Death of De Kalb....

Success of General Sumpter....

He is defeated.
[Sidenote: 1780.] The departure of the French fleet produced a sudden change in the prospects of the southern states.

The sanguine hopes which had been entertained of the recovery of Georgia, gave place to gloomy and well founded apprehensions for South Carolina.
The facility with which General Prevost had passed through the state, and the assurances he had received of the indisposition of a large portion of the people to defend themselves, disclosed too certainly the true situation of the country, not to convince all discerning men that a real attempt at conquest would be made the ensuing year.
General Lincoln perceived the approaching danger, without being able to provide against it.

His power, as a military commander, was too limited, and his influence on the government of the state too weak, to draw forth even the means it possessed in time for its protection.
Though the preservation of its metropolis was of vast importance to the state, no preparations were making to put it in a condition to stand a siege.