12. So closed the year 1779. The colonies were not yet free. The French alliance had brought but little benefit. The national treasury was bankrupt. The patriots of the army were poorly fed, and paid only with unkept promises. The disposition of Great Britain was still for war. The levies of sailors and soldiers made by Parliament, amounted to a hundred and twenty thousand; while the expenses of the War Department were set at twenty million pounds sterling. RECAPITULATION. Hardships of the soldiers.—Tryon's expedition.—Is attacked by the militia.— Putnam's exploit.-Fall of Stony Point and Verplanck's.-Insurrection in Virginia.-Tryon invades Connecticut.-Destruction of East Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk.-Stony Point is retaken by Wayne.-Lee captures Jersey City.An American flotilla is lost in the Penobscot.-Sullivan ravages the Indian country. The British evacuate Rhode Island.-Fort Sunbury is taken.-Fall of Augusta.-Anderson defeats the tories.-Pickens gains a victory.--Augusta is evacuated.-Defeat of Lincoln's army.-He again takes the field.-Is beaten at Stono Ferry.-Suspension of activity.-D'Estaing arrives.-Siege of Savannah.The assault.-Paul Jones's victory.-The situation. D CHAPTER XLI. REVERSES AND TREASON. URING the year 1780, military operations at the North were suspended. Early in July, Admiral De Ternay arrived at Newport with a French squadron and six thousand land-troops under Count Rochambeau. The Americans were greatly elated at the coming of their allies. In September, the commander-in-chief held a conference with Rochambeau, and the plans of future campaigns were determined. 2. In the South the patriots suffered many reverses. South Carolina was completely overrun by the enemy. On the 11th of February, Admiral Arbuthnot anchored before Charleston. Sir Henry Clinton and five thousand men were on board the fleet. Two days afterward, The city was defended by fourteen hundred men, under General Lincoln. The British effected a landing, and advanced up the right bank of Ashley River. On the 7th of April, Lincoln was reinforced by seven hundred Virginians. Arbuthnot succeeded in passing Fort Moultrie, and came within cannon-shot of the city. 3. A siege was at once begun, and Lincoln sent prosecuted with vigor. three hundred men under General Huger to scour the country north of Cooper River. Apprised of this movement, Tarleton with the British cavalry stole upon Huger's forces at Monk's Corner, and dispersed the whole company. The city was now fairly hemmed in. From the beginning the defence was hopeless. The fortifications were beaten down, and Lincoln, dreading an assault, agreed to capitulate. On the 12th of May, Charleston was surrendered to the British, and the garrison became prisoners of war. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON, 1780. 4. A few days before the surrender, Tarleton surprised and dispersed a body of militia on the Santee. Afterward three expeditions were sent into different sections of the State. The American post at Ninety-Six was seized. A second detachment invaded the country on the Savannah. Cornwallis crossed the Santee and captured Georgetown. Tarleton with seven hundred cavalry overtook the Americans under Colonel Buford, on the Waxhaw, charged upon and scattered the whole command. 5. The authority of Great Britain was reestablished over South Carolina. Clinton and Arbuthnot returned to New York, and Cornwallis was left to hold the conquered territory. In this condition of affairs, Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion appeared as the protectors of the State. They rallied the militia and began an audacious partisan warfare. Detachments of the British were swept off as though an enemy had fallen on them from the skies. At Rocky Mount, Colonel Sumter burst upon a party of dragoons, who barely saved themselves. On the 6th of August, he attacked a detachment at Hanging Rock, defeated them and retreated. It was in this battle that young Andrew Jackson, then but thirteen years of age, began his career as a soldier. 6. Marion's company consisted of twenty men and boys, white and black, half clad and poorly armed. But the number increased, and the "Ragged Regi ment" soon became a terror to the enemy. There was no telling when or where the sword of the fearless leader would fall. From the swamps at midnight he and his men would suddenly dart upon the encampments of the enemy. During the summer and autumn of 1780 heswept around Cornwallis's positions, cutting his lines of communication and making incessant onsets. 7. General Gates now advanced into the Carolinas. Lord Rawdon concentrated his forces at Camden. Hither came Cornwallis with reinforcements. The Americans took post at Clermont. Cornwallis and Gates each formed the design of surprising the other in the night. On the evening of the 15th of August, they both moved from their camps and met midway on Sander's Creek. After a severe battle the Americans were completely defeated, with a loss of more than a thousand men. Baron De Kalb was mortally wounded. The reputation of Gates was blown away like chaff, and he was superseded by General Greene. FRANCIS MARION. 8. A few days after the battle, Sumter's corps was overtaken by Tarleton at Fishing Creek and completely routed. Only Marion remained to harass the enemy. On the 8th of September, the British advanced into North Carolina, and on the 25th reached Charlotte. Colonel Ferguson, with eleven hundred reg G I N Dan R. NORT На Huntsville' Cornwallis Salisbury Greene Beatie'sFord Retreat Hillsboro A anoke R Halifax O A ulars and tories, was sent into the country west of the Catawba to encourage the loyalists. On the 7th of October, while he and his men were encamped on King's Mountain, they were attacked by a thousand riflemen led by Colonel Campbell. A desperate battle ensued; Ferguson was slain, and three hundred of his men were killed or wounded. The remaining eight hundred threw down their arms and begged for quarter. Ten of the leading tory prisoners were condemned by a court-martial and hanged. Morgan Retreat Kings Mount Battle Pacolet R. Ennoree R. Ninety Six S Yadkin Charlotte Clermont Great Rocky Mount Battles Hanging Rock Cheraw Winsboro Field Hobkirk's Hill' U N. Edisto R. C AUGUSTA Congare Orangeburg EutawSprings Ashley CHARLESTON 100 Santee R. 150 SCENE OF OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH, 1780-81. 9. Meanwhile, the credit of the nation was sinking to the lowest ebb. Congress resorted to paper money. At first the continental bills were received at par; but the value of the notes rapidly diminished, until, by the middle of 1780, they were not worth two cents to the dollar. Business was paralyzed for the want of a currency; but Robert Morris and a few other wealthy patriots came forward with their private fortunes and saved the colonies from ruin. The mothers of America also lent a helping hand; and the patriot soldiers were supplied with food and clothing. 10. In the midst of the gloom, the country was shocked by the news that Benedict Arnold had turned traitor. After the battle of Bemis's Heights, in the fall of 1777, he had been promoted to the rank of major-general, and made commandant of Philadelphia. Here he married the daughter of a loyalist, and entered upon a career of extravagance which overwhelmed him with debt. He then began a system of frauds on the commissary department of the army. Charges were preferred against him by Congress, and he was convicted by a court-martial. 11. Seeming to forget his disgrace, Arnold obtained command of the fortress of West Point on the Hudson. On the last day of July, 1780, he assumed control of the arsenal and dépôt of stores Putnam Ft.Montgomery Ft Clinton Haverst Stony Pt AudreLai Nyack Tappan Ft. Constitution Robinson'sHouse ndependence Crom Pond Peekskill VerplauksPt King's Ferry Hudson Rive House Croton ller Pt Salem Pines Bridge North Castle Andre Paken. TarryTown White Plains at that place. He then entered into a secret correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton, and finally offered to betray his country for gold. It was agreed that the British fleet should ascend the Hudson, and that the garrison and the fortress should be given up without a struggle. 12. On the 21st of September, Clinton sent Major John Andrè to hold a conference with Arnold and make arrangements for the surrender. Andrè, who was adjutant-general of the British army, went in full uniform; and the meeting was held outside of the American lines. About midnight of the 21st, he went ashore from the Vulture, and met Arnold in a thicket. Daydawn approached, and the conspirators entered the American lines. Andrè, disguising himself, assumed the character of a spy. 13. During the next day, the business was completed. Arnold agreed to surrender West Point for ten thousand pounds and a commission as brigadier in the British army. Andrè received papers containing a description of West Point, its defences, and the best method of attack. During that day, an American battery drove the Vulture down the river; and Andrè was obliged to cross to the other side and return by land. He passed the American outposts in safety; but at Tarrytown he was confronted by three militiamen* who stripped him, found his papers, and delivered *John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac van Wart. Congress afterward rewarded them with silver medals and pensions for life. |