At the end of December, 1779, Clinton and Cornwallis with nearly eight thousand men went down to South Carolina intending to reduce that State to submission.

One of Washington's lieutenants, General Lincoln, ill-advisedly thought that he could defend Charleston.

But as soon as the enemy were ready, they pressed upon him hard and he surrendered.

The year ended in gloom.

The British were virtually masters in the Carolinas and in Georgia.