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Admiralty Office, Jun. 15, 1780 His Majesty's ship the Perseus, commanded by the Hon. Keith Elphinstone, arrive late last night at Spithead, from Charles town, in South Carolina, from whence she sailed the 17th of last month, having on board Sir Andrew Hammond, who came to this Office this forenoon with a letter from Vice-admiral Arbuthnot, to Mr. Stevens, of which the following is a copy: Roebuck, off Charles town, May 14, 1780 SIR, I HAVE the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the information of my lords commissioners of the admiralty, that Charles town, with all its dependencies, the shipping in the harbour, and the army under General Lincoln, has surrendered to His Majesty's arms. My Last letters, by a Dutch ship bound to Amsterdam, which sailed the 16th of February, will have informed you of my departure from New York, and my arrival off Savannah, with a squadron of His Majesty's ships, escorting a considerable body of troops under the command of Sir Henry Clinton. Most of the missing ships have arrived, no time was lost in prosecuting the intended expedition. I shifted my flag from the Europe to this ship; and the transports having repaired the damages sustained on the passage, I proceeded with the fleet, on the 10th of February, to North Edisto, the place of debarkation previously agreed upon. Our passage (a.) thither was favourable and speedy; and although it required time to have the bar explored, and the channel marked, the transports all entered the harbour the next day; and the army took possession of John's island without opposition. The general having made a requisition for heavy (b.) cannon, and a detachment of seamen from the fleet, the letter were put under the command of Captain Ephinstone and Captain Evans, and the guns forwarded to the army as soon as they could be collected from the line-of-battle ships, which the bad weather had forced from their anchors. Preparations were next made for passing the squadron over Charles-town bar, where the high water spring tides there, is only nineteen feet water. The guns, (c.) provision, and water were taken out of the Renown, Roebuck, and Romulus, to lighten them; and we lay in that situation on the open coast in the winter season of the year, exposed to the insults of the enemy, for sixteen days, before an opportunity offered of going into the harbour, which was effected without any accident, on the 20th of March, notwithstanding the enemy's galleys continually attempted to prevent our boats from sounding the channel. I enclose a list of the rebel naval force, which, at this time, made an appearance of disputing the passage up the river, at the narrow pass, between Sullivan's island and the middle ground, having moored their ships and galleys in a position to make a raking fire as we approached fort Moultrie; but on the squardon arriving near the bar, and anchoring on the inside, they abandoned that idea, retired to the town, and changed their plan of defence. The Bricole, Notre Dame, Queen of France, Truite, and General Moultrie frigates, with feveral merchant ships, fitted with chevaux de frife (d.) on their decks, were funk in the channel between the town and Shute's Folly; a boom was extended across, composed of cables, chains, and spars, secured by the ships' mass, and defended from the town by strong batteries o f pimento logs, in which were mounted upwards of forty pieces of heavy cannon. Every thing being in readiness for crossing the army over the Ashley river, the boats of the fleet, with the flat boats, under the command of Capt. Elphinstone and Capt. Evans of the Raisonable, the whole army, with the artillery and stores necessary for the siege, were landed under the cover of the galleys, on the town side, with astonishing expedition. As soon as the army began to erect their batteries against the town, I took the first favourable opportunity to pass Sullivan's island, upon which there is a strong fort and batteries, the chief defense of the harbour; accordingly I weighed at one o'clock, on the (e.) 9th ult., with the Roebuck, Richmond, Romulus, Blonde, Virginia, Raleigh, and Sandwich armed ship. The Renown brining up the rear, and passing through a severe fire, anchored in about two hours under James' island, with the loss of twenty-seven seamen killed and wounded. The Richmond's foretop masts and rigging; however, not materially in their hulls: But the Acetus transport, having on board a few naval stores, grounded with gunshot of Sullivan's island, and received so much damage, that she was obliged to be abandoned and burnt. Having stationed ships and armed vessels off the different inlets, upon the coast, and the town being now nearly invested, attempts were made to pass a naval force into Cooper river, by Hog's island, (the main channel being rendered impracticable) and small vessels to carry heavy guns were fitter for that service: But on being found the enemy had also sunk vessels in that channel, and its entrance was defended by the works on Sullivan's island, and mount Pleasant, it was resolved to dispossess them of the latter, by the seamen of the fleet's and in the mean time, to arm the small vessels that had been taken by Earl Cornwallis in the Wandoo river. For this purpose a brigade of five hundred seamen and marines was formed from the squadron, and under the command of the Captains Hudson, Orde, and Gambier, landed at day break, on the 29th, at mount Pleasant; where receiving information that the rebels were abandoning their redoubt at Lamprie's point, (an advantageous post on Cooper river) they marched with a view of cutting off their rear, but, on a near approach, found the garrison had escaped in vessels to Charles town; but their sudden appearance prevented the rebels from carrying off their cannon and stores, or from destroying their works. About the same time, a major, a captain, and some other commissioned and non-commissioned officers, with eighty privates, were made prisoners by the guard boats of the fleet, in retiring to the town. Captain Hudson being relieved in his post by Colonel Ferguson, returned to the fort at mount Pleasant, which being in the neighbourhood of fort Sullivan, brought us in deserters daily, from whom I learnt very favourable accounts of its garrison; I therefore (f.) formed a plan to attack it, which should not interfere with the important operations the army were carrying on, and which now became every day more and more critical. The attention of the rebels, I found, had been chiefly directed to the south and east sides of the fort, which were most open to attack; but the west face and north-west bastion, I discovered, had been neglected; I therefore determined to attempt to carry the fort by storm, under cover of the fire from the ships of the squadron. The Captains Hudson and Gambier, and Captain Knowles, agent for transports, with two hundred seamen and marines, embarked in the boats of the squadron, in the night of the 4th instant, and passing by the fort unobserved, landed before day light, and took possession of a redoubt on the east end of the island; whilst other boats were preparing to carry over the same number of seamen and marines from mount Pleasant, under the command of Captain Orde. On the whole being ready, and the ships only waiting for the tide, to begin the attack, the fort was summoned by Captain Hudson, when, after a little consideration, the garrison surrendered themselves prisoners of war. A copy of the capitulation, and the return of prisoners and stores, accompany this letter. The reduction of the city followed four days after; for the preparations to storm it in every part being in great forwardness, and the ships ready to move to the assault, the town was summoned on the 9th, by his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, to surrender; terms were in consequence proposed, and the enclosed capitulation, signed by the general and myself, the 10th instant. I have commissioned the rebel and French frigates, in the King's service, and have given the command of them to officers of long service, and acknowledged merit. The conduct of Sir Andrew Hammond, of the Roebuck, who bears this dispatch to you, deserves particular mention; whether in the great line of service, or in the detail of duty, he has been every ready, forward, and animated. The Captain Hudson, Orde, Gambier, Elphinstone, and Evans, have distinguished themselves particularly on shore; and the officers and seamen, who have serve with them on this occasion, have observed the most perfect discipline. Our whole loss in the ships and galleys, and the batteries on shore, is twenty-three seamen killed, and twenty-eight wounded; among the latter is Lieutenant Bowers, of the Europe, but in fair way of recovery. The fleet has endeavoured most heartily and effectually to co-operate with the army in every possible instance; and the most perfect harmony has subsisted between us. I just add, that rebel privateering has recently received a severe check; the Iris and Galatea having lately, in the space of ten days, taken nine privateers, (two of which were ships of twenty guns, and none less than sixteen) and eight hundred seamen. I have the honour to be, SIR, Your most obedient servant, M. ARBUTHNOT A list of rebel ships (h.) of war taken or destroyed in the harbour of Charles town. THE Bricole, pierced for 60, mounting 44 guns, tenty-four and eighteen pounders, funk, her captain, officers, and company, prisoners.- The Truite, 26 twelve pounders, funk, her captain, &c. prisoners.- Queen of France, 28 nine pounders, funk, ditto.- General Moultrie, 20 six pounders, funk, ditto.- Notre Dame, (brig) 16 ditto, funk, ditto.- Providence, 32 guns, eighteen and twelve pounders, taken, captain, officers, and company, prisoners.- Boston, of the same force, taken, ditto.- Ranger, 20 six pounders, taken, ditto. FRENCH SHIPS L'Avanture, 26 nine and six pounders, commanded by the Sieur de Brulot, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, taken, ditto.- Polacre, 16 six pounders, taken.- Some empty brigs lying at the wharfs, with other small vessels, were also taken, with four armed galleys. M. ARBUTHNOT (From A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 178, in the Southern Province of North America?, by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, pp47-56.) Tarleton, Ch 1., [F], p. 47c 5/14/1780 |
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