 | The American war |  |
BOOK III.
THE ARGUMENT.
General Washington appointed commander in chief of the continental forces; his speech when he arrives with General Lee, to head, and spirit up the troops against Boston. The Nancy, an ordnance vessel, taken. The attack commenced, and the battery return'd; Dorchester Height fortified by the provincials; General Howe's resolution to attack it; but prevented by a storm, evacuates Boston, and with his army lands at Halifax: proceeds from thence in the spring to New York, and lands at Staten Island. Admiral Sir Peter Parker sails with Lord Cornwallis, and a reinforcement, to join General Clinton at Cape Fear; but, dispersed by a storm, are driven to different parts of the world: they arrive in the spring at Cape Fear. Fort Sullivan attacked, and the gallantry displayed in the action: the British fleet and tars quit the unsuccessful enterprize, and sail to join Lord Viscount Howe and General Howe at Staten Island. Commodore Hopkins, in the congress service, sails to Providence, and brings the royal stores, arms, and ammunition, from thence: the Glasgow, Captain Tyringham Howe, falls in with him, engages the fleet, and escapes the threatened destruction.
Britons, and Trans-atlantics rouz'd in arms;
The fatal spot from whence the mischief rose,
Was threaten'd with accumulating woes.
Fretting to be from Boston thus repell'd,
The town possess'd, the townsmen captives held;
The colonists on fell revenge were bent;
To their assistance, from the congress sent,
The Gen'rals Washington, and Lee, arriv'd,
Gave them fresh spirits, and their hopes reviv'd.
And to this purport Washington was heard;
Their thanks the members of the congress send;
To you first arm'd, with Britons to contend.
Selected from the guardians of the land,
By them appointed chief in the command;
Permit me gallant friends, to say thus far,
How I wou'd wish to prosecute the war:
Attack'd by sea, and land, on ev'ry side,
When dang'rous duty shall our force divide,
Choose advantageous posts, be watchful found;
Never neglect to fortify the ground;
If cautious, we, on the defensive stand,
Their blood must purchase ev'ry foot of land.
When Chatham pleaded freedom's glorious cause,
And gain'd exemption from oppressive laws;
He said Great Britain's military pow'rs,
When brought into comparison with ours,
So far surpass'd, that we must fall of course,
So very small was our internal force:
“Shou'd we to war with wonted vigor rush;
“We can America to atoms crush!”
The dreadful time may not be long deferr'd,
Amply to prove that able statesman err'd:
America for all their force will call;
Like a strong man America will fall;
Will grapple fierce, will render wound for wound,
And drag her rough assailant to the ground;
Like Sampson at his death, will havoc make,
And to its base the British empire shake.
A shout confirm'd what the brave vet'ran said.
They bolder grew, their near advances made,
And held the Britons in a strong blockade:
Supplies fell short with the declining year,
Distress, and famine, ev'ry cause for fear,
(Enough to weigh the briskest spirits down)
Threaten'd destruction to the troops and town;
Houses were oft for common fuel raz'd,
(In culinary fires the buildings blaz'd).
The chiefs grew anxious, fearing foul disgrace:
Among the troops despondency took place:
Towards the sea, they often turn'd their eyes,
No news from Britain came, no fresh supplies!
No welcome reinforcement cou'd arrive;
Cloathing, nor food, to keep their hopes alive!
All intercourse with Britain seem'd to cease,
As if they'd slept amidst profoundest peace!
Transports, and packets, ships of war were driv'n
To distant shores, such was the will of heav'n:
Scarce any to the port in safety got:
And Boston seem'd an interdicted spot:
Fate seem'd resolv'd Britain's designs to marr,
And strengthen North America for War:
Retarded by a tedious long delay,
The live stock perish'd on the blust'ring sea,
And transport ships became provincial prey.
Laden with apparatus for the train;
Thrice strove the Nancy Boston's port to gain;
Oft as she came, the wind unfriendly grew,
(A rough opposing storm against her blew:)
But in th' attempt the royal frigate fail'd;
In darkness wrapp'd, by tempest rudely tost,
They parted, and the precious prize was lost:
This, through the royal army spread a damp;
And fill'd with pleasure the provincial camp.
Britain appear'd to slumber 'midst the war;
Her troops forgot, remov'd from home so far!
Apparently deserted, and forlorn,
What made their burden better to be born;
The colonists around them seem'd to dose,
And lull'd their harrass'd spirits to repose!
The chiefs wore chearful looks their grief to hide,
And stem the growing strong desponding tide:
But cou'd not from their troubled minds efface
Foreboding expectations of disgrace:
The most emphatic words cannot express
Their doubts, their hopes, and gen'ral deep distress:
Their thoughts were lab'ring like imprison'd air,
To bring the purpose of their souls to bear:
With Britain's gloomy vet'ran troops, t' oppose
(And burst like fate among) surrounding foes:
Week after week, they in this manner past;
Assur'd some fresh supplies wou'd come at last:
Each chief, and private, thought they might depend,
Britain wou'd needful reinforcements send;
Transport her troops, each hostile scheme to marr,
And round the coast wou'd pour her naval war:
They never came until it was too late!
And heav'n on Britain's forces seem'd to frown;
Tho' Washington had little cause for fear;
Tho' reinforcements, and supplies were near;
He circumspectly posted troops around,
And fortify'd well-chosen spots of ground:
Convinc'd, that when his batt'ries were employ'd,
His foes might be effectually annoy'd:
He knew t' attack such vet'ran well try'd men,
Was like to rouzing lions from their den.
The troops conven'd, the day draws near he said,
On which our slaughter'd friends in Boston bled!
Our own distress, and their lamented fall,
Will on that day for vengeance loudly call:
Vengeance they cry'd we will most surely have,
Or sink with sanguin'd honour to the grave:
The chief reply'd my wishes are the same;
For ample vengeance to the camp I came:
Our burnt and plunder'd towns, and ruin'd trade,
Demand retaliation shou'd be made:
Instead of making overtures for peace,
That discontent, and civil broils might cease;
Britain curtails our liberty, and trade!
A new restraining bill is lately made!
T' enforce submission to that bill requir'd,
Levies are made, and foreign troops are hir'd!
But we are ready (for a firm defence,)
To make them feel the dreadful consequence;
A batt'ring iron fulminating show'r.
From England's and Hibernia's hostile shores,
We're cloath'd, and fed, and well supply'd with stores:
Kind Providence seems fighting on our side;
With arms, and ammunition, well supply'd
From British forts, upon the continent,
And Britain's ordnance stores in transports sent;
With their artill'ry we may now contend,
Carcase for carcase, shell for shell can send;
May freely use their own disploding grain,
Throw their own balls, and grape-shot back again:
'Twill gall them to the quick, when they shall find,
Their various mischiefs 'gainst ourselves design'd,
By us, are pour'd on each invader's head,
A wild confusion through their lines to spread!
But, oh! my friends! whilst now my bosom glows,
To rout from Boston our invading foes!
Horrid reflection harrows up my soul!
Say, Shall humanity our rage controul?
Shall wives and daughters shrieks, shall mothers tears?
Shall our distracted friends, o'erwhelm'd with fears?
Shall infants cries our vengeance now retard?
Long time they have our warlike progress barr'd:
'Tis they disarm'd our fury day by day,
And held our slow-pac'd vengeance at a bay:
The cannon muzzled, bid destruction stand;
And pluck'd the matches from each ready hand.
Oppressive insults from a victor foe:
To rescue them shall we no efforts make?
We prize their lives; our honours are at stake:
Shall we inactive rest? sit tamely down?
And let the British troops possess the town?
No shell nor carcase send? retain each ball?
Lest friends 'mongst foes shou'd undistinguish'd fall?
Suspended long, 'twixt amity and rage,
The troops had stood; but now, resolv'd t' engage;
They gave a shout for war; aloud they cry'd
We long to be once more in battle try'd:
If heav'n determines we shall not succeed,
Unless our friends among our foes shall bleed;
We bend submiss; the will of heav'n be done;
But must declare we wish th' attack begun:
The chief reply'd, you shall exulting have
An opportunity to glut the grave,
If Britain's regulars dare stay on land,
Against our formidable war to stand:
We'll make their own destructive thunder roar,
To drive them headlong from th' Atlantic shore.
The colonists from slumber seem'd to wake;
Putnam's, and Washington's loud serenade,
(Discordant at a ball, or masquerade,)
A surly summons prov'd t' attend their fate,
And rouz'd them from their dull lethargic state,
To look around, embarrass'd and surpriz'd,
To find the siege of Boston realiz'd!
From Phipps's Farm the battery began;
This serv'd t' amuse the British troops, until
They'd fortify'd a near commanding hill;
Th' adjacent height of Dorchester they chose,
From whence t' annoy, and cannonade their foes;
Tho' harrass'd, yet too fierce to be engag'd
In close attack; they therefore wisely wag'd
A distant war, and now began to pour
Of lead, and iron, a tremendous show'r!
Like flaming meteors, o'er the subject town,
A fulminating storm of shells came down!
Fourteen successive days and nights, they made
Incessant fierce destructive cannonade!
Stern winter form'd a floating icy bar,
And distant held Great Britain's naval war;
Therefore the colonists securer fought,
And sooner to a crisis matters brought.
The British troops fac'd ev'ry rough attack,
And sent a storm of lead and iron back;
Four times their numbers were incamp'd around,
And unmolested rang'd on friendly ground;
Full sixteen miles their lines were stretch'd along,
Their front was render'd formidably strong;
Far otherwise the British army's case;
Within the limits of a narrow space,
They occupy'd so very small a spot,
That each disploding shell, each batt'ring shot,
Each flaming carcase the provincials sent,
Perform'd in part their engineers intent;
If they to sally forth shou'd be inclin'd,
Ten thousand enemies they left behind;
Sweep them to death, in one vindictive fight:
No amicable thousands cou'd come nigh,
To chear, assist, or give a fresh supply:
Yet, oft the ready chiefs their troops address'd,
Surrounded thus, by numbers closely press'd,
We must evacuate, or choose to fight
Our foes, on yonder strong commanding height:
In their defeat our future safety lies:
We seem to read in your indignant eyes,
A firm determin'd readiness of will,
To force a passage up the dang'rous hill,
Shall Preston, and Dunmore, attempt to bar
The progress of the continental war?
Shall Hamilton, and Carleton, at Quebec,
Give near approaching foes a mortal check?
Shall Percy, Clinton, Grant, brave sons of Mars,
With Wallace, Squires, and many gallant tars,
Seize on their ships, incessant make alarms,
And spread the terror of Great Britain's arms?
And shall not we brisk efforts make to gain
Some fame on op'ning of a new campaign?
Shall we alone inactively sit down,
And give up all pretensions to the town?
No; they reply'd, with animated voice,
We wish to fight, we'll readily obey,
And march where our commanders lead the way:
It was resolv'd to sally forth, and fight,
Altho' shou'd prove another Bunker's height.
Death, and the grave, in expectation yawn'd,
But long before the destin'd morning dawn'd,
All nature seem'd tumultuously to jar;
The elements commenc'd a blust'ring war:
As men cou'd not their slaught'ring rage command,
The God of armies took the cause in hand:
Kind Providence survey'd the threaten'd town,
And either host, with a paternal frown;
Seem'd awfully the dreadful scene to close,
And drove contending mortals to repose.
To Washington the bold design was known;
And twenty thousand round the spot were drawn:
With such celerity their works increas'd,
That when the blust'ring storm of nature ceas'd,
In reason's eye so very strong they seem'd,
The well-mann'd height impregnable was deem'd:
So indefatigably had they wrought,
Dislodgment was impracticable thought.
Yet day by day, tumult of course ensu'd,
Whenever they their batteries renew'd:
Sometimes they slack'd, and with less fury fir'd,
As if both parties were of slaughter tir'd;
But by degrees, both sides less fierce assail'd,
And reason's cooling voice at length prevail'd:
The gen'rals seem'd to think the storm was sent,
As a cœlestial strong impediment:
Of adding to the blood already spilt;
It seem'd as if a compromise they made,
To cease bombardment, and the cannonade.
No gen'rous man wou'd overwhelm with woes,
Ten thousand friends, mix'd with ten thousand foes:
But rather wish (if honour wou'd permit)
His foes that spot might unmolested quit;
Shou'd Washington continue to pour down
A batt'ring storm against the friendly town;
Each cannon ball which he shou'd thither send,
Design'd to strike a foe, might kill a friend:
A father, mother, brother, sister, wife,
By bursting shells, might be depriv'd of life:
The lives of harmless infants lay at stake;
Since bombs and balls can no distinction make:
A demolition they cou'd not avoid,
'Twas friendly property which they destroy'd:
And if the flaming carcases they threw,
A gen'ral conflagration might ensue:
Shou'd they too far the Britons irritate,
Boston might sink 'midst dreadful flaming fate;
Whilst to the ships the reg'lars might retire,
Their rear defended by the town on fire.
Had Howe resolv'd in Boston to remain,
Small was th' advantage he cou'd hope to gain;
Cou'd not on equal terms maintain the fight,
Against that fortify'd commanding height:
Storm'd by his foes, and driv'n by adverse fate,
The gen'ral wisely chose t' evacuate.
Stores of all kinds convey'd on board the fleet,
As time and situation would permit;
'Midst the bleak winds, on Neptune's element;
The Britons came from ev'ry post around,
And unmolested quitted hostile ground:
As farther from the shore, the fleet withdrew,
Th' exulting colonists appear'd in view;
With warlike pomp, and joy in ev'ry face;
And shouting, took possession of the place.
Meanwhile, the baffled Britons bore away,
'Midst wintry dangers, on a blust'ring sea:
The friendly port of Hallifax they gain'd,
And long time there, inactively remain'd:
With them vexation went, and doubts, and care:
Their friends were distant, and their foes were near:
Supplies uncertain, held them in suspense:
Damage and loss the certain consequence:
Baneful th' event; their enemies well pleas'd;
On reinforcements, and provisions seiz'd:
'Mongst others doom'd, the sad mishap to meet,
(Unshelter'd by the distant British fleet,)
In Boston Harbour, by the foe surpriz'd,
Surrounded suddenly, was forc'd to yield,
Retain'd reluctant from the glorious field.
Both sides resolv'd to prosecute the war;
Great Britain seem'd on ample vengeance bent,
And fitted out her naval armament;
And with her ships of war, the transport bore,
Near fifty thousands, to th' Atlantic shore
The colonists determin'd not to yield,
And equal numbers brought into the field;
Train'd, arm'd, and station'd round, on ev'ry side,
To keep the ground completely fortify'd.
Whilst yet at Hallifax the Britons lay,
Many reflecting on their scanty pay,
From England ev'ry necessary sent,
For soldiers warring on the continent.
A gen'rous public touch'd by num'rous woes,
And sharp distress of our fraternal foes,
On whom ill fortune frown'd, who had endur'd
Captivity; in prisons long immur'd;
Contributed large sums, to give relief,
As some alleviation of their grief;
For captives in distress the Britons felt.
The colonists had now agreed to yield
A large supply, for those who took the field:
The softer sex enthusiastic grew,
And from their beds their useful blankets drew,
To cloath the troops, who in the trenches lay,
And publicly renounc'd the use of tea!
With him, Cornwallis and his vet'rans bore;
Work'd up by storms, the sea tempestuous grew;
Rough blust'ring adverse winds incessant blew;
As if the God of nature had decreed,
Ye shall not in your enterprize proceed:
All from their destin'd course ran wide astray,
And separated on the troubled sea:
Spite of their efforts, overpow'r'd at length,
They backward steer'd with all their naval strength;
Unable to surmount the blust'ring bar,
And pass'd their winter distant from the war;
Strangers to that distress and discontent,
The British troops in Boston underwent;
And in the spring (impatient of delay)
They strove to cross the more pacific sea;
They reach'd Cape Fear, where anxious Clinton staid,
In expectation of their friendly aid:
A junction form'd, and thence to Charlestown steer'd,
And found the flag of bold defiance rear'd.
Each Carolinian's soul with warlike fire:
Thousands were ready, to the work they went;
Expresses were for reinforcements sent;
With quick dispatch they travers'd far and wide,
Supplies came pouring in on ev'ry side;
Beams, stakes, and sods, from various parts they brought,
With unabated resolution wrought;
With hearts elate, the Trans-atlantics saw
The works each day, stronger and stronger grow;
Whilst distant friends to their assistance came,
Who seem'd to feel the great heroic flame,
Boldly t' attempt to drive the Britons back,
Whene'er they shou'd the garrison attack:
But why they chose inactive to remain,
Time, they suppos'd, the riddle wou'd explain!
The day arriv'd which for th' attack they chose;
But wind and water rudely interpose;
Proving an ominous retarding bar,
To the commencement of the destin'd war:
The colonists rejoic'd, and thought th' event,
An omen of success, which heav'n had sent,
Longer t' employ their military art,
And march their forces in from ev'ry part.
Th' Experiment arriv'd 'midst this delay,
T' assist, and share the danger of the day:
This welcome reinforcement drawing near,
Seem'd to affect the colonists with fear:
Moultrie perceiv'd the symptoms of dismay,
And thus he strove to chase their fears away:
And we expect a rough attack at last!
We've had sufficient time for what we've plann'd;
Our ramparts are repair'd, our forts are mann'd!
Trench'd, and completely fortify'd around;
And very tenable we've made the ground!
With spirit fight, you will such havoc make,
That Britain's rugged tars themselves shall quake:
Provincials, cover'd by their banks and walls,
From rifled tubes may send their fatal balls;
Our batt'ring cannon we can load secure,
Behind a firm constructed embrasure;
With the like storm their naval force may meet,
And launch destruction 'gainst Britannia's fleet,
Like them, from British ancestors we sprung;
With equal strength our active limbs are strung;
Our powder is as good, our engineers,
If not superior, are a match for theirs:
Cur'd of their doubts and fears more bold they stood,
Whilst they Great Britain's fleet and forces view'd;
Who pass'd three weeks in the provincials view,
Before they near the fort to action drew!
At length a signal for th' attack was made,
And 'midst a most destructive cannonade,
Careless of life, and prodigal of blood,
The British seamen to their quarters stood.
Scott, Parker, Morris, firm their stations kept;
Altho' the besom of destruction swept
Across the quarter deck, and ev'ry man,
Seem'd mark'd for slaughter when the fight began.
Nugent, Caulfield, Molloy, with equal pace,
And equal ardor, ran bright glory's race;
And by example each beholder fir'd:
Pyke, Campbell, Symonds, felt the warlike flame;
Hope, James, and Williams, thirsting after fame;
Each officer, and ev'ry volunteer,
Behav'd that day, as if they knew no fear:
When cover'd o'er with wounds, and almost spent;
Reluctant, Morris from his station went:
The dressings were apply'd, and from below
He re-ascended, full of warlike glow;
With one arm lopp'd, he on the deck appear'd,
His station took, and ev'ry seaman chear'd;
Who from his looks enliv'ning ardor caught;
And with redoubled fury briskly fought:
Oft from the fort the rough provincials drove,
Who resolutely for the vict'ry strove;
Corps after corps march'd in, on war intent,
And 'gainst the ships their batt'ring mischief sent:
Still seem'd as if they more determin'd grew,
And from the ramparts red hot bullets threw:
The gallant Scott, a stranger seem'd to fear;
Of fame and danger claim'd an ample share:
A mournful, true, and glorious tale to tell;
He wounded, bruis'd, and mutilated fell.
Parker, likewise, immortal honour gain'd:
A glorious spectacle, alone remain'd
Of intrepidity; and firmly view'd
The deck, with wounded, dead, and dying strew'd;
Tho' ev'ry hour the danger greater grew;
And show'rs of balls and splinters round him flew!
Perhaps in one fierce instantaneous blast!
Th' Acteon, Syren, Sphynx, all strove in vain,
A passage round Fort Sullivan to gain;
Aground they stuck, and in a dismal plight,
Prov'd of no service through the dreadful fight:
Amidst the batt'ring storm, tho' full of pain,
Morris maintain'd the fight with looks serene:
Th' undaunted Ancient Briton seem'd elate,
With duty pleas'd, regardless of his fate:
Till from the fort a burning bullet sent,
Thro' the bold chief its hissing passage rent;
He fell, expir'd, and from each seaman's eye,
Resentment flash'd, and vengeance was the cry:
'Gainst the determin'd foes they fiercely strove,
And from the fort the Carolinians drove:
More than one hour a solemn silence reign'd;
Apparently Fort Sullivan was gain'd.
During the fight, the British soldiers stood
Inactive, and the hot engagement view'd!
Altho' each vex'd and disappointed chief,
Seem'd anxious for the fight, and all exprest
A readiness, to come to closest test:
No boats they had to waft them safely o'er!
Nor cou'd they wade towards that hostile shore!
At least, they had no cov'ring ships of war;
They stuck aground on Carolina's bar!
Thus, like the myrmidons of old they stood,
And the dread slaughter of the Britons view'd!
Lee join'd the colonists as they retir'd;
Shame! shame! he cry'd, with indignation fir'd:
We cannot stand, they said, the cannonade,
The seamen 'gainst Fort Sullivan have made;
Tho' the three frigates still aground remain;
(From whence perhaps they ne'er will float again;)
Altho' like wrecks we can perceive most clear,
Th' Experiment and Bristol both appear!
Tho' masts and rigging overboard are thrown!
And but as one, their batter'd port-holes yawn!
Tho' from their scoppers to the briny tide,
We see the purple marks of slaughter glide!
Altho' we've swept the Bristol's quarter deck!
They seem to feel no cool disheart'ning check!
But with fresh fury, guns and mortars ply,
Which storm to shun, we from our quarters fly!
Return, he said, for shame! return again;
The British sailors are no more than men;
Men, like yourselves; as you no doubt will find,
If to retrieve lost honour you're inclin'd:
We wou'd return most gloomily they cry'd,
Cou'd we with ammunition be supply'd;
With that, we wish for reinforcements too;
Lest Britain's troops shou'd this advantage take,
Be wafted o'er, and their approaches make;
And for the fort, on equal terms dispute,
Ourselves exhausted, and our cannons mute:
Moultrie reply'd, supplies will soon arrive,
If when they come, ye will for vict'ry strive:
Our friends advance to our assistance sent;
See, reinforcements from the continent:
Let us return, he said, with warlike glow,
That our triumphant enemies may know,
We're not subdu'd, but with a fresh supply,
In hottest battle will their courage try:
Come, follow me, all such as wish to have
Their names inroll'd among the great and brave!
They caught his fire; back to the fort return'd,
And with fresh courage for the battle burn'd:
Their stations took, again renew'd the fight;
Defiance roar'd; but at th' approach of night,
The Bristol and Experiment withdrew;
And wou'd not with the morn the fight renew;
And lest th' Acteon shou'd become their prey,
In flames they left her, to consume away:
The British force quitted the fatal shore,
Hoping in other parts some fame to gain,
And wipe away the Carolinian stain.
And unoppos'd at Providence prevail'd;
Seiz'd public property, and from the fort,
Brought mortars, arms, and stores of ev'ry sort;
Returning thence towards the continent,
The Glasgow prov'd a rough impediment.
This was a vessel laden with ordnance stores, and said to be worth 50,000 l. which furnished the provincials with cannon, mortars, shells, shot, &c. for the siege; at the same time depriving the Britons of the long-expected supply.
Alluding to the ordnance stores and troops they had taken in several vessels, and the great number of transports which had fallen into their hands, laden with gun-powder, arms, ammunition, cloathing, provisions, stores of every kind: the cannons, mortars, shot, shells, and stores, in the forts and garrisons, which they had seized on the continent.
The Honourable Major Maitland, of the marines, and Major Grant, of the 40th regiment, sailed with Captain Barkley, of the Scarborough, to Savannah, in Georgia, with 200 men; and there against a strong opposition, by the assistance of the seamen, brought off 17 vessels laden with rice, which had been detained by the provincials. The transactions of Captain Hammond, Vandeput, M'Cartney, Bellew, Squires, and other British commanders, on the coast of America, but more especially the expeditions and attempts of Captain Wallace, with the force under his command, have been so repeatedly mentioned in the public papers as to need no recital here.
For further information, vide the London Gazette of May 3d 1776; in which it is said, that on the 7th of March 1776, “General Howe having taken a resolution to remove from Boston to Halifax, with the troops under his command, and such of the inhabitants, with their effects, as were desirous to continue under the protection of his majesty's forces; the embarkation was effected on the 17th of that month, with the greatest order and regularity, and without the least interruption.” There never appeared any authentic account of loss government sustained in ammunition and stores at Boston; but various reports make the loss great indeed, in cannon, mortars, coals, wheat, barley, oats, oil, horses, &c. &c. &c. and dangerous in its consequences; especially, if we add the Hope, an ordnance store-ship, with 1500 barrels of gun-powder, 1000 carbines, travelling carriages for heavy cannon; a vast variety of tools, and implements, for the army and artillery; with the George and Annabella, transports, taken in Boston Harbour, for want of information of the evacuation, and on board of which was Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, with two companies of the 71st regiment of Highlanders, about 350 in all; and another transport, with about 150.
The sum subscribed, and paid for this purpose, amounted to upwards of 20,000 l. and letters appeared in the public papers from the Generals Howe, Carleton, Percy, Pigot, Jones, Grant, Leslie, Cleveland, &c. with their thanks to the gentlemen of the marine society; those who met at the London Tavern; the gentlemen of Bristol, and all others, who generously contributed their benefactions for relief of the soldiers, their widows, and orphans.
Several thousands of pounds were generously subscribed by the public, and paid in, under the inspection of a committee of gentlemen, appointed for the purpose of assisting the provincial prisoners in England.
So general was this resolution, that if any person oppos'd it, possessions, liberty, and life, were in danger.
The enemy often fired red-hot bullets: and it is said, the Bristol was twice on fire, during the dreadful long continued action! There was likewise gallantry displayed in Fort Moultrie: Serj. M'Donald, shattered by a cannon ball, when expiring, said, he hoped the cause would not expire with him. The flag-staff being shot away, Serjeant Jasper, of the grenadiers, jumped from one of the embrazures upon the beach, took the flag, fixed it on a sponge-staff; and whilst the shot flew round him like a storm of hail, remounted the merlon with the flag, and leisurely fixed it; and was presented with a sword as a reward for the same.
It is said, that Lieutenant Caulfield, (since Captain Morris's death, appointed captain of the Bristol) in his letter makes honourable mention of Captain Morris's extraordinary gallant behaviour; who was wounded five times before he suffered the amputation of his arm; and was twice more wounded after his return upon deck; but notwithstanding kept his station, with a resolution and coolness not to be equalled in any page in history, until a red-hot ball took him in the belly, and put an end to his existence.
The Bristol had 40 killed, and 71 wounded; the Experiment 23 killed, and 56 wounded; and both of them suffered much in their hulls, masts, rigging, and sails. Admiral Parker received several contusions; Captain Morris, of the Bristol, was killed; Lord William Campbell, on the lower deck, received a contusion in his left side; Captain Scott, of the Experiment, lost his arm, and was otherwise so much wounded and bruised, as was feared would prove mortal: the Active had Lieutenant Pike killed, and 6 wounded; the Solebay, 8 wounded. For further explanation of this affair, vide Adm. Sir Peter Parker's and General Sir Henry Clinton's letters, in the London Gazette, 25th Aug. 1776.
This fleet, consisting of 2 ships, 2 brigs, and a sloop, mounting 44 nine-pounders, and 52 six-pounders, and carrying 780 men; took in their return a bomb-tender, and several other vessels. The Glasgow, Captain Tyrringham Howe, mounting 20 nine-pounders, 150 men, fell in with them on the 6th of April 1776. A battle ensued, in which Hopkins's fleet and the Glasgow were much damaged; but the Glasgow maintained a running fight, and bore away for Rhode Island.
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