18.

21.

down on the peninfula between the Cooper and the 1780. Santee with about 250 horfe and 600 infantry. When gen. Lincoln was informed on the 16th of what had 16. happened, he called a council of war, who were of opinion, that the weak state of the garrifon made it improper to detach a number fufficient to attack this feparate corps. On the 18th Sir H. Clinton received a reinforcement of 3000 men from New York. The only practicable route of an evacuation for the Americans was to the right of the town; but the befiegers, with their reinforcement, ftrengthened the troops on the peninfula, and took poft on Haddrell's point; which obliged the others to abandon Lampriere's. On the 20th and 21st, 20. another council of war was held, to determine upon the measures that the interest and safety of the country called the American officers to purfue under their prefent circumftances. The refult was" As a retreat would be attended with many diftreffing inconveniences, if not altogether impracticable for the undermentioned causes, to wit,-1. the civil authority is averfe to it, and intimated in council, that if attempted, they would counteract the measure:-2. it must be performed in face of the enemy, much fuperior, across a river three miles broad, in large ships and veffels, the moving of which must be regulated by the wind and tide:-3. could these obstacles be furmounted, we must force our way through a confiderable body of the enemy, in full poffeffion of the paffes on our route to the Santee, the only road by which we can retreat:-4. fuppofing us arrived at that river, new and dangerous difficulties are again to be encountered, from the want of boats to cross it, with an army wasted and worn down by action, fatigue and VOL. III.

1780, famine, and clofely purfued by the enemy-we advise

therefore, that offers of capitulation, before our affairs become more critical, fhould be made to gen. Clinton, which may admit of the army's withdrawing, and afford fecurity to the perfons and property of the inhabitants”— figned William Moultrie and others. The terms when propofed, were inftantly rejected: but ftill not receded from by the propofers, as they had hopes of fuccours to open the communication, and give an opportunity of retreating. Though the rejection of the terms difpirited the garrison, yet they thought, by delaying as long as April poffible, the people in the neighbouring ftates would 23. have an opportunity to rouse and imbody. On the 23d

May

6.

1

the British commenced their third parallel from 80 to 150 yards from the British lines. The next day the besieged made a fally, which was conducted by lieut. col. Henderson, who led out 200 men, and attacked the advanced working party of the British, killed several and took eleven prisoners. This was the only fally made by them, for their inferior numbers would not admit of their engaging repeatedly in fuch fervices. On the 26th the propriety of attempting a retreat came again before a council of officers, who were unanimously of opinion, that it was not expedient as a retreat was impracticable. While gen. Lincoln was preffed with a variety of dif ficulties, the British flag was feen flying on fort Moultrie. When the royal fhips had paffed Sullivan's ifland, col. Pinkney, with about 150 men under his command, was withdrawn from that poft, to reinforce the army in Charlestown. The feeble remainder of the garrifon, moftly militia, furrendered on the 6th of May to capt. Hudfon of the British navy, without firing a gun. The

fame day the third parallel was completed close to the 1780. edge of the American canal, and a fap carried to the dam, which contained its water on the right, by which mean a great part was drained to the bottom. On that day alfo col. Anthony Walton White, who had taken the command of the remains of the American cavalry after their defeat, experienced a fimilar difafter. He had croffed the Santee, and on that day made prisoners a fmall British party, that was conducted to Lanneau's ferry. He had ordered in season proper persons to collect boats, and to affemble a body of infantry at this place, to cover the American cavalry in their recroffing the Santee, which had not been carried into execution. The zeal of a new fubject, who had lately submitted to the royal army, led him to give immediate notice to lord Cornwallis of White's fituation. Tarleton, with a party of horse, was dispatched to the ferry; arrived there a few minutes after the American cavalry; and inftantly charged them with a fuperior force. From the want of boats and of infantry, a retreat was impracticable, and refiftance unavailing. A rout took place. Major Call and feven others efcaped on horfeback, by urging their way through the advancing British cavalry. Lieut. col. Washington, major Jamefon, and five or fix privates, faved themselves by fwimming across the Santee. About 30 were killed, wounded or taken. The remainder got off by concealing themselves in the fwamps. The British prifoners, who were in a boat croffing the river, being called upon by their friends to come back, rose on their guard, and were released. On the eighth Sir H. Clinton began a correfpondence with 8. gen. Lincoln, and repeated his former terms and fum

$780. mons.

At this time, all the flesh-provifions of the garrifon were not fufficient to furnifh rations for a week. There was no profpect either of reinforcements or of fupplies from the country. The engineers gave it as their opinion, that the lines could not be defended ten days longer, and that they might at any time be carried by affault in ten minutes. Gen. Lincoln was difpofed to close with the terms offered, as far as they refpected his army; but fome demur was made in behalf of the citizens. Sir H. Clinton infifted on their being all prifoners on parole, and would promife nothing further, than that the town-property of those within the lines should not be molefted by the British troops. He also evaded any determinate answer to the article which requested leave for thofe who did not choose to fubmit to the British government, to fell their eftates and leave the province. It was hoped, that upon a proper reprefentation of matters in a free conference, the generosity of the befiegers would foften their demands; the fame was therefore asked by gen. Lincoln, without his directly refufing what was offered. Contrary to the expectation of the befieged, an answer was returned, that hoftilities should recommence at eight o'clock. When the hour arrived, the moft vigorous onset of the befiegers was immediately expected by the garrifon. But neither army fired a gun for fome time. Both feemed to dread the confequences of an affault, and to wish for a continuance of the truce, and a reconfideration of the propofed articles. At nine, firing commenced from the garrifon, and was kept up on both fides for feveral hours with unusual briskness, and did more execution than had taken place in the fame length of time fince the com

mencement of the fiege. The British batteries of the 1780. third parallel, which were ready on the 6th, opened on this occafion. Shells and carcafes were thrown inceffantly into almost all parts of the town; and feveral houses burnt. Befide the cannon and mortars which played on the garrison at a less distance than a hundred yards, rifles were fired by the Heffian chaffeurs with fuch effect, that very few escaped who fhowed themselves above the lines. May The British advanced within twenty-five yards of the 11 same, having croffed the wet ditch by fap; and commenced their preparations for making a general assault by fea and land. The principal inhabitants of the town, and a number of the country militia, now addreffed gen. Lincoln; fignified to him, that the terms which Sir H. Clinton had offered, so far as they related to them, were fatisfactory; and requested his acceptance of them: the lieut. governor and council alfo defired, that the negotiations might be renewed. The moment for it was come, The town militia had thrown down their arms. The citizens in general were discontented and clamorous. Many of the American cannon were difmounted, and others filenced for want of fhot, All expectation of fuccour was at an end. No hope remained; but what little arofe from the bare poffibility, that the flower of the British army on the continent, 9000 strong, flushed by their fuccessful operations, and feconded by a naval force, might be repulfed while attempting a storm, by a garrifon, worn down with hard fervice, and under 3000 men. Gen. Lincoln wrote to Sir H. Clinton, and offered to accept the terms before proposed to him. The British commanders, averse to the extremities of a storm, confented. The articles of