1780. It had been the policy of the British, since the general submission of the inhabitants of South Carolina, to increase the royal force by embodying the people of the country as a British militia. In the district of Ninety Six, major Ferguson, a partisan of distinguished merit, had been employed to train the most loyal inhabitants, and to attach them to his own corps. That officer was now directed by lord Cornwallis to enter the western part of North Carolina near the mountains, and to embody the loyalists in that quarter for cooperation with his army. Cornwallis in the mean time commenced his march with the main army from Camden, through the settlement of the Waxhaws, to Charlotteville in North Carolina. About the same time, colonel Clark, of Georgia, at the head of a small body of men which he had collected in the frontiers of North and South Carolina, advanced against Augusta, and laid siege to that place. Colonel Brown, who with a few loyal provincials held that post for the British, made a vigorous defence; and, on the approach of colonel Cruger with a re-enforcement from Ninety Six, Clark relinquished the enterprise, and made a rapid retreat through the country, along which he had marched to the attack. Major Ferguson, receiving intelligence of his movements, prepared to intercept him. The hardy mountaineers of Virginia and North Carolina, collecting at this time from various quarters, constituted a formidable force, and advanced by a rapid movement towardFerguson. At the same time colonel Williams, from the neighbourhood of Ninety Six, and colonels Tracy and Banan, also of South Carolina, conducted parties of men toward the same points. Ferguson, having notice of their approach, commenced his march for Charlotteville. The several corps of militia, amounting to nearly 3000 men, met at Gilbert town, lately occupied by Ferguson. About 1600 riflemen were immediately selected, and mounted on their fleetest horses, for the purpose of following the retreating army. They came up with the enemy at King's Mountain, where Ferguson, on finding that he should be overtaken, had chosen his ground, and waited for an attack. The Oct. 7. Americans formed themselves into three divisions, led by colonels Action at Campbell, Shelby, and Cleaveland, and began to ascend the Mountain. King's mountain in three different and opposite directions. Ferguson, falling with great boldness and impetuosity on the first assailants with fixed bayonets, compelled them to give way; but before one division could be dispersed, another came up, and poured in a heavy fire. Against the second body of assailants the bayonet was again used with success; but before any material advantage could be gained, a new enemy presented himself in another quarter. Ferguson again successfully used the bayonet; but both the corps, which had been repulsed, now returning to the 1780. Ferguson defeated and killed. feated at Broad river. charge, a very galling fire was kept up against him on all sides. The action having been continued in this manner nearly an hour, major Ferguson received a mortal wound, and instantly expired. The survivors ended the contest by submission. In this sharp action, 150 of Ferguson's party were killed on the spot, and about the same number wounded; 810, of whom 100 were British troops, were made prisoners; and 1500 stand of excellent arms were taken. The Americans lost very few; but among them were the brave colonel Williams, and major Cronicle. General Sumpter, although his corps had been dispersed on the 18th of August by colonel Tarleton near the Wateree, soon after collected a band of volunteers; and kept the field in South Carolina three months, when there was no continental army in the state. Varying his position about Evoree, Broad, and Tyger rivers, he had frequent skirmishes with the enemy, whom he inBritish de cessantly harassed. On the 12th of November, he was attacked at Broad river by major Wemys, commanding a corps of infantry and dragoons; but the British were defeated, and their commanding officer taken prisoner. Eight days afterward he was attacked at Black Stocks, near Tyger river, by lieutenant colonel Tarleton, who began the attack with 170 dragoons, and 80 men of the 63d regiment; but, finding himself unable to dislodge the Americans, he retreated with considerable loss, and left Sumpter in quiet possession of the field. The zeal and activity, the bravery and good conduct of this American officer, at that trying period, procured him the thanks of congress, and the applause of his country. Nov. 20. Attempt on Incursion of Knyphau sen into N. Jersey. In the northern states, the military transactions of this year were unimportant. Lord Stirling in January made an ineffectual attempt to surprise a party of the enemy on Staten Island. In June, 5000 men, commanded by lieutenant general Knyphausen, made an incursion from New York into New Jersey. Landing at Elizabethtown, they proceeded to Connecticut Farms, where they burned about 13 houses, and the presbyterian church, and then proceeded to Springfield. As they advanced, they were annoyed by colonel Dayton with a few militia; and, on their approach to the bridge near the town, they were farther opposed by general Maxwell, who with a few continental troops was prepared to dispute the passage. They made a halt, therefore, and soon after returned to Elizabethtown. Before they had retreated, the whole American army at Morristown marched to oppose them. In the mean time, Sir Henry Clinton, returning with his victorious troops from Charlestown, ordered a re-enforcement to Knyphausen; who with the whole body advanced a second time toward Springfield. The British were now opposed by general Greene with a considerable body of continental troops. Colonel Angel with his regiment and a piece 1780. of artillery was posted to secure the bridge. A severe action was fought, which was kept up forty minutes; after which, the June 23. Americans were forced by superior numbers to retire. General Action near Springfield Greene took post with his troops on a range of hills, in the hope in N.Jersey of being attacked; but the British, having burned the town, consisting of nearly 50 dwelling houses, retreated to Elizabethtown, and the next day set out on their return to New York. The loss of the Americans in the action was about 80; that of the British was supposed to be considerably more. Arnold. The most flagrant instance of treachery, during the revolution- Treachery ary war, occurred this year. The American army was stationed of general in the strong holds of the high lands, on both sides of the North river. For the defence of this river, a fortress had been built at West Point, after the loss of Fort Montgomery; and it was so strong and impregnable, as to be called the Gibraltar of America. Of this post general Arnold solicited the command; and general Washington, far from suspecting any sinister views in an officer who had been uniformly zealous and active in the cause of his country, complied with the solicitation. When Arnold had become invested with the command, he carried on a negotiation with Sir Henry Clinton, by which it was agreed, that Arnold should make such a disposition of his forces, as would enable the British general effectually to surprise West Point. The agent, employed in this negotiation, was major André, adjutant general of the British army. To favour the communications, the Vulture, a British sloop of war, had been previously stationed in North river, as near Arnold's posts as could be without exciting suspicion. On the night of the 21st of September, a boat was sent from the shore to fetch major André; and Arnold met him at the beach, without the posts of both armies. Their business not being finished until it was too near morning for André to return to the Vulture, Arnold, telling him he must be concealed until the next night, conducted him within one of the American posts, where he continued with him the following day. The Vulture having in the mean time changed her position, the boatmen refused to carry back André the next night; and he could now return to New York in no other way than by land. Quitting for a common coat his uniform, which he had worn under a surtout, he set out on horseback under the name of John Anderson, with a passport "to go to the lines of White Plains, or lower if he thought proper, he being on public business." When advanced a great part of the way, he was Major Anstopt by three of the New York militia, belonging to a scouting dre taken; party; and several papers, containing exact returns of the state of the forces, ordnance, and defences at West Point, were found 1780. in his boots. The captors, disdaining a proffered bribe of a purse of gold and permanent provision and promotion, on condition of their conveying and accompanying him to New York, delivered him a prisoner to lieutenant colonel Jameson, who commanded the scouting parties. André, with the incautious permission of Jameson, informed Arnold of his detention, in a letter, on the receipt of which Arnold abandoned every thing, and went on board the Vulture sloop of war. General Washington referred the case of André to the examination and decision of a board, consisting of 14 officers, who, without examining a single witness, founded their report on his own confession. After stating the facts, they reported it as their opinion, "that major André ought to be considered as a spy, and that, agreeably to the laws and usages of nations, he should suffer death.' He was accordingly hung as a spy, on the 2d of October.1 and execut ed as a spy. Quotas to be furnish ed by the States. Enterprise of major Talmage. British Congress on the 19th February resolved, that for the ensuing campaign the States be respectively required to furnish, by draughts or otherwise, on or before the 1st day of April next, their respective deficiences of the number of 35,211 men, exclusive of commissioned officers, which Congress deem necessary for the service of the present year.2 In November, major Talmage crossed the Sound to Long Island with 80 men; made a circuitous march of twenty miles to Fort George, and almost instantly reduced it. He had but one man wounded. Eight of the enemy were killed and wounded, and a lieutenant colonel, a captain, and 55 privates, taken prisoners. The British corps and recruits, sent to America and the West troops sent Indies this year, amounted to 10,237. By returns on the 1st of to America. December, the British land forces, serving under general Clinton, amounted to 19,153; in Canada, 3385; in the West Indies, 7130; and under the convention of Saratoga, 1646. 1 This event excited a deep and general sympathy both among Britons and Americans. Major André was in the bloom of life, and peculiarly engaging in his person and manners. Every exertion was made by the royal commanders to save him, but without effect. His execution, however apparently repugnant to the dictates of humanity, "cannot be condemned without condemning the maxims of self preservation, which have uniformly guided the practice of hostile nations."-Congress resolved, that each of the three captors of André, John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Vert, receive annually 200 dollars in specie during life; and that the board of war be directed to procure for each of them a silver medal, emblematic of their fidelity and patriotism, to be presented by the commander in chief, with the thanks of Congress. 2 The quotas of the several States were to be: New Hampshire 1215 Massachusetts 6070 Charles town sent to tine. In violation of the capitulation of Charlestown, South Carolina, 1780. many of the citizens, who steadfastly adhered to the principles which they had pledged themselves to support, were torn away Citizens of from their families, and exiled to St. Augustine. The exiles gave their paroles to confine themselves within certain prescribed St. Auguslimits, and to withhold, until exchanged, all active opposition to the British authorities. General Gadsden was the only exception. This inflexible patriot, when the parole was tendered to him, said, "that he had already given one, and honourably observed it; that in violation of his rights as a prisoner under a capitulation, he had been sent from Charlestown, and that therefore he saw no use in giving a second parole." The commanding officer replied, "he would enter into no argments, but demanded an explicit answer, whether he would or would not renew his parole." General Gadsden answered firmly, "I will not. In God I put my trust, and fear no consequences.' He was instantly hurried off to the castle, where he was confined for ten months in a small room, and kept in complete separation from his fellow prisoners, and in total ignorance of the advantages gained by his countrymen, but with most complete details of their defeats, and particularly of the sequestration of his estate with the estates of the other Carolina rebels. While at St. Augustine, the exiled patriots suffered great indignities and hardships. What most aggravated their calamity, was an order from governor Tonyn to the commissary of prisoners, forbidding their private meetings for the purpose of performing divine service; with notice that seats would be provided for them at the parish church. They were charged with proceedings of a seditious tendency, and the violation of their paroles. "This," said they, "we absolutely deny." Their only desire was, "to spend a part of every sabbath, in holy adoration of the Divine Being," and in religious service appropriate to the day; and this they "thought their duty." In the prayers, offered at the parish church, they could not join; and the discourses, delivered there, they were unwilling to hear. "Such worship," said they, "would indeed be no better than solemn mockery; therefore, rather than join in such hypocritical petitions, and perhaps be insulted with sermons calculated to affront us, we have resolved to refuse our attendance on divine worship at the Parish Church, and patiently put up with the loss of paying our devotions publicly, and at our own dwellings silently to spend our returning sabbaths, in the best manner we can, by reading and meditation, until it shall please the Almighty Disposer of all events, to restore us to peace, and to our afflicted families and friends."1 1 Journal of Josiah Smith, son of the minister of the Independent church in Charlestown, cited by major Garden, in his "Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War." |