this regular approach of the enemy, Gen. Lincoln now saw himself completely invested in Charleston, and the safety of the place, under God, now depending upon the valour of the American arms.

On the 10th of April Sir Henry Clinton had so far completed his approaches, that he summoned the town; but the garrison, with their brave general at their head, were firm, and at the same time they were reinforced by a detachment of 700 continentals, under Gen. Woodford from Virginia, who had marched 500 miles in 28 days. The brave garrison was not augmented by this force; for about the same number of North-Carolina militia, whose time of service had then expired, marched off for their homes.

Admiral Arbuthnot moved his fleet under a strong breeze; passed fort Moultrie, under a heavy cannonade, which raked them severely, and anchored close under the batteries of the town.

On the 12th Sir Henry opened his batteries upon the town; the fire was received, and answered with firmness, and continued 8 days. On the 20th Sir Henry had carried forward his approaches to the distance of about 300 yards from the American lines. Pending these operations, frequent skirmishing took place between the American and British cavalry, in which Lt. Col. Tarlton (of the enemy) was often successful. On the 18th of April Sir Henry Clinton received a reinforcement of 3000 men from New-York, which gave him such a decided superiority, as to render it desperate to attempt the defence of Charleston, and led Gen. Lincoln to call a council of war on the 20th and 21st, to determine on such measures as the exigencies of the case required; the result of which was as foilows-viz.

"As a retreat would be attended with many distressing inconveniences, if not altogether impracticable, for the undermentioned causes

"1. The civil authority are averse to it, and intimated in council that if attempted, they would counteract the meas

ure.

"2. It must be performed in the face of an enemy much superior, across a river three miles broad, in large ships and vessels, the moving of which must be regulated by the wind and tide.

"3. Could these obstacles be removed, we must force our way through a considerable body of the enemy, in full possession of the passes, on our route to the Santee, the only road by which we can retreat.

"4. Supposing us arrived at that river, new and dangerous difficulties are again to be enumerated, from the want of boats to cross it, with an army wasted, and worn down with fatigue, and famine, and closely pursued by the enemy; we advise therefore that terms of capitulation be offered to Gen. Clinton before our offairs become more critical, which may admit of the army's withdrawing, and afford security to the persons and properties of the inhab itants.". -Signed, William Moultrie, and others.

These terms were instantly rejected, by one party, and as strongly persisted in by the other, whilst both looked with anxious expectations for that succour which should enable them to make good their retreat. On the 23d of April the British advanced their 3d parallel to the distance of about 100 yards from the American lines, and the besieged made a sally with 200 men, under the command of Lt. Col. Henderson; but with very little success, and they returned within the lines, without attempting any thing further.

On the 26th Gen. Lincoln again summoned a council of war to decide on the question of a retreat, and at the eventful moment the British carried Fort Moultrie, and their flag was seen waving upon its walls. Col. Pinkney had at this time been withdrawn from Sullivan's Island, to

strengthen the defence of the town with his detachment of 150 men, the remainder of the garrison, there left, were captured by Capt. Hudson, without a gun, on the 6th of May. At the same time the enemy made their approaches so near to the town, as to sap the dam of the ditch, and drain off its water, and at the same time Col. Tarlton surprised and routed a party of American cavalry, upon the Santee; killed, took, and dispersed, the whole. Lt. Col. Washington, Maj. Jameson, and a few others, swam the river, and thus made their escape.

On the 8th Sir Henry Clinton opened a correspondence with Gen. Lincoln, in which he renewed his summons, and offered terms, offering parole to the prisoners, and security to all property of the inhabitants, within their houses. Gen. Lincoln proposed a conference with Sir Henry, hoping to gain better terms; but this was denied with a threat, that hostilities should recommence at 8 o'clock. The eventful hour arrived, an awful solemn silence ensued; but neither party fired a gun, all was anxious suspense for one hour; yet neither party moved a proposition; at 9 o'clock the garrison opened their fire upon the besiegers, who in their turn, opened their batteries upon the town, and a terrible shower of shot, bombs, earcases, and rifles from their sharp shooters, poured in upon the town, which threatened to overwhelm it with one general destruction; the town was repeatedly on fire, and houses were burnt; at the same time the many adenemy vanced their last parallel to the distance of 20 yards, on the 11th, and prepared for a general assault, by sea and land. The critical moment had now arrived, when life and property were both at stake, and the people, by their leaders, called on Gen. Lincoln to renew the conference, and accept the terms of the enemy; this request was enforced by the lieut. governor and council. The militia of the town at the same time threw down their arms, and all VOL. III.

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parties became convinced that a garrison of 3000 only, could not expect to hold out against a besieging army of 7000, flushed with victory, and in high spirits. Gen. Lin. coln renewed the conference by letter to Sir Henry Clinton, and offered to accept his terms'; Sir Henry complied, and the next day the convention was duly signed by B. Lincoln, H. Clinton, and M. Arbuthnot; and the garrison, together with all such as had borne arms during the siege, marched out and grounded their arms; became prisoners of war, and were admitted to their parole. The French consul, and the subjects of France and Spain, were with their houses, and effects, to be protected; but they themselves to be considered as prisoners of war.

The whole number of the garrison was estimated by Sir Henry Clinton, in his returns, at about 5000; this included sailors, militia, &c. but the real garrison did not exceed 2500; 1977 of which were continentals; 500 of these were sick and in the hospitals. At this time Col. Buford was advancing through the upper country with a party of 300 Virginians, to the relief of Charleston; when Col. Tarlton learnt the position of this party, he advanced with about 700 horse and mounted infantry, by a forced march of 105 miles in 54 hours, and surprised them at the Waxhaws, and summoned the Col. to surrender; a parley ensued, and pending the conference Tarlton surrounded the party; the truce was ended, and the action commenced, (May 29th ;) Col. Buford was overpowered, and his party cut to pieces, while begging for quarter; of the 300, 113 were killed; 150 badly wounded, and 37 made prisoners. Here was renewed the scene of StoneyPoint; yet Lord Cornwallis highly applauded Col. Tarlton, and recommended him specially to the favour of his royal master. With this blow the State of South-Carolina was cleared of all American forces, and fell under the subjection of the British general, and a British govern

ment was regularly organized. Upon the fall of Charleston Gen. Gates, who was then in Virginia, was appointed to succeed Gen. Lincoln, in the southern command.

Georgia and South-Carolina were now wholly subdued, and the enemy saw his way clear to advance into NorthCarolina, and thus extend his conquests over the regions of the south.

At this time Gen. Washington detached the illustrious Gen. Greene, to the command of the southern department, to check this mad career of British success, depredation, and cruelty, where Tarlton was filling the country with depredation and slaughter, and Lord Cornwallis was amusing the royal ear with encomiums upon this merciless, blood-thirsty marauder.

Gen. Greene on his way to the south wrote Gen. Washington from Maryland as follows. "The want of money, supplies, horses, &c. will render it impossible to provide for the march of the Maryland troops." Such embarrassments greatly retarded the southern operations.

Pending these operations in the south, Gens. Kniphausen, Robertson, Tryon, and Sterling crossed over from Staten-Island into New-Jersey, at the head of 5000 regulars, on the 6th of June, and on the 7th, they marched to Elizabeth-Town, and from thence to Connecticut farms, distant about 5 miles, in quest of the Rev. James Caldwell, Presbyterian minister of Elizabeth-Town, who resided there, and whose zeal in the cause of his country had rendered him peculiarly obnoxious to the enemy. Mr. Caldwell at the approach of the enemy withdrew ; but left his wife and children in his house, who he considered might remain in safety in the hands of a christian enemy; but what shall I say when called to record a deed that would make a savage biush. Mrs. Caldwell alarmed for her own safety and that of her children, sought advice from Co, Dayton, who commanded a detachment of