CHAPTER XIII

A YEAR OF DISASTERS

State of affairs in Georgia and South Carolina 168, 169

Georgia overrun by the British 170, 171

Arrival of General Lincoln (December, 1778) 172

Partisan warfare; barbarous reprisals 172

The Americans routed at Briar Creek (March 3, 1779) 173

Vandalism of General Prevost 174

Plan for arming negroes 175

Indignation in South Carolina 176

Action of the council 176

End of the campaign 177, 178

Attempt to recapture Savannah 179

Clinton and Cornwallis go to Georgia 180

The British advance upon Charleston 181

Surrender of Charleston (May 12, 1780) 182

South Carolina overrun by the British 182-184

Clinton returns to New York 185

An injudicious proclamation 186

Disorders in South Carolina 186

The strategic points 187

Partisan commanders 187

Francis Marion 188

Thomas Sumter 189

First appearance of Andrew Jackson in history 189

Advance of Kalb 190

Gates appointed to the chief command in the south 190, 191

Choice of roads to Camden 192

Gates chooses the wrong road 193

He loses the moment for striking 193

And weakens his army on the eve of battle 194

And is surprised by Cornwallis 195

Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780); total and ignominious defeat of Gates 195-197

His campaign was a series of blunders 197

Partisan operations 198

Weariness and depression of the people 199

Evils wrought by the paper currency 200

"Not worth a Continental" 201, 202

Taxes paid in the form of specific supplies 203

Difficulty of keeping the army together 203, 204

The French alliance 205

Lafayette's visit to France (February, 1779) 206, 207

Arrival of part of the French auxiliary force under Count Rochambeau (July, 1780) 208

The remainder is detained in France by a British fleet 209

General despondency 210