under the command of General Gates. On their march through a sterile country, they endured all the evils and distresses of extreme famine. Lord Cornwallis, whom Clinton, on his return to New York, had left commander-in-chief, hastened to oppose, in person, this victorious general. He placed himself at the head of two thousand veteran troops who had before been stationed at Camden, on the northern border of the state.

On the night of the 15th of August, he marched, with his whole force, to attack the Americans in their camp at Clermont. They, at the same hour, began to move towards Camden. The advanced parties met in the night and engaged. In several skirmishes which took place the British obtained the advantage. made a deep impression on the militia, whose spirits were depressed by gloomy forebodings.

This

When the morning dawned, the enemy advanced to the attack. At the first onset, the Virginia militia fled from the field, and their example was followed by others. The continentals, though left alone to contend with superior numbers, maintained the conflict with great firmness. For a short time they had the advantage of their opponents, but were at length overpowered, and the flight became general.

The fugitives were pursued by Tarleton's legion with relentless fury. When all were killed, captured, or dispersed, the pursuers, with speed unchecked, took the route towards Sumpter's encampment. This active partizan, who had lately

been victorious in a skirmish, retreated precipitately on hearing of the defeat of Gates.

At the Catawba ford, supposing he was beyond danger, he halted, that his troops, who were fatigued, might repose. His sentinels slept at their posts, and the legion rode into his camp before preparations could be made for defence. Between three and four hundred were killed or wounded. The remainder were dispersed in the woods; three hundred prisoners were released; all the baggage and stores fell into the power of the victors.

Again supposing the state to be subdued, Cornwallis adopted measures of extreme severity to suppress every latent inclination to revolt. He directed that all who, having once submitted, had lately given aid to the armies of congress, should be deprived of their property and imprisoned; and that all, who had once borne arms with the British, and afterwards joined the Americans, should suffer death. In consequence of these orders, several were executed, and many were reduced to poverty and wretchedness.

In these times of confusion and distress, the mischievous effects of slavery in facilitating the conquest of the country became apparent. As the slaves had no interest at stake, the subjugation of the states was a matter of no consequence to them. Instead of aiding in its defence, they, by a variety of means, threw the weight of their little influence into the opposite scale.

There were yet some citizens who, in all for

tunes, adhered with firmness to the cause of independence. Of these, in one part of the state, General Sumpter was the leader, in another, General Marion. The cavalry of the latter were so destitute of the weapons of war, that they were obliged to cut their swords from the saws of the saw-mills. He was so successful in concealing himself in woods and marshes, that the enemy were never able to attack or discover him. From these dark retreats he often sallied forth, and fell unexpectedly upon parties of the enemy when marching through the country, or posted in garrisons to overawe the inhabitants. In one of these sallies, he released one hundred and fifty continentals captured at Camden. His repeated and successful excursions preserved alive the spirit of resistance, and his high fame as a partizan was never tarnished by any violation of the laws of war or humanity.

Of those who submitted through fear, or from attachment to the royal cause, Major Ferguson, a British officer of distinguished merit, was appointed commander. He was despatched, by Cornwallis, into the western part of North Carolina, where, other tories joining him, his force was augmented to 1400 men. An enterprise against this party was concerted by the commanders of the militia, in the adjacent parts of the two Carolinas and Virginia.

About the first of October, they, by great exertions, assembled 3000 men at Gilberttown. From these fifteen hundred choice riflemen were

selected; who mounted on the best horses, hastened to the attack of Ferguson.

He awaited them on the top of King's mountain. The militia, in three divisions, led by Colonels Cleveland, Shelby, and Campbell, ascended it in different directions. These divisions, successively arriving, were each repulsed; but each, when the enemy by an attack from a different quarter, were recalled from pursuit, returned again to the charge. In this manner the action was continued for an hour with great spirit. Ferguson was then killed, and with him expired the courage of his party. Eight hundred threw down their arms and became prisoners. One hundred and fifty were killed. Very few of the assailants fell.

Cornwallis, confident of his ability to subjugate the state, had followed Ferguson into North Carolina. Receiving notice of his entire defeat, he returned and took post at Winsborough. As he retired, Gates, who had assembled an army of 1400 men, advanced to Charlotte, where he determined to pass the winter. He was soon after recalled by congress, and, on the recommendation of Washington, General Greene was withdrawn from the northern army to take command of the department of the south.

By the northern army, which, as has been stated, was posted at Westpoint and Morristown, little more was attempted, during the year, than to watch the motions of the enemy in New York, and protect the inhabitants from their incursions. The troops unfed, unpaid, and unemployed, dis

covered, at various times, a disposition to mutiny. On these occasions the British commander, by means of emissaries sent among them, invited them to repair to the city, where he promised them comfort and abundance. His invitations were disregarded. Relief from distress was all they sought, and when that was obtained they cheerfully returned to their duty.

In July, a French squadron, under Admiral Ter nay, bringing 6000 troops, commanded by Count Rochambeau, arrived at Rhode Island, which had previously been evacuated by the enemy; they were immediately blockaded in the harbour they had entered by a British fleet. Reinforced by these troops, Washington determined to attack New York; the army marched to stations nearer the city, and rejoiced in the hope of being able to accomplish something for their country; but the arrival from England of another fleet, under Admiral Rodney, disconcerted the plan which had been formed.

Defeat at the south and disappointment at the north overshadowed the land with gloom; but intelligence that treason had appeared in the American camp occasioned amazement and alarm. The traitor was Arnold, whom bravery in battle, and fortitude in suffering, had placed high in the affections of the people.

Upon the evacuation of Philadelphia by the enemy in 1778, he was appointed commander of that station. Here, indulging in all the pleasures of an expensive equipage and sumptuous table, he contracted debts which he was unable to discharge. To extricate himself from embarrass