Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-05-11
THURSDAY MAY II, 1876.

Sir Henry CllDtOn, VIII AuWIEal MatAou al
buthnot, set sail from Sandy Hook. On board
the fleet was a land force of five thousand
troops Every preparation had been made
for the expedition. The equipment was per-
feet; butt no human foresight can provide
against all casualties. The voyage was not
only tedious but attendant with sore diasters
Several of the transports and provision ships
were damaged by the sea few were taken
by the Americans, and all were, more or less,
injured. An ordnance ship with all her stores
sank, and nearly all the cavalry and draught
horses we're drowned. After long and tenn
pestuous voyage, the armament reached North
Edisto sound on the 10th of February.
The following day was spent in landing the
troops on Johns Island. The British army,
led by the commander-in-chief in person, was
now within thirty miles of Charleston. Had
he marched Immediately against the city, it
must have fallen into his hands at once. Gen.
ersl Lincoln had less than two thousand con-
tinental troops, and the militia would have
been panic stricken on the appearance Of so
formidable force as that under the command
of Sir Henry Clinton. Had an immediate
attack been made by Clinton, the probability
is that General Lincoln would have retreated
and left the city Of Charleston to the mercy
of the enemy. Sir Henry Clinton, notwith.
standing the great superiority of his forces
over those of General Lincoln, determined to
take the city by seige. Lincoln, on the other
hand, went to work, in conjunction with the
civil and municipal authorities, to put the
place in condition to stand regular invest
ment. ... - .,.aL T.
The course pursued by the British General
showed that he feared the ghost of Fort Sui
livan. Twice the forces Of bis Brittanic Ma.
jesty had been repulsed and driven away,
humbled if not disgrsced, from Charleston.
Now. the commander-in.chief Of the British
forces in America, determined to proceed de.
liberately and cautiously. With as much
military ceremony as if be were about to:be-
siege grand old European city, whose frown-
ing battlemepts looked down in contempt up
on an approaching enemy, the British general
began the work Of besieging city only one
hundred years old, and defended by only a
few indisciplined militia and General bred
q farmer ...,...... r.aa-ss.
Charleston, at this time, was in very unfit
condition to resist the attack of the enemy.
The financial condition of the State of South
Carolina was absolutely desperate. The price
of pair shoes was near thousand dollars,
and everything else in proportion. The small
pox broke out in the city, and served as an
excuse to deter the country militia from join
ing the forces in the city. The truth is, the
militia we're hopelessly demoralized. They
dreaded the idea of being cooped up in be-
leaguered city. Most of them we're conscious
that they would flee at the first onset, and the
idea of having no outlet begat within their
minds feelings akin to despair.
When Sir Henry Clinton arrived the Leg
islature was in session. Governor John Rut-
ledge was granted dictatorial powers. He
was invested with power to do anything that
would prevent the Republic from suffering
harm. Absolute power was granted him, ex-
cept that no man could be put to death until
after trial by jury. ... 81.
Governor Rutledge, together with all the
friends of the Republican party in the city,
advocated defending the place to the last
extremity. General Lincoln's intention when
Sir Henry Clinton's forces arrived, was to
evacuate Charleston and retire to the up-coun-
try, and then, at some fit time, having collect
ed a sufficient force, return and drive the
British out This would have been the proper
course, but General Lincoln was forced to
yield to the wishes of the citizens. He was,
no doubt, deceived by being told that rein
forcements would flock to him from all quar-.
ters of the State. Not only so, but he had
sent dispatches to Havana soliciting aid from
the Spanish Governor. Expecting that some
event would occur, which would enable him
to defend the city, he went to work to strength
en- the Notifications. A ditch was cut across
Charleston Neck, from the Ashley to the
Cooper river. This was protected by two
rows of abattis. The works which had been
constructed on the approach Of Provost, were
Men and boys, and even wo-
men, went to work on the Notifications. Three
hundred negroes we're brought in from the
plantations in the neighborhood by Governor
and put to work. Night and day
the axe and spade we're piled.
Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, with a
small garrison, was stationed at Fort Moul-
trie. Captain Daniel Horny was sent to
Ashley Ferry, to keep q look out for the ap-
proach of the enemy. General Moultrie was
ordered south to collect militia force, direct
the general movements of the American cav
airy, and, in any way that he could, harrass
the foe. The works in front and around the
city from Hadrell's to Hospital Point, were
repaired, strengthened and manned as we'll
as circumstances would allow. Commodore
Whipper, with small force which Congress
had sent south, was ordered to take his stand
in the harbor, and prevent the fleet Of Admi-
raj Arbuthnot from crossing the bar. Such,
briefly, was the disposition made Of the Amer
can forces. --.
Determined to hasten slowly, Sir Henry
Clinton established military depot at Wap-
poo, on James Island, and repaired Fort
johnson. After near two months delay in
for the seige, his forces moved for
ward on the 18th of March, crossed the Sto.
no, and on the same day crossed the Asbly at
the point where the first settlement in the