With a view to these various circumstances, the army was thrown into two great divisions.  The northern was to be commanded by General Heath; and its chief object was the security of West Point, and of the posts on the North River, as low as King’s Ferry.  Subordinate to this, was the protection of the country on the Sound, and down the Hudson to the neighbourhood of Kingsbridge.  The other and principal division, under the immediate command of General Washington, was put under cover, late in December, in the neighbourhood of Morristown.

CHAPTER VI.

South Carolina invaded....  The British fleet passes the bar, and gets possession of the harbour of Charleston....  Opinion of General Washington on the propriety of defending that place....  Sir Henry Clinton invests the town....  Tarlton surprises an American corps at Monk’s Corner....  Fort Moultrie surrendered....  Tarlton defeats Colonel White....  General Lincoln capitulates....  Buford defeated....  Arrangements for the government of South Carolina and Georgia....  Sir Henry Clinton embarks for New York....  General Gates takes command of the Southern army....  Is defeated near Camden....  Death of De Kalb....  Success of General Sumpter....  He is defeated.

[Sidenote:  1780.]

The departure of the French fleet produced a sudden change in the prospects of the southern states.  The sanguine hopes which had been entertained of the recovery of Georgia, gave place to gloomy and well founded apprehensions for South Carolina.

The facility with which General Prevost had passed through the state, and the assurances he had received of the indisposition of a large portion of the people to defend themselves, disclosed too certainly the true situation of the country, not to convince all discerning men that a real attempt at conquest would be made the ensuing year.  General Lincoln perceived the approaching danger, without being able to provide against it.  His power, as a military commander, was too limited, and his influence on the government of the state too weak, to draw forth even the means it possessed in time for its protection.

Though the preservation of its metropolis was of vast importance to the state, no preparations were making to put it in a condition to stand a siege.  The forts on the islands were in ruins, and the works across the neck remained unfinished.  The representations made on this subject to the governor by General Lincoln were not disregarded; but from some defect in the existing law, the executive found it impracticable to obtain labour for these interesting objects.

[Sidenote:  January 23.]

Admiral Arbuthnot arrived at Savannah on the 31st of January.  One of his transports, which had been separated from the fleet in a storm, was brought into Charleston harbour on the 23d of that month; and the prisoners gave the first certain intelligence that the expedition from New York was destined against the capital of South Carolina.