found himself under the
numerous whig militia that
North Carolina, had laid wale
The troops were deftitute of e-
ther for their comfort or conve
naked; there were no magazine:,
fubfifted by daily collections. Ev
upon opinion; and it was equally dar
go forward or to stand still; for if he
of the people, he loft all fupport; and
to danger, all was hazarded. The impazz
people to drive off the enemy, if regarded,
cipitate him into a thousand misfortunes.
of conducting the war, moft to the liking of
bitants, was the leaft likely to effect their falvars

By the genuine returns on the 8th of December, it ap
pears, that the infantry then ferving under Greene were,
rank and file, present and fit for duty 1482, and ou
command 547, in all 2029; of tefe 821 were conti-
nentals, and 1208 militia. A to thefe 90 cavalry,
60 artillery, and 128 continent an extra fervice, and
his whole operative force was 237. The fewness of
his troops, the nature of the cosy, filled with woods
and fwamps, and thinly inhabit, the orifm of num-
bers, and the want of magazin, let the general to
conclude on a partizan war. He confidered the maxims
of European generals, but was far from confning him-
felf to them; for he obferved a worever they might
fuit that part of the world, they were ant slagred to the
place where he was to act, only in draumitances,

* The general's own in

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1780. we shall attempt a fecondary object. The reduction of

Charlestown, Savannah, &c. may come into contemplation." The profpect of giving relief to the fouthern states, by an operation against New York, was the principal inducement for propofing it.

The fouthern operations have been peculiar. Before they are related, let it be remarked, that when gen. Gates paffed through Richmond on his way home, the Virginia house of delegates on December the 28th"Refolved, nemine contradicente, That a committee of four be appointed to wait on major general Gates, and to affure him of the high regard and efteem of this houfe:-That the remembrance of his former glorious fervices cannot be obliterated by any reverse of fortune, but that this houfe, ever mindful of his great merit, will omit no opportunity of teftifying to the world the gratitude which, as a member of the American union, this country owes to him in his military character." To this refolve, when communicated by the committee of four, the general answered the fame day-" Sirs, I fhall ever remember with the utmoft gratitude, the high honor this day done me, by the honorable the house of delegates of Virginia. When I engaged in the noble cause of freedom and the United States, I devoted myfelf entirely to the fervice of obtaining the great end of their union. That I have been once unfortunate is my great mortification; but let the event of my future fervices be what they may, they will, as they always have been, be directed by the most faithful integrity, and animated by the trueft zeal for the honor and interest of the United States."

When

When gen. Greene entered up his command, he 1780. found himself under the greatest embarraffments. The numerous whig militia that had been kept on foot in North Carolina, had laid wafte almost all the country. The troops were destitute of every thing neceffary either for their comfort or convenience. The men were naked; there were no magazines; and the army was fubfifted by daily collections. Every thing depended upon opinion; and it was equally dangerous for him to go forward or to ftand ftill; for if he loft the confidence of the people, he loft all fupport; and if he rushed on to danger, all was hazarded. The impatience of the people to drive off the enemy, if regarded, would precipitate him into a thousand misfortunes. The mode of conducting the war, moft to the liking of the inhabitants, was the leaft likely to effect their salvation By the genuine returns on the 8th of December, it appears, that the infantry then ferving under Greene were, rank and file, prefent and fit for duty 1482, and on command 547, in all 2029; of thefe 821 were continentals, and 1208 militia. Add to these 90 cavalry, 60 artillery, and 128 continentals on extra fervice, and his whole operative force was 2307. The fewness of his troops, the nature of the country, filled with woods. and swamps, and thinly inhabited, the toryism of numbers, and the want of magazines, led the general to conclude on a partizan war. He confidered the maxims of European generals, but was far from confining himfelf to them; for he observed that however they might fuit that part of the world, they were not adapted to the place where he was to act, only in certain circumstances, * The general's own letters,

to

1780. to which when they occurred, he meant to be attentive. On his arrival at camp, he learned that the troops had made a practice of going home without permiffion, staying weeks and then returning. Determined to stop such a dangerous custom, the general gave out that he would make an example of the first deferter of the kind he caught; and one was accordingly fhot at the head of the army drawn up to be fpectators of the punishment. At night he fent officers round the camp to liften to thé talk of the foldiers, and was happy to find that the meafure had taken its defired effect, and that the language of the men was only-" We must not do as we have been used to: it is new lords new laws." But it was a mortification to him to learn from another quarter, that by the folly or treachery of those who had the charge of the prisoners taken at King's Mountain, all except about 130 had been enlarged upon different conditions; by which he loft upward of 600 men, who would have been of the utmost importance in an exchange with lord Cornwallis. His lordship on the 1ft of December addreffed to him the following note-" I think it proper to reprefent to you, that the officers and men taken at King's Mountain, were treated with an inhumanity fcarcely credible. I find myself under the difagreeable neceffity of making fome retaliation for thofe unhappy men, who were fo cruelly and unjustly put to death at Gilberttown." Gen. Greene answered to it on the 17th-" I am too much a stranger to the transactions at Gilberttown to reply fully to that subject. They must have been committed before my arrival in the department, and by perfons under the character of volunteers, who were independent of the army. However, if there was

Dec.

17.

any

any thing done in that affair contrary to the principles 1780.
of humanity and the law of nations, and for which they
had not the conduct of your army as a precedent, I fhall
be ever ready to teflify my difapprobation of it.-The
first example was furnished on your part, as appears by the
lift of unhappy fufferers enclosed; and it might have been
expected, that the friends of the unfortunate should fol-
low it.—Punishing capitally for a breach of military pa-
role is a severity, that the principles of modern war will
not authorize, unless the inhabitants are to be treated as
a conquered people, and fubject to all the rigor of mi-
litary government.-The feelings of mankind will for 1
ever decide, when the rights of humanity are invaded.
I leave them to judge of the tendency of your lordship's
order to lieut. col. Balfour after the action near Camden,
of lord Rawdon's proclamation, and of Tarleton's lay-
ing waste the country and distreffing the inhabitants,
who were taught to expect protection and fecurity, if
they obferved but a neutrality.-Sending the inhabitants
of Charlestown to St. Auguftine, contrary to the articles
of capitulation, is a violation which I have alfo to re-
prefent, and which I hope your lordship will think your-
felf bound to redrefs." The lift referred to was this-
"William Stroud and Mr. Dowel, executed near Rocky
Mount, without a trial, by order of lieut. col. Turnbull.
Richard Tucker, Samuel Andrews, and John Miles,
hanged in Camden by order of lord Cornwallis. Mr.
Johnfon hanged fince the action of Black Stocks, by
lieut. col. Tarleton. About thirty perfons hanged at
Augufta by col. Brown. Adam Cufack hanged at Pee-
dee by one col. Mills."

General

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