1780.ceeded to the block-house, which was furrounded with

an abbatis and ftockade. He tried the effects of his field pieces; but found them too light to penetrate the logs. The troops being galled the mean while, by a conftant fire from the loop holes of the houfe, and feeing no chance of making a breach with the cannon, two regiments rushed through the abbatis to the foot of the stockade, with a view of forcing an entrance, which was impracticable. This intemperate valor occafioned the lofs of 3 officers wounded, 15 non-commiffioned and privates killed, and 46 non-commiffioned and privates wounded. The stock in the mean time was driven off.

Let us now turn our eyes to South Carolina and its neighbourhood: where the British troops fpread themfelves, and plundered by system, forming a general ftock, and appointing commiffaries of captures. Spoil thus collected was difpofed of for the benefit of the royal army. The quantity brought to market was fo great, that though it fold uncommonly low, yet the dividend of a major general was upward of four thoufand British guineas. The private plunder of individuals, on their feparate account, was often more than their proportion of the public stock. Over and above what was fold in Carolina, feveral veffels were fent abroad to market, loaded with rich spoil taken from the inhabitants. Upward of two thoufand negroes were fhipped off at one embarkation.

When Charlestown had furrendered, 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 1780, ftate, which borders on the most populous fettlements of North Carolina. This caufed an immediate retreat of fome American parties, that had advanced into the upper parts of South Carolina, with the expectation of relieving Charlestown. The total rout or capture of all the fouthern continental troops in the state, together with the univerfal panic occafioned by the furrender of the capital, fufpended for about fix weeks, all military oppofition to the progrefs of the British army.

Sir H. Clinton, a week before the defeat of colonel Buford by Tarleton, had in a proclamation denounced vengeance against those of the inhabitants, who should continue, by force of arms, to oppose the re-establish- June ment of British government. On the 1ft of June, he and adm. Arbuthnot, as commiffioners for restoring peace to the revolted colonies, offered, by proclamation, to the inhabitants, with a few exceptions, pardon for past offences, and a reinftatement in the poffeffion of all the rights and immunities they had heretofore enjoyed under a free British government, exempt from taxation, except by their own legislature, as foon as the fituation of the province would admit. These offers, in the present fituation of affairs, induced the people in the country to abandon all schemes of further refiftance. The militia to the fouthward of Charlestown fent in a flag to the British commanding officer at Beaufort, and obtained terms fimilar to thofe granted to the inhabitants of the capital. At Camden the inhabitants met the British with a flag, and negotiated for themselves. The people of Ninety Six affembled to deliberate what course they fhould take. Being informed that the British were ad

1780. vancing, they fent a flag to the commanding officer, from whom they learned, that Sir H. Clinton had delegated full powers to capt. Richard Pearis to treat with them. Articles were proposed and soon after ratified, by which they were promised the fame fecurity for their perfons and property which British fubjects enjoyed. They fubmitted under a mistaken opinion, that agreeable to a proclamation previous to the furrender of Charlestown, they were to be either neutrals or prisoners on parole. Excepting the extremities of the state bordering on North Carolina, the inhabitants continuing in the country preferred fubmiffion to refiftance.

Sir H. Clinton, about the time that Charlestown furrendered, received intelligence, that a large number of land forces and a French fleet, commanded by M. de Ternay, might foon be expected on the American coast. This induced him to reimbark for New York early in June, with the greatest part of his army, which otherwife was to have remained, and been employed in the conqueft of the adjacent ftates. But before he failed, all the inhabitants of the province, and prifoners upon parole, and not in the military line (excepting those June taken by capitulation, or in confinement at the furrender 3. of Charlestown) were, by proclamation of June the 3d, freed from all fuch paroles from and after the 20th of the month; and in cafe of their afterward neglecting to return to their allegiance and his majesty's government, were to be confidered as enemies and rebels to the fame, and to be treated accordingly. It was defigned, by this arbitrary change of their relative condition, to oblige them, without their confent, to take an active part in fettling and fecuring the royal government. Prior to

this proclamation, the fubmiffion of the South Carolina 1780. inhabitants was accepted on eafy terms. All, with a few exceptions, on applying, obtained either paroles as prifoners, or protections as British fubjects: the latter were required to fubfcribe a declaration of their allegiance to the king; this however was frequently omitted in the hurry of business. An unusual calm followed. But the proclamation produced astonishment and confufion; efpecially as the parties referred to were required to enrol themselves as militia under the royal standard. Numbers, confidering themselves as released from their parole by the proclamation, conceived that they had a right to arm against the British; and were induced fo to do, from the very menace used against them, that they who did not enrol themselves as British fubjects, must expect to be treated as enemies. Many more however, for convenience, exchanged their paroles for protections, and enrolled themselves as militia; feveral undoubtedly with an intention of breaking through the compulsory tie, as foon as a proper opportunity prefented.

When Sir H. Clinton departed from Charlestown, lord Cornwallis was left in command with about 4000 men, who were deemed fully fufficient for extending the British conquests, after the adoption of the above meafures to oblige the inhabitants of the country to be active in fecuring the royal government now established. On the 5th, two days before he failed, two hundred and ten of the principal inhabitants, congratulated him and the admiral upon their fucceffes. The greater part of them had been in arms against the British during the fiege, and a few had been leaders in the popular government.

1780. In answer to their addrefs, they were promifed the privileges and protection of British subjects, on fubfcribing a teft of their allegiance, and willingness to fupport the royal caufe. Many of their fellow citizens foon followed their example of exchanging paroles for protections. Those who owned eftates in the country, had no fecurity by capitulation for any property out of the lines, unless they became fubjects. Such as declined doing it met with every difcouragement. A numerous class of people were reduced to the alternative of starving or fuing for protection. Traders and shopkeepers, after having contracted large debts, by purchafing of the British merchants who came with the conquering army, were precluded by lord Cornwallis's proclamation of July the 25th, from felling the goods they had purchased, unless they affumed the name and character of British subjects. Thus were multitudes preffed into a fervice, which they were ready to defert upon every occafion. But its triumphant state made the royalifts, in both Carolinas, confident of British protection, and greatly increased them by acceffions from those who alway fide with the strongest. A large body of them collected under the command of col. Moore in North Carolina, on the 22d of June. The greatest part had taken the oath of allegiance to that state, and many had done militia duty in the American fervice. Their premature infurrection, contrary to lord Cornwallis's advice to his friends, which was to remain inactive till he had advanced into their fettlements, fubjected them to an immediate dispersion. Gen. Rutherford inftantly marched against these infurgents, but was fo fhort of lead that he could arm only 300 men. Col. Lock advanced with this detachment