had been so feeble, what must be the expence under the present prospects of the war, when the united strength of America would require such vast land, and naval forces, to make any impression that could promise success?

All this opposition was idle; the motion prevailed,

180 to 57.

The Duke of Grafton made one more effort for a reconciliation, in the House of Lords, by offering a motion, "that a petition be presented to his majesty, requesting, that in order to stop all further effusion of blood, and to manifest the sincere desire of the king, and Parliament to restore peace, and redress grievances, a proclamation might be issued, declaring, that if the colonies should present a petition to the commander in chief of his majesty's forces in America, or to commissioners appointed for such purpose, setting forth what they considered to be their just rights, and real grievances, the king would consent to a suspension of arms, and refer their petition to Parliament, where they might be confident it would be duly considered, and answered."

This motion, however wise and politic in itself, and however ably supported, was lost by a majority of three to

one.

The lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, presented their humble address to his majesty, praying for peace; but all in vain; America was doomed to bleed-and the first division of the German troops, from Brunswick, sailed from Spithead for America, on the 4th of April, and were followed the next day by Generals Burgoyne* and Philips.

On the 6th of May the first division of German troops from Hesse Cassel, sailed from St. Helens for America. Five days after, Lord Howe sailed for America, in the Ea

• Burgoyne had left Boston for England in December.

upon

gle man of war, where he was to act with Gen. Howe a commission granted to them by letters patent, "for restoring peace to the colonies in North America, and for granting pardon to such of his majesty's subjects there, now in rebellion, as shall deserve the royal mercy."

The estimates of the forces to be employed this year against America, amounted to about 60,000 men.

His majesty signed all the bills in due form, in the house of peers, and closed the session with the following clause in his speech." It is with pleasure I inform you, that the assurances which I have received of the disposition of the several powers in Europe, promise a continuance of the general tranquillity."

The sailing of the Cork fleet, and its place of destination, were very providentially discovered before its arrival upon the American coast, by a letter from the British secretary of state, addressed to Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia. This letter, an extract of which is as follows, was taken by Capt. J. Barron, amongst other dispatches sent by Lord Dunmore to Gov. Eden of Maryland, and conveyed to Williamsburg.

“ Sir,

"An armament of seven regiments, with a fleet of frigates and small ships, is now in readiness to sail to the southern colonies, in order to attempt the restoration of legal government in that part of America. It will proceed in the first place to North-Carolina, and from thence to South-Carolina, or Virginia, as circumstances shall point

out."

On the 18th of April two of the fleet arrived in Cape Fear river, with part of the 17th regiment, and from that to the 3d of May, the remainder of the fleet arrived in succession, bringing Sir Peter Parker, Lord Cornwallis, Gen.

Vaughan, and others, and were joined by Gen. Clinton, who awaited their arrival at Cape Fear river.

On the 5th Gen. Clinton issued his proclamation, offering pardon to all such as should lay down their arms, excepting Cornelius Harnett and Robert Howe-dated on board the Pallas, May 5th, 1776.

The defeat of Lord Dunmore's forces in Virginia, determined the commanders not to visit Virginia; but to turn their attention to South-Carolina, and commence an attack upon its capital, which they considered must fall an easy prey to such a fleet, under the co-operation of about 2800 land forces.

The secretary's letter had reached South-Carolina before the arrival of the fleet, and Gov. Rutledge had made all possible preparation to receive them. He had strengthened Sullivan's Island, and erected a fort of the palmetto tree, (which very much resembles cork,) in which were mounted about 30 heavy pieces of cannon.

About the first of June the fleet arrived, consisting of about forty or fifty sail, and came to anchor off Sullivan's Islands, distant about 5 or 6 leagues. The alarm guns were fired, and expresses sent off into the conntry to order in the militia for the defence of Charleston.

In a few days the enemy approached nearer with their fleet, and landed several hundred men upon Long-Island, which is divided from Sullivan's Island by a narrow creek. On the 10th the Bristol 50 gun ship, took out her guns, and floated over the bar, and Gen. Clinton fired off his procla mation again, as he had done before in North-Carolina, offering pardon, &c. and with the same effect; it had now become too late in the day, for proclamations in America. The militia obeyed the summons, and rallied round the standard of their country, and at the same time, several regular regiments from the northward joined them in the defence of Charleston, under the command of Gen. Lee,

who had been dispatched to watch the motions of Gen. Clinton, after he left the Hook.

The popular talents of General Lee, soon collected a force of 5 or 6000 men, including militia; and all was bustle, effort, and exertion, to put the city in a proper posture of defence to receive the enemy. The South Carolina troops, under the command of Colonels Gadsden, Moultrie, and Thompson, were stationed upon James' and Sullivan's Islands; and the regulars, and others, were sta tioned at Haddel's Point, and along the bay, in front of the town. Whole streets of the city, near the water, were barricadoed, and the wharves were stripped of all the valuable stores that occupied them, to open a line of defence near the margin of the water.

On the 26th of June, the Experiment of 50 guns, followed the example of the Bristol, and crossed the bar. On the 28th, the Bristol and Experiment, accompanied by five frigates, and three other armed vessels, commenced an attack upon Sullivan's Island, and the cannonade from the ships and the batteries on the shore became terrible. The enemy performed a variety of manoeuvering, to rake the American batteries, and open the way for an approach to the city; but God, who orders and directs all events, defeated their designs; three of the ships ran aground on a shoal in a fair reach of the American batteries, and two others ran foul of each other, and in this confusion the fire of the Americans raked the ships in such a manner as to render them mere wrecks, both in their hulls and rigging; and strewed their decks with the carnage of their crews. The Bristol was pierced in her hull with more than 70 shot, and lost 40 men killed, and 71 wounded. The Experiment lost 23 killed, and 76 wounded. The captains of both ships lost an arm. Even Lord Campbell, late governor of South Carolina, served as a volunteer on board the Experiment, and did active duty at the guns, where he VOL. III.

24

received a mortal wound, of which he died. This tremendous cannonade continued through the day, with little interruption, and at nine o'clock in the evening it ceased upon both sides; at eleven o'clock the ships slipped their cables and withdrew, in such a shattered condition, that the crew set fire to one of their ships and abandoned her, with all her stores, and even her guns loaded and standing. Such was the intrepidity of the Americans, that they boarded her in the midst of the flames, stripped her of her flag, sails, and rigging, as far as was practicable; discharged part of her guns at the commodore, and then abandoned her to her fate; in half an hour she blew up. Seven thousand loose balls have been picked up, upon Sullivan's Island, since the action.

Such was the intrepidity, and valour of Colonel Moultrie, and his brave garrison at the fort, that when their flag-staff was shot away in the action, Sergeant Jasper of the grenadiers leapt onto the beach, seized the flag, fastened it to a sponge staff. and erected it again in the heat of the action; for which act of bravery Gov. Rutledge presented him with a sword the next day. Sergeant M-Donald, when mortally wounded, spent his last dying breath in exhorting his comrades, "not to give up the fort; but to maintain their liberties," and expired. Sergeant Jasper removed the body of this hero of liberty, and exclaimed, "Revenge the brave man's death"-General Lee. [June 28th.]

Such was the character of the heroes who defended Charleston, and such the signal defeat of the English, that they abandoned the enterprise, and left the patriots to the full enjoyment of their rights, and liberties. The news of this action, like the action of Bunker's Hill, spread like lightning through the country, and gave new confidence, strength, and energies to the American cause.