service of the year 1780, eighty-five thousand seamen, 1780. and thirty-five thousand troops, in addition to those already abroad; and, for the service of the same year, the House of Commons voted the enormous sum of one hundred millions of dollars. CHAPTER VII. EVENTS OF 1780. leav Subject of Chapier VII. 1. Scene of military ope rations for 2 Movements of Gen Clinm mencement of Charleston. ion previous the siege of 1. 'DURING the year 1780, military operations were mostly suspended in the North, in consequence of the transfer of the scene of action to the Carolinas. Late in the year 1780. December of the previous year, Sir Henry Clinton, ing General Knyphausen at New York, sailed with the bulk of his army to the South, under convoy of Admiral Arbuthnot, and arrived on the coast of Georgia late in January. On the 10th of February he departed from Savannah for the siege of Charleston, then defended by General Lincoln, and after taking possession of the islands south of the city, crossed the Ashley River with the advance of the army, and on the first of April commenced erecting batteries within eight hundred yards of the American works. c. a. Dec. 26, 1779. b. Feb. 11. March 29. April 1. April 9. Arbuthnot. to surrender. 5. Gen. Hu detachment sent against d April 9. ger, and the 2. On the 9th of April, Admiral Arbuthnot, favored by a strong southerly wind and the tide, passed Fort Moul. 3 Admiral trie with little damage, and anchored his fleet in Charleston harbor, within cannon shot of the city. A summons 4. Summons to surrender being rejected, the English opened their batteries upon the town. "The Americans, in the mean time, in order to form a rallying point for the militia, and, possibly, succor the city, had assembled a corps under the command of General Huger on the upper part of Cooper River, at a place called Monk's Corner.* Against this post Clinton sent a detachment of fourteen hundred men, commanded by Webster, Tarleton, and Ferguson, which succeeded in surprising the party,-putting the whole to e. April 14. flight, and capturing a large quantity of arms, clothing, and ammunition. him. 6. Successes 3. 'Soon after, an American corps was surprised' on of the Brush the Santee, by Colonel Tarleton. The enemy overran f. May 6. Monk's Corner is on the W. side of Cooper River, thirty miles N. from Charleston. (See Map, next page.) Santee River, the principal river of South Carolina, is formed by the confluence of the May 6. ANALYSIS. the country on the left side of the Cooper River,-Fort Moultrie surrendered on the 6th of May,-and Charleston thus found itself completely inclosed by the British forces, with no prospect of relief, either by land or by sea. In this extremity, the fortifications being mostly beaten down, and the enemy prepared for an assault, on the 12th of May the city surrendered. General Lincoln and the troops under his command became prisoners of war. May 12. 1. Expedi into the coun teen try by Clin ton. 4. Having possession of the capital, General Clinton made preparations for recovering the rest of the province, and for re-establishing royal authority. Three expeditions which he despatched into the country were completely successful. One seized the important post of Ninety-six ;* another scoured the country bordering on the Savannah; while Lord Cornwallis passed the Santee, and made him2. Col. Bu self master of Georgetown.† A body of about 400 republicans, under Colonel Buford, retreating towards North Carolina, being pursued by Colonel Tarleton, and overa May 29. taken at Waxhaw Creek, was entirely cut to pieces. 3. Success of "Many of the inhabitants now joined the royal standard; cause, and and Clinton, seeing the province in tranquillity, left Lord departure of Cornwallis in command of the southern forces; and, early b. June 5. in June, with a large body of his troops, embarked for New York. ford. the royal Clinton. 4. How the British were annoyed. 5. But notwithstanding the apparent tranquillity which prevailed at the time of Clinton's departure, bands of patriots, under daring leaders, soon began to collect on the frontiers of the province, and, by sudden attacks, to give much annoyance to the royal troops. Colonel Sumpter, Cot Sump in particular, distinguished himself in these desultory exc. July 30. cursions. In an attack which he made on a party of British at Rocky Mounts he was Waterce from the E. and the Congaree from the W., eighty-five miles N.W. from Charleston. Running SE. it enters the Atlantic about fifty miles N.E from Charleston. (See Map.) The post of Ninety-six was near the boundary line between the present Edgefield and Abbeville Counties, S. Carolina, five miles S.W. from the Saluda River, and 150 miles N.W. from Charleston. (See Map.) t Georgetown is on the W. bank of the Pedee, at its entrance into Winyaw Bay, about sixty miles N.E. from Charleston (See Map.) Warhaw Creek, rising in North Carolina enters the Wateree or the Catawba from the E., 155 miles N.W. from Charleston. (See Map.) Rocky Mount is at the northern extrem ity of the present Fairfield County, on the W. bank of the Waterve, 135 miles N.W. from Charleston. (See Map.) repulsed, but not disheartened. He soon after surpri. sed and completely defeated a large body of British regulars and tories posted at Hanging Rock.* This partisan warfare restored confidence to the republicans,-disheartened the loyalists, and confined to more narrow limits the operations of the enemy. 1780. a. Aug. 6. Effects of this partisan warfare. Rawdon. 6. In the mean time a strong force from the North, 2. Movements under General Gates, was approaching for the relief of and the southern provinces. The British general, Lord Rawdon, on receiving tidings of the approach of Gates, concentrated his forces at Camden,† where he was soon after joined by Lord Cornwallis from Charleston. On the b. Aug. 13, 14. night of the 15th of August, Gates advanced from Clermont, with the view of surprising the British camp. At the same time Cornwallis and Rawdon were advancing from Camden, with the design of surprising the Ameri cans. Sanders 7. The two vanguards met in the night near Sanders' 3. Battle of Creek, when some skirmishing ensued, and in the morning a general engagement commenced between the two c. Aug. 16. armies. The first onset decided the fate of the battle. The Virginia and Carolina militia wavering, the British charged them with fixed bayonets, and soon put them to flight; but the Maryland and Delaware regiments sustained the fight with great gallantry, and several times compelled the enemy to retire. At length, being charged in the flank by Tarleton's cavalry, surrounded,-and overwhelmed by numbers, they were forced to give way, and the rout became general. 8. "The Americans lost in this unfortunate engagement, in killed, wounded, and captured, about a thousand men, besides all their artillery, ammunition wagons, and much of their baggage.§ The Baron de Kalb, second in command, was mortally wounded. The British reported their loss at three hundred and twenty-five. With the remnant of his forces Gates rapidly retreated to Hillsboro',|| in North Carolina. 9. "The defeat of Gates was soon followed Hanging Rock is a short distance E. from the Catawba or Wateree River, in the present Lancaster County, and about thirtyfive miles N. from Camden. (See Map, preceding page.) ↑ Camden is on the E. bank of the Wateree, 110 miles N.W. from Charleston. The battle of the 16th took place a little N. from Sanders' Creek, about eight miles N. from Camden. (See Map; also Map, preceding page.) Clermont is about thirteen miles N. from Camden. (See Map, preceding page.) 4. Losses of this action. each party in 5. Retreat of Gates. 6. Sumpter's corps. BATTLE OF SANDERS' CREEK. ations American ler af Battle Britsk estimate the American loss at about 2000.) (The British accounts, Stedman, ii. 210, Andrews iv. 30, &c., Hillsboro', in N. Carolina, is situated on one of the hend branches of the Neuse River, thirty-five miles N. W. from Ra ANALYSIS. by the surprise and dispersion of Sumpter's corps. This officer, who had already advanced between Camden and Charleston, on learning the misfortune of his superior retired promptly to the upper parts of Carolina, but at Fishing-Creek* his troops were surprised by Tarleton's cavalry, and routed" with great slaughter. a. Aug. 18. 1. Measures adopted by 10. 'Cornwallis, again supposing the province subdued, Cornicaulis adopted measures of extreme severity, in order to compel a submission to royal authority: Örders were given to hang every militia man who, having once served with the British, had afterwards joined the Americans; and those who had formerly submitted, but had taken part in the recent revolt, were imprisoned, and their property was taken 2. Effect of from them or destroyed. 'But these rigorous measures failed to accomplish their object; for although the spirit of the people was overawed, it was not subdued. The cry of vengeance rose from an exasperated people, and the British standard became an object of execration. ures. 8. Col. Fergu son and his party. 11. 'In September, Cornwallis detached Colonel Ferguson to the frontiers of North Carolina, for the purpose of encouraging the loyalists to take arms. A considerable number of the most profligate and abandoned repaired to his standard, and, under the conduct of their leader, committed excesses so atrocious, that the highly exasperated militia collected to intercept their march, and arming themselves with whatever chance threw in their way, attacked the party in the post which they had chosen at 4. Battle of King's Mountain. The attack was furious, and the deMountain. fence exceedingly obstinate; but after a bloody fight, Ferguson himself was slain, and three hundred of his men were killed or wounded. Eight hundred prisoners were taken, and amongst the spoil were fifteen hundred stands of arms. The American loss was about twenty. King's b. Oct. 7. 6. Successes of Gen. 12. 'Notwithstanding the defeat of General Sumpter, Sumpter he had again collected a band of volunteers, with which he continued to harass the enemy; and although many plans were laid for his destruction, they all failed in the c. Nov. 12, execution. In an attack which was made on him by Major Wemys, the British were defeated, and their commanding officer taken prisoner. On the 20th of November he was attacked by Colonel Tarleton, at Blackstocks,§ at Broad River. Fishing Creek enters the Wateree from the W., about thirty miles N.W. from Camden (See Map, p. 392.) King's Mountain is an eminence near the boundary between N. Carolina and S. Carolina, W. of the Catawba River. (See Map, p. 392.) This occurred on the eastern bank of Broad River (a northern branch of the Congaree,) at a place called Fishdam Ferry, 52 miles NW. from Camden. (See Map, p. 392.) Blackstocks is on the southern bank of Tiger River (a western branch of Broad River,) in the western part of Union County, seventy-five miles NW. from Camden. (See Map, p. 392.) (There is another place called Blackstocks in Chester County. forty miles east from this.) but after a severe loss Tarleton was obliged to retreat, 1780. leaving Sumpter in quiet possession of the field. rion. 13. Another zealous officer, General Marion, likewise 1. Gen. Madistinguished himself in this partisan warfare, and by cutting off straggling parties of the enemy, and keeping the tories in check, did the American cause valuable service. 'No farther events of importance took place in the South during the remainder of the year, and we now return to notice the few which occurred during the summer in the northern provinces. * 14. Early in June, five thousand men, under General Knyphausen, passed from Staten Island into New Jersey, -occupied Elizabethtown,-burned Connecticut Farms, -and appeared before Springfield; but the advance of a body of troops from Morristown, induced them to withdraw. Soon after, the enemy again advanced into New Jersey, but they were met and repulsed by the Americans at Springfield. 15. On the 10th of July the Admiral de Ternay arrived at Newport, with a French fleet, having on board six thousand men, under the command of the Count de Rochambeau. Although high expectations had been indulged from the assistance of so powerful a force against the enemy, yet no enterprise of importance was undertaken, and the operations of both parties, at the North, were mostly suspended during the remainder of the sea son. 2 Events du mainder of ring the re the year. 3. General sen's expedi Knyphau tion into Neto Arrival of Ternay, and Admiral de military operations during the rethe season. mainder of b. In Rhodo Island. this time threatening the American cause. Who was and what is 16. 'While defeat at the South, and disappointment at 5. Dangers at the North, together with the exhausted state of the finances, and an impoverished country, were openly endangering the American cause, domestic treachery was secretly plotting its ruin. "The traitor was Arnold;-one of the first to resist British aggression, and, hitherto, one of the most intrepid defenders of American liberty. In recompense for his distinguished services, congress had appointed him commandant at Philadelphia, soon after the evacuation of that city by the English. Although the traitor. said of him. The habite and character treason that and the 17. 'Here he lived at great expense, indulged in ga- 7. ming, and, having squandered his fortune, at length ap- of Arnold, propriated the public funds to his own uses. convicted by a court-martial, and reprimanded by Wash- he meditated. ington, he dissembled his purposes of revenge, and having obtained the command of the important fortress of West Point, he privately engaged to deliver it into the hands Connecticut Farms, now called Union, is six miles S.W. from Newark, on the road from Elizabethtown to Springfield. The important fortress of West Point is situated on the west bank of the Hudson, fifty-two miles from New York City. It is the seat of the United States Military Academy, established by act of Congress in 1802. (See Map, p. 877.) |