CHAPTER XVIII.

EVENTS OF 1779-1781.

280. War in the South. The main action was now transferred to the South. Savannah, with all its cannon and stores, was taken by a British force, December, 1778, after a brave but ineffectual resistance. Many people accepted the British protection, but those who were true to American freedom took refuge in the highlands and in Carolina. Georgia became for three years a royal province.

Feb.-May, 1779.

281. Major-general Lincoln' was appointed to command the American forces in the South. Port Royal having been taken by the British, was gallantly recaptured by Colonel Moultrie. Charleston was threatened, but not then taken, for upon the approach of Lincoln the enemy hastily retreated. Thenceforth the British general contented himself with ravage and robbery, which only provoked the patriots to sterner efforts, while they ruined the royal cause in the esteem of all right-minded people.

282. Recapture of Stony Point. The enemy were now in possession of the forts on the lower Hudson which guarded the communication between New York and New Jersey. In July, 1779, General Wayne—“Mad Anthony" he was called—was intrusted by Washington with the recapture of Stony Point. With a small number of chosen men he surprised the guard at the foot of the hill, climbed the rugged height surrounded on three sides by the river, and seized the fort. Though seriously wounded, he was carried at the head of the storming party. Six hundred British were either killed or captured. As Washington had not a

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force sufficient to hold the fort, the stores were all removed and the works demolished. At Paulus Hook, Major Lee,' called "Light-Horse Harry," captured what is now Jersey City, almost under the guns of the British in New York.

Aug., 1779.

283. The infant Navy of the United States made up in boldness and swiftness of movement what it lacked in size, even entering the British harbors in the West Indies, burning ships at the wharves, and carrying off powder and other stores. A swarm of privateers, commissioned by Congress, captured in three years five hundred English vessels. Captain Paul Jones, on the "Bon Homme Richard," is said to have taken sixteen prizes in six weeks. Among his most famous sea-fights was that with the British frigate "Serapis."

Paul Jones.

5

With his own hands he lashed the two vessels together, and fought so desperately that the "Serapis" struck her colors just as his own ship was sinking. Both vessels had been on fire many times during their two hours' combat. Jones had barely time to remove his men to the captured vessel, which he sailed into a Dutch port.

284. Winter at Morristown.-The winter of 1779-80 was the coldest in the eighteenth century, and Washington's army at Morristown suffered, if possible, more than a year before at Valley Forge. The longer the war lasted, the more bare of all supplies the country became. Bands of

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British and Tories ravaged all the coasts, penetrating the James, Potomac, Hudson, and Connecticut rivers, and burning houses, barns, and boats.

285. Fall of Charleston.-During the autumn, the. French fleet of D'Estaing had joined with the land forces under General Lincoln in attempting to retake Savannah, but without success. In this siege the brave Pulaski charged with his "legion" upon the fortifications, and fell mortally wounded. His loss was a grievous one to the patriot army. Count D'Estaing, also, received two slight wounds. A thousand brave men lost their lives, among them Sergeant Jasper, who died clasping to his heart the colors presented to his regiment at Fort Moultrie (see Note, p. 142). In March, 1780, Clinton appeared before Charleston with a fleet and army. On the 12th of May the city was compelled to surrender. The whole state was overrun by marauders; all men were ordered into the king's army, and many who refused were murdered in the presence of their wives and children.

286. Sumter, Marion, and Pickens,' with their spirited and devoted followers, gave the British little peace in their regained province. Knowing all the paths through woods and marshes, shrinking from no hardship and delighting in danger, they sprang upon the invaders at unexpected moments, and often captured numbers greatly superior to their own. Meanwhile the women of the South were equally resolute in maintaining their share of the defense. One lady, whose house had been seized and garrisoned by a British force, suggested to the American officers the plan of setting it on fire, and brought with her own hands the bow and arrows with which fire-brands were to be conveyed to the wooden roof. Then she stood watching the flames that were devouring her home until the enemy were forced to surrender themselves as prisoners.

287. Marion as a Host.-It is said that a British

invitation, but was amazed to find that the meal consisted only of baked potatoes served on bark. No apology was made, but the guest could not help saying, "Surely, General, this is not your ordinary fare?" "Indeed it is," replied Marion, "but having to-day the honor of your company, we are so happy as to have more than our usual allowance." The officer returned to Charleston and re

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signed his commission, saying that America would never be conquered while served by such men.

288. Gates and Greene.-Gates was this year appointed to command in the South, and came with much bluster about "Burgoyning Cornwallis," who was now the British chief. Gates was terribly defeated, however, at Camden,' (August, 1780), and his "grand army" was scattered. The brave Baron De Kalb, whose invincible firmness had enabled the Continental

troops to stand fast even after the militia gave way, fell at last, covered with wounds. He had been a comrade of La Fayette, and his death was bitterly lamented. The British lost not more than three hundred men. General Greene 10 was soon afterward appointed to succeed Gates, and found only a tattered and demoralized troop of 2,000 men with which to retrieve the fortunes of the new Republic.

General Greene.

289. In the battle of the Cowpens the American militia at first gave way, and the regulars fell back to a better position. The British, supposing that they had gained an uncommonly easy victory, rushed forJan., 1781. ward, when they were surprised by the sudden. facing about of the Continentals, who poured upon them so deadly a fire that they had to run in their turn. pursued twenty miles by Colonel Washington," and lost eight hundred men, with all their arms and cannon, while the Americans lost only twelve killed and sixty wounded.

They were