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The Fall Charleston South Carolina - 1780

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Two autograph letters, Charles Campbell, captain of the 71st Highlanders. Captain Cambell sailed with the Highlanders to Boston only to be captured by an American privateer on June 7, 1776. After spending 18 months in a county jail, Campbell was paroled, later to participate in the taking of Charleston, South Carolina. The first letter, 7pp is Charles to his Father, datelined "Charlestown (S,C.), May 20th. 1780" with incredibly descriptive account of the taking of the City of Charleston, S.C., written just 8 days after the fall of the City! In part, "I have been in action, in two of the most obstinate and most successfull contests that the British arms have experienced this war; the defence of Savannah and the reduction of Charlestown. As it must surpize the people of England, that a Rebel garrison should stand a six weeks siege, against Sir H.C. (Henry Clinton), and a British army. it would be unpardonable in me, not to give you some account of our operations before Charlestown. On the 26th of December last. Sir H. sailed from York. with an army of eight thousand men. and a number of men of war; hard and contrary winds scattered the neet, and before the army landed in South Carolina, it was the middle of February. They took possession of Johns and James Islands to the southward of Cha:leston; got the transports and small craft up Stone river, that divides the two Islands. and was employed to near the end of March in landing stores and provisions, making every preparation for a siege, and waiting for a Corps of 1500 hundred men that marched from Savannah across the country, under the orders of General Paterson .. About the 20th of March, the Light Infantry, and Grenadiers took position on the main, along Ashley river, stretching from Wapoo cut to Dray tons house, 12 miles above Charlestown. On the 28th. Paterson's corps joined, and early the next morning, the body of the army was thrown across Ashley river. On the 30th the town was invested ...... Charlestown is fortified to the Country by a very strong and well constructed entrenchment; covered with a wett and dry ditch, and a double abattis, and defended at every point by a numerous artillery. To the sea its covered by four Bastions mounting heavy cannon ... its flanks to the rivers are protected with shipping and batteries. The strength of Charlestown, its consequence to the country .... a belief that Fort Sullivan would effectually prevent our navy from getting up to the Town, and a persuasion that our army could not afford a Corps across Cooper river to cut off their retreat, induced them to throw their whole force into town and stand a siege. Finding the town in this situation, and the enemy thus disposed, we opened our trenches on the evening of the 1st of April about eight hundred yards from their works. By the 10th, we finished our first parallell and compleated our batteries. On this day we summoned the Town to surrender; their answer was short and spirited: a determination to hold out. to the last extremity. A few days after this, we opened near 20 piece of artillery, and a number of small mortars; their works being all of clay, our shot was of little effect, but our shells did some execution. A reinforcement arriving from York, Lord Cornwallis with a detachment of near 3000 men was thrown over Cooper river: his Lordship took a position along the banks of the river that prevented their receiving any supplys from the Country, and effectually cut off their retreat. .... By the beginning of May we had drawn a parallell, and compleated batteries within 150 yards of their works. On the eighth we summoned them again. but could not agree on the terms. Hostilities again commenced. and with more vigour than ever. On the 11 th they sent a flag accepting of our terms, and on the 12th the garrison and town of Charlestown surrendered prisoners of war. By this conquest we have got near 300 pieces of artillery, 4 ships of war, and from five to six thousand prisoners .... " Charles continues with confirmation of the good news that his Uncle has agreed to p·urchase a Majority in the Anny for him & closes with "I will soon be high in the army ... " Fine. The second letter, 2pp advises of the death of Charles Campbell; A letter from Major Arch'd McArthur. 71st Regiment. datelined "Camp at Camden (S.C.), August 20th. 1780". to Charles' Father. advising of his death on August 18th, when Campbell's men routed General Thomas Sumter in an action 2 days after the American disaster at Camden. The letter in part: "It gives me infinite concern to inform you that your son who escaped unhurt in the Action of the 16th instant, between our Army under Lord Cornwallis & the Rebel Army commanded by Genl. Gates, when the latter was totally defeated, but in the Action of the 18th instant when Col. Tarleton with part of the Cavalry of the Legion not one hundred in number & Capt. Charles Campbell with nearly the same number of the Battn of Light Infantry, which he commanded this campaign, surprised & defeated Col. Sumpter, who had not less than eight hundred men. Capt. Campbell advancing at the head of his men with his usual intrepidity received a musquet ball in his breast & instantly expired, much regretted not only by the 71st Regiment. but by the whole Army as a very spirited & intelligent officer. He was decently interred that evening on the field of Battle .." It is rather ironic that shortly after receiving news that his much desired advancement in the army was soon to occur, his military career should be so suddenly snuffed out, yet, as his brother Jack had declared, "So many glorious deaths offer".

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