The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-04
BUFORD'S DEFEAT,

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Der, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton, with a
corps of more than 5000 British soldiers,
we'll provided with everything necessary
for the efficiency of such course, clear
ed the harbor of New York and directed
his course towards South Carolina. Four
thipgs-the mildness of the climate, the
richness of the soil, the nesrness to
Georgia, and the distance from General
Washington-suggested South Carolina
to the British commander as the 6ttest
region, in all North America, in which
10 crush out of existence the rebels
against the British government. His
conclusion, judging from the past history
of the contest and present condition of
the colonies, was correct. Tho war of the
rebellion had been raging, with all the
ferceness, the contending partiesL were
able to effect, for period of more than
four years, and not single decisive bat
tie had been fought.
The forces of Sir Henry Clinton, de-
signed to operate in the South, we're con-
voyed by Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot. The
voyage was not prosperous one. A
storm scattered the feet; some of the
ships were captured, one ordinance ves-
sci foundered, most of the artillery, and
all of the cavalry horses perished. 1t was
not until near the middle of February
that the forces we're landed and ready for
action.
With promplness, energy and skill, the
British commander began 10 exucute the
work which he had undertaken. The
country, far and near, was secured by
armed parties, for the purpose of securing
horses to supply the place of those lost
Oh the voyage. Notwithstanding the
many difficulties which beset the British
: commander on all sides, he began, with
large force, the work of throwing up
redoubts in front of the city of Charles
ton. The siege began on land on the
night of the lst of April, the British
ships Rosebuck, Richmond, Romulus,
Blonde, Virginia, Raleigh, Sandwich and
Renown, closed in upon the city, and,
with the land forces, cut it off entirely
from communication with the country at
every point, except that which faced the
Cooper river.
The American forces were commanded
by Grigadier General Benjamin Lincoln.
On the 10th of April, the commanders Of
the British land and naval forces, jointly,
summoned the American general to sur
render. General Lincoln replied, "Sixty
days have passed since it has been known
that your intentions against this town
were hostile, in which time has been af-
forded to abandon it; but duty and incli-
nation point to the propriety of support:
ing it to the last extremity"
On the rejection of the summons, the
British batteries were opened and con.
tinual firing kept up until the 18th of
May, when the city was surrendered on
the same terms as those offered on the
10th of April.
As Charleston was the largest, and in
every respect the most important town in
the State, its capture was regarded by the
British, and by many of the inhabitants
Of the State and a considerable number
of the inhabitants of Charleston itself, as
equivalent to the reduction of the whole
State. No less than 210 of the inhabi.
tants of the city petitioned the comman-
der of the British forces to be readmitted
to the character of British subjects, and
in the same petition declared their dis
appreciation of the doctrine of American
independence. Time has dealt gently
with this petition and its signers. Both
have been preserved.
The fall of Charleston was terrible
calamity to the struggling colonies, but
it was regarded a grand success for the
British. The loss to the Americans, in
prisoners alone, was 5,6lS, besides near
1000 seamen. That the besieged might
be able to resist the besiegers, all the
cannon and firearms of every description
in the colony, had been transported to the
city. All this fall into the hands of the
British.
To announce the fall of Charleston, the
Earl of Lincoln was sent to Europe. On
the reception of the news, all England
was jubilant. So soop as Charleston sur
rendered, Sir Henry Clinton set about to
establish civil government in the city
and State. Having reduced, as he sup
posed, Charleston to state Of subsection
to the King of England, he returned to
New York, taking with him part of his
army, while the remainder was placed
under the command of CORVALLIS. Be.