"Commissioners from the garrison were instructed 'to propose a neutrality during the war between Great Britain and America, and that the question, _whether the State shall belong to Great Britain or remain one of the United States_, be determined by the treaty of peace between these powers.'"[106] [106] History of the American Revolution, Vol. II. p. 118. Chief Justice Marshall, in his authentic work, thus chronicles the disgraceful business:-- "The town was summoned to surrender, and the day was spent in sending and receiving flags. The neutrality of South Carolina during the war, leaving the question, _whether that State should finally belong to Great Britain or the United States_, to be settled in the treaty of peace, was proposed by the garrison, and rejected by Prevost."[107] [107] Life of Washington, Vol. I. (2d edition) pp. 298, 299. It is also presented with precision by Professor Bowen, of Harvard University, in his recent Life of General Lincoln, who remarks on it as follows:-- "This proposal did not come merely from the commander of a military garrison, in which case, of course, it would have been only nugatory; the Governor of the State, clothed with discretionary powers, was in the place, and probably most of his Council along with him. Whether such a proposition would have been justifiable under any circumstances is a question that needs not be discussed; at any rate, it would not have evinced much honorable or patriotic feeling. But to make such an offer in the present case was conduct little short of treason."[108] [108] Life of Benjamin Lincoln: Sparks's American Biography, 2d Ser. Vol. XIII. p. 285. This author concludes an animated review of the proposition with the remark, that it "was equivalent to an offer from the State to return to its allegiance to the British Crown."[109] [109] Life of Benjamin Lincoln: Sparks's American Biography, 2d Ser. Vol. XIII. p. 286. The fate of the State was typified in the capture by the British, some time afterwards, of the ship "South Carolina," of forty guns, the largest and most costly of our infant navy, and called by Cooper "much the heaviest ship that ever sailed under the American flag, until the new frigates were constructed during the War of 1812."[110] But here is the same story. Her service was altogether inadequate. [110] History of the Navy of the United States (2d edition), Vol. I. p. 213. At last, the military genius and remarkable exertions of General Greene, a Northern man, who assumed the command of the Southern army, prevailed in rescuing South Carolina from British power. But the trials of this successful leader reveal in a striking manner the weakness of the "slaveholding" State he saved. Some of these are graphically presented in his letters. Writing to President Reed, of Pennsylvania, under date of 4th May, 1781, he says:--