Vaughan, and others, and were joined by Gen. Clinton, who awaited their arrival at Cape Fear river.

On the 5th Gen. Clinton issued his proclamation, offering pardon to all such as should lay down their arms, excepting Cornelius Harnett and Robert Howe-dated on board the Pallas, May 5th, 1776.

The defeat of Lord Dunmore's forces in Virginia, determined the commanders not to visit Virginia; but to turn their attention to South-Carolina, and commence an attack upon its capital, which they considered must fall an easy prey to such a fleet, under the co-operation of about 2800 land forces.

The secretary's letter had reached South-Carolina before the arrival of the fleet, and Gov. Rutledge had made all possible preparation to receive them. He had strengthened Sullivan's Island, and erected a fort of the palmetto tree, (which very much resembles cork,) in which were mounted about 30 heavy pieces of cannon.

About the first of June the fleet arrived, consisting of about forty or fifty sail, and came to anchor off Sullivan's Islands, distant about 5 or 6 leagues. The alarm guns were fired, and expresses sent off into the conntry to order in the militia for the defence of Charleston.

In a few days the enemy approached nearer with their fleet, and landed several hundred men upon Long-Island, which is divided from Sullivan's Island by a narrow creek. On the 10th the Bristol 50 gun ship, took out her guns, and floated over the bar, and Gen. Clinton fired off his proclamation again, as he had done before in North-Carolina, offering pardon, &c. and with the same effect; it had now become too late in the day, for proclamations in America. The militia obeyed the summons, and rallied round the standard of their country, and at the same time, several regular regiments from the northward joined them in the defence of Charleston, under the command of Gep. Lee,

who had been dispatched to watch the motions of Gen. Clinton, after he left the Hook.

The popular talents of General Lee, soon collected a force of 5 or 6000 men, including militia; and all was bustle, effort, and exertion, to put the city in a proper posture of defence to receive the enemy. The South-Carolina troops, under the command of Colonels Gadsden, Moultrie, and Thompson, were stationed upon James' and Sullivan's Islands; and the regulars, and others, were stationed at Haddel's Point, and along the bay, in front of the town. Whole streets of the city, near the water, were barricadoed, and the wharves were stripped of all the valuable stores that occupied them, to open a line of defence near the margin of the water.

On the 26th of June, the Experiment of 50 guns, followed the example of the Bristol, and crossed the bar. On the 28th, the Bristol and Experiment, accompanied by five frigates, and three other armed vessels, commenced an attack upon Sullivan's Island, and the cannonade from the ships and the batteries on the shore became terrible. The enemy performed a variety of manoeuvering, to rake the American batteries, and open the way for an approach to the city; but God, who orders and directs all events, defeated their designs; three of the ships ran aground on a shoal in a fair reach of the American batteries, and two others ran foul of each other, and in this confusion the fire of the Americans raked the ships in such a manner as to render them mere wrecks, both in their hulls and rigging; and strewed their decks with the carnage of their crews. The Bristol was pierced in her hull with more than 70 shot, and lost 40 men killed, and 71 wounded. The Experiment lost 23 killed, and 76 wounded. The captains of both ships lost an arm. Even Lord Campbell, late gov ernor of South Carolina, served as a volunteer on board the Experiment, and did active duty at the guns, where he VOL. III.

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received a mortal wound, of which he died. This tre mendous cannonade continued through the day, with little interruption, and at nine o'clock in the evening it ceased upon both sides ; at eleven o'clock the ships slipped their cables and withdrew, in such a shattered condition, that the crew set fire to one of their ships and abandoned her, with all her stores, and even her guns loaded and standing. Such was the intrepidity of the Americans, that they boarded her in the midst of the flames, stripped her of her flag, sails, and rigging, as far as was practicable; discharged part of her guns at the commodore, and then abandoned her to her fate; in half an hour she blew up. Seven thousand loose balls have been picked up, upon Sullivan's Island, since the action.

Such was the intrepidity, and valour of Colonel Moultrie, and his brave garrison at the fort, that when their flag staff was shot away in the action, Sergeant Jasper of the grenadiers leapt onto the beach, seized the flag, fastened it to a sponge staff, and erected it again in the heat of the action; for which act of bravery Gov. Rutledge presented him with a sword the next day. Sergeant McDonald, when mortally wounded, spent his last dying breath in exhorting his comrades, "not to give up the fort; but to maintain their liberties," and expired. Sergeant Jasper removed the body of this hero of liberty, and exclaimed, "Revenge the brave man's death"-General Lee. [June 28th.]

Such was the character of the heroes who defended Charleston, and such the signal defeat of the English, that they abandoned the enterprise, and left the patriots to the full enjoyment of their rights, and liberties. The news of this action, like the action of Bunker's Hill, spread like lightning through the country, and gave new confidence, strength, and energies to the American cause.

When the news of this glorious action reached Congress, it kindled into a flame that spark of liberty, which prudence, and caution had long smothered in that honourable body; and it burst forth in the ever memorable declaration of independence. The strength, and confidence which the action of Charleston, joined to the action of Bunker's Hill, and the evacuation of Boston, had given to the public mind, gave universal support to the measure, and the declaration of independence was hailed by the patriots of America, as the salvation of their country.

Although Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New-York had resisted the measure, and withheld their support; yet now they had become sensible, not only of the necessity; but of the practicability of the measure, and they were prepared to unite with Congress in proclaiming the independence of the colonies, in an unanimous vote.

Congress moved forward to this decisive, and eventful measure, with great prudence, and firmness; the sense of the people was taken throughout the colonies, by their instructions to their representatives; the following may serve as specimens to shew, with what feeling, and yet with what firmness the people met this momentous question.

"The time was," said they, "when we loved the king, and the people of Great Britain, with an affection truly filial; we felt ourselves interested in their glory; we shared in their joys and sorrows; we cheerfully poured the fruit of all our labours into the lap of our mother country, and without reluctance expended our blood and treasure in her cause.

"These were our sentiments towards Great Britain, while she continued to act the part of a parent state; we felt ourselves happy in our connection with her, nor wished it to be dissolved. But our sentiments are altered; it is now the ardent wish of our hearts that America may become a free, and independent state."

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This spirit of instruction was communicated to Congress from all the colonies, and upon the strength of this, they met with firmness the all important duty, by the following resolution, which was moved by Richard Henry Lee, and seconded by John Adams.

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Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

This resolution was referred to a committee of the whole, where it was debated until instructions had come in from all the colonies, and the question was taken, and passed, without a dissenting voice.

Pending these debates, the following Declaration of Independence had been prepared, by a special committee, appointed for the purpose, and after a few trifling amendments, was also adopted unanimously.*

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

PREAMBLE.

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that have united them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal stations, to which the laws of nature and of nature's God, entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires, that they should declare the causes which impel them to a separation.

The gentlemen who composed this ever memorable committee, were Mr. Jefferson, Mr. John Adams, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. R. R. Livingston; but the honor of the draft has ever been ascribed to Mr. Jefferson.