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were killed, and feveral wounded.

Such expedition was used in repairing the damage done to the fhips, and the purfuit was renewed and continued with fo much fpirit, that on the 20th they again got fight of the enemy, and chaced them for three fucceffive days without intermiffion.

The object of the French commander, befides that of ufing all poffible means to avoid a fecond action, being to recover Fort Royal Bay, which he had fo lately quitted, but where only he could repair his shattered fleet; and that of Sir George Rodney, befides the hope of bringing him again to action, to cut him off from that place of refuge and fupply. M. de Guichen, was obliged to give up his fecond object, and for the prefervation of his firft, to take helter under Guadaloupe. Nothing could afford a clearer acknowledgment of victory to the British commander; although unfortunately it, was not attended with all thofe fubftantial advantages which were to be wished. Sir George Rodney returned to cruize off Fort Royal, hoping thereby to intercept that enemy whom he could not overtake.

The enemy, however, not appearing, the admiral found it neceffary from the condition of the fleet, after several days cruize, and greatly alarming the ifland of Martinique, to put into Chocque Bay in St. Lucia, as well to land the fick and wounded, as to water and refit the fleet. These purposes being fulfilled with great difpatch, and advice received of the motions of the enemy, he

again put to fea, and in four days
had the fortune to
May 10th.
gain fight of them,
within a few leagues to windward.

Both fleets continued in this state
of wind and condition for feveral
days; the French having it con-
ftantly in their power to bring
on an engagement, and, not-
withstanding their fuperiority, as
conftantly using effectual means
for its prevention. Befides the
fettled advantage of the wind,
they foon perceived, that the
cleannefs and condition of their
fhips, afforded fuch a fuperiority
in point of failing, that they feem-
ed to grow playful with respect to
the British fleet; and accordingly
used for several days to
down in a line of battle abreast,
as if they meant feriously and di-
rectly to hazard an engagement,
until they were arrived within
little more than random cannon
fhot, when they fuddenly hauled
their wind, and again departed
out of all reach.

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It is at all times bad jefting before an enemy; even fuppofing that enemy to be a much less determined and formidable foe than a British fleet. In the courfe of this manoeuvring, the bravade being encouraged by a fudden and masterly movement made by the British admiral for gaining the wind, and which was mistaken for a fymptom of flight, the whole French fleet were nearly entangled into that which of all things they moft wifhed to avoid. They were only faved from a clofe and general engagement by a critical fhift of wind; and even with that aid, and all the fails they could carry, were

not able

to

to preserve their rear entirely from conflict.

Rear Admiral Rowley's divifion now compofed the van of the British fleet, and was moft gallantly led by Capt. Bowyer of the Albion, the headmost ship. That brave officer arrefted the

15th. flight of the enemy about feven in the evening, and fuftained for no fhort time the fire of feveral of their heavy fhips, before the rear admiral, in the Conqueror, and two or three more of his divifion, were able to come up to his affiftance. It was perceivable, from the latter flackness of the enemy's fire, that their rear had fuffered confiderably in this rencounter; the Albion and Conqueror, were the fhips that fuffered moft on our fide; only three more were able to come within reach of danger.

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The enemy from this kept an awful diftance, and ventured no more to repeat the parade of coming down, as if they meant to engage. A vigorous effort made, however, by the British commander, a few days after, in order to weather them, although it failed of the intended effect, yet involved the fleets in fuch a manner, that the French, for the prefervation of their rear, were 19th. under the neceffity of hazarding a partial engagement. They accordingly bore along the British line to windward, and maintained a heavy cannonade, at a distance which could not admit of any great effect, but which they endeavoured conftantly to preferve. The rear, however, and fome part of the center, could not efcape being clofely and feverely attacked by the British van, and fuch other fhips as could

get up. It was accordingly obferved that they fuffered very confiderably. As foon as their rear was extricated, the enemy's whole fleet bore away, with all the fail they could poffibly prefs.

It appears that twelve fail of the British fleet, including the Prefton of 50 guns, were able to come up fo far with the enemy, as to fuftain fome lofs. Although the van was led on this day, by Commodore Hotham, in the Vengeance, with great reputation, yet it was the fortune of the Albion, Capt. Bowyer, to ftand the brunt of this action, as well as of the preceding. She fuffered accordingly. The whole loss of, the fleet in both engagements, amounted to 68 flain, and 293 wounded; and of thefe, 24 were killed, and 123 wounded, in the Albion only. Admiral Rowley fuffered confiderably in the former action, but much more deeply in this; in which his brave Captain, Watson, likewife fell. All the officers who could get into action in either, are entitled to the higheft applaufe.

The British fleet continued the purfuit of the enemy for two days, when they totally loft fight of them; the chace had then led them 40 leagues directly to the windward of Martinique. The ftate of the fleet rendered it now abfolutely neceffary for the commander in chief to proceed to Carlisle Bay, in the island of Barbadoes; which afforded, at length, an opportunity to the French of attaining that object which they had fo long fought, and of repairing their fhattered fleet in Fort Royal harbour.

Notwithstanding the tranquil ap-
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pearances

pearances of things in South Carolina, at the time of Sir Henry Clinton's departure from thence, it foon became obvious, that many of the inhabitants were fo little fatisfied with the prefent government, that they endeavoured to difpofe of their property upon fuch terms as they could obtain, and totally to abandon the province. This conduct became fo frequent and glaring, that Lord Cornwallis found it neceffary towards the end of July to iffue a proclamation, ftrictly forbidding all fales and transfers of property, including even negroes, without a licence first obtained from the commandant of Charles Town; and likewife forbidding all mafiers of veffels, from carrying any perfons whatever, whether black or white, out of the colony, without a written paffport from the fame officer.

In the mean time, Lord Cornwallis, who extended his views to the reduction of North Carolina, had kept up a conftant correfpondence with the loyalifts in that colony, who eagerly urged him to the profecution of his defign. But befides that the heat of the Summer was fo exceflive, that it would have rendered action exceedingly deftructive to the troops, he likewife found, that no army could be fubfifted in that country, until the harvest was over. Upon thefe accounts, he earneftly preffed the friends of the British government in North Carolina, to keep themfelves quiet, and free from all fufpicion, though in readiness, until the proper feafon arrived. But the ufual impatience of thofe people, operated upon by the vigilant jealoufy of

that government, or, as they faid, by its oppreffion and cruelty, rendered them incapable of profiting of fuch falutary counfel. Infurrections accordingly took place, which being conducted without, order or caution, as well as premature, were eafily fuppreffed. A Col. Bryan, however, with about 800 half armed men, escaped into South-Carolina, where they joined the royal forces.

During the neceffary continuance of the commander in chief at Charles Town, in regulating the government and affairs of the province, the part of the army deftined to active service, was advanced towards the frontiers, under the conduct of Lord Rawdon, who fixed his head quarters at the town of Camden. The advantageous fituation of that place on the great river Santee, which afforded an eafy communication with feveral, and remote, parts of the country, together with other inviting and favourable circumftances, induced Earl Cornwallis to make it not only a place of arms, but a general ftore-house or repofitory for the fupply of the army in its intended operations. He accordingly used the utmoft dispatch in conveying thither from Charles Town, rum, falt, arms, ammunition, and various ftores, which from the diftance, and exceffive heat of the weather, proved a work of infinite labour and difficulty. That noble commander likewife fpared no pains in arming and embodying the militia of the province, and in raifing new military corps under well-affected leaders.

But during thefe tranfactions, a great change took place in the

afpect

afpect of affairs in North-Carolina. For befides the fuppreffion of the loyalists, who were treated with little mercy, Major-General the Baron de Kalbe, a German officer in the American fervice, arrived in that province with 2000 continental troops; and was followed by fome bodies of militia from Virginia. The government of the colony were likewife indefatigable in their exertions and preparations, at leaft for defence, if not for conqueft. Troops were raifed; the militia every where drawn out; and Rutherford, Cafwell, Sumpter, and other leaders, advanced to the frontiers at the head of different bodies of them. Skirmishes took place on all fides, and were attended with various fortune; and the enemy became fo dangerous, that Lord Rawdon found it neceffary to contract his pofts.

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It foon appeared, that the fubmiffion of many of the South-Carolinians was merely compulfory, and that no conditions or confe. quences could bind or deter them from pursuing the bent of their inclinations, whenever the opportunity offered. As the enemy increafed in ftrength, and approached nearer, numbers of thofe who had fubmitted to the British government, and others who were on parole, abandoned, or hazarded all, things, in order to join them. A Colonel Lifle, who had exchanged his parole for a certificate of being a good fubject, carried off a whole battalion of militia, which had been raised by another gentleman for Lord Cornwallis, to join Sumpter. Another battalion, who were appointed to conduct about 100 fick of the 71ft regiment in

I

boats down the Pedee to GeorgeTown, feized their own officers, and carried them, with the fick men, all prifoners to the enemy.

General Gates was now arrived in North-Carolina, to take the command of the new fouthern army; and the time was fast approaching, when his high military reputation was to be ftaked in an arduous conteft with the fortune of Earl Cornwallis. In the fecond week of Auguft, that nobleman having received intelligence at Charles Town, that Gates was advancing with his army towards Lynche's Creek, that Sumpter was endeavouring to cut off the communications between that city and the army, that the whole country between the Pedee and the Black River had revolted, and, that Lord Rawdon was collecting his whole force at Camden, he immediately fet off for that place.

He found on his arrival no fmall difficulties to encounter. Gates was advancing, and at hand, with a very decided fuperiority of force. His army was not estimated at less than five or fix thousand men; it was likewife fuppofed to be very well appointed; whilft the name and character of the commander, increased the idea of its force. On the other hand, Lord Cornwallis's regular force, was fo much reduced by ficknefs and casualties, as not much to exceed 1400 fighting men, or rank and file, with four or five hundred militia, and North Carolina refugees. The pofition of Camden, however advantageous or convenient in other refpects, was a bad one to receive an attack. He could indeed have made good his retreat to CharlesTown with thofe troops that were

able

able to march; but in that cafe, he must have left about 800 fick, with a vast quantity of valuable ftores, to fall into the hands of the enemy. He likewife forefaw, that excepting Charles-Town and the Savannah, a retreat would be attended with the lofs of the two whole provinces of South Carolina and Georgia.

In thefe circumftances, the noble commander determined, neither to retreat, nor wait to be attacked in a bad pofition. He knew that Charles-Town was fo well garrifoned and provided, that it could not be expofed to any danger, from whatever might befal him. That his troops were excellent, admirably officered, and well found and provided in all refpects. And that the lofs of his fick, of his magazines, the abandonment of the country, and the defertion of his friends, all of which would be the inevitable confequences of a retreat, were almoft the heavieft evils which could befal him in any fortune. In his own words, there was "little to lose by a defeat, and much to gain by a victory.'

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The intelligence which he received, that General Gates had encamped in a bad fituation, at Rugley's about 13 miles from Camden, undoubtedly ferved to confirm Lord Cornwallis in his

Aug. 15th.

determination. He accordingly marched from Camden about 10 o'clock at night, with a full intention of furprizing Gates at Rugley's; and making his difpofitions in fuch a manner, as that his best troops and greatest force fhould be directed against the continental regiments; laying little ftrefs on the militia,

if these were fufficiently provided against.

It was almoft fingular, that at the very hour and moment, at which Lord Cornwallis fet out from Camden to furprize Gates, that general fhould fet out from Rugley's in order to furprize him. For although he does not acknowledge the fact in point of defign, and even pretends, that his night movement was made with a view of feizing an advantageous pofition fome miles fhort of Camden; his order of march, the difpofition of his army, with the hour of fetting out, and other circumftances, will leave but little room to entertain a doubt of his real object. Thefe leading features will remind fome of our readers of a celebrated action in the late war; in which the Pruffian monarch, environed with danger, and furrounded on all fides by armies of enemies, fome of which were fingly fuperior to his own, furprized and defeated Laudohn on a night march, when that able general intended to conclude the war by completing the circle, and by furprizing him in a manner which must have been final in its effects.

In the prefent inftance, the light troops and advanced corps on both fides, neceffarily fell in with and encountered each other in the dark, fo that the furprize was mutual. In this blind encounter, however, the American light troops being driven back precipitately on their van, occafioned fome confiderable diforder in that part, if not in their centre, which probably was never entirely recovered. Lord Cornwallis repreffed the firing early, and immediately form ed; he found that the enemy were

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