12. 1780. capitulation were figned the next day by B. Lincoln, H. May Clinton, and M. Arbuthnot. It was ftipulated, that the continental troops and failors fhould remain prifoners of war until exchanged; and be fupplied with good and wholesome provisions, in fuch quantity as is ferved out to the British troops. The militia were to return home as prifoners on parole; which, as long as they obferved, was to fecure them from being molested in their property by the British troops. The officers of the army and navy were to keep their fwords, piftols and baggage, which was not to be fearched, and were to retain their fervants: but their horfes were not to go out of town, but might be difpofed of by a person left for the purpose. The garrison, at an hour appointed, was to march out of the town to the ground between the works of the place and the canal, where they were to deposit their arms. The drums were not to beat a Britifh march, nor the colours to be uncafed. All civil officers and citizens, who had borne arms during the fiege, were to be prisoners on parole, and with respect to their property in the city, were to have the fame terms as the militia; and all other perfons in the town, not described in any article, were notwithstanding to be prisoners on parole. It was left to future difcuffion whether or no, a twelvemonth's time fhould be allowed. to all fuch as do not choose to continue under the British government, to difpofe of their effects, real and perfonal, in the state, without any molestation whatever, or to remove fuch part thereof as they choose, as well as themselves and families; and whether, during that time, they or any of them fhould have it in their option to refide occafionally in town or country. The French conful, the subjects of France and Spain, with their 1780. houfes, papers, and other moveable property, were to be protected and untouched; but they were to confider themselves as prisoners on parole. The return of the prisoners tranfmitted to Great Britain is fwelled to upward of 5000, by comprehending every adult freeman of the town, between 2 and 3000 failors taken from the fhipping and put into the batteries, and those militia of both Carolinas that were in garrifon. But the proper garrifon did not amount to quite 2500 at the time of furrender. The real number of privates in the continental army was 1977, of whom 500 were in the hofpitals. The captive, officers were greatly out of proportion to them; and confifted of 1 major general, 6 brigadiers, 9 colonels, 14 lieut. colonels, 15 majors, 84 captains and capt. lieutenants, 84 lieutenants, 32 fecond lieutenants and enfigns. The commanders of the militia from the country were mostly of the first rank, and in honor repaired to the defence of the town, though they could not bring with them privates equal to their refpective commands. The continental regiments were completely officered, while the adequate number of privates was greatly deficient. The fupernumerary regular officers were retained in the garrifon, from an apprehenfion that their being ordered out would have difpirited the army, and from an expectation in the early parts of the fiege, that their fervices would be wanted to command the large reinforcemnnts of militia that had been promised. During the 30 days Gege, only 20 American foldiers deferted. The militia and failors ftationed in the batteries fuffered little. Of the continentals who manned the lines, 89 were killed and 1780. 138 wounded; and of the Charlestown militia artillery ftationed there, 3 were killed and 8 wounded. About 20 inhabitants were killed in their houses by random fhot. Upward of 30 houses were burnt, and others greatly damaged. The total lofs of the royal forces is ftated at 76 killed and 189 wounded. A prodigious artillery was taken, confiderably more than 400 pieces, including every fort, and those in the forts and ships *. The capital having furrendered, the next object with the British was to fecure the general fubmiffion of the inhabitants. To this end they pofted garrisons in different parts of the country, and marched a large body of troops over the Santee toward that extremity of the state, which borders on the most populous fettlements of North Carolina. This caufed an immediate retreat of fome American parties who had advanced into the upper parts of South Carolina, with the expectation of relieving Charlestown. Among the corps which had come forward with that view, there was one confifting of about 300 continentals, the rear of the Virginia line, commanded by col. Buford. Tarleton, with about 700 horfe and foot, was fent in queft of this party. Having mounted his infantry, he marched 105 miles in 54 hours, came up with them at the Waxhaws, and demanded their furrender on terms fimilar to thofe granted to the continentals at Charleftown. While the flags were paffing and repaffing on this business, Tarleton kept his men in motion, and when the truce was ended, had : * General Lincoln's letters and papers, and other MSS. befide Dr. Ramfay's History and different publications, have been confulted in drawing up the above account of the operations refpecting Charles town. |