May 17.

Some transactions happened at Boston, after it was evacuated, which deserve to be mentioned. One Mugford, who had been master of a trading vessel, applied to general Ward for the command of a continental cruiser which lay unemployed. By his importunity and professions he prevailed, and had an order given him. The captain, having procured powder and ball, with twenty men, pushed immediately into Boston Bay. After he was gone from the general, the latter received such a bad character of him, that he sent off an express to recall the order; but it was too late, as Mugford had sailed. Soon after he had got into the bay, the ship Hope of 270 tons, 4 guns, and 17 men, presented to view. She was last from Cork, and had on board 1500 barrels of gunpowder, besides carbines and bayonets, travelling carriages for heavy cannon, a vast variety of tools, implements, and necessaries for the army and artillery. Captain Mugford, in his cruiser of fifty tons and four guns, ran up to her, and ordered her to strike. The Hope, either from the sailors declining to fight, or from other mo. tives, made no resistance. Commodore Banks lay a few miles off with his men of war, in sight; and his boats might soon have been up with the ship. The captain of the Hope, sensible of this advantage, gave orders to his men to cut the topsail haliards and ties. Mugford heard the orders, and knew the consequence of executing them-that the sailing of the ship would be so long prevented, that the men of war's boats would recover her. He therefore opened with a volley of oaths and execrations, and, in the most horrid manner, threatened the captain and every man on board with immediate death if the orders were executed, upon which the captain was so terrified as to desist. After taking possession of his prize, Mugford was joined by two other small cruisers, who assisted in carrying her safe through Pudding Point Gut. The inhabitants of Boston, who had been engaged in keeping the continental fast, had, on leaving their respective places of worship in the afternoon, the peculiar pleasure of seeing in the harbor the most valuable prize, on account of the powder, taken since the commencement of

the war.

Two days after this exploit, Mugford's cruiser and another in company were attacked, when at anchor in Pudding Point Gut, by thirteen boats from the men of war at Nantasket. The boats were beaten off with the loss of the brave lieutenant who commanded, and several of his men; but Mugford, exerting himself heroically, was killed, and was the only person lost on the side of the American cruisers.

Commodore Banks, omitting to leave cruisers in the bay, after he was forced to leave Nantasket, afforded an opportunity to the American privateers of taking a number of Highlanders. Three days after June 17. his quitting it, the George and Annabella transports entered, after a passage of seven weeks from Scotland, during which time, they had not an opportunity of speaking with a single vessel, that could give them the smallest information of the British troops having evacuated Boston. They were attacked in the morning by the privateers, with whom they engaged till the evening, when the privateers bore away, and the transports pushed for Boston harbour, not doubting but that they should receive protection, eithther from the fort, or ship of force stationed for the security of British ships. They stood up for Nantasket road, when an American battery opened upon them, which was the first serious proof they had of the situation of affairs at the port to which they were destined. They were too far embayed to retreat, as the wind had died away, and the tide was half expended. The privateers, with which they had been engaged, joined by two others, made towards them. They prepared for action, but by some misfortune, the Annabella got aground so far astern of the George, that the latter expected but a feeble support from her musketry. About eleven at night, the privateers anchored close by, and hailed them to strike the British flag. The mate of the George, and every sailor on board, the captain excepted, refused to fight any longer; but every officer and private of the seventy-first regiment, who were in the ship, stood to their quarters, with ready obedience to the lieutenant colonel, until their ammunition was expended. They were then forced to yield, after a sharp combat of an hour and an half. Their killed were eight privates and major Menzies, besides seventeen wounded. The major was buried with the honours of war at Boston; and the prisoners experienced the utmost civility and good treatment. A week before the capture of these transports, the Ann, in the same service, was taken and carried into Marblehead. The number of Highlanders taken amounted to 267 privates, and 48 officers, besides lieutenant colonel Archibald Campbell.

The bad success of the provincials in Canada, was somewhat compensated by what happened in the southern colonies.-We have formerly taken notice that Mr. Martin, governor of North Carolina, had been obliged to leave his province and take refuge on board a man of war. Notwithstanding this, he did not despair of

reducing it again to obedience. For this purpose he applied to the Regulators, a daring set of men, who lived in a kind of independent state; and though considered by government as rebels, yet had never been molested, on account of their numbers and known skill in the use of fire arms. To the chiefs of these people Commissions were sent, in order to raise some regiments; and a colonel Macdonald was appointed to command them. In the month of February he erected the king's standard, issued proclamations, &c. and collected some forces, expecting to be soon joined by a body of regular troops, who were known to be shipped from Britain to act against the southern colonies. The Americans, sensible of their danger, dispatched immediately what forces they had to act against the royalists, at the same time that they diligently exerted themselves to support these with suitable reinforcements. Their present force was commanded by a general Moore, whose numbers were inferior to Macdonald; for which reason the lat

ter summoned him to join the king's standFeb. 15. ard under pain of being treated as a rebel. But Moore, being well provided with cannon, and conscious that nothing could be attempted against him, returned the compliment, by acquainting colonel Macdonald, that if he and his party would lay down their arms, and subscribe an oath of fidelity to congress, they should be treated as friends; but if they persisted in an undertaking for which it was evident they had not sufficient strength, they could not but expect the severest treatment. He reminded them of their ungrateful behaviour to the colony, and the general himself of an oath he and some of his officers had taken a short time before, that they only came to see their friends and relations, without any concern whatever in public matters; upon which declaration alone they were allowed to enter the country; whilst on the other hand he and his officers were engaged in the most honourable and glorious cause in the world-the defence of the liberties of their country.

In a few days general Moore found himself at the head of 8000 men, by reason of the continual supplies which daily arrived from all parts. The royal party amounted only to 2000, and they were destitute of artillery, which prevented them from attacking the enemy whilst they had the advantage of numbers. They were now therefore obliged to have recourse to a desperate exertion of personal valour: by dint of which they affected a retreat for near 80 miles to Moore's Creek, within 16 miles of Wilmington. Could they have gained this place, they expected to have been joined by governor

Martin, lord William Campbell, and general Clinton, who had lately arrived with a considerable detachment, whom they were to introduce into the heart of the country; by which means they hoped that all the back settlers would be united in the royal cause, the Indians be brought forward, and the loyalists meet with encouragement to show themselves. But Moore with his army pursued them so close, that they were obliged to attempt the passage of the creek itself, though a considerable body of the Americans, under the command of colonel Caswell, with fortifications well planted with cannon, was posted on the other side. On attempting the creek however it was found not to be fordable. They were obliged therefore to cross over a wooden bridge, which the provincials had not time to destroy entirely. They had, however, by pulling up part of the planks, and greasing the remainder in order to render them slippery, made the passage so difficult, that the royalists could not attempt it. In this Feb 27. situation they were, on the 27th of February, attacked by Moore with his superior army; and totally defeated, with the loss of their general, and most of their leaders, as well as the best and bravest of their men, and the victory on the part of the provincials was every way complete.

Thus was the power of the provincials established in North Carolina. Nor were they less successful in the province of Virginia; where lord Dunmore, having long continued an useless predatory war, was at last driven from every creek and road in the province. The people he had on board were distressed to the highest degree by confinement in small vessels. The heat of the season, and the numbers crowded together, produced a pestilential fever, which made great havoc, especially among the blacks. At last, finding themselves in the utmost hazard of perishing by famine as well as disease, they set fire to the least valuable of their vessels, reserving only about 50 for themselves,

July.

in which they bid a final adieu to Virginia, some sailing to Florida, some to Bermuda, and the rest to the West Indies. Lord Dunmore, after he quitted Virginia, joined the British forces, and arrived with sir Peter Parker off Staten Island.

In South Carolina the provincials had a more formidable enemy to deal with. A squadron, whose object was the reduction of Charleston, had been fitted out in December 1775; but by reason of unfavourable weather, did not reach Cape Fear in North Carolina, till the month of May 1776: and here it met with farther obstacles till the end of the

May.

month. Thus the Americans, always noted for their alertness in raising fortifications, had time to strength. en those of Charleston in such a manner as rendered it extremely difficult to be attacked. The British squadron consisted of the Bristol, the admiral's ship, of 50 guns; the Experiment of the same force; the Active, Solebay, and Syren frigates of 28 guns each; the Spinx of 20, a hired armed ship of 22, a small sloop of war, an armed schooner, and the Thunder bomb ketch, all under the command of sir Peter Parker. The land forces were commanded by general Clinton, lord Cornwallis, and brigadier general Vaughan. June. In the beginning of June the squadron anchored off Charleston bar.

The Americans were commanded by general Lee, who had been the constant antagonist of Clinton ever since he left Boston: when the British general touched at New York, such was the activity and diligence of the provincials, headed by general Lee, that he found no place open to attack: on his arrival at Virginia, he found every thing in the same state: when he came to Cape Fear, in North Carolina, the same general was present in the same state of preparation: and now, on his arrival at Charleston, the same opponent presented himself, seemingly as well prepared for his reception

as ever.

The fleet had some difficulty in passing Charleston bar, being obliged to take out the guns from two of the largest ships, which were, notwithstanding, several times in danger of sticking fast. The next obstacle was a strong fort on Sullivan's Island, six miles east from Charleston; which, though not completely finished, was very strong. However, the British generals resolved without hesitation to attack it; but though an attack was easy from the sea, it was very difficult to obtain a co-operation of the land forces. This was attempted by landing them on Long Island, adjacent to Sullivan's Island on the east, from which it is sepa. rated by a very narrow creek, said not to be above two feet deep at low water. Opposite to this ford the provincials had posted a strong body of troops, with cannons and intrenchments; whilst general Lee was posted on the main land, with a bridge of boats betwixt that and Sullivan's Island, so that he could at pleasure send reinforcements to the troops in the fort on Sullivan's Island.

On the part of the British, so many delays occurred, that it was the 28th of June before matters were in readiness for an attack; and by this time the provincials had abundantly provided for their reception. On