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Browsing named entities in a specific section of George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10. Search the whole document.

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Huger (search for this): chapter 14
of Georgia, and subduing East Florida before the end of July. To this Washington answered: The policy of our arming slaves is in my Chap. XIII.} 1779. opinion a moot point, unless the enemy set the example. For, should we begin to form battalions of them, I have not the smallest doubt, if the war is to be prosecuted, of their following us in it, and justifying the measure upon our own ground. The contest then must be, who can arm fastest. And where are our arms? Congress listened to Huger, the agent from South Carolina, as he explained that his state was weak, because many of its citizens must remain at home to prevent revolts among the negroes, or their desertion to the enemy; and it recommended as a remedy, that the two southernmost of the thirteen states should detach the most vigorous and enterprising of the negroes from the rest by arming three thousand of them under command of white officers. A few days before the British came near Charleston, young Laurens arrived,
Indians (search for this): chapter 14
or a soldiery that could encounter veterans, nor the command of the river, undertook to lead his troops against Savannah by way of Augusta, leaving only a thousand militia under Moultrie at Perrysburg. The British general had the choice between awaiting an attack, or invading the richest part of Carolina. His decision was for the side which April 28. promised booty. On the twenty-eighth of April, when the American army was distant five days march, General Prevost, this time supported by Indians, crossed the river with three thousand men, and drove Moultrie before him. The approach of the savage allies, who spared neither child nor woman, and the waste and plunder of the plantations, spread terror through the land. Many of Moultrie's militia left him to protect their own families. Timid planters, to save their property, made professions of loyalty; and sudden converts represented to Prevost that Charleston lay defenceless at his mercy. After two or three days of doubt, the hope
Dillon (search for this): chapter 14
of the city. On the eighth of October the reduction Oct. 8. of Savannah seemed still so far distant, that the naval officers insisted on the rashness of leaving the fleet longer exposed to autumnal gales, or to an attack, with so much of its strength on land. An assault was, therefore, resolved on for the next day, an hour before sunrise, by two feigned and two real attacks. The only chance of success lay in the precise exe- Chap. XIII.} 1779. cution of the plan. The column under Count Dillon, which was to have attacked the rear of the British lines, became entangled in a swamp, of which it should only have skirted the edge, was helplessly exposed to the British batteries, and could not even be formed. It was broad day when the party with d'estaing, accompanied by a part of the Carolinians, advanced fearlessly, but only to become huddled together near the parapet under a destructive fire from musketry and cannon. The American standard was planted on the ramparts by Hume and
Gadsden (search for this): chapter 14
of gaining time by protracted parleys,—the executive government sent a flag to ask Chap. XIII.} 1779. of the invaders their terms for a capitulation. In answer, the British general offered peace to the inhabitants who would accept protection; to all others, the condition of prisoners of war. The council, at its next meeting, debated giving up the town; Moultrie, Laurens, and Pulaski, who were called in, declared that they had men enough to beat the invaders; and yet against the voice of Gadsden, of Ferguson, of John Edwards, who was moved even to tears, the majority, at heart irritated by the advice of congress to emancipate and arm slaves, proposed a neutrality, during the war between Great Britain and America; the question whether the state shall belong to Great Britain or remain one of the United States to be determined by the treaty of peace between the two powers. Laurens, being called upon to bear this message, scornfully refused, and another was selected. The British gene
John Laurens (search for this): chapter 14
aign might depend on the slaves. No sooner was the danger of South Carolina known in the camp of Washington, than young Laurens was impatient to fly to his native state, and levy and command a regiment of blacks. Alexander Hamilton recommended theing three thousand of them under command of white officers. A few days before the British came near Charleston, young Laurens arrived, bringing no relief from the north beyond the advice of congress for the Carolinians to save themselves by armino all others, the condition of prisoners of war. The council, at its next meeting, debated giving up the town; Moultrie, Laurens, and Pulaski, who were called in, declared that they had men enough to beat the invaders; and yet against the voice of Gong to Great Britain or remain one of the United States to be determined by the treaty of peace between the two powers. Laurens, being called upon to bear this message, scornfully refused, and another was selected. The British general declined to
Jasper (search for this): chapter 14
t should only have skirted the edge, was helplessly exposed to the British batteries, and could not even be formed. It was broad day when the party with d'estaing, accompanied by a part of the Carolinians, advanced fearlessly, but only to become huddled together near the parapet under a destructive fire from musketry and cannon. The American standard was planted on the ramparts by Hume and by Bush, lieutenants of the second South Carolina regiment, but both of them fell; at their side Sergeant Jasper was mortally wounded, but he used the last moments of his life to bring off the colors which he supported. A French standard was also planted. After an obstinate struggle of fifty-five minutes to carry the redoubt, the assailants retreated before a charge of grenadiers and marines, led gallantly by Maitland. The injury sustained by the British was trifling; the loss of the Americans was about two hundred; of the French thrice as many. D'Estaing was twice wounded; Pulaski once, and
Greene (search for this): chapter 14
ens, seventy of them were convicted of treason and rebellion against the state of South Carolina. Of these no more than five were executed: the rest were pardoned. On hearing that Lincoln from ill health had asked of congress leave to retire, Greene, who was impatient of his position as quartermaster-general, requested of the commander-in-chief the southern command. Washington answered that Greene would be his choice, but he was not consulted. The army of Lincoln, whose offer to retire wasGreene would be his choice, but he was not consulted. The army of Lincoln, whose offer to retire was not accepted, was greatly inferior to the British in number, and far more so in quality; yet he ventured to detach Ashe, with fifteen hundred of the North Carolina militia, on separate service. This inexperienced general crossed the Savannah at Augusta, which the British had abandoned, and descended the river with the view to confine the enemy within narrower limits. Following his orders, he encamped his party at Brier creek, on the Savannah, beyond supporting distance. The post seemed to hi
Prevost (search for this): chapter 14
umn of 1778, two expeditions were sent out by Prevost from East Florida. They were composed in pareducing them to some order and regulation. Prevost to Clinton, 25 Sept., 1778. One of these mixeto take part in the expedition. Germain to Prevost, 13 March, 1779. Compare Ibid., 8 March, 177he state. Early in January, 1779, Brigadier-General Prevost 1779. Jan. marched as a conqueror aish amused Lincoln by a feint, while Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost turned the position of Ashe, who seeusand stand of arms. After this success, General Prevost proclaimed a sort of civil government in merican army was distant five days march, General Prevost, this time supported by Indians, crossed f loyalty; and sudden converts represented to Prevost that Charleston lay defenceless at his mercy.invasion of South Carolina by the army of General Prevost proved nothing more than a raid through tder to the arms of the king of France. While Prevost gained time by a triple interchange of notes,[1 more...]
Byron (search for this): chapter 14
tish troops. A landing for its recovery was repulsed, with a loss to d'estaing of nearly fifteen hundred men. Early in January, 1779, re-enforcements under Admiral Byron transferred maritime superiority to the British; and d'estaing for six months sheltered his fleet within the bay of Port Royal. At the end June. of June, ByrByron having left St. Lucia to convoy a company of British merchant ships through the passages, d'estaing detached a force against St. Vincent, which, with the aid of the oppressed and enslaved Caribs, its native inhabitants, was easily taken. This is the only instance in the war where insurgent slaves acted efficiently. At the samehe French admiral made an attack on the island of Grenada, whose garrison on the fourth of July surrendered at discre- July 4. tion. Two days later, the fleet of Byron arrived within sight of the French; and though reduced in number, sought a general close action, which his adversary knew how to avoid. In the running fight which
Alexander Hamilton (search for this): chapter 14
of three hundred men whom Lincoln had detached, and who had marched forty miles a day. While the British crossed the Ashley, Pulaski and a corps were ferried over the Cooper into Charleston. The besiegers and the besieged were nearly equal in numbers; the issue of the campaign might depend on the slaves. No sooner was the danger of South Carolina known in the camp of Washington, than young Laurens was impatient to fly to his native state, and levy and command a regiment of blacks. Alexander Hamilton recommended the project to the president of congress in these words: The negroes will make very excellent soldiers. This project will have to combat prejudice and self-interest. Contempt for the blacks makes us fancy many things that are founded neither in reason nor experience. Their natural faculties are as good as ours. Give them their freedom with their muskets: this will secure their fidelity, animate their courage, and have a good influence upon those who remain, by opening a
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