was on his march back to Carolina, to decamр воок that very night, and took post, after some détours, in the island of Port Royal, to the south of 1779. Charlestown harbour. VIII. In the mean time sir Henry Clinton was engaged, in conformity to the policy of the English court, whence he derived his instructions, in various predatory expeditions. Sir George Collier and general Matthew, in a descent upon Virginia, burnt the town of Suffolk, and destroyed the vessels, provisions, and stores, found there, and at Gosport, Jenner's Creek, and various other places in that quarter. Sir H. Clinton in person proceeded up the North River, and carried, by great exertions of gallantry, the two important posts of Stoney Point and Verplanks, which the Americans had diligently fortified to preserve the communication between the eastern and western colonies. Another expedition under sir George Collier, governor Tryon commanding the land forces, was projected nearly at the same time against Newhaven in Connec ticut, which they plundered, and afterwards proceeded to Fairfield and Norwalk, which they laid in ashes; and also the buildings and farmhouses to the compass of two miles round. At the same time a proclamation was issued by them, declaring "the existence of a single house on the coast to be a striking monument of British воок mercy." A far more important enterprise was XVIII. next undertaken by the same officer, for the re1779. lief of a fortress lately constructed at the mouth of the river Penobscot, in the eastern confines of New England, and garrisoned by a detachment of king's troops from Nova Scotia. This post had been for some time closely invested by an armament of considerable force from Boston, which was attacked lying in the river, and almost entirely destroyed by sir George Collier, who took two frigates of twenty and eighteen guns; the remainder, to the amount of seventeen vessels, being stranded and burnt. The superior weight of metal on the part of the English commodore, who hoisted his broad pendant on board the Raisonnable, of 64 guns, and whose whole squadron consisted of six ships only, far more than counterbalanced the superiority of numbers on the part of the enemy. On the other hand, the Americans were not without their successes. After the capture of Stoney Point and Verplanks by the English, no pains were spared to make them impregnable to the attacks of the enemy; notwithstanding which a plan was formed by the American general Wayne for the sur prisal of the former of these posts, which was carried into execution with great resolution on the night of the fifteenth of July. Neither the deep morass in front of the lines, the double 1 XVIII. 1779. rows of abbatis, or the incessant and tremendous BOOK fire from the batteries, could damp the ardor of the troops, who, attacking with fixed bayonets, carried the works with resistless intrepidity. The clemency of the conquerors was no less conspicuous than their bravery; for, though they had repeatedly been refused quarter in similar situations, the lives of more than 500 men, who threw down their arms, were generously granted. In a few days another British post at Paulus Hook was surprised in a similar manner; but a better defence being made, the Americans, after storming two redoubts, were repulsed, and obliged to retire, not however without carrying off with them near 200 prisoners. In the West Indies, soon after the defeat of d'Estaing at St. Lucie, admiral Barrington was joined by admiral Byron; and the English fleet being now superior to that of the French, en deavours were used to force the enemy to a gene ral engagement; but they chose, rather than encounter this risk, to remain inactive in the harbour of Fort Royal. Admiral Byron, however, deeming it expedient to convoy the trade ships, collected at St. Christopher's in June, part of their voyage, count d'Estaing took the opportunity of detaching a considerable force to the island of St. Vincent, which surrendered, though garrisoned by seven companies of regular ۱ XVIIL. 1779. BOOK troops, without firing a shot. This is ascribed to the dread entertained of an insurrection of the Caribbs, who still entertained a deep resentment of the injuries they had sustained. The French commander, being now joined by a large reinforcement of ships and troops, sailed with twentysix ships of the line from Fort Royal in the beginning of July, and steered his course to the island of Grenada, which, though bravely defended by the governor, lord Macartney, was compelled in a short time to surrender at discretion. Admiral Byron, on his return, receiving intelligence of the capture of St. Vincent's, immediately determined to make an effort for its recovery; but, on his passage thither, heard the still more unwelcome tidings of the attack of Grenada, of which he now resolved to attempt the relief. On the 6th of July the two fleets came in sight; but the French, having already effected their purpose, were little inclined, notwithstanding their present superiority, to risk a close engagement. A warm but indecisive action ensued between the van divisions of the two fleets, in the course of which the English discovered, to their astonishment, the French colors flying on the fortress of St. George. In the result the English fleet bore away for Antigua, and the French returned to Grenada. Count d'Estaing being fully informed of the XVIII. 1779. critical situation of the southern provinces of BOOK America, now unexpectedly directing his course to Georgia, made an easy capture of the Experiment, of 50 guns, with supplies of various kinds on board for Savannah, and three other frigates which he fell in with on his way. On the 9th of September he anchored off the mouth of the Savannah, to which general Prevost had again retired, and sent a haughty summons to that officer to surrender to the arms of his most christian majesty; to which a spirited answer was returned. The succeeding day, count d'Estaing being joined by general Lincoln, a regular siege commenced, which was sustained with great vigor by general Prevost, assisted by the masterly exertions of colonel Moncrieff, the chief engineer. At length the French cominander, being impatient at the slow progress made in the siege, determined upon a general assault; and, after a heavy cannonade, the allies advanced to the attack of the British lines on the morning of the 9th of October. They were every where repulsed with heroic valour. Count d'Estaing himself being wounded in the action, and the troops having sustained great loss, the siege was converted into a blockade, and in a few days entirely raised. A precipitate retreat was made by the Americans, and the count retired to the West Indies; whence he quickly returned to France, much chagrined at the final |