Their day had now come.

Clinton said that "every good man" must be ready to join in arms the King's troops in order "to reestablish peace and good government." "Wicked and desperate men" who still opposed the King should be punished with rigor and have their property confiscated.

He offered pardon for past offenses, except to those who had taken part in killing Loyalists "under the mock forms of justice." No one was henceforth to be exempted from the active duty of supporting the King's authority.
Clinton's proclamation was very disturbing to the large element in South Carolina which did not desire to fight on either side.

Every one must now be for or against the King, and many were in their secret hearts resolved to be against him.

There followed an orgy of bloodshed which discredits human nature.