The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-10-22
BUFORD,S DEFEAT.

per Counties Of South Carolina IS memo
rable on account of some tragical affair
which occurred in it during the years
1880 and 1881. On the 26th of Decem-
ber, 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
things-the mildness of the climate, the
richness of the soil, the nearness to
Georgia, and the distance from General
Washington-suggested South Carolina
to the British commander as the fttest
region, in all North America, in which
to 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. The 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 a single decisive bat
tie had been fought.
The forces of Sir Henry Clinton, de-
signed to operate in the South, were con-
voyed by Vice-Adniral Arbuthnot. The
voyage was not prosperous one. A
storm scattered the fleet; some of the
ships were captured, one ordinance YES
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 were landed and ready for
action.
With promptness, energy and skill, the
British commander began to 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
on 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 at
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 2l0 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 it's signers. Both
have been preserved.
The fall of Charleston was terrible
calamity to the struggling colonies, but
it was regarded grand success for the
British. The loss to the Americans, in
prisoners alone, was 5,6l0, 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 fell 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 iubilant. So soon 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 objection
to the King Of England, be returned to
New York, taking with him part of his
army, while the remainder was placed
under the command of CORVALLIS. Be.
fore his departure, Sir Henry Clinton
planned three expeditions. One to move
up the Savannah River to Augusta; an-
other to pass through the country to
Ninety-six; and the third, commanded
by CORVALLIS, to pass through the east
ern part of the State in pursuit of Colo
mel Abraham Buford. 1t is with this last
that we are present concerned.
During the siege of Charleston, troops
from different sections of the State, and
from other States, were sent to assist
the besieged in repel!iug the assaults of
the enemy. The entrance to the city
was, soon after the work of throwing up
redoubts was began, entirely cut off.
Among the troops cut off were those led
by Colonel Abraham Buford. The exact
number of his command cannot, at this
late day, be ascertained. An old and
trustworthy authority says: ut consisted
of about 800 Continentals, the rear of the