29. nearly furrounded his adverfaries. An action inftantly 1780. May enfued. The continental party, having partaken of the general confternation occafioned by the British successes, made but a feeble refiftance, and foon begged quarter. A few however continued to fire. The British cavalry advanced, but were not oppofed by the main body of the continentals, who conceived themselves precluded by their fubmiffion. The accidental firing of the few, was an argument however for directing the British legion to charge those who had laid down their arms. In confequence of this order, the unrefifting Americans, praying for quarters, where chopped in pieces. By Tarleton's official account of this bloody fcene, 113 were killed, 150 badly wounded, unable to travel, and left on parole; and 53 made prisoners: while they made fuch ineffectual oppofition as only to kill seven and wound twelve of the British. Lord Cornwallis beftowed on Tarleton the highest encomiums for this enterprise, and recommended him in a fpecial manner to royal favor. Tarleton's quarters is become proverbial; and in subsequent battles a spirit of revenge will give a keener edge to military refentments. Scarce had adm. Arbuthnot's fleet, with the troops under Sir H. Clinton, taken its departure from Sandy Hook for the reduction of Charlestown, ere an intense froft, with great falls of fnow, fhut up the navigation of the New York port from the fea. The increafing feverity of the weather, toward the middle of January, entirely cut off all communication with the city by water, and foon after deprived the island of New York, and the adjoining iflands, of all the defenfive benefits of their infular fituation. The North River, with the ftreights 1780. 138 wounded; and of the Charlestown militia artillery stationed there, 3 were killed and 8 wounded. About 20 inhabitants were killed in their houses by random fhot. Upward of 30 houfes were burnt, and others greatly damaged. The total lofs of the royal forces is ftated at 76 killed and 189 wounded. A prodigious artillery was taken, confiderably more than 400 pieces, including every fort, and those in the forts and ships *. The capital having surrendered, the next object with the British was to fecure the general fubmiffion of the inhabitants. To this end they pofted garrifons in different parts of the country, and marched a large body of troops over the Santee toward that extremity of the ftate, which borders on the most populous fettlements of North Carolina. This caufed an immediate retreat of fome American parties who had advanced into the upper parts of South Carolina, with the expectation of relieving Charlestown. Among the corps which had come forward with that view, there was one confifting of about 300 continentals, the rear of the Virginia line, commanded by col. Buford. Tarleton, with about 700 horse and foot, was fent in queft of this party. Having mounted his infantry, he marched 105 miles in 54 hours, came up with them at the Waxhaws, and demanded their furrender on terms fimilar to thofe granted to the continentals at Charlestown. While the flags were paffing and repaffing on this business, Tarleton kept his men in motion, and when the truce was ended, had * General Lincoln's letters and papers, and other MSS. befide Dr. Ramfay's History and different publications, have been confulted in drawing up the above account of the operations respecting Charles town. 29. nearly furrounded his adverfaries. An action instantly 1780. May enfued. The continental party, having partaken of the general confternation occafioned by the British fucceffes, made but a feeble refiftance, and foon begged quarter. A few however continued to fire. The British cavalry advanced, but were not opposed by the main body of the continentals, who conceived themfelves precluded by their fubmiffion. The accidental firing of the few, was an argument however for directing the British legion to charge those who had laid down their arms. In confequence of this order, the unrefifting Americans, praying for quarters, where chopped in pieces. By Tarleton's official account of this bloody fcene, 113 were killed, 150 badly wounded, unable to travel, and left on parole; and 53 made prifoners: while they made fuch ineffectual oppofition as only to kill seven and wound twelve of the British. Lord Cornwallis beftowed on Tarleton the highest encomiums for this enterprise, and recommended him in a fpecial manner to royal favor. Tarleton's quarters is become proverbial; and in subsequent battles a spirit of revenge will give a keener edge to military refentments. Scarce had adm. Arbuthnot's fleet, with the troops under Sir H. Clinton, taken its departure from Sandy Hook for the reduction of Charlestown, ere an intense froft, with great falls of fnow, fhut up the navigation of the New York port from the fea. The increafing severity of the weather, toward the middle of January, entirely cut off all communication with the city by water, and foon after deprived the island of New York, and the adjoining iflands, of all the defenfive benefits of their infular fituation. The North River, with the ftreights 1780. 138 wounded; and of the Charlestown militia artillery ftationed there, 3 were killed and 8 wounded. About 20 inhabitants were killed in their houses by random shot. Upward of 30 houses were burnt, and others greatly damaged. The total lofs of the royal forces is stated at 76 killed and 189 wounded. A prodigious artillery was taken, confiderably more than 400 pieces, including every fort, and those in the forts and ships *. The capital having furrendered, the next object with the British was to fecure the general fubmiffion of the inhabitants. To this end they posted garrisons in different parts of the country, and marched a large body of troops over the Santee toward that extremity of the ftate, which borders on the most populous fettlements of North Carolina. This caufed an immediate retreat of fome American parties who had advanced into the upper parts of South Carolina, with the expectation of relieving Charlestown. Among the corps which had come forward with that view, there was one confifting of about 300 continentals, the rear of the Virginia line, commanded by col. Buford. Tarleton, with about 700 horfe and foot, was fent in queft of this party. Having mounted his infantry, he marched 105 miles in 54 hours, came up with them at the Waxhaws, and demanded their furrender on terms fimilar to thofe granted to the continentals at Charlestown. While the flags were paffing and repaffing on this business, Tarleton kept his men in motion, and when the truce was ended, had * General Lincoln's letters and papers, and other MSS. befide Dr. Ramfay's Hiftory and different publications, have been confulted in drawing up the above account of the operations refpecting Charles town. 29. nearly furrounded his adverfaries. An action instantly 1780. May enfued. The continental party, having partaken of the general confternation occafioned by the British fucceffes, made but a feeble refiftance, and foon begged quarter. A few however continued to fire. The British cavalry advanced, but were not opposed by the main body of the continentals, who conceived themfelves precluded by their fubmiffion. The accidental firing of the few, was an argument however for directing the British legion to charge those who had laid down their arms. In confequence of this order, the unrefifting Americans, praying for quarters, where chopped in pieces. By Tarleton's official account of this bloody fcene, 113 were killed, 150 badly wounded, unable to travel, and left on parole; and 53 made prifoners: while they made fuch ineffectual oppofition as only to kill feven and wound twelve of the British. Lord Cornwallis beftowed on Tarleton the highest encomiums for this enterprise, and recommended him in a fpecial manner to royal favor. Tarleton's quarters is become proverbial; and in fubfequent battles a spirit of revenge will give a keener edge to military refentments. Scarce had adm. Arbuthnot's fleet, with the troops under Sir H. Clinton, taken its departure from Sandy Hook for the reduction of Charlestown, ere an intense froft, with great falls of fnow, fhut up the navigation of the New York port from the fea. The increafing severity of the weather, toward the middle of January, entirely cut off all communication with the city by water, and foon after deprived the island of New York, and the adjoining islands, of all the defenfive benefits of their infular fituation. The North River, with the ftreights |