four thousand men. Several of these, however, were raw troops, while the opposing forces of General Prevost were not only rather more numerous, but were greatly superior in discipline.

The design of the English commander was to cross the Savannah from Georgia into South Carolina. That river, running east and west, separates the one State from the other; but, although its channel is not wide, it is a stream difficult for an army to encounter, because of the broad belt of marsh-land on each side, extending a hundred miles towards the source, and presenting the utmost perplexities to a large body of men. The bordering country is often inundated to a width of nearly four miles, and the vast, swampy expanse cannot be passed except on a few narrow causeways, fit only for a small number of persons at a time. But the same obstacle which withheld Prevost from attacking Lincoln, prevented Lincoln from marching against Prevost. The antagonists were separated by the river, and the river was not to be crossed. Under these circumstances, General Prevost sent a detachment to take the island of Port Royal; but the attempt was defeated by General Moultrie, the defender of Sullivan's Island. The operations of the British were thus brought to a pause, during which attempts were made to work upon the -colonists themselves. In that part of America, many loyalists were to be found among the population. These especially abounded in the western counties of the three southern provinces--in those wild lands where men were little influenced by the new theories of political right and democratic government which had for some generations been elaborated in the intellectual circles of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and other leading towns in the older parts of the Union. On hearing of the successes of the British in Georgia, the frontier loyalists were emboldened to move in defence of their principles. Emissaries were despatched to their settlements, to invite them to join the King's standard at Augusta, in Georgia, and about seven hundred embodied themselves, and proceeded towards that town from the back parts of South Carolina. Only three hundred, however, reached the British camp. They had supported themselves on the march by plunder, and had in consequence excited so much detestation that they found enemies wherever they came. Attacked by the militia, they were defeated with great slaughter; some were afterwards executed as traitors, and others punished with less severity. The western loyalists were for a time effectually checked.

The British post at Augusta was abandoned in February, and the detachment under Colonel

Campbell removed to Hudson's Ferry, twenty-four miles from Ebenezer, where the main body was then stationed. The American army had by this time been reinforced, and Lincoln, considering that he was now strong enough to assume the offensive, detached General Ashe to take post opposite Augusta. It was hoped in this way to contract the area of the enemy's operations, and to intercept all communication with the Indians, and with the settlers in the west. Finding Augusta evacuated. Ashe crossed the river, marched down the southern bank, and posted himself near the point where Briar Creek falls into the Savannah, and forms al acute angle with the larger stream. Thus situated, he had the marshes on his left, while his front was protected by Briar Creek. The position was one not difficult to defend, yet Ashe found himself unable to defend it. General Prevost distracted the attention of his opponent by making a pretence of crossing the river, while with nine hundred picked men he passed Briar Creek, fifteen miles above the American station, and suddenly burst upon the enemy's rear. Unfortunately for General Ashe, the greater number of his troops consisted of militia, most of whom threw down their arms without firing a shot, and rushed into the marsh, or into the river, where many of them were drowned. The rest, after a vain struggle, in which for a little while they fought with much courage, were compelled to submit. So complete was the discomfiture of the militia that many returned to their homes, and Ashe's division was almost entirely dispersel. thus depriving Lincoln of a fourth part of his army. The communications of the English General with the Indians and the back settlements were now fully restored, and the quiet possession of Georgia seemed so certain that Prevost issued a proclamation establishing civil government in the province, appointing executive and judicial officers, and declaring that the laws existing at the close of 1775 were in force, and would so continue until they should be altered by the Legislature which was afterwards to be assembled.

The danger, however, was not at an end. The South Carolinians were determined to persevere in their attempt to recover Georgia for the Union John Rutledge was elected Governor, and to him and his Council were given almost dictatorial powers. A reinforcement of militia, to the extent of one thousand, was sent to General Lincoln, who on the 23rd of April marched up the Savannah with the main body of his army, and, although the river was much flooded, and the water out over the marshes, prepared to cross to the southern shore. Prevost considered that

the best way of encountering this threatened in vasion was by sending a detachment of his own army into South Carolina. On the 29th of April, therefore, he passed the river near Purysburg, at the head of two thousand five hundred troops, and a considerable number of Indians. Moultrie, who had been left at Black Swamp with eight hundred militia and two hundred regulars, retired before him, breaking down the bridges in his rear. Numbers of men deserted; nothing was done to defend the passes; the State militia did not take up arms; and the position of South Carolina seemed desperate. Moultrie sent an express to Lincoln, then nearly opposite Augusta; but the latter would not permit himself to be turned aside from his enterprise, and, having sent a small reinforcement to Moultrie, he crossed the Savannah, and marched eastward along the southern bank towards the town of the same name. In the meanwhile, Prevost pursued his way into South Carolina, and, meeting with little opposition from the Republicans, and much encouragement from the loyalists, changed his original design of a mere incursion, with a view to drawing off Lincoln from Georgia, into a regular invasion of the neighbouring State, in the hope of taking Charleston, which was wholly undefended towards the land. After halting for two or three days, to mature his plans, he pushed on towards the capital. The troops greatly misconducted themselves on the march. Houses were ransacked of money and personal effects, and that which could not be carried away was wantonly destroyed. Moultrie could do nothing to prevent the advance of the invading troops, beyond breaking down the bridges. He sent express after express to Lincoln, but received no further reinforcements.

The delay in Prevost's march gave the people of Charleston time to throw up extemporary fortifications on the land side, and to concentrate troops in the city. When Moultrie had arrived there, the position was far from weak. General Prevost reached the ferry of the river Ashley, close to the city, on the 10th of May. On the following morning he passed that stream, and, marching along the narrow peninsula, between the Ashley and the Cooper, on which Charleston is built, came within reach of the guns on the fortifications. A summons to surrender was sent in on the 12th, and Rutledge entered into negotiations, with a view to gaining more time. It was proposed that South Carolina should be rendered neutral during the war, and that its ultimate, fate should be determined by the treaty of peace; but Prevost replied that the garrison must surrender themselves

357

prisoners of war. This was refused, and the Carolinians expected an immediate attack. But Prevost had discovered that the place was too strong to be assailed by the small force which he commanded; and during the night of the 12th he retired, fearing lest he should be attacked in the rear by Lincoln, who, as he was now informed, was marching against him. The number of loyalists in the State had proved to be far fewer than he was led to suppose, and he found himself in a position of some danger. His retreat, however, was adroitly managed. Apprehending that he might encounter the army of General Lincoln, which was greatly superior in number to his own, he turned to the east, and proceeded along the coast. For a time he made a stand in the island of St. John, and there awaited the reinforcements which he was expecting from New York.

The island so designated is separated from the continent by a narrow piece of water, called the river Stono. On the mainland, where a ferry was established for communication with the detached territory, Prevost stationed a number of his men, to cover the island and protect the foragers. The post itself was defended by three redoubts, joined by connecting lines; and a bridge of boats was thrown over from shore to shore. The troops on the mainland amounted to fifteen hundred, and Lincoln, knowing that they could be at once supported by those on the island, forbore from making any attack as long as Prevost remained at St. John's. But, on the English General leaving, and the garrison at Stono Ferry being reduced to seven hundred, Lincoln perceived that a favourable opportunity was presented for offensive operations. Some troops still remained on the island; but nearly all the boats had been removed, so that intercommunication was

no longer easy. It was arranged between Lincoln and Moultrie that the latter should pass over to James's Island with a body of militia, and engage the attention of the troops on St. John's, while the former should attack the post at the ferry. The action took place on the 20th of June. At the head of twelve hundred men, Lincoln advanced to the assault about seven o'clock in the morning. He was encountered by two companies of Highlanders, who fought against superior numbers with dogged courage, but were at length compelled to retreat under shelter. The combat was renewed immediately before the lines, and the Americans, at one time, seemed on the very point of getting within the enclosure. This was prevented, and Lincoln, finding that Moultrie, for want of boats, was unable to render him any support, retired in good order, carrying his wounded with him. In consequence

of this battle, the British evacuated Stono Ferry and the island of St. John on the 23rd of June, and retired to Beaufort, in the island of Port Royal. The American commander established his headquarters at Shelden, not far off; and the summer heats now rendered further operations impossible. A large number of slaves had been liberated by the English during the campaign, and, in zeal for their

new friends, had shown them where the valuables of their former masters were concealed. Many of these died of camp-fever; others perished of hunger in the woods, being afraid to return to the plantations. South Carolina is believed to have lost in this way four thousand of her slaves, besides a large amount of other property; yet the gain to England was literally nothing.

THE change in the seat of operations, from the Northern to the Southern States, had not justified the expectations that were formed of it. Much valour had been shown by the British troops; some skill had been exhibited by the Generals; yet the South was as far from being vanquished as the North. It was now resolved to send an armament to Virginia, with the intention of interrupting the commerce of Chesapeake Bay, and destroying the magazines on its shores. The fleet on the North American station had, for a short time after the departure of Lord Howe, been commanded by Admiral Gambier, who was succeeded in April by Sir George Collier. Clinton and Collier together concerted a plan for entering the Chesapeake with a mixed military and naval force, which, by a series of rapid movements, was to act at several points in quick succession. One thousand eight hundred men were placed by Clinton under the orders of General Matthews; and the fleet appointed to carry them, and to take part in their operations, was convoyed by the Admiral himself.

The Capes

of Virginia were reached on the 8th of May, three days after the vessels had left Sandy Hook, in the vicinity of New York. After anchoring for awhile in Hampton Roads, the fleet entered the river Elizabeth on the morning of the 10th, and struck so much consternation into the American troops stationed in that locality that they immediately took to flight. General Matthews established his

head-quarters at Portsmouth, and sent out small parties to Norfolk, Gosport, Kemp's Landing, and Suffolk. Large quantities of naval and military stores, and a number of valuable ships, were either taken or destroyed, and General Matthews returned to New York before the end of the month.

During the campaign of 1779, the Americans could do little more than remain on the defensive. They were not strong enough to attack the English at New York or Rhode Island; and their adversaries, having command of the sea and of the great rivers, were enabled to move with so much ease and celerity, and to strike their blows in so many different places, that the Americans, not knowing where they would be assailed, were compelled to divide their forces, and keep watch on all vulnerable points at once. Early in the winter, Washington had suggested three plans for prosecuting the campaign. Two of these contemplated offensive operations; the third, which was finally adopted, in consideration of the pecuniary exhaustion of the country, and the insufficiency of the military supplies, was to be purely defensive, excepting as regarded the frontier Indians, who were to be chastised for their depredations in the previous year. and deterred from the repetition of such acts in the future. The financial argument had perhaps as much influence over the ultimate decision as the necessities of the military situation. Even the most sanguine were alarmed at the steady depreciation of

1779.]

the paper currency, and it was hoped that the diminution of active and expensive operations would give the country time to recover itself in some degree. Much, also, was expected from the French alliance, and from the probability of England being involved at the same time in a war with both France and Spain, so that she would be compelled very considerably to relax her efforts in America.

The new President of Congress was John Jay, one of the New York representatives-a man of Huguenot descent, by profession a lawyer, in character impulsive and vehement, though not without those checks which are imposed by study and observation. It was shortly after Jay's accession to the chief Federal office that Washington arrived at Philadelphia, to give his reasons against the contemplated Canada expedition. In that city, the Commander-inChief remained until the latter end of January, 1779, and during those few weeks many important subjects were debated at large between him and the members of Congress. The infantry of the Continental army was now organised in eighty-eight battalions, to which were added four regiments of cavalry, and forty-nine companies of artillery. Recruiting was vigorously commenced, to fill up the gaps which would shortly be made by the expiration of the term of service of several of the men; and the system of bounties, into which many abuses had entered, underwent a partial reform. The great inconvenience resulting from the bounties offered by the States being frequently higher than those of Congress, was nevertheless permitted to remain; and this was a fruitful cause of trouble. It was indeed a marvel how the army was kept up at all. The value of labour had risen so much, owing to the increased demand consequent on the competition of the military life, and to the depreciation of the currency, that a man could obtain more by keeping out of the army than by going into it, even at a high rate of bounty.* It was no longer necessary, however, to maintain so large a number of men in the field, now that the offensive had been changed into a defensive policy; and in this pause it was resolved to pay more attention than formerly to the discipline of the troops. Baron Steuben, a man of long experience in the wars of Frederick the Great, had for some time been acting as Inspector-General of the American forces. For the use of those forces, he wrote a system of tactics; and the result of his tuition was a great improvement in the discipline of the army, where the different, and sometimes widely distinct, exercises of the troops from various States were reduced to a single method.

* Sparks's Life of Washington, chap. 12.

359

The expedition against the Indians now received the attention of Washington. Four thousand Continental troops were detached for the purpose, and were joined by militia from the State of New York, and by independent companies from Pennsylvania. The whole force was commanded by Sullivan, who first established his head-quarters at Wyoming. He then proceeded up the Susquehannah into the Indian country. General James Clinton simultaneously advanced with another division by Lake Otsego and the east branch of the Susquehannah, and formed a junction with Sullivan near the point of union of the two branches. Sullivan now found himself at the head of nearly five thousand men, with whom he boldly plunged into the wilderness. Starting from the forks of the Susquehannah on the 22nd of August, the united force proceeded by very toilsome marches up the Cayuga, or western branch of that river, towards the chief settlements of the natives whom they proposed to attack. These savages belonged to the Six Nations,-viz., the Mohawks, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, Onondagas, and Senecas,-but did not include the whole of that large confederation. Most of the Oneidas, and a few of the Mohawks, sided with the United States; the rest suffered themselves to be influenced by the presents and promises of English agents. They formed a very powerful body of warriors, and, being unrestrained by any feelings of humanity, were a terrible scourge to the small, outlying settlements of white people. It has, indeed, been said that their cruelty was less diabolical than that of the Anglo-American loyalists, and that they would never permit white men to accompany them on their expeditions, because of the enormities they were in the habit of perpetrating. But, from what we know of the Indian character when excited by combat, it is difficult to believe that they could have been surpassed by the most ruthless of American rangers. Ferocity is the rule of irregular warfare, and red men and white are apt to be equally debauched.

The Indians of the Six Nations had information of the blow that was being prepared for them. They determined to go forth and meet their opponents. To the number of about a thousand, commanded by some whites, and by the half-caste, Brandt, they fortified themselves at a distance of a mile from Newtown. Sullivan attacked them with spirit, and drove them back, though not without greater loss to his own side than to theirs. This success so discouraged the savages and their white allies that they abandoned their villages, fields, and orchards (which were laid waste by the victors, with