government as rebels, yet had never been molefted, on account of their numbers and known skill in the use of fire-arms. To the chiefs of thefe people commiffions were fent, in order to raise fome regiments; and Colonel Macdonald, a brave and enterprifing officer, was appointed to command them. In the month of February he erected the king's ftandard, issued proclamations, &c. and collected fome forces, expecting to be foon joined by a body of regular troops, who were known to be fhipped from Britain to act against the fouthern colonies. The Americans, fenfible of their danger, difpatched immediately what forces they had to act against the royalists, at the fame time that they diligently exerted themselves to fupport thefe with fuitable reinforcements. Their prefent force was commanded by a General Moore, whose numbers were inferior to Macdonald; for which reafon the latter fummoned him to join the king's ftandard under pain of being treated as a rebel. But Moore, being well provided with cannon, and confcious that nothing could be attempted againft him, returned the compliment, by acquainting Colonel Macdonald, that if he and his party would lay down their arms, and subscribe an oath of fidelity to congrefs, they should be treated as friends; but if they perfifted in an undertaking for which it was evident they had not fufficient ftrength, they could not but expect the fevereft treatment. In a few days General Moore found himself at the head of eight thousand men, by reafon of the continual fupplies which daily arrived from all parts. The royal party amounted only to two thousand, and they were deftitute of artillery, which prevented them from attacking the enemy while they had the advantage of numbers. They were now therefore obliged to have recourse to a desperate exertion of perfonal valour; by dint of which they effected a retreat for eighty miles to Moore's Creek, within fixteen miles of Wilmington. Could they have gained this place, they expected to have been joined by Governor Martin and General Clinton, who had lately arrived with a confiderable detachment. But Moore with his army purfued them so close, that they were obliged to attempt the paffage of the creek itself, though a confiderable body of the enemy, under the command of Colonel Cofwell, with fortifications well planted with cannon, was posted on the other fide. On attempting the creek, however, it was found not to be fordable. They were obliged therefore to cross over a wooden bridge, which the provincials had not time to destroy entirely. They had, however, by pulling up part of the planks, and greafing the remainder in order to render them flippery, made the paffage fo difficult, that the royalifts could not attempt it. In this fituation they were, on the 27th of February, attacked by Moore, with his fuperior army, and totally totally defeated with the lofs of their general and most of their leaders, as well as the best and braveft of their men. Thus was the power of the Provincials established in North Carolina. Nor were they lefs fuccefsful in the province of Virginia; where Lord Dunmore, having long continued an ufelefs predatory war, was at laft driven from every creek and road in the province. The people he had on board were diftreffed to the highest degree by confinement in fmal veffels. The heat of the season, and the numbers crowded together, produced a peftilential fever, which made great havock, especially among the blacks. At laft, finding themselves in the utmost hazard of perishing by famine as well as difeafe, they fet fire to the least valuable of their veffels, referving only about fifty for themselves, in which they bid a final adieu to Virginia, fome failing to Florida, fome to Bermuda, and the reft to the West Indies. In South Carolina the Provincials had a more formidable enemy to deal with. A fquadron, whose object was the reduction of Charlestown, had been fitted out in December 1775; but by reason of unfavourable weather did not reach Cape Fear, in North Carolina, till the month of May 1776: and here it met with further obftacles till the end of the month. Thus the Americans, always noted for their alertnefs in raifing fortifications, had time to strengthen those of Charlestown in such a manner as rendered it extremely difficult to be attacked. The British fquadron confifted of two fifty gun fhips, four of thirty guns, two of twenty, an armed fchooner, and bomb-ketch; all under the command of Sir Peter Parker. The land forces were commanded by Lord Cornwallis, with Generals Clinton and Vaughan. As they had yet no intelligence of the evacuation of Bofton, General Howe difpatched a veffel to Cape Fear, with some instructions; but it was too late; and in the beginning of June the fquadron anchored off Charlestown bar. Here they met with fome difficulty in croffing, being obliged to take out the guns from the two large fhips, which were, notwithstanding, feveral times in danger of flicking faft. The next obftacle was a strong fort on Sullivan's Ifland, fix miles eaft from Charlestown; which, though not completely finished, was very ftrong. However, the British generals refolved without hesitation to attack it; but though an attack was easy from the sea, it was very difficult to obtain a co-operation of the land forces. This was attempted by landing them on Long Island, adjacent to Sullivan's Island on the eaft, from which it is feparated by a narrow creek, faid not to be above two feet deep at low water. Oppofite to this ford the Provincials had posted a strong body of troops, with cannon and entrenchments; while General Lee was posted on the main land, with a bridge 4 bridge of boats betwixt that and Sullivan's Island, fo that he could at plea fure fend reinforcements to the troops in the fort on Sullivan's Island. On the part of the British, fo many delays occurred, that it was the 28th of June before matters were in readiness for an attack; and by this time the provincials had abundantly provided for their reception. On the morning of that day the bomb ketch began to throw fhells into Fort Sullivan, and about mid-day the two fifty gun fhips and thirty gun frigates came up and began a fevere fire. Three other frigates were oldered to take their station between Charlestown and the fort, in order to enfilade the batteries, and cut off the communication with the main land; but through the ignorance of the pilots they all fluck faft; and though two of them were difentangled, they were found to be totally unfit for fervice: the third was burnt, that fhe might not fall into the hands of the enemy. The attack was therefore confined to the five armed fhips and bombketch, between whom and the fort a dreadful fire enfued. The Bristol fuffered exceflively. The fprings on her cable being shot away, fhe was for fome time entirely expofed to the enemy's fire. As the enemy poured in great quantities of red-hot balls, fhe was twice in flames. The captain (Mr. Morris), after receiving five wounds, was obliged to go below deck in order to have his arm amputated. After undergoing this operation he returned to his place, where he received another wound, but ftill refufed to quit his station: at last he received a red-hot ball in his belly which inftantly put an end to his life. Of all the officers and feamen who stood on the quarter-deck of this veffel, not one escaped without a wound excepting Sir Peter Parker alone; whose intrepidity and prefence of mind on this occafion was very remarkable. The engagement lafted till darknefs put an end to it. Little damage was done by the British, as the works of the enemy lay fo low that many of the fhot flew over; and the fortifications, being compofed of palm-trees mixed with earth, were extremely well calculated to refift the impression of cannon. During the height of the attack, the provincial batteries remained for fome time filent, fo that it was concluded that they had been abandoned; but this was found to proceed only from want of powder; for as foon as a fupply of this neceffary article was obtained, the firing was refumed as brisk as before. During the whole of this defperate engagement it was found impoffible for the land forces to give the leaft affiftance to the fleet. The enemy's works were found to be | much stronger than they had been imagined, and the depth of water effectually prevented them from making any attempt. In this unfuccefsful attack the killed and wounded on the part of the British amounted to about 1 about two hundred. The Bristol and Experiment were fo much damaged, that it was thought they could not have been got over the bar; however, this was at last accomplished by a very great exertion of naval skill, to the furprize of the provincials, who had expected to make them both prizes. On the American fide the lofs was judged to have been very confiderable, as most of their guns were difmounted, and reinforcements had poured into the fort during the whole time of the action. This year alfo, the Americans, having fo frequently made trial of their valour by land, became defirous of trying it by fea, and of forming a navy that might in fome measure be able to protect their trade, and do effential hurt to the enemy. In the beginning of March commodore Hopkins was difpatched with five frigates to the Bahama Inlands, where he made himself mafter of the ordnance and military ftores; but the gunpowder, which had been the principal object, was removed. On his return he captured several veffels; but was foiled in his attempt on the Glasgow frigate, which found means to efcape notwithstanding the efforts of his whole fquadron. but now they The time, however, was now come when the fortitude and patience of the Americans were to undergo a fevere trial. Hitherto they had been on the whole fuccefsful in their operations: were doomed to experience misfortune, and mifery; the enemy overrunning their country, and their own armies not able to face them in the field. The province of New York, as being the moft central colony, and most acceffible by fea, was pitched upon for the object of the main attack. The force fent against it confifted of fix fhips of the line, thirty frigates, befides other armed veffels, and a vaft number of tranfports. The fleet was commanded by lord Howe, and the land forces by his brother general Howe, who was now at Halifax. The latter, however, a confiderable time before his brother arrived, had fet fail from Halifax, and lay before New York, but without attempting to commence hoftilities until he should be joined by his brother. The Americans had, according to cuftom, fortified New York and the adjacent islands in an extraordinary manner, However, general Howe was fuffered to land his troops on Staten Island, where he was foon joined by a number of the inhabitants. About the middle of July, Lord Howe arrived with the grand armament; and being one of the commiffioners appointed to receive the fubmiffion of the colonifts, he publifhed a circular letter to this purpofe to the feveral governors who had lately been expelled from their provinces, defiring them to make the extent of his commiffion, and the powers he was invested with by parliament, as public as poffible. Here, however, congrefs faved him the trouble, by ordering his letter and declaration to be published in all the newfVOL. I. 3 U papers papers, that every one might fee the infidiousness of the British minif try, and that they had nothing to truft to befides the exertion of their own valour. Lord Howe next fent a letter to General Washington; but as it was directed "To George Washington, Efq." the general refused to accept of it, as not being directed in the style suitable to his station. To obviate this objection, Adjutant-general Paterfon was fent with another letter, directed" To George Washington, &c. &c. &c." But though a very polite reception was given to the bearer, General Washington ut terly refufed the letter; nor could any explanation of the Adjutant in duce him to accept of it. The only interefting part of the converfation was, that relating to the powers of the commiffioners, of which Lord Howe was one. The adjutant told him, that these powers were very extenfive; that the commiffioners were determined to exert themselves to the utmost, in order to bring about a reconciliation; and that he hoped the general would confider this vifit as a step towards it. General Washington replied, that it did not appear that these powers confifted in any thing elfe than granting pardons; and as America had committed no offence, she asked no forgiveness, and was only defending her un queftionable rights. The decifion of every thing being now by confent of both parties left to the fword, no time was loft, but hoftilities commenced as foon as the British troops could be collected. This, however, was not done be fore the month of Auguft; when they landed without any oppofition on Long Island, oppofite to the fhore of Staten Island. General Putnam, with a large body of troops, lay encamped and ftrongly fortified on a peninfula on the oppofite fhore, with a range of hills between the armies, the principal pafs of which was near a place called Flatbush. Here the centre of the British army, confifting of Heffians, took poft; the left wing, under General Grant, lying near the fhore; and the right, confifting of the greater part of the British forces, lay under Lord Percy, Cornwallis, and General Clinton. Putnam had ordered the paffes to be fecured by large detachments, which was executed as to thofe at hand; but one of the utmost importance, that lay at a distance, was entirely neglected. This gave an opportunity to a large body of troops under Lord Percy and Clinton to pafs the mountains and attack the Americans in the rear, while they were engaged with the Heffians in front. Through this piece of negligence their defeat became inevitable. Thofe who were engaged with the Heffians firft perceived their mistake, and began a retreat towards the camp; but the paffage was by the British troops, who drove them back into the woods. intercepted Here they |