exercising all the civil and military powers of the state.

John Rutledge was chosen president, Henry Laurens vice-president,
and ~ex-officio~ president of the privy council. In this year, (1776,)
Francis Marion had risen to the rank of major in the second regiment,
and was stationed with his colonel in the fort at Sullivan's Island.
He was in the action of the 28th of June, between that fort
and nine of the British ships, under Sir Peter Parker.
Of the particulars of this battle, every one has heard,
and they need not be narrated here. Two of the ships carried fifty guns,
the ship Bristol, commodore Sir Peter Parker, and the Experiment;
and as powder was very scarce in the fort, the orders were,
"mind the commodore!" "Fire at the two fifty gun ships."
Col. Moultrie received the thanks of the commander in chief, of congress,
Gen. Lee, and of president Rutledge, for his gallant conduct in that victory;
and, what was more, the heart-felt gratitude of his countrymen. The fort
was called by his name, and he was raised to the rank of brigadier general.
His major then rose to the rank of lieut. colonel. This action excited
the highest resentment in the breasts of the British rulers;
and in the end they inflicted severe vengeance on the state of South Carolina.
Three years, however, elapsed before they made another attempt.
In December, 1778, a British fleet of thirty seven sail,
arrived off Savannah in Georgia, and landed about 4000 men.
One half of these, under Col. Campbell, immediately made an attack
upon the town. Gen. Howe, with six or seven hundred Americans,
attempted to oppose them; but was defeated at the first onset.
The enemy took possession of the town; and, as the Georgia militia were
backward in turning out, the whole country soon fell under their dominion.
Shortly after the taking of Savannah, Gen. Lincoln took command of
the American army, and Gen. Prevost of the British. On the 3d of Feb. 1779,