USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 28
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Thus ended the southern campaign of 1779, without any thing decisive on either side. After one year, in which the Bri- tish had overrun the state of Georgia, for one hundred and fifty miles from the sea-coast, and had penetrated as far as Charleston, they were reduced to their original limits in Sa- vannah. All their schemes of co-operation with the tories : had failed, and the spirits of that class of the inhabitants were broken.
The campaign of 1779, is remarkable for the feeble exertions of the Americans. Accidental causes which had previously ex- cited their activity, had, in a great measure, ceased to have in- fluence. An enthusiasm for liberty made them brave every danger in the first years of the war. 'The successes of their arms at Trenton and Princeton, and the capture of Burgoyne, made the close of the campaign of 1776, and that of 1777, both active and decisive. The flattering prospects inspired by the alliance with France in 1778, banished all fears of the success of the revolution, but the failure of every scheme of co-opera- tion, produced a despondency of mind, unfavourable to great exertions. Instead of driving the British out of the country, as was vainly presumed, the campaigns of 1778 and 1779, ended without any very great advantage from the French fleet, sent to their aid. Expecting too much from their allies, and then failing in their own exertions, they were less prepared to prosecute the war from their own resources, than they other- wise would have been, had D' Estaing not touched on their coast. Their army was reduced and badly clothed. In the first years of the war, the mercantile character, which is usually unfavourable to war, was lost in the military spirit of the times ; but in the progress of it, the people cooling in their enthusiasm, gradually returned to their former habits of lucrative business.
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This made distinctions between the army and the' citizens, which were unfriendly to military exertions. While several events tended to the embarrassment of Great Britain, and indi- . rectly to the establishment of independence, a variety of internal causes relaxed the exertions of the Americans, and for a time made it doubtful whether they would ultimately be indepen- dent citizens or conquered subjects. Among these, the de- preciation of their bills of credit, held a distinguished pre-emi- nence.
Money is not less essential to carrying on war than valour in the field, or wisdom in the national council. In the United States, silver and gold were in small quantities, and altogether inad- equate to the demands of war, nor could they be obtained from abroad, as the channels of commerce were suspended. Congress could not resort to taxation, because the contest in dispute was on the subject of taxation. The only expedient in their power to adopt, was the emission of credit, under a pub- lic engagement, to be redeemed by equal taxes, or exchanged for silver or gold. The practice of emitting bills under the co- . lonial governments, with proper restrictions, had often been re- sorted to. Custom seemed to warrant the course. The reso- lution of Congress, in June, 1775, to raise an army, was there- fore followed by another, to emit bills of credit to the amount of two millions of dollars. To that. sum, on the 25th of the next month, it was resolved to add another million. For their redemption, they pledged the confederated colonies, and direct- ed each colony to find ways and means to sink its proportion in four annual payments, the first to be made on or before the last day of November, 1779. On the twenty-ninth of No- vember, 1775, an estimate having been made by Congress, of the expense already incurred, or likely to be incurred, in carry- ing on their defence till the tenth of June, 1776, it was resolv- ed to emit the further sum of three millions of dollars, to be redeemed as the former, by four annual payments, the first to be made on or before the last day of November, 1783. Hither- to, all the arrangements, both for men and money, were tem- porary, and founded on the supposed probability of a recon-
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ciliation. Early in 1776, Congress obtained information that ' Great Britain had contracted for sixteen thousand mercenaries, to be sent over for the purpose of subduing the colonies. This induced them to extend their plan of defence beyond the tenth of June, 1776. They, therefore, on the seventeenth of Feb- ruary, 1776, ordered four millions of dollars to be emitted, and on the ninth of May, and the twenty-second of July following, emitted ten millions more on the same security. Such was the animation of the times, that these several emissions, amounting to twenty-two millions of dollars, circulated for several months without any depreciation. But there was a point, both in time and quantity, beyond which these bills ceased to operate. That time was about eighteen months from the date of their first emission.
Independence being declared in the second year of the war, and the object for which arms were at first assumed, being changed, it was obvious that more money must be procured, and equally so, that if bills of credit were multiplied beyond a . reasonable amount, they must depreciate. It was, therefore, on the third of October, 1776, resolved to borrow five millions of dollars, and in the month following, a lottery was set on foot, . for obtaining a further sum on loan. The expenses of the war were so great, that the money arising from both, fell far short. Congress thought it premature to urge taxation ; they therefore reiterated the expedient of further emissions. The ease with which supplies were procured by bills of credit, and the readiness of the people to receive them, prompted Con- gress to multiply them. A diminution of their value was the consequence. This was, at first, scarcely perceivable, but it daily increased. The zeal of the people, nevertheless, so far overbalanced the nice mercantile calculations of interest, that the campaigns of 1776 and 1777, were not affected by the depreciation of the paper currency. Congress foresaw that this could not long be the case. It was, therefore, on the twenty-second of November, 1777, recommended to the several states, to raise by taxes, the sum of five millions of dollars for the service of 1778.
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Previously to this, it had been resolved to borrow larger "sums, the interest of which was to be payable in France, out of moneys borrowed there by the United States. This tax failed in several of the states. From the impossibility of procuring a sufficiency of money, either from loans or taxes, the old expe- .' dient of farther emissions was reiterated ; but the value de- creased as the quantity increased. Congress, to put a stop to the increase of their bills of credit, and to provide a fund for reducing what were issued, called upon the states, on the first of January, 1779, to pay into the continental treasury their re- spective quotas of fifteen millions of dollars, for the service of . that year, and of six millions annually, from and after that year, as a fund for the reduction of their early emissions and loans.
In addition to these fifteen millions, called for on the first of January, 1779, the states were, on the twenty- second of May following, called on to furnish for the public service, within the current year, their respective quotas of forty-five millions of dollars. These requisitions were by no means sufficient. From the fluctuating state of the money, it was impossible to make any certain calculation, for it was not two days of the same value. A sum, which when demanded, would have purchased the commodities wanted for the public service, was inadequate when the collection was made. The depreciation began at dif- ferent periods in different states, but became universal about the middle of 1717. Towards the end of 1777, the depreciation was about two or three for one ; in 1778, it advanced from two or three for one, to five or six for one ; in 1779, from five or six for one, to twenty-seven or twenty-eight for one ; in 1780, from twenty-seven or twenty-eight for one, to fifty or sixty for one, in the first four or five months. Its circulation was afterwards partial, but where it passed it soon depreciated to one hundred and fifty for one. In some few parts, it continued in circula- tion for the first four or five months of 1781, but in this latter period many would not take it at any rate. 1
As there was a general clamour, on account of the floods of money, which at successive periods had deluged the states, Congress resolved, in October, 1779, that no farther sum should VOL. III. . 40
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be issued than what, when added to the present sum in circula- tion, would amount to two hundred millions of dollars. It was at the same time resolved, that Congress should emit only such a part of the' sum wanting to make up two hundred millions, as should be necessary for the public exigencies, before adequate supplies could be otherwise obtained, relying for 'such supplies on the exertions of the several states. This was represented, in a circular letter from Congress to their constituents, and the states were entreated to prevent the evils which would flow from their neglecting to furnish adequate supplies for the wants of the confederacy. The same circular letter stated the practi- cability of redeeming all the bills at par, and rejected the supposition, that the states would ever tarnish their credit by violating public faith. These declarations in favour of the paper currency, induced many to repose confidence in it to their ruin.
From the non-compliance of the states, Congress was obliged, in a short time after the date of their circular letter, to issue such a farther quantity, as when added to previous emissions, made two hundred millions of dollars. Besides this immense sum, the paper emissions of the different states amounted to many millions, which mixed with the continental money, and added to the depreciation. The source which for five years had enabled Congress to keep an army in the field, being ex- hausted, Washington was reduced, for some time, to the alter- native of disbanding his troops, or of supplying them by mili- tary force. He preferred the latter, and the inhabitants of New .. York and New-Jersey, though they felt the injury, saw the ne- cessity, and submitted.
The states were next called upon to furnish, in lieu of money, determinate quantities of beef, pork, flour, and other articles, for the use of the army. This was found so difficult, partial, and expensive, that it was abandoned. About this time, Con- gress resolved upon another expedient. This was to issue a new species of paper money, under the guarantee of the several states. The old money was to be called in by taxes, and as soon as brought in was to be burnt, and in lieu thereof onc
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dollar of the new was to be emitted for every twenty of the old, so that when the whole two hundred millions were drawn in and cancelled, only ten millions of the new should be issued in their place, four-tenths of which were to be subject to the order of Congress, and the remaining six-tenths to the order of the several states. These new bills were to be redeemable in specie within six years, and to bear an interest at the rate of five per cent. to be paid at the redemption of the bills, or at the election of the owners, annually, in bills of exchange on the United States' commissioners in Europe.
From the execution of these resolutions, it was expected that the old money would be cancelled ; that the currency would be reduced to a standard ; that the states would be supplied with the means of purchasing the supplies required of them, and that Congress would be furnished with money to provide for the exigencies of the war. The new paper currency answered very little purpose. Congress expected, by changing the ground of credit, to gain a repetition of the advantages which resulted from the first paper expedient, but this expectation was delusive. By this time much of the popular enthusiasm had spent itself, and confidence in public engagements was nearly expired. The event proved that credit is of too delicate a nature to be sport- ed with, and can only be maintained by honesty and punc- tuality.
- To prevent the depreciation of their paper money, Congress, on several occasions, attempted to prop its credit by unjustifia- ble means. They recommended to the states to pass laws for regulating the prices of labour, and all sorts of commodities, and for confiscating and selling the estates of tories, and for in- vesting the money arising from the sales thereof in certificates. They also recommended to the states to pass laws for making the paper money a legal tender at its nominal value, in the dis- charge of debts ; and that whosoever should ask or receive more in their bills of credit than the nominal sum thereof in Spanish dollars, or more in the said bills for commodities, than the same would be purchased from the same person in gold or silver, or offer to sell any commodities. for gold and silver, and refuse to
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sell the same for their bills, should be deemed an enemy to the United States, and forfeit the property so sold or offered for sale. The laws which were passed by the states for regulating the prices of labour and commodities, were found on experiment to be visionary and impracticable.
These laws, in the first instance, produced an artificial scar- city, and had they not been repealed, would soon have occasion- ed a real one. The confiscation and sale of the property of tories brought but very little into the treasury. The most ex- tensive mischiefs resulted in the progress and towards the close of the war, from the operation of the laws which made the paper bills a tender in the discharge of debts.
The aged, who had retired from business to enjoy the fruits of their industry, found their substance melting away to a mere pittance. The widow, who lived on the bequests of her de- ceased husband, experienced a frustration of his tenderness. The laws compelled her to receive a shilling where a pound was her due. The. virgin, who had grown up with a title to a . patrimony, was stripped of every thing but her virtue. The orphan, instead of receiving from the executor his due, was obliged to give a discharge on the payment of six-pence in the pound. 'The earnings of a long life were, in a few years, re- duced to a trifling sum.
Such were the evils which resulted from paper money. On the other hand, it was the occasion of good to many. In the first years of the war it enabled Congress and the states to raise armies and carry on the contest.
See Marshall's Life of Washington, and Ramsey's History of the Revolution- äry War, &c.
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CHAPTER X.
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The French fleet leaves the American coast-Sir Henry Clinton, with a powerful British army, invades South Carolina- Charleston invested by the British-General Lincoln is forced. to surrender Charleston, in consequence of the inhabitants of South Carolina declining him aid-Detachments of the Bri- tish army march into the country- Sir Henry Clinton, with part of the British army, returns to New- York-Most of South - Carolina submits to the British-Troops sent from the northern and middle states to oppose the British-Sumpter defcats a party of British troops and royalists-Baron de Kalb, with a . body of continentals, arrives in South Carolina-Gates super- sedes de Kalb-The Americans, under Gates, march towards - Camden- Lord Cornwallis quits Camden, with the British army, and advances to meet Gates-Battle-The American army is defeated and dispersed-Sumpter's corps surprised a few days after Gates' defcat-Gates flies to Hillsborough, with a handful of men-Rigorous measures pursued by Lord Cornwallis-Baneful effects of slavery-Operations of Ma- rion-A large body of loyalists, under Colonel Ferguson, de- feated-Tarleton repulsed by Sumpter-General Greene takes the command of the Southern army-Lord Stirling fails in an attempt to dislodge the British from Staten Island-Severi- ty of the winter-General Knyphausen makes an inroad into New-Jersey with 5000 men-Disaffection in the army-The "soldiers at Fort Schuyler, on the Mohawk, mutiny-Two regi- ments of the Connecticut line follow their example-Distress "' of the American army-Is subsisted by forced requisitions- Derangement of the commissariat department-A committee, of whom General Schuyler was the head, deputed by Congress to the American camp, to examine the condition of the army- Report of the committee- Grievances of the army are remedied -General Schuyler, the principal of the committee, proposes
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, a plan for raising and subsisting the troops, which is acceded . to-The friendly disposition of the French-Arrival of M. de Ternay and Count de Rochambeau at Rhode Island, with powerful forces to aid the Americans-Sir Henry Clinton embarks 8000 men at New-York, und sails for Rhode Island, to attack the French-The royalists and Indians break twice into the Mohawk and Schoharie countries, and devastate them -Treason of Arnold-Causes that led him to it-His cor- respondence with Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, ' at New-York-He proposes to deliver up West Point and its dependencies-Interview between Arnold and Major Andre at the lines, &c .- Detention of Andre-Arnold gives him a passport to White Plains, &c .- Andre taken by Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert, of the New-York militia, and car- ried to Colonel Jameson, their commander-Andre apprises Arnold of his arrest and detention-Arnold flees on board the Vulture, a British sloop of war, lying in the Hudson- Andre tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to death- Intercession by Sir Henry Clinton in his behalf-Interview between General Robertson, of the British army, and General Greene, of the American, concerning Major Andre-Execu- tion of Andre-Arnold is created a brigadier-general in the British service-He issues an address to the American soldiers, and endeavours to seduce them, but fails-Great Britain de- clares war against the Netherlands-The British take St. Eustatia, and plunder the inhabitants.
THE successful defence of Savannah, together with the de. parture of Count D'Estaing, from the American coast, soon dissipated all apprehensions entertained for the safety of the city of New-York. These circumstances induced Sir Henry Clinton to renew offensive operations in the south. The suit- ableness of the climate for winter operations, and the weakness. of the country, designated South Carolina as a proper object of enterprise. No sooner, therefore, was the departure of the French fleet known, than Sir Henry committed the command of the royal army in New-York, to Lieutenant-general Knyp-
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Hausen, and embarked for the southward, with four flank batta- lions, twelve regiments, and a corps of British, provincial and Hessian cavalry, and a detachment of artillery, together with ample supplies of military stores of provisions. Vice-admiral Arbuthnot, with a large naval force, undertook to convey the troops to the place of their destination. The whole sailed from New-York on the twenty-sixth of December, 1779. After a tedious and dangerous passage, in which part of their ordinance, most of their artillery, and all their cavalry horses, were lost, the fleet arrived at Tybee, in Georgia, on the twenty-first of January, 1780. In a few days, the transports, with the army" on board, sailed from Savannah for North Edisto, and after a short passage, the troops made good their landing, about thirty miles from Charleston. and took possession of John's Island, and Stono Ferry, and soon after of James' Island and Wappoo Cut. A bridge was thrown over the canal, and part of the royal army took post on the banks of Ashley River, opposite to Charleston. Governor Rutledge immediately ordered the mi- litia to assemble, but very few obeyed.
The tedious passage of the royal army from New-York to Tybee, had given the Americans time to fortify Charleston. This; together with losses which they had sustained in their passage, induced Sir Henry Clinton to send to New-York for reinforcements of men and stores. He also ordered General Provost to send him twelve hundred men from the garrison of Savannah. General Patterson, with these, soon after joined him. The royal forces proceeded to the siege on the twenty- ninth of March. At Wappoo, on James' Island, they formed a depot and erected fortifications, both on that island and on the main, opposite to the southern and western extremeties of Charleston. An advanced party crossed Ashley River, and soon after broke ground at the distance of eleven hundred yards from the American works. At successive periods they erected five batteries on the Neck. The garrison was equally assiduous in preparing for its defence. The works which had previously been thrown up, were strengthened and extended. Works were raised on all sides of the town, where a landing was
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practicable. Though the lines were no more than field works, Sir Henry Clinton treated them with the homage of three pa- rallels. From the third to the tenth of April, the first parallel was completed, and immediately after the town was summoned to surrender. On the twelfth, the batteries were opened, and from that day, an almost incessant fire was kept up. About the time the batteries were opened, a work was thrown up near Wando River, nine miles from the town, and another at Lem- priere's Point, to preserve the communication with the country -by water. . A post was also ordered at a ferry over the Santee, to favour the coming in of reinforcements, or the retreat of the garrison. The British marine force, consisting of several ships of war, crossed the bar and anchored. The first object of Com- modore Whipple, the commander of the American force, was to fall back with his vessels to Fort Moultrie. This he was con- pelled to do, from the great disparity of his ships. The crews and guns of all his vessels, except one, were put on shore. This was about the twenty-first of March.
Admiral Arburthuot, on the ninth of April, with a strong southerly wind and tide, passed Fort Moultrie, and anchored near Fort Johnson. The batteries of the besiegers soon ob- tained a superiority over those of the besieged. The former had twenty-one mortars, and the latter only two. The regular force in the garrison was much inferior to that of the besiegers, and but few of the militia could be persuaded to leave their planta- tions-and reinforce their brethern in the capitol. A camp had been formed at Monk's Corner, to keep up the communication between the town and country, and the militia without the lines, rendezvoued there, but they were surprised and routed by Colonel Tarelton. About the twentieth of April, Sir Hemy Clinton received a reinforcement of three thousand men from New-York. A council of war, held by General Lincoln, ad- vised, that offers of capitulation, before their affairs became more critical, should be made to Sir Henry Clinton, which might admit of the army's withdrawing. These terms being - proposed, were instantly rejected, but the garrison, under an expectation that succors would arrive, continued to hold out.
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The British soon completed the investiture of the town both by land and water.
Thus, while every thing prospered with the British, Sir Henry Clinton began a correspondence with General Lincoln, and renewed his former offers to the garrison, in case of their surrender. Lincoln was disposed to close with them as far as they respected his army, but some demur was made with a view of gaining better terms for the citizens, which it was hop- ed might be obtained on a conference. This was asked, but Clinton, instead of granting it, answered that hostilities should recommence. The British batteries threw shells and carcasses into almost every part of the town, and several houses were burnt. The enemy's works were soon advanced within one hundred yards of those of the garrison, and every thing was in readiness for making a general assault by land and water. All expectation of succor was at an end ; the only hope left was, that nine thousand men, the flower of the British army, seconded by a naval force, might fail in storming lines, defend- ed by three thousand men. Under these circumstances the siege was protracted to the eleventh of May. On that day a great number of the citizens addressed General Lincoln in 2 petition, expressing their acquiescence in the terms which Sir Henry Clinton had offered, and requesting his acceptance of them. On the reception of this petition, General Lincoln wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, and offered to accept the terms before proposed, which being acceded to, a capitulation was signed, and Major-general Leslie took possession of the town the next day. During the siege, the British had seventy-six · killed and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded ; and the Americans eighty-nine killed and one hundred and forty wound- ed. By the articles of capitulation the garrison was to march out of the town, and deposite their arms in front of the works, but the drums were not to beat a British march, nor were the colours to be uncased. The continentals and seamen were to remain prisoners of wår till exchanged, and the militia were to be permitted to return home as prisoners on parole.
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