and South Carolina, would become an easy prey. Sir Henry Clinton,
their commander in chief, meditating a formidable expedition against them;
with this view sailed from New York on the 26th December, 1779, with an army,
which, with subsequent reinforcements amounted to about 12,000 men.
To oppose this great force, Gen. Lincoln had not more than two thousand,
a great part of which was militia. His head quarters were in Charleston,
where the general assembly were setting in calm deliberation,
for they had not yet heard of the rising storm. Lieut. Col. Marion,
had command of the out-post of this little army, at Sheldon,
near Pocotaligo, where he had orders to watch the motions of Prevost,
and prevent him from obtaining supplies of provisions,
from the Carolina side of Savannah river. It was expected
he was to remain here for some time, and great confidence was reposed in him,
by Gen. Lincoln, as appears by his letters, at this period.
The British had a tedious passage, in which they lost part of their ordnance,
most of their artillery, and all the horses, destined to mount their cavalry.
On the 11th Feb. 1780, they landed about thirty miles from Charleston.
The assembly sitting there, immediately broke up, after delegating,
"till ten days after their next session, to John Rutledge,
and such of his council as he could conveniently consult,
a power to do every thing necessary for the public good;
except the taking away the life of a citizen, without a legal trial."
This was nearly the same power, with which the senate of Rome,
invested their dictators. But a resolution, fatal in its consequences,
was unanimously adopted by this assembly: namely, to defend the town to
the utmost extremity. The power, thus delegated to the governor and council,
was carried into effect afterwards, with vigour, and with what would now
be thought an infraction of private rights. But in the spirit of the times,
and the public situation, such vigour was necessary. The governor's council,
was composed of upright and virtuous men, and John Rutledge was