11. mencement of the siege. The British batteries of the 1780. third parallel, which were ready on the 6th, opened on this occafion. Shells and carcases were thrown incessantly into almost all parts of the town; and several houses burnt. Beside the cannon and mortars which played on the garrifon at a less distance than a hundred yards, rifles were fired by the Hessian chasseurs with fuch effect, that very few escaped who showed themselves above the lines. May The British advanced within twenty-five yards of the fame, having crossed the wet ditch by sap; and commenced their preparations for making a general assault by sea and land. The principal inhabitants of the town, and a number of the country militia, now addressed gen. Lincoln; fignified to him, that the terms which Sir H. Clinton had offered, fo far as they related to them, were fatisfactory; and requested his acceptance of them: the lieut. governor and council alfo defired, that the negotiations might be renewed. The moment for it was come, The town militia had thrown down their arms. The citizens in general were discontented and clamorous. Many of the American cannon were difmounted, and others filenced for want of shot, All expectation of fuccour was at an end. No hope remained; but what little arose from the bare possibility, that the flower of the British army on the continent, 9000 strong, flushed by their successful operations, and seconded by a naval force, might be repulfed while attempting a storm, by a garrison, worn down with hard service, and under 3000 men. Gen. Lincoln wrote to Sir H. Clinton, and offered to accept the terms before proposed to him. The British commanders, averse to the extremities of a storm, consented. The articles of 12. 1780. capitulation were figned the next day by B. Lincoln, H. May Clinton, and M. Arbuthnot. It was stipulated, that the continental troops and failors should remain prifoners of war until exchanged; and be supplied with good and wholesome provisions, in such quantity as is served out to the British troops. The militia were to return home as prifoners on parole; which, as long as they observed, was to fecure them from being molested in their property by the British troops. The officers of the army and navy were to keep their swords, pistols and baggage, which was not to be searched, and were to retain their fervants: but their horfes were not to go out of town, but might be disposed of by a person left for the purpose, The garrison, at an hour appointed, was to march out of the town to the ground between the works of the place and the canal, where they were to deposit their arms. The drums were not to beat a British march, nor the colours to be uncased. All civil officers and citizens, who had borne arms during the siege, were to be prisoners on parole, and with respect to their property in the city, were to have the fame terms as the militia; and all other persons in the town, not defcribed in any article, were notwithstanding to be prifoners on parole. It was left to future difcuffion whether or no, a twelvemonth's time should be allowed to all fuch as do not choose to continue under the British government, to dispose of their effects, real and perfonal, in the state, without any molestation whatever, or to remove such part thereof as they choose, as well as themselves and families; and whether, during that time, they or any of them should have it in their option to refide occafionally in town or country. The French conful, the subjects of France and Spain, with their 1780. houses, papers, and other moveable property, were to be protected and untouched; but they were to confider themselves as prifoners on parole. The return of the prisoners tranfmitted to Great Britain is swelled to upward of 5000, by comprehending every adult freeman of the town, between 2 and 3000 failors taken from the shipping and put into the batteries, and those militia of both Carolinas that were in garrifon. But the proper garrifon did not amount to quite 2500 at the time of furrender. The real number of privates in the continental army was 1977, of whom 500 were in the hospitals. The captive, officers were greatly out of proportion to them; and confifted of I major general, 6 brigadiers, 9 colonels, 14 lieut. colonels, 15 majors, 84 captains and capt. lieutenants, 84 lieutenants, 32 second lieutenants and ensigns. The commanders of the militia from the country were mostly of the first rank, and in honor repaired to the defence of the town, though they could not bring with them privates equal to their respective commands. The continental regiments were completely officered, while the adequate number of privates was greatly deficient. The fupernumerary regular officers were retained in the garrifon, from an apprehenfion that their being ordered out would have dispirited the army, and from an expectation in the early parts of the siege, that their services would be wanted to command the large reinforcemnnts of militia that had been promised. During the 30 days Gege, only 20 American soldiers deferted. The militia and failors stationed in the batteries fuffered little. Of the continentals who manned the lines, 89 were killed and |