Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/26

18 sent General Leslie with 2,000 men to create a diversion on the Chesapeake, but eventually this reinforcement was landed at Charleston on the 13th December, and a fresh advance was made into North Carolina in January, 1781. The campaign began inauspiciously, for a detachment covering the left flank suffered a severe defeat at Cowpens, by which some 600 men were lost, 17th January; the march was nevertheless continued, and after an action on the Catawba, Hillsborough was occupied, 20th February. Cornwallis now hoped to be able to rally the royalists of North Carolina, but he failed, as they were either disheartened or non-existent, and owing to the energy of the American general, Greene, his supplies were cut off and his levies dispersed. He was now obliged to fall back upon the Deep River, but not for long, for, advancing again towards Guilford, he met Greene at the head of 5,000 men, and defeated him, 15th March. This victory was entirely useless, and four days later Cornwallis, perceiving that his force was inadequate to maintain its position, and that the Royal cause was without hope in the colony, took the desperate step of retreating down Cape Fear river, and reached Wilmington on the 7th April, with little more than 1,000 men. On the 25th he finally abandoned the southern provinces by marching northwards along the coast to Virginia, to effect a junction with another British force which had been sent to the Chesapeake to co-operate with him from that direction.

Meanwhile Rawdon was left in command in South