added to this, the dysentery became very prevalent in their

camp.

On the 6th of August, Gen. Gates was joined by Gen. Caswell, at the head of a fine body of North-Carolina militia, who were in good spirits; but under very bad discipline; and he encamped at the cross roads, on his way to Camden. One general harmony now pervaded the ar

my.

Gen. Gates, in daily expectation of a strong reinforcement from Virginia, moved forward his army the next day to Clermont, August 13; and Brigadier Gen. Stevens joined him there, with about 700 Virginia militia; express also arrived from Col. Sumpter that he should join him at Camden with a detachment of South-Carolina militia, and that an escort of clothing, ammunition, and stores was on its way from Charleston to Camden, for the use of the gar

rison.

Gen. Gates detached Lt. Col. Woodford at the head of the Maryland line, consisting of 100 infantry, a company of artillery, with two brass field-pieces, and about 300 North-Carolina militia, to join Col. Sumpter, with orders to reduce the forts and intercept the convoy. Gen. Gates prepared to support Col. Sumpter with his whole force, and issued the following orders; the result of a council of war.

"Camp Clermont, 15th of August, 1780."

After general orders, he adds-"The sick, the extra artillery stores, the heavy baggage, and such quarter-master's stores as are not immediately wanted, to march this evening under a guard, to Waxhaws. To this order the general requests the brigadier generals to see that those under their command, pay the strictest and most scrupulous attention. Lt. Col. Edmonds, with the remaining guns of the park, will take post and march with the Virginia brigade, under Gen. Stevens; he will direct, if any deficiency

happens in the artillery affixed to the other brigades, to supply it immediately; his military staff, and a proportion of his officers, with forty of his men are to await him, and attend his orders. The troops will be ready to march precisely at ten o'clock, in the following order, viz." Here follows the order of march, with the different evolutions in case of an attack, upon such and such points. "The tents of the whole army are to be struck at tattoo."

The deputy quarter-masters, upon the receipt of these orders, handed Gen. Gates an abstract of the field returns of his army, which amounted to 3663; exclusive of the detachment sent to join Col. Sumpter; Col. Porterfield's, and Maj. Armstrong's light infantry, (say 250,) and Col. Arand's legion, 120, and a few volunteer cavalry. Total 4000; 900 of which were continentals, and 70 cavalry.

Lord Cornwallis, unknown to General Gates, had entered Camden the day before, and commenced his march at this very time, to surprise General Gates in his camp at Clermont. The advance parties of the two armies met in the woods, about two o'clock in the morning; a conflict ensued. Upon the first shock the American cavalry gave way in some disorder; but they soon recovered, and skirmishing continued through the night; when morning ap peared, both parties, having learnt their situation from their captives, anxiously awaited the issue. Both generals made their dispositions in the morning, and an action commenced; the field was contested with various success, until the British bayonets carried the day: the regular troops were firm; but the militia gave way and fled, and dispersed as they fled, never to be recovered; the general and his regulars were abandoned to their fate.

Several parties of militia, who were advancing to join the army, turned their arms against the fugitives, and thus completed the overthrow. The pursuit continued for more than 20 miles, and the road was strewed with the

fragments of this routed army; together with the wounded, the dead, and the dying. Such was the general panic throughout the neighbouring country, that a party of horse, supported by more than 200 infantry, and at the distance of more than 80 miles from the scene of action, upon the first intelligence, abandoned their ground, and sought safety by flight.

The losses of his lordship, his want of supplies, and the sickly season, all constrained him to abandon the pursuit, and returned to Camden, and pursue his plans of organizing the submission of North-Carolina; and the more effectually to accomplish this, he seized all such principal characters as were firm to their country, and sent them off as prisoners to Charleston, and St. Augustine, and secured their effects.

Colonel Tarlton continued to ravage the country, by burning, plundering, and destroying all in his way, sparing neither whig nor tory. Operations continued at the same time by detached parties, and with some success to the Americans. Lord Cornwallis made a retrograde movement to strengthen his position, collect supplies, and General Gates at the same time put forth all his efforts to collect an army at Hillsborough; but his efforts were not very successful, and he moved from Hillsborough to Charlotte. At this critical moment, General Greene (whose appointment has been noticed) arrived, disclosed his commission from his excellency General Washington, and took the command; General Gates retired, and the distress of the army, and of North-Carolina continued.

General Greene took the command of only 2307 men, without clothes, or magazines, and without discipline; subsisting his army on daily collections, in the heart of a disaffected country, and in the face of a victorious ene

my.

Lord Cornwallis, on the receipt of a reinforcement of of 1500 troops,* commenced his operations, and advanced. Colonel Tarlton was detached, at the head of his cavalry, to dislodge General Morgan from his position at the Cowpens; he commenced his movements with his usual impetuosity; traversed the country for several days, laying waste every thing in his course, until he arrived at Morgan's position; an action commenced, with the same impetuosity; the Americans were dislodged and thrown into disorder; but they rallied to the charge, and were victorious in their turn: Tarlton was defeated, his army routed and destroyed, his artillery and baggage taken, and he with the mounted fugitives fled to Lord Cornwallis, January 17th, 1781.

This defeat roused up his lordship; he commenced a pursuit, and the operations were such as the flight of the Americans, and the pursuit of his lordship, through a country thinly inhabited, without intermission, would naturally produce.

Gen. Greene had the address to harass his lordship in his pursuit, and yet avoid a general action, until he arrived at Guilford, near the confines of Virginia, where he made a stand and gave him battle. Gen. Greene with his little army of 2,000 men, had hopes of success against his lordship's pursuing army, greatly superior. The movements were well concerted, and as well executed; and the conflict was sharp, and desperate; but the militia gave way; the regulars were overpowered, and Gen. Greene drew off his troops in good order; took a strong position to collect the stragglers, and commenced his retreat.

The severity of the action occasioned his lordship to make a hasty retrograde movement to recover his los

ses.

* This was Leslie's corps which had been ordered on this service from Virginia, and arrived by the way of Charleston.

During these movements, the murderous sword of civil war, raged between whig and tory, and threatened to depopulate the country.

At this time Sir Henry Clinton detached a fleet from New-York, with 1500 land forces on board, to make a diversion in Virginia, and prepare to co-operate with Lord Cornwallis. This fleet entered the Chesapeake Bay, landed their forces, and commenced the most alarming depredations; several efforts were made to dislodge them, but to no effect.

At this critical moment Gen. Greene made a movement to return to North Carolina, and carry the war into what had now become the enemy's country. He boldly advanced to Camden, and gave battle to Lord Rawdon, April 1781. A desperate conflict ensued; victory for a long time held a doubtful balance; hoth parties withdrew from the combat, and left the field covered with their dead.

On the 28th of June, Gen. Greene thus expressed himself to the French minister. "This distressed country I am sure cannot struggle much longer without more effectnal support: they must fall, and I fear their fall will sap the independence of America. We fight, get beat, rise and fight again; the whole country is one continued scene of blood and slaughter."

After the battle, Lord Rawdon retired to Camden, and took post, as a permanent position; Gen. Greene advanced, carried the war into South-Carolina, and by a desperate attack was on the point of carrying the strong fortress of Ninety-Six; the reduction of which would have recovered all South-Carolina except Charleston.

Gen. Greene, in his letter to the Marquis La Fayette, dated 1st of May, thus expressed himself. 66 You may depend upon it, that nothing can equal the sufferings of our little army; but their merit. Let not the love of