said of the

itary opera

year 1780? a. Dec. 26, 1779.

2. What were the move

ments

Gen. Clin

GENERAL MARION.

EVENTS OF 1780.

1. What is 1. DURING the year 1780, military operations were cene of mil- mostly suspended in the North, in consequence of the tions for the transfer of the scene of action to the Carolinas. Late in December of the previous year, Sir Henry Clinton, leaving General Knyphausen at New York, sailed with the bulk of his army to the South, under convoy of Admiral Arbuthnot, and arrived on the coast of ton previous Georgia late in January. On the 10th of February mencement he departed from Savannah for the siege of Charleston, Charles then defended by General Lincoln, and after taking possession of the islands south of the city, crossed the Ashley River with the advance of the army, and on the first of April commenced crecting batteries within eight hundred yards of the American works.

to the com

of the siege

tun?

b. Feb. 11. c. March 29.

April 1.

April 9.

said of Ad

buthnot?

immons to

5. Ihat is

A

2. On the 9th of April, Admiral Arbuthnot, favored 3. What is by a strong southerly wind and the tide, passed Fort mirat Ar Moultrie with little damage, and anchored his fleet in 4. Of the Charleston harbor, within cannon shot of the city. surrender? summons to surrender being rejected, the English 2. April 9 opened their batteries upon the town. The Amer said of ten, icans, in the mean time, in order to form a rallying of the depoint for the militia, and, possibly, succor the city, had tachment, assembled a corps under the command of General Hu ger on the upper part of Cooper River, at a place called Seo kap. Monk's Corner.* Against this post Clinton sent a detachment of fourteen hundred men, commanded by Webster, Tarleton, and Ferguson, which succeeded in April 14. surprising the party,-putting the whole to flight,

Huger,

Bent

him!

and capturing a large quantity of arms, clothing, and 1780. ainmunition.

3. 'Soon after, an American corps was surprised on the Santee,* by Colonel Tarleton. The enemy over tan the country on the left side of the Cooper River, Fort Moultrie surrendered on the 6th of May,—and Charleston thus found itself completely enclosed by the British forces, with no prospect of relief, either by land or by sea. In this extremity, the fortifications being mostly beaten down, and the enemy prepared for an assault, on the 12th of May the city surrendered. General Lincoln and the troops under his command became prisoners of war.

4. Having possession of the capital, General Clin- 2. ton made preparations for recovering the rest of the province, and for re-establishing royal authority. Three expeditions which he despatched into the country were completely successful. One seized the important post of Ninety-six; another scoured the country bordering on the Savannah; while Lord Cornwallis passed the Santee, and made himself master of Georgetown. A body of about 400 republicans, under Colonel Buford, retreating towards North Carolina, being pursued by Colonel Tarleton, and overtaken at Waxhaw Creek, was entirely cut to pieces. Many of the inhabitants now joined the royal standard; and Clinton, seeing the province in tranquillity, left

SEAT OF WAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Lord Cornwallis in com- Kings Mount NORTH CAROLIN

*Santee River, the principal river of South Carolina, is formed by the confluence of the Wateree from the E. and the Congaree from the W., eightyfive miles N.W. from Charleston.Running S.E. it enters the Atlantic, about fifty miles N.E. from Charleston. (See Map.)

†The post of Ninety-six was near the boundary line between the present Edgefield and Abbeville Counties, S. Carolina, five miles S.W. from the Saluda River, and 150 miles N.W. from Charleston. (See Map.)

Georgetown is on the W. bank of the Pedee, at its entrance into Winyaw Bay, about sixty miles N E. from Charleston. (See Map.)

Washaw Creek, rising in N. Carolina, cnters the Wateree or the Catawba from the E 155 miles N.W. Tom Charleston. See Map.)

1780. mand of the southern forces; and, early in June, with a large body of his troops, embarked for New York.

a. June 5.

1. How were the British much annoyed?

2. What Sumpter

sail of Col.

b. July 30.

c. Aug. 3. The ef fents of inte warfare?

partisan

4. What, in the mean

time, bere them Gates and

of

Rawdon?

d. Aug. 13,14.

B. Give an account of the battle of

Creek.

5. But notwithstanding the apparent tranquillity which prevailed at the time of Clinton's departure, bands of patriots, under daring leaders, soon began to collect on the frontiers of the province, and, by sudden attacks, to give much annoyance to the royal troops. Colonel Sumpter, in particular, distinguished himself in these desultory excursions. In an attack' which he made on a party of British at Rocky Mount* he was repulsed, but not disheartened. He soon after surprised and completely defeated a large body of British regulars and tories posted at Hanging Rock. This partisan warfare restored confidence to the republicans, disheartened the loyalists, and confined to more narrow limits the operations of the enemy.

6. In the mean time a strong force from the North, under General Gates, was approaching for the relief of the southern provinces. The British general, Lord Rawdon, on receiving tidings of the approach of Gates, concentrated his forces at Camdent, where he was soon after joined by Lord Cornwallis from Charleston. On the night of the 15th of August, Gates advanced from Clermont, with the view of surprising the British camp. At the same time Cornwallis and Rawdon were advancing from Camden, with the design of sur prising the Americans.

7. The two vanguards met in the night near Sanders' Creek, when some skirmishing ensued, and -in e. Aug. 16. the morning a general engagement commenced be tween the two armies. The first onset decided the fate of the battle. The Virginia and Carolina militia wavering, tho

BAT. OF SANDERS' CREEK

*Rocky Mount is at the northern extremity of the pres ent Fairfield County, on the W. bank of the Wateree, thirty-five miles N.W from Charleston. (Map. p. 261.)

Hanging Rock is a short distance E. from the Ca tawba or Wateree River, in the present Lancaster County and about thirty-five miles N. from Cariden. (Map, p. 261.) Camden is on the E. bank of the Wateree, 110 miles N.W. from Charleston. The battle of the 16th took place a little N. from Sanders' Creek, about eight miles N from Camden. (See Map; also Map, p. 261.)

Clerm mt is about thirteen miles N from Camden (See Map p. 261.)

British charged them with fixed bayonets, and soon 1780. put them to flight; but the Maryland and Delaware regiments sustained the fight with great gallantry, and several times compelled the enemy to retire. At length, being charged in the flank by Tarleton's cavalry, surrounded, and overwhelmed by numbers, they were forced to give way, and the rout became general.

losses did each party

sustain in

this action?

8. The Americans lost in this unfortunate engage-1. What nent, in killed, wounded, and captured, about a thouand men, besides all their artillery, ammunition wagons, and much of their baggage. The Baron De Kalb, second in command, was mortally wounded. The British reported their loss at three hundred and twenty-five. With the remnant of his forces Gates rapidly retreated to Hillsboro',† in North Carolina.

9. The defeat of Gates was soon followed by the surprise and dispersion of Sumpter's corps. This officer, who had already advanced between Camden and Charleston, on learning the misfortune of his superior, retired promptly to the upper parts of Carolina, but at Fishing Creek his troops were surprised by Tarleton's cavalry, and routed with great slaughter.

2. Whither did Gates retreat?

3. What be

fell Sump soon after?

ter's corps

a. Aug. 18.

vere measures did Cornwallis adopt?

10. Cornwallis, again supposing the province sub- 4. What se dued, adopted measures of extreme severity, in order to compel a submission to royal authority. Orders were given to hang every militia man who, having once served with the British, had afterwards joined the Americans; and those who had formerly submitted, but had taken part in the recent revolt, were imprisoned, and their property was taken from them or destroyed. But these rigorous measures failed to accomplish their object; for although the spirit of the people the effect of was overawed, it was not subdued. The cry of vengeance arose from an exasperated people, and the British standard became an object of execration.

11. In September, Cornwallis detached Colonel

5. What was

these meas ures?

*(The British accounts, Stedman, ii. 210, Andrews iv. 30, &c., estimate the Amer ican loss at about 2000.)

Hillsboro', in N. Carolina, is situated on one of the head branches of the Neuse River, thirty-five niles N.W. from Raleigh.

Fisking Creek enters the Wateree from the W., about thirty miles N.W. from Camden. (See Map, p. 201.)

Ferguson

and his party?

A

1780. Ferguson to the frontiers of North Carolina, for the 6. What is purpose of encouraging the loyalists to take arms. aid of Col. considerable number of the most profligate and aban doned repaired to his standard, and, under the conduct of their leader, committed excesses so atrocious, that the highly exasperated militia collected to intercept their march, and arming themselves with whatever chance threw in their way, attacked the party in the post which they had chosen at King's Mountain.* The attack was furious, and the defence exceedingly obstinate; but after a bloody fight, Ferguson himself was slain, and three hundred of his men were killed or wounded. Eight hundred prisoners were taken, and amongst the spoil were fifteen hundred stands of arms. The American loss was about twenty.

Oct. 7.

tie of King's Mountain?

1770. 1676.

2. What suc

cesses of

Gen. Sump

lowed!

b. Nov. 12,

12. Notwithstanding the defeat of General Sumpter, he had again collected band of volunteers, with which 7 soon fol- he continued to harass the enemy; and although many plans were laid for his destruction, they all failed in the execution. In an attack which was made on him by Broad Major Wemys, the British were defeated, and their commanding officer taken prisoner. On the 20th of November he was attacked by Colonel Tarleton, at Blackstocks, but after a severe loss Tarleton was obliged to retreat, leaving Sumpter in quiet possession of the field.

River.

3. What is

said of Gen.

Marion!

1. Of events

remainder

13. Another zealous officer, General Marion, like wise distinguished himself in this partisan warfare, and by cutting off straggling parties of the enemy, and during the keeping the tories in check, did the American cause the year? valuable service. No further events of importance took place in the South during the remainder of the year, and we now return to notice the few which oc curred during the summer in the northern provinces.

c. June 7. 5. What oc

14. Early in June, five thousand men, under Gencurred du eral Knyphausen, passed from Staten Island into New

King's Mountain is an eminence near the boundary between N. Carolina and S Carolina, W. of the Catawba River. (See Map, p. 261.) †This occurred on the eastern bank of Broad River (a northern branch of the Con pares), at a place called Fishdam Ferry, 52 miles N.W. from Camden. (See Map, p. 261.) Blackstocks is on the southern bank of Tiger River (a western branch of Broad River), in the western part of Union County, seventy-five miles N.W. from Camden See Map, p. 261.) (There is an her place called Blackstocks in Chester County, forty les E. from this.)