USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 29
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The numbers which surrendered prisoners of war, inclusive VOLA III. 41
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of the militia, and every adult male inhabitant, was about five thousand, but the proper garrison did not exceed two thousand five hundred men.
This was the first instance in which the Americans had at- tempted to defend a town. 'The unsuccessful event demonstrated the policy of sacrificing the towns of the Union in preference to endangering the whole by risking too much for their defence.
Shortly after the surrender, Sir Henry Clinton adopted sundry measures to induce the inhabitants to return to their allegiance, but without effect.
The capital having surrendered, the next object of the British was to secure the submission of the whole body of the people. To this end they posted garrisons in different parts of the country to awe the inhabitants. They also marched with upwards of two thousand men, towards North Carolina. This caused an immediate retreat of some parties of Americans who had advanc- ed into the northern extremity of South Carolina, with the ex- pectation of relieving Charleston. One of these, consisting of three hundred continentals, commanded by Colonel Buford, was overtaken at Waxhaws by Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, and completely defeated. Five out of six of the whole were either killed, or so badly wounded, as to be incapable of being moved from the field of battle; and this took place, though they made such ineffectual opposition, as only to kill twelve and wound five of the British. Tarleton's party refused quar- ter to the Americans, after they had laid down their arms.
Sir Henry Clinton, having left about four thousand men for the southern service, embarked early in June with the main army for New-York. On his departure, the command devolved on Lord Cornwallis. The season of the year, the condition of the army, and the unsettled state of South Carolina, impeded the immediate invasion of North Carolina. Lord Cornwallis dispatched instructions to the principal loyalists in that state to attend to the harvest, prepare provisions, and remain till the first of September. His lordship committed the care of the frontier to Lord Rawdon, and repaired to Charleston. ' In the mean time; the people in the country abandoned farthet resist-
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ance. At Beaufort, Camden, and Ninety-Six, they generally laid down their arms, and submitted as prisoners or subjects. In a short time the greater part of the state made its submission. This was followed by a calm, and the British believed that the state was conquered. There was now no regular force to the sonthward of Pennsylvania, which was sufficient to awe the friends of the royal government. Encouragement was held forth to those who would with arms support the old constitution, and confiscation and death were tlireatened as the consequence of resisting it.
The precautions taken to prevent the rising of the royalists in North Carolina, did not answer the end. Several of the in- habitants of Tryon county, under the direction of Colonel Moore, took up arms, but in a few days were defeated by the militia, commanded by General Rutherford. Colonel Bryan, another loyalist, was successful, and reached the seventy-first regiment, stationed in the Cheraws, with eight hundred men.
. While the British were endeavouring to strengthen the party for the royal government, the Americans were not inattentive. Governor Rutledge, who had left Charleston before the siege was commenced, was industriously engaged in collecting forces. to oppose the progress of the enemy. . Congress also ordered a considerable detachment from their main army to be march- ed to the southward : North Carolina likewise ordered a large body of militia to take the field. As the royal forces advanced to the upper country of South Carolina, a number of whigs, under Colonel Sumpter, retired to North Carolina. At the head of these, he soon returned to his own state and took the field. This unexpected opposition to the extension of British conquests, roused all the passions which disappointment could inspire.
The first effort of renewed warfare was two months after the fall of Charleston, when one hundred and thirty-three of Colo- nel Sumpter's corps attacked and routed a detachment of the royal forces and militia, at Williamson's plantation. This was the first advantage gained over the British since their landing in the state. The people living in the northwestern frontier of
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South Carolina turned out, and joined Sumpter, though oppo. sition to the British government had entirely ceased in every other part of the state. His troops in a few days amounted to six hundred men. With these he made an attack on a party of British at Rocky Mount, but owing to the strength of their position was obliged to retreat. , Soon afterwards he attacked the Prince of Wales' regiment, and a body of tories, at the Hanging Rock, and gained a complete victory. The Prince of Wales' regiment was reduced from two hundred and seventy- eight to nine men. The loyalists under Colonel Bryan were dispersed . The panic occasioned by the fall of Charleston daily abated. The militia on the extremities of the state form- ed themselves into parties, under leaders of their own choice. While Sumpter kept up the spirits of the people by a succession of gallant enterprises, a respectable continental force was ad- vancing from the worth, for the relief of the southern states. This force was at first under the command of Major-general Baron de Kalb, and afterwards of General Gates. The success of the latter in the northern campaign of 1777, induced many to believe that his presence, as commander of the southern army, would reanimate the friends of independence. While Baron de Kalb commanded, a council of war had advised him to file off from the direct road to Camden, towards the settle- ments in the vicinity of the Waxhaws: but General Gates on assuming the command did not conceive this movement to be necessary, supposing it to be most for the interest of the states that he should proceed immediately with his army on the short- est road, to the neighbourhood of the British encampments. This led through a barren country, in passing over which the Americans severely felt the scarcity of provisions. Their mur - murs became audible, and there were strong appearances of mutiny, but the officers conciliated them to a patient sufferance of their hard lot. The troops principally subsisted on lean cat- tle picked up in the woods, and green corn and peaches : dy- senteries became common in consequence of their food. The heat of the season, the unhealthiness of the climate, together with insufficient and unwholesome food, menaced the destruction
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of the army. At lengthi the Americans approached near to Camden. The next day, it being the 14th of August, General Stephens arrived with a numerous body of Virginia militia.
As the American army approached, Lord Rawdon concen- trated his forces at Camden. . The retreat of the British from their outposts, and the advances of the American army, induced the inhabitants to revolt. The army of General Gates amount- ed to four thousand men, but of this only about one thousand were continentals. On the approach of Gates, Lord Cornwal- lis hastened from Charleston to Camden, and arrived there on the fourteenth. The force which his lordship found collected there was seventeen hundred infantry and three hundred cavalry. This inferior number would have justified a retreat, but he chose rather to stake his fortune on the decision of a battle. On the night of the fifteenth of August, he marched from Camden with his whole force, intending to attack the Americans in their camp at Clermont. In the same night, General Gates, after ordering his baggage to the Waxhaws, put his army in motion, with an intention of advancing to an eligible position about eight miles from Camden. The American army was ordered to march at ten o'clock at night in the following order : Colonel Armand's advance cavalry ; Colonel Porterfield's infantry, on the right flank of Colonel Armand's, in Indian file, two hundred yards from the road ; Major Armstrong's infantry, in the same order as Porterfield's, on the left flank of the advanced guard of foot, composed of the advanced pickets, first brigade of Maryland, . second brigade of Maryland ; division of North Carolina, Vir- ginia rear-guard, volunteer cavalry, upon the flanks of the bag- gage, were equally divided. The light infantry upon each flank were ordered to march up and support the cavalry, if it should be attacked by the British cavalry, and Colonel Armand was directed in that case to stand the attack at all events.
The advance of both armies met in the night and engaged. Some of the cavalry of Armand, being wounded in the first fire, fell back on others, who recoiled so suddenly, that the first Maryland regiment was broken, and the whole line of the army was thrown into confusion. This first impression struck deep,
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and dispirited the militia. The American army, however, soon recovered its order, and both they and their adversaries kept their ground, and occasionally skirmished through the night. in the morning a general engagement took place. At the first onset, the great body of the Virginia militia, who formed the left wing of the army, on being charged with fixed bayonets by the British infantry, threw down their arms, and with the utmost precipitation fled from the field. A considerable part of the North Carolina militia followed this unworthy example, but the continentals, who formed the right wing of the army, stood their ground and maintained the conflict against superior num- bers with great resolution. Never did soldiers acquit them- selves better ; for some time they had the advantage of their opponents ; overpowered at last by numbers, and nearly sur- rounded by the enemy, they were compelled reluctantly to leave the ground. Part of a brigade of North Carolina militia, commanded by General Gregory, acquitted themselves well, and did not retire before they had expended all their ammunition .- Two hundred and ninety American prisoners, wounded in this action, were carried into Camden. The Americans, in this disastrous battle, lost all their artillery, upwards of two hundred wagons, and the greater part of their baggage. Every corps was broken in action and dispersed. The fugitives, who fled by the common road, were pursued upwards of twenty miles, by the horse of Tarleton's legion, and the way was covered with arms, baggage and wagons. Baron de Kalb, the second in command, a brave and meritorious officer, was mortally wounded and made a prisoner.
The royal army fought with great bravery, but the complete- ness of their victory was in a great degree owing to the supe- riority of their cavalry, and the precipitate flight of the militia. Their whole loss is supposed to have amounted to several bun- dred men. The defeat of Gates was followed by the surprise and dispersion of Sumpter's corps.
On the seventeenth and eighteenth of August, about one hun- dred and fifty of Gates' army rendezvoused at Charlotte. From thence they retreated to Salisbury, and soon after to Hillsbo-
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rough. A circumstantial detail of the condition of the wrecks of Gates' army, at Charlotte, presents a picture of complicated wretchedness. There were more wounded men than could be carried off. The inhabitants, hourly expecting the British to advance into their settlement, and generally intending to flee, could not, or would not, attend to the accommodation of the suf- fering soldiers. Objects of distress occurred in every quarter. Several soldiers were to be seen with but one arm, and some without any.
At Hillsborough, General Gates, in concert with the govern- ment of North Carolina, set about devising plans of defence, and for renewing military operations.
. Though there was now no army to oppose Lord Cornwallis, yet the season and bad health of his army, restrained him from pursuing his conquests. The defeat and dispersion of the con- tinental army had left the country mostly in his power. To prevent the future co-operation of the inhabitants with the ar- mies of Congress, severe measures were adopted. Orders were given by Lord Cornwallis, that all the inhabitants of the pro- vince, who had submitted to his Britannic Majesty's arms, and who had taken part in the revolt, as it was called, should be punished with rigour ; that they should be imprisoned, and their whole property taken. from them or destroyed. He also or- dered, that every militia-man who had borne arms with the Bri- tish, and afterwards joined the Americans, should be put to death. At Camden, at Augusta, and elsewhere, several of the inhabitants were hanged in consequence of these orders.
Notwithstanding the superiority of the British armies, and these rigorous measures, several of the citizens of South Caro- lina refused to assume the character of subjects. To enforce a general submission, orders were given by Lord Cornwallis, to send out of the state a number of the principal citizens. Lieu- tenant-governor Gadsden, most of the civil and military officers, and some others, were taken up, put on board of a vessel, and sent to St. Augustine.
To compel the re-establishment of the royal government, Lord Cornwallis, on the sixteenth of September, issued a pro-
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clamation for the sequestration of all the estates belonging to the active friends of independence.
An adherent to the cause of America was now considered as one who courted exile, poverty, and ruin. Many yielded to the temptation, and became British subjects. The mischievous effects of slavery, in facilitating the conquest of the country, now became apparent. As the slaves had no interest at stake, the subjugation of the state was a matter of no consequence to them. Instead of aiding in its defence, they, by a variety of means, threw the weight of their influence into the opposite scale.
Though numbers broke through all the ties which bound them to support the cause of America, illustrious sacrifices were made. Several of the richest men in the state suffered their fortunes to remain in the possession. of their conquerors, rather than stain their honour by joining the enemies of their country. The patriotism of the ladies contributed much to this firmness ; they went on board of prisou ships, and to other places of con- finement, to solace their countrymen. Animated by such ex- amples, as well as by a high sense of honour and love of coun. try, some of the gentlemen of South Carolina adhered to their first resolution of risking life and fortune in support of inde- `pendence. Hitherto the royal forces in South Carolina had -met with almost uninterrupted success. They overspread the country, and penetrated into every quarter.
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The British ministry, by this flattering posture of their affairs, were once more buoyed up with the hope of subjugating Ame- rica. New plans were formed, and expectations indulged, of speedily reuniting the different members of the empire.
The defeat of Gates, and the dispersion of his army, over- spread at first the face of American affairs with gloom, but this was gradually dispelled. A few weeks after the defeat of Gates, General Marion, with a few men, left North Carolina, and re- turned to South Carolina, where he commenced operations against small parties of the enemy. For several weeks he had not over seventy men. Varions schemes were tried by the ene- my to prevent the inhabitants from co-operating with him.
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Major Wemys burned many houses on Pedee River, Lynch's Creek, and Black River, belonging to such as were, supposed to favour Marion. This rigorous course had an effect differ- ent from what it was intended. Despair and revenge co-ope- rated with patriotism to make these ruined men take the field. Having no houses to shelter them, the camps of their country- men became their homes. For several months, Marion and his party were obliged to sleep in the open air, without tents, and , to shelter themselves in the recesses of swamps. From these retreats they sallied out, whenever an opportunity of harassing the enemy presented itself. Sumpter, who had been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general by Governor Rutledge, had also returned after his defeat, having previously collected a small band of men, and was busily engaged in a similar mode of warfare.
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Opposition to the British government was, however, not wholly confined to the parties commanded by Sumpter and Marion. The disposition to revolt, which had been excited on the approach of General Gates, was not destroyed by his defeat. The spirit of the people, although ovcrawed, was not subdued .. The severity with which some of the revolters, who had fallen into the hands of the enemy, were treated, induced those who escaped to persevere, and seek safety in swamps.
From the time of the general submission of the inhabitants, the British endeavoured to form a royal militia. Major Fer- guson, of the seventy-first regiment, was particularly active in this business. He visited the settlements of the disaffected, and collected a corps of militia, from which much was expected. With these he advanced to the northwestern districts, to hold communication with the loyalists of both Carolinas.
That spirit of martial enterprise, which had begun to show itself among some of the American militia in the southern states, about this time, prompted Colonel Clark to make an attempt on the British post at Augusta, in Georgia, but in this he fail- ed. Major Ferguson, with the hope of intercepting bis party, kept near the mountains, and at a distance from support. This circumstance, together with the depredations of the loyalists, VOL. III. 42
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induced those inhabitants, who dwelt on the west side of tik Alleghany mountains, to form an enterprise against that dis- tinguished partisan. Colonels Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby, . Sevier, Macdowel, Lacy, Hawthorn, and Hill rendezvoused, with sixteen hundred men. Out of these they selected about one thousand of their best men, and mounted them on their fleetest horses, and set out by forced marches. These, coming up with Ferguson on the top of King's mountain, near the con- fines of North and South Carolina, attacked him with vigour. Ferguson, with great boldness, resisted the assailants, and with fixed bayonets, compelled them to retire ; but they only fell back a short way, and then, getting behind trees and rocks, renewed the contest. The loyalists, being uncovered, were aimed at by the American marksmen, and many of them were slain. After a severe conflict, in which their commander was mortally wound- ed, they surrendered, to the number of eight hundred. Two hundred and twenty-five were killed or wounded. In this ac- tion very few of the Americans fell, but among these was Colo- nel Williams. Ten of the royalists, who had surrendered, were hanged. The fall of Ferguson was in itself a great loss to the royal cause. He possessed superior abilities as a partisan, and his spirit of enterprise was uncommon. The unexpected ad- vantage which the Americans gained over him and his party, in a great degree, frustrated a well concerted scheme for strengthening the British army, by the co-operation of the loyal inhabitants, whom he had undertaken to discipline and prepare for service. 'The route of the party under Ferguson operated as a check on the future exertions of those who were disposed to aid the royal cause.
In a few weeks after the defeat of Gates, Lord Cornwallis Teft a small force at Camden, and marched with the main army towards Salisbury. While on his way thither, the North Caro- lina militia was successful in annoying his detachments. The defeat of Major Ferguson, added to these circumstances, induced Cornwallis soon after to retreat to Winnsborough. As he re- tired, the militia took several of his wagons, and killed some of his men. The panic occasioned by the disaster of Gates had
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in a measure abated. The defeat of Ferguson, and the retreat of Cornwallis, encouraged the militia to take the field. General Sumpter, having mounted his followers, made frequent attacks on British parties, beat up their quarters, intercepted their con- voy's, and straitened the operations of the army. Lord Corn- wallis laid several plans for destroying his force, but they all failed. He was attacked at Broad River, by Major Wemys, with a corps of infantry and horse. In this action the British were defeated, and their commander made a prisoner. This was on the twelfth of November. On the twentieth he was at- tacked at Black Stocks, near Tyger River, by Lieutenant- colonel Tarleton, with one hundred and seventy cavalry and . eighty infantry. Tarleton charged with his dragoons, but was compelled to retreat, with the loss of many of his men.
For the three months which followed the defeat of the Amer- ican army near Camden, General Gates was preparing to take the field. Having collected a force at Hillsborough, he ad- vanced to Salisbury, and soon after to Charlotte, where he was superceded by General Greene. Nothing worthy of being par- ticularly mentioned happened in the south, during the residue of the campaign. Though the British had in general been successful, yet they had derived no solid advantages.
While the war raged in South Carolina, the campaign of 1780, in the northern and middle states, was languid. At the close of the year 1779, the grand American army encamped at Morristown; in the State of New-Jersey, where they built huts for their accommodation. This position being only twenty miles from the city of New-York, was well calculated to cover the country from the excursions of the British troops. 1
In January 1780, Lord Stirling made an ineffectual attempt to surprise a party of the British on Staten Island. While he was on the island, several persons from the New-Jersey side, passed over and plundered a number of persons, who submitted to the British. In these times, licentious persons fixed them- selves near the lines, which divided the British from the Ameri- cans, and when ever opportunities offered, they were in the habit of going within the settlements of the opposite party, and com- mitting depredations.
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In the winter of 1780, while the royal army was weakened by the expedition against Charleston, the British were appre- hensive for their safety in New-York. The weather became so excessively severe, that the Hudson, East River, New-York Bay, the Kills and Narrows, were covered with thick ice, which remained fixed for about forty days.
During this time, the heaviest loads were drawn over the ice, as though it had been a bridge. The British, availing them- selves of the facilities it offered, transported cannon, and other munitions of war, to Staten Island. General Knyphausen, who then commanded at New-York, fearing that Washington would avail himself of the opportunity of crossing the ice and attack- ing the city, embodied considerable numbers of the able bodied citizens, and compelled them to do military duties for its de- fence. But the weakness of the American army, and the strength of the British force at the latter place, induced Wash- ington to put nothing at hazard, but to remain where he was, and to preserve his army.
In June, General Knyphausen made an incursion into New- Jersey, with five thousand men. He landed at Elizabethtown, and proceeded to Connecticut Farms. While on his way, a skirmish ensued between some of his men and some Ameri- cans, in which a ball passed through the window of the house of the Reverend James Caldwell, and killed his wife. The British burnt the meeting-house, and twelve other buildings, at this place, and theu continued their march to Springfield. As they advanced, they were annoyed by Colonel Dayton with a few militia. On their approach to the bridge near the town, they were farther opposed by General Wayne, who was pre- pared with some continentals to dispute its passage. But they made a halt, and shortly after returned to Elizabethtown. Be- fore they had retreated, Washington, with the whole army, had set out from Morristown to oppose them. While Knyphausen was in New-Jersey, Sir Henry Clinton returned from Charles- ton to New-York, with part of his forces.
He immediately sent a reinforcement to Knyphausen, when that general advanced a second time towards Springfield. General Greene now opposed him with a considerable body of
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continentals. Colonel Angel, with his regiment, was posted to secure the bridge in front of the town. A severe action ensued, which lasted forty minutes, but the Americans, owing to the superior numbers of the enemy, were forced to fall back a little distance. General Greene then took post on a range of hills in hopes of being attacked. But instead of this, the British burnt the town, containing nearly fifty houses. After this, they re- tired, but were followed by the militia as far as Elizabethtown. The next day they left that place, and returned to New-York. The loss of the Americans, in the action at Springfield, was about eighty men, and that of the enemy, somewhat more. By such desultory operations were hostilities carried on in the northern states. The American refugees, within the British lines, had by this time reduced predatory warfare into a system. They had a small fleet of privateers at New-York, by the aid of which they committed many depradations. They embraced every opportunity which offered to gratify their avarice and re- venge. Their predatory excursions were often lucrative to themselves and detrimental to the Americans, especially to the people of New-Jersey, New-York and Connecticut, who lived adjacent to the city of New-York, and the navigable waters, communicating and leading from the latter city. The facility of transportation, and their knowledge of the country, enabled them to make sudden descents, and successful expeditions. In these expeditions, the feelings of humanity were usually sus- pended, and full rein was given to plunder and revenge.
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