a bear the lofs, or the intrinfic value of the brave men who fell or were disabled, it was great indeed. In the whole it exceeded 500 men; of whom, though fcarcely a fifth were killed on the spot, many died afterwards of their wounds; and undoubtedly, much greater number were difabled from all future fervice. At any rate, the army was deprived of about one-fourth in number (and that by no means the least effective) of its prefent force. The guards loft Col. Stuart, with the Captains, Schutz, Maynard, and Goodricke, befides fubalterns. Col. Webster, a brave, experienced, and diftinguifhed officer, who commanded the brigade on the left, died of his wounds, to the no fmall lofs of the fervice, and the very great regret of the general as well as the army. The Brigadier- Generals O'Hara and Howard, as well as Col. Tarleton, and feveral other officers, were wounded. The Americans gave no fair ftate of their lofs; which would have been alone a fufficient reafon for concluding it to be very confiderable. They only published an account of the killed and wounded of the continental troops, who formed but a fmall part of their army. It was faid, that all the houfes for many miles round were filled with their wounded. The action was spread through fo wide an extent of country, and that fo thickly wooded, that the victors could form no eftimate of the flain. But whatever that might be, their principal lofs confifted in the defertion of that part of the militia who were within any reach of home; for they, according to efta blifhed cuftom, feized the opportunity of being difperfed in the woods by an action, to make the beft of their way, without once looking back. Gen. Greene beftowed great praises upon the bravery of the Virginia militia, and of the light troops under Lee and Washington, as well as of the Virginia and Maryland regulars. In a very modeft letter to the Prefident of the Congrefs, he fatisfies himself with attributing the Britifh fuccefs to the fuperiority of their difcipline. Greene retreated, with the continental forces and fuch part as could yet be collected of the Virginia militia, to the Reedy-Fork River, which he paffed; and fays himfelf, that he halted on the other fide of the ford, which was only three or four miles from the laft scene of action, until he was joined by the fragglers; but by Lord Cornwallis's account, we are to understand, that he did not flop until he arrived at the iron works on Troublefome Creek, 18 miles from the field of battle. Indeed Greene himfelf dates his letter, on the following day, from those very iron works; but eftimates the diftance at little more than half what we have flated. Without entering at all into this queftion, it is fufficient to obferve, that however the Americans were routed, the royal forces were in no condition to maintain a pursuit. Befides that the troops were worn down by the exceffive fatigue of a confiderable march in the first inftance, without baiting, and that immediately fucceeded by fo long and fo toilfome an action, their numerous wounded, who were fcattered over an extenfive space af of country, required the most immediate attention; but to render the impediments to a purfuit utterly infurmountable, the enemy were greatly fuperior in cavalry, as well as in every species of light troops. Such was the penury and miferable state of the country, that the troops were without bread for two days that they continued at Guildford; nor could even forage be procured at a nearer diftance than nine miles. And though this victory was gained at the entrance of the country in which the loyalifts were fuppofed to be numerous, it does not appear, that it was capable of inducing any body of that people, deferving of name or confideration, to join the royal army. Under thefe 18th. circumftances, Lord Cornwallis moved with the army to Bell's Mill, on the Deep River; whither the baggage had been fent before the action; and was obliged to leave 70 of the worst of the wounded behind, at the NewGarden, Quaker Meeting-houfe, with proper afliftance and accommodation, but of neceflity in the power of the enemy. A march of two days brought the army to Bell's Mill, where they continued two more, as well to afford reft to the troops, as to procure fome fcanty fupply of provifions. The neceffities of the army in general, and the diftreffes of the fick and wounded, left the marching towards Wilmington, in order to obtain thofe fupplies and accommodations which were indifpenfably neceflary to both, no longer a matter of choice. They accordingly moved, by fuch eafy marches as fuited the eafe and con venience of the wounded, towards Crofs-Creek, upon the north-weft branch of the Cape Fear River; being the fame, which in its origin, and long after, is known by the name of the Haw. On the way, Lord Cornwallis flued a proclamation, and used every other poffible means, as well to conciliate the enemies, as to encourage and call forth the friends of the royal caufe, to the taking an active part in its fupport. It does not, however, appear, that his endeavours upon this occafion were attended, even after a very splendid victory, with any greater eflect than they had hitherto been, in the courfe of his long peregrination through different parts of that province. Such was the strange and untoward nature of this unhappy war, that victory now, as we have already feen in more than one other inftance, was productive of all the confequences of defeat. The news of this victory in England; for a while, produced the ufual effects upon the minds of the people in general. A very little time and reflection gave rise to other thoughts; and a feries of victories caufed, for the first time, the beginning of a general defpair. The fact was, that while the Britifh army aftonished both the old and the new world, by the greatnefs of its exertions and the rapidity of its marches, it had never advanced any nearer even to the conqueft of North Carolina. And fuch was the hard fate of the victors, who had gained fo much glory at Guildford, as, in the first place, to abandon a part of their wounded; and, in the fecond, to make a circuitous retreat of 200 miles, [E] 4 miles, before they could find fhelter or reft. Lord Cornwallis had been taught to expect, from all the information which he received, that Cross-Creek lay in fo plentiful a country, that it would be an exceedingly proper place for affording fome days' repofe and refreshment to his troops. But, to his great difappointment, he found, upon his arrival, that this intelligence was of the ufual value, and that neither provifions nor forage were to be procured. This was rendered the more grievous, upon alfo discovering, that the windings of the river rendered the navigation fo tedious, that the troops could not benefit of that mode of conveyance. At length, the arrival of the army in the neighbourhood of Wilmington, on the 7th of April, put an end for the prefent, to the unceafing toils, and unspeakable hardships, which they had undergone during the three past months. CHA P. V. Expedition to Virginia under General Arnold. State of grievances which led to the mutiny in the American army. Penfylvania line, after a fcuffle with their officers, march off from the camp, and chuse a ferjeant to be their leader. Meffage, and flag of truce, produce no fatisfactory answer from the infurgents, who proceed first to Middle-Brook, and then to Prince Town. Measures ufed by Sir Henry Clinton to profit of this defection. He pajes over to Staten Island, and fends agents to make advantageous propofals to the mutineers. Propofals for an accommodation, founded on a redrefs of grievances, made by Gen. Reed, and favourably received by the infurgents; who march from Prince-Town to Trenton upon the Delaware, and deliver up the agents from Sir Henry Clinton. Grievances redrejed, and matters finally fettled by a committee of the congrefs. Ravages made by Arnold in Virginia, draw the attention of the French, as well as the Americans, to that country. Gen. Washing ton difpatches the Marquis de la Fayette with forces to its relief. Expedition to the Chesapeak, concerted by M. de Ternay, and the Count Rochambeau, at Rhode Island, for the fame purpose, and to cut off Gen. Arnold's retreat. Admirals Arbuthnot and Graces encounter the French feet, and overthrow all their defigns in the Chesapeak. Lord Cornwallis's departure to Wilmington, enables Gen. Greene to direct his operations to South Carolina. Situation of Lord Rawdon at Camden. American army appears before that place. Grecne attacked in his camp, and defeated. General revolt in the interior country of South Carolina. Difficulties of Lord Rawdon's fituatim, notwithstanding his victory. Obliged to abandon Camden, and retire to Neljon's Ferry, where he pajes the Santee. British posts taken, and general hoftility of the province. Great hacock made by the Generals Phillips and Arnold in Virginia. Extreme difficulties of Lord Cornwallis's fituation at Wilmington. Undertakes a long march to Virginia; arrives at Petersburgh, and receives an account of Gen. Phillips's death. Arrival of three regiments from from Ireland at Charles-Town, enables Lord Rawdon to march to the ref of Ninety-Six. Gen. Greene, having failed in his attempt to take the fort by form, raises the fiege, upon the approach of the British army, and is rigorously, but ineffectually pursued. Works at Ninety-Six defrayed, and the place abandoned. Lord Rawdon marches to the Congarees; is difappointed in the expected junction of Col. Stuart, and narrowly capes being furrounded by the enemy, who had intercepted the intelligence of Stuart's failure. He forces his way through Congaree creek, and is joined by Col. Stuart at Orangeburgh. Gen. Greene advances to attack the British army, but retires again in the night. Campaign closes, and fituation of the hoftile forces during the fickly feafon. Incredible hardShips fuftained, and difficulties furmounted, by the British troops in the two Carolinas. URING thefe transactions DUR in the Carolinas, Mr. Arnold, who acted as BrigadierGeneral in the British fervice, was dispatched by Sir Henry Clinton to make a diverfion in Virginia; and perhaps likewife under an expectation, that his former name and character would have drawn large bodies of those, who were reprefented as having a difpofition to return to their allegiance, to his standard. His force, upon this expedition, confifted of the Edinburgh regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas, ⚫eftimated at 600 men; of a mixed American corps, composed of horse and foot, called the Queen's Rangers, of about the fame number, under the command of Col. Simcoe; of Col. Robinson's provincials, and of a small corps of 200 men, which Arnold himself had been able to raife at New York; the whole force amounting to near 1700 men. This expedition being conducted and fupported, by fuch a naval force as was fuited to the nature of the fervice, enabled Gen. Arnold, who arrived in the Chesapeak at the opening of the new year, to do infinite mifchief on the rivers, and along the coafts of Virginia. In the mean time, the Americans had many internal, as well as external, difficulties and dangers to encounter. We have already taken notice of the well-founded complaints, and the great difcontents which prevailed in the American army. These in a great measure proceeded from the flownefs of feveral of the states, in furnishing their respective quotas, whether of men, money, provifions, or cloathing, for the fupply of the army. This evil was the more intolerable, from the hope leffnefs of redress; as the nature of their government did not admit of any coercive power, equal to its remedy. But though this was in a great measure beyond the reach of congrefs, they did not efcape much cenfure with respect to matters which fell immediately within their power as well as cognizance. Their ignorance in finance, and their many errors in the whole economy of the war, were often animadverted on with great seve rity by their warmeft partizans. It is not indeed eafy to conceive, how a body annually elected, continually changing in almost all its parts, and drawn from countries remote remote from the feat and center of business, could avoid falling into many. The annual election fecured the fidelity of the deputies; but it neceffarily detracted fomething from the uniformity and fyf tem of public bufinefs. The fall of the currency was a grievous blow to the Americans, which perhaps no ability could perfectly prevent or remedy. From hence the grievances and diftreffes of the army equalled, if not exceeded, their complaints and difcontents; and occafioned the refignation of many of their beft officers, as well as the desertion of fome faithful foldiers, who thereby gave up the whole of their long due arrears, and whom nothing lefs could have induced to abandon their colours. To render their condition the more grievous, while the troops were little lefs than literally naked, it was faid, that cloathing for 5000 men had been purchased and paid for in France long before; and that, through fome unaccountable fupineness, another large quantity had lain at Cape François for above eighteen months. But the most intolerable grievance to the foldiery, was an act of real injuftice, as well as a violation of the public faith; for through the failure of feveral of the ftates in not fending their allotted fupply of new troops, many of the foldiers were compelled to ferve far beyond the term of their enliftment, without being able to obtain any fatiffaction, with respect to their arrears, or even any hope of a difcharge. Under all these circumftances, the mutiny which took place in Washington's army, at the opening of the new year, is much lefs a matter of furprize, than its not having happened earlier, being more general, and much more ruinous in its confequences. 1781. The Penfylvania line, which was hutted at Morris-Town, in the Jerfies, unable longer to fupprefs their discontents, Jan. 1, turned out to the number of about 1300 men, declaring that they would not ferve any longer, unless their grievances were redreffed; particularly with refpect to their pay, cloathing, and provifions, the two firft of which they had not received at all, and there were great deficiencies in the account of the laft. The intervention of the officers occafioned a riot, in which one of them was killed, and four wounded; fome of the mutineers were likewife wounded. They then collected the artillery, ftores, provifions, and waggons, appertaining to their divifion, with all of which they marched in good order out of camp. As they paffed General Wayne's quarters, he fent to requeft of them to defift, and to remonftrate with them on the fatal confequences which must attend their proceeding any farther, His reprefentations produced no effect; they continued their march until evening, and then chofe an advantageous piece of ground for their encampment, with the fame caution as if they had been in an enemy's country. They likewise elected officers from their own body; and appointed a ferjeantmajor, who had been a deferter from the British army, to be their commander, with the rank and title of Major-General; on the following day they marched to Middle-Brook, and on the third to |