The British general, now freed from anattack; was soon enabled to act offensively ag vincials, by the arrival of the forces destined pose from Britain. By these he was put at twelve thousand regular troops; among who of Brunswick. With this force he set out rivers, where he expected Arnold would have but he had retired to Sorel, a place one hun miles from Quebec; where he was at last me forcements ordered by Congress.

Here, though the preceding events were calculated to inspire much military ardour, a enterprize was undertaken; and this was to British troops, posted under generals Fraser of whom the former commanded those on lan such as were on board the transports, and we way distant. The enterprize was very ha on account of the strength of the parties, a they were to act, and as the main body of the were advanced within fifty miles of the place a number of armed vessels, and transports wi between them and the Three Rivers. Two sen men, however, under general Thomson this undertaking. Their success was by no n able to their spirit and valour.

Though they passed the shipping without ed, general Fraser had notice of their landin being prepared to receive them, they were so to disorder; at the same time that general ing landed his forces, prepared to attack the On this occasion, some field pieces did prod tion, and a retreat was found to be unavoidab Nesbit was now between them and their bo they were obliged to take a circuit through a while they were hotly pursued by both partie time, who marched for some miles on each swamp, till at last the unfortunate provincials ed from further danger by a wood at the end of Their general, however, was taken, with tw bis men.

By this disaster, the provincials lost all hope

12

(their works, and carried off their artillery, with the utmost
expedition. They were pursued by general Burgoyne,
against whom it was expected they would have collected
all their force, and made a resolute stand. But they were
now too much dispirited by misfortune, to make any more
exertions of valour. On the eighteenth of June, the ritish
general arrived at Fort St. Johns, which he found aban-
doned and burnt. Chamblee had shared the same fate; as
well as all the vessels that were not capable of being dragged
up the river. It was thought they would have made
some resistance at Nut-Island, the entrance to lake Champ-
plain: but this also they abandoned; and retreated across
d. Ne the lake to Crown point, whither they could not be imme-
the
diately followed.

butal,

inst

Thus was the province of Canada entirely evacuated by dos the provincials, whose loss in their retreat from Quebec, was calculated at not less than one thousand men, of whom four hundred in one body, fell into the hands of the enemy Desde at a place called the Cedars, about fifty miles from Montroops freal. General Sullivan who conducted this retreat, after

itish

Ousa

the affair of general Thomson, had great merit in what he enge did, and received the thanks of Congress accordingly.

ans al

This bad success in the north was in some measure compensated by what happened in the southern colonies. eing ....It has been formerly noticed that governor Martin of 3; North Carolina, had been obliged to leave his province, n throw and take refuge on board of a man of war. He notwithNesbit standing did not despair of reducing it again to obedience. in the He therefore, applied to the regulators, a daring set of gious banditti, who lived in a kind of independent state; and le. Ges though considered by government as rebels, yet had never ats; been molested, on account of their known skill in the use deeps of fire arms. To the chiefs of these people commissions 3 at thes were sent, in order to raise some regiments; and a colonel side of Macdonald was appointed to command them. In the

were sted month of February he erected the king's standard, issued The Boonmations, &c. and collected some forcesdard, issued ro hunt soon to be joined by a body of regular troops, who were known to be shipped from Britain to act against the south

res

of art ern colonies.

The Americans sensible of their danger, dispatched

!

ists, at the same time they exerted themsel these with suitable reinf cements. General bers at first were inferior to Macdonald's, the latter to hope that he might intimidat the king's standard; with this intention he s under the pain of being treated as a rebel But Moore being well provided with cannon, that nothing could be attempted against him compliment, by acquainting Macdonald, tha party would lay down their arms, and subs of fidelity to Congress, they should be trea but if they persisted in an undertaking for evident they had not sufficient strength, they expect the severest treatment.

In a few days general Moore found hims of 8,000 men, by reason of the continual s daily arrived from all parts. The royal party ed to 2000, and as they were destitute of were prevented from attacking the enemy when they had the advantage of numbers. No mained but to have recourse to a desperate ex own personal valour; by dint of which they treat for eighty miles to Moore's Creek, v miles of Wilmington. Could they have gai they expected to have been joined by gove and general Clinton, who had lately arrived derable detachment. But Moore with his a them so close, that they were obliged to att sage of the creek, on the opposite side of whi nel Caswell with a considerable body of provi to oppose his passage, with fortifications well cannon. On attempting the creek it was fou fordable. They were obliged therefore, to wooden bridge, which the provincials had not to destroy. They had, however, by pulling planks, and greasing the remainder, made th difficult that the royalists could not attempt it.

In this situation they were on the 27th 1776, attacked by Moore and his superior a tally defeated, with the loss of their gener of their leaders, as well as the best and bra

19

ectec

1 this

in North Carolina. Nor were they less successful in Virginia, where Lord Dunmore, having long continued a predatory war, was at last driven from every creek and road in the province. The people he had on board were distressed to the highest degree, by confinement in small vessels. The heat of the season, and the numbers crowded together, produced a pestilential fever, which made great havock, especially among the blacks. At last finding themselves in the utmost hazard of perishing by famine, as well as disease, they set fire to the least valuable vessels, reserving only about fifty for themselves, in which they bid a final adieu to Virginia, some sailing for Florida, some to Bermuda, and the rest to the West Indies.

In South Carolina the provincials had a more formidable enemy to deal with. A squadron, whose object was the reduction of Charleston 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 obstacles to the end of the month. Thusthe Americans had time to strengthen the works of Charleston in such a manner as rendered it extremely difficult to be attacked.

The British squadron consisted of two fifty gun ships, Da four of thirty guns, two of twenty, and an armed schooner thar, and bomb-ketch, all under the command of sir Peter Par

ker. The land forces were commanded by lord Cornwallis, aptth with generals Clinton and Vaughan. As they had yet no intelligence of the evacuation of Boston, general Howe

cials

d ne

dispatched a vessel to Cape Fear with some instructions; pient but it was too late; and in the beginning of June, the squadron anchored off Charleston bar. Here they met Toss with some difficulty in crossing, being obliged to take out ime the guns from the two largest ships, which were notwith ppame standing, several times in danger of sticking fast. The pass next obstacle was a strong fort on Sullivan's island, six miles

east of Charleston, which, though not compleatly finished, of Fer was very strong. However, the British generals resolved swit out hesitation to attack it; but though an attack was and easy from sea, it was difficult to obtain a co-operation of

it is separated by a very narrow creek, not ab deep at low water. Opposite to this ford, th had posted a strong body of troops, with ca trenchments; while general Lee was posted land, with a bridge of boats betwixt that ar island, so that he could at pleasure, send re to the troops in the fort on Sullivan's island.

There were so many delays occurred on the British, that it was the 24th of June, 1776, be were in readiness for an attack; and, by th provincials had abundantly provided for the On the morning of that day, the bomb-ket throw shells into fort Sullivan, and about mic fifty gun ships, and thirty gun frigates came u a severe fire. Three other frigates were orde their station between Charleston, and the fort enfilade the batteries, and cut off the commun the main land; but, through the ignorance с they all stuck fast; and though two of them tangled they were found to be totally unfit for third was burnt, that she might not fall into the enemy.

The attack was therefore confined to the vessels, and bomb-ketch, between whom an dreadful fire ensued. The Bristol suffered exc springs on her cable being shot away, she wa entirely exposed to the enemy's fire. As th poured in great quantities of red hot balls, sh in flames. Captain Morris, her commander, af five wounds, was obliged to go below deck in c his arm amputated: 'after undergoing this c returned to his station, where he received ano but still refused to quit his place; at last he re hot ball in his belly, which instantly put an en Of all the officers and seamen, who stood on deck of this vessel, not one escaped without a cept sir Peter Parker alone; whose intrepidi sence of mind on this occasion, was very rema

The engagement lasted until the darkness to it. Little damage was done by the British, a of the enemy lay so low, that many of the sho