CHAPTER III. Siege of Charlestown - The British advance into the interior of the country Abuse of "protections"- Command devolves on Lord Cornwallis - His Advance of General Gates arrangements for government of the province His total defeat by Lord Cornwallis - General Sumpter surprised by Tarleton - Punishment of deserters - Defeat of Major Ferguson by the Rebel militia - Winter-quarters at Wynnesborough - Colonel Tarleton attacks Sumpter and is repulsed - Correspondence with General Greene Employment of Indians - Effects of the campaign of 1780. - THE departure of the French from the coast, after their repulse at Savannah, left Sir Henry Clinton at liberty to attempt the longprojected reduction of the Southern provinces. This step was the more important, as the financial resources of the Americans greatly depended on the sale of the Virginian tobacco, which was mostly exported from the Chesapeake. The expedition sailed from New York December 26, 1779; but, mainly owing to bad weather, did not reach the rendezvous at Tybee till the end of January; and the army did not break ground before Charlestown till April 1. Sir Henry Clinton himself commanded the besieging army, and detached Lord Cornwallis, with about 1900 men, across Cooper River, to intercept all communication between the garrison and the country, a service which he very effectively performed. Though removed from the scene of more active operations, he was anxious to share the perils of the expected assault. SIR, EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON. your side. If Camp at Manigolls, May 7, 1780, 9 P.M. I am glad to hear that everything looks so well on you find that the enemy are obstinately bent on trying the fate of a storm, I shall take it as a favour if you will let me be of the party. I can be with you in eight hours from your sending to me. I should be happy to attend my old friends, the grenadiers and light infantry; and perhaps you may think that on an occasion of that sort you cannot have too many officers. I can only say that, unless you see any inconvenience to the service, it is my hearty wish to attend you on that occasion. As it may not be proper to commit to writing, if you should approve of it, your saying your Lordship will take a ride at such an hour, will be sufficient. I am, &c., CORNWALLIS. The assault, however, never took place, as, on May 12th, General Lincoln surrendered with about 6000 men, 400 pieces of artillery, and large magazines. Ten vessels, mounting from 16 to 60 guns, were also taken. The loss of the British from the commencement of the siege amounted to little more than 250 killed and wounded. Three separate corps were immediately sent into the interior of the country one to take possession of Ninety-Six; another to move upon Augusta; while the third, under Lord Cornwallis, was to attack the only body of rebels remaining in arms in South Carolina. These three objects were all successfully accomplished. SIR, EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON. Camden, June 2, 1780. In my letter of the 30th of last month, I enclosed a note from Lieut.-Colonel Tarleton,' wrote in great haste from the field of action; and I explained my reasons for sending the detachment under his command in pursuit of the enemy. I have now the honour of transmitting to you his account of the march and engagement, with the loss on both sides. I can only add the highest encomiums on the conduct of Lieut.Colonel Tarleton. It will give me the most sensible satisfaction to hear that your Excellency has been able to obtain for him some distinguished mark of his Majesty's favour. I have the honour, 1 Colonel, afterwards General Sir Banastre Tarleton, Bart., G.C.B., Colonel 21st Dragoons, b. Aug. 21, 1754, d. Jan. 23, 1833; m. Dec. 17, 1798, Susan Priscilla, a natural dau. of Robert, 4th Duke of Ancaster. Colonel Tarleton lived for some years with Perdita (Mrs. Robinson), after her connexion with the Prince of Wales was broken off, and is said to have received considerable sums of &c., CORNWALLIS. money from her. MY LORD, LIEUT.-COLONEL TARLETON TO EARL CORNWALLIS. Waxhaws, May 30, 1780. I have the honour to inform you that, yesterday at three o'clock, P.M., after a march of 105 miles in 54 hours, with the corps of cavalry, the infantry of the legion mounted on horses, and a three-pounder, at Waxhaws, near the line which divides North from South Carolina, the rebel force, commanded by Colonel Burford, consisting of the 11th Virginia and detachments of other regiments from the same province, with artillery and some cavalry, were brought to action. After the summons, in which terms similar to those accepted by Charlestown were offered, and positively rejected, the action commenced in a wood: the attacks were pointed at both flanks, the front and reserve by 270 cavalry and infantry blended, and at the same instant all were equally victorious, few of the enemy escaping, except the commanding officer, by a precipitate flight on horseback. It is above my ability to say anything in commendation of the bravery and execution of officers and men. I leave their merit to your Lordship's consideration. I have the honour, &c., BAN. TARLETON, Lieut.-Col., Commanding British Legion. SIR, EARL CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON. Camden, June 2, 1780. I have sent emissaries to our friends in North Carolina, to state my situation to them, and to submit to them. whether it would not be prudent for them to remain quiet, until I can give them effectual support, which could only be done by a force remaining in the country. At the same time I assured them that, if they thought themselves a match for their enemies without any regular force, and were determined to rise at all events, I would give them every assistance in my power, by incursions of light troops, furnishing ammunition, &c. Although in this sanguine moment, I may appear slow and cautious to some who overflow with zeal, I must trust you will find my conduct in this business both active and vigorous. I have, &c., CORNWALLIS. EARL CORNWALLIS TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL PATTISON,' COMMANDANT AT CHARLESTOWN. DEAR SIR, Camden, June 10, 1780. It is with great concern that I find the Commander-in-Chief adopted the idea of granting indiscriminate protections, by which means some of the most violent rebels and persecutors of the whole province are declared faithful subjects, and are promised to be protected in their persons and properties. You will see by the inclosed regulations, that all persons in whom we can place any confidence will be militia-men; the remainder therefore must be considered as disaffected. All persons who have got these protections, and who cannot be safely received into the militia, must be obliged to give up their protections, and their paroles must be taken as prisoners of war. I should wish it to be publicly known, that no more protections will be granted, and that those already given will be recalled, unless the conduct and characters of the possessors entitle them to be trusted to bear arms in the militia or provincial corps. I am, &c., CORNWALLIS. I should wish you to disarm the districts near you, as we cannot show too soon that we are in earnest. EARL CORNWALLIS TO LIEUT.-COLONEL BALFOUR.2 DEAR BALFOUR, Camden, June 11, 1780. I yesterday met, by accident, with a Proclamation issued June 1st, by Sir H. Clinton and the other Commissioners. I was at first startled at it, and at the effect it had on the people of the country. However, on considering it attentively, it appears vague and nugatory, and does not materially affect any part of my plan. I likewise find that the Aides-de-camp at head-quarters have been distributing protections, declaring some of the most violent and persecuting rebels good and loyal subjects. I must, however, notwithstanding these little obstacles, persevere steadily in my plan. All those possessing these protections who come under the description of being sent to the Islands,3 must have their 1 Brigadier, afterwards General, James. Pattison, Col.-Commandant R.A.; d. Feb. 1805. 2 Colonel Nesbit Balfour, afterwards a General, and Colonel 39th Regiment, b. 1743, d. Oct. 10, 1823; unmarried. M.P. for the Wigton Boroughs from 1790 to 1796, and for Arundel from July, 1797, to 1802. 3 The prisoners of war and those persons in whom no confidence could be placed, were removed to some of the numerous islands on the coast of South Carolina. protections taken away, and proper paroles substituted. All others who are not sufficiently loyal to be admitted into the militia, must have their protections exchanged for common paroles. I am, &c., CORNWALLIS. DEAR SIR, EARL CORNWALLIS TO LIEUT.-COLONEL INNES.' Camden, June 16, 1780. Mills has been premature in his rising; but as he lives in a remote corner of the country, quite out of our way, and insists upon defending the settlements of himself and his followers, we must let him act. I have used every expedient in my power to induce our friends in North Carolina to remain at home and get in their harvest, and by no means to think of rising till I send to them; and I have reason to think now that they have all acquiesced, though very unwillingly. I must beg you will let Mills have a little ammunition, and you must absolutely send some tolerably intelligent officer with him, to insist positively on his acting only on the defensive, and to put him in the way of doing so. Should he act offensively, he might endanger the bringing on a premature rising in the province, and ruin all our plans for the reduction of North Carolina. I am, &c., CORNWALLIS. Lord Cornwallis had strongly deprecated any premature rising in North Carolina, which might expose the loyalists to be cut off in detail, as he purposed to march in the beginning of September into the back parts of that province, which he entertained sanguine hopes of reducing. In a letter to Sir H. Clinton, June 30, announcing this intention, Lord Cornwallis expresses his opinion, that if his efforts should prove successful, North Carolina would effectually cover Georgia and South Carolina, and that the whole might be retained with a force no larger than was required for the latter province alone. 1 Alexander Innes, Colonel of the South Carolina Regiment of Loyalists, and InspectorGeneral of the Provincial Corps. Colonel Mills commanded a regiment of militia. He was hanged in cold blood by the Americans after the defeat of Major Ferguson. |