The Virginia and North Carolina regiments had melted away, as the term for which they had enlisted, had expired.

The Georgia regiment, captured by the British in detail, were perishing in their floating prisons.

The weakness of the patriots necessarily increased the audacity, with the strength, of their enemies.

The loyalists, encouraged by the progress of Prevost, and the notorious inefficiency of the Whigs, were now gathering in formidable bodies, in various quarters, operating in desultory bands, or crowding to swell the columns of the British army.

All things concurred to encourage the attempt of the enemy on Charleston.