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Sir Henry Clinton having concentrated his forces at New-York for the defence of that city, felt himself at liberty to resume his operations at the south, when he found that the French fleet had left the coast and returned to the West-Indies. Accordingly on the 26th of December, he embarked 7000 troops on board his transports, and they sailed for South-Carolina, under convoy of Admiral Arbuthnot, where they arrived the last of January in a shattered condition, after having encountered adverse winds, and tempestuous weather on their passage. ordnance ship was wrecked and lost on her passage, with all her stores, together with several transports, and others were taken by the American cruisers. Such was the condition of the fleet, and troops, that Sir Henry was not prepared to land until the 11th of February; he then effected a landing on the south side of John's-Island, distant about 30 miles from Charleston.

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To meet this invasion promptly, Congress had ordered on to Charleston, three of the continental frigates, and Gen. Lincoln had dispatched a trusty officer to the Havannah, to solicit the assistance of the Spanish governor, in ships and troops, for the defence of South-Carolina; promising at the same time to furnish a force of 2000 men, to co-operate with the Spaniards in the reduction of St. Augustine.

The legislature of South-Carolina, being in session at this time, delegated absolute power to Gov. Rutledge for the defence of the state, in all cases, excepting over the lives of the citizens, without legal trial, and he called on the militia to meet in general rendezvous for the public defence, but his call was very partially obeyed. He next summoned the militia by proclamation, and threatened with confiscation of property, all such as should disobey this summons, but even this was disregarded, and such was the general depression throughout the colony, since the

defeat at Savannah, that had Sir Henry marched directly for Charleston, he would have met with a very feeble re sistance.

Gen. Lincoln undertook the defence of Charleston, with only 1400 troops of the regular service, with about 1000 North-Carolina militia ; yet he hoped to preserve the town against the regular approaches of Sir Henry Clinton, with a well appointed army of 6 or 7000 men.

Gen. Lincoln had taken the precaution to strengthen the old works of 1779, and to extend his lines of defence quite across from Cooper's to Ashley River. In front of these lines he had constructed a strong abbatis, and a wet ditch firmly picquetted on the inner side. Between the lines and the ditch, deep holes were sunk at short distances; cross lines were also constructed, so as to rake the wet ditch throughout its whole extent. In the centre of the whole was erected a strong citadel. Works similar to these were thrown up on all sides of the town, where a landing could be practicable, and the frigates were stationed at the entrance of the harbour. In this position Gen. Lincoln awaited the approach of the enemy.

Sir Henry Clinton formed a depot on James' Island, and constructed fortifications there and on the main-land, opposite the southern and western extremities of the town. On the 29th of March he moved forward his grenadiers, light troops, and infantry; crossed Ashley River, and advanced to the distance of about 3000 yards from the American lines. All the movements of Sir Henry were plain, and regular; he rightly appreciated the character of Gen. Lincoln as an officer, and made his dispositions according ly.

Admiral Arbuthnot entered the harbour with such of his ships as could be floated over the bar, and the American frigates retired up to the town, landed their crews and guns, and prepared for the defence of the town; under

this regular approach of the enemy, Gen. Lincoln now saw himself completely invested in Charleston, and the safety of the place, under God, now depending upon the valour of the American arms.

On the 10th of April Sir Henry Clinton had so far completed his approaches, that he summoned the town; but the gar rison, with their brave general at their head, were firm, and at the same time they were reinforced by a detachment of 700 continentals, under Gen. Woodford from Virginia, who had marched 500 miles in 28 days. The brave garrison was not augmented by this force; for about the same number of North-Carolina militia, whose time of service had then expired, marched off for their homes.

Admiral Arbuthnot moved his fleet under a strong breeze; passed fort Moultrie, under a heavy cannonade, which raked them severely, and anchored close under the batteries of the town.

On the 12th Sir Henry opened his batteries upon the town; the fire was received, and answered with firmness, and continued 8 days. On the 20th Sir Henry had carried forward his approaches to the distance of about 300 yards from the American lines. Pending these operations, frequent skirmishing took place between the American and British cavalry, in which Lt. Col. Tarlton (of the enemy) was often successful. On the 18th of April Sir Henry Clinton received a reinforcement of 3000 men from New-York, which gave him such a decided superiority, as to render it desperate to attempt the defence of Charleston, and led Gen. Lincoln to call a council of war on the 20th and 21st, to determine on such measures as the exigencies of the case required; the result of which was as foilows-viz.

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"As a retreat would be attended with many distressing inconveniences, if not altogether impracticable, for the undermentioned causes

66 1. The civil authority are averse to it, and intimated in council that if attempted, they would counteract the meas

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"2. It must be performed in the face of an enemy much superior, across a river three miles broad, in large ships and vessels, the moving of which must be regulated by the wind and tide.

"3. Could these obstacles be removed, we must force our way through a considerable body of the enemy, in full possession of the passés, on our route to the Santee, the only road by which we can retreat:

"4. Supposing us arrived at that river, new and dangerous difficulties are again to be enumerated, from the want of boats to cross it, with an army wasted, and worn down with fatigue, and famine, and closely pursued by the enemy; we advise therefore that terms of capitulation be offered to Gen. Clinton before our offairs become more critical, which may admit of the army's withdrawing, and afford security to the persons and properties of the inhabitants.". -Signed, William Moultrie, and others.

These terms were instantly rejected, by one party, and as strongly persisted in by the other, whilst both looked with anxious expectations for that succour which should enable them to make good their retreat. On the 23d of April the British advanced their 3d parallel to the distance of about 100 yards from the American lines, and the besieged made a sally with 200 men, under the command of Lt. Col. Henderson; but with very little success, and they returned within the lines, without attempting any thing further.

On the 26th Gen. Lincoln again summoned a council of war to decide on the question of a retreat, and at the eventful moment the British carried Fort Moultrie, and their flag was seen waving upon its walls. Col. Pinkney had at this time been withdrawn from Sullivan's Island, to

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strengthen the defence of the town with his detachment of 150 men, the remainder of the garrison, there left, were captured by Capt. Hudson, without a gun, on the 6th of May. At the same time the enemy made their approaches so near to the town, as to sap the dam of the ditch, and drain offits water, and at the same time Col. Tarlton surprised and routed a party of American cavalry, upon the Santee; killed, took, and dispersed, the whole. Lt. Col. Washington, Maj. Jameson, and a few others, swam the river, and thus made their escape.

On the 8th Sir Henry Clinton opened a correspondence with Gen. Lincoln, in which he renewed his summons, and offered terms, offering parole to the prisoners, and security to all property of the inhabitants, within their houses. Gen. Lincoln proposed a conference with Sir Henry, hoping to gain better terms; but this was denied with a threat, that hostilities should recommence at 8 o'clock. The eventful hour arrived, an awful solemn silence ensued; but neither party fired a gun, all was anxious suspense for one hour; yet neither party moved a proposition; at 9 o'clock the garrison opened their fire upon the besiegers, who in their turn, opened their batteries upon the town, and a terrible shower of shot, bombs, carcases, and rifles from their sharp shooters, poured in upon the town, which threatened to overwhelm it with one general destruction; the town was repeatedly on fire, and many houses were burnt; at the same time the enemy advanced their last parallel to the distance of 20 yards, on the 11th, and prepared for a general assault, by sea and land. The critical moment had now arrived, when life and property were both at stake, and the people, by their leaders, called on Gen. Lincoln to renew the conference, and accept the terms of the enemy; this request was enforced by the lieut. governor and council. The militia of the town at the same time threw down their arms, and all VOL. III.

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