st vol. Moultrie's memoirs, from p. 425 to 435.

Chapter II. CAMPAIGN OF 1780.

Sir Henry Clinton arrives with an army of 12,000 men in
South Carolina. The General Assembly sitting in Charleston,
break up. Gen. Lincoln shuts himself up in the town, and
Clinton lays siege to it. Before the town is entirely hemmed
in, Marion dislocates his ankle, and retires into the
country. The town capitulates. Tarleton's career of
slaughter. Defeat of Gen. Huger at Monk's Corner and of
Buford at the Waxhaws. Rising of the people in
Williamsburgh, and at Pedee. Gen. Marion sent to them as a
commander. Gates, defeat. Marion retakes 150 American
prisoners at Nelson's Ferry. Maj. Wemyss sent against him;
he retreats to the White Marsh, in North Carolina. Returns
and defeats the tories at Black Mingo and the fork of Black
river. Attempt on Georgetown frustrated. Marion takes post
at Snow Island. Sumter's career. Ferguson's defeat. Spirit
of the whigs begins to revive.

The year 1780, was the most eventful one, in the annals of South
Carolina. The late failure of the attack on Savannah; the little
opposition which Gen. Prevost met with, in a march of more than one
hundred miles through the state; the conduct of the planters, in
submitting, to save their property; and the well known weakness of
the southern army; all conspired to induce the enemy to believe, that
Charleston, and South Carolina, would become an easy prey. Sir Henry
Clinton, their commander in chief, meditating a formidable expedition
against them; with this view sailed from New York on the 26th December,
1779, with an army, which, with subsequent reinforcements amounted to
about 12,000 men. To oppose this great force, Gen. Lincoln had not more
than two thousand, a great part of which was militia. His head quarters
were in Charleston, where the general assembly were setting in calm
deliberation, for they had not yet heard of the rising storm. Lieut.
Col. Marion, had command of the out-post of this little army, at
Sheldon, near Pocotaligo, where he had orders to watch the motions of
Prevost, and prevent him from obtaining supplies of provisions, from the
Carolina side of Savannah river. It was expected he was to remain here
for some time, and great confidence was reposed in him, by Gen. Lincoln,
as appears by his letters, at this period. The British had a tedious
passage, in w