonel Cruger, to efcort them when they fhould be ready to move, whilft he, with eight hundred infantry, and fixty cavalry, marched towards the Congaree. Although general Greene, in his retreat from Ninety-fix, had pa(Ted not only the Enoree, but Tyger and Broad Rivers, no fooner did he hear that lord Rawdon had divided his force, than he re- turned, with a view of interrupting his lordfhip's operations on the Congaree, where it was fuppofed he meant to eftablifh a port. Lord Rawdon, it is probable, would not have undertaken his march to that part of the country with fo diminifhed a force, had he not ex- pected to be met there by a ftrong corps from Charleftown, which he had at firft ordered to take poft at Orangeburgh, and afterwards to join him upon the Congaree at an appointed time. From fome caufe or other, this corps, after it had begun its march, was recalled by orders from Charleftown ; and, unfortunately, the letter from the commanding officer, acquainting lord Rawdon with his recal, and AMERICAN WAR. 375 and the ImpofTibility of meeting him at the time appointed, was in- c ** . P. .Ai letter he prefled forward on his march with redoubled expedition 1 , hoping to obtain fome advantage over lord Rawdon, whilft he waited for a reinforcement that was not to ioin him. Soon after his lord- jy*- fhipV arrival at the Congaree, one of his foraging parties was fur- prifed by Lee's legion, and about forty cavalry were made prifoners. The appearance of .the enemy's light troops in that quarter of the country, quickly convinced his lordftiip that general Greene's army was at no great diftance ; and as he had not been joined by his rein- forcement at the appointed time, he thought it necefTary to take mea- fures for his own fecurity. Accordingly he retired from the Congaree, and marched for Orangeburgh, where he expected to meet the rein- forcement from Charleftown. After forcing his pafTage 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 moleftation arrived at Orangeburgh, and was joined the Retires to* next day by lieutenant-colonel Stuart, with the third regiment, from burgh, Charleftown. General Greene, finding that lord Rawdon by his activity and enterprife had extricated himfelf from the danger to which he was expofed, collected all the militia he could, and advanced with his army within five miles of the Britim encampment, which at the head of his cavalry he reconnoitred in the evening, lord Rawdon giving him no interruption, as he wifhed for nothing more than art attack IQ his prefent pofition. But the American commander, in- ftead oi ; preparing for an attack, decamped in the night, and retiring towards the Congaree, had pafled that river before lord Rawdon was apprized of his retreat. It is probable that general Greene's retreat was haftened by intelligence received about this timej that lieutenant- . f \ colonel ri^fiio lifni.' HISTORY OF THE C H A P. colonel Cruger, after evacuating Ninety-fix, and conducing the loyal i_ -,- ' * inhabitants and their families fafely within the Britifh pofts, was ad- i "S r vancing to join lord Rawdon with the reft of the army. Whilft the main American army retired acrofs the Congaree, Sumpter, Lee, and Marion, with their refpective corps, were detached by different routes to the lower part of the country, for the purpofe of haraffing the Bri- tifh outpofts, and waylaying their convoys. They fucceeded in tak- ing fome waggons with baggage and ftores, but failed in an attempt upon the nineteenth regiment at Monk's Corner. July. The weather now became fo intenfely hot, that hoftilities for fome {upended by time were neceflarily fufpended : General Greene retired with his hrat'of the arm y to t ^ ie high kills of Santee, where he was foon afterwards fcafon. joined by the different corps under Lee, Sumpter, and Marion ; and lord Rawdon, on account of ill health, availed himfelf, in this interval of inaction, of his leave of abfence obtained fome time before, and Lord Raw- embarked for Europe. At his departure, the command of the Britifh coulrtof his troops in the field devolved on lieutenant-colonel Stuart of the third health em- re gi rae nt, Or Buffs, barks for Eu- rope. Although general Greene in the courfe of the prefent year had been driven from South Carolina into Virginia, was afterwards de- feated in two general engagements, and finally obliged to raife the fiege of Ninety-fix, and fly with great precipitation before the Britifh army ; yet, through his own firmnefs and perfeverance, the fuccefles of his .detachments againft the Britifh outpofts, and the advantages derived from the general difaffe&ion of the inhabitants to the Britifh caufe, he fucceeded in the main object of the campaign. The Bri- tifh troops, harafTed and wearied out with the defence of an extenfive frontier, to which their force was unequal without the affi fiance of the inhabitants, were obliged in the end to abandon to him the greateft pan of South Carolina; the limits of their poffeflions being now AMERICAN WAR. 377 now confined within the three great rivers Santee, Congaree, and c S A p * Edifto ; and before the end of the year, as will prefently be feen, i ^ x their limits were contracted within a much narrower compafs. After the retreat of the Americans from Orangeburgh to the high hills of Santee, the Britifh 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 profecuting his plan for the recovery of South Carolina, put his forces in motion as foon as the extreme heat began to abate. On the twenty-fecond of Auguft he marched from the high hills of Auguft. Santee with an intention to give battle to the Britim army, and pro- ceeding up the northern banks of the Wateree, crofled 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-fix, and by the South Carolina (late troops under colonel Henderfon. The Britim 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 purpofe of meeting a convoy of provifions then on the road from Charleftown, rather than weaken the army whilft an attack was expected, by fending off fo ftrong an efcort as would have been neceflary for fecuring its fafe arrival. General Greene having pafled the Congaree, continued to advance towards Eutaw, but by very flow marches, that he might give time to general Marion to join him with his brigade of militia. This junction was made on the feventh of September about feven 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 deferters from Greene's army VOL. II. . 3 C with 378 HISTORY OF THE C xi I n . P * that he was on his march to attack the Britifh army at Eutaw. Unfortunately their report was neither credited nor inquired into; but they themfelves fent to prifon. A party of four hundred men without arms, with a fmall guard to cover them, were fent in fearch of vegetables in the very road on which the deferters gave information that general Greene was marching. The event proved that the in- telligence given by the deferters was well founded. The unarmed rooting party and their fmall guard, making at the leaft a third part of colonel Stuart's force, fell an eafy prey to Greene's army ; a few ftraggling horfemen that efcaped, apprized the Britifh commander of the enemy's approach, at the fame time infufmg a degree of panic into all with whom they communicated. The Britifh were drawn up Aaion be- acrofs the road on the heights near the Eutaw Springs. The flank tween colonel Stuart and battalion, commanded by major Majoribanks, covered the right general niri i i i Greene near flank or the army, his right being upon a rivulet with an m- Springs. aV 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 Britifh force extended to the left of the road, in an oblique direction. The front line of the American army was compofed of four battalions of militia; the fecond line, of three brigades of conti- nental troops ; colonel Lee, with his legion, covered their right flank, and colonel Henderfon, with the South Carolina ftate troops, their left : Colonel Wafhington, with his cavalry and the Delaware troops, formed their body of referve. Two three-pounders were in front of their line, and two fix-pounders with the fecond line. The legion and the ftate troops formed their advanced guard, and were to retreat on their flanks when the Britifh mould form. The enemy attacked with great impetuofity ; the chief impreffion feemed to be defigned againft the artillery on the road, and to turn the left of the Britifh. The preffure of the enemy's fire was fuch as compelled the 6 third AMERICAN WAR. 379 third regiment, or Buffs, to give way, the regiment being compofed c H A p - X.l_ill I. of new troops. The remains of thofe veteran corps, the fixty-third v v -* and fixty-fourth regiments, who had ferved the whole of the war, loft none of their fame in this action. They rufhed with bayonets into the midft of the enemy ; nor did they give ground, until over- powered by numbers and fevere flaughter. Various was the fuccefs in the centre and on the right. At this time colonel Wafhington, endeavouring to pafs 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 fteadinefs. At the firft fire, colonel Wafhington was wounded and taken prifoner, and feveral of his men fell, which prevented a fimilar attack. The artillery on both fides was feveral times taken and retaken. At this time the flank battalion, whofe poft had been pafled undif- covered by the main body of the enemy, wheeled round, and coming in the rear of the enemy, threw them into confufion, which being increafed by a fire from the New York volunteers under the com- mand of major Sheridan, who had taken poft in a ftone houfe on the open ground upon the right of the road, decided the action. Inceffant peals of mufquetry from the windows poured deftru&ion upon the enemy, and effectually flopped their further progrefs. Although feverely checked, the Americans were not difcouraged, and brought up four fix-pounders to batter the houfe : But the fire of the detachment within continued to be fo well fupported, that the American artillery foon became ufelefs, and moft of the officers and men that were attached to it, were either killed or wounded. In the mean time the left wing of the Britifh army having recovered from, its .confufion, had again formed the line, and the battle was renewed with great fpirit in that quarter. The conteft was obftinate and bloody ; but the Americans were at laft obliged to retire. For want of cavalry, no purfuit could be made ; whilft that of the enemy ^ ^ G 2 which HISTORY OF THE c ** 1781. p ' which was numerous, covered their retreat. They were obliged to -\.-lji 11. abandon two of the four pieces of cannon that had been brought up againft the houfe, 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 fuppofed to bear the ufual proportion to the killed, were carried off during the action. About fixty of the enemy were made prifoners, and amongft them lieutenant-colonel Wafhington, who commanded their referve. The whole lofs of the Americans in this action may be eftimated at more than feven hundred * men, including fixty commiffioned officers, of whom feventeen were killed and forty-three wounded. The lofs of the Britim army was alfo very great ; it amounted to eighty-five killed, three hundred and fifty-one wounded, and two hundred and fifty-feven miffing ; in all, fix hundred and ninety-three men, in- cluding twenty-nine commiffioned officers, three of whom were killed, fixteen wounded, and ten miffing. The incidents attending this action gave occafion to both com- manders to claim the victory. General Greene founded his preten- fions upon the retreat of the Britifh line, and its being purfued to the houfe and open ground in the rear ; and moft affuredly, for fome time, the fortune of the day feemed to be entirely in favour of the Americans. The Britifh commander, on the other hand, refted his claim of victory upon this ground, that although a temporary ad- vantage had been obtained over part of the Britifh line, which rendered a retreat neceffary, yet the troops, who had thus retreated, * The account here given does not agree with the returns publifhed by congrefs : But that return, as given in Tarleton's Appendix, appears, upon the face of it, to be incorreft. The particulars do not make up the fum total. The number here eftimated fuppofes the wounded to have borne the ufual proportion to the flain. The flain being left on the field of battle, their number could not be concealed. Ramfay ftates, that the lofs of general Marion's brigade of militia is not included in the return publifhed by congrefs. afterwards Vi&ory in this aftion claimed by both partieSt AMERICAN WAR. 381 afterwards formed and renewed the battle with fo much fpirit, that c Jf-A p * A. JL* JL J. J. the Americans were ultimately obliged to quit the field, and retire to I - > a ftrong pofition feven miles in their rear. This action was never- thelefs celebrated in America as a great and glorious victory ; and in commemoration of it the congrefs voted a Britifh ftandard and gold medal to be prefented to general Greene. That it was a bloody, hard-fought action, the lofs on both fides fufficiently teftifies ; but that neither party obtained a decifive advantage over the other, the conduct of both commanders after the action plainly demonftrates. The Britifh commander remained upon the ground the night after the action and the following day, without any attempt being made by general Greene to moleft him ; and when he afterwards retired to Monk's Corner for the fafety and protection of his wounded, the American commander contented himfelf with advancing to the ground left by the Britifh troops, and foon afterwards retreated to his former encampment on the high hills of Santee, placing a large river between him and the Britifh army. The reafonable cenclufion to be drawn from the conduct of both feems to be this, that in the action both armies had fuffered fo much, that for fome time afterwards neither of them was in a fituation to undertake any thing againft the other. Indeed this was the laft 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 themfelves to Charleftown Neck and fome pofts in its neighbour- hood ; the fecurity of that town appearing to be their principal ob- ject : And general Greene either was not, or did not think himfelf, in fufficient force to attempt to reduce it. In this action the Britifh loft one field-piece, and took two from the Americans* X.M . a*I^4farf4IfU -MfrKfltf ';'*:,- W.'tdPxTK* '**() ?*:> 3fl_ _ *_, " colonies, firft a detachment, as has already been mentioned, I78j * under general Leflie, and another afterwards under general Arnold, amounting to about fixteen hundred, were fent by the commander in chief from New York into Virginia, for the double purpofe of deftroying the enemy's ftores, and of aflifting, by means of a diver- fion, the operations of lord Cornwallis in the two Carolinas; the firft of which fervices was performed to a very confiderable extent. A plan was formed by general Wafhington for entrapping Arnold, and AMERICAN WAR. 383 and taking him and his whole detachment ; which, however, was defeated by the backwardnefs of the French, and the good conduct of the Englifh admiral. A reinforcement of two thoufand Britifli troops, under the com- mand of general Philips, arrived fafely in the Chefapeak on the twenty-fixth of March. The general, being of fuperior rank to Arnold, now aflumed the command of the whole Britifh force in Virginia ; and although, after viewing the poft at Portfmouth, he was of opinion that it could not be rendered fecure, and was alfo too Operations of extenfive to be defended by any number of men that could be fpared army in vir- from the other exigencies of the fervice ; yet, as the works that had fhe'commlnd been begun were in a great ftate of forwardnefs, he continued to employ the troops upon them until they were finifhed, which hap- pened about the middle of April. The general being then at liberty to purfue other objects, after leaving a garrifon at Portfmouth, em- barked the troops, on the eighteenth of April, on board the fmalleft veflels of the fleet, and proceeded up James River. The object in view was, in the firft place, to difperfe a body of militia who were faid to have afiembled at Williamfburgh, the former feat of government in Virginia, and afterwards to deftroy fuch of the enemy's public flores, on the fouth fide 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 Williamfburgh ; but the militia collected there had already fled. They now proceeded, in different divifions and detachments, to diftrefs and weaken the enemy as much as poffible, by deftroying all the means by which they might be enabled to fupport the war. If Virginia had been hitherto fa- voured, it feems to have been determined at this time to inflict upon it a more than common portion of vengeance : And, fo vulnerable is that province, by the joint operation of a land and naval force, that 1781. HISTORY OF THE c 5r^7 P * tnat tne Britifl 1 troops committed the greateft devaflations without -X-Lil V any-ferious oppofition, or fuftaining any lofs. General Philips, having proceeded up the river as far as he in- tended to go, marched his army back to Ofborne's, a village on the banks of James River, and from thence to Bermuda Hundred, oppofite to City Point, where the fleet was ready to receive him. On the fecond of May the troops, were reimbarked, and the fleet moved flowly 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 fufficient diftance down the river, to have embraced the firft favourable breeze of wind, and fuddenly returning, to have landed above him. By fuch a ma- noeuvre the marquis de la Fayette would have been fhut up between York and James River, and to extricate himfelf muft have rifqued an engagement, or hazarded the lofs of the greateft part of his force by attempting to pafs either of thofe rivers in the view of the Britifh army. But on the feventh of May a letter was received from lord Cornwallis, informing the general of his march towards Virginia, and propofing Peteriburgh as the place where he would wifh to find the Britifh army. Upon the receipt of this letter, orders were immediately given for the fleet to move up the river. One divifion of the army was landed at Brandon, and another proceeded to City Point ; and on the ninth both met at Peteriburgh, where they furprifed fome of the marquis de la Fayette's officers, who had been fent forward to provide quarters for his army. General Philips at this time lay dangeroufly ill : He had been attacked by a fever fome few days before, the progrefs of which was fo rapid, and its fymptoms fo malignant, that by the time of the army's arrival at Peterfburgh 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 general Phi- AMERICAN WAR. 385 In the mean time lord Cormvallis had arrived at Halifax on the c banks of the Roanoke, within fixty miles of Peterfburgh. In his v march from Wilmington to that place he had met with fcarcely any interruption, a corps of one hundred and eighty cavalry, and fixty mounted infantry, that preceded the army under the command of lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, being fufficient to difperfe any fmall bodies of militia that were aflembling in order to obftrudt its pro- grefs. Colonel Tarleton, in this expedition, was accompanied by that valuable partizan, colonel Hamilton, of the North Carolina regiment; to whom, perhaps, the Britifh nation owed more than to any other individual loyalift in the Britifh fervice*. Lord Cornwallis, having fent forward Tarleton with the cavalry, JunAion be- and general Arnold having detached Simcoe with the queen's ran- armies under gers, to take pofleffion of the fords on the Nottoway and the Me- a c , herrin, the only rivers that intervened, a junction of the two armies neral Arnold. took place at Peterfburgh on the twentieth of May. Lord Corn- wallis of courfe aflumed 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 foon as it began to return, he marched back with all the difpatch he could. He rightly judged it to be the intention of general Philips to take pofleffion of Peterf- burgh, in order to facilitate a junction wuth earl Cornwallis, and he hoped, by forced marches, to reach that place before him. The ex- pedition with which the Britifh troops returned, entirely fruftrated his intention ; and upon his arrival at Oiborne's on the fouth fide of James River, he found they were already in pofleffion of Peterf- burgh. Thus foiled in his defign, he re-crofled James River, and took a pofition on the north fide of it, between Richmond and Wilton. * At Halifax feme enormities were committed by the Britifh that were a difgrace to the name of man. VOL. II. 3D It HISTORY OF THE CHAP. it feems to have been lord Cornwallis's firft object to endeavour L_ v~-^j to ftrike a blow at the marquis ; his next, to deftroy fuch of the enemy's ftores as might be within his reach after the American army had been either defeated or obliged to retire ; and laftly, after pro- ceeding to the execution of thefe 1 objects, which probably might be accompHfhed by the time he could hear from New York, to keep, himfelf difengaged from any operation that could interfere with the- plan that might be deviled by the commander in chief for the fur- ther profecution of the campaign. Having fettled his own tempo- rary plan of operations, lord Cornwallis marched from Peterfburgh on the twenty^fourth of May, and croiTed James River at Weftover^ about thirty miles below Fayette's encampment*. The Britifh army was already greatly fuperior to the continental force in Virginia, and: about this time it was confiderably increafed by the arrival of two Bri- tifh regiments, and two battalions of Anfpach troops from New York,, fent by the commander in chief (who had not yet received intelli- gence of lord Cornwallis's arrival) to reinforce general Philips,, under an apprehenflon that when the Americans heard of lord Corn- wall's march to the northward, they might make fome 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 Britifh regiment, and the two battalions of Anfpach, were fent to ilrengthen the garrifon at Portfmouth. ; The force under Fayette being fo much inferior fo that which was oppofed to him, he decamped from the neighbourhood of Rich- mond, as foon as he heard that lord Cornwallis had crofled James River, and retired towards the back-cduntry, inclining his route to sifeijs fauhiyn VHT 1<~ r >r~ -^ ,:!;.;-. -T * The channel of the river where the Britifh crofled exceeded two miles. The paffage was f ffefted by fwimming the horfes over a part, and wading through the reft. the the northward, that he might be in reaclinefs to form a junclioo. c H A P. J^ \ -f i- V . AMERICAN WAR. he might be in reaclinefs with general Wayne, who was on his march through Maryland to reinforce him with eight hundred men of the Penfylvania line. The Britiih army for fome 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, deftroying in their way whatever public ftores they found. But Fayette's movements were fo rapid, that lord Cornwallis foon found it would be in vain to follow him, and imporlible to prevent a junction between him and general Wayne :' His lordfliip's attention Was therefore directed to other objects more attainable, which the intelligence received on his march had prefented to his view. One of thefe objects was to break up the feflion of the general aflembly, then met under a guard at Charlotteville, for the purpofe of voting taxes, draughting the militia, and making an addition to the regular force of the ftale. The other object was to ftrike at the baron Steuben, who was faid to be at the Point of Fork, on James River, guarding a confiderable quantity of ftores, with a ftrong de* tachment of troops called eighteen-months men *, and militia. To accomplifh the firft, Tarleton was detached with one hundred and eighty cavalry of the legion, and fcventy mounted infantry of the twenty-third regiment, under the command of captain Champagnef : And the execution of the laft was entrusted to lieutenant-colonel Simcoe, with the queen's rangers, and the fecond battalion of the feventy-firft regiment, commanded by captain Hutchinfon, the whole * So called from the time for which they engaged to fervc. /i-."' - ; i. ^ !"' vS ( U.'H")'1I ) The 7 1 ft regiment was ordered to accompany Tarleton on this fervice } but upon re- ceiving the order the officer* drew up a remonftrance, and prefented it to lord Cornwallis, ftating their unwillingnefs to ferve under Tarleton, from a recolle&ion of his conduft at the Cowpens, where the other battalion of the 71 ft was taken by Morgan. In confcqucnce of this remomlrance, the 71 ft regiment was attached to colonel Simcoe. 3 D a detach- 3 88 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, detachment amounting to five hundred men. Tarleton proceeded i__ .- ' to Charlotteville, with great expedition ; and on his way overtook twelve waggons loaded with arms and clothing for the ufe of the army in South Carolina, all of which were burnt and deftroyed, The Revanna, a branch of James River, wafhes the foot of the Charlotte- hj]} on w hich Charlotteville ftands. Through this river Tarleton vine HI rp riled by colonel charged at the head of his cavalry, and took or difperfed the guards ftationed on the oppofite bank. With the like rapidity he entered the town, and took prifoners feven members of the aflembly. The reft made their efcape. So unexpected was Tarleton's vifit, that the enemy had not time to remove their (lores. A confiderable quantity was found, and the whole deftroyed *. Tarleton, after performing this fervice, proceeded down the Revanna, according to his orders, to co-operate with Simcoe, if he fhould have occafion for his aflift-. ance. The Point of Fork, to which lieutenant-colonel Simcoe was directing his march, is fo 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 ftreams from the point of junction take the name of James River. As the greateft part of his detachment confuted of infantry, his progrefs 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 fecuring every perfon met or feen on the road, he effectually concealed his march from the enemy. By fome of his prifoners he found that baron Steuben was apprifed of Tarleton's march, but knew nothing of Simcoe's ; and from the fame perfons he learnt that the baron had begun to tranfport his ftores to the fouth '#t"> ''ii'^'i " . y vMr '^Vi-ty^wT "' * ' * Stores deftroyed at Charlotteville: & looo new firelocks, made at Fredericfburgh. Upwards of 400 barrels of gunpowder. Several hogfheads of tobacco, and fome continental clothing. fide AMERICAN WAR,*! fide of the Fluvanpa, and meant to follow them with his whole de- CHAP. tachment. Upon receiving this intelligence, Simcoe prefled for- '_ -. .j* ward with ftill greater celerity, hoping at leaft to cut off the baron's rear-guard before it had time to pafs the river. But upon his arrival at the Point of Fork, he found that not only the (lores, but the baron's whole force, had pafled the river, except about thirty perfons then on the bank ready to embark. Thefe were imme- diately fecured by the cavalry. As both the enemy's ftores and troops were now completely out of Simcoe' s reach, a deep and un- with fuccefs fordable river intervening, with the boats all fecured on the other Simcoe, on fide, he conceived the defign of endeavouring to imprefs the baron ten!" with the belief, that the troops now at the Point of Fork were the advance of the Britifh army, hoping, if he was fuccefsful in his endeavours for that purpofe, that the baron, for the fake of moving off with greater expedition, might be induced to leave behind the O A O greateft part of the ftores. t fa t In purfuance of this defign, Simcoe difplayed his force to as great advantage as poflible, upon the heights oppofite to the baron's en- campment; and the deception fucceeded beyond his expetation v In the following night the baron moved off, leaving the bank of the river oppofite to the Point of Fork, covered with arms and ftores. In the morning it was apparent that the enemy had fled, and fome fmall canoes being procured, captain Steyenfon, with twenty of the light-infantry, and cornet Wolfey, with four huflars, pafled the river, the huflars carrying with them their faddles. Wolfey was directed, after mounting his huflars on fuch ftraggling horfes as had been left by the enemy, to take poft, at fome diftance from the bank of the river, upon the road by which the enemy retreated ; and fhould any of their patroles appear, he was directed to raife a fhout, and make an appearance of purfuing, in order to raife a belief that the Britifh army had pafled the river. This ftep was taken 39 HISTORY OF THE C ?T nr ^ taken for the fecurity of captain Stevenfon and his finall detachment A-L>1 V. u. -V-...7 of light-infantry, who were in the mean time employed in bringing off or deft roy ing the ftores abandoned by the enemy; and it an- fwered every purpofe that was -expected from it. In the courfe of the day a patrole-of the enemy appeared, which fled with the ut> moft precipitation, upon feeing the Britim huffars; 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 Britifti army had retreated acrofs Rappahannock River, being joined by general Wayne with his detachment, re-crofled that river, and followed the Britifh army in its march to Williamfburgh : On the road he was alfo joined by the baron Steuben, with his eighteen- months men, and militia. of Although a dawn of profperity had begun to appear in South American Carolina, under the aufpices of Greene, the general ftate of Ame- r . . rican affairs feemed at this time to be in a ruinous train, and faft vergiog towards that period when the conteft muft ceafe, on the part of the congrefs, for want of refources to maintain it. The bills of credit, by which they had hitherto fupported the war, now failed them. The depreciation had become fo immenfe, that they no longer anfwered the purpofes for which they were iffued, and, in the courfe of the prefent year, funk under their own bulk, and were annihilated in the hands of thofe that poffefTed them. The failure of this medium of commerce multiplied beyond calculation the difficulties under which the congrefs laboured, and had a fatal influence on their fervice throughout the whole extent of the union. The agents for public departments could no longer make their purchafes ; and warrants of imprefs became neceflary to force from individuals whatever was wanted for the public fervice, and the fupport 1HT 3 a. Yf AMERICAN WAR. 391 {support of the army. Even the troops were ready to mutiny in c ** ^ p - u\. Lv A V feveral places for want of pay and clothing. Although general <- v - Wafhington's army was greatly diminifhed, he found it ftill too ftirge for the means he had of fubfifting it. In a letter written by him on the tenth, of Mayj is the following paflage: " From the " pofts of Saratoga to that of Dobb's Ferry, inclufive, I believe " there is not at this moment on hand, one day's fupply of meat the preceding year, and had at the fame time made the court of France acquainted with the defperate ftate of their affairs, which the effect of fuch a co-operation could alone fave from ruin ; they hoped that the intereft of that court, as much as its friendfliip, would induce a compliance. Wamington looked forward with eagernefs to fuch an event, as the only thing that could enable them to prolong the conteft : And, as foon as he heard of the arrival of M. de Bar- ras, who was fent out from France to take the command of the fleet at Rhode Ifland, and brought with him difpatches for the count de Rochambeau, he haftened to Connecticut, that he might have a conference with the French general. The count's difpatches feem to have given full fatisfaction to Wamington, as at this interview it was agreed between him and the French general, to carry into execution the attempt againft New York, which they had meditated the preceding year ; if their force, when aflembled, fhould be found equal to the enterprife : But, in all events, it was their determination, upon the arrival of the count de Grafle, to ftrike a blow at one or other of the Britim pofts, where fuccefs was moft reafonably to be expected. This interview took place on the twenty-firft of May, and immediately after it, letters were written by Wamington, requefting, that the battalions compofmg his army might be filled" up to their full complement, and at the fame time he made a requifition to the New England ftates, for fix thoufand two hundred militia^ to be ready to march whenever he fhould call for them. The exprefs carrying the letters written by Wafhington to congrefs, after this interview with the French general, was inter- cepted in the Jerfeys ; and the letters were carried to fir Henry Clin- Apprehen- t Qnt They difclofed the nature of the enterprife in agitation, and Clinton for feem to have alarmed him for the fafety of New York. In confe- the fafety of New York, quence of the information gathered from thefe letters, the com- 6 mander AMERICAN WAR. 393 mander in chief made a requifition of part of the troops under lord C H A p. Jv 1 -* 1 V . Cornwallis's command in Virginia, and directed that they fhould be < -. / fent to New York without delay, unlefs his lordfhip fhould at the time be engaged in fome important movement that might render it neceflary to detain them fome time longer ; or unlefs he fhould be difpofed to execute the plan which the commander in chief feems to have had much at heart, of carrying the war to the upper part of the Chefapeak, and upon the Sufquehanna, where a number of loy- alifts had aflbciated for their mutual defence, and were faid to be ready to at whenever the king's troops fhould appear amongfi them. At the time of receiving the difpatches containing this requifition, lord Cornwallis was engaged in no important operation : He had returned from his expedition up James River, and was then with his army at Wiliiamfburgh : Neither did he mean to engage in the expedition to the upper part of the Chefapeak, of which he difap- proved, without exprefs orders from the commander in chief, which would exempt him from all refponfibility, at leaft for the plan of that expedition. Under thefe circumftances he prepared, without delay, to comply with the commander in chief's requifition for troops ; and as, after their embarkation, he was of opinion that thofe which remained would not be fufficient to enable him to re- main at Wiliiamfburgh, he took the refolution of pafling Jamea River, and retiring to Portfmouth. An exprefs was fent off to ac- quaint the commander in chief with this determination, and with the fteps taking for an immediate compliance with his requifition. In the difpatches written on this occafion, which bear date the thirtieth of June, lord Cornwallis takes occafion to mention, that upon view- ing York (which had been propofed as a defenfive poft, proper to be taken for the fecurity of fhipping), he was clearly of opinion that it far exceeded his power, confi-ftently with the commander in chief's plans, to make defenfive pofts there and at Gloucefler, both of which VOL. IL 3 E would 394 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. W ould be necefTary for the protection of {hipping ; and apparently Vv-Ljl V u. -v- t chagrined with the idea of having his force reduced fo far as to be obliged to act upon the defenfive in a province where, in his own opinion, the moft vigorous offenfive operations were neeefTary, he intimated a willingnefs, if the commander in chief approved of it, to return to Charleftown, and take the command in South Ca- rolina, although in that quarter nothing but mortification and difap- pointment was to be expected. The refolution of patting James River being taken, the army marched from Williamfburgh on the fourth of July, and encamped on a piece of ground that covered a ford into the ifland of James Town ; and the fame evening the queen's rangers pafled the river. On the fifth the wheel-carriages, and on the fixth the bat-horfes and baggage, were pafled over ; whilfl the army continued in the fame encampment. In the mean time the marquis de la Fayette, thinking that the main body of the Britifh army had already crofled the river, advanced by forced marches to ftrike a blow at the rear- guard. Information of his approach was communicated to earl July. Cornwallis about noon of the fixth of July, and fome pains were taken, by fuffering the piquets to be infulted and driven in, to con- firm him in the belief that only the rear-guard of the Britifh army remained. About four in the afternoon, fome of the outpofls were attacked by rifle-men and militia ; but Fayette, with the main body, did not appear till towards funfet, when he pafiecf a morafs with nine hundred continentals, fix hundred militia, and fome artillery, and began to form in front of the Britifh encampment. The Britifh troops were immediately ordered under arms, and advanced to the attack in two lines. On the right, the affair was foon over ; the Britifh troops in that quarter being oppofed only by militia, who were quickly put to flight: But, on the left, lieutenant-colonel Dundas's brigade, confifting of the forty-third, feventy-fixth, and eightieth AMERICAN WAR. eightieth regiments, being oppofed by the Penfylvania line, afiifted CHAP. -?xl^l V by part of Fayette's continentals, with two pieces of cannon, the u - -> action, while it lafted, was fharp and bloody. After a fevere conteft the provincials were routed, and their cannon taken. They fled acrofs the morafs in great confufion ; but by the time of their flight it was dark, and to that circumftance alone they owed their fafety : 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- nefs to purfue, and the light-infantry and other troops on the right of the Britifh line in excellent condition to fupport them, from hav- ing fuftained no lofs in the action. In this action the king's troops had five officers wounded, and about feventy privates killed and wounded. The lofs of the enemy in killed, wounded, and prifon- ers, amounted to about three hundred. The weight of the action fell upon the feventy-fixth and eightieth regiments, both of them lately raifed ; and their firmnefs and intrepidity did them fmgular honour: The gallantry and good conduct: of lieutenant-colonel Dundas, who commanded them, merited and obtained the higheft commendation. The army having pafled James River, the troops ordered for embarkation were fent forward to Portfmouth, whilft Lord Com. lord Cornwallis followed by eafy marches with the reft. j am e 3 River, After the embarkation of the troops, but before the tranfports put to fea, an order arrived from the commander in chief to countermand their failing. He wrote at the fame time to earl Cornwallis, ex- prefling his furprife that he fhould have taken the refolution of quitting the neck of land at Williamfburgh without confulting him ; directing him, if he was ftill there, to remain until further orders ; or, if he had left it, to endeavour to repoflefs it, for the purpofe of eftablifhing a defenfive poft for the protection of (hips of the line,, which he fuppofed might be found fomewhere within that neck, and probably either at Old Point Comfort on Hampton Road, or York. 3 E 2 Town, CHAP. XLIV. *,_ - 5781. Auguft. Evacuates Portfmouth, and concen- trates his force at York and Glou- cefter. HISTORY OF THE *f V / -f r **v t r *i Town on York River ; And as the firft of thefe places was recom- mended by the admiral, lord Cornwallis was directed to examine it, and, if found eligible, to occupy it either with or without York Town, as mould feem expedient. For the purpofe of eftabliming fuch a poft as was wanted, his lordfhip was to be at liberty to retain all or any part of the troops ordered for embarkation, that mould be found necefiary: And, in the ftrongeft terms, the commander in chief deprecated the idea of quitting the Ghefapeak entirely ; on the contrary, he declared, that as foon as the feafon for acting in that country returned, he mould probably fend there all the troops he could fpare from the different pofts under his command : He there- fore recommended it to lord Cornwallis, if he had quitted York, to re-occupy it, or at leaft to hold Old Point Comfort, if it was poflible to do it, without at the fame holding York. Upon the receipt of thofe difpatches, lord Cornwallis, who by that time had reached Portfmouth, directed Old Point Comfort to be viewed by the engineers and the officers of the navy. From their report it appeared, that works conftructed on Old Point Comfort would neither command the entrance into Hampton Road, nor fe- cure his majefty's mips when lying at anchor within it : It could therefore be of no ufe as a defenfive ftation for mips : And as Portf- mouth was admitted, on all hands, not to be fuch a poft as was defifed, from its giving no protection to mips of the line, lord Corn- wallis was of opinion, that the fpirit of his inftructions left him no other option than to fortify York and Gloucefter, the only places that remained capable of affording the requifite protection to mips of that denomination. Meafures were accordingly taken for feizing and fortifying thefe pofts, and for evacuating Portfmouth. Part of the army, in tranfports and boats, proceeded up the Chefapeak, and took pofleflion of them on the firft of Auguft ; and the evacuation of Portfmouth having been completed on the twentieth, lord Corn- wallis's AMERICAN WAR. 397- wallis's whole force on the twenty-fecond was concentered at York c *\ A P. A 1 j IV. and Gloucefter. <~. ,.> In the mean time, general Wafhington had aflembled 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 fixth of July by the count de Rochambeau with the French troops from Rhode Ifland. In the evening of the twenty-firft, the whole American and Junction of part of the French army marched from their encampment towards WaflSngton King's Bridge, and appearing before it early next morning, were " ocham% drawn up in order of battle, whilft the French and American officers reconnoitred the pofition of the Britifh works. The fame fcene was re-aded 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 difpatches from the count de GrafTe. At length they arrived about the middle of Auguft, and announced the inten- tion of the count de Grade to enter the Chefapeak with his fleet about the end of the month, and commence his operations there. They alfo gave intimation, that he could not remain long upon the A n. American coalt. 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 GrafTe had determined to enter the Che- fapeak, it was agreed between Washington and Rochambeau, that Virginia fhould be the fcene, and an attack upon lord Cornwallis the object, of their joint operations. Letters to this effect were dif- patched to meet the count de GrafTe on his paflage, and in the mean time meafures were taken to continue fir Henry Clinton in the belief that New York was ftill the object of their enterprife. After feveral movements, and various deceptions pradifed to induce this belief, the ou D,OI ijj 398 HISTORY OF THE H A XLIV. HAP. tne allied army fuddenly marched acrofs the Terfeys to Philadelphia IV. ' J J J , where it arrived on the thirtieth of Auguft. Na4/ opm- That the count de Grafle intended to vifit the American coaft during the hurricane months in the Weft Indies, was no fecret to the commander in chief at New York. He had made this difcovery from Washington's intercepted difpatches, and communicated it to earl Cornwallis ; and he had alfo received fimilar information from the miniftry in England. Sir George Rodney, who commanded the Britifh fleet in the Weft Indies, feems alfo to have been convinced that fuch was the count de Grafle's intention, and that the bay of Chefapeak was the place where he might be expected. Advices to this effect were difpatched by him to the commander of the king's fleet on the coaft of America, who was alfo advertifed, that at the proper feafon he might expect to be reinforced by a detachment from the Weft India fleet, fo as to enable him to meet the count de Grafle, and fruftrate his intended operations. Sir George Rodney does not appear ever to have entertained the idea, that count de Grafle would proced to North America with his whole fleet ; and, indeed, the contrary was rather to be prefumed, as it was natural to fuppofe that part of it muft be detached as a convoy for the home- wardrbound French trade then collected at Cape Francois. Upon the approach of the hurricane feafon, fir Samuel Hood was dif- patched to North America with fourteen fhips of the line; which, with the fleet then at New York, it was thought would be an over- fiiatch for any force the count de Grafle could bring, even if he fhould be joined by the fleet from Rhode Ifland. Sir Samuel Hood made the land to the fouthward of the Capes of Virginia on the twenty- fifth of Auguft, and having met with none of the Britifh frigates- that were ftationed to look out for him, proceeded to Sandy Hook,, where he arrived on the twenty-eighth* Admiral Graves COITL- 3 manded AMERICAN WAR. 399 manded on the American ftation, having fucceeded admiral Arbuth- CHAP. Aljl V . not as the next fenior officer, upon his departure for England in the < v ' month of July, and was at this time with his fleet, confiding of feven fail of the line, in the harbour of New York. Only five of thefe were in readinefs for fea, the two others being under repair. From the intelligence brought by fir Samuel Hood, it was conjec- tured that the count de Grafle had either by this time arrived, or would foon make his appearance on the American coaft. No time could be fpared to wait for the fhips under repair ; the five that were in readinefs were ordered out of the harbour to join the fquadron under fir Samuel Hood ; and admiral Graves, as fenior officer, tak- ing the command of the whole, failed from the Hook on the thirty- . firft of Auguft. Previoufly to his departure, intelligence had been received, that the French fquadron under M. de Barras at Rhode Ifland had failed on the twenty-fifth ; fo that the moft fanguine expectations were entertained that one or other of the French fqua- drons could not fail to be intercepted. But the event turned out very different from thofe expectations : It was not then known that the count de Grafle had already arrived in the Chefapeak, and that the fleet under his immediate command, exclufive of the Rhode Ifland fquadron, confifted of twenty-eight fhips of the line. The count de Grafle arrived in the Chefapeak on the thirtieth of Auguft, The French and was immediately joined by an officer from the marquis de la count 1 ??' Fayette's army, who had been for fome time waiting at Cape Henry in expectation of his arrival, to communicate to him the ftate of peak things in Virginia, and the pofts occupied by lord Cornwallis's army. In confequence of the information received from this officer, mea- fures, were immediately taken for blocking up York River, on the banks of which lord Cornwallis had taken poft, and for conveying up James River the French land force brought from the Weft Indies, that it might form a junction with the troops under the marquis de la 400 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. i a Fayette. In thefe fervices four of the count de Grafle's line- u -. -> of-battle fhips and feveral frigates were employed ; and with the reft he remained at anchor in Lynhaven Bay juft within the capes. In the mean time admiral Graves having examined the entrance of the Delaware by means of his frigates, and rinding no enemy to be there, proceeded on to the Capes of Virginia, in fight of which he arrived on the morning of the fifth of September. His advanced frigates fpeedily announced by fignal the appearance of an enemy's fleet at anchor within the capes ; and the wind being very fair, the Britifh fleet entered to offer it battle. As foon as the count de GrafTe perceived that the fleet about to enter the bay was the Britifh fleet, and not the Rhode Ifland fquadron which he expected, he gave or- ders for his fhips to flip their cables, and form the line promifcuoufly as they could get up, with their heads to the eaftward ; that by get- ting out of the capes he might have more fearoom, and be able to Partial aAion avail himfelf of his fuperiority in numbers. The Britifh fleet having 1 ftretched in, and its rear being now nearly even with the enemy's count Graffeand van fae admiral made the fignal for the whole fleet to wear, by admiral ' Graves. which manoeuvre 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 fleering to the eaftward and getting clear of the capes, the Britifh 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 put an end to it. The French van appeared to be confiderably worfted, as it was obliged to bear away, in order to give an. opportunity to the centre to advance to its fupport : But no fhip on either fide was taken, Admiral 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 feveral of his fhips were AMERICAN WAR. 401 were fo much difabled, as not to be in a condition to engage until c ** ^ P. their damages were repaired. Neverthelefs, the two fleets conti- u. ^ -> nued in fight of each other for five days, and were at fome times very near. The French, although it was feveral times in their option, from having gained the wind, {hewed no inclination to re- new the action ; and it was not in the Britifh admiral's power, from the crippled ftate of his fleet, to compel them. At length the count de Grafle, on the tenth, bore away for the Chefapeak, and the next day anchored within the capes. Upon his arrival he had the fatisfac- tion to find that M. de Barras had got into the Chefapeak in fafety, whilft the two fleets were at fea, bringing with him fourteen tranf- ports laden with heavy artillery and all forts of military ftores proper for carrying on a fiege. The lofs of men on board the Britifh fleet in this action amounted to ninety killed and two hundred and forty- fix wounded. The whole of the van divifion under admiral Drake had fuflfered confiderable damages in their mafts, fails, and rigging : But the Terrible proved fo leaky after the action, that on the eleventh it was found neceflary to abandon her. Her people, provifions, and ftores, being taken out, fhe was fet on fire, and burnt. The French accounts make their lofs in this action amount to about two hun- dred and twenty men, including four officers killed and eighteen wounded. Admiral Graves, after reconnoitring the pofition of the French fleet upon their return to the Chefapeak, and finding that they blocked up the entrance, determined, in purfuance of the advice of a council of war, to return to New York before the equinox, and there ufe every means for putting his fhips in the beft poflible ftate for fervice * In * The reader is requefted to run his eye over the Plan of this a&ion, by which it will appear, that the advantages arifmg from the fituation of the French were not improved as they might have been ; for when the Britifh fleet arrived, under a very favourable and leading wind, the French fleet was lying promifcuoufly at anchor j they were obliged to flip their cables, and fevea VOL. II. 3 F of 4 o2 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. i n t h e m ean time the commander in chief at New York, with a -A.-L* i. V ^- v ' view of making a diverfion in Connecticut, and drawing general Wamington's attention that way, detached brigadier-general Arnold with a confiderable force to make an attempt upon New London. The troops embarked on this expedition confided of the thirty- eighth, fortieth, and fifty-fourth regiments, the third battalion of New Jerfey volunteers, the loyal Americans, the American legion, "fome refugees, a detachment of yagers, and another of the royal artillery. They pafled through the Sound in tranfports, and landed in the morning of the fixth of September, about three miles from New London, in two divifions, one on each fide of the harbour. That on the Groton fide, confiding of the fortieth and fifty-fourth regiments, the third battalion of New Jerfey volunteers, with a de- tachment of yagers and artillery, was commanded by lieutenant- colonel Eyre, and that on the New London fide, confifting of the reft of the troops, by brigadier-general Arnold. On the New London fide no great oppofition 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 divifion ; and foon 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 fhower of grape-fliot which the enemy difcharged from their cannon, but without doing much mifchief, only four or five being killed or wounded in the aflault. General New London Arnold loft no time in taking; pofleffion of New London : He was taken by ge- neral Arnold, oppofed by a fmall body of the enemy with a field-piece ; but they of them flretched acrofs, and flood out to fea from the reft of their fleet: The re- mainder was obliged to make feveral tacks in working out of the bay. It was very ge- nerally faid, that had the Britifti fleet continued its courfe, the wind ftill being as favourable as it could blow, the feven French (hips fo advanced muft have been cut off from the reft of their fleet. But for fome reafon, which has never been explained, the Britifh admiral hauled his wind. The advance of the Britifli becoming their rear, the fleet flood out to fea, and were followed 'by the French. In a fhort time the aftion commenced. ' " 1 ^ were ^AMERICAN WAR. 403 were foon fo hard preffed as to be obliged to fly, and leave tbeir piece c , A r p . _X.l.ji V . of artillery behind. On the Groton fide of the harbour was Fort v. *' ' Grifwold v a regular work of confiderable ftrength. It was aflaulted on three fides by the fortieth and fifty-fourth regiments, under lieu- tenant-colonel Eyre, and defended by the enemy with the moft ob- ftinate bravery. At length the gallant efforts of the aflailants were fuccefsful ; and with fixed bayonets they entered the works through the embrafures, in the face of the enemy, who were armed with long fpears to op- pofe them. A confiderable carnage now enfued, until the enemy were driven from the ramparts, and had ceafed from all farther re- fiftance. The honour obtained by the Britifh troops in this aflault was great, but too dearly purchafed. Two officers, and forty-fix foldiers, were killed, and eight officers, with one hundred and thirty- five foldiers, wounded. General Arnold, upon his landing, had been informed that the works at Fort Grifwold were incomplete, and its garrifon inconfiderable : But when he arrived at New London, and, from an eminence, had viewed its great ftrength, he difpatched an officer to countermand his orders for an aflault, who unfortunately reached colonel Eyre a few minutes too late. The fort had refufed to furrender, and the attack was begun. Of the garrifon eighty-five were killed, including colonel Ladyard, their commander ; fixty were wounded, moft of them mortally, and feventy made prifoners. Ten or twelve of the enemy's {hips were burnt, and among them three or four armed veffels, and one laden with naval ftores. The reft ran up Norwich River in the morning, and made their efcape. A great number of ftore-houfes were burnt, that contained an immenfe quantity of European and Weft India goods. Unluckily they alfo contained fome gunpowder, unknown to general Arnold, by the ex- plofion of which the flames were communicated to the dwelling- houfes in the town ; and a great part of it was confumed, notwith- 3 F 2 (landing 4 o 4 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, (landing every endeavour to flop the progrefs of the conflagration. i. , f Upwards of fifty pieces of cannon, and a great quantity of military ftores found in the different works, were alfo deftroyed *. * Return of Ordnance, &c. taken in Fort Grifwold and its Dependencies. In Fort Grifwold : 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, z twelve-pounders. Total of iron ordnance, 35. Mufquets, French, 106. Pikes, 80. Round (hot, 1680 eighteen-pounders, 2100 twelve-pounders, 290 nine-pounders, I co fix-pounders, 200 four-pounders, 40 three-pounders. Grape fhot, 230 eighteen-pounders, 3 40 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. Mufquet cartridges 10,000; powder, corned, 1 50 cwt. fpare carriages, i garrifon thirty-two pounder, i travelling twelve- pounder, two ammunition waggons, ftores for the laboratory, &c. Return of Ordnance found and fpiked on the New London fide. Nine iron eighteen-pounders, mounted at Fort Trumbull, 6 fix-pounders at ditto, 6 twelve, or nine-pounders, mounted at Fort Folly ; 2 ditto difmountedj I twelve-pounder on the road to New London. Total 24. In Fort Trumbull, 1 4 eighteen, and three fix-pounders. A quantity of ammunition and ftores of different kinds wa deftroyed in the magazine at Fort Trumbull, and at the mceting-houfe in New London. . : . i J['-. ._. > oV l.'llf, AMERICAN WAR. 405 '. !>r>':.hv "' T' Confederate Armies arrive at Williamfburgh in Virginia Lord Cornwallis vindicated from the Charges of Colonel Tarleton The Combined Armies encamp before York Town York Town regularly invejled Surrendered to General Wajbington Efforts of Sir H. Clinton for the Relief of Lord Cornwallis Recapture of St. Eitftatius Succefsful Cruize of Admiral Kempenfelt. ALTHOUGH the damage done to the Americans by this attack CHAP. upon New London was immenfe, it was not of fufficient im- \_ - w * _^ portance to flop general Wafhington in his progrefs to Virginia. The enterprife in which he was now engaged was of the utmoft mo- ment. If fuccefsful, it would have a material influence in fhorten- ing the duration of the war, and was not therefore to be abandoned for any partial confideration whatfoever. The combined armies, after paffing through Philadelphia, marched to the head of Elk River, which falls into the Ghefapeak at its interior extremity. Tranfports 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 conf hood of Williamfburgh, and joined the troops under the marquis de la Fayette and monfieur de St. Simon. General Wafhington, and the count de Rochambeau, with their fuites, left the army upon its arrival at the head of Elk, and proceeded by land to Williamfburgh, where they arrived on the fourteenth. They immediately repaired on board the Ville de Paris, to wait upon the count de Grafle ; and at 4 o6 mSTQRY OF THE CHAP. a t t his meeting a council of war was held, in which the plan of their -A. J_i V future operations was finally fettled and agreed upon. About this time a party of North Carolina loyalifts, to the num- ber of fix hundred and forty, under the command of Macneil, a colonel of militia, furprifed Hillfborough, furrounded a church where a body of continentals were ftationed, and took about two hundred prifoners, among whom was Mr. Burke, the gover- nor of North Carolina, his council, two colonels, four or five cap- tains, five fubalterns, together with feveral other men of rank ; and releafed fixty men that were in gaol on account of their fidelity and attachment to the Britim government. On their return they were attacked by a body of about three hundred of the enemy, who lay in ambufh near the banks of the Rain Creek. An action took place, in which the loyalifts fuffered the lofs of their colonel Mac- neil, and captain Doud, killed, and feveral other officers, with twenty privates, wounded ; but in which, now under the com- mand of Macdougald, they forced the enemy to leave the fieldj with the lofs of one colonel and one major killed, and thirty-feven rank and file wounded. The loyalifts then proceeded on their march with governor Burke and the other prifoners, till they arrived, on the feventeenth, at a place called Raft Swamp, where they were joined by a fmall party of friends under colonel Kay. Before their junction with thi? party they were fo much reduced as fcarcely to be fufficient for guarding the prifoners. 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 poflible fpeed, down Cape Fear River in purfuit of the loyalifts. Soon afterwards Macdougald with his party arrived at Wilmington, and delivered his prifoners to major Craig, the governor. Whilft AMERICAN WAR. 407 Whilft that powerful combination between the French and Ame- CHAP. XLV. ricans was forming, earl Cornwallis took every opportunity of com- municating to the commander in chief at New York the danger of his fituation, in confequence of the French fleet having taken pof- feffion of the bay : And from him he received aflurances bearing date the fixth of September, that he would join him with four thoufand troops, who were then embarked, as foon as the admiral fhould be of opinion that he might venture. He was alfo informed that admiral Digby was upon the coaft, and daily expected to arrive, with a reinforcement of {hips and troops. In the mean time the troops under his lordfhip were bufily employed in fortifying York, the works at which having been begun later than thofe on the op- pofite fide, and being alfo more extenfive, were not in the fame ftate of forward nefs. It has been fuggefted* that about this period, that is, between the time of the junction of the French re* inforcement from the Weft 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 thefe corps after their junction, and while they lay at Williamfburgh, and that he had a fufficient force to have attempted it with every profpect of fuccefs. But lord Cornwallis's character for enterprife, of which Lord Com his conduct during all his campaigns in America affords the ftrongeft evidence, forbids even a fufpicion that any opportunity of ftriking a blow at the enemy was loft, which could have been embraced, con- Tarleton. fiftently with the orders under which he acted, the inftructions he had received, and the intelligence which had been from time to time forwarded to him. It has alfo been faid t that if this meafure was not thought eligible, in that cafe he ought to have abandonnd York Town, and returned with his army to South Carolina. But it ought * Tarkton, p. 367, &c. f Tarleton, p. 369. to 4 o8 HISTORY OF THE C H A P. t o b e recollected, that, fome little time before this, he had been made t. -v -/ acquainted with the commander in chief's defign of commencing folid operations in the Chefapeak, as foon as the feafon of the year would permit : And if he had at this time withdrawn his army from Virginia, that plan of operation, which he alfo knew was agreeable to the wifhes of the Britifh miniftry, muft have been en- tirely fruftrated. With this information before him, and with even a conditional aflurance of relief, he would fcarcely have been jufti- fiable in taking a ftep that would have been attended with fuch a confequence, except under crrcumftances of a more prefling neceffity than yet exifted. Befides this, by his march to Carolina he muft have abandoned and given up to the enemy, a confiderable quantity of artillery, the fhips of war, tranfports, provifions, ftores, and hof- pitals, with the fick and wounded. It feems, therefore, under all the circumftances, that fuch a ftep at that time could not have been juftified : And had he attacked the marquis de la Fayette, previoufly to the arrival of Wafhington and Rochambeau, he muft have greatly impeded the progrefs of the works at York, by drawing off the troops employed upon them, from whofe unremitting labour during the month of September, they were in greater forwardnefs by the time the combined army afTembled at Williamfburgh than could have been expected, although they were not even then nearly finifhed. The works conftructing 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 fome diftance from it, calculated to impede the enemy's approach. In this untoward pofition the Britifh troops were ftationed, when the combined army of French and Americans appeared in fight of York, on the twenty-eighth of September, having marched from The com- Williamfburgh that morning. They encamped that night about bmed armies ' encamp be- two miles from the works, and the next morning were feen extend- fore York Town. O ing AMERICAN WAR. 409 lug themfelves towards the left of the Britifh army, but at a cau- ( **_ A ] tious diftance. The latter wifhed to be attacked, but the enemy ap- v ^ peared difpofed to proceed with great circumfpection. Nothing ma- terial happened on this day, either within or without the lines, until the evening, when an exprefs arrived with difpatches from the com- mander in chief at New York, bearing date the twenty-fourth of September. In thefe 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 thoufand troops fhould be embarked on board the king's {hips ; that every exertion would be made, both by the army and navy, to relieve him; and that the fleet, confifling of twenty- three fail of the line, might be expected to fail by the fifth of Octo- ber : And in a poftfcript his lordfhip was advertifed, that admiral Digby, with three more {hips of the line, had juft arrived at Sandy Hook. Upon the receipt of thefe difpatches, lord Cornwallis in the night withdrew his army within the works of the town, in full expectation of being able to hold both the pofts of York and Glou- cefter until the promifed relief arrived, provided it came within any reafonable time. The works abandoned by the Britifh troops were occupied the next day by detachments from the combined army: The fame day the town was regularly inverted ; and in the night y or k TOW the enemy began to break ground, the French making their approaches on the right of it, and the Americans on the left, the extremities of the two armies meeting at a morafs in front of the centre of the Britifh works. The fame day the duke de Lauzun, with his legion, and a body of Virginia militia under general Wee- don, took a pofition in front of the other Britifli poft at Gloucefter Town, and kept it from that time blockaded. In the night of the fixth of. October the enemy made tlieir firft parallel at the diftance of fix hundred yards from the Britifh works, and by the afternoon of .the ninth, their batteries were completed, which immediately VOL. II. 3 G opened m " 4 io HISTORY OF THE CHAP, opened upon the town. From this time an inceflant cannonade wa& <*- t kept up : And the continued difcharge of (hot and fhells from a number of heavy cannon and mortars, in a few days damaged the unfinimed works on the left of the town, filenced the guns that were mounted on them, and occafioned the lofs of a great number of men. In the night of the eleventh the enemy, with indefatiga- ble perfeverance, opened their fecond parallel three hundred yards* nearer to the works than the firft. In the mean time the garrifoni did every thing in their power to interrupt them in their work, by opening new embrafures for guns, and keeping up a conftant fire* with all the howitzers and fmall mortars they could man ; and about this time, the lofs of men fuftained by the enemy was more confiderable 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 Britifh, works. Thefe they refolved to afTault ; and to excite a fpirit 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 inftances fucceeded ; and by the un* wearied labour of the enemy both redoubts were included in their fecond parallel before the morning. The Britifh troops having been weakened by ficknefs, as well as by the fire of the befiegers, lord Cornwallis could not venture to make fo large forties as to hope from them much fuccefs : But at the prefent crifis fome attempt of that fort became neceffary, in order to retard the opening of the enemy's batteries in their fecond parallel, againft the fire of which, it was forefeen that the Britifh works on the left, already half- ruined, could not Hand many hours. A fortie of three hundred and fifty men, under the direction of lieutenant-colonel Abercrom- bie, was therefore ordered againft two of the enemy's batteries, that feemed in the greateft ftate of forwardnefs. A detachment of the guards, AMERICAN. WAR. 411 guards, with the eightieth company of grenadiers, under the com- c *J p mand of lieutenant-colonel Lake, of the guards, was ordered to u ~ v *j attack the one; and a detachment of light-infantry, under the com- mand of major Armftrong, 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, fpiked 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 very little lofs. But this action, although honourable to the officers and foldjers who performed it, yielded little public advantage. The can- non, having been haftily fpiked, were foon rendered fit forfervice; and before the evening, the whole battery and parallels appeared to be nearly complete. At this time not a gun could be fhewn by the garrifon on that fide of the works attacked by the enemy, and the {hells were nearly expended ; lord Cornwallis was therefore reduced to the neceflity of either preparing to furrender, or attempting to efcape with the greateft part of the army ; and he determined to at- tempt the latter, on the Gloucefter fide of the river, where briga- dier de Choise now commanded, and lay with a fmall corps at fomc diftance, in front of the works. It was determined that he fhould be attacked before break of day by the whole Britifh force ; and the fuccefs of the attack was not in the leaft doubted. The horfes taken from him (for he had a confiderable corps of cavalry) would in part mount the infantry, and the reft might be fupplied by others Collected on the road. As no baggage was to be carried, his lord* (hip intended to have proceeded to the upper country by rapid marches, leaving his future route uncertain, until he came oppofite to the fords of the great rivers ; when he meant to have turned off Suddenly to the northward, upon a fuppofition that the enemy's *neafures would be principally directed to prevent his efcape to the * G 2 fouth- 2 HISTORY OF THE HA P. fouthward. After turning to the northward, it v:as his lordfhip's defign to force his way through Maryland, Penfylvania, and the Jerfeys, and join the commander in chief at New York. Undoubt- edly the attempt was beyond calculation hazardous, and the iffue totally precarious ; but, if it afforded even a glimpfe of hope, it was preferable to an immediate furrender. In purfuance of this defign the light- infantry, the greateft part of the guards, and part of the twenty-third regiment, were embarked in boats, and tranfported to the Gloucefter fide of the river before midnight, when a violent ftorm arofe, which not only prevented the boats from returning, but drove them a confiderable diftance down the river. The paffage of the reft of the troops was now become impracticable, and, in the abfence of the boats, thofe that had already croffed could not poflibly return. In this divided ftate of the . Britifh force, the enemy's batteries opened at break of day: Fortunately the boats returned foon afterwards, and brought back in the courfe of the forenoon the troops that had been carried over in the night, without much lofs, although the paffage between York and Gloucefter was greatly expofed to the enemy's fire. In the mean time, by the force of the enemy's cannonade, the Britifh 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 fhells remained. They were in many places affailable al- 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 madnefs to attempt to maintain them with the prefent garrifon, exhaufted by the fatigue of conftant watching and unre- mitting duty, and reduced in its numbers by ficknefs even more than by the enemy's fire. Under fuch circumftances his lordfhip, on the feventeenth of October, unwilling to expofe the remains of his gal- lant army to the danger of an afiault, which, from, the enemy's i number* AMERICAN WAR, numbers and the ruined ftate of the works, could not fail to be fuc- c ** ^ cefsful, made propofals for a capitulation. The terms were adjufted < / -' in the courfe of the next day, which, though not altogether agreeable to earl Cornwallis's wifhes or propofals, were neverthelefs fuch as his defperate fituation obliged him to accept ; and on the. nineteenth the polls of York and Glouceiler were furrendered to general Warning- Surrendered '**** to general ton as commander in chief of the combined army ; and the {hips of Wafhington. war, tranfports, and other veflels, to the count de Graffe, as com- mander of the French fleet. By the articles of capitulation, the garrifon of York and Gloucefter, including the officers of the navy and feamen of every denomination, were to furrender as prifoners of war to the combined army : The land force to remain prifoners to the United States, and the feamen to the moft chriftian king. The garrifon was to be allowed the fame honours which the garrifon of Charleftown had obtained when it furrendered to fir Henry Clinton. The officers and foldiers 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 poffeffion of the Britifh troops. Although the article for exempting from punimment fuch of the natives or other inhabitants of America as had joined the Britifh army, and were then at York, was rejected by general Wafhington,, the fame thing was in effect obtained in a different form, by the permiffion granted to earl Cornwallis to fend the Bonetta floop of war to New York with his difpatches without being fearched, and with as many foldiers on board as he mould think fit, fo that they were accounted for in any future exchange. By this permiffion he was tacitly empowered to fend off fuch of the inhabitants as were obnoxious to punimment ; which accordingly was done. By the furrender of the pofls of York and Gloucefter the Ame- ricans became poffeffed of a large train of artillery, many of which HISTORY OF THE CHAP, which were of brafs, together with a confiderable quantity of arms, JV JL* V ammunition, warlike ftores, and provifions ; and to the French were delivered up one frigate, two {hips of war of twenty guns, and a number of tranfports and other veflels. The Charon, of forty-four guns, and another fhip of war, were fet on fire by the enemy's fhells, and deftroyed during the fiege. The combined army confifted of feven thoufand French and nearly the fame number of continental foldiers, and about five thoufand militia. On the day previous to the furrender, the rank and file of the garrifons of York and Glou- cefter amounted to five thoufand nine hundred and fifty; but fo great was the number of the fick and wounded, that only four thou- fand and feventeen were reported fit for duty. Efforts of fir In the mean time fir Henry Clinton had draughted from the gar- ton for the rifon at New York a corps of feven thoufand of his beft troops, with Comwallis. "which he propofed to embark on board the king's {hips, and impa- tiently waited for the moment when the fleet would be ready to fail. He had already informed lord Cornwallis, that it was hoped the fleet would " ftart from New York about the fifth of October;" and -afterwards, from the affurances given him by the admiral, that it might pafs the Bar by the twelfth, if the winds permitted, and no iinforefeen accident happened : But the fleet did not finally leave Sandy Hook until the nineteenth, the day on which lord Cornwallis furrendered. The commander in chief embarked with the troops, as he had propofed, and the event of the fiege not being then known, 'both the navy and army put to fea with a determined refolution to make the moft vigorous efforts for the relief of earl Cornwallis, iand with confident hopes that thofe efforts would be attended with the moft complete fuccefs. 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 fufpecT: that oearl Cornwallis had already capitulated. They however remained off AMERICAN WAR. 4.1? T^ J ff the mouth of the Chefapeak until the twenty-ninth. The intel- CHAP, ligence received during this interval was fo uniform in its tendency, < . u that no doubt at laft remained about the iffue of the fiege. It was apparent, that the Britifh armament had arrived too late to afford earl Cornwallis the promifed relief; and as that relief was the fole object of the expedition, the admiral determined to return to New York. The Britifh fleet at this time confifted of twenty-five fhips of the line, two fifty-gun, fhips,. and eight frigates : That of the French, amounted to thirty-fix fail of the line, befides frigates.. Unfortu^ na.tely, the letter written by earl Cornwallis to the commander in chief, acquainting him with the furrender of the pofts of York and Gloucefter, and narrating the caufes 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 fuccefs were the uniform refult f merit, would have undoubtedly fhared a different fate : If bravery in the field, and patient, and even cheerful, fubmifCon to fatigue,, inclement fkies, and the want not only of the comforts, but fome- times even of the neeeffaries of life*, have any claim to efteem and admiration. ^It has been obferved, and juftly, that in almoft all the general actions to the northward, the troops under fir William Howe were fuperior in number to thofe under general Wafhington ; but, on the contrary, in every general action to the fouthward, the enemy greatly outnumbered the Britifh either under lord Cornwallis or lord. Rawdon. The misfortune that happened in Virginia was foon afterwards followed by another in the Weft Indies, which, although not of equal * The writer of this narrative relates thefe things from his own knowledge. The fouthern army had no provifion in the field but what paffed through his hands. Their allowance was frequently fcanty, and generally bad. The army under lord Cornwallis, ia marches and counter-marches, inarched above 1500 miles. 3 magnitude. 416 HISTORY OF THE C YT v" P ' magnitude, was the caufe of much difcontent, as it Teemed to have -t\. 1 > V arifen from grofs negligence or ftill greater mifconduct. This was 1781. Recapture of the recapture of the Dutch ifland of St. Euftatius by the marquis de Bouille. The marquis having received minute information, by means of fome of the traders, of the ftate of the ifland, together with the careleffnefs of the governor, he determined to attempt the re- duction of it ^by furprife. It has been already noticed, that the ifland of St. Euftatius mi^tjt be confidered as a natural fortification, with only one fafe landing-place, where the town flood, and which was protected by a fort. But at the back of the ifland were alfo fome fmall bays, where a landing might be effected in very moderate wea- ther, although at all times accompanied with confiderable rifk and danger. Of one of thefe, which had been left unguarded, the mar- quis de Bouille had received intelligence ; and there he determined to attempt a defcent. Having embarked about two thoufand men in a number of fmall veflels, he failed from Martinique, and took his meafures fo as to arrive before the place where he propofed to land early in the night. So hazardous was the attempt, that in embark- ing, many of the boats were dafhed to pieces, and a number of foldiers loft ; and with all the efforts he could make, not more than four hun- dred men were landed by an hour before daylight ; and as almoft the whole of the boats were by this time dafhed to pieces, no hopes remained of being able to land the reft. As the troops which had been landed were not equal in number to the garrifon, the marquis de Bouille was fenfible that nothing but a bold attempt to take the fort by furprife could poflfibly fucceed. He accordingly put his troops in motion, and marched with the utmoft expedition towards the fort, diftant about fix miles. The way to it was not only difficult, but interfered by a defile where a handful of men might have ilopped an army. But in his fituation every rifk' Was. to be Tun. His retreat, being cut off, nothing but fuccefs could poflibly fave him and his troops AMERICAN! WAR. troops from deftrudion or captivity. A difcharge of mufquetry from c ** ^ the French at a divifion of the Britifh troops, which was feen ex- erciling in a field at fome diftance from the fort,' gave the firft alarm to the garrifon. Thofe who were in quarters immediately hurried to the fort, and fo loaded the draw-bridge, that it could not be raifed until the enemy arrived, and entered with them. Lieutenant-colonel Gockburn the governor, who had been taking an early ride according to cuftom, feeing fome flrange veffels off the ifland, took the alarm. and returned ; but the French in the mean time had reached the town, and made him prifoner before he difmounted *. Thus was the ifland of St. Euftatius reduced by the marquis dc Bouille on the morning of the twenty-fixth of November, with no other lofs than ten foldiers killed and wounded. With the ifland the conquerors became pofleffed of a large fum of money, eftimated at two millions of livres, being the produce of the late fales of prizes. Whilft St. Euftatius was in the pofleflion of Great Britain, fome pains had been taken to fortify it. Sixty-eight pieces of artillery were mounted for its defence, and the garrifon conflfted of two regiments, muftering fix hundred and feventy-feven men. The de- pendant iflands of St, Martin's and Saba were attacked immediately afterwards, and fhared the fame fate as St. Euftatius. After all thefe misfortunes, the year 1781 clofed with a fuccefsful SuccefsFul cruize of admiral Kempenfeldt in the European feas. Information mil had been received in England, that a large convoy of tranfports with P enfcldt * troops, and of ftore-mips and provifion veflels, was getting ready at Breft, and to fail in the month of December, the greateft part of it being deftined for the fleet under the count de Grafle, and the . *; , trie Si! * Lieutenant-colonel Cockburn, a native of Aberdeen, was afterwards tried by a court- martial, and found guilty of culpable negleft in not taking the neceflary precautions for the defence of the ifland, notwithftanding he had received the fulleft intelligence of an intended attack. VOL. II. 3 H remainder 4 i8 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, remainder for M. de SufFrein's fquadron in the Eaft Indies ; and .*. JLj V J the whole to be convoyed a certain diftance by a fleet of {hips of T iRi war under the command of the count de Guichen. To cruize for and endeavour to intercept this fleet and convoy, admiral Kem- penfeldt was difpatched in the beginning of December with twelve fhips of the line, a fifty-gun fhip, four frigates, and a fire-fhip, 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 difperfed, and the convoy confider- ably afterrt. The admiral determined to profit by the enemy's accidental fituation, and by carrying a prefs of fail to endeavour to cut off their convoy ; in which attempt he in part fucceeded. A' eonfiderable number of prizes were taken, fifteen of which arrived fafe in Britifh ports, while fome that had ftruck afterwards efcaped in the night. Two or three were faid to have been funk; and many others loft their voyages in confequence of the great difperfion of the convoy that neceflarily enfued. In the mean- time the count de Guichen was collecting hie fhips, and forming the line. Towards the evening the Britifh admiral found it neceflfary to do the fame j and, after taking meafures for keeping his fleet connected, went upon the fame tack with the enemy, intending to engage them in, the morning. But when day-light appeared, and he faw the French fleet to leeward, confifting of nineteen fhips of the line and two others armed en flute, he did not think it prudent to rifk an engage- ment; and contenting himfelf with endeavouring to fecure the prizes already made, returned with his fleet to Portfmouth.. 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 feparated. It does not appear that they met with any fuccefs in this deiign ; but on the twenty-fifth of December they made prize of five large fhips bound from Bourdeaux to Marti- nique, AMERICAN WAR, nique, which were deftined to join the convoy under the count de c ** A Guichen. The prizes carried to England had on board near eleven hundred land forces, and between fix and feven hundred feamen. They were almoft all freighted on the French king's account, and were chiefly laden with brafs and iron ordnance, gunpowder, fmall- arms, flints, bomb-fhells, cannon-balls, and a vaft variety of other ordnance and military ftores. Some of them were laden with cabW, fail-cloth, and cordage ; and others with wine, oil, brandy, rum, flour, bifcuit, and falted provifions. From the nature of the lading with which thefe {hips were freighted, the importance of the capture is very apparent ; and fortunately for the fafety of the Britifh Weft India iflands, the remainder of the French convoy, that efcaped being taken, was fo {nattered and difabled by ftormy weather, that only a few of them, accompanied by two {hips of war, were able to hold on their courfe and join de Grafle. The reft put back to repair their damages. ; ^MM^^th $niti ;<&(B 3" * 4 ao HISTORY OF THE CHAP. XLVI. of tie Capture of Lord Cornwallis' s Army Meeting of Parliament Siege of Fort St. Philip's in the I/land of Minorca Capitulation of Fort St. Philip's Reduction of the I/land of St. Chriflopher's General Carleton appointed Commander in Chief in America injlead of Sir Henry. Clinton Naval Engagement be- tween Admiral Rodney and the Count de GraJJe Profperity of Britijh Affairs in the Eajl Indies Conduct of the nezv Admini- Jlration Repulfe and Dlfcomfiture of the Spaniards and French before Gibraltar Relief of Gibraltar^ ' ' t. A.. .- CHAP. A FTER fo many (Je&ata and loffes to which the arms of eongrefc ^_ ' , had been fubjedled for feveral years paft, fo brilliant an event as ^ e ca P ture ^ a wn l e army, and at its head a commander who capture of was efteemed one of the braveft and mofl enterprifins; of their foes* lord Corn- Jo. >r.allis's army.; could not fail to give them the moft heart-felt fatisfaclion, and was* accordingly celebrated with fuitable rejpicings and every other demon- flration that could ferve to convey to the people a proper idea of its> importance. By fuch means the authority of eongrefs, which had begun to be fhaken, was again eftablifhed ; the clamours of thofe who had become tired of the war, and wifhed for peace upon almoft any terms, were filenced ; the defponding were re-aflured j the active and zealous invigorated ; and all clafles, for a time, reconciled to bear their prefent diftrefles with patience, in the hope that fo fignal aa advantage would fpeedily operate their relief. But greatly as the vkw* itJL, Y AMERICAN WAR, 421 views of congrefs were forwarded by the influence of this event c ** A ^V-l-*\ A upon the people of the revolted colonies, the benefits thence derived were inconfideratyle compared with thofe that fprung from the effects produced by it upon the people of Great Britain. The fums raifed by parliament for the fupport of the war, which feeined to increafe every year of its continuance, were already fo immenfe, that the public burdens impofed for the payment of the intereft were nearly infupportable. The murmurs of the people had been hitherto fup- prefled, from the hopes held out of a fpeedy and fuccefsful 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 fuch an influx of wealth as would fpeedily compensate for the prefent extraordinary expenditure. But after the events of the laft campaign, no one could be found fo fanguine as to expect that the revolted colonies could be recovered by force of arms. The experience of nearly fix years ferved to fliow, that although a pro- vince might be over-run and fubdued, it could not be fecured and preferved without the concurrence of the inhabitants ; And the war waged in the fouthem colonies for two years paft, eftablifhed the fact beyond contradiction. Although Georgia had been completely reduced, and civil government re-eftablimed : Although all refift- ance had ceafed in South Carolina, and a general fubmiflion taken place among the inhabitants : Although the Britifh commanders in thofe provinces had been uniformly fuccefsful in all general actions they fought* and had not in a fmgle inftanee been defeated : Yet Charleftown and Savannah, the two capitals^ with a few dependant pofts, were all that at this time remained to Great Britain of thofe extenfive provinces. Thefe facts naturally led to this inference, that it was madnefs to perfift in an expenfive war, in which even fuccefs failed to produce its natural confequences. Such were the fenti- meats beginning to prevail amongft the people, when the parliament met 422 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. me t on the twenty-feventh of November of the preceding year. In v_~-v ' the king's fpeech the loffes in America were neither diffembled nor Meeting of palliated ; but ftated as a ground for requiring the firm fupport of parliament. p ar li amen t 5 and a more vigorous, animated, and united -exertion of the faculties and refources of the people ; whilft his majefty, at the fame time, expreffed his determined refolution to perfevere in the defence of his dominions until fuch a pacification could be made as might confift with the honour of his crown and the permanent in- tereft and fecurity of his people. An addrefs of thanks being moved for in the ufual form, was violently combated by the oppofition, under an idea, that if they agreed to it, they bound themfelves to fupport his majefty in profecuting the American war ; and an amend- ment of a different tendency was offered by Mr. Fox. But the amendment was rejected, and the addrefs carried in its original form, by a confiderable majority of two hundred and eighteen againft one hundred and twenty-nine. In the courfe of this debate, although the minifters did not feem to be perfectly agreed amongft themfelves, it appeared to be their determination no longer to carry on the war internally in the colonies, but to keep poffeflion of thofe pofts which they at prefent held, and direct their principal efforts againft France, Spain, and Holland. : This difclofure of a change in the mode of conducting the war, although it muft have operated as a relief to the colonies, gave no fatisfaction to the oppofition, who maintained that the general voice of the nation demanded a peace with America ; whereas the mi- niftry ftill avowed the defign of carrying on that war, and had only varied the form. The oppofition now looked forward with eager expectation to the aera of the diffolution of that miniftry which had fo long fuccefsfully withftood their rudeft attacks. The misfortunes of the laft campaign gave them advantages which all the influence and power of the adminiftration were unable to furmount. By this . time time the American war was generally difrelifhed amongft the people; c *? T :^ T .A. -L* VI* and by the oppofition it was reprobated, together with the incapa- city and mifconduct of minifters, as the caufe of all our misfor- tunes. The profecution of it, unfortunate as it had been, was ftill fuppofed to be a favourite meafure with the court. The oppofition, on the other hand, loudly maintained, that to put an end to it was the only means of faving the nation from bankruptcy and ruin : And upon this ground, the ftrongeft they could adopt, as being that on which they expected to be fupported by the nation, they conti- nued to harafs and diftrefs adminiftration by a fucceffion of motions in the houfe of commons, until at laft, on the twenty-feventh of February. February, they fucceeded in carrying a vote for addrefling his ma- jefty to direct his minifters no longer to wage an offenfive war againft tfae revolted colonies, and to aflure him that they would moft cheerfully concur in fuch meafures as may be found neceiTary to ac- celerate the bleffing of returning peace. This victory gained by the oppofition with a majority of two hundred and thirty-four againft two hundred and fifteen, was confidered as a prelude to the diflblu- tion of the old adminiftration, which accordingly, about the end of March, gave place to a new one,, formed under the aufpices of the marquis of Rockingham. The cabinet, including the marquis as firft commiflioner of the treafury, was compofed of the earl of Shelburn.and Mr. Fox, appointed fecretarics of ftate; lord Camden, prefident of the council; the duke of Grafton, privy feal ; lord John Cavendifh, chancellor of the exchequer; admiral Keppel, firft com- miflioner of the admiralty ; general Conway, commander in chief of the forces; the duke of Richmond, mafter-general of the ord- nance ; colonel Barre, treafurer of the navy ; and Mr. Burke, pay- mafter-general. During thefe contentions for power, between the old adminiftra- tion and thofe who fucceeded them, the intelligence that arrived of 4 new HISTORY OF THE c H A >. n ew misfortunes and loffes fuftained abroad in the beginning of the J prefent year, undoubtedly ferved to haften the overthrow of the 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 againft the ifland of Minorca, an armament fitted out at Cadiz was landed upon the ifland on the twentieth of Auguft, which was foon afterwards joined by a confi- Siege of Fort derable body of French troops from Toulon. The duke de Crillon in the ifland commanded the expedition : He carried with him an immenfe ar* tillery of one hundred and nine pieces of the heavieft cannon, and thirty-fix mortars, for the fiege of Fort St. Philip's ; and after the junction of the French, his army amounted to fixteen thoufand men. General Murray, an officer of undoubted bravery and great expe- rience, commanded at Minorca : The garrifon confifted of about two thoufand feven hundred men, four hundred of whom were inva- lids fent from England in the year 1 775 ; but the works of St. Philip's Caftle were fo numerous and extenfive, that the garrifon did not amount to half the number which would have been neceflary com- pletely to man them. Notwithftanding this weaknefs, the defence of the place was brave and fpirited, and fuitable to the high military character of the officer who commanded. For three months after the commencement of the fiege, the enemy made fcarcely any im- preffion on the works, and did little injury to the garrifon ; but after they had finiflied their batteries, and mounted all their guns and mortars ; the fire from fo tremendous an artillery began to da- mage the upper works of the caftle, and rendered a number of the guns mounted upon them unferviceable. Still, however, the body of the works remained uninjured, and the garrifon not much di- minifhed. But, about this time, a moft inveterate fcurvy began to prevail amongft the troops, which, baffling all medical {kill, by the beginning of February had fpread fo widely, that of the whole gar- rifon AMERICAN WAR. 425 rifon only fix hundred and fixty were capable of bearing arms. c ** ^ p * Under thefe circum dances general Murray was reduced to the ne- ^ v ' 1782. ceffity of capitulating. In the articles of capitulation every thing Capitulation was granted that he required, except the claufe for freeing the gar- Philip's, rifon from being prifoners, to which the duke de Crillon was pro- hibited from confenting by a fpecial inftruction of the king of Spain; but in order to foften the rigour of this inftruction, the troops were allowed to be fent to Great Britain, under the cuftomary condition of not ferving until they were regularly exchanged. The terms of capitulation having been fettled, St. Plilip's Caftle was furrendered on the fifth of February : And thus the ifland of Minorca was re- ft ored to the crown of Spain, after it had been in the pofleflion of Great Britain about feventy-four years. The whole lofs of the gar- rifon, in killed and 'wounded, during the fiege, amounted to two hundred and eight: Of thefe fifty-nine were killed, and one hun- dred and forty-nine wounded. Nearly about the fame time the ifland of St. Chriftopher's in the Reduftion of the ifland ef Weft Indies was reduced by the marquis de Bouill. After the re- St. Chrifto- i f turn of the count de Graflfe with his fleet from North America, p ' an expedition was planned between him and the marquis de Bouille againft the ifland of Barbadoes, in confequence of which the latter embarked with eight thoufand 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 againft the ifland of St. Chriftopher's, where the troops were landed on the eleventh of January. Brigadier-general Frafer, a brave old officer who commanded the few Britifh troops that were in the iiland, finding himfelf totally unable to oppofe the landing of the French, took poft with his little garrifon upon Brimftone VOL. II. 3 I Hill, 4 26 HISTORY OF THE c ** A p - Hill, where he was joined by governer Shirley with fome militia of i -- .' the ifland. The regular force under Frafer confifted of the firft battalion of the firft regiment, the two flank companies of the fif- teenth, and a detachment of the royal artillery, the whole amount- ing to fix hundred men. The militia who joined him with gover- nor Shirley, were about three hundred. Brimflone Hill, where he took poft, was a place of great natural ftrength, from its height and inacceflibility : Some works had been erected upon the top of it, but in no refpect fuitable to the natural ftrength and importance of the place. The French, having landed, immediately began to inveft Brimftone Hill, whilft the count de Grafle with his fleet lay at an- chor in Bafle Terre Road, to cover the fiege. Sir Samuel Hood, who in the abfence of fir George Rodney commanded the Britifh fleet in the Weft Indies, and was then at Barbadoes, having received intelligence of the deftination of the French armament, failed with his fleet for the relief of St. Chriftopher'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 confifted of only twenty-two (hips of the line: That of the count de Grafle amounted to thirty-two ; but even with this inferiority, relying on the fuperior (kill and valour of Britifh feamen, he determined to make a bold attempt for the relief of the ifland. From the circumftance of two of his (hips running foul of each other, he was prevented from -executing his defign on that day; and in the mean time he took a French frigate from Martinique, loaded with ordnance ftores for the fiege of Brimftone Hill, the capture of which greatly delayed the enemy in making their approaches. The next morning the Britifti fleet having formed the line, advanced to the attack. The i mint de Graffe, on perceiving their defign, left his anchorage ground and flood out to fea, with a view of obtaining room to avail himfelf AMERICAN WAR. 427 liimfelf of his fuperiority in number. Sir Samuel Hood immedi- C H A P. A.l_i V J . ately faw the advantage to be gained from this movement of the ( ^-^ ^" 1 782. enemy, and ftill preferving the appearance of an attack, in order to draw them farther from the land, at laft pufhed by them with full fail, and took pofleffion of the anchorage which they had quitted. The count de Grafle attempted to cut oft* the Britifh rear; but com- modore Affleck, who commanded it, fupported by his feconds, cap- tain Cornwallis and lord Robert Manners, kept up fo tremendous a fire, that he could make no impreflion, and, with little lofs to them- felves, greatly covered the other mips of the divifion whilft getting into their ftations in the anchorage-ground. Two attacks were made the next day by the count de Grafle upon the Britifh. fleet at anchor ; but in both he was repulfed, and in the laft with fo con- fiderable lofs, that during the remainder of the fiege he kept at a diftance. The lofs of the Britifh fleet in thefe attacks amounted to feventy-two killed, and two hundred and forty-four wounded : That of the French is unknown, but it was faid that they fent a thoufand wounded men to St. Euftatius. The fuccefsful manoeuvre praftifed by the Britifh admiral of decoying the count de Grafle from the road of Bafle Terre, and occupying it in his ftead, pro- duced at firft flattering expectations that the ifland might yet be preferred. But the great fuperiority of the French force on fhore,^ compared with that of the garrifon, foon enabled the marquis de Bouille to inveft the fort on Brimftone Hill fo clofely, that all com- munication between it and the Britifh fleet was entirely cut off, whilft, in. confequence of the fame caufe, his own communication with the count de GrafTe was open, by means of every other land- ing-place upon the ifland, except that of BafTe Terre Road. The French, although expofed to a vigorous fire from the garrifon, and confiderably delayed by the capture of one of their ordnance vefTels ? . and the lofs of another, wrecked upon the rocks, continued to ad- 3X2 vance 428 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, vance their works and profecute the attack with unremitting induf- x\.l-rf V 1 _ , _' try, until they had mounted on their different batteries twenty-four f *7&2 large mortars, and twenty-three pieces of heavy cannon. The effect of the fire from fo powerful an artillery acting upon a fpot, the greateft diameter of which was not more than two hundred yards, may be eafily conceived : Early in the fiege, every houfe on the hill was either confumed or torn to pieces by the enemy's bombard- ment and cannonade : In the latter part of it, almoft all the guns were either difmounted or difabled ; and at laft an entire and per- fect breach was made on the north-weft fide of the works, which, from the want of intrenching tools, it was impoffible to repair. By this time alfo, from the great defertion of the militia, and the number of the killed and wounded, thofe who remained in the garrifon, fit for duty, did not exceed five hundred men. After all the efforts of courage and perfeverance, governor Shirley and general Frafer were reduced to the neceffity of capitulating. Very liberal terms were obtained both for the inhabitant* and the garrifon : And on the twelfth of February, the fort at Brimftone Hill, and the ifland of St. Chriflopher's, with the dependent ifland of Nevis, were furren- dered to the marquis de Bouilie. The whole lofs of the Britifh re- gulars in garrifon at Brimftone Hill during the fiege, amounted to one hundred and feventy-fix ; thirty-eight being killed, one hun- dred and twenty-five wounded, and thirteen miffing. There being no farther occafion for the Britifh fleet to remain in Bafle Terre Road, fir Samuel Hood put to fea in the night of the fourteenth, unperceived by the enemy, and directed his courfe to Barbadoes, where he expected to meet fir George Rodney with a reinforcement of fhips from England, The furrender of Montferrat, as was ex- pected, fucceeded the lofs of St. Chriftopher's and Nevis; a detach- ment from the French fleet, on its return to Martinique, having ap- peared before it on the twenty-fecond of February, From AMERICAN WAR. 429 H A I XLVI. From the avowed principles and fentiments of thofe who held the ( chief offices in the new adminiftration, no doubt was entertained v. that peace with the revolted colonies would be one of the firft objects of their attention, and that the claim of independence fet up by the latter, would be no bar to a fettlement. In the preceding year the ' American congrefs had granted full powers to five of their agents in Europe to treat of a peace ; and with thofe perfons, or fome of them, means were found to open an intercourfe early in April : But fo many previous difficulties were to be cleared away, that fome time muft be expected to elapfe before they could Ater on the final difcuflion of the bufinefs. One of the laft acts of the former adminiftration was to appoint General general Carleton (now lord Dorchefter) commander in chief in pointed corn- America in the room of fir Henry Clinton. He was continued in office by the new adminiftration; and, in confequence of the inftructions he received, a fort of tacit ceflation of hoftilities was Clinton. obferved between the two armies m the neighbourhood of New York ; neither of them attempting to moleft the other. In other parts of the world, the war was ftill to be profecuted with vigour againft France, Spain, and Holland. The two former of thefe powers had agreed to renew their attempt this year againft the ifland of Jamaica : And to fruftrate their defigns, fir George Rod- ney, foon after his arrival in England in the fall of the preceding year, was difpatched to refume his command in the Weft Indies with a reinforcement of twelve {hips of the line. He failed from the Channel in January, and arrived at Barbadoes on the nineteenth of February. In confequence of the intelligence there received of the attack made on St. Chriftopher's (the news of its furrender not having then arrived), he put to fea immediately, with an intention of joining fir Samuel Hood, and attempting its relief. On his pafT- ige he met the Britifh fleet returning from St. Chriftopher's ; and as the HISTORY OF THE CHAP. tne if] a nd was already furrendered, and the count de GrafTe had Al_< Vl u v ' failed for Martinique, he proceeded with the whole fleet to St. Lucie, the moft convenient ftation for watching the enemy's motions. For this purpofe fome of his frigates were ftationed fo as to give him the earlieft intelligence ; whilft the reft of the fleet took on board provi- fions and water to laft them for five months. As the fafety of Ja- maica, and indeed of every other Britim ifland in the Weft Indies,, depended upon the exertions now to be made to bring the count de GrafTe to action, before he could form a junction with the Spanilh fleet to leeward,the intervening fpace of time was probably a period not only of great expectation, but of much anxiety and difquietude, to the Britim admiral. On the fifth of April intelligence was received, that the French were embarking troops on board their mips of war; and on the eighth, at break of day, a fignal from the Andromache, captain Byron, announced that their fleet was coming out of Fort Royal Bay, and Handing to the north-weft. Sir George Rodney immedi- ately threw out the fignal for weighing anchor, which was inftantly obeyed with fo much alacrity, that the whole Britim fleet, confifting of thirty-fix fhips of the line, was clear of Gros Iflet Bay before noon, and proceeding with a prefs of fail in purfuit of the enemy. Before day the next morning the enemy was difcovered under Do- minique ; and in this fituation both fleets were for fome time becalmed. The enemy got the breeze firft, and flood towards Guadaloupe: The van of the Britiih fleet, commanded by fin Samuel Hood, received it next, and ftood after th^rn with a prefs of fail ; whilft the centre and rear were ftill becalmed. Although it was obvioufly the defign of the count de Grafle to avoid an engage- ment, the opportunity which now prefented itfelf of overpowering the Britifh van, whilft the centre and rear lay becalmed, was not to be refilled : When, therefore, fir Samuel Hood's divifion had ap- 3 preached AMERICAN WAR. 431 H A XLVI. proached fo near as to engage, the count de Grafle bore down upon ( * A p. it with his whole force. At one time, it is faid, the Barfleur, Hood's {hip, had feven of the enemy's {hips firing upon her, and during the greateft part of the action not lefs than three : And although every {hip of his divifion had a fuperior force to contend with, fo nobly did they fupport each other, and with fuch 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 occafioned. 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 Britifli fleet, the count de Grafle withdrew his fhips from action, and, having the advantage of the wind, kept at fuch a diftance as to baffle all the en- deavours of the Britifh commander to renew it. In this action the Royal Oak and Montagu, the two leading {hips of the van, fuftained confiderable damage, and the fervice a heavy lofs, in the death of captain Bayne, of the Alfred. Two of the French {hips were fo much difabled as to be obliged to quit the fleet, and take {helter in Guadaloupe. The Britifli fleet lay-to the night after the action to repair their damages, and the next morning made fail to windward in purfuit of the enemy ; but with fo little effect, that by the morn- ing of the eleventh the French fleet had got fo far to windward, that fome of their {hips were fcarcely vifible. In the mean time the rear divifion of the Britifli fleet, commanded by admiral Drake, had been tranfpofed to the van, which now became the rear. Fortunately, about noon of the eleventh, one of the enemy's fhips was feen a great way to windward, apparently in a difabled condition, and re- pairing her damages: A general chafe was immediately ordered; and towards evening one of the leading (hips approached fo near, that fhe mufl inevitably have been taken, had not the count de Grafle, feeing her danger, borne down with his whole fleet for her protection. 432 HISTORY OF THE CHAP, protection. This movement brought the two fleets fo near, that A. LJ V J. i- -v- ^> nothing but the approach of night prevented an immediate engage- ment j which muft neceffarily happen in the morning, if things were preferved in their prefent relative ilate during the night. Such meafures were immediately taken by fir George Rodney as he thought would be effectual for that purpofe ; and when day-light appeared, he had the fatisfaction to perceive, that what he had fo much defired was on the point of being accomplifhed ; and that it was not in the power of the count de Grafle, if fo inclined, to avoid a general engagement. The fignal for clofe action was thrown out ; Naval ea- an d, about half after feven in the morning, the action was begun by fwfe^adm 1 !-" ca P tam Penny in the Marlborough, the leading fhip of the Britim rai Rodney van . T ne two fleets met on oppofite tacks, and there being little and the count dc Giaffc., wind, the Britim fhips ranged flowly along, and clofe under the lee of the enemy's line, delivering and continuing a moft tremendous fire, which the French received and returned with the utmoft firm- nefs. About noon fir George Rodney, in the Formidable, having pafled the Ville de Paris, the count de GrafTe's fhip, and her fecond, fo clofe as to be almoft in contact, and having made a vifible impref- fion upon them by a fire fo quick and well directed, that it was almoft infupportable, ftood athwart the enemy's line between the fecond and third fliip aftern of the Ville de Paris, followed and nobly fup- ported by the Duke, Namur, and Canada ; the reft of his divifion coming up in fucceffion. The Formidable immediately wore round; and a fignal being made for the van divifion under admiral Drake to tack, the Britim fleet thus gained the wind, and ftood upon the fame tack with the enemy. By this bold manoeuvre the French line w r as effectually broke and feparated, 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-fet. The rear of the Britifh fleet being becalmed, did pot for fome time get into AMERICAN WAR. 433 into adion, and when the breeze fprung up, it was fo fmall, that fir c H A P. Jv LJ \ J. . Samuel Hood, in the Barfleur, took an hour and a half to pafs the '_ -,- -J enemy's line only fo far as the opening made by the Formidable, keeping up, during all this time, a moft tremendous, well-connected fire. The French fhips being crowded with men, the carnage on board their fleet was prodigious : Still however they fought with fuch obftinate bravery, as if the fate of their country depended upon the iflue of the day. Count de Grafle, with his own and the other {hips in the centre, withftood till evening all the efforts of the various fhips that attacked him. The gallantry of captain Corn- wallis of the Canada, a feventy-four gun fhip, was on this occafion the admiration of the whole fleet : Having fought the Hedor, a French fhip of equal force with his own, until fhe ftruck her co- lours, he left her to be taken pofleflion of by a frigate ; and, as if emulous to revenge his brother's caufe, puflied on to the Ville de Paris, which he engaged for two hours, notwithstanding the in- equality of his force, and left her almofl a wreck. Still, however, the count de Grafle refufed to furrcudcr, and Teemed unwilling to ftrike to any fhip without a flag. Towards fun-fet fir Samuel Hood, in the Barfleur, reached the Ville de Paris, and poured in a moft deftru&ive fire. The count de Graffe bore it for about ten minutes, when he ftruck his flag, and furrendered. At this time, it is faid, only three men were left alive and unhurt upon the upper deck, of whom the count de Grafle was one. Previoufly to the furrender of the Ville de Paris, the He&or, as already mentioned, had ftruck to captain Cornwallis. The Ardent, of fixty-four guns, taken by d'Orvilliers in the Britifh Channel, was retaken ; the Csefar and the Glorieux, both of feventy-four guns, had alfo furrendered, but not till they were reduced to mere wrecks ; and the Diadem, another feventy-four, had been funk by a fingle broadfide from the For- midable in a generous exertion to fuccour the Ville de Paris. Night VOL. II. 3 K at 434 HISTORY OF THE c H A P. a t length putting an end to the engagement, the Britifh admiral u -- ..' threw out the fignal for his fleet to bring-to, that he might keep it collected, and fecure the prizes. But unfortunately the Caefar, one of them, blew up by accident in the night of the engagement ; and a lieutenant and fifty Britifh feamen, with about four hundred pri- foners, perifhed by the explofion. On board the Ville de Paris were found thirty-fix chefls of money deftined for the pay and fub- fiftence of the troops in the defigned attack on Jamaica ; arid it feems to have been fmgularly providential, that the whole train of artillery, with the battering cannon and travelling carriages meant for that ex- pedition, were on board the fhips now taken. The Ville de Paris was the largeft fhip in the French king's fervice : She was a prefent from the city of Paris to Louis the Fifteenth ; and no expence was fpared to render the gift worthy both of the city and the monarch. Her building and fitting for fea are faid to have coft one hundred and feventy-fix thoufand pounds fterling. Sir George Rodney in this engagement happily exemplified the great advantage derived from bringing Britifh ihips and feamen into clofe action. The whole lofs of men on board the Britifh fleet, in the actions of the ninth and twelfth of April, amounted only to two hundred and thirty-feven killed, and feven hundred and fixty- fix wounded : Whereas the lofs of the French, in the fame actions, was computed at three thoufand flain, and more than double that number wounded. That the computation was not exaggerated, appears probable from the known lofs on board particular fhips : In the Ville de Paris alone were killed upwards of four hundred, and in feveral other fmgle fhips between two and three hundred. And, by the confeffion of the French themfelves, their Ihips that efcaped, were fo mattered in the action as to be little lefs than ruined. The Britifh line confuted of thirty-fix, and the French line only of thirty-two fhips, after the two difabled in the action of the ninth had AMERICAN WAR. 435 had left it: But when it is confidered, that fix fhips of Hood's divi- c fion, from the fcantinefs of the wind, never could be brought into u action, it will be found that the fuperiority in number of thofe actually engaged, was at leaft on the fide of the French. The enemy's fhips that efcaped, made off to leeward the night after the action in the beft manner they could, and before morning were entirely out of fight. Four of them ran down to the Dutch ifland of Cura?oa ; but the greater part, under Bougainville and Vaudreuil, the fecond and third in command, kept together, and diredted their courfe for Cape Francois. The next morning fir George Rodney, after receiving a report of the ftate of his fleet, attempted to purfue, but was becalmed for .three days under Gua- daloupe, which greatly favoured the efcape of the enemy. He afterwards, by means of his frigates, examined the French ports to windward, to difcover whether any fhips of their fleet had taken (bel- ter in them; and being at laft convinced that they were all gone to lee- ward, he difpatched fir Samuel Hood, whofe divifion had fuffered little in the action, to the weft end of Hifpaniola, in hopes of meeting with fome of their difabled fhips, whilft he himfelf followed with the reft of the fleet to join him off Cape Tiberoon. In the Mona pafTage, between Hifpaniola and Porto Rico, fir Samuel Hood got fight of five French fhips, two of them of the line, and three frigates ; all of which were taken, except one frigate, that efcaped by a fudden fhift of the wind. Thus the enemy by this action loft in all, eight fhips of the line, and two frigates. Sir George Rodney now proceeded to Jamaica with the prizes, and fuch of the Britifh fhips as were moft difabled, leaving fir Samuel Hood, with twenty-five fail of the Kne, to keep the fea, and watch the enemy's motions. In confequence of the defeat of the French fleet, the expedition agairift Jamaica was entirely given up ; and the action of the twelfth of April may be faid to have terminated the war in the Weft Indies. 3 K 2 The 43 6 HISTORY OF THE CHAP. The reduction of the inconfiderable Britifh fettlement on the Bahama \_ -.-' - 1 lilands by an armament fitted out at the Havannah,was the onlyhof- 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 ftate of the garrifon, pro- voked the attack ; and that thofe reports were not unfounded, feems probable from the facility with which the conqueft was made. On May. the fixth of May, in the evening, the Spanifh armament, confifting of three frigates and fixty fail of tranfports, having on board two thoufand five hundred troops, appeared before them : And on the next day, upon the firft fummons, the governor, after holding two confultations, one with his council and the other with the officers of the garrifon, confifting of only one hundred and feventy invalids, and the principal inhabitants of the place, agreed to furrender on terms of capitulation. Profperity of Whilft fir George Rodney triumphed over the enemies of Britain hjfeEdk" in the Weft 5 the credit and reputation of her arms were nobly Indies. fupported in the Eaft, under the aufpices of the governor-general of Bengal, Mr. Haftings, and the more immediate direction of fir Edward Hughes by fea, and fir Eyre Coote by land. The latter, under many difadvantages, amongft which a fcarcity of provifions for the fubfiftence of the army was not the leaft, baffled all the at- tempts of Hyder Ally to regain that footing in the Carnatic, which he had loft the preceding year : And the former, although he had to contend againft M. de Suffrem, one of the ableft officers in [the naval fervice of France, who commanded a very fuperior force, defeated him in four hard-fought actions within the fhort fpace of feven months. But that which ferved moft to advance and fecure the Britifh intereft in India, was the means that were found to make a peace with the Mahratta States, and detach them from the intereft of Hyder. Ally. This event took place in the month of May ; and, AMERICAN WAR. 437 H A XLVI. by one of the articles of the pacification, the contracting parties ( became bound to compel Hyder Ally to reftore all the places taken from the India Company fmce the commencement of the war. Thus the Mahrattas were not only detached from the intereft of Hyder Ally, but provifionally became bound to act againft him. In Europe the principal aim of the new adminiftration feem sto Conduft of the new ad- have been to obftruct, as far as was in their power, the failing of the miniftration. enemy's convoys; to protect the outward and homeward bound Britifh trade; to prevent the Dutch fleet from forming a junction with that of France and Spain ; to relieve the garrifon of Gibraltar, by furniihing it with the cuftomary annual fupplies ; and, in general, rather to preferve things in their prefent ftate during the conferences for a peace, than incur the rifk of lofs from the defire of obtaining any poflible advantage. In the month of April admiral Harrington failed on a cruize with twelve {hips of the line to intercept a convoy faid to be then ready to leave Breft, and on the twentieth fortunately got fight of it. The convoy confifted of eighteen tranfports, having troops on board, and laden with provifions and ftores for the ufe of the French fleet in the Eaft Indies : It failed from Breft under the protection of the Pegafe and Protect eur, of feventy-f our guns each, 1'Actionaire, of fixty-four guns, but armed en flute, and a frigate* A general chafe was immediately ordered by the Britifh admiral : And, in the courfe of it, the Pegafe was taken by captain Jarvis in the Foudroyant, TActionaire by captain Maitland in the Queen, and eleven or twelve of the tranfports by the other fhips of the fquadron. After this fuccefsful 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 fail from the Texel, lord Howe, with a fuitable fquadron, was difpatched to the coaft of Holland to watch its motions. The Dutch fleet, inftead of being only in a ftate of preparation for coming out, had already failed ; HISTORY OF THE [ A p - failed $ but, upon receiving intelligence of lord Howe's deftination, XLVI. r 1782. June. Repulfe and difcomfitnre of the Spa- niards and French be- fore Gibral- tar. returned again into port, where it quietly remained during the time of his lordfhip's cruize, which lafted about a month before he carried his fquadron 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 progrefs to the northward took eighteen {hips of a fleet of Britifh merchantmen, bound for Newfoundland and Quebec, chiefly laden with provifions. The reft of the merchantmen, amounting to about ten fail, with the fhips of war appointed for their convoy, made their efcape. As the combined fleet proceeded to cruize about the mouth of the Channel, great apprehenfions began to be entertained for the fafety of a homeward-bound Jamaica fleet that had failed under the convoy of only three mips of the line. The utmoft exertions were therefore made to forward the equipment of the Channel fleet, that it might proceed to fea for its protection : But with all that could be done, not more than twenty- two fail of the line were in readinefs in the beginning of July. With thefe lord Howe received orders to put to fea ; and he ac- cordingly failed from St. Helen's on the fecond of the month. It does not appear that his lordfhip, during his cruize, either faw the combined fleet, or that for whofe protection he failed : But for- tunately the latter got fafe into the Channel on the thirtieth of July ; and about ten days after, the Britim fleet returned into port. In the mean time the mighty preparations made by the king of Spain, for the reduction of Gibraltar, and the vaft expectations formed from them, drew the attention of all Europe towards that fortrefs. The fucceffive difappointments which the Spaniards had already met with, it would feem, ought to have taught them wif- dom, and induced them to abandon the attempt as hopelefs ; efpe- cially as their arms might have been employed in other quarters more AMERICAN WAR. 439 more beneficially to themfelves, and confequently more injurioully CHAP, to Great Britain : But their obftinacy and perfeverance feemed to i_, -.- increafe with their difappointments, and the difficulties which they had to furmount. Towards the clofe of the former year, their ad- vanced works upon the Ifthmus, after being completed at. a vail ex- pence, were demoliflied in one night by a fuccefsful fortie from the garrifon. The guns and mortars mounted upon the batteries were fpiked, and the batteries themfelves fo effectually fet on fire, that be- fore morning they were nearly confumed. After this misfortune, the enemy feem to have principally relied on an attack by water with floating batteries. The plan of thefe batteries was the con- trivance of the chevalier d'Arcon, a French engineer of fome di> tinction. They were to be of fuch thicknefs and flrength as to be impenetrable by (hot from the heavieft cannon, and to be con- flructed of materials calculated to refill the action of fire. From fhells they were to be protected by a Hoping roof, which by means of a mechanical contrivance might be raifed or lowered at pleafure. Thus fecured, fuch a fhort diftan^c B kt K^ rhnfpn, that the heavy artillery with which they were to be mounted, could not fail in a little time to ruin the works of the garrifon, and render an aflault practicable. The engineer had the addrefs to reprefent his fcheme in fo favourable a point of view, that the moft flattering hopes of its fuccels were entertained, and no expence was fpared to complete the machines according to his plan. Whilfl they were in a ftate of preparation, the duke de Crillon, after his fuccefs at Minorca, was appointed to command the Spanifh army before Gibraltar : That army was reinforced by twelve thoufand auxiliary French troops ; and to add fplendour to the fcene, two of the French princes of the blood, the count d'Artois, and the duke de Bourbon, with a number of the firft nobility, both of France and Spain, repaired to the Spanifh camp. The battering machines required fo much time in 2 prepa- 44 o HISTORY OF THE CHAP, preparation that they were not in readinefs before the beginning of -A.Aj V J September, about which time the combined fleet of France and 1782 Spain arrived in the bay. When joined by the fhips already at Algefiras, it confifted of forty-eight or forty-nine fhips 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 fifty-four pieces of heavy brafs cannon, and had on board up- wards of fix thoufand men, a great proportion of which were ar- tillery-men, thirty-fix being allotted for the fervice of each gun. They had alfo on 'board a number of fpare guns to replace any that might be damaged in action. To give the utmoft effect to the at- tack, it was propofed that when the battering fhips fhould take their flation, .the Spanifh gun and mortar boats, of which they had a great number, fhould place themfelves fo as to flank the Britifh bat- teries on the water, and if poflible drive the artillery-men from their guns. The combined fleet was to cover and affift the battering fhips , And to diftract the attention of the garriion, a furious cannonade was to commence from all tk c batteries on the Ifthmus. An im. menfe number of large boats, that had been collected from all the ports in Spain, were alfo to be in readinefs to carry over the bay and land troops in the fortrefs as foon as the battering fhips fhould produce their expected effect. The plan being arranged, and every thing in readinefs, the battering fhips got under way about feven in the morning of the thirteenth of September, and between nine and ten anchored in a regular line, between the Olcrand New Mole, at moderate diftances from each other, and about half a mile from the Britifh works. Immediately a furious cannonade began, not only from them but from all the enemy's numerous artillery upon the Ifthmus, which was returned by the garrifon with mowers of fhells and red-hot balls towards every quarter from whence the attacks were madet The hills all around were covered with fpec- tators AMERICAN WAR. 441 tators to behold a fcene beyond defcription grand, awful, and terrific. c ** * p * ^. J.^ \ I So fiercely did the garrifon return the enemy s cannonade, that con- ' tinued torrents of fire and fmoke leemed to iflue from every quarter of the rock : But the attention of the befieged was principally fixed on the battering hips, which for fbme time appeared to anfwcr every expectation that had been formed from them. Neither foot or {hells feemed to affect them. At length, about two o'clock, fmoke was feen to uTue from the upper part of Don Moreno's ihip: And the people on board were discovered ufmg fire-engines, ami pouring water into the (hot-holes. Not long afterwards the prince of Naffku's fhip, the next in fize to the admiral's, was obferved to be in the fame condition. This fight, without doubt, animated the garrifon to freih exertion, and had an oppcGte efiect upon the enemy. The other battering {hips were evidently affected with the firuadon of their admiral and his fecond, fo that the fire of the gar- rii'on had gained a viiible fuperiority before the CJfBH%, and it was continued with unremitting fury during the night. About one in the morning the flames burft forth -rm fcoorj tke roro (hips already Mentioned, and ieveral of the others were viiibly on fire. Signals of diftrefs were now made ; and boats were fent off rroin the ihore to their aiiiftance. Captain Curtis, who commanded the Britiih o*val force at Gibraltar, feized this opportunity of completing the deitruction of thoie machines, which had created ib much appre- hen hen. He ilationed his gun-boats fo as to flank the line of the battering thips, and by keeping up a conilant lire, to cut them of from that affiftance which they had begun to receive from the ihore. In this dreadful tiruation the battering {hips remained during the reft of the night, expoted to a direct nre from the garrilbn, and a raking fire ircm the gun-boats, cut off from jffiftinrr, and the iarne* increafing every inilant. AVhen day-ligiit appeared, it preiented a iceae of diirreft that every hoftile idea was for a time ex- VOL. II. 3 L ttngujlhed, HISTORY OF THE vl vi Pt tinguiflied, in companion for the miferable wretches who yet re- -** JLJ V I J mained on board the enemy's battering {hips. The fire from the fortrefs ceafed : And the braveft exertions were made by captain Curtis and the Britim feamen, at the rifque of their own lives, to refcue the Spaniards from the furrounding flames. By their intrepid efforts about four hundred of them were faved from inevitable de- ftruction. Nine of thefe battering machines blew up fucceflively in the courfe of the day; and the tenth was burnt by captain Curtis, after he found that me could not be brought off. In this attack by fea the enemy were fuppofed to have loft about one thoufand five hundred men, including the prifoners and wounded. Thus difaftroufly ended the laft attempt of the Spaniards for the reduc- tion of Gibraltar. About the time of this attack lord Howe failed from the Britifli channel with the grand fleet, confifting of thirty-four mips of the line, to efcort a number of tranfports carrying troops, and laden with thofe flores and fupplies which were to enable general Elliott to continue his brave defence. Ills lordfhip was much delayed on Relief of his P a ff a g e by contrary winds ; but he at laft reached the Straits, and Gibraltar. entered them on the eleventh of October* That fame evening part of the tranfports got fafe to Gibraltar : The reft, from the ftrength of the current, were unexpectedly carried paft it into the Mediterranean. Lord Howe followed with his fleet, and collected them ; and by the eighteenth conducted the whole fafely into the bay, where they difembarked the troops, and landed their cargoes. Fifteen hundred barrels of gunpowder were alfo fpared from the fleet, as an addi- tional fupply to the garrifon. To the honour of his lordfhip it is to be remarked that the whole of this fervice was fuccefsfully 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 fuperiority of their number, or were fo much overawed AMERICAN WAR. 443 overawed by their opponent's mafterly difpofition for defence, that c yhvi P. they did not attempt to moleft him. The relief of Gibraltar being u - .* effected, his lordfhip on the nineteenth took advantage of an eaft- crly wind to repafs the Straits, and enter the Atlantic. The com- bined fleet followed, and on the twentieth, towards funfet, bore down fo far as to commence a diftant cannonade, which was held in fo much contempt by the Britifh commander, that although three of their number were firing upon his own {hip, he did not deign to return a fhot. They afterwards made an attempt to cut off fome .fhips in the rear ; but were fo warmly received as to be obliged to fheer off with lofs. In the morning, the combined fleet being a great way to windward, and apparently fteering for Cadiz, lord Howe proceeded on his return to England, difpatching on his way eight fhips of the line to the Weft Indies, and fix to the coaft of Ireland. During thefe tranfadions a partial change had taken place in the Britifli administration. Upon the death of the marquis of Rocking- ham, about the beginning of July, the earl of Shelburne was ap- pointed firft lord of the treafury in his ftead. In confequence of this appointment, or from fome other caufe, Mr. Fox, and feveral other principal members of adminiftration, refigned their offices, and were fucceeded by others, more in the intereft of the earl of Shel- burne. Thofe changes, however, did not affect the negotiations carrying on at Paris for putting an end to the war. Mr. Ofvvald, a Britifh merchant, and the particular friend of prefident Laurens, who had been fo long confined in the Tower, was appointed to negotiate with the American commiflioners ; and Mr. Thomas Grenville firft, and afterwards Mr. Fitzherbert, were fucceffively deputed to treat with the minifters of the other allied powers. The later events of the prefent year had all a tendency to bring the powers at war more 3- L 2 nearly -..._ 444 HISTORY OF THE c H A P. nearly upon a level. At the clofe of the former year, Great Brf- -\ J.^ VI* tain feemed nearly overwhelmed by the flrength and fuccefles of her numerous foes: But the fignal victory obtained by fir George Rodney in the Weft Indies, with the blow given to the naval force of France m that quarter of the world ; the defeat of the Spa- niards before Gibraltar, and the fuccefsful relief of its garrifon, in the view of a fuperior fleet ; and the fplendid effects of the Britiflr policy and arms in Afia; raifed the reputation of the nation to its- wonted level amongft the powers of Europe, and gave her addi- tional weight, either for the accomplimment of peace, or the far- ther profecution of the war. But the derangement of the finances,, both of France and Spain, was the principal caufe which difpofed- rhofe powers to liften to the terms of accommodation. The internal diftreffes in every quarter of the revolted colonies, the mutinous difpofition of their armies, from the want of all necef- fafy fupplies, and the utter inability of the congrefs to furniili them, were well known to the American commiffioners, and ftrongly prompted them not to let pafa the prefent opportunity of reftoring to their country the bleflings of peace. The negotiations with thofe commiffioners were therefore firft brought to a conclufion : And, on the thirtieth of November, provifional articles of peace were iigned by Mr. Ofwald 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 ftiould be agreed upon between Great Britain and France. By thofe articles the thirteen imited ftates of America were acknowledged to be free, fovereign, and independent : The limits of their country were afcertained, as far as was practicable, by natural boundaries ; and thofe limits were extended fo far to the weftward as to contain within them an im- menfe extent of territory, partly unfettled, and partly ftill inhabited 4 by AMERICAN WAR, 44- by the Indians, the original proprietors : A right was granted to c H A F n them to fifh on the banks and coafts of Newfoundland, in" the *_ .- -_* i "ft** Gulph of St. Laurence, and on the coafts, bays, and creeks, of all the other Britiih dominions in America, and to cure and dry their fifh 'in any of the unfettled bays, harbours,, and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Iflands, and Labrador : It was ftipulated that creditors on either fide mould meet with no lawful impediment ia the recovery of their debts: A recommendation was to be made by congrefs to the legiflatures of the different ftates, to reftore the corfc- fifcated eftates and properties of real Britim fubjects-j alfo of thofe reiident within the Britim lines in America, who had not borne arms againft the United States ; and alfo of perfons of any other defcrip- tion, upon their refunding to the prefent poffeflbrs the prke bond Jidf paid by fuch porTerlbrs at the time of purchafing fuch eftates : It was ftipulated,. that no future eonfifcations mould be made, nor any profecutions commenced, for the part taken by any perfon during the war, nor any future lofs be fuffered by any one, either in his perfon, liberty, or property, on that account : It was agreed that prifoners on both fides mould be fet at liberty, and that the Britifli pofts within the United States fhould be evacuated with all convenient fpeed : The navigation of the Mifliffippi to remain free and open to the fubjeds of both powers. And mould any place be taken on either fide, before the arrival of thefe articles in America, fuch place to be reftored without cornpenfation. The preliminary articles of peace with France, upon which thofe with America were to take effecT:, were not figned till the twentieth of January 1783. Thofe with Spain were executed at the fame time. The general ground of thofe articles was the mutual reftitu- tion of all places taken on either fide during the war, with fome few exceptions. France was to retain Tobago and Senegal ; Spain, Mi- norca and Weft Florida ; and Great Britain to cede Eaft Florida to Spain, HISTORY OF THE CHAP. Spain. The Dutch Ifland of St. Euflatius, and the provinces of Demerara and Ilfequibo, to be reftored by France to the United Pro- vinces. At the fame time a fufpenfion of hoftilities with the Dutch was agreed upon, until terms of peace with that nation could be finally adjufted. Thus ended the moft extenfive, difficult, and burdenfome war in which Great Britain was ever engaged *, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is the grandeft efFecl: of com- bination that has yet been exhibited to the world : A combination formed by popular reprefentation and the art of printing "\. So vail a force as was exerted by Great Britain had never been fent to fo great a diftance, nor refilled by any power apparently fo unequal to the conteft. The military genius of Britain was unimpaired ; ihe * The foreign debt of America, incurred by the war, amounted to 7,985,085 dollars; the domeftic debt to 34,115,290 dollars; fo that taking the dollar at 45. 6d. ilerling, the foreign and domcftic debt amounted to 9,450,084 pounds fterling, the intereft of which, at 6 per cent, which is the intereft generally paid in America, amounts to 567,005 pounds. The war is computed to have coft Great Britain 1 15,654,914 pounds, and the additional annual burden* in confequence of that war, 4^557,575 pounds, from January 1775 to the peace in 1783. America is faid to have loft by the fword and natural deaths in the army and navy, not lefs than 100,000 men. The number of men killed in the Britifh fervice, 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 fquare wiiles, in which are 640 millions of acres; of thefe, 51 millions are water, which being dc- du&ed, the total amount of acres of land in the United States of America is 589 millions. f CAPTAIN NEWTE, in his philofophical and very interefting Tour in England and Scotland, having delineated Scotland and the North of England as fhaped by the hand of nature, is led, from the names of places, to fpeak of the geographical knowledge, and the natural quicknefs in general, of mankind in a favage ftate. On this fubjeft he fays : " In the country of the " Illionois, a chief of the Cafcafltias conceived the fublime idea of uniting all Indian nations " and tribes into one grand alliance, offenfiveand defenfive. If this had been realized, Dr. " Franklin's confederation of the thirteen States would have cut but a poor figure on the " American continent, and the natural man would have outdone the philofopher.'* rofe AiMERICAN WAR. 447 rofe with elaftic force under every blow; and feemed capable, by the c ? ' immenfity of her revenues, of wearying out, by perfeverance, the adverfity of fortune : But wifdom, vigour, and unanimity, were wanting in her public councils. The eloquence of fome leghlators in oppofition to government ; the narrow views of minifters at home; and the mifconduct of certain commanders abroad, through a feries of pufillanimity, procraflination, difcord, and folly; brought this coun- try, in fpite of the gallant efforts of the Britifti officers and foldiers by land and fea, the juftice of their caufe, the firmnefs of their fo- vereign, and the general vows of the people, to a crifis, which has not indeed been followed (fo limited are our profpects into futurity.) by all that calamity which was generally apprehended, but which, neverthelefs, although the national character, for fpirit and enter- prife, was abundantly fuftained by individuals, cannot be regarded otherwife than as a difgrace to the Britifh : Since it exhibited, in our public conduct, the triumph of party over genuine patriotifm, and a fpirit of peculation and pleafure prevailing in too many inftances over military difcipline, and a fenfe of military honour. The Britifh minifter did not poflefs that towering genius which is alone fitted, in difficult and turbulent times, to overcome the feditious, and roufe the remiis to their duty. Though a man of fine talents, as well as an amiable difpofition, he was conftitutionally indolent : And, befides this, there was not that degree of cordiality and perfect unani- mity that the minifter was led to fuppofe arnongft the friends of his majefly's government in America. It is, perhaps, a matter of doubt whether the loyalifts were not, on the whole, too fanguine in their expectations. But it is the nature of men to cheriih the hope of relief with an ardour proportioned to the greatnefs of their mil- fortunes. On the whole, the Britifh government did not proceed on any grand fyftem that might control particular circumftances and events ; 2 but 448 HISTORY OF THE XT A T F * k ut ftudied to P r l n g their own authority by temporary expedients. v ' They courted their adverfaries at home, by a fhare of power and profit; and the public enemies of the ilate, by partial conceffions. But thefe availed much more to the eflablifhment 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 eftablifhed government : For fads quickly pafs into precedents ; while manifefto is oppofed to manifefto, and argument to argu- ment. Had the meafures adopted by Britain, been adopted in time*, perhaps they would not have been adopted in vain. Their concef- iions, as well as their armaments, were always too late. Earlier concefiion, or an earlier application of that mighty force which was at the difpofkl of the commanders in chief in 1777, might perhaps have prevented or quamed the revolution. While the natural ilrength and fpirit of Great Britain were em- barraifcd and encumbered with the difadvantages and errors now enumerated, the Americans, in fpite of a thoufancl difficulties and wants, by the energy vf liberty, the contrivance of neceflity, and the great advantages arifing from the pofTeffion of the country, ulti- mately attained their objecl. The Americans, indeed, were not fired with that enthufiaftic ardour, which nations of a warmer tempera- ment, in all ages, have been wont to difplay in the caufe of freedom. But they were guided by wife councils; they were fteady and per- fevering; and, on all great occafions, not a little animated by the courage of general Waihington, who has been proverbially called a Fabius, but in whofe character courage, in fadt, was a feature ftill more predominant than prudence. The American generals, having the bulk of the people on their fide, were made' acquainted with Befides a mighty navy, Great Britain had a force in America, amounting nearly to 42^000 men, befides from 25,000 to 30,000 loyalifts, who were aftually cnliftcd in the feveral provincial corps raifed during the war. every AMERICAN WAR. 449 every movement of the Britim army, and enabled, for the moft c **. part, to penetrate their defigns : To obtain intelligence, on which ib much depends, was to the Britifh commanders a matter of pro- portionable difficulty. The Americans had neither money nor credit : But they learned to ftand in need only of a few things ; to be contented with the fmall allowance that nature requires ; to fuffer, as well as to act. Their councils, animated by liberty, under the moft diftrefling circumftances, took a grand and high-fpirited courfe, and they were finally triumphant. The Revolution of America, though predicted by philofophy, was generally confidered as a remote contingency, if not a thing wholly ideal and vifionary. Its immediate caufes were altogether unforefeen and improbable. It came as a furprife 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 prefent enlightened period, can be fuccefsful, in a country where the people are tolerably united. VOL. II. 3 M INDEX. N. B. The Numerals refer to the Volumes, and the Figures to the Pages, A. 4BERCROMBIE, colonel, killed at Bunker's 1 Hill, i. 128. Abercrombie, colonel, expedition of, i. 372. His fortie from York, ii. 410. Adams, Samuel, a leader in the provincial con- grefe of Maflachufett's Bay, i. 120. Excepted from the proffered pardon by government, 124. Allegany mountains, i. 3. Allen, Ethan, furprifes Ticonderoga, i. 131. And Crown Point, 132. America. See Colonies, Congrefs, and the feveral provinces by name. Americans, fertility of genius of, i. 167. Driven out of Canada, 178. Defeated at Long Ifland, 195. Glorious retreat of, 197. Diflieartened by their lofles, 206. Animofities between the northern and fouthern troops, 207. Burn part of New York, 209. Principle of their army, 222. Become defpondent on the fuccefsofthe Biitim arms, 225. Of Carolina and Virginia, defeat the Indians, 250. Fleet of, burnt, 305. Difcontents of, on the difappointment at Rhode Ifland, ii. 38. Alliance of, with France, unites and roufes the Britifli, 75. Army of, with that of France, befitges Savannah, 127. At- tacks the Britifh lines, 130. Repulfed, 131. Junction of forces under Sumpter, Clarke, and Brannen, 228. Andre, major, adventure of, ii. 250. His ami- able and refpe&able character, 251.* General Clinton ftrongly folicits 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 Charleftown, 179. Arnold, general, propofes to Wafhington to fur- prife Quebec, i. 138. Difficulties of the en- terprife, ibid. Difappointed, 139. Summons it to furrender, ibid. In great want of artil- lery, 140. Attacks the city, 141. Wound- ed, ibid. Raifes the fiege, 168. Engaged in the a&ion at Still Water, 336. Diftinguimes himfelf gieatly, 337. Wounded, fighting againft Burgoyne, 341. Difgufted with the American fervice, ii. 247. Caufes of that difguft, 248. Forms a fcheme for delivering- up a ftrong poft to the Britifh, 249. Efcapes to New York, 251. AJfemblies, provincial, of America, oppofe the {lamp-act, i. 35. Difiblution of, by the go- vernors, hurtful by diffufing difconteut through the country, 72* B. Baillie, colonel. See Eajl Indiet. Barrington, admiral, fails with the Briti/h fleet againft St. Lucie, ii. 86. Engagement with the French, 97. Wounded, 98. 3 M 2 Bofan, INDEX. Boflon, riotous oppofition to the ftamp-adt, i, 39. Oppofes the board of cuftoms, 59. Riot about the cuftoms, 63. People propofe hold- ing a convention, 64. Infult the foldiers, 74. Riot, 75. Meeting at, 82. Petition the go- vernor againft the judges, ib'uL AfTembly at, denies the right of parliament to legiflate for the colonies, 83. Petition his majelly to remove the governor, 84. Riot about the in- troductio'n of tea, 86. People deftroy the cargoes of two fhips laden with tea, 87. Port fhut by an aft 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. Caufc of, -efpoufed by the other colonies, 96. Meeting of dekgates at, 100. Effects of (hutting the port of, 1 12. Block- ade of Britifh troops at, 166. Evacuated by the Britifh, 167. Riot at, betweeji the Ame- rican and French Tailors, ii. 38. See Majja* chufett's Buy. Britain., government of, refolves to perfift in co- ercive meafures, i. 122. People of, generally for the war, 258. Sends commiflioners to treat . with the Americans, ii. 6. Breaks with France, > ibid. With Spain, 156. Differences between, ) and Holland, 257. See Parliament, minifters, admirals, generals, and foreign- nations by name. Bunker'' s Hill, defcription of, i. 125. Battle of, r 26. Errors committed in this action, i 29. .Burford, the American colonel, defeated by co- lonel Tarleton, ii. 193. Burgoyne, general, appointed commander of the Britiih northern army, i. 3 1 8. Employs the favages, 319. Number of his troops, 320. His manifetto, 321. Impolicy of threatening manifertoes, 322. Inverts Ticonderoga, iKd. And alfo Mount Independence, ibid. Which forts are abandoned by the Americans, 323. The mips of the Americans are deilroyed at Skeenefborough, 324. He compels the Ame- ricans ) abandon their works, ibid. Part of his army engages the Americans at Hubberton, 325. Defeats them, ibid. Stratagem of the Americans, 326. Blameable 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 fend a fufficient number of troops, ibid. Colonel St. Leger detached by, iavefls Fort Stanwix, 334. Obliged to rails the ficge, 335. That failure owing to the inadequacy of the force given him by Ptor- goyne, ibid. Oppofed by general Gates, who 6 takes the chief command of the Americans, 336. Action at Still Water, 337. Neither party is victorious,, ibid. The Britifh might have gained a decifive viftory, had Burgoyne not burdened himfclf with more artillery than was neceflary, ibid. The battle mowed that the Americans could fight with courage and conduct on plain ground, ibid. Diftrefied fitu- ation of his army, 338. Deferted by the In- dians, 339. Retreats to Saratoga, ibid. His army nearly furroundcd, 340. Bloody battle with the Americans, 341. General Frafer killed, ibid. Lofs of the Britifh very confider- able, ibid. Critical fituation of the Britifh 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, ibid. But finds his retreat cut ofF, ibid. Is completely furrounded, 344. Endeavours to force the Americans to fight, ibid. Makes overtures to general Gates for a convention, 345. Propofals on both fides, 346 348. Convention ratified, 349. Re- flections on this event, 352. The conduct of Burgoyne difcufled, 353. Attempts to throw the blame of his mifcarriages on fir William Howe, and on lord George Germaine, 355. General caufe of his mifcarriage, 356. His deportment after liis mlafoi-tune, 357. Throws himfelf into oppofition, ibid. Burke, the celebrated Edmund. See Parliament. Byron, admiral, fails from Portfmouth with a fleet for North America, ii. 25. Fleet of, difperfed by ftorms, 46, 47. He arrives at St. Lucie, 91. Sails to St. Chriftopher's to protect the homeward-bound trade, 92. Returns to St- Lucie, 96. Action with the French, 97. The French admiral avoids a clofe engagement, 98. French fleet efcapes during the night, 99. The lofs of the French the greater, i oo. C. Calder'a, fir Henry, fervices at the reduction of St. Lucie, ii. 87. Cambridge, in New Hampfhire, provincial con- grefs at, i. 113. Hoflile defigns of, ibid. Pailes rcfolutions for preparing arms, ibid. American army afiembles at, 121. Carnden, lord, applied to by the aflembly of Maf- fachufett's Bay to fecond their petition to the king, i. 60. Diimiffed from his office of lord- chancellor, 73. Campbell, lieutenant-colonel (late fir Archibald), take a INDEX. taken prifoner at Bofton, i. 168. Mai-treated, ibid. Letter of, to fir William Howe, defcrip- tive of the cruelties and indignities lie fuffered, ibid. Expedition of, with Frafer's Highland- ers, to deftroy the American privateers, ii. 42. Expedition under, againft Georgia, 48. Ope- rations and brilliant fuccefles, 66, 67. Mafterly movements, by which he compelled the Ame- n'cans to fight, 70. Defeats them, 71. Re- duces Savannah, ibid, Praife of him and his troops, 72. Reduces Sunbury, 103. Expe- dition of, to Augtifta in Georgia, 106. Is ordered to retire from Georgia, and return to Savannah, 108. Canada, aft for fettlement of, i. 90. People of, addrefled by the affembly of Maffachufett's Bay, 103. Defcription of, 130. Aft for fettlement of, not popular, becatife deemed arbitrary, ibid. See Car/ton, and other com- manders by name. Car/ton, general (now lord Dorchefter), unpo- pular in Canada, becaufe aftive in framing the aft for fettlement of, i. 137. Neglefts the merchants, cultivating the noblefle only, ibid. Almoft taken by the Americans, 139. But efcaping, arrives at Quebec, ibid. Summoned by Montgomery to furrender Quebec, ibid. Reftifes, ibid. Gallant defence oiQuebec by, 140. The Americans are forced to raife the liege, 170. Expedition againft the Cedars, ibid. Which capitulates, 172. He equips an armament againft Crown Point and Ticomle- roga, 252. Difficulty of the enterprife, 253. Defeats the Americans on the Lakes, 255. Reduces Crown Point, 256. Returns to St. John's, 257. Offended with the appointment of general Burgoyne to the command of the northern army, 318. Much fuperior to Bur- goyne in {kill, experience, and knowledge of the country, 319. Refigns his government, . ibid. CarTifle, earl of. See Commiflioners. Carolina, North and South, originally the fame fettlement, planted in the reign of Charles II., i. 10. Receives aconftitution from Mr. Locke, which, though apparently wife in theory, not i icible to praftice, ibid'. Danger of fpecu- lative refinement in legislation, ibid. Expe- dience the only fure guide, .ibid. Proceedings of North Carolina agair.ft their governor, Mr. Martin, 151. Who is forced to leave the pro- vince, 152. Proceedings of South Carolina .unft lord William Campbell, their governor, Hid. Efforts of the Britifti in North Carolina, 178. Of the Scotch emigrants, ibid. Rints between the American French failors, 5i. 39. Many of the inhabitants join the Britifh after the reduction of Charleftown, 192. Again become difaffefted to Britain, 198. Many of them found guilty of treachery, 213. For which fome are punifhed, 21-}. Chamblee Fort taken, i. 135. near Bofton, defcription of, i. 125. South Carolina, defcription of, ii. in. See ^Clinton, fir Henry. Chri/lopber's, St. ifland of, reduced by the mar- quis de Bouille, ii. 475. Climate, greater degrees both of heat and cold in North America than in the fame latitudes of Europe, i. 3. Effeft of, on the manners of the feveral provinces, 5, 6. Clinton, fir Henry, fervices of, at Bunker's Hill, i. 127. Makes an attempt upon the fouthern provinces, 183. Iflues a proclamation, Jn- viting the Americans to return to their alle- giance, ibid. Which produces no effeft, ibid. Makes an attempt againft Charleftown, 184. Which proves unfuccefsful, 186. Sails for New York, 187. Expedition of, againft Rhock Ifland, 220. Succefsful, ibid. An unwife mea- fure, 221. Expedition of, up the North River, 358. Reduces Forts Montgomery and Clinton, 360. Appointed to fucceed fir William Howe as commander in chief, 388. Evacuates Phila- delphia, ii. 14. Marches to New York by Sandy Hook, 17. Battle of Freehold Court Houfe, 19. Arrives at New York, 23. En- deavours to make a defcent at New London to deftroy the American privateers, 39. The unfavourable wind prevents him from landing, ibid. Sends feveral detachments t to deftroy the American privateers, 41. Attacks Verplank's Neck and Stoney Point on the Hudfon River, 140. Reduces them, 141. Expedition of, againft Connecticut, 142. Receives a rein- forcement, 152. Expedition of, to South Ca- rolina, 176. Fortifications of Charleftown defcribed, 178. Garrifon of, i-rg. Siege of, 1 8 1 . Reduction of, 1 85. Great praife of the officers and troops by fir Henry, 1 87. Ad- drefs to the people of South Carolina, 190. Departs for New York, 195. Applies to ge- neral Washington in behalf of major Andre, 251. In vain, 252. Collier, fir George, arrives at Long I/land with a reinforcement from England, i. 199. Commands the fleet on the American llation, ii. 134. Operations, 136. Expedition of, to deftroy the magazines of the Americans, ilid. Sails to affift general Maclean at Penobfcot, ico. INDEX. 150. Relieves the garrifon, 151. Refigns his command, 152. Succeeded by admiral Ar- buthnot, Hid. Colonies naturally feize all opportunities of afcer- taining their independence, i. i. : , American, had no reafon to expect that they could maintain independence againit Eng- land, but the contrary, i. 1,2. Geographical defcription of, I 3. Divided into northern, middle, and fouthern, 4. Diverfities of man- ners and inhabitants, and their caufes phyfical and moral, ibid. Hiftory of the fcttlement of, 7 9. State of commerce and revenue at the peace 1763, ic 12. See each by name. Commiffioners for peace (earl of Carlifle, governor Johnftonc, and Mr. Eden, with the general and admiral for the time being) arrive in America, and enter on their office, ii. 9. Send their fecretary (the famous Dr. Adam Fergufon) to ftate to the congrefs the terms which they were authorifed to offer, i I . To whom a paflport is refufed by the Americans, ibid. Their propofals 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 deen- tion of Burgoyne's troops, 57. Manifefto of, 58. Concord, detachments fent to deftroy ftores at, by general Gage, i. 1 1 6. See Lexington. Congrefs, general, propofed by the aflembly of MafTachufett's Bay, ii. 37. Held at New York, 39. Profefles loyalty to the king, 41 . Affected moderation of their proceedings, ibid. Effcdls of the meeting of, 4-z. Affociations are entered into againft the importation of Britifh manufactures, ibid. Sowed the feeds of revolution, by uniting the grievances and complaints of the feveral colonies, 57. Meets at Philadelphia after the palling of the Botton port-bill, 1 02. Unanimous in -reprobating the a&, and in denying the right of parliament to tax the colonies, ibid. Number of delegates, ibid. They iix that each colony fhould have a vote, 103. Precautions to prevent the whole of their deliberations from tranfpiring, ibid. They publifh a declaration of the ftate of af- fairs in Maflachufett's Bay> ibid. Send a letter to general Gage, Hid. I flue a declaration of rights and grievances, ibid. Ground their claim of rights on the law of nature, on the Britifh conititutii n, and on their feveral char- ters, 104. Petition the king, 105. Addrefs the people of Britain, 'did. Recommend the conduft and caufe of the Boftonians in an ad- drefs to the colonies, 106. Addrefs the Cana- dians, ibid Their addrefs to Canada a very able and hurtful performance, ibid. Defigns of, on Canada, I 30. Send deputies to Eng- land to petition the king, 153. They are told that no anfwer would be given, 154. Proceed to form a conftitution for America, 188. New declaration of rights, 1 89. Of independence, ibid. Affeft to ground their aflertion of inde- pendence on the king's refufal to redrefs their grievances, ibid. Vigour of, 228. Wife mea- fures of, for increafing the army, ibid. Ani- mating and fuccefsful addrefs to the people, 229. Committee of, forms a plan of a confti- tution for America, 244. Approve of, and tranfmit the plan to the feveral ftates, 248. Pafs refolutions inimical to the conciliatory plan of Britain, ii. 9. Refufe to fulfil the terms of Gates's convention with Burgoyne, 7. Manifestly guilty of injuftice, 8. Will not admit Dr. Fergufon to lay the Britifh propofals before then, nor liften to any terms, without the previous acknowledgment of their independence, 12. Grofs violation of the convention of Saratoga, 58. From confider- ations of policy averfe to a general exchange of prifoners, 2 3. Connecticut, means of fubfiftence, and employment of the inhabitants, i. 4. Chiefly occupied in agriculture and pafturage, llhl. Planted by Puritans flying from the bigotted tyranny of Laud, 7. Expedition of Clinton againft, ii. 142. Great lofs to the inhabitants, 144. The people think themfelves neglected by Wafhing- ton and the congrefs, ibid. Murmurs there- upon, ibid. Connelly, Mr. his fcheme for attacking the Ameri- cans from the back fettlements, i. 150. Fruf- trated, 151. Coofe, fir Eyre. See Eaji Indies. Cornwallis, lord, penetrates into the Jerfeys, i. 219. Strikes terror into the Americans, Hid. But is retrained by an order from general Howe from talcing advantage of their panic, 220. Takes the command of the Jerfey army, 236. Endeavours to bring Wafhington to a battle, who retreats, ibid. Marches to the re- lief of Brunfwick, 238. Takes pofleffion of Philadelphia, 295. Commands a ftrong de- tachment againft South Carolina, ii. 184. Left by Clinton commander in chief there, 195. Adminiftiation of, in South Carolina, 196. Wife regulations for the government of the province, 197. Sets out for Camden, 205. Battle INDEX. Battle there with general Gates, 208. Vic"lo- rious, 2Op. Conduct as a general univerfally admired, 211. Marches into North Carolina, 215. A wife meafure, but not followed by fuccefs in proportion to its wifdom, ibid. Obliged to return to South Carolina, 224. Falls fick, ibid. Difficulties of the army, 225. Great attachment of the army to their general, ibid. Arrives at Wynnefborough, 226. Joined by a large reinforcement under geneial Leflie, 317. Marches from Wynnefborough, 350. CrofTes the river Catawba, 327. Joined by colonel Webiter, purfues general Morgan, 330. Drives general Greene 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 confiderable lofs, 344. Retires towards Crofs Creek, 348. Difap- pointed in his expectations of being joined by the loyalifts, ibid. Iffues a proclamation, in- viting the Americans to return to their alle- giance, 351. Benevolent and feeling letter to announce the death of colonel Webiler to his father at Edinburgh, 353. Sends meflen- gers to lord Rawdon, who are unfortunately intercepted, ibid. Embarraffment of, 354. Determines to march through North Carolina into Virginia, ^55. Marches from Wilming- ton, ibid. Joined by general Arnold, 385. Endeavours to ftrike a blow at the marquis de 3a Fayette, 386. Who decamps and efcapes with his army, 387. Part of his troops are fent for by Clinton, 193 Sets off from William/burgh, 394. Crofles James River, and retires to Portf- mouth, 395. Evacuates Portfmouth, 396. French and American forces join, 397. He concentrates his troops at York and Gloucefter, ibid. The combined armies, under Wafhington and Rochambeau, invert York Town, 409. Cornwallis's troops make feveral fallies, 410, 41 1. Surrenders to general Wafhington, 413. Efforts of fir Henry Clinton for the relief of, 414. Effects of the capture of, 420. Cri/Ion, duke of, commands the Spanifh army before Gibraltar, ii. 439. Crown Point, important Situation of, i. 131. Reduced by the Americans, 132. Abandoned by them, 323. Cunningham, his Hiftory of Great Britain, a clear, . accurate performance, fuperior to any in the language for particular and intelligible accounts of military operations, i. 374. D. Darby , admiral, fucceeds Geary, ii. 264. Daivfon, captain of the Renown of fifty guns, engages with a- French (hip of eighty-four, ii; 3 1 - Deant, Silas, American ambaflador at Pans, 11. 5. Delaware, lower counties on, i. 9. Seizure of polls on, unaccountably neglected by general Howe, 238. D'EJlaing, fails with a fleet from Toulon to North America, ii. 25. Comes to anchor off New York, 26. Arrives at Rhode Ifland, 27. In- tends to co-operate with the American general Sullivan, to expel the Britim from Rhode Ifland, 28. Fruitratcd, Hid. Is oppofed by lord Howe, 29. Offers battle to the Britim, admiral, ibid. Who declines fighting on ac- count of the wind, ibid. The Britiih admiral appearing at lalt willing to fight, is feparated from him by a ftorm, 30. His fleet is mat- tered, 32. Which he refits at Bofton, ibid. Sails to the Weft Indies, 47. Attempts to re- lieve St. Lucie, 87. But is repulfed, 92. Is reinforced by De GrafTe, but declines an en- gagement with the Britifh admiral, ibid. On the departure of Byron commences offenfive operations, ibid. Reduces St. Vincent's, 93. Attacks Grenada, 94. Which furrenders, 95. Battle with the Britim, 98. Declines a clofe engagement, though fuperior in force, 99. Departs for Hifpaniola, 102. Sails to North America, 122. Arrives off Georgia, ibid. Sum- mons Savannah to furrender, 125. Conduct, precipitate, ibid. Attacks the Britim lines, 130. Repulfed with great lofs, 131. Raifes the fiege, 132. Returns to France, ibid. Digby, admiral, conducts home the Spanifh prizes, ii. 257. Dominica, conquered by the French under the marquis de Bouille, ii. 84. Donop, colonel, a German, bravery and conduct of, at Red Bank, i. 302. Wounded, ibid. Dunmore, earl, and governor of Virginia, fends to government a very unfavourable (late of the province, 143. Unpopular, makes a conci- liatory propofition to the council of Virginia, 144. Rejected, 145. Apprehenfive of a de- fign to detain his perfon, 146. Narrowly ef- capes being feized, ibid. Retires to Norfolk, ibid. Iffues. a proclamation to eftablifh martial law, 147. Emancipates all flaves who fhould join the Britiih, ibid. Attempts to diflodge the enemy from their ftrong pofts, 148. Com- pelled, with the loyalitts, to abandon Norfolk, ibid. Joins the army at New York, 149. E. Eden, Mr, Sec Gomm'iflioners for Peace. England* INDEX. England. See Britain. , New, phyfical and moral chara&ers of the people of, i. 5. Carries on a clandeftine trade with Spanifh America, 15. Difpleajied with the commercial regulations of Britain, 21. Denies the authority of parliament to levy taxes, 21. Endeavours to excite oppo- fition in the other colonies, 26. Aftive in oppofing parliamentary fupremacy, 28. See MaJJachufett' s Bay, and the other provinces. Erjkine, fir William, routs a confiderable body of Americans, i. 281. F. Fergufon, Dr. Adam, appointed fecretary to the commiffioners for peace, ii. i o. Refufed a paff- port, 1 1 . See Commiffioners for Peace. , major, appointed to command the South Carolina loyalifts, ii. 192. Com- mands a body on the frontiers of North Caro- lina, 220. His high character as an officer, told. Attacked and furrounded by a great number of Americans, 222. Intrepid courage and mafterly conduft of, ibid. Falls, 223. , George, governor of Tobago, attacked by the French, ii; 287. Sends an exprefs to Barbadoes, ibid. Affiftance does, not arrive in time, ibid. Surrenders the ifland, 288. Fleet, Englifh.. See Keppel, PaUifer, Hood* Rod- ney, t5c. , French. See D'PJlaing, de Graffe, &c. , Spanifh. See Spain. -, Dutch. See Holland. , Ruffian. See Neutrality. Florida, Eaft, preparations of the Americans to attack, ii. 105. General Lincoln takes the command of their troops. " , Weft, reduction of, ii. 168. Invaded by the Spaniards, 169. Reduced by them, ibid. Honourable terms granted to the inhabitants, Hid. Fort Chamblee taken by the American general Montgomery, i. 135. Saint John taken, i. 136. Edward, expedition of colonel St. Lfger to, i. 330. Stanwix, inverted by St. Leger, 334. Siege of, raifed, i. 334. Montgomery reduced by colonel Campbell, i. 360. Clinton, reduced by fir Henry Clinton, i. 360. Fox, Hon. C. J. made fecretary of ftate, ii. 423. Plan of his adminiftfation refpe&ing the war, 437- France, manifeils a difpofition hoftile to Britain, i. 259. Harbours American privateers, ibid. Ships of, accept commiffions from the Ame- ricans, ?6o. Canyon depredations againfl the Britifh trade, ibhi. Bufy in warlike prepara- tions, ibid. Treatment of Portugal, the <:lly of Britain, ibid. Enters into commercial and po- litical treaties with the Americans, ii. 5. Ac- knowledges the independence of America, ibid. Notifies the treaties to Britain, 6. Which is confidered by Britain as a declaration of war, ibid. Fleet of, fails for America, 25. Com- plains that Britain had commenced hoflilitics, 77. Fleet of, engages Keppel, 78. Com- bined fleets of, and of Spain, threaten an in- vafion of Britain, 162. Appear oif Plymouth, 163. An armament from, arrives at Rhode Ifland, under Rochambeau and Ternay, 245. Chief command of the troops given to Waih- ington, ibid. French forces join the Ameri- cans againft lord Cormvallis, 397. French fleet enters the Chefapeak, 399. Partial atlion be- tween De Graffe and admiral Graves, 400. The armies of, and of America, arrive at W illiamfburgh in Virginia, 405. Encamp be- fore York Town, 40^. York and Gloucefter inverted, 409. Britifh army under lord Corn- Willis furrenders, 41 3. The French, under the marquis de Bouille, take the Dutch ifland St. Euftatius from the Britifh, 416. A French anrl Spamfli armament befieges St. Philip's in Minorca, 424. Compels general Murray, the commanding officer, to capitulate, 425. The marquis de Bouille reduces St. Chriflopher's, ibid. Engagement between De Grade and fir Samuel Hood, 426. Engagement between De Graffe and admiral Rodney, 432. French completely defeated, 453. See D Eftaing, and other French commanders by name. Franklin, Dr. Benjamin, appointed agent for the province of Maffachufett's Bay at the Britifh court, i. 84. Gets into his poffeffion fome let- ters of governor Hutchinfon, ibid. Tranfmits thelettersto the provincial affembly,//V. Which excites a flame againft the governor, ibid. 1$ difmiffed from his office of deputy poft-mafter- general for America, 85. Retires to America, 193. Becomes a leading member in the con- grefs, ibid. Applied to by lord Howe con- cerning peace, 193. His anfwer, ibid. Apr pointed ambaflador to the court of France, ii. 5. Principally inftrumental in concluding an alliance with that power. Frafer, general, repulfes the Americans at Trois Riviera, 177. Engages the Americans* 324. Is killed, 325. INDEX. C. Gagf, general, notifies to the afTemblies of Maf- fachufett's Bay that they muft remove to Sa- lem, i. 95, Finds it neceflary to order troops to Bofton, 98. Fortifies Bofton, 100. Re- ceives a letter from the firft congrefs, declaring their rights and grievances, 103. Admonifhes the congrefs of Maflachufett's Bay to deiill from their unconftitutional proceedings, 108. Proclamation of, prohibiting feditious meet- ings, ibid. Sends a detachment to deftroy military {tores of the Americans, 1 16. The detachment driven back to Boflon, 118. Is, by the provincial congrefs of Maffachufett's, declared an enemy, 121. Receives a reinforce- ment from England, 124. Offers the Ame- ricans a pardon if they would return to their allegiance, ibid. Engagement with the Ame- ricans at Bunker's Hill, 126.- Galloway, Mr. an evidence in the inquiry con- cerning general Howe's conduct, i. 398. Gaming, of every- fpecies, permitted and fanc- tioned in the Britifh army, i. 309. General bad effects of that vice on the human mind and body, ibid. Particular bad effects of7 on the army, ibid. Garth, general, takes poffeffioik of New Haven in Connecticut, ii. 142; Gates, general, takes the command of the Ame- rican army in the north, i. 336. Commands at the battle of Still Water, 337. Uecimes im- zarding a general engagement, 342. Huma- nity of, to the fick and wounded of the Britifh, ibid. Completely furrounds the Britifh army at Saratoga, 343. Orders of, againil plunder- ing, 344. Receives propofals from general Burgoyne for a convention, 34$* The con- vention at length, 349. Generous behaviour of, to the unfortunate Britifh, 352. Appointed commander of the fouthern army, ii* 200. Defeated at Camden-, 209.. Refigfls the com- mand, 233. Gfary, admiral, takes the command of the Chan- nel fleet, ii. 263. Falls in with a fleet of French merchantmen, ibid. Refigns, 264. Germaine, lord George, fecretaiy of ftate for the American department, accufed by Burgoyne of being the caufe of his difcomfi ture, . i. 355. Satisfactorily vindicates hknfelf from that charge, ibid. Accufed by fir W. Howe, 394. AfTerts that Howe had power to act according to circumilances and his own difcretion, 396. Gibraltar, repulfe and difcomfiturc of the Spa- niards and French before that fortrefs, it. 438. Relieved by a fleet under the command of lord Howe, 443, VOL.. II. Grafton, duke of, prime iriniiler, i. 52. Procure* an act for duties on articles imported to Ame- rica, 53. Rcfigns, 73. But continues on the fide of government, ibid. Grant, general, expedition of, to the Weft Indies, ii. 48. His operations there, 86. Defeats the French, go. Greene, general, fucceeds Gates in the command of the fouthern army, ii. 233. Harafles the Britilh outpofts in South Carolina, 3 1 8. Driven out of North Carolina, 352. Re-enters it, 333. Action with lord Cornwallis near Guild- ford, 337. Defeated, 343. Marches againfl lord Rawdon at Camden, 353. Compels Fort Watfon to furrender, 360. Encamps at Mill Creek, 361. Befieges Ninety-fix, 364. Sum- mons it to furrender, 368. Raifes the liege, 373. Purfued by lord Rawdon, ibid. Battle between, and colonel Stuart, near the Eutaw Springs^ 378. Bath parties claim the victory, 386. GrenviHe, George, prime miniffer, meafures -of, concerning the colonies difpleafing to the inha- bitants, i. 26. Propofes the ftamp-adt, 27. Which is ftrenuoufly oppofed by the parlia- ment, 28. But carried by a great majority, Hid. Difmifled from his office, 27. His dif- miffion favourable to the colonies, ibid* Caufes of his difmiflion, ibid. Grey, major-general, defeats the American ge- neral Wayne, i. 295. Expedition of, to Buz- aar-d'e P.ay. ii. 39. Deilroys the American privateers on the Acufhnet River, 4,0. H. Hampfiire, New, infurrection in, i. in. Hancock, John, riot at Bofton concerning a mip belonging to him, i. 63. Made prefident of the congrefs of Maflachufett's Bay, 108. Hardy, fir Charles, takes the command of the Channel fleet, ii. 161. Is parted by the com- bined fleets, 162. His death, 263. Ha/lings, Mr. his. conduct as governor-general of Bengal, ii. 436. Heifter, de, the Heffian general, routs the Ame- ricans at Flat Bum, i. 195. Henry, Patrick, of Virginia, violent fpeech of, on the ftamp-adt, i. 33. Holland, differences of, with Great Britain, Ii. 257. Carries naval ftores to France, 258. The fhips of, feized by the Britifh, ibid. Suf- penlion of treaties of, with Britain, 262. Commercial treaty between her and America,. 272. War between her and Britain, 273, Dutch ifland of iit. Euftatius captured, 280* 3.N Dutch,. INDEX. Dutch fettlements on the Spanf/h Main taken, 281. Aftion between the Britifh and Dutch fleets at the Dogger Bank, 296. Hotham, commodore, his important fervices on Hudfon's River, i. 362. In the Prefton, a fhip of fifty guns, fights the Tonant, a French fhip of eighty, ii. 231. Commands a fquadron fent to the Weft Indies, 232. Honduras, attack upon, by captain Luttrell, ii. 270. Ho-we, general, his conduct at Bunker's Hill, i. 127. Evacuation of Bofton, 166. Embarks for Halifax, ibid. Cenfured by many for not going rather to Long Ifland, 190. Arrives at Sandy Hook, Hid. Lands the Britifh troops at Staten Ifland, 191. Detail of his forces, ibid. Is joined by lord Howe with a large re- inforcement from Britain, ibid. The late arrival of the troops a great injury to the Britifh caufe, 192. Empowered, with lord Howe, to treat with the Americans, ibid. Opens the campaign, and puts the enemy to flight at Long Ifland, 195. Declines attacking the American lines, 196. The Americans efcape from the ifland, 197. His orders for purfuit too late, 198. Makes overtures for peace to the Americans, 200. Takes pofleflion of New York, 205. Engages the Americans at White Plains, 212. Cenfured for dividing his army into fmall unconnected detachments, 229. Blamed for giving an important command to colonel Rhalle, 234. DJfaflxr at Trenton at- tributed to that caufe, Hid. Neglefts to fortify the pofts on the Delaware, 235. Suffers the Jerfeys to be recovered, 239. His conduct contrafted with that of , general Wafhington, 241. Clofea the campaign 1776, 243. Opens the campaign 1777, 277. Endeavours to bring Washington to action, 284. Relinquifhes the Jerfeys, ibid. Proceeds to Chefapeak Bay, ibid. Action at the Brandywine, 292. Defeats the Americans, 293. But does not improve the viftory, ibid. Action at German Town, 298. Suffers the Americans to remain undif- turbed the whole winter at Valley Forge, 310. General cenfure of his conduct, 311. Refigns the command of the army, 381. Imputes his refignation to the want of fupport from admi- niftration, Hid. That allegation manifeHly un- bounded, 382. Mifchianza, afeflival in honour of, 385. Du Portail's letter refpecling his conduct, 38-. Returns to England, 393. Complains of defamation, ibid. Obtains a par- liamentary inquiry, 396. Reflections on that inquiry, 398. , lord, arrives at 'Sandy Hook with a fleet from England, i. 190. Empowered, with his 6 brother, to treat with the Americans, 192. Writes to doctor Franklin and general Wa{h- ington refpe&ing peace, 193. Conference at Staten Ifland with a committee from congrefs, 200. Attacks Mud Ifland, 301. Takes it, 304. Defends the harbour of New York with a fmall force, ii. 26. Sails to Rhode Ifland to oppofe d'Eftaing, 30. The fleets feparated by a ftorm, ibid. Refigns the command to ad- miral Gambler, 33. See Howe, general. Hnytie, major-general, fervices of, at Chaiiefiovvn, ii. 187. Hutchinfon, governor of Mafiachufett's Bay, i. 4. Letter of, difgufts the aflembly, Hid. Petitions for a removal of, from his office, Hid. Jamaica, and other Weft India iflands. See Weft Indies, Harrington, Byron, and Rodney. Jarvis, captain (now admiral fir J.), captures the Pegafe, a French line-of-battle fhip, ii. 437. Jerfey, attempt on, by France, ii. 131. Re- pelled, ibid. - , New, peopled by the Dutch and Swedes, i. 8. Operations there, fee Gornwallis and Wajkington. For lofs of, fee Howe, general. Indies, Weft, clandeftine trade of, with the Spa- nifh fettlemcntis, bcncfi.il buih to thcfc iflands an H *" Ti.-ltaJo, 1. 14. Diftrefs of, from the war, 258. Expedition of general Grant and commodore Hotham to, ii. 48. Alarm of, on the fuccefles of the French, 102. Quieted by the departure of d'Eftaing for Hifpaniola, ibid. See Barrington, Byron, and Rodney. - , Eaft, Pondicherry taken by fir Hc$or Monro and fir Edward Vefnon, Ji. 82. An armament fets fail for, under general Meadows, 306. Carnatic invaded by Hyder Ally, 307. Defeat and deftruCtion of a detachment under colonel Baillie, 309. Gallant behaviour of the Britifh, and barbarity of Hyder, 310. The Carnatic ravaged by Hyder, 312. The prefi- dency of Madras apply to the governor-general of Bengal for afiiftance, ibid. Vigorous mea- fures of Mr. Haftings and the fupreme council for their defence, 313. Sir Eyre Coote takes the command of the army at Madras, Hid. General Coote defeats Hyder in feveral battles, 314. Sir Edward Hughes takes Hyder's fea- ports, ibid. Sir Eyre Coote prevents Hyder Ally from returning to the Carnatic, ibid. Sir Edward Hughes defeats Suffrein, the French admiral, in four battles, ibid. Haftings detaches the Mahrattas from the interefts of Hyder Ally, 437- Jnaian INDEX Indian favages employed by Burgoyne, i. 319. Defert him, 339. John/lone, governor, one of the commiffioners for peace. See Commi/Jioners. Sends private letters to members of congrefs, ii. 50. Obfervations on thefe letters, 54. Withdraws from the commiffion, ibid. Makes prizes of four Dutch Eaft Indiamen-, 305. Jones, Paul, action between, and a Britifh con- voy, ii. 164. Defperate courage of, 165. Judges , American, new regulations concerning, i. 81. Difgufting to the Americans, 82. Jury, trial by, claimed by the Americans on the promulgation of the plan for trying certain crimes in England, though committed iii Ame- rica, i. 70. K. Keppel, admiral, appointed to the command of the -Britifh fleet in the Channel, ii. 75. Hoftilities commenced between France and England, 76. Engagement between the Belie Poule, a French, and the Arethufa, an Englifh frigate, 77. En- gagement between the Englifh and French fleets, 79. Difference between Keppel and Pallifer, 81. Keppel tried, ibid. Honourably acquitted, Hid. Rejoicings in London on his acquittal, ibid. Receives the thanks of the ho ufe of commons, *'/>//. Te appointed firft lord of* the admiralty, 423. Knyphaufen, general, arrives at Long Ifland with a body of Heflians, i. 212. His fervices at Fort Washington, 217. At Brandywine, 297. His conduct at Freehold Court Houfe, ii. 20. Left commander of the garrifon of New York, 177. His prudent meafures for the defence of New York, 239. L. Lee, the American general, taken prifoner, i. 226. His character and abilities, 227. His conduct at Freehold Court Houfe meritorious, though it met with punifliment, ii. 20. Leflie, major-general, his important fervices at Charleftown, ii. 187. Sent by Clinton to co- operate with Cornwallis, 226. Ordered to join him at Wynnefborough, ibid. Joins him there, 318. Commands part of the army at the battle ofGuildford, 338. liberty, too exalted fpeculative ideas of, lead into moil fatal confequences in practice, i. 10. Lincoln, the American general, commands in the fouthern colonies, ii. 105. Arrives at Charlef- town, tbiliL Eftablifh.es his head-quarters at Puryfburgh near Savannah, 106. Attempts to ilraiten the Britifh quarters, 108. Fruftrated by general Prevoft, 109. Attacks the Britifh under colonel Maitland, 117. Repulfed, ibid. Is abandoned by a great part of his troops, 119. Retires to Charleftown, 179. Sum- moned by Clinton to furrender, 1 80. His firm anfwer, 181. Capitulates, 185. Locke, the diftinguifhed philofopher, forms a code of laws for Carolina, apparently excellent in theory, but by experience proved ineffectual, i. 10. Loyalifts, American, exert themfelves in Virginia, and afterwards retire to Norfolk with lord Dunmore, i. 147. In North Carolina fet up the king's ftandard, 178. Join with the Scotch Highland emigrants, 1 79. Divided in their councils, 1 80. Proceed to Wilmington, ibid. Attack the Americans, 182. Defeated, ibid. Thofe of Jerfey and New York pillaged and infulted, 242. Conduct of thofe of Phi- ladelphia on the departure of the congrefs, 230 Stratagem of, 371. Luttrell, commodore, reduces the Spanifti fort Omoa, ii. 170. Luttuych, commodore, deftroys the American gal- lies at Skeuefborough, i. 324. M. Macartney, lord, governor of Grenada, furrenders tne inauu, ;i. ^j. Maclean, colonel, character of, i. 134. His vigorous meafures to oppofe the Americans in Canada, ibid. Haftens to the defence of Que. bee, 138. Directs the artillery and fortifica- tions, 139. , colonel Francis, forms a fettlement in Penobfcot, " 148. Attacked by the Ame- ricans, 150. His vigour and conduct difap- point the attempts of the enemy, 151 . Relieved by fir George Collier, 152. Maitland, major, expedition of, up the Delaware, i. 376. Deftroys a great quantity of ftores and provifions, and a number of ihips, ibid. Succeeds general Prevoft in the command at John's Ifland, ii, 1 1 6. Attacked by general Lincoln, 117. Whom he rcpulfes, ibid. Marches to the afliftance of general Prevoft at Savannah, 125. His death and character, 133. - i .. , captain of the Queen, captures 1'Ac- tionaire, a French fhip of war, ii. 437. Manners, influence of climate and foil on, illuf- trated in the northern, middle, and fouthern colonies of North America, i. 510. Maryland, firft fettlement of, i. 9. Carries on a 3 N 2 con- I N D con liderable trade with Li&on and the Medi- terranean, 15. Delegates of, fecede from con- grefs when declaring America independent, 189. Maffachufet? s Bny, fettled by Puritans flying from the persecution of Laud, i. 7. Soon begins to flourifh, 8. Pleafed with duties impofed by parliament, 21. Affembly denies the right of the Britifli parliament to levy taxes, 22. That denial imputed to the continuance of the re- publican principles of the firft. fettlers, ibid. Propofes aflembling a general congrefs, 36. This propofal generally appfoved of, 37. Tu- mults -in, on the promulgation of the ftamp aft, 57, 58. Difagreement between the inhabitants and -the governors, ibid. Aflembly of, enters into a general confideration of grievances, 59. Petition of, to the king, ibid, bends a circuhr letter to the other colonies, ftatmg grievances, 60. Thct letter -fevere'ly condemned by go- vernment, but mofl favourably received by the other colonies, 61. Affembly required to re- feind the refolution which produced it, 62. Which they -refjife, and are therefore diflblved, ibid. The difccntents of the people break out into open violence, ibid. They form aflbcia- tions for diftrefling the trade of Britain, 67. Difpleafed with new regulations about the judges, 81. Aflembly denies the right of the Britifli parliament to legiflate for them, 83. Apologi/e afterwards for f jieir violence, 84.. Pray fqr the removal f their -governor, ttoa. The people enter into afibciations agzinil the importation of tea, 86. The -people, 'by the recommendation of the affembly, entere-into re- folutions 'for breaking off all trade with Bri- tain, 97. Violence of the populace, and oivil government diflblved, $id. Amiy and mili- tary ftores begin to be collected, roo. Dele- gates of the county of Suffolk meet at Bofton, ibid. The conduct -of the people receives the unqualified approbation of the general congrefs, 104. Provincial congrefs held at Salem, 108. Interferes in the regulation of the militia, 109. Provide arms and military ftores, ibid. Pro- vincial congrefs meets at Cambridge, 113. Prepares for holtilities, ibid. An army raifed, 1 20. See Bojlon. ^laivkood, lieutenant-colonel, expedition under, to aflilt the loyalifts in Jerfey, i. 367. Action at Quintin's Bridge, 368. Ingratitude -ef an American foldier, ibid. Action at Hancock's Bridge, 369. tilathew, major-general, commands at King's Bridge, ii. 235. Sends a detachment under .colonel Norton to attacka itrong poll at Young's Houfe, 236. Publicly tlianks the colonel and men for their fervices, 238. -Gazette ac- count of that affair mutilated, 239. Meadows, general, his gallant and judicious conduct at St. ^Lucie, ii. 89. Mafterly difpo- fition for the defence of his poft, 90. Wounded, ibid. Sails for the Eaft Indies, 305. Miflt/jippi, the navigation of that river by the peace to remain free'to particular powers, ii. 445. Moncrleff, .captain, his exertions and fervices as chief engineer at Savannah, ii, 133. His im- portant ferviees as chief engineer at Charlef- town, 187. His great abilities and profelfional character, ibid. Montgomery, the American general, marches to attack Canada, i. 133. Takes Fort Chamblee, 135. St. John's, 136. Montreal, /'&of America, 1 8. Thefe afts oc- cafion great difcomtents in America, 25. Aft for impofing ftamp duties, 27. (See Stamp off.} Oppofed in America as unconftitutional, 40. The right of parliament to levy taxes on the Americans denied by the congrefs, ibid. Aft for repealing the ftamp aft, 45. Accompanied by an aft declaring that parliament had a right to legiflate for America in every cafe, ibid. Al for providing for the more comfortable fublift- ence of the troops in America, 51. Aft for levying duties on imports into America, ^3. Attacked in colonial pamphlets and nevvf- papers, 56. Addrefles his Majefty on the dif- ordcrly ilate of Maflachufett's Bay, 68. Dii- continues all the duties in America, except on tea, 73. Aft for exporting tea free of duty, 85. Difgufting to the New Englanders, ibid. Aft for (hutting the port of Bofton, 88. Aft for changing the conllitution of Maffachufett's Bay, 89. Aft for the better government of Maffachufetts, 90. For the fettlement of Ca- nada, ibid. For prohibiting the moft difafFefted colonies from trading with any country but Britain, 122. Makes a conciliatory propofi- tion to America, 123. Not accepted, 124. His majefty's fpeech at the opening of, after commencement of hoftilitics, 155. Arguments for and againft coercive meafures, 157, 158. Coercion refolved on, 158. Meafures adopted accordingly, 160. Takes the American peti- tion into confideration, 161. Rejefts it, 162. Conciliatory bill propofed by Mr. Burke, ibid. Rejected, 163. Aft for prohibiting all inter- courfe with America, ibid. Conciliatory motion by Mr. Hartley, ibid. Rejefted, ibid. By the duke of Grafton, 1 64. Rejefted, 165. De- bates on the proclamation of the Howes, 264, 265. Bill for fecuring perfons accufed of high treafon, 269. Motion by lord Chathanv for addreffing the king againft the war, 272. Manly fpeech of the fpeaker to his majefty re- fpefting the public money, 275. Bills for re- conciliation with America, ii. 3. Patterfon, general, fervices of, at Charleftown, if. 18. Pcnolfiot, Bi-Itlfh fettlement in, by general Mac- lean, and fuccefsful defence of, ii. 151. Penfyhania^ planted by Penn with Quakers, i. 9. Affembly of, fecedes from congrefs, 1 891 See Philadelphia. Penn, William, fettles Penfylvania, i. 9. , Richard, prefents a petition from congreft to his majefty, i. 153. Percy, lord (now duke of Northumberland), fcnt with a detachment to feize the military ftores at Concord, near Bofton, i. 116. Annoyed by the Americans, ibid. Acquires a high charac- ter as an officer, 120. Commands a body at Long Ifland, 194. Carries the advanced poft* of the enemy's camp, 218. PifL-airnf, major, killed at Buuker's Hfll, i. 128. His charafter, ibid. Pitt, "William (carl of Chatham), inimical to the fj fteni refpefting America propofed by govern- ment, i. 26. His motion for aa addrefs to the throne for peace, 271. Psgotty major-general, his fuccefsful defence of llhode Iflaud, ii. 35. Prsfcot, general, carried off by the Americans, i. 286. INDEX. Prtvoft, general, defeats the Americans, iJ, 109. Uufuccefsful attempt of, againft Charleftown, ii. 2. Departs for Savannah, 116. Bcfieged there by the Americans and French, 127. His lines attacked, 130. Repulfes the enemy with great lofs, 132. Putnam, general, commands a detachment from Connecticut,!. 121. Account of, ibid. Makes good his retreat from New York with the Ame- rican army, i. 207. R. Rawdon, lord (earl of Molra), commands a di- vifion of the forces at the battle near Camden, ii. 209. Commendation of his vigour and enterprife, ibid. On the ilcknefs of lord Corn- wallis takes the command of the fouthern army, 224. Difficult march of, in South Carolina, 225. Hardfhips encountered by the troops, ibid. Commands the troops in South Carolina, whither Greene alfo marches, 351. Attacks the camp of general Greene at Hobkirk's Hill, 354. Defeats Greene, 356. Mafterly general- fhip of, 3^8. Returns to Europe, 364. Rhode IJland, infurreftion in, i. 1 1 1. Attempt upon by Clinton and Parker, 220. Conquered, ibid. Attempt of the Americans on, ii. 39. Rivers, on the eaftern fide of North America, navigable to near their fource, and thus favour- able to commerce, but open to naval war, i. 3. Rockingham party come into adminiilration, i. 37- Rodney, admiral (late lord), appointed to com- mand the Britim fleet in the Weft Indies, ii. 299. Convoys the provifions to the relief of Gibraltar, ibid. Revives the naval glory of England, 256. Takes a fleet of Spanifh mer- chantmen, ibid. Gains a complete victory over the Spanifh fleet, 257. Relieves Gibraltar, ibid. Gains a moll glorious victory over the French, 432. S. Saratoga. See Burgoyne and Gatet. Savannah, befieged by the French and American armies, ii. 127. Siege is raifed, 130. Simcoc, major, ftratagem of, i. 374. Smuggling, prevalent to a very degree in the colo- nies, i. iz. Regulations to prevent, ibid. Produce murmurs among |the Americans, 13. Affed branches of fair and lucrative trade, 14, Spain, favours the Americans, i. 260. Join* the confederacy againft Britain, ii. 158. Blockade of Gibraltar, 167. Spaniards re- duce Weft Florida, 169. Attack the Britifh logwood-cutters in the Bay of Honduras, ibid, Attack Gibraltar, but are repulfed, 438 442. See France. Stamp-ad, oppofed by a powerful party at home, i. 29. Caufes of that oppofition, 32. Not a new fyftem, but a continuation of the old, 44. Produces alarms in Britain as well as America, 45. Repeal of, ibid. Declaratory aft paffed, ibid. Repeal of, caufes great joy in America, ibid. Confidered as the dawn of independence, ibid. St. Leger, expedition of, i. 330. Invefts Fort Stanwix, 334. Obliged to raife the fiege, 335. Sumpter, the American colonel, defeated by Tarle- ton, ii. 213. Joins Clarke and Brannen, 228. T. Taxation. See Parliament, Stamp-off, CSV. Tarleton, colonel, defeats the American colonel Burford, ii. 193. Surprifes and defeats the Americans under colonel Sumpter, 212. Re- pels Marion, the American partizan, 227. Ac- tion with the Americans at Blackftock's Hill, 231. Defeated by general Morgan, 323. Ticonderoga, capture ot, 1.131. V. Vaughan, general, commands a detachment of Clinton's army, i. 306. Invefts Fort Fayette, ii. 192. Virginia, fettled in the beginning of James the ift'g reign, i. 6. General aflembly of, oppofe the ftamp a&, 3 1 . Pafs a resolution for a fail on account of the Bofton port-bill, 97. Propofean annual congrefs of the citizens, 95. See Corn- ' W. Wallace, fir James, deftroys the American gallies in ^Efopus Creek, i. 366. Wayne, general, furprifes Stoney Point, ii. 145. Wafhington, general, fmallnefa of his army at the opening of the campaign 1776, i. 192. Applies to general Howe for the releafe of Lee, 227. Surprifes the Britim troops at Trenton, 231. This vidlory animates the Americans, 233. Marches INDEX. Marches into the Jerfeys, 235". His judicious retreat, 236. Adlion with colonel Mawhood, 237. Recovers a great part of the Jerfeys, 239. Wifdom and activity of, in the winter campaign, and well-timed proclamation, 291. Diftrefied fituation of his army, 308. Pre- pares, to impede the Britifh in their retreat from Philadelphia, i. 1 1 6. Battle of Freehold Cour^-houfe, ii. 19. Sends a detachment to encourage the difaffe&ed Carolinians, 199. Diflrefles of this army. See Howe t Clinton , and Cornwallis. Webjler t lieutenant-colonel, his conduit at the battle of Camdeii greatly praifed, 11.211 . High general chara&er, ibid. Death of, fee Ccra- tuallis. Y. Tork, New, granted by Charles II. to his brother, i. 8. Averfe to giving up trade with Britain, 112. Refufes to accede to the refolutions of congrefs, ibid. Local fituation of, 205. Taken pofleffion of by the Britifli, ibid. Britiih gar- rifon of, in danger from the rigour of the winter, ii. 233. THE END, Dirediions for placing the Plates. VOL. I. BATTLE of Bunker's Hill, Battle of Long Ifland, or Brooklyn Fort Wafhington, afterwards called Knyphaufen Battle of White Plains . Camp at Saratoga Attack of Fort Clinton . Fayette's Pofition, Barren Hill Church, and Matfon's Ford 377 /VOL. II. Siege of Savannah - .. . 132 Siege of Charleftown < .. . 185 Battle of Camden - . ___ 210 Britim Troops crofling the Catawba .. 329 Battle at Guildford Court Houfe, North Carolina 342 Battle at Hobkirk's Hill, South Carolina 358 Pofition of the Englifh and French Fleets immediately previous to the Aftion of the 5th of September 1781 400 Siege of York and Gloucefter in Virginia. - 412 UNivutsrnr or CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LwAj^ries Tim boot BOLE MI tfcr tut