In these colonies, as in the middle colonies, the tory party was very strong.] In consequence the struggle in the Carolinas and Georgia took the form of a ferocious civil war.

Each side in turn followed up its successes by a series of hangings and confiscations, while the lawless and violent characters fairly revelled in the confusion.

Neither side can be held guiltless of many and grave misdeeds; but for reasons already given the bulk--but by no means the whole--of the criminal and disorderly classes espoused the king's cause in the regions where the struggle was fiercest.

They murdered, robbed, or drove off the whigs in their hour of triumph; and in turn brought down ferocious reprisals on their own heads and on those of their luckless associates.
Moreover Cornwallis and his under-officers tried to cow and overawe the inhabitants by executing some of the men whom they deemed the chief and most criminal leaders of the rebellion, especially such as had sworn allegiance and then again taken up arms; [Footnote: Gates MSS.

See Letter from Sumter, August 12th and _passim_, for instances of hanging by express command of the British officers.] of course retaliation in kind followed.