lish had formed but one only, the war would have had a direction, and perhaps a conclusion, widely different.

The Congress decreed, in honor of a man beloved and revered by the Americans, that there should be procured from Paris a monument, with an appropriate inscription, to transmit to posterity the memory of the virtues and heroic qualities of Richard Montgomery.

Thus, by the example of those of the dead, they encouraged the virtues of the living. The authors of revolutions too often, of preference, employ bad citizens, either in consequence of their audacity in recommending themselves, or because, having no other principle but their personal interest, they are more pliant and more ductile in the hands of those who govern.

It should be observed, on the contrary, to the glory of the American Congress, that they sought out and distinguished men of worth. We dare not affirm that the number of such, in the times of the revolution, was more considerable in America than in any other country. But it does appear, that if there prevailed among the Americans of this epoch, the vices produced by an immoderate love of gain, those were scarcely remarked which have their origin in luxury, depravity of manners, and the ambition of power. Religion had not yet lost its authority over their minds, nor had it become fashionable with them to offer incense at the altars of vice, or openly to rail at virtue. It is remarkable that the English manifested no less enthusiasm than the Americans for the memory of Montgomery.

Within the parliament itself, there were found orators whose eloquence adjudged him all the praises with which the historians of antiquity have commemorated the most illustrious men of their times. Colonel Barre was particularly remarked for the noble pathos of the regrets he consecrated to the death of his gallant enemy. Burke and Fox endeavored to surpass this eulogium in their speeches; Fox, especially, who, as yet very young, already discovered the man he was afterwards to be. Lord North reprehended them sharply, exclaiming, that it was indecent to lavish so many praises upon a rebel. He admitted that Montgomery was brave, able, humane, and generous; but still he was only a brave, able, humane, and generous rebel; he cited this verse of Addison in Cato,- Curse on his virtues, they've undone his country.' Fox answered him immediately, with warmth, that the term "rebel," applied to that excellent person, was no certain mark of disgrace, and therefore he was the less earnest to clear him of the imputation; for that all the great asserters of liberty, the saviors of their country, the benefactors of mankind, in all ages, had been called rebels; that they even owed the constitution, which enabled them to sit in that house, to a rebellion.' He added this passage from the prince of Latin poets

Sunt hic etiam sua præmia laudi,

Sunt lachrymæ rerum, et mentem mortalia tangunt.

But it is time to resume the thread of the history. The Americans found a compensation for the disasters of Canada, in the success they obtained under the walls of Charleston, in South Carolina. The ministers had resolved to aim a vigorous blow at the southern provinces, because they had persuaded themselves, and not without reason, that the friends of England were more numerous there than in those of the north. They had no doubt that they would all show themselves so soon as the troops of the king should appear in force upon the coasts, or should have become possessed of some important post. They hoped with the succour of the loyalists to reestablish the ancient order of things in these provinces, and they calculated that thence they might afterwards attack in flank those of the middle and north; which, being pressed in the rear, on the part of Canada, by a strong army, and in front on the part of the sea, by forces no less formidable, would thus be deprived of all power of resistance. The ministers already saw America returned to its ancient submission. They determined to turn their arms at first against North Carolina, as the weakest part, and to add to this conquest that of South Carolina and of Virginia, according to the success of operations.

For this reason the fleet, having on board the troops destined for this expedition, had sailed from the ports of England and Ireland before the others. General Clinton, who, at the head of another considerable corps, was to come from New York to join the new reenforcements, was already arrived at Cape Fear, not having been able to execute his design of attacking Virginia. But, on the one hand, the impatience of the loyalists of North Carolina had caused the miscarriage of the expedition, and their own ruin; on the other, contrary winds and storms had so retarded beyond all expectation the passage of the fleet which, under the command of admiral Peter Parker, was bound for Cape Fear, that it could not reach that point until long after the calculated term, nor until the loyalists were already put down, and the inhabitants of the two Carolinas were not only apprised of the menaced attack, but had even already made all their preparations for resistance. It is certain that if the loyalists of North Carolina had delayed for some time longer to declare themselves; or if the sea had been more propitious to the English, the affairs of Congress might have taken a disastrous direction in the south. The squadron of admiral Parker arrived at Cape Fear about the beginning of May, with many land troops, and with generals Cornwallis, Vaughan, and several others. Here they made their junction with general Clinton, who, from seniority, took the command in chief.

The obstinate resistance of the Virginians, and the disasters of the partisans of England in North Carolina, precluded all hope of success in these two provinces; there remained therefore no other

advisable procedure but that of turning against South Carolina; which expedition offered also this advantage, that the reduction of Charleston secured the conquest of the entire province.

Its inhabitants, struck with consternation at the loss of their capital, would never even think of attempting to defend an open country, exposed to the inroads of an active and disciplined enemy. Nor could the taking of Charleston be considered a difficult operation, this city being situated upon the very coast.

The plan being decided, the English prepared themselves for the execution. But the Carolinians had neglected nothing to secure themselves the means of defending their province, and particularly their capital. The chiefs of the people, as we have already related, had taken particular care to fortify Sullivan's Island, situated on the part of the sea, at the distance of six miles from the point of land formed by the confluence of the two rivers, Ashley and Cooper, and upon which the city of Charleston is built. This island so commands the channel which leads to the port, that the vessels which would enter it must pass under the cannon of fort Moultrie. It had recently been armed with thirty-six pieces of heavy cannon, and twentysix of inferior caliber. The fort itself was constructed of a species of wood of the country, which the inhabitants denominated Palmetto, and is so spongy and soft, that the ball is deprived by it of its impetus, and lodges within it without causing splinters. The militia of all the province were called in haste to the defence of the city. In the space of a few days the garrison amounted to six thousand men, if not perfectly disciplined, at least full of ardor.

The regiment on pay, of South Carolina, was sent to guard fort Johnson, situated in James Island, three miles from Charleston, and which commanded the whole breadth of the channel.

The second and third regiments occupied Sullivan's Island. William Moultrie, who commanded the second regiment, was charged with the defence of the fort, which afterwards, from his gallant defence of it, was called by his name. The rest of the troops were distributed in the most important posts; the roads which led to the sea were obstructed by abattis, the warehouses of the coast demolished, and intrenchments erected upon the shore.

There was not an inhabitant who had not in hand either arms or the spade, or the pickaxe. The blacks, who had been called in from the country, admirably seconded the whites in all the labors of fortification. The chief command belonged to general Lee, who possessed the entire confidence of the troops and of the people; none rivalled him in devotion to the common cause. The hatred he had long borne towards the English government, the love of glory, and the desire of answering the universal expectation, continually excited his natural ardor. Rutledge, a man of great influence in the province, also manifested the most active zeal in animating the inhabit

ants to defend themselves. His example and his exhortations obtained the most happy results. Every one was at his post, expecting the enemy with intrepid confidence. Meanwhile, the British fleet appeared, and cast anchor to the north of Sullivan's Island.

The ships of war were the Bristol and Experiment of fifty guns; four frigates, the Active, the Acteon, the Solebay, and the Syren of twenty-eight; the Sphynx of twenty, the Friendship of twenty-two, two smaller vessels of eight, and the Thunder, a bomb-ketch.

It was very difficult, especially for the large ships, to pass the bar which is found at the entrance of the channel of Charleston.

It was not without extreme fatigue that the English succeeded in crossing it with the Bristol and Experiment, even after they had lightened them of their artillery and a great part of their lading. They struck, and it was thought they would bilge immediately; but the skill of the officers and the efforts of the sailors at length preserved them. The intention of the English was to reduce fort Moultrie, in order, afterwards, to attack the city without obstacle. General Clinton issued a proclamation, which he sent into the city by a flag; he therein reminded the inhabitants of the subversion of all laws, of the tyranny established in the hands of the Congress, the committees, and other unconstitutional authorities; he gave them a last admonition, before proceeding to extremities; he exhorted them to avert from their heads, by a prompt return to obedience, the vengeance of a powerful and irritated nation. He offered pardon, at the same time, to all those who should lay down arms and submit immediately.

This summons produced no effect whatever.

manner.

The English generals had arranged their attack in the following The ships were to cannonade fort Moultrie in front, while a corps of troops landed for this purpose in Long Island, to the east of Sullivan's Island, should cross the narrow arm of the sea that separates them, and which was believed fordable. This corps would then have pressed the fort on the part of the land, which was much less strongly fortified. This plan offered them so fair a prospect of success, that general Lee himself, having doubts whether the fort could be defended, recommended that it should be evacuated, and that all efforts should be concentrated for the defence of the city. But the inhabitants, who dreaded bombs out of measure, resolved to attempt, by all means, the defence of the fort.

All the preparations being completed on the one part, and on the other, on the morning of the twenty-eighth of June, the ketch Thunder, protected by another armed vessel, took post and began to throw bombs into fort Moultrie, while the rest of the squadron advanced.

About eleven o'clock, the Bristol, the Experiment, the Active, and the Solebay, having formed in line, opened a violent fire against the

fort. The Sphynx, the Acteon, and the Syren, went to take their station to the west, between the point of Sullivan's Island and the city, partly to be able to sweep the interior of the works, and partly to intercept all communication between the island and the main land, which would deprive the garrison of the means of retreat, prevent them from receiving succours of men and of munitions, and prohibit the Carolinians from annoying the besiegers by fire ships or other engines of war. The unskilfulness of the pilots caused the miscarriage of these dispositions; the three vessels struck upon a bank named the Middle Grounds, two of them, by the exertions of the mariners, were again set afloat, but not without having received considerable damage. Whether on account of the hour already become late, or in consequence of this damage, they were no longer in a situation to execute the orders of the captains. As to the Acteon, she was totally stranded, and, the next morning, burned. During this time, the four first vessels had kept up a furious cannonade against the fort, which was returned with equal vivacity. The Thunder, after having discharged upwards of sixty bombs, found herself so disabled, that she discontinued her fire; but the others maintained it; and if the attack was vigorous, the defence was not feeble. The English themselves were constrained to admire the intrepidity of the Americans in so hot an action.

The garrison of the fort, which consisted only in militia and a few soldiers of the line, displayed an incredible coolness and gallantry, in the service of their artillery, in the midst of the tempest of balls which was hailed upon them by the enemy's squadron. The Americans aimed with an extreme precision. The English ships suffered excessively; and their loss in men was not inconsiderable. The Bristol, especially, being damaged in all her rigging, was for some time so exposed to the fire of the batteries, that she narrowly escaped being sunk. Captain Morris, who commanded the Acteon, had already received several wounds, and the greater part of his men were killed; left almost alone upon the deck, he refused to be carried below, until a ball took off one of his legs, and then was removed without hope of life. The admiral himself, Peter Parker, received a severe contusion.

Lord Campbell, who a little before was governor of the province, was mortally wounded.

The loss of the garrison was very inconsiderable; nevertheless their fire slackened, and at length ceased altogether. Their ammunition was exhausted, and the English considered their victory as already secure. But the Americans soon succoured the fort, and the cannonade was renewed with the same fury as at first. It continued till seven o'clock in the evening.

The English then perceiving the inutility of their attack, and the deplorable state of their vessels, and not seeing the corps make its