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General Lincoln's loss in this action amounted to about 300 killed, wounded and missing; among the killed were several officers of high rank, and much respected. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was about 170. The action was bravely fought on both sides; and had not the failure of General Moultrie, on the one hand, and the disobedience of orders in returning the fire of the enemy, on the other, deranged the whole plan of General Lincoln, his success would have been certain. Prevost retired immediately after this battle to Savannab, leaving a part of his forces under Lieutenant Colonel Maitland at Beaufort in the island of Port Royal.

The inhabitants of South Carolina suffered immense losses by the enemy during their invasion of the state. Upwards of 3,000 slaves were carried off by them and sold in the West Indies; and scarcely a plantation within their reach escaped pillage and devastation. The British, however, are not wholly chargeable with this unwarrantable plunder of private property. To the tories and refugees who had joined their army, the greater part of the depredations committed must be ascribed.

While these things were going on in South Carolina and Georgia, Sir Henry Clinton, under the hope of effectually destroying all resistance in the south, planned an expedition, with the advice of Sir George Collier, who now commanded the British naval force at New-York, against Virginia. Two thousand troops for this purpose were placed under the command of Brigadier General Matthews, and conducted by Sir George Collier himself, the fleet sailed from New-York on the 5th of May, and anchored in Hampton Roads on the 9th, on the 10th, Sir George

having shifted his flag to one of the frigates, left the heavy ships in the roads, and proceeded with the smaller ships and transports into Elizabeth river. The principal defence of this river was a small fort on the west side, called fort Nelson, completely exposed to a land attack, and calculated only to defend the channel of the river. This fort was garrisoned by about 150 men under Major Matthews; and the enemy's troops having landed three miles below the fort, there was nothing to prevent their carrying the fort by storm. The Major, therefore, rightly judging this to be the intention of the enemy, very prudently evacuated the fort during the night of the 10th, and escaped with his little garrison to the Great Swamp. Thus was a free passage left both by land and water to the British forces, which moved up on the morning of the 11th, and took possession of the desolated town of Norfolk, and of Portsmouth, at the latter of which Brigadier General Matthews established his head quarters. From this place detachments were sent to Gosport, Suffolk, and the neighbouring places, where considerable destruction was made of vessels, provisions, and naval stores.

The enemy remained in the Elizabeth river only about two weeks, but during that short period they destroyed and carried off upwards of 3000 hogsheads of tobacco, 130 vessels of various denominations, and an immense quantity of stores. Nor was their destruction confined to publick property: almost every house in Suffolk was burned, and every dwelling on their various routes shared the same fate; and before any force could be collected to send against them, they had left the Chesapeake and returned to New York. The royalists had made such representations to Sir

George Collier of the desire of the Virginians to return to their allegiance, that he endeavoured to persuade Sir Henry Clinton to maintain a force at Portsmouth for the purpose of serving as a rallying point to the tories and disaffected Americans, but Sir Henry very wisely determined to withdraw his troops, knowing that at such a distance from succour, a small reverse of fortune, would throw him into the power of the enemy.

Let us now for a time take a view of the movements of the armies in the North.

CHAPTER X.

Events of 1779 continued.-Sir Henry Clinton sends an expedition up the Hudson-Takes Stony Point, and Fort La Fayette.Gallant attack and recapture of Stony Point, by General Wayne.-Surprise of the British garrison at Powle's HookExpedition of Governour Tryon against the Coast of Connecticut.-Destruction of the towns of Fairfield and Norwalk.-Unexampled enormities of the British army-Tryon is recalled by Sir Henry Clinton.-Massachusetts expedition against Penobscot-Proceedings of Congress-Report of the Committee of Foreign Affairs-Decease of Colonel Trumbull.-Washington is empowered to draw on the Treasurer-Instructions to Dr. Franklin-Conference with M. Gerard-His ideas on the prospect of peace-Retaliatory resolutions.-Thanks voted to Washington, Wayne, and other officers.-Distribution of money to the troops of General Wayne.

By the time Sir George Collier had returned from the Chesapeake, Sir Henry Clinton had planned another expedition against the American fortresses on the Hudson. The command of this river had always been considered by both parties as highly important, and Washington had employed the opportunity which the cessation of active operations on the part of Sir Henry had allowed him, in constructing several works, particularly at Verplank's, and at Stony Point. His army lay at Middle Brook, in Jersey, and these posts were garrisoned by a small number of men chiefly artificers and labourers. Major General Vaughan, the former despoiler of the beautiful banks of the Hudson, was again chosen to command this expedition, which embarked under the convoy of Sir George Collier, on the 30th of May. On the 31st General Vaug

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han, with the main body of the army, landed on the east side of the river, a few miles below Verplank's ; General Pattison, accompanied by Sir Henry Clinton himself, advanced with the remainder of the army to within three miles of Stony Point, and landed on the west side. The garrison at this place withdrew on the approach of the enemy, and made some show of resistance by drawing up on the hills above, but retired without giving battle. Opposite to Stony Point the Americans had constructed a small fort, which they had named after the gallant Marquis de la Fayette. It was a single redoubt, mounted with 4 pieces of artillery, and manned by about 70 men. The approach to it from its own side was almost impracticable, but it was completely commanded by Stony Point, and General Pattison prepared for a vigorous bombardment of it, by drawing up his heavy artillery in the night, from his landing place, and fixing them on the commanding rocks of Stony Point.

On the 1st of June a tremendous fire from cannon and mortars was opened upon the little fort la Fayette, by 5 o'clock in the morning, while Sir George Collier advanced with his gallies and gunboats to the support of the attack, sending some of them above the fort, in order to prevent the escape of the garrison by water. General Vaughan had in the mean time by a circuitous route, gained the summits of the hills on the side of the fort, thus investing it on all sides. After sustaining a continued storm of fire for the whole day, this brave band surrendered prisoners of war. Sir Henry Clinton leaving a strong force to garrison these two posts, with orders to place Stony Point in the strongest possible state of defence, moved with the army and shipping to Phillipsburg, which complete.

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