QUEBEC being thus
freed from danger, it is now necessary to take a transient view of the state of
affairs, at this period in some of the southern provinces. Lord Dunmore, the
governor of Virginia, was involved in disputes similar to those which had taken
place in other colonies; these disputes arose to such violence, that his
lordship was obliged to take refuge on board the Fowey ship of war, into which
he attempted to transfer the sittings of the assembly; a requisition which the
legislative body absolutely refused to comply with. His lordship being thus
divested of his authority, carried on a sort of predatory war against the
province.
In order to protect
the loyalists who now began to flock to the royal standard, his lordship constructed 'a
fort near Norfolk, a maritime town of some consequence: this fort he furnished
with artillery. The Americans also fortified themselves within cannon shot of
the same place, with a narrow causeway in their front. In this state both
parties continued quiet for some days. Lord Dunmore now formed a design of
surprizing the enemy in their entrenchments; this was undertaken before
day-light, on the 9th of December, 1775. Captain Fordyce, at the head of the
granadiers of the 14th regiment of foot, amounting to sixty men, passed the
causeway, and boldly marched up to the American entrenchments, with fixed
bayonets, and with a coolness and entrepidity which first excited the
astonishment, and afterwards the praise of their enemies. They were exposed
without cover to the fire of the provincials in front, and enfiladed by another
part of their works. The brave captain Fordyce with several of his men fell,
the lieutenant and others were taken, and all the survivors of this valiant
grenadier company, whether prisoners or not, were wounded. Captain Fordyce was
interred with every military honor, by the victors; the English prisoners
treated with kindness, but the Americans who had joined the king's standard
experienced the greatest cruelties.
A short time before
this, a scheme of importance was formed by major Connolly, a Pennsylvanian of
an intrepid and aspiring disposition, and attached to the cause of Britain. The
first step of his plan was to enter into a league with the Ohio Indians. This
he communicated to lord Dunmore, and it received his approbation. Upon which,
Connolly set out, and actually succeeded in his design. On his return he was
dispatched to general Gage at Boston, from whom he received a colonel's
commission, and set out in order to accomplish the remainder of his scheme. The
plan in general was to proceed to Fort Detroit, where captain Lord of the Royal
Irish was to meet him with two companies, and a field piece. Connolly was to
raise a regiment, with as many Indians and partizans as he could; to enable him
to do this, he had power to promise every person that entered into the service,
three hundred acres of land, when the troubles were over, and what other
pecuniary rewards he might think proper; was to appoint and commission all the
officers under him, which commissions were to be confirmed by lord Dunmore.
With this force he was to penetrate through the country, in order to cut off
the communication between the southern and northern colonies, destroy Fort Pit,
and Fort Fincastle, and meet lord Dunmore on the 10th of April following, at
Alexandria. Connolly's companions were lieutenant Cameron and Dr. Smith. On
their road through Maryland, they were all three taken, cast into prison, and
closely confined. On searching their portmanteaus, of Connolly's plan was
found. The congress immediately published the following speech, from lord
Dunmore to White Eyes, a famous Indian warrior, which they said was found in
the colonel's custody:
“Brother,
captain White Eyes, I am glad to hear your good speeches, sent to me by major
Connolly, and you may be assured I shall put the one end of the belt which you
have sent me, into the hands of our great king, who will be glad to hear from
his brothers, the Delawares, and will take a strong hold of it. You may rest
satisfied, that our foolish young men shall never be permitted to take your
lands, but on the contrary, the great king will protect you, and preserve you
in the possession of them. Our young people in the country have been very
foolish, and done many impudent things, for which they must soon be sorry, and
of which I make no doubt, they have acquainted you; but I must desire you not
to listen to them, as they would be willing that you should act equally
foolish with themselves. But rather let what you hear, pass in at one ear, and
out at the other, so that it may make no impression on your heart, until you
hear from me fully, which shall be as soon as I can give farther information,
who am your friend and brother.
Captain
White Eyes will please to acquaint the Corn Stalk with these my sentiments
also, as well as the chiefs of the Mingors, and the other six nations. Your
sincere friend, and elder brother, Dunmore."
The Americans never
lost an opportunity of magnifying every circumstance which would in anywise
tend to the promotion of their own cause, while at the same time, they covered
in obscurity the very motives and views with which they themselves used to
accomplish their ends. Some months before this, the inhabitants of Virginia had
endeavoured to gain the Indians over to their side, in order to assist them
against the loyalists in that state.1 This well known narrative is
given by an American partizan. It begins as follows:
"We
may challenge the whole orations of Demosthenes and Cicero, and of any more
eminent orator, if Europe has furnished more eminent, to produce a single
passage superior to the speech of Logan, a Mingo chief, to lord Dunmore, when
governor of the state of Virginia. The story is as follows; of which and of the
speech, the authenticity is unquestionable. In the spring of the year 1774, a
robbery and murder were committed on an inhabitant2 of the frontiers
of Virginia, by two Indians of the Shawanee tribe; the neighbouring whites,
according to their custom,3 undertook to punish this outrage in a
summary way. Colonel Cresap, infamous for the many murders he had committed on
this much injured people, collected a party, and proceeded down the Kanhaway in
quest of vengeance. Unfortunately a canoe of women and children with one man
only, was seen coming from the opposite shore, unarmed and unsuspecting any
hostile attack from the whites. Cresap and his party concealed themselves on
the bank of the river, and the moment the canoe reached the shore, singled out
their objects, and at one fire killed every person in it. This happened to be
the family of Logan, who had long been distinguished as a friend of the whites.
This unworthy return provoked his vengeance. He accordingly signalized himself
in the war which ensued. In the autumn of the same year, a decisive battle was
fought at the mouth of the great Kanhaway, between the collected forces of the
Shawanees, Mingoes, and Delawares, and a detachment of the Virginia militia.4
The Indians were defeated, and sued for peace. Logan, however, disdained to be
seen among the suppliants, but lest the sincerity of a treaty should be
distrusted, from which, so distinguished a chief absented himself, he sent by a
messenger the following speech, to be delivered to lord Dunmore: ‘I appeal to
any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him
not meat; if he ever came cold and naked, and he cloathed him not. During the
course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an
advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, Logan is the friend of white men. I had
even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel
Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the
relations of Logan, not sparing even my women and children. There runs not a
drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for
revenge. I have sought it; I have killed many; I have fully glutted my vengeance.
For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace; but I do not harbour a thought
that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his
heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one."
Lord Dunmore
retreated from Norfolk, and that place was taken possession of by the
provincials, who treated the loyalists that had remained there, with great
severity, at the same time that they greatly distressed those on board lord
Dunmore's fleet, by refusing to supply them with any necessaries. Nor was this
all; the vicinity of the shipping was so near, as to afford the riflemen an
opportunity of aiming at the people on board, and exercising the cruel
occupation of killing them, in which they did not fail every day to employ
themselves. These proceedings at last drew a remonstrance from his lordship; in
which he insisted that the fleet should be furnished with necessaries, and that
the soldiers should desist from the cruel treatment above mentioned; but both
these requests being denied, a resolution was taken to set fire to the town.
After giving the inhabitants proper warning, a party landed, under cover of a
ship of war, and set fire to that part which lay nearest to the shore; but the
flames were observed at the same time to break forth in every other quarter,
and the whole town was reduced to ashes. This universal destruction, by which a
loss of more than three hundred thousand pounds was incurred, is said to have
been occasioned by order of the congress itself, that the loyalists might find
no refuge there for the future. The Americans after this transaction, burned
and destroyed the houses and plantations within reach of the guns of the ships
of war, and obliged the inhabitants to remove with their cattle, provisions,
and portable effects, further into the country.
The heat of the
season, and the numbers crowded together in lord Dunmore's fleet, produced a
pestilential fever, which made great havoc, especially among the negroes. At
last finding themselves in the utmost hazard of perishing, by famine as well as
disease, they set fire to the least valuable of their vessels, reserving only
about fifty for themselves, in which they bid a final adieu to Virginia, some
sailing to Florida, some to Bermuda, and the rest to the West Indies.
In South Carolina,
the provincials had a more formidable enemy to contend with. A squadron whose
object was the reduction of Charlestown, had been fitted out in December, 1775,
but by reason of unfavourable weather, did not reach Cape Fear, in North Carolina,
till the month of May, 1776; and here it met with further obstacles till the
end of the month. Thus, the Americans, always noted for their alertness in
raising fortifications, had time to strengthen those of Charlestown, in such a
manner as rendered it exceedingly difficult to be attacked. The British
squadron consisted of two fifty-gun ships, four of thirty guns, two of twenty;
an armed schooner, and a bomb-ketch, all under the command of Sir Peter Parker;
the land forces were commanded by general Clinton, lord Cornwallis, and
brigadier general Vaughan. It was now determined to try the event of an attack
on the city of Charlestown, the capital of South Carolina. The Americans
had erected works on Sullivan's Island, mounted with thirty pieces of cannon, in
a very advantageous situation, for annoying ships in their approach to the
town. The militia of the province were also collected in great numbers for the
defence of the metropolis, aided by several continental regiments, and the
whole commanded by general Lee.
On the 28th of June,
the Bristol and Experiment, each of fifty guns, supported by several smaller
vessels, had with some difficulty crossed the bar, and advanced to the attack
of the fort on Sullivan's Island, constructed entirely of palmetto, a soft and
spungy wood, in which a ball entering is buried, and makes no extended
fracture. Though an attack on this fort was practical from the sea, it was very
difficult to obtain a co-operation of the land forces. This was attempted by
landing them on an island adjacent to Sullivan's island, on the east, from
which it is separated by a narrow creek. Opposite to this creek the Americans
had posted a strong body of troops, with cannon and entrenchments, while
general Lee was posted on the main land, with a bridge of boats between that
and Sullivan's Island; so that he could at pleasure send reinforcements to the
troops in the fort on Sullivan's Island.
The attack commenced
early in the morning by a bomb-ketch, which began to throw shells into the
fort, and about mid-day the two fifty-gun ships came up and began a severe
fire. Three other frigates were ordered to take their station, between
Charlestown and the fort, in order to enfilade the batteries, and cut off the
communication with the main land; but, through the ignorance of the pilots,
they all stuck fast; and though two of them were disentangled, they were found
to be totally unfit for service: the third was burnt, that she might not fall
into the hands of the enemy.
The attack was
therefore confined to five armed ships and a bomb-ketch, between whom and the
fort a dreadful fire ensued. The Bristol suffered exceedingly.
The springs on her cable being shot away, she was for some time exposed to the
enemy's fire. As the Americans poured in great quantities of red hot balls, she was
twice in flames. The brave captain Morris after receiving five wounds, was
obliged to go between decks, to have his arm amputated. After undergoing this
operation, he insisted to be carried on the quarter deck to resume his command;
here he received another wound, but still refused to quit his station; at last
he received a red hot ball in his belly, which put an end to his life. A few
moments before he died, one of the officers asked him if he had any directions
to give with respect to his family, to which he heroically answered,
"None, I leave them to the providence of God, and the generosity of my
country." His majesty on receiving an account of this affair, sent the
captain's widow an handsome present, and settled a pension on her and her
children.
Of all the officers
and seamen who stood on the quarter deck of the Bristol, not one escaped
without a wound, excepting Sir Peter Parker alone, though he received several
contusions during the action, yet he modestly says in his dispatches they were
not worth mentioning. Indeed his intrepidity and presence of mind during the
action was very remarkable. The engagement lasted till darkness put an end to
it. During the height of the attack, the provincial batteries remained for some
time silent, so that it was concluded that they had been abandoned,
bus this was found to proceed only from want of powder, for as soon as a
supply of this article was obtained, the firing was resumed as brisk as before.
During the whole of this desperate engagement, it was found impossible for the
land forces to give any assistance to the fleet. The enemy's works were found
to be much stronger than they had been imagined, and the depth of water
effectually prevented them from making any attempt. Captain Scott of the
Experiment, and lord William Campbell, late governor of the colony, who now with
great gallantry served as a volunteer on board the fleet, were also dangerously
wounded, with more than two hundred of as brave men as ever the British Navy
produced, of the crews of these two ships only. Particular mention was made of
the bravery of lieutenants Caulfield, Molloy, and Nugent, of the Bristol. Every
man that was engaged did his duty. The Experiment and Bristol were so much
damaged, that it was thought they could not be got over the bar; however, this
was at last accomplished by a very great exertion of naval skill, to the
surprise of the Americans, who had expected to make them both prizes. On the
American side the loss was judged to be very considerable, as most of their
guns were dismounted, and reinforcements had poured into the fort during the
whole time of the action.
During this attack
general Lee exposed himself to great danger; as the balls whistled about he
observed one of his aid-de-camps shrink every now and then, and by the motion
of his body seemed to evade the shot. "Death sir," cried Lee,
"what do you mean, do you doge? Do you know that the king of Prussia lost
above an hundred aid-de-camps in one campaign." "So I understand,
sir," replied the officer, "but I did not think you could spare so
many." A short memoir of this gentleman may not be unnecessary.
He was born in
Chester, in the year 1726; his father, a man of considerable property in that
county, was in the year 1745 appointed colonel of the 44th regiment of foot.
As Charles was an
only son, his father bestowed upon him a very liberal education, and in the
year 1745 he obtained a commission for him in his own regiment, in which he
continued till the year 1760, passing through the ranks of ensign, lieutenant,
and captain.
During this time
Charles Lee was present at several actions, the first of which was at the
defeat of general Braddock, at Monongahela; after this he was at the attack of
the lines of Ticonderoga, in 1758, where he was shot through the body. The next
year he was with general Prideaux at the reduction of Niagara, and in the year
1760 was at the conquest of Canada, with general Amherst.
The campaign being
ended, captain Lee obtained leave to return to England, where, in the year 1761,
he was appointed major in the 103d regiment, which, on the breaking out of the
Spanish war, was sent to Portugal, under the command of lord Loudon. In
Portugal, as well as in America, major Lee behaved with distinguished bravery;
and general Burgoyne, under whose immediate direction he was, bore testimony of
his firmness in executing the orders he received to surprise the Spanish camp,
which he did with a bravery and intrepidy that settled his character as a
distinguished officer.
At the peace of
1763, major Lee's corps was disbanded, and he, unwilling to remain inactive,
obtained leave to enter into the service of the king of Poland, by whom he was
greatly caressed; he afterwards went as a volunteer in the war between Russia
and the Ottoman Porte.
In the year 1772, he
returned to England, and in the month of May, in that year, he was honored with
the rank of lieutenant colonel, after which he went to America, to visit a
numerous set of friends he had in that country.
Whether he had at
that time entertained any intention of intermeddling in the dispute between
Great Britain and the colonies, we cannot pretend to decide: but as soon as the
colonies began to raise forces, he immediately resigned his half pay, and with
the greatest alacrity accepted the post of major general in their armies.
In person general
Lee was five feet eight inches high, slender in his make, but able to endure
the greatest hardships, little caring what he eat or drank, or on what he
slept. His actions have shewn him to be brave, active, and determined; this may
be seen by the following circumstance. At the time general Clinton sailed from
Boston, Lee, at the head of a strong detachment from the American army before
that place, immediately set out to secure New York from the attempt which it
was supposed the British troops would have made upon that city. Having
succeeded in that object, general Clinton could not but be surprised at his
arrival in Virginia, to find Lee in possession, and in the same state of
preparation in which he had left him at New York. Upon his departure for Cape
Fear, Lee again traversed the continent with the utmost expedition to secure
North Carolina: and at length upon the further progress of the fleet and army
to the southward, Lee again proceeded with equal celerity to the defence of
Charlestown.
General Lee was a
studious man, and of intense application, not only in his profession as a
soldier, but even that of a lawyer. As he visited most of the courts of Europe,
he acquired a perfect knowledge of their languages. He spoke the Indian
Janguage as well as English, and as he passed great part of the former war
among the Indians they had a particular friendship for him.
His resentment
against the British government was very strong, but for what cause it is not
conjectured; however, it is well known that he was of an ardent, fiery
disposition, of which the following letter is a specimen; the reader will
observe that this letter was written to a gentleman in Maryland,5 in
the beginning of the year 1776, some months before any reinforcements arrived
from England to. America.
"I know not,"
says this modern Achilles, "in the whole course of my life, I ever read
any thing which so much moved my pity and indignation as the late declaration
of the convention of Maryland. They declare, they shall esteem separation from
Great Britain as the last of misfortunes. What! when an attempt has been made
to rob you and your posterity of your birthrights; when your fields have been
laid waste, your towns have been burnt, and your citizens butchered;6
when your property is seized and confiscated in all parts of the world, when an
inexorable tyrant, an abandoned parliament, and a corrupt, pusillanimous
people, have formed a hellish league to rob you of every thing men hold most
dear; is it possible there should be creatures, who march on two legs, and call
themselves human, who can be so destitute of sentiment, courage, and feeling,
as sobbingly to protest, they should consider separation from these butchers
and robbers as the last of misfortunes ?
"Oh I could brain
you with your ladies' fans."
_______________
1 See page 76.
2 One of the loyalists. Undoubtedly these
Indians were instigated to take up the hatchet by the Americans against their
brethren, and for what cause? Why, because they adhered to the British
government.
3 They were under the necessity in their
defence to resist force by force.
4 Under the command of Lord Dunmore.
5 Maryland was one of the last states which
yielded to the declaration of independence to the British crown.
6 When! Where! - At this very time seven
thousand British troops were shut up in Boston, surrounded by an innumerable
host of Americans: Canada at the same time overrun by another army of Americans
and Indians.
Surely one cannot
help being astonished at the virulence with which Mr. Lee speaks, on the
present occasion, against his country, which had loaded him and his
family with honors.
Surely one cannot
help being astonished at the virulence with which Mr. Lee speaks, on the
present occasion, against his country, which had loaded him and his
family with honors.
"Describe Achilles, as Achilles was,
"Impatient-rash-inexorable-proud-
" Scorning all judges, and all law but arms."
SOURCE: Roger
Lamb, An Original and Authentic Journal of Occurrences During the Late
American War, from its Commencement to the Year 1783, pp. 90-103
