II

that the troops did not land before the 11th of February, 1780. on the fouth part of John's ifland, about 30 miles diftant Feb. from Charlestown. A week before, gen. Lincoln had difpatched lieut. col. Ternant to the Havannah, with folicitations to the Spanish governor to contribute his affiftance against the British, The colonel was authorized to promife 2000 men to co-operate with the Spaniards in reducing St. Auguftine, if they would lend a fufficient force of fhips and troops for the defence of Charlestown. The South Carolina affembly was fitting when the Britifh landed, and directly delegated, till ten days after the next feffion, to gov. Rutledge, and fuch of his council as he could conveniently confult, a power to do every thing neceffary for the public good, except the taking away the life of a citizen without a legal trial; and then adjourned. The governor immediately ordered the militia to rendezvous. Though the neceffity was great, few obeyed the preffing call. A proclamation was foon iffued, requiring the militia that were regularly draughted, and all the inhabitants and owners of property in the town, to repair to the American standard, and join the garrifon without delay, under pain of confifcation. This feyere measure produced little effect. The country was greatly difpirited, through the repulfe at Savannah the preceding October, and the high ideas which that had produced of the power of Britain; and had Sir H. Clinton pufhed at once for the town, he would probably have poffeffed himself of it in four days after landing: but his caution put him upon proceeding by a regular attack. Previous to the debarkation of his troops, he had taken care to have the harbour blocked ap, fo that had the Americans evacuated the place,

1780. they must have given up not only their fhips, but their baggage, field artillery and stores, as they could not have procured a number of waggons fufficient for the tranfportation of the fame. It was the wifh of the inhabitants to fave their capital, and they were in hopes of effecting it. Gen. Lincoln was defirous of their being gratified, and acted accordingly. Though he had then but about 1400 continentals fit for duty, including those of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, together with about 1000 North Carolina militia; yet as he had been affured of fuccours to complete his force to near 10,000, he promifed himfelf, that when further oppofition could no longer avail, an evacuation would be practicable. The apparent defign of Sir Henry Clinton to risk nothing, induced him to proceed flowly. He formed a depôt on James island, and erected fortifications there and on the main, oppofite to the fouthern and western extremities of the town. On 29. the 29th of March, his grenadiers, light troops, and two battalions of infantry, croffed Ashley river: and on the next day appeared before the American lines, and encamped about 3000 yards in front of them. The works thrown up in the spring of 1779, had been strengthened and extended: and lines of defence and redoubts continued across Charlestown neck from Cooper to Ashley river. Gen. Lincoln had early preffed upon the ftate, the certainty of an intended invasion, and the neceffity of ftrenuous and timely exertions to provide againft it. He ever turned out himself, not only to affift on the works, but to fet an example of emulation, that no one might think it beneath him to give his affiftance. This was his conftant practice, going out with the foremost in the morning, and returning with the laft in the even

Mar.

ing; until the near approach of the enemy called him 1780. to other duties. In front of the lines was a strong abbatis, and a wet ditch picquetted on the nearest fide. Between the abbatis and the lines, deep holes were dug at fhort diftances from each other. The lines were made particularly ftrong on the right and left, and fo conftructed as to rake the wet ditch, in almoft its whole extent. In the centre a ftrong citadel was erected. Works were thrown up on all fides of the town where a landing was practicable. That gen. Lincoln did not oppose the enemy's croffing the river, was owing to his not having fufficient force; his whole ftrength at that time amounted only to 2225, befide the failors in the batteries. It was found upon examination, that the ships meant for the defence of Charlestown, could not poffibly be so stationed as to defend the bar; and that the enemy, with a leading easterly wind and flood making in, would enter the harbour, and under full fail, pafs the continental frigates lying in Five Fathom Hole. Commodore Whipple therefore, with his fmall fleet, consisting of the Bricole of 44 guns, the Providence and Bofton each of 32, the Queen of France of 28, L'Avanture and the Truite each of 26, the Ranger and brig Gen. Lincoln each of 20, and the brig Notre Dame of 16 guns, abandoned the defence of the bar, and retreated to fort Moultrie. On the 20th of March, adm. Arbuthnot, with the Renown of 50 guns, the Romulus and Roebuck each of 44, the Richmond, Le Blonde and Raleigh each of 32, and the Sandwich armed fhips, croffed the bar in front of Rebellion road, and anchored in Five Fathom Hole. The American fleet retreated to Charlestown: and the crews and guns of all the veffels,

1780. they must have given up not only their fhips, but their baggage, field artillery and stores, as they could not have procured a number of waggons fufficient for the tranfportation of the fame. It was the wifh of the inhabitants to fave their capital, and they were in hopes of effecting it. Gen, Lincoln was defirous of their being gratified, and acted accordingly. Though he had then but about 1400 continentals fit for duty, including thofe of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, together with about 1000 North Carolina militia; yet as he had been affured of fuccours to complete his force to near 10,000, he promised himfelf, that when further oppofition could no longer avail, an evacuation would be practicable. The apparent defign of Sir Henry Clinton to rifk nothing, induced him to proceed flowly. He formed a depôt on James island, and erected fortifications there and on the main, oppofite to the fouthern and western extremities of the town. On 29. the 29th of March, his grenadiers, light troops, and two battalions of infantry, croffed Ashley river: and on the next day appeared before the American lines, and encamped about 3000 yards in front of them. The works thrown up in the fpring of 1779, had been strengthened and extended: and lines of defence and redoubts continued across Charlestown neck from Cooper to Ashley river. Gen. Lincoln had early preffed upon the ftate, the certainty of an intended invafion, and the neceffity of ftrenuous and timely exertions to provide against it. He ever turned out himself, not only to affift on the works, but to fet an example of emulation, that no one might think it beneath him to give his affiftance. This was his conftant practice, going out with the foremost in the morning, and returning with the laft in the even

Mar.

ing; until the near approach of the enemy called him 1780. to other duties. In front of the lines was a strong abbatis, and a wet ditch picquetted on the nearest fide. Between the abbatis and the lines, deep holes were dug at short distances from each other. The lines were made particularly ftrong on the right and left, and fo conftructed as to rake the wet ditch, in almost its whole extent. In the centre a ftrong citadel was erected. Works were thrown up on all fides of the town where a landing was practicable. That gen. Lincoln did not oppose the enemy's croffing the river, was owing to his not having fufficient force; his whole ftrength at that time amounted only to 2225, befide the failors in the batteries. It was found upon examination, that the ships meant for the defence of Charlestown, could not poffibly be so stationed as to defend the bar; and that the enemy, with a leading eafterly wind and flood making in, would enter the harbour, and under full fail, pafs the continental frigates lying in Five Fathom Hole. Commodore Whipple therefore, with his fmall fleet, confifting of the Bricole of 44 guns, the Providence and Bofton each of 32, the Queen of France of 28, L'Avanture and the Truite each of 26, the Ranger and brig Gen. Lincoln each of 20, and the brig Notre Dame of 16 guns, abandoned the defence of the bar, and retreated to fort Moultrie. On the 20th of March, adm. Arbuthnot, with the Renown of 50 guns, the Romulus and Roebuck each of 44, the Richmond, Le Blonde and Raleigh each of 32, and the Sandwich armed ships, croffed the bar in front of Rebellion road, and anchored in Five Fathom Hole. The American fleet retreated to Charlestown: and the crews and guns of all the veffels,