<P> Prison hulks awaited the majority of the 2,571 Continental prisoners, while parole was granted to the militia and civilians who promised not to take up arms . However, this also meant there no longer existed an American army in the South . </P> <P> The British captured some 5,266 prisoners, 311 artillery pieces, 9,178 artillery rounds, 5,916 muskets, 33,000 rounds of ammunition, 15 Regimental colours, 49 ships and 120 boats, plus 376 barrels of flour, and large magazines of rum, rice and indigo . Following the surrender, the captured ordnance was brought to a powder magazine . A Hessian officer warned that some of the guns might still be loaded, but he was ignored . One prematurely fired, detonating 180 barrels of powder, further discharging 5,000 muskets in the magazine . The accident killed approximately 200 people and destroyed six houses . The prisoners of the siege were diverted to multiple locations, including prison shops, the old barracks where the College of Charleston is today, and the Old Exchange and Provost "Dungeon". </P> <P> The defeat was a serious blow to the American cause . It was the largest surrender of an American force under arms, until the 1862 surrender of Union troops at Harper's Ferry during the Antietam Campaign . The surrender left no substantial army in the South, and the colonies were wide open for a British advance . The British troops consolidated their hold, and had driven the remaining Continental Army troops from South Carolina consequent to the May 29 Battle of Waxhaws . </P> <P> During their surrender the American forces were denied honours of war, leading General George Washington to deny the same to the British during their surrender at the Siege of Yorktown, with Washington saying "The same Honors will be granted to the Surrendering Army as were granted to the Garrison of Charles Town ." </P>

What was the significance of the siege of charleston
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