departments; but without funds they found it impossible to lay up magazines of provisions, and it was with the utmost difficulty that they obtained supplies to satisfy the temporary wants of the army. Before the month of January expired, the soldiers were put upon allowance, and soon the whole stock of provisions in store was exhausted, and there was neither meat nor flour to be distributed to the troops. To prevent the dissolution of the army, the commander-in-chief was reluctantly driven to vigorous measures. He exacted a certain quantity of meat and flour from each county in New Jersey, to be brought into camp, by the end of six days. Notwithstanding the great demand which had been made upon them in former campaigns, the people cheerfully and seasonably afforded the full quantity of provisions required by the commander-in-chief.

of

As soon as he had ascertained that Count D'Estaing had sailed from the American coast, he left the command of that part the royal army stationed in New York to General Knyphausen; and, on the 26th of December, set sail for the south. He did not, however, reach Savannah until the end of January. The voyage was very unprosperous; several of the transports being lost, damaged, or taken by the Americans, on account of the tempestuous weather. One ordnance-ship went down with all her stores, and nearly all the horses, both draught and for the cavalry, were lost. After other delays, Clinton

40

CLINTON INVESTS CHARLESTON.

landed his troops on the 11th of February, on John's Island, about thirty miles from Charleston.

The Assembly of South Carolina broke up its session on the news of Clinton's arrival, having first delegated to Governor Rutledge power to do everything necessary for the public good, except taking away the life of a citizen without a legal trial. The governor, thus armed with dictatorial authority, immediately ordered the militia to rendezvous; but the people were generally disheartened by the result of the operations at Savannah, and but few obeyed the call. Rutledge then issued a proclamation, ordering all the militia who had been drafted, and all the property-holders and other inhabitants in Charleston, to join the American standard without delay, under pain of confiscation of their goods.

The defences of Charleston were, however, repaired, and new fortifications erected. General Lincoln and Governor Rutledge were indefatigable in improving the time which the slow motions of Clinton afforded them. Six hundred slaves were employed on the works, and vigorous measures were pursued in order to assemble the regulars and militia. The defences of the city consisted of a chain of redoubts, lines, and batteries, extending from Ashley to Cooper river, on which were mounted nearly eighty pieces of artillery, and on all sides of the town where a landing was practicable, batteries were erected and covered with cannon.

General Lincoln, trusting to these defences, and expecting reinforcements from the north, remained in Charleston, at the earnest request of the inhabitants. On the 21st, the British fleet crossed the bar, and anchored in Five Fathom Hole. Commodore Whipple, who commanded the American vessels, finding himself unable to defend the bar, fell back to Charleston, and the guns of his vessels were taken out to defend the batteries. In a few days the town was invested by sea and land, and Lincoln was summoned to surrender; the demand was, however, firmly refused.

The batteries of the first parallel were now opened, and soon made a visible impression on the town. A party of

FALL OF CHARLESTON.

41

American cavalry and militia, which had been stationed at Monk's Corner, to keep up a communication between Charleston and the surrounding country, was surprised and dispersed with the loss of about thirty of their number, by the activity of Sir Henry Clinton.

A council of war, held on the 21st of April, agreed that a retreat would be impracticable, and an offer was made of surrendering the town; but the proposed conditions were rejected by the besiegers, and hostilities recommenced. Clinton's operations were now more extended, as he had received a reinforcement of three thousand men from New York. Colonel Henderson made a vigorous sally on the right, with some success; but the British had now completed their third parallel and taken Fort Moultrie. The guns of their batteries soon made a decided impression on the town, and many of the garrison were killed at their posts.

Lincoln was desirous of evacuating the town; but on the citizens entreating him not to leave them to the fury of the enemy, he complied with their request, and offered to surrender on the terms before proposed. A capitulation was accordingly signed on the 12th of May, and next day, General Leslie took possession of the place.

By the articles of capitulation, the garrison were to march out of the town, and deposit their arms in front of the works; but their drums were not to beat a British march, and their colours were not to be uncased; the seamen, citizens who had fought during the siege, and the continental troops, were to remain prisoners of war until exchanged, while the militia were to be allowed to go to their homes on parole; the officers were to retain their arms, baggage, and servants; and the militia, as well as the inhabitants generally, were to remain unmolested in person and property as long as they should keep their parole.

The fall of Charleston was a matter of much exultation to the British, and spread a deep gloom over the aspect of American affairs. The whole southern army was lost, which, although small, could not soon be replaced. The number of

VOL. II. 6

42

TARLETON'S QUARTERS.

Tories had always been considerable in the south; and though they had been previously deterred from entering the field by the superior force of their opponents, yet the recent British successes roused all their lurking partialities, decided the wavering, and encouraged the timid.

Clinton was well aware of the advantage he had gained, and immediately adopted measures to overawe the inhabitants, and induce them to return to their former allegiance, by the rapidity of his movements, and the sudden appearance of his troops in different parts of the country. For this purpose he despatched a body of two thousand men towards North Carolina, to repel the small parties of militia who were hastening to the relief of Charleston. Tarleton, with seven hundred horse and foot, by marching one hundred and five miles in fifty-four hours, met and defeated Colonel Buford, at the Waxhaws. Buford was advancing towards Charleston, at the head of a body of four hundred continental infantry, and a few horsemen. Tarleton easily defeated them by his superior forces, and the Americans were compelled to throw down their arms and implore quarter; but by Tarleton's orders, the work of butchery was continued and nearly all of the regiment were killed or so badly wounded that they could not be removed from the field. This sanguinary proceeding spread dismay and indignation throughout the state, and the remembrance of "Tarleton's quarters" imparted a similar character to future conflicts.

Clinton now placed military posts in various parts of the state, and issued a proclamation, inviting all to join the royal standard, and take the oath of allegiance; threatening punishment to all who should neglect to acknowledge themselves British subjects, as enemies and rebels. At the same time, he promised pardon and oblivion to all past offenders, and exemption from taxation except by their own legislatures. Owing to the universal presence of the enemy, and the want of an American army, many of the inhabitants were induced to comply with these requisitions. The whole state was unusually calm; and Clinton, believing that the country was subdued,