Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-21
THE BATTLE OF FORT MoULTRIE,
1770.


IFrom Mr.. Bancrofts forthcoming History OF the
United States"
The month of May robed the catalpa and the
oleander in their gorgeous masses of flowers,
and the peace Of Charleston was still undisturbed
except by gathering rumors, that the English
fleet and transports destined for its attack had
arrived in Cape Fear River. All the mechanics
and laborers about town were employed in cx-
tending and strengthening its Notifications, and
a great number of negroes, brought down from
the country, were put upon the works. The
bloom Of the magnolia was turning yellow in
the hot sky of early summer. when on the first
day of June expresses from Christ Church Par
ish brought news to the President, that a fleet
of forty or fifty sail lay anchored about twenty
miles to the north of Charleston bar.
Happily the colony had already organized an
efficient government, and invested Rutledge, its
chief executive officer, with large powers He
ordered the alarm to be fired, and while the
citizens were looking out for horses, carriages,
or boats, to remove their wives and children, he
hastened down the militia from the country by
expresses; and in company with Armstrong
visited all the Notifications. -Barrcades were
thrown up across the principal streets defences
were raised at the points most likely to be Sc
lected for landing; lead, CLEANED from the
weights of windows of churches and dwelling
spectacle force in men was concentred in the
capital.
The eyes of the whole country were turned
upon the people of South Carolina. Their in
vaders, at moment when instant action was
essential to their success were perpleXed by un-
certainty of counsel between Clinton and Sir
Peter Parker, the respective commanders of the
army and the naval force. On the seventh
Clinton would have sent on shore a proclana-
tim by flag Of truce; his boat was fired on
by an ignorant sentinel, but next day Moultrie
offered an explanation through one of his Off
GERS, and received the proclamation in return.
In this the British General declared the exis-
tence of ga most unprovoked and wicked re-
bellion within South Carolina" the succession
of crimes of its inhabitants" the tyranny of its
congress and committees, the error, thus far in
corrgible, of an INFATUATED and misguided
multitude" the duty of proceeding forthwith
against all bodies of men in arms, congresses
and committees open enemies OF the State !;
but "from humanity" he consented "to forewarn
the deluded people," and TO offer in his majes-
| tvs name ''frce pardon to such as should lay
down their arms and submit to the laws
Having done this, he consulted CORVALLIS on
the best means OF gaining possession OF Sulll-
vans Island and both agreed that they could
not more effectualy cooperate with the intend
| cu lHONtIncnl VI tue Httt, tlluu DN luhiiS poo-
session of Long Island, which was represented
to communicate with Sulvan's Island at low
water, by ford, and with the main by chan
mel navigable for boats of draft. Clinton had
| had four days time to sound the ford but he
took the story of its depth on trust.
On the morning of the 9th of June, Charles
| Lee attended by his ades-de-camp and Robert
Howe of North Carolina, arrived at Haddrelrs
Point After examining its Notifications, he
crossed over to Sullivan's Island, where he found
a good stock of powder, fort of which the
| front and one side were finished, and twelve
hundred men encamped in its rear in huts and
booths that were rooted with palmetto leaves
Within the fort numerous mechanics and labor
ers were lifting and fitting heavy palmetto logs
for its walls. He had scarce glanced at the
work, when he declared that she did not like
that post at all it could not hold out half-an
hour, and there was no way to retreats" 1t was
but slaughter pen,' and the garrison would
be sacrificed On his way up to Charleston
Lee touched at James Island, where Gadsder
had the command.
The battaons raised in South Carolina were
not as yet placed upon the continental estab
lishment and although Congress bore the pro
portionate expense the disposition of the force
still remained under the exclusive direction o
the President of the Colony and its officers
lhs circumstance oecame now Vi 'ne Bieu'es
importance. 70 armstrong no command what
ever had been conceded and he had had little
TO do except to receive the hospitalities o
Charleston but Lee was the second officer il
the American army; his military fame was a
that time very greats he had power from The
general Congress to order, and he had ordered
battalions from North Carolina and Virginia
his presence was constant pledge of the active
sympathy of the continents and on his arriva
he was invested with the military command
through an order from Rutledge.
On that same day Clinton began his disem
barkation, landing four or five hundred men oil
Long Island. 1t was therefore evident that thu
first attack was to be made not on the city, bu
its outposls; yet Lee proposed to Rutedge, t'
withdraw from Sulliyan's Island and abandon