ing to the bayonet for defence in flank and rear. The pursuit was continued by the victors, until the enemy took refuge in Musgrove's mill.

The British loss, was sixty-three killed, and about one hundred and sixty wounded and taken prisoners. The American loss, was four killed, and nine wounded; among the former was captain Inman, and among the latter were colonel Clarke and captain John Clarke. The colonel received two wounds with a sabre on the back of his neck and head: his stock buckle saved his life. He was for a few minutes a prisoner with the enemy, in charge of two men, but taking advantage of his strength and activity, he knocked one of them down and the other fled. Colonel Clarke buried his dead, and returned to his former encampment near the iron works.

CHAPTER XI.

LORD Cornwallis having spread his military posts over Georgia and South-Carolina, considered the conquest of those two states so far complete, as to authorize with impunity an infringement of the conditions stipulated in the protections which had been given to the inhabitants. The impression first made upon the public mind, was, that persons and property were to be secured

against outrage and molestation, by the British troops and loyalists, and that they were not to take up arms against the crown of Great-Britain, so long as these conditions were duly regarded. Having gained entire possession of these two states, his lordship began to indulge the idea of extending his conquest to North Carolina; but finding that his numbers were unequal to his plans; the deficiency could only be supplied by making an indiscriminate call upon the militia. With this impolitic measure in view, Sir Henry Clinton had issued a proclamation on the 5th of June, by which it was declared, that all those who were paroled, (not taken in action or under arms,) and those who had taken protections, should be released from these unnecessary restrictions, and after the 20th of the same month, should be liable to take up arms in defence of the country, and consider themselves as being restored to all the rights and duties appertaining or belonging to the king's subjects. All persons of the description before mentioned, who should thereafter neglect or refuse to return to their allegiance, were to be considered as enemies and rebels, and treated accordingly.

There was some ambiguity in this proclamation, and some of those who had taken protections were willing to construe it into its most favourable light toward themselves: others who had not so high an opinion of the character of the British commander, considered the proclamation as a

direct violation of the conditions stipulated in their protections. An explanation however, soon followed the proclamation, which verified the predictions of the minority, that Sir Henry Clinton was capable of duplicity, and of the violation of contracts, whenever such measures accorded with the interest of his prince. The following is an extract of lord Corwallis' letter to the commanders of his out-posts. "The inhabitants of the provinces who have subscribed to, and taken part in this revolt, should be punished with the utmost rigour; and also those who will not turn out, shall be imprisoned and their whole property taken from them or destroyed. I have ordered in the most positive manner, that every militia man who has borne arms with us and afterward joined the enemy, shall be immediately hanged. I desire you will take the most rigorous measures to punish the rebels in the district in which you command, and that you obey in the strictest manner, the directions I have given in this letter, relative to the inhabitants in this country." This order was circulated among the British officers, at the garrisons in Georgia and South Carolina, but foreseeing the bad effects it might have upon the public mind, it was for a time carefully concealed from the people at large. The most barbarous cruelties were practised under its authority, without the forms of trial. In many instances, officers, soldiers, and citizens, were brought up to the place of execution, without being informed

why they had been taken out of prison. The next morning atter this sanguinary order reached Augusta, five victims were taken from the gaol by order of colonel Brown, who all expired on the gibbet.

Encouraged by the hope that the foregoing proclamation and order, by the British commanders-in-chief, would rouse the resentment and bring into the field all those who felt an interest in the American cause; colonel Clarke determin

ed upon making the attempt to recover a part of his own state. Lord Cornwallis had drawn all his disposable force to his head-quarters, near Camden, to oppose general Gates, and afteward to give him sufficient strength to advance into North Carolina: consequently he had left barely a sufficiency to garrison his posts in Georgia and South-Carolina. About the 1st of September colonel Clarke returned to Wilkes county, in Georgia, and lieutenant-colonel M'Call to the western part of Ninety-six district; with the expectation of raising a joint force, of at least one thousand men. To such an army it was supposed that Augusta would submit with little or no resistance, and that Ninety-six might soon afterward be menaced, and would probably be evacuated by the enemy. If Clarke's views had been seconded with that zeal which inhabited his own bosom, the exertions of one month would have thrown the western divisions of Georgia and South-Carolina, into the possession of the Americans.

Though the Carolinians were in general, favourably disposed toward the freedom and independence of their country, and felt great solici tude for the success of the plan, yet they could not be sufficiently inspired with the certainty of the is sue, to induce them to take up arms. The effects of the British general's proclamation, had not, to their knowledge, commenced its operations. The sacrifice of those lives which had fallen under lord Cornwallis' explanatory order, was attributed to other causes, and the secret spring which formed its basis, was concealed from the public.

cess.

Lieutenant-colonel M'Call made his first application to colonel Pickens, and the most influential officers of his regiment; but with little sucThe stipulations in their protections had not yet been violated, and they considered themselves bound, by conscience and honor, not to break their engagement until an infringement was made upon its conditions. Instead of five hundred men, which had been confidently calculated upon from Carolina, M'Call's persuasions could only induce eighty to accompany him upon the expedition. With this number he marched to Soap creek, in Georgia, forty miles north-west of Augusta, which had been fixed on as the place of rendezvous. Colonel Clarke had been more successful: his numbers amounted to three hundred and fifty Though this little band fell far short of his expectations, and were really inadequate to the purposes he had in view, it was then toq