stances of protection excepted. After perpetrating | every species of enormity, but that of burning houses, the invaders suddenly re-embarked, and proceeded by water to Fairfield. The militia of that place and the vicinity posted themselves at the court-house green, and gave considerable annoy. ance to them, as they were advancing, but soon retreated to the height at the back of the town. On the approach of the British the town was evacuated by most of its inhabitants. A few women remained, with the view of saving their property. Towards evening they began to burn the houses, which they had previously plundered. The women begged general Tryon to spare the town. Sayre, the episcopal minister, who had suffered for his attachment to the royal cause, joined the women in their requests, but their joint supplications were disregarded. They then begged that a few houses might be spared for a general shelter. This was at first denied; but at length Tryon consented to save the buildings of Burr and of Elliot, and also said, that the houses for public worship should be spared. Af. ter his departure on the next morning with the main body, the rear-guard, consisting of German yagers, set fire to every thing which Tryon had spared; but on their departure the inhabitants extinguished the flames, and saved some of the houses. The militia were joined by numbers from the country, which successively came to their aid, but they were too few to make effectual opposition.

The British, in this excursion, also burned EastHaven, and the greatest part of Green's farms, and the flourishing town of Norwalk. A considerable number of ships, either finished or on the stocks, with whale-boats, and a large amount of stores and merchandise, were destroyed. Particular accounts of these devastations were, in a short time, transmitted by authority to congress. By these it appeared that there were burned at Norwalk two houses of public worship, eighty dwelling-houses, eighty seven barns, twenty two stores, seventeen shops, four mills, and five vessels; and at Fairfield two houses of public worship, fifteen dwellinghouses, eleven barns, and several stores. Congress, on receiving satisfactory attestation of the ravages of the British in this and other similar expeditions, on the nineteenth of July resolved, "To direct their marine committee to take the most effectual meassures to carry into execution their manifesto of October the thirtieth, 1778, by burning or destroying the towns belonging to the enemy in Great Britain or the West Indies;" but their resolve was never carried into effect.

While the British were proceeding in these desolating operations, general Washington was called upon for continental troops, but he could spare very few. He durst not detach largely, as he apprehended that one design of the British in these movements was to draw off a proportion of his army from West Point, to favour an intended attack on that important post. General Parsons, though closely connected with Connecticut, and though from his small force he was unable to make successful opposition to the invaders, yet instead of pressing general Washington for a large detachment of continental troops, wrote to him as follows: "The British may probably distress the country exceed. ingly by the ravages they will commit; but I would rather see all the towns on the coast of my country in flames, than that the enemy should possess West Point."

While the British were successfully making these desultory operations, the American army was incapable of covering the country. The former, having by means of their superior marine force the command of the numerous rivers, bays, and harbours of the United States, had it in their power to make descents where they pleased, with an expedition that could not be equalled by the American land forces. Had general Washington divided his army, conformably to the wishes of the invaded citizens, he would have subjected his whole force to be cut up in detail. It was therefore his uniform practice, to risk no more by way of covering the country than was consistent with the general safety.

His army was posted at some distance from British head-quarters in New-York, and on both sides of the North River. The advance consisting of three hundred infantry and a hundred and fifty cavalry, under the command of colonel Anthony Walton White, patroled constantly, for several

months, in front of the British lines, and kept a constant watch on the Sound and on the North River. This corps had several skirmishes with parties of the British, and was particularly useful in checking their excursions, and in procuring and communicating intelligence of their movements. About this time, general Putnam, who had been stationed with a respectable command at Reading in Connecticut, when on a visit to his out-post at Horse Neck, was attacked by governor Tryon with about fifteen hundred men. General Putnam had only a piquet of a hundred and fifty men, and two iron field-pieces without horses or drag ropes. He, however, planted his cannon on the high ground, near the meeting-house, and by several fires retarded the advancing enemy, and continued to make opposition till he perceived the enemy's horse, supported by the infantry, were about to charge. Gen eral Putnam, after ordering the picquet to provide for their safety, by retiring to a swamp inaccessible to horse, galloped down the precipice at the church. This is so steep as to have artificial stairs, composed of nearly one hundred stone steps, for the accommodation of foot passengers. The dragoons stopped short, without venturing down the abrupt declivity, and before they got round the brow of the hill, Putnam was far enough beyond their reach; of the many balls that were fired at him, all missed except one, which went through his hat. He proceeded to Stamford, and having strengthened his picquet with some militia, faced about and pursued governor Tryon on his return.

CAPTURE OF STONEY POINT.

THE campaign of 1779, though barren of important events, was distinguished by one of the most gallant enterprises on the part of the Americans which took place in the course of the war. This was the capture of Stoney Point on the North Riv er. General Wayne, who had the honour of conducting this enterprise, set out on the fifteenth of July at the head of a strong detachment of the most active infantry in the American army at noon, and completed a march of about fourteen miles, over bad roads, by eight o'clock in the evening. The detachment being then within a mile and a half of its object, was halted and formed into columns. The general with a few of his officers, advanced and reconnoitred the works. At half past eleven the whole moved forward to the attack. The van of the right, consisting of a hundred and fifty volunteers under the comand of lieutenant-colonel Fleury, advanced with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. These were preceded by twenty picked men, who were particularly instructed to remove the abbatis and other obstructions. The van of the left was led by major Stewart, and advanced with unloaded muskets and fixed, bayonets. It was also preceded by a similar forlorn hope. The general placed himself at the head of the right column, and gave the most pointed orders not to fire, but to depend solely on the bayonet. The two columns directed their attacks to opposite points of the works, while a detachment engaged the attention of the garrison by a feint in their front. The approaches were more difficult than had been apprehended: the works were defended by a deep morass, which was also, at that time, overflowed by the tide. Neither the morass, the double row of abbatis, nor the strength of the works, damped the ardour of the assailants. In the face of a most tremendous fire of musketry, and of cannon loaded with grape-shot, they forced their way at the point of the bayonet, through every obstacle, until both columns met in the centre of the works at nearly the same instant. General Wayne, as he passed the last abbatis, was wounded in the head by a musket ball, but nevertheless insisted on being carried forward, adding as a reason for it, "That if he died he wished it might be in the fo.t." Two flags, two standards, fifteen pieces of ordnance, and a considerable quantity of military stores, fell into the hands of the conquerors. The vigour and spirit with which this enterprise was conducted, was matter of triumph to the Americans. Upon the capture of Stoney Point, the victors turned its artillery against Verplank's Point, and fired upon it with such effect, that the shipping in its vicinity cut their cables and fell down the river. As soon as the news of these events reached New-York, preparations were instantly made to relieve the latter post and to recover the former. It by no means accorded with

the cautious prudence of general Washington, to risk an engagement for either or for both of them. He therefore removed the cannon and stores, de. stroyed the works, and evacuated the captured post. Sir Henry Clinton regained possession of Stoney Point, on the third day after its capture, aud placed in it a strong garrison.

The successful enterprise of the Americans at Stoney Point was speedily followed by another, which equalled it in boldness of design. This was the surprise of the British garrison at Powles Hook, opposite to New-York, which was effected on July the nineteenth, by Major Lee, with about three hundred and fifty men. Major Sutherland the commandant, with a number of Hessians, got off safe to a small block-house on the left of the fort, but about thirty of his men were killed, and one hundred and sixty taken prisoners. The loss of the Americans was inconsiderable. Major Lee, in conformity to the orders he had received, made an immediate retreat, without waiting to destroy either the barracks or the artillery.

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON PENOBSCOT. THESE advantages were more than counterbalanced, by an unsuccessful attempt made by the etate of Massachusets on a British post at Penob scot. Colonel Macleane, by the direction of Sir Henry Clinton, on the sixteenth of June landed with a detachment of six hundred and fifty men from Halifax, on the banks of Penobscot River, in the eastern confines of New-England, and proceeded soon after to construct a fort in a well chosen situation. This occasioned an alarm at Boston: and to counteract the establishment of the post, vigorous measures were resolved upon. That armed vessels, transports, and sailors, might be secured for an expedition, which was immediately projected for this purpose, an embargo for forty days was laid by the state of Massachusets on all their shipping. A considerable armament, consisting of eighteen armed vessels besides transports, was fitted -out with extraordinary expedition, and put under the command of commodore Saltonstal. The largest vessel in this fleet was the Warren of thirty-two guns, eighteen and twelve pounders. The others varied from twenty-four to twelve guns. A body of land forces, commanded by general Lovel, embarked on this expedition. On the twenty-fifth of July, the American fleet, consisting of thirty-seven sail, appeared off Penobscot. Colonel Macleane had four days before gained information of what was intended against him. This induced him to redouble his exertions in strengthening his fort, which was in an unfinished state. Two of the bastions were untouched: the remaining two were in no part above four or five feet high; the ditch was only about three feet deep; there was no platform laid, nor any artillery mounted. The American general, on his landing, summoned the colonel to surrender; which being refused, he proceeded, on the twenty-eighth of July, to erect a battery at the distance of seven hundred and fifty yards. A cannonading commenced, and was kept up for about a fortnight, but without any considerable effect. While the besiegers were making preparations for an assault, which they had in immediate contemplation, Sir George Collyer appeared full in view, with a squadron for the relief of the garrison. He had sailed from Sandy Hook on hearing of the intended attack on colonel Macleane's party, and in about eleven days arrived in the river Penobscot. His marine force consisted of the Raisonable of sixty-four guns and five frigates. The Americans at first made a show of resistance, but they intended no more than to give the transports time to move up the river, that the troops might have an opportunity of landing and making their escape. The superior force and weight of metal of the Raisonable was irresistible, and the escape of the Americans was impracticable. A general flight on the one side, and a general chase on the other, took place. Sir George destroyed and took seventeen or eighteen armed vessels. The American soldiers and sailors had to return a great part of their way by land, and to explore their route through thick woods.

BRITISH SUCCESSES TO THE SOUTHWARD. THOUGH the war was carried on for little more than distress or depredation in the northern states, the re-establishment of British government was

seriously attempted in Carolina and Georgia. Af ter the reduction of Savannah, a great part of the state of Georgia was restored to the king's peace. The royal army in that quarter was strengthened by a numerous reinforcement from East-Florida, and the whole was put under the command of major general Prevost. The force then in Georgia gave a serious alarm to the adjacent states. There were at that time but few continental troops in Georgia or South Carolina, and scarcely any in North-Carolina, as during the late tranquillity in the southern states, they had been detached to serve in the main army commanded by general Washington. A body of militia was raised and sent forward by North-Carolina to aid her neighbours. These joined the continental troops, but not till they had retreated out of Georgia, and taken post in South-Carolina. Towards the close of the year 1778, general Lincoln, at the request of the delegates of South-Carolina, was appointed by congress to take the command of their southern army.

This consisted only of a few hundred continentals. To supply the deficiency of regular soldiers, a considerable body of militia was ordered to join him, but they added much more to his numbers than to his effective force.

They had not yet learned the implicit obedience necessary for military operations. Accustomed to activity on their farms, they could not bear the langour of an encampment. Having grown up in habits of freedom and independence, they reluct antly submitted to martial discipline. The royal army at Savannah being reinforced by the junction of the troops from St. Augustine, was in condition to extend their posts. The first object was to take possession of Port Royal, in South-Carolina. Major Gardiner, with two hundred men, being detached with this view, landed on the island; but general Moultrie, at the head of an equal number of Americans, in which there were only nine regular soldiers, attacked and drove him off it. This advantage was principally gained by two field-pieces, which were well served by a party of Charlestown militia artillery. This repulse restrained the British from attempting any immediate enterprise to the northward of Savannah; but they fixed posts at Ebenezer and Augusta, and extended themselves over a great part of Georgia; they also endeavoured to strengthen themselves by reinforcements from the tories, in the western settlements of Georgia and Carolina.

Emissaries were sent among the inhabitants of that description, to encourage them to a general insurrection. They were assured that if they embodied and added their force to that of the king's army in Georgia, they would have such a decided superiority as would make a speedy return to their homes practicable, on their own terms. Several hundreds of them accordingly rendezvoused, and set off to join the royal forces at Augusta. Among those who called themselves loyalists, there were many of the most infamous characters. Their general complexion was that of a plundering banditti, more solicitous for booty than for the honour and interest of their royal master. At every period before the war, the western wilderness of these states, which extended to the Mississippi, afforded an asylum for the idle or disorderly, who disrelished the restraints of civil society. While the war raged, the demands of militia duty and of taxes, contributed much to the peopling of those remote settlements, by holding out prospects of exemption from the control of government. Among these people the royal emissaries had successfully planted the standard of royalty, and of that class was a great proportion of those, who, in the upper country of the Carolinas and Georgia, called themselves the king's friends. They had no sooner embodied and begun their march to join the royal army at Au. gusta, than they commenced such a scene of plundering the defenceless settlements through which they passed, as induced the orderly inhabitants to turn out to oppose them. Colonel Pickens, with about three hundred men of the latter character, immediately pursued and came up with them near Kettle Creek. An action took place, which lasted three quarters of an hour; the tories were totally number was their leader, colonel Boyd, who had routed, about forty of them were killed, and in that been secretly employed by British authority to collect and head them. By this action the British were disconcerted; the turies were dispersed, some

ran quite off, others went to their homes, and cast themselves on the mercy of their country. These were tried by the laws of South-Carolina, for of fending against an act called the sedition act which had been passed since the revolution for the security of the new government. Seventy of them were condemned to die, but the sentence was only executed on five of their ringleaders.

As the British extended their posts on the Georgia side of Savannah river, general Lincoln fixed encampments at Black Swamp, and nearly opposite to Augusta on the Carolina side. From these posts he formed a plan of crossing into Georgia, with the view of limiting the British to the low country, near the ocean. In the execution of this design, general Ash, with fifteen hundred NorthCarolina militia, and a few regular troops, after crossing the river Savannah, took a position on Briar Creek; but in a few days he was surprised by lieutenant-colonel Prevost, who having made a circuitous march of about fifty miles, came unexpectedly on his rear with about nine hundred men. The militia were thrown into confusion, and fled at the first fire. One hundred and fifty of the Americans were killed, and one hundred and sixty-two were taken. Few had any chance of escaping, but by crossing the Savannah, in attempting which many were drowned. Of those who got off safe, a great part returned home. The number that rejoined the American camp_did not exceed four hundred and fifty men. The few continentals under colonel Elbert made a brave resistance; but the survivors of them, with their gallant leader, were at last compelled to surrender. This event deprived general Lincoln of one fourth of his numbers, and opened a communication between the British, the Indians, and the tories of North and South Carolina.

The

The series of disasters which had followed the American arms since the landing of the British near Savannah, occasioned a well-founded apprehension for the safety of the adjacent states. militia of South-Carolina was therefore put on a better footing, and a regiment of cavalry was rais. ed. John Rutledge, a Carolinian of the most distinguished abilities, was called to the chair of government by an almost unanimous vote, and, in imitation of the ancient republic of Rome, invested, in conjunction with his council, with dictatorial powers. By virtue of his authority, he convened a large body of the militia near the centre of the state, that they might be in constant readiness to march whithersoever public service required. The original plan of penetrating into Georgia was resumed; part of the American force was stationed on the north side of the Savannah at Purrysburgh and Black Swamp, while general Lincoln and the main army crossed into Georgia near Augusta. General Prevost availed himself of the critical moment, when the American army had ascended one hundred and fifty miles towards the source of the Savannab, and crossed into Carolina over the same river near to its mouth, with about two thousand four hundred men. A considerable body of Indians, whose friendship the British had previously secured, were associated with the British on this expedition. The superior British force which crossed Savannah River soon compelled general Moultrie, who was charged with the defence of South-Carolina, to retire. Lincoln, on receiving information of these movements, detached three hundred of his light troops to reinforce Moultrie, but proceeded with the main army towards the capital of Georgia. He was induced to pursue his original intention, from an idea that general Prevost meant nothing more than to divert him by a feint on Carolina, and because his marching down on the south side of the river Savannah would occasion very little additional delay in repairing to its defence. When Lincoln found that Prevost was seriously pushing for Charlestown, he re-crossed the Savannah and pursued him. The British proceeded in their inarch by the main road Lear the sea-coast, with but little opposition, and in the mean time the Americans retreated before them towards Charlestown. General Moultrie, who ably conducted this retreat, had no cavalry to check the advancing foe. Instead of his receiving reinforcements from the inhabitants, as he marched through the country, he was abandoned by many of the militia, who went to their homes; their families and property lay directly in the route of the invad

ing army. The absence of the main army under Lincoln, the retreat of Moultrie, the plunderings and devastations of the invaders, and above all, the dread of the Indian savages which accompanied the royal army, diffused a general panic among the inhabitants. The terror of each individual became a source of terror to another. From the influence of these causes, many were induced to apply for British protection. New converts to the royal standard endeavoured to ingratiate themselves with their protectors, by encouraging them to attempt the reduction of Charlestown. Being in their pow. er, they were more anxious to frame intelligence on the idea of what was agreeable, than of what was true. They represented the inhabitants as being generally tired of the war, and wishing for peace at all events. They also stated that Charlestown was incapable of much resistance. These circumstances, combined with the facility with which the British marched through the country, induced general Prevost to extend his plan and push for Charlestown. Had he designed it at first, and continued his march with the same rapidity with which it was begun, the town would probably have been carried by a coup-de-main; but he halted two or three days when advanced near half the distance. In that interval, every preparation was made by the South-Carolinians for the defence of their capí tal; all the houses in its suburbs were burut; lines and abbatis were, in a few days, carried across the peninsula between Ashley and Cooper rivers, and cannon were mounted at proper intervals on its whole extent. Though this visit of the British, and especially an attack on the land side, was unexpected, yet in a few days great preparations were made, and a force of three thousand three hundred

men assembled in Charlestown for its defence.

BRITISH FAIL AT CHARLESTOWN.

THE main body and baggage of the British army, being left on the south side of Ashley river, an advanced detachment of nine hundred men, on the eleventh of May, crossed the ferry, and appeared before the town. In the mean time Lincoln was marching on as fast as possible, for the relief of Charlestown; but as his arrival was doubtful, and the crisis hazardous, to gain time was a matter of consequence. A whole day was therefore spent in the exchange of flags. Commissioners from the garrison were instructed" to propose a neutrality during the war between Great Britain and America, and that the question whether the State shall belong to Great Britain, or remain one of the United States, be determined by a treaty of peace between these powers. The British commanders refused this advantageous offer, alleging that they did not come in a legislative capacity, and insisted that, as the inhabitants and others were in arms, they should surrender prisoners of war. This being refused, the garrison prepared for an immediate assault; but this was not attempted. Prevost, knowing by an intercepted letter that Lincoln was coming on in his rear, retreated from Charlestown, and filed off with his whole force from the main to the islands near the sea, that he might avoid being between two fires. Both armies encamped in the vicinity of Charlestown, watching each other's mo tions till the twentieth of June, when an attack was made with about one thousand two hundred Americans, on six or seven hundred of the British, advantageously posted at Stono Ferry. The latter had redoubts, with a line of communication, and field-pieces in the intervals, and the whole was secured with an abbatis. By a preconcerted plan, a feint was to have been made from James Island, with a body of Charlestown militia, at the moment when general Lincoln began the attack from the main; but from mismanagement, they did not reach their place of destination till the action was over. The attack was continued for an hour and twenty minutes, and the assailants bad the advantage; but the appearance of a reinforcement, to prevent which the feint from James Island was intended, made their retreat necessary.

Soon after the affair at Stono, the continental forces under the command of general Lincoln retired to Sheldon, a healthy situation in the vicinity of Beaufort. Both armies remained in their respec tive encampments, till the arrival of a French fleet on the coast roused the whole country to immediate activity.

U

OPERATIONS OF THE FRENCH FLEET.

COUNT D'ESTAING having repaired and victualled his fleet at Boston, on the third of November 1778 sailed for the West Indies; and on the same day commodore Hotham, with five men of war, a bomb vessel and some frigates, set out from New. York to convoy a number of transports with general Grant, and five thousand men, to the same theatre of naval operations.

On the thirtieth of December the British took St. Lucia, and count D'Estaing took St. Vincent's and Grenada. Soon after the reduction of the latter, the count retired to Cape Francois. Having, in July 1779, received instructions from the king his master, to act in concert with the forces of the United States, and being strongly solicited by general Lincoln, president Lownds, governor Rutledge, and Mr. Plombard, consul of France in Charlestown, he sailed for the American continent with expectation of rendering essential service in operating against the common enemy. On the first of September he arrived on the coast of Georgia, with a fleet consisting of twenty sail of the line, two of fifty guns, and eleven frigates. His appearance was so unexpected, that the Experiment man of war, of fifty guns, commanded by Sir James Wallace, and three frigates, fell into his hands.

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH RAISED.

As soon as his arrival on the coast was known, general Lincoln, with the army under his command, marched for the vicinity of Savannah, and orders were given for the militia of Georgia and SouthCarolina to rendezvous near the same place. The British were equally diligent in preparing for their defence; great numbers were employed both by day and night, in strengthening and extending their lines. The American militia, flushed with the hope of speedily expelling the British from their southern possessions, turned out with an alacrity which far surpassed their exertions in the preced ing campaign. D'Estaing, before the arrival of Lincoln, demanded the surrender of the town to the arms of France. Prevost in his answer declined surrendering on a general summons, and request ed that specific terms should be proposed, to which he would give an answer. The count replied, that it was the part of the besieged to propose terms. Prevost then asked for a suspension of hostilities, for twenty-four hours, for preparing proper terms. This was inconsiderately granted. Before the twen ty-four hours elapsed, lieutenant-colonel Maitland, with several hundred men who had been stationed at Beaufort, made their way good through many obstacles, and joined the royal army in Savannah. The garrison, encouraged by the arrival of so respectable a force, determined on resistance. The French and Americans, who formed a junction the evening after, were therefore reduced to the necessity of storming or besieging the garrison. The resolution of proceeding by siege being adopted, sev. eral days were consumed in preparing for it, and in the mean time the works of the garrison were hourly strengthened by the labour of several hundred negroes. The besiegers on the fourth of Octobor opened with nine mortars, thirty-seven picces of cannon from the land side, and fifteen from the water. Soon after the commencement of the cannonade, Prevost solicited for leave to send the wo men and children out of the town; but this was refused. The combined army suspected that a desire of secreting the plunder, lately taken from the South-Carolinians, was covered under the veil of humanity. It was also presumed that a refusal would expedite a surrender. On a report from the engineers that a considerable time would be necessary to reduce the garrison by regular approaches, it was determined to make an assault. This measure was forced on count D'Estaing by his marine officers, who had remonstrated against his 'continuing to risk so valuable a fleet on a dangerous coast, in the hurricane season, and at so great a distance

from the shore, that it might be surprised by a Bri tish fleet, completely repaired and fully manned. In a few days the lines of the besiegers might have been carried into the works of the besieged; but under these critical circumstances, no farther delay could be admitted. To assault or raise the siege was the alternative; prudence would have dictated the latter, but a sense of honour determined the besiegers to adopt the former. Two feints were made with the country militia, and a real attack on Spring-Hill battery early in the morning of the ninth of October, with three thousand five hundred French troops, six hundred continentals, and three hundred of the inhabitants of Charlestown. These boldly marched up to the lines, under the command of D'Estaing and Lincoln; but a heavy and well-directed fire from the batteries, and a cross fire from the gallies, threw the front of their columns into confusion. Two standards were nevertheless planted on the British redoubts. A retreat of the assail ants was ordered, after they had stood the ene my's fire for fifty-five minutes. Count D'Estaing and count Pulaski were both wounded; the former slightly, but the latter mortally. Six hundred and thirty seven of the French, and upwards of two hundred of the continentals and militia, were killed of wounded. General Prevost, lieutenant-colonel Maitland, and major Moncrief, deservedly acquired great reputation by this successful defence. force of the garrison was between two and three thousand, of which about one hundred and fifty were militia. The damage sustained by the be sieged was trifling, as they fired from behind works, and few of the assailants fired at all. Immediately after this unsuccessful assault, the militia, almost universally, went to their homes. Count D'Estaing re-embarked his troops and artillery, and left the continent.

The

WHITE'S REMARKABLE EXPLOIT. WHILE the siege of Savannah was pending, a remarkable enterprise was effected by colonel John White of the Georgia line. Captain French had taken post with about one hundred men near the river Ögechee, some time before the siege began. There were also at the same place forty sailors on board of five British vessels, four of which were armed.

All these men, together with the vessels and one hundred and thirty stand of arms, were surrendered to colonel White, captain Elholm, and four others, one of which was the colonel's servant. On the preceding night this small party kindled a number of fires in different places, and adopted the parade of a large encampment. By these and a variety of deceptive stratagems, captain French was fully impressed with an opinion that nothing but an instant surrender, in conformity to a peremp tory summons, could save his men from being cut to pieces by a superior force. He therefore gave up without making any resistance.

This visit of the French flect to the coast of Amer

ica, though unsuccessful as to its main object, was not without utility to the United States. It discon certed the measures already digested by the British commanders, and caused a considerable waste of time before they could determine on a new plan of operations. It also occasioned the evacuation of Rhode Island. But this was of no advantage to the United States; for the greatest blunder committed by the British in the course of the American war, was their stationing near six thousand men, for two years and eight months, on that island, where they were lost to every purpose of co-operation, and where they could render very little more service to the royal cause, than could have been obtained by two frigates cruizing in the vicinity.

BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN AFRICA
CAPTURED.

DURING these transactions in America, the British settlements on the coast of Africa, Senegal, and the forts on the river Gambia, were taken by a French squadron, under M. de Lauzun.