and General Ashe was ordered to the support of Williamson, with about two thousand men. On receiving the intelligence of this junction, the British retired about fourteen miles down the river. Measures were concerted by the American generals, and the plan of operations settled. On the 3d of March, Colonel Prevost gained the rear of the American camp by a circuitous march, and commenced a furious attack. The continentals advanced to the charge, to check the invaders; but the militia were panic-struck, and flight ensued. The regulars, under General Elbert, were cut to pieces, and the militia, under General Ashe, never returned. The Americans lost one hundred and fifty killed, and one hundred and sixty-two captured; the wounded not numbered. About four hundred and fifty rejoined General Lincoln. Georgia now belonged to the enemy, and a free communication was opened with the tories of South Carolina.

In this state of alarm, John Rutledge was appointed governor of the state, and to him and the council was given a dictatorial power. A large body of militia was assembled at Orangeburg, near the centre of the state, to act as might be required. Williamson sent parties into Georgia to distress and plunder the enemy. On this, Lincoln remarked to the governor, that the innocent and the guilty, the aged and infirm, women and children, would be equally exposed to the effects of this order. Lincoln was now reinforced at his camp, at Black Swamp, and advanced into Georgia, leaving a strong guard, under General Moultrie, at Purysburgh. Prescott permitted the Americans to advance one hundred and fifty miles, that he might surprise General Moultrie. Moultrie eluded the attack, by a change of position. Lincoln, learning the movements of Prescott, moved by forced marches in support of Moultrie, and to cover Charleston. The governor took alarm by the movements of Prescott, and destroyed the suburbs, that he might guard against the advance of the enemy. The neighboring militia were called in to join his troops in defence of Charleston.

On the 11th of March, Prescott crossed the ferry, and

appeared before Charleston; on which day the Count Pulaski arrived, and entered into the defence of this city with spirit. The object of Prescott was to capture the town before Lincoln could arrive; and his operations were conducted with such vigor, that the civil authority sent out the following proposition: "South Carolina will remain in a state of neutrality till the close of the war, and then follow the fate of her neighbors, on condition the royal army withdraw." To which General Prescott replied: "The garrison are in arms, and they shall surrender prisoners of war." But, before General Prescott could accomplish anything of importance, Lincoln arrived, and the enemy withdrew to Beaufort, and thence to Georgia. Plunder and devastation marked their steps. Slaves, to the number of three thousand, were taken, and sent for sale to the West Indies.

An expedition was fitted out, by Sir Henry Clinton, under Sir George Collier and General Matthews, from New York, who took possession of Portsmouth, and the remains of Norfolk, in Virginia, in May, 1779. On the same day a detachment was sent to Suffolk, and destroyed provisions, naval stores, and vessels, leaving the town in ashes; and gentlemen's seats, as well as plantations, were burnt and ravaged. On the coast the same ravages were committed by the fleet. About one hundred and thirty vessels were destroyed or captured, with about three thousand hogsheads of tobacco.

CHAPTER XXXV.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.-Tryon's marauding expedition to Connecticut— New Haven plundered-Barbarities of the British-Capture of Stony Point-Sullivan's expedition against the Indians-Exploits of Paul Jones-Failure of the expedition to the Penobscot-War in the south— Arrival of D'Estaing's fleet-Siege of Savannah-Repulse of the French and Americans—Death of Pulaski—Gallant exploit of Colonel White-The British evacuate Rhode Island-Clinton invades South Carolina-Siege of Charleston-Surrender of the town-Defeat of Colonel Buford at the Waxhaws-General Gates appointed to the command in the south-Partisan war of Marion and Sumter— Knyphausen's excursion to New Jersey-Arrival of a French fleet and army, under De Tiernay and Rochambeau-Lord Cornwallis in South Carolina-Battle of Camden-Disasters of the Americans—Cornwallis threatens North Carolina-Colonel Ferguson's expedition to the north-Defeat of the British at King's Mountain-Atrocities of the war-Imprisonment and escape of General Wadsworth.

EARLY in 1779, Sir Henry Clinton had concerted measures with the tories and British under his command, to assume a general system of predatory war in America, and submitted his plans to the British ministry, who expressed their approbation. This plan soon reached the American commission, at Paris, and was communicated to Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, on the 6th of April, 1779. Clinton detached General Tryon, formerly governor of New York, with two thousand six hundred land forces, protected by a squadron under Sir George Collier, and supported by General Garth, to begin their depredations in Connecticut. On the 4th of July, the armament moved into the sound, and the commanders issued their proclamation to the citizens of Connecticut, offering pardon and protection to all such as would return to their allegiance, but threatening

ture. On the morning of the 6th, Tryon landed his division at East Haven; Garth landed at the same time at West Haven, and proceeded directly to New Haven, and gave up the town to promiscuous pillage. The militia collected so fast on the next day, that the enemy abandoned the town in haste, burnt several stores on Long wharf, and embarked their troops. The infamous Tryon next proceeded to the plunder of East Haven, and then sailed for Fairfield. The town and vicinity were laid in ruins, and the enemy embarked for Norwalk, which was next laid in ashes. He then returned to New York. In this incursion, four houses for public worship, near one hundred dwellings, eighty barns, about thirty stores, seventeen shops, four mills, and five vessels were burnt; and, in addition to this destruction of property, the greatest acts of brutality were perpetrated. Women were insulted and abused, while their apparel was robbed, and desks, trunks, and closets were rifled.

The strong post of Stony Point, on the Hudson, had been taken by the British, and garrisoned with a formidable force. General Wayne was despatched on an expedition

dangerous and difficult defiles, he approached the fort about eight of the same evening. Having reconnoitred the position of the enemy, the general put himself at the head of his brave troops, and, at twenty minutes past twelve precisely, on the night of the 16th, entered the fort with screwed bayonets, amidst a most tremendous fire of musket and grape, and carried the fortress without firing a gun. Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury entered the fort with his division, upon the opposite side, at the same time, and both parties met in the centre; but the garrison was spared and made prisoners of war, to the number of five hundred and forty-three. Wayne dismantled the fort, and brought off the cannon, stores, &c., agreeably to orders. Congress passed a vote of thanks to Washington, Wayne, and the officers and soldiers under their command, for the masterly exploit in the capture of Stony Point.

The English, having persuaded the Six Nations of Indians, the Oneidas excepted, to take up the hatchet against the United States, General Sullivan was sent with a detachment of from four to five thousand men to chastise them. He marched up the Susquehanna, and attacked them in their fortifications, which were well constructed. The resistance was obstinate, but they were compelled to yield, and took to flight. According to his instructions, their country was devastated, and one hundred and sixty thousand bushels of corn were consumed.

In naval affairs, the Americans had met with much success by means of their small privateers, which greatly annoyed the commerce of the British, and benefitted the colonists by the capture of many valuable prizes, not only of merchant ships, but also of store-ships and transports, laden with arms, ammunition and supplies for the British armies. The most famous among the American naval commanders was John Paul Jones, a native of Scotland, who had settled in Virginia previous to the breaking out of the revolution. He received the first appointment of lieutenant in the American navy, and was so successful in his early cruises with a small vessel, in 1776, that he was sent by congress to France the next year, where he