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blockade of Quebec, notwithstanding the dis- BOOK astrous issue of general Montgomery's attempt, was continued through the winter with astonish- 1776. ing resolution by colonel Arnold, who was afterwards superseded by general Sullivan. Early in the spring, before the Americans could be joined by their expected reinforcements, a naval armament from Great Britain, consisting of the Isis of 54 guns, accompanied by the Surprise frigate and the Martin sloop, forced their passage. through the ice before the navigation of the St. Laurence was deemed practicable. General Carleton, animated no less than strengthened by the welcome and seasonable succours they brought, immediately marched out in force in order to attack the American camp; but the besiegers, weakened by hardship and disease, and now altogether despairing of success, had already begun their retreat, abandoning their baggage, artillery, and stores, and directing their march towards Sorel, which they reached in a few days in a very ill condition. Towards the end of May, all the reinforcements being now arrived from England, a very great force was collected in Canada, the general rendezvous of which was appointed at Trois Rivières, half way between Montreal and Quebec, about ninety miles from each. General Burgoyne, who was second in command, had orders to

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BOOK pursue the continental army up the Sorel to St. John's. This post was now abandoned by the 1776. Americans, who retreated in confusion to Isle aux Noix, and from thence to Crown Point. Montreal and Chamblée had been also previously evacuated, and the garris ns with difficulty avoided being entirely cut off. Still the Americans were masters of Lake Champlain, and the greatest exertions were made by the generals Carleton and Burgoyne to construct a number of vessels of sufficient force to give them that superiority which was essential to the success of the expedition now meditated to the southward; and, till this purpose was effected, military operations were entirely suspended in the province of Canada.

A strong squadron, commanded by sir Peter Parker, with about 3000 land forces on board, sailed from Cork in the month of February, on an expedition to the middle or southern colonies. The departure of this fleet was delayed by a singular circumstance. The lord lieutenant of Ireland, lord Harcourt, doubting his power to permit the troops to leave the kingdom, a clause expressly authorizing him so to do was inserted in a bill then pending in the parliament of Ireland. When the bill came to England, the clause was struck out with indignation, as imply ing an undue limitation of the prerogative. But

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the lord lieutenant, conceiving himself pledged BOOK by the king's word solemnly given to the Irish parliament, refused to permit the troops to embark without leave of the legislature; and a new clause was hastily inserted in another bill, which was transmitted and passed, though not without great resentment against the lord lieutenant, who, on his arrival in England some time afterwards, met at court with a very indifferent reception.

On the 3d of May, 1776, admiral şir Peter Parker anchored off Cape Fear, where he was joined by general Clinton; and finding that nothing could be attempted with probability of success in Virginia, it was determined to try the event of an attack on the city of Charlestown, the capital of South Carolina; and in the beginning of June the whole fleet anchored off Charlestown bar. Prior to their arrival the city had been put into a proper posture of defence ; and works were erected 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 now collected in great numbers for the defence of the metropolis, aided by several continental regiments, and the whole were commanded by general Lee, who had traversed the whole extent of the continent with wonderful

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BOOK expedition, in order to put himself at their

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head.

On the 28th of June, the Bristol and Experiment, each of 50 guns, supported by several smaller ships, had with some difficulty crossed the bar, and advanced to the attack of the fort on Sullivan's Island, constructed entirely of the palmetto, a soft and spungy wood, in which a ball entering is buried, and makes no extended fracture. A most furious cannonade now began from the shipping, which was returned with equal fury and much more effect from the fort. The ships were almost torn to pieces, and the slaughter was dreadful. During the conflict, the seamen looked frequently and impatiently to see the land forces advance from Long Island, where they had some time before effected a landing, to Sullivan's Island, from which it is separated by a creek, in general fordable, but at this time, through a long continuance of easterly winds, deep and dangerous to attempt. The firing did not cease till evening, when the ships slipped their cables, and withdrew from the scene of action, after an engagement supported on both sides with uncommon spirit and vigor. The Action, of 28 guns, having run aground, was abandoned and set on fire. Captain Morris, of the Bristol, after displaying heroic valor, received a wound which proved mortal. Captain

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Scott of the Experiment, and lord William BOOK 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 200 men of the crews of these two ships only. Colonel Moultrie, the commandant of the fort, merits distinguished mention, for the skill and cool determined valor with which he conducted his defence. design on Charlestown was, after this disaster, abandoned; and sir Peter Parker immediately set sail for New York.

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It being now thoroughly ascertained that the utmost lenity which America had to expect from Britain was pardon upon unconditional submission, the minds of the generality of men throughout the continent were by this time fully prepared for a formal declaration of independency. North Carolina and Pennsylvania, which had long opposed this measure, now signified their concurrence. Maryland alone still discovered symptoms of reluctance. General Lee, in a letter written at this time to a person of distinction in that colony, in terms very characteristic of his ardent and fiery disposition, says, “I know not whether 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,

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