forms the harbour of Charleston, but which is shallow, and has a bar at
its mouth, on which there is very little water.

This, on our arrival, we could not cross, and the convoy had
consequently to anchor outside. Charleston had, after a brave defence
on the 12th of May, been captured from the Americans under General
Lincoln by Sir Henry Howe and Lord Cornwallis. The latter on our
arrival commanded the army which held it. Sir Henry, with part of his
forces, had gone to New York. The capture of Charleston was considered
a very fortunate circumstance, and it was believed that in consequence
the whole of the Carolinas would yield to our arms. Never perhaps were
people more mistaken. The day of our arrival at Charleston I
accompanied Captain Symonds on shore. We went to the house where a
friend of his, Colonel Balfour, had taken up his quarters. He most
kindly received us, and invited us to his table whenever we were on
shore. We slept, however, at one of the largest houses in the place,
occupied by Lord Cornwallis. His lordship had just returned from an
unsuccessful expedition to North Carolina, where a force of nearly a
thousand men, regulars and royalists, under Colonel Ferguson, who was
killed, had been taken prisoners by the Americans; many also lost their
lives with their leader. Colonel Ferguson had made a foray into North
Carolina, and in his retreat had been surprised among the fastnesses of
the mountains by an overwhelming force of the most hardy and brave of
the irregular troops of the neighbouring districts, especially
accustomed to the sort of warfare in which they were called on to
engage. Colonel Ferguson was a very brave and good officer, and Lord
Cornwallis took his defeat and death very much to heart. As we had
executed some of the rebels who, after receiving royal passes, were
taken in arms against us, so now the Americans in retaliation hung
several of the royalists who were captured on this occasion. In
consequence of this there was, we found, a great deal of bitter feeling
in the town against the rebels, and in no time had the contest been
carried on in so sanguinary a way as at present.

We were aroused at daybreak by the sound of a terrifically heavy gale
which had sprung up, and in going down to the harbour we found that the
bar was perfectly impassable, while the ships at anchor off it were in a
great state of confusion. Some were striking top-masts and letting go
fresh anchors, in