The Reign of George III. - (Continued.) page 16

Just as lord Rawdon was leaving, a circumstance occurred which roused intensely the indignation of the Americans. A colonel Hayne, who had sworn allegiance to the British arms, went over again to the enemy, and was taken, not only in arms, but with a colonel Williamson, of the royal militia, in his hands. According to the regular rules of war, he was thereupon condemned by a court-martial to be hanged. Much interest was made by the inhabitants of Charlestown, both royalist and republican, to save him. The ladies of Charlestown presented a petition on his behalf, and the prisoner's children, with some of his relations, entreated for his life. But it was deemed necessary to make an example of one of these frequent turncoats, who were very ready to accept British protection, and swear allegiance when it was convenient, and, on the first opportunity, turned round and fought against us. By the strict rules of war, he might have been hanged up instanter without any court-martial at all. But as soon as general Greene heard of the execution, he issued a proclamation in most violent terms, denouncing it as an atrocious murder and " inhuman insult," and threatening the most extensive retaliation. Everywhere the Americans cried out loudly in the same strain, in the face of the treatment of Andre, who was seized and hanged when travelling under protection of a pass from one of their own generals, in face of the recent massacre in cold blood of two hundred American royalists whom they met in arms, and in face of the proclamation of Washington to seize and hang Arnold for doing just what Hayne had done. The circumstance showed what a terrific uproar the sensitive Americans would have made at a case like that of Andre on our part.

Much censure was cast on lord Rawdon; but his lordship showed that he had no concern whatever in the sentence; that he had already resigned his authority to lieutenant- colonel Stuart; that he had done all that he could do - strongly recommended mercy. At the same time, he wrote to the American general, Henry Lee, years afterwards, and when he had more thoroughly examined the case, that, " for the guilt of Hayne, not a shadow of palliation could be found. By all the recognised laws of war, nothing was requisite, in the case of Hayne, but to identify his person previous to hanging him on the next tree."

When the summer heats had abated, Greene descended from the Santee hills, and a sharp engagement ensued betwixt him and the troops under colonel Stuart at the Eutaw Springs, about sixty miles from Charlestown. Though warned of the approach of Greene by two deserters, Stuart put but little faith in the report, and therefore was taken somewhat by surprise. A large party out in search of roots and vegetables were suddenly fallen upon, and most of them cut to pieces. Greene then followed up his success with such impetuosity that the advanced lines of the British were driven back, till they reached a house into which major Sheridan had thrown himself with a party of New York volunteers. The murderous fire from this house arrested Greene, who in vain tried to carry it. This obstacle enabled colonel Stuart to re-organise his scattered lines, and the battle was continued with such fury - the American militia standing their ground on this occasion well - that Greene was at length routed, and driven from the ground, and took refuge in some woods in their rear. The English encamped on the field that night and the next day. On each side there appears to have been about six hundred killed, wounded, and missing. The American army was about double the number of the English. Greene claimed it as a victory, and the congress proclaimed it a glorious victory, simply because he had the advantage in the beginning of the fray, though he was driven from his ground in the end of it. If this was a victory, by the same rule many of the greatest victories in the history of the world were defeats. But it is curious with what audacity the Americans were continually assuming victories when the notorious fact was the reverse. This was the last action in the American war of any importance. The force of the English was insufficient to pursue any effective campaign. In this quarter they soon found it necessary to retreat to Charlestown Neck, leaving Greene to reassert the American authority over the greater part of South Carolina and Georgia; and at the end of the campaign the British held little of these states, except the districts immediately abutting on Charlestown and Savannah.