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Island； all the troops which could be spared from the town； and make a
feint on that side； or attack； if a favourable opportunity offered； while the
principal effort was to be made by Lincoln； at Stono。 He made the attack
before Moultrie could cooperate； （June 20） and the enemy remaining in
their lines； and being reinforced； obliged him to retreat。 In this affair a few
men were killed； and Col。 Roberts； of the artillery； mortally wounded。 His
loss was greatly and justly lamented。 William Richardson Davie； lately
deceased； and afterwards so much celebrated as Gen。 Davie； was among
the wounded。 Prevost； soon after this； retreated along the chain of islands
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Life of Marion。
on the coast； until he reached Port Royal and Savannah。 During the time
Prevost lay before the lines of Charleston； Maj。 Benjamin Huger； an active
officer； a wise statesman； and a virtuous citizen； was unfortunately killed。
What rendered his fate the more melancholy； was； that the act was done by
the mistake of his own countrymen。 It was at this time also； that Gen。
Count Pulaski； a Polander； began to distinguish himself as a partisan。 His
address in single combat； was greatly celebrated。 Col。 Kowatch； under his
command； was killed before the lines； and shamefully mutilated by the
British。 Of the campaign of 1779； it was not the intention of the author to
give a minute detail； but only to sketch out those feelings； and that line of
conduct； in the cabinet and field； which； followed up in the succeeding
year； brought ruin and disgrace upon the country。
* Lincoln's letter； 20th April。 ** 1st vol。 Moultrie's memoirs； from
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Life of Marion。
Chapter II。
CAMPAIGN OF 1780。
Sir Henry Clinton arrives with an army of 12；000 men in South
Carolina。 The General Assembly sitting in Charleston； break up。 Gen。
Lincoln shuts himself up in the town； and Clinton lays siege to it。 Before
the town is entirely hemmed in； Marion dislocates his ankle； and retires
into the country。 The town capitulates。 Tarleton's career of slaughter。
Defeat of Gen。 Huger at Monk's Corner and of Buford at the Waxhaws。
Rising of the people in Williamsburgh； and at Pedee。 Gen。 Marion sent to
them as a commander。 Gates； defeat。 Marion retakes 150 American
prisoners at Nelson's Ferry。 Maj。 Wemyss sent against him； he retreats to
the White Marsh； in North Carolina。 Returns and defeats the tories at
Black Mingo and the fork of Black river。 Attempt on Georgetown
frustrated。 Marion takes post at Snow Island。 Sumter's career。 Ferguson's
defeat。 Spirit of the whigs begins to revive。
The year 1780； was the most eventful one； in the annals of South
Carolina。 The late failure of the attack on Savannah； the little opposition
which Gen。 Prevost met with； in a march of more than one hundred miles
through the state； the conduct of the planters； in submitting； to save their
property； and the well known weakness of the southern army； all
conspired to induce the enemy to believe； that Charleston； and South
Carolina； would become an easy prey。 Sir Henry Clinton； their commander
in chief； meditating a formidable expedition against them； with this view
sailed from New York on the 26th December； 1779； with an army； which；
with subsequent reinforcements amounted to about 12；000 men。 To oppose
this great force； Gen。 Lincoln had not more than two thousand； a great part
of which was militia。 His head quarters were in Charleston； where the
general assembly were setting in calm deliberation； for they had not yet
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Life of Marion。
heard of the rising storm。 Lieut。 Col。 Marion； had command of the out…
post of this little army； at Sheldon； near Pocotaligo； where he had orders to
watch the motions of Prevost； and prevent him from obtaining supplies of
provisions； from the Carolina side of Savannah river。 It was expected he
was to remain here for some time； and great confidence was reposed in
him； by Gen。 Lincoln； as appears by his letters； at this period。 The British
had a tedious passage； in which they lost part of their ordnance； most of
their artillery； and all the horses； destined to mount their cavalry。 On the
11th Feb。 1780； they landed about thirty miles from Charleston。 The
assembly sitting there； immediately broke up； after delegating； 〃till ten
days after their next session； to John Rutledge； and such of his council as
he could conveniently consult； a power to do every thing necessary for the
public good； except the taking away the life of a citizen； without a legal
trial。〃 This was nearly the same power； with which the senate of Rome；
invested their dictators。 But a resolution； fatal in its consequences； was
unanimously adopted by this assembly： namely； to defend the town to the
utmost extremity。 The power； thus delegated to the governor and council；
was carried into effect afterwards； with vigour； and with what would now
be thought an infraction of private rights。 But in the spirit of the times； and
the public situation； such vigour was necessary。 The governor's council；
was composed of upright and virtuous men； and John Rutledge was one of
the most distinguished sons； to whom South Carolina has given birth。 His
eloquence was proverbial； both in congress； and at home。 It was that of
Demosthenes； concise； energetic； and commanding。 There was something
in his very manner； and the tone of his voice； that riveted the attention of
his audience。 They stood subdued before him。 He swayed the councils of
the state； he swayed the councils of the general who commanded the
southern army： and if he erred； he erred with a good conscience； and from
the purest motives。
The first order issued by Governor Rutledge； was； to call out the
drafted militia； for the defence of the town； under pain of confiscation of
property。 This order was but partially obeyed； the militia； who were
friendly to the cause； had been much harassed in the last campaign； and it
was