The American cavalry force which had been
collected for the relief of the town was defeated by the English
under General Tarleton. The trenches were pushed forward with great
vigor, and the batteries of the third parallel opened at short range
on the town with great execution. The advances were pushed forward at
the ditch, when the garrison, seeing that further resistance was
impossible, surrendered. Five thousand prisoners were taken, 1000
American and French seamen, and ten French and American ships-of-war.
With the fall of Charleston all resistance ceased in South Carolina.
The vast majority of the inhabitants made their submission to the
British government and several loyalist regiments were raised.
Colonel Tarleton, with 170 cavalry and 100 mounted infantry, was
dispatched against an American force under Colonel Burford,
consisting of 350 infantry, a detachment of cavalry, and two guns,
which had taken post on the border of North Carolina. Tarleton came
up with him, and after a sharp action the Americans were entirely
defeated. One hundred and thirteen were killed on the spot and 207
made prisoners, of whom 103 were badly wounded.
For some months the irregular operations were continued, the
Americans making frequent incursions into the Carolinas. The British
troops suffered greatly from the extreme heat and the unhealthiness
of the climate.
In August the American General Gates advanced toward Camden, and Lord
Cornwallis also moved out to that town, which was held by a British
garrison.
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