Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/30

22 centrated near Charleston, by the prudence and energy of its young commander.

The war now languished; the Americans occupied the high hills of the Santee; the British held the line of the Santee, the Congaree, and the Edisto; both sides were exhausted, and the weather was oppressively hot. Rawdon, whose health had broken down, was obliged to return to Europe. The ship he sailed in was captured by a French cruiser, and he was taken to Brest; but being soon exchanged, he reached England in safety. In November, 1782, he was promoted Colonel, and appointed aide-de-camp to the King.

Although he naturally acquired great credit from his gallant conduct in America, yet he was accused of having dealt harshly and cruelly with the enemy. This charge was baseless, but nevertheless it gave him considerable pain. In February, 1782, a motion was defeated in the House of Lords, by a very large majority, by which it was sought to condemn the execution of a certain American, Isaac Haynes, who was taken in arms after having given his parole; Rawdon, who was in command at the time, and who really sought to save the man, was so incensed at this reflection upon his character, that he demanded and obtained a public apology from the mover. Those who have read Bancroft's account of the war, will perceive that it contains assertions of