Songs & Ballads Of the American Revolution

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THE LETTER.                                    375
As a foe in the end She will us attend, For the South Carolina we've lost
1   The Letter. This ballad appeared in the loyal papers, as a letter " from a dejected Jonathan, a prisoner taken in the South Carolina, to his brother Ned at Philadelphia."
2  For the South Carolina we've lost. She was bound on a cruise off Charleston, South Carolina, and was taken the day after she sailed. She was built in Holland in 1778. Her keel was about one hundred and sixty feet long, and as strong as a castle. Captain Joiner commanded her in this action. The Americans' loss in killed and Avounded was fourteen, and that of the British very slight. " Fifty German and eight British soldiers of General Burgoyne's army, who had been taken out of jail at Philadelphia, and compelled on board the Carolina, rather than submit to be sold by the rebels, were on this occasion happily released from a service so obnoxious to their principles." Loyal prints.
8 The Hope, L can tell. The ship Hope and the brig Constance were the vessels taken in company with the South Carolina. The little schooner escaped and reached Charleston in safety.
4 What has teen our fate. A few days after the action, the South Carolina arrived at New York and anchored in the East River. The newspapers of that city, in announcing her arrival, say, that " she was to call at Charleston and there receive Commodore Gillon on board, but being imperfectly coppered by the rebels at Philadelphia, it was judged expedient to alter her destination, and bring her round to New York to complete her sheathing, only thirteen feet of which had been performed."