Our men are full of spirits. Do not give up, or suffer the people
to despair." But the governor and council did despair already,
for a majority of them had finally offered to capitulate, and proposed
a neutrality, during the war between Great Britain and South Carolina;
and the question, whether the state should belong to Great Britain,
or remain one of the United States, to be determined by the treaty of peace;
from this offer, Gen. Gadsden and Mr. Thomas Ferguson dissented.
To carry terms so disgraceful, to Prevost, Col. Laurens was pitched upon;
but he indignantly refused to be the bearer. Cols. M`Intosh and Roger Smith
were then persuaded to go with a flag. The British commander
appointed Col. Prevost, as commissioner to receive them; and he delivered
a message from the general, "that he had nothing to do with the governor,
that his business was with Gen. Moultrie; and as the garrison was in arms,
they must surrender prisoners of war." At this answer,
the governor and council looked blank; and some were for submitting
even to this degrading proposal: but Moultrie cut the conference short,
by declaring, "that as it was left to him, he would fight
to the last extremity." Laurens, who was present, and sitting,
bounded to his feet at the expression, raised his hands, and thanked his God!
Thus it was only by a mistake of Prevost, as to the high powers
of the civil authority, that the town, and the state of South Carolina,
were then saved. What renders this offer the more astonishing,
was, that the garrison, 3180 strong, were in good spirits,
and an army under Lincoln, was marching to their assistance,
on the rear of the enemy; who were not much stronger than the besieged,
being computed at 3680 men.** Early the next morning, Prevost decamped,
and retreated to John's and James Islands. (May 13th.)
There was great rejoicing in the town; but the consequence
to which it had arrived, by repelling two attempts of the enemy,
only brought against it a greater armament, and in the end,