THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, May 30, 1780  

* Charleston, South Carolina surrenders to UK
* American Revolutionary War from the enemy

Page 2 has an item that notes: "...A ship arrived here this day in 28 days from New York reports that they had a true account there that Charlestown [Charleston] was taken by General Clinton." And another item notes: "...from New York...which the captain says was bound for Virginia, & the papers he brings say, by accounts through the Jerseys, that Charlestown was taken. This is the more likely to be true as they tell the story themselves...". Another item reports: "...The people on board the American vessel say that very large drafts of men have been made in that province to send to Carolina to defend Charlestown, upwards of 2000 men were raised in a fortnight, but they found a difficulty in clothing and arming them."
Eight pages, 8 1/4 by 11 1/4 inches, light damp staining to the right side, good condition.

Background:The surrender of Charleston in 1780, marked one of the most devastating defeats for the American forces during the Revolutionary War. After a prolonged siege led by British General Sir Henry Clinton, a force of over 10,000 British and Hessian troops successfully surrounded and bombarded the city, cutting off all avenues of escape or reinforcement for the American defenders. Major General Benjamin Lincoln, commanding roughly 5,000 Continental soldiers and militia, was forced to surrender after weeks of resistance, resulting in the largest single loss of American troops during the war. The British capture of Charleston not only gave them control over the most significant port in the South but also dealt a severe blow to Patriot morale and military capability in the region. The defeat enabled the British to establish a strong foothold in South Carolina, intensifying Loyalist support and allowing them to push deeper into the Southern colonies. However, British overreach and the rise of effective guerrilla resistance, along with key American victories later in the campaign, would eventually reverse the momentum.