subsequent dispatches,' that, if he was successful, it would prove ruinous to the enemy; and if otherwise, that it would be but a partial evil to him.' On the 14th, he arrived at Guilford court house, the British then lying at twelve miles distance.

His army consisted of about four thousand five hundred men, of whom nearly two thirds were North Carolina and Virginia militia. The British were about two thousand four hundred, all regular troops, and the greater part inured to toil and service in their long expedition under Lord Cornwallis, who, on the morning of the 15th, being apprized of Gen. Greene's intentions, marched to meet him. The latter disposed his army in three lines; the militia of North Carolina were in front; the second line was composed of those of Virginia; and the third, which was the flower of the army, was formed of continental troops, near fifteen hundred in number. They were flanked on both sides by cavalry and riflemen, and were posted on a rising ground, a mile and a half from Guilford court-house.

The engagement commenced, at half an hour after one o'clock, by a brisk cannonade after which, the British advanced in three columns; and attacked the first line, composed, as has been observed, of North Carolina militia. These, who, probably, had never been in action before, were panic-struck at the approach of the enemy: and many of them ran away without firing a gun, or being fired upon, and even before the British had come nearer than one hundred and forty yards to them. Part of them, however, fired: but they then followed the example of their comrades. Their officers made every possible effort to rally them: but neither the advantages of their position, nor any other consideration, could induce them to maintain their ground. This shameful cowardice had a great effect upon the issue of the battle. The next line, however, behaved much better. They fought with great bravery and after they were thrown into disorder, rallied, returned to the charge, and kept up a heavy fire for a long time: but were at length broken, and driven on the third line, when the engagement became general, very severe, and very bloody. At length superiority of discipline carried the day from superiority of numbers. The conflict endured an hour and a half; and was terminated by Gen. Greene's ordering a retreat, when he perceived, that the enemy were on the point of encircling his troops.

This was a hard-fought action. Lord Cornwallis stated his losses in killed, wounded and missing, at five hundred and thirty-two, among whom were several officers of considerable rank. To those who are used to consider the thousands killed on the plains of Ger many, very frequently without producing any visible consequence on the fate of a war, the number here mentioned must appear insignificant. But this battle was, nevertheless, decisive in its consequen Lord Cornwallis was, three days after, obliged to make a retrograde motion; and to return to Wilmington, situated two hundred

ces.

B

miles from the place of action. He was even under the necessity of abandoning a considerable number of those who were most dangerously wounded.

The loss of the Americans was about four hundred killed and wounded. However, this was not so severely felt as the desertion of a considerable number of militia, who fled homewards, and came no more near the army.

Some time after the battle of Guilford, Gen. Greene determined to return to South Carolina, to endeavour to expel the British from that state. His first object was to attempt the reduction of Camden, where Lord Rawdon was posted, with about nine hundred men. The strength of this place, which was covered on the south and east sides by a river and creek-and to the westward and northward, by six redoubts-rendered it impracticable to carry it by storm, with the small army Gen. Greene had, consisting of about seven hundred continentals. He therefore encamped at about a mile from the town, in order to prevent supplies from being brought in, and to take advantage of such favourable circumstances as might occur.

Lord Rawdon's situation was extremely delicate. Col. Watson, whom he had some time before detached, for the protection of the eastern frontiers, and to whom he had, on intelligence of Gen. Greene's intentions, sent orders to return to Camden, was so effectually watched by Gen. Marian, that it was impossible for him to obey. His lordship's supplies, were, moreover, very precarious: and, should Gen. Greene's reinforceinents arrive, he might be so closely invested, as to be at length obliged to surrender. In this dilemma, the best expedient that suggested itself, was a bold attack: for which purpose, he armed every person with him, capable of carrying a musquet, not excepting his musicians and drummers. He sallied out on the twenty-fifth of April; and attacked Gen. Greene in his camp. The defence was obstinate and for some part of the engagement, the advantage appeared to be in favour of America. Lieut. Col. Washington, who commanded the cavalry, bad at one time not less than two hundred British prisoners. However, by the misconduct of one of the American regiments, victory was snatched from Gen. Greene, who was compelled to retreat. action about two hundred, killed, wounded, and prisoners. Rawdon lost about two hundred and fifty-eight.

He lost in the

There was a great similarity between the consequences of the af fair at Guilford, and those of this action. In the former, Lord Cornwallis was successful; but was afterwards obliged to retreat two hundred miles from the scene of action, and for a time abandoned the grand object of penetrating to the northward. In the latter, Lord Rawdon had the honour of the field; but was shortly after reduced to the necessity of abandoning his post, and leaving behind

him a number of sick and wounded.

The evacuation of Camden, with the vigilance of Gen. Greene,

and the several officers he employed, gave a new complexion to affairs in South Carolina, where the British ascendancy declined more rapidly than it had been established. The numerous forts garrisoned by the enemy, fell, one after the other, into the hands of the Americans. Orangeburg, Motte, Watson, Georgetown, Granby, and all the others, fort Ninety-six excepted, were surrendered; and a very considerable number of prisoners of war, with military stores, and artillery, were found in them.

On the 22d of May, Gen. Greene sat down before Ninety-six, with the main part of his little army. The siege was carried on for a considerable time with great spirit; and the place was defended with equal bravery. At length, the works were so far reduced, that a surrender must have been made in a few days, when a reinforcement of three regiments from Europe, arrived at Charleston, which enabled Lord Rawdon to proceed to relieve this important post. The superiority of the enemy's force reduced gen. Greene to the alternative of abandoning the siege altogether, or, previous to their arrival, of attempting the fort by storm. The latter was more agree. able to his enterprising spirit, and an attack was made, on the morning of the 19th of June. He was repulsed, with the loss of one hundred and fifty men. He raised the siege, and retreated over the

Saluda.

In this gloomy situation, there were not wanting persons who advised gen. Greene to leave the state, and retire with his remaining forces to Virginia. To arguments and suggestions of this kind he nobly replied-'I will recover the country, or die in the attempt.' This distinguished officer, whose genius was most vigorous in those extremities, when feeble minds abandon themselves to despair, adopted the only resource now left him, of avoiding an engagement, until the British force should be divided.

Some skirmishes, of no great moment, took place between detached parties of both armies, in July and August. September the 9th, gen. Greene, having assembled about two thousand men, proceeded to attack the British, who, under the command of col. Stewart, were posted at Eutaw Springs. The American force was drawn up in two lines the first, composed of Carolina militia, was commanded by generals Marian and Pickens, and col. De Malmedy. The second, which consisted of continental troops from North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, was commanded by gen. Sumpter, lieut. col. Campbell, and col. Williams-lieut. col. Lee, with his legion, covered the right flank; and lieut. col. Henderson, with the state troops, covered the left. A corps de reserve was formed of the cavalry, under lieut. col. Washington, and the Delaware troops, under capt. Kirkwood. As the Americans came forward to the attack, they fell in with some advanced parties of the enemy, at about two or three miles ahead of the main body. These being closely pursu ed were driven back-and the action soon became general. The

6

militia were at length forced to give way, but were bravely supported by the second line. In the hottest part of the engagement, gen. Greene ordered the Maryland and Virginia continentals to charge with trailed arms. This decided the fate of the day. Nothing,' says Dr. Ramsay, 'could surpass the intrepidity of both officers and men on this occasion. They rushed on, in good order, through a heavy cannonade, and a shower of musquetry, with such unshaken resolution, that they bore down all before them.' The British were broken, closely pursued, and upwards of five hundred of them taken prisoners. They however made a fresh stand, in a favourable position, in impenetrable shrubs and a picquetted garden. Lieut. col. Washington, after having made every effort to dislodge them, was wounded and taken prisoner. Four six pounders were brought for ward to play upon them, but they fell into their hands; and the endeavours to drive them from their station being found impracticable, the Americans retired, leaving a strong picquet on the field of battle. Their loss was about five hundred; that of the British upwards of eleven hundred.

General Greene was honoured by Congress with a British standard, and a gold medal, emblematic of the engagement and success, 'for his wise, decisive and magnanimous conduct, in the action at Eutaw Springs, in which, with a force inferior in number to that of the enemy, he obtained a most signal victory.'

In the evening of the succeeding day, col. Stewart abandoned his post, and retreated towards Charleston, leaving behind upwards of seventy of his wounded, and a thousand stands of arms. He was pursued a considerable distance-but in vain.

The battle of Eutaw produced most signal consequences in favour of America. The British, who had for such a length of time, lorded it absolutely in South Carolina, were, shortly after that event, obliged to confine themselves to Charleston.

The surrender of lord Cornwallis, whose enterprising spirit had been by the British ministry expected to repair the losses, and wipe away the disgrace which had been incurred through the inactivity and indolence of other generals, having convinced them of the impracticability of subjugating America, they discontinued offensive operations in every quarter.

The happy period at length arrived, when, by the virtue and bravery of her sons, aided by the bounty of heaven, America compelled her invaders to recognize her independence.

In October, 785, he sailed to Georgia, where he had a considerable estate, not far distant from Savannah. Here he passed away his time, occupied in his domestic concerns, until the hour of his mortality approached. Walking out one day, in June, 1786, he was overpowered by the extreme heat of the sun, which brought on a disorder that carried him off, a few days after, on the 19th of the same month. When the melancholy account of his death arrived at Savannah,

the people were struck with the deepest sorrow.

All business was

suspended. The shops and stores throughout the town were shut : and the shipping in the harbour had their colours half masted.

The body was brought to Savannah, and interred on the 20th. The funeral procession was attended by the Cincinnati, militia, &c. Immediately after the interment of the corpse, the members of the Cincinnati retired to the coffee-house in Savannah, and came to the following resolution :

'That as a token of the high respect and veneration in which this society hold the memory of their late illustrious brother, major-general Greene, deceased, George Washington Greene, his eldest son, be admitted a member of this society, to take his seat on his arriving at the age of 18 years.

General Greene left behind him a wife and five children, the eldest of whom was about 11 years old.

On Tuesday, the 12th of August, the United States in Congress assembled, came to the following resolution :

'That a monument be erected to the memory of Nathaniel Greene, Esq. at the seat of the federal government, with the following inscription:

Sacred to the memory of
NATHANIEL GREENE, Esq.
who departed this life,

the nineteenth of June, MDCCLXXXVI:
late MAJOR-GENERAL

in the service of the United States,
and commander of their army
in the southern department.

The United States in Congress assembled,
in honour of his

patriotism, valour, and ability,
have erected this monument.

MAJOR GENERAL HENRY KNOX.

Major general Henry Knox, was born July 25, 1750. Before hostilities between this country and Great Britain in the revolutionary war commenced, he discovered an uncommon zeal in the cause of liberty. Being placed at the head of an independent company in Boston he exhibited in this station a skill in discipline, which presaged his future eminence. It was at the unanimous request of all the officers of artillery, that he was entrusted with the command in that department. When the corps of artillery in 1776 was increased to three regiments, the command was given to Knox, who was promoted to the rank of a brigadier general. He was actively engaged during the whole contest. After the capture of Cornwallis in 1781, he received the commission of a major general, having distinguished him