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From the London Gazette Extracts of a letter from Sir Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath, to Lord George Germain, dated Head Quarters, James' island, South Carolina, March 9th, 1780. Received by the Swift packet, Capt. Nichols, from New York Whitehall, Apr. 26, 1780 MY last dispatch, No. 83, will have informed your lordship, that the admiral and I only waited positive information concerning Count D'Estaing's fleet to put to sea. Intelligence (a.) of their having quitted the coast arrived late in December, and the troops having been some time embarked, the admiral was enabled to sail the 26th. I will trouble your lordship with no other particulars of a very tedious voyage in (b.) uncommon bad weather, than to mention, that in our losses of transports the lives of the crews have been saved; that only one ship is missing, having on board a detachment of Hessians, and supposed to have bore away for the West Indies: But we have to regret the total loss of an ordnance ship, which foundered at sea, and of much the greater part of the horses brought for cavalry, or other public uses. It was judged best to proceed by a second navigation from Tybee to North (c.) Edisto, and from thence to pass to John's and next to James island. By a bridge over Wapoo cut, we have from this last gained the banks of the Ashley river. My intention is to pass to the neck of Charles town as soon as possible. The enemy have, I find, collected their whole force to that place. This is said not to exceed five thousands men at present; but reinforcements are daily expected. In the mean time, as the revels have made the defence of Charles town their principal object, I have determined on my part to assemble in greater strength before it, and with this view have called immediately to this army a corps (d.) I had left in Georgia. They will pass the Savannah river, and join me by land. The force afloat at Charles town is fur rebel and one French frigate, with an old sixty-gun ship, and some brigs and gallies. Although our long voyage, and unavoidable delays since, have given the rebels time to fortify Charles town towards the land, a labour their number in negroes has greatly facilitated; yet, confiding in the merit of the troops I have the honour to command, in the great assistance I have from Earl Cornwallis, and the farther co-operation of the navy, I entertain great hopes of success. I cannot close my letter without expressing how much I am obliged hitherto to Admiral Arbuthnot for the assistance given me through Captain Elphinstone, who as yet has been chiefly employed in the naval transactions immediately relative to the army. This gentlemen's unremitted attention to us, from his so ably and successfully conducting the transports into North Edisto to this hour, with the great benefit I have derived from his knowledge of the island navigation of this part of the coast, merit my warmest thanks. P.S. Since the above a reinforcement is arrived in Charles town, said to consist of two thousand men, from the northern army. (From A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 178, in the Southern Province of North America?, by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, pp35-36.) Tarleton, Ch 1., [B], p. 35 4/26/1780 |
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