broken their parole or their oath, and who had left the
province; denounced death against those who, after receiving British
protection, should desert; and executed some of the South Carolina
militia, whom he had taken in arms near Camden, with British protection
in their pockets. Cornwallis then marched into North Carolina, and he
took possession of Charlottetown; but hearing of the defeat of a body
of loyal militia, under Major Ferguson, who were attacked at King's
Mountain by 1000 backwoodsmen, he retreated to South Carolina, and
deferred the prosecution of his enterprise till reinforcements should
arrive from New York. He took up a position between Camden and the
district of Ninety-Six, where he waited for the arrival of General
Leslie, who had been detached by Sir Henry Clinton to penetrate into
Virginia, in order to co-operate with Cornwallis. Leslie was afterwards
ordered round by sea to Charlestown; and while Cornwallis was waiting
for him, Tarleton with his flying column drove back an enterprising
partizan, named Marion, and again defeated his old adversary, Sumter.
Meanwhile congress, though greatly dejected by these reverses,
had appointed General Greene to supersede Gates, Greene arrived at
Charlottetown on the 2nd of December; but he found himself in no
condition to advance into South Carolina; and as Cornwallis had not yet
been reinforced, no further events transpired in the south during this
campaign.

AFFAIRS AT NEW YORK.

On the side of New York, during this year, a variety of petty
enterprises were undertaken. While Sir Henry Clinton was absent,
Knyphausen was at first occupied in making preparations for the defence
of that city? for, by the extreme severity of the winter, New York
was deprived of that natural defence which arises from its insular
situation. The Hudson, called the North River, was so completely covered
with thick ice that a large army, with heavy artillery and baggage,
might have crossed it with ease, and by that means have approached the
very walls of the city. Knyphausen expected that Washington would
avail himself of this circumstance to attack with his whole force,
and therefore he adopted judicious measures for the city's protection.
Washington, however, was not in a condition to attempt anything so bold
and important. His army had been weakened by draughts made upon it for
the service of the south; he had scarcely any provisions or clothing for
his men in the camp; and n