or destroying Charleston, the capital of South Carolina, the trade of
which town supplied the two colonies with the nerve of war. To this
end they sailed from Cape Fear on the 4th of June, and arriving off
Charleston they took possession of Long Island, where there were many
royalists, but who had previously been disarmed. Near Charleston,
however, and covering-its harbour, was another island, called Sullivan's
Island, in which there were armed insurgents and formidable batteries.
There was a projecting point of land, also, called Hadrell's Point,
which almost touched this island, and on which General Lee, an
Englishman, and rival of Washington, in the American service, was posted
with a large force of regular troops and militiamen, and some artillery.
Notwithstanding these formidable appearances, however, Clinton
persevered in his design of taking this island. He constructed two
batteries on Long Island, answering to those of the enemy, and to
co-operate with the floating-batteries destined to cover the landing
of the troops. The event was most disastrous. On the 28th of June the
fleet, under Parker, anchored in front of the American fort, and opened
a tremendous fire upon it; while Clinton seconded the efforts of the
admiral by firing from the batteries on Long Island. In the midst of
the roar of cannon the troops embarked in the rear of some floating
batteries in boats and some small craft; but they had scarcely left
the beach when they were ordered to return to their encampment on Long
Island. Meanwhile the ships continued their firing upon the fort, which
was responded to with equal vigour by the Americans. The roar of cannon
ceased not till long after night-fall, and then the British fleet
exhibited a sad and desolating spectacle; for while the fire of the
ships made but comparatively little impression upon the fort, the
fire from the fort did fearful execution upon the fleet. The following
description of this day of carnage is from the pen of Burke. He
says:--"Whilst the continued thunder from the ships seemed sufficient
to shake the firmness of the bravest enemy, and daunt the courage of
the most veteran soldier, the return made by the fort could not fail
of calling for the respect as well as of highly incommoding the British
seamen. In the midst of that dreadful roar of artillery, they stuck with
the greatest constancy and firmness to their guns; fired deliberately
and slowly, and took a cool and effective aim.