He perceived the impossibility of defending the place, and repeated the proposition for attempting a retreat.

This proposition was again rejected; and it only remained to defer the surrender as long as possible, in the vain hope that some fortunate occurrence might bring relief.
[Sidenote: The garrison of fort Moultrie surrender themselves prisoners of war.] Every day diminished this hope, and added to the difficulties of the besieged.

The admiral took possession of Mount Pleasant, which induced the immediate evacuation of Lamprere's point; soon after which the garrison of fort Moultrie, amounting to about two hundred men,[22] surrendered themselves prisoners of war.

On the same day, the cavalry which had escaped the disaster at Monk's corner, and had been reassembled under the command of Colonel White, of New Jersey, was again surprised and defeated by Lieutenant Colonel Tarlton at Lanneau's ferry.
[Footnote 22: After the fleet passed the fort, Colonel Pinckney and a part of the garrison were withdrawn.] The investment of the town was now complete; the advances were rapid; and it became obvious that the place could be defended only a few days longer.

The besiegers had finished their third parallel; and by a sap pushed to the dam that supplied the canal with water, had drained it in many places to the bottom.