third parallel was erected
close to the canal; and this canal was drained by means of another
excavation. Consternation and despair seized upon the inhabitants of
the town, but still Lincoln and the garrison resolved to hold out.
Hostilities were recommenced with additional fury, and an incessant fire
was kept up for two days, in the midst of which the besiegers advanced
to the very ditch, and drove the Americans from several of their guns.
At length, at the prayer of the terrified inhabitants, Lincoln resolved
to accept the terms which Clinton had offered before the last assault.
A flag of truce was sent out by him, and Clinton instantly signed the
capitulation. Between 6000 and 7000 men, consisting of regular troops,
militia, and sailors became prisoners of war; and four hundred pieces
of ordnance, and a large quantity of naval stores fell into the hands of
the victors. The garrison were allowed some of the honours of war:
they were to march out and deposit their arms between the canal and
the lines; but the drums were not to beat a British march, nor were the
colours to be reversed. The militia were to return home upon parole,
and the citizens were to be considered prisoners on parole; but their
property was to be respected so long as they kept their word. As for
the officers of both army and navy they were to retain their swords,
pistols, servants, and baggage, the latter of which was not to be
searched. The town was taken possession of by the British on the 12th of
May; and General Clinton set on foot several expeditions, calculated to
extinguish every idea of resistance in the interior of the province. At
the same time he issued proclamations for the purpose of conciliating
the inhabitants. These measures seemed to produce the desired effect.
The only body of troops that still held out was defeated by Colonel
Tarleton, and the people in every part of South Carolina seemed to
submit to King George. In this happy state of affairs, Clinton, on the
5th of June, embarked for New York, leaving Lord Cornwallis behind him
with 4000 men, to maintain the acquisition, and to penetrate into
North Carolina, so soon as the intense heat of the season and other
circumstances should admit of such an enterprise.

BATTLE OF CAMDEN, ETC.

The loyalty of the people of South Carolina was like a morning cloud; it
soon passed away. It was not long before they began to manifest a change
of disposition. Those who had accepted protec