parties became convinced that a garrison of 3000 only, could not expect to hold out against a besieging army of 7000, flushed with victory, and in high spirits. Gen. Lin. coln renewed the conference by letter to Sir Henry Clinton, and offered to accept his terms; Sir Henry complied, and the next day the convention was duly signed by B. Lincoln, H. Clinton, and M. Arbuthnot; and the garrison, together with all such as had borne arms during the siege, marched out and grounded their arms; became prisoners of war, and were admitted to their parole. The French consul, and the subjects of France and Spain, were with their houses, and effects, to be protected; but they themselves to be considered as prisoners of war. The whole number of the garrison was estimated by Sir Henry Clinton, in his returns, at about 5000; this included sailors, militia, &c. but the real garrison did not exceed 2500; 1977 of which were continentals; 500 of these were sick and in the hospitals. At this time Col. Buford was advancing through the upper country with a party of 300 Virginians, to the relief of Charleston; when Col. Tarlton learnt the position of this party, he advanced with about 700 horse and mounted infantry, by a forced march of 105 miles in 54 hours, and surprised them at the Waxhaws, and summoned the Col. to surrender; a parley ensued, and pending the conference Tarlton surrounded the party; the truce was ended, and the action com. menced, (May 29th ;) Col. Buford was overpowered, and his party cut to pieces, while begging for quarter; of the 300, 113 were killed; 150 badly wounded, and 37 made prisoners. Here was renewed the scene of Stoney. Point; yet Lord Cornwallis highly applauded Col. Tarl ton, and recommended him specially to the favour of his royal master. With this blow the State of South-Carolina was cleared of all American forces, and fell under the subjection of the British general, and a British govern ment was regularly organized. Upon the fall of Charleston Gen. Gates, who was then in Virginia, was appointed to succeed Gen. Lincoln, in the southern command. Georgia and South-Carolina were now wholly subdued, and the enemy saw his way clear to advance into NorthCarolina, and thus extend his conquests over the regions of the south. At this time Gen. Washington detached the illustrious Gen. Greene, to the command of the southern department, to check this mad career of British success, depredation, and cruelty, where Tarlton was filling the country with depredation and slaughter, and Lord Cornwallis was amusing the royal ear with encomiums upon this merciless, blood-thirsty marauder. Gen. Greene on his way to the south wrote Gen. Washington from Maryland as follows. "The want of money, supplies, horses, &c. will render it impossible to provide for the march of the Marylaud troops." Such embarrassments greatly retarded the southern operations. Pending these operations in the south, Gens. Kniphausen, Robertson, Tryon, and Sterling crossed over from Staten Island into New-Jersey, at the head of 5000 regulars, on the 6th of June, and on the 7th, they marched to Elizabeth-Towo, and from thence to Connecticut farms, distant about 5 miles, in quest of the Rev. James Caldwell, Presbyterian minister of Elizabeth-Town, who resided there, and whose zeal in the cause of his country had rendered him peculiarly obnoxious to the enemy. Mr. Caldwell at the approach of the enemy withdrew;. but left his wife and children in his house, who he considered might remain in safety in the hands of a christian enemy; but what shall I say when called to record a deed that would make a savage biush. Mrs. Caldwell alarmed for her own safety and that of her children, sought advice: from Col, Dayton, who commanded a detachment of Human- American troops that were retreating before the enemy and received it as his opinion that she might stay in her own house with safty, as there would be no firing in the streets. Thus armed with the advice of her husband, and of Col. Dayton, Mrs. Caldwell felt herself secure in a room in her own house, with her children collected about her, and her maid seated by her side, holding her infant in her arms; when the enemy entered the town, and a soldier thrust his gun into the window of Mrs. Caldwell's apartment, and shot her dead instantly. ity felt the shock and stood appalled at the sight. Eritannia blush, and let it be recorded upon the front of thy crown forever, that thy sons made war in America like the savage, and even the innocence of woman could not escape their fury; but bled at their approach. It was with much difficulty that permission could be obtained of the officer of the day, to remove the body of Mrs. Caldwell to a small house at a distance, before her house with all its effects was doomed to the flames, and devoted to that general conflagration that consumed about a dozen dwelling houses, together with the meeting house, that object of general detestation to the royal army in Amer ica. The royal army next attempted to advance to Springfield; but they were checked by Col. Dayton, supported by Gen. Maxwell, and they made a hasty retreat in the night to Elizabeth-Town, and in some degree of confusion. The loss of the parties in their several movements was trifling; but Gen. Sterling received a wound in the knee, by a reconnoitering party, at his first landing, which detained aim in the rear, and saved him from sharing in the disgraceful murder of Mrs. Caldwell, and the conflagration of the village of Connecticut Farms. Gen. Washington detached a part of the American army from head-quarters, at Morristown, to support Gen. Maxwell, and Col. Dayton; but the enemy had retired before they arrived. Gen. Washington became anxious for the posts at the Highlands upon North- River, when he learnt the return of Sir Henry Clinton, and considered this movement of the enemy as a feint, to divert his attention, whilst Sir Henry should commence an attack upon West-Point; he accordingly committed the command of all his cavalry, with about 700 infantry, to the command of Gen. Greene, on the 21st, and moved off his army slowly towards North-River. On the next day Gen. Greene informed Gen. Washington by express, that he had received unquestionable evidence, that Sir Henry Clinton had reinforced the royal army at Elizabeth-Town, and that Springfield was their object of destination that very night, June 23d. Gen. Washington relying upon this information detached a part of his troops to support Gen. Greene. The royal army moved from Elizabeth-Town at 5 in the morning, and advanced upon Springfield with a rapid march, and in great force; Gen. Greene collected his troops under the most judicious disposition, and disputed every post, and every pass valiantly; but obstinate bravery was compelled to yield to superior numbers; Gen. Greene retired to the high grounds in good order, and the enemy gained the town. Here the ravages of the Farms was renewed, Britannia played the savage again, and Springfield smoked in ruins. Fired with the spirit of revenge at this wanton repetition of savage war, the militia began to collect in force to revenge the smoking ruins of their suffering country, and give that support to Gen. Greene which should enable him to chastise this barbarous foe. Alarmed for their safety, the royal army abandoned their designs upon Morristown; made a hasty flight back to Elizabeth-Town; from thence to the point, (the placé of their first landing.) and crossed over in the night on to Staten-Island, removed their bridge, and felt themselves secure. The operations of Gen. Greene and his officers and troops meritted, and received the thanks of the commander in chief. Notwithstanding Congress had met the tidings from France communicated by the Marquis De La Fayette, promptly, and appointed a committee to call on the several states, to fill up the continental army, and collect supplies, to enable it to act promptly with their expected allies; yet at this time, (July 4th,) the army was at a very low ebb, and not more than thirty levies had joined it. Massachusetts General Court ordered her quota to be in readiness as soon as possible; but they had not now arrived. Pennsylvania exerted herself, and her patriotism deserves particular notice. Philadelphia set forward a subscription to raise hard money, as a fund to encourage enlistments, by the way of bounty, to fill up her line. The General Assembly impowered their president, (Joseph Reed, Esq.) in their recess, to lay the state under martial law, if necessary for the public safety. A select number of gentlemen instituted a bank of hard money to the amount of 189,000l. sterling, by the way of subscription, to furnish provisions for the army. The ladies of Philadelphia raised a very considerable sum by the way of donations, and their example was followed by the ladies in the vicinity; a handsome sum was raised and forwarded to the army. On the 1st of March the legislature of the state passed the following act. "When we contemplate our abhorrence of the condition, to which the arms and tyranny of Great-Britain are ex |