Every day diminished this hope, and added to the difficulties of the besieged.  The admiral took possession of Mount Pleasant, which induced the immediate evacuation of Lamprere’s point; soon after which the garrison of fort Moultrie, amounting to about two hundred men,[22] surrendered themselves prisoners of war.  On the same day, the cavalry which had escaped the disaster at Monk’s corner, and had been reassembled under the command of Colonel White, of New Jersey, was again surprised and defeated by Lieutenant Colonel Tarlton at Lanneau’s ferry.

[Footnote 22:  After the fleet passed the fort, Colonel Pinckney and a part of the garrison were withdrawn.]

The investment of the town was now complete; the advances were rapid; and it became obvious that the place could be defended only a few days longer.  The besiegers had finished their third parallel; and by a sap pushed to the dam that supplied the canal with water, had drained it in many places to the bottom.  The garrison, fatigued and worn out with constant duty, was too weak to man the lines sufficiently; their guns were almost all dismounted; most of the embrasures demolished; their shot nearly expended; their provisions, with the exception of a few cows, entirely consumed; and the approaches of the besiegers so near, that their marksmen frequently picked off the men from the guns, and killed[23] any person who showed himself above the works.

[Footnote 23:  Colonel Parker and Captain Peyton, two valuable officers from Virginia, fell in this manner.]

In this state of things, the garrison was summoned, a second time, to surrender; on which a council was again called, which advised a capitulation.  In pursuance of this advice, General Lincoln proposed terms which were refused, and hostilities recommenced.

The besiegers now advanced their works in front of their third parallel, crossed the canal, pushed a double sap to the inside of the abattis, and approached within twenty yards of the American works.  Preparations for an assault by sea and land were making.  With less than three thousand men, many of whom were militia, lines three miles in extent were to be defended against the flower of the British army, assisted by a powerful maritime force.  Convinced that success was not possible, the citizens prepared a petition to General Lincoln, entreating him to surrender the town on the terms which had been offered by the besiegers.

[Sidenote:  General Lincoln capitulates.]

This proposition was made and accepted; and the capitulation was signed on the 12th of May.

[Sidenote:  May 12.]

The town, and all public stores were surrendered.  The garrison, as well the citizens who had borne arms as the continental troops, militia, and sailors, were to be prisoners of war.  The garrison were to march out of town, and to deposite their arms in front of their works; but their drums were not to beat a British march, nor their colours to be reversed.  The militia were to retire to their homes on parole, and their persons and property, as well as the persons and property of the inhabitants of the town, to be secure while they adhered to their paroles.