sleeping never to wake. You are surprised comrades, at my words, and your anxiety will not be lessened, when I inform you, that we have just passed our most inveterate foe, who, under the mask of pretended friendship you have witnessed, would lull us to security, and by such means, in the unguarded moments of our midnight slumber, without resistance, seal our fate.'

"The men with astonishment listened to this short harrangue; and their surprise was greater, as not one of them had entertained the suspicion but they had just encountered friends. They all immediately resolved to enter into some scheme, for their mutual preservation and destruction of their enemies. By the proposal of their leader, the following plan was adopted and executed:

"The spot selected for their night's encampment, was near a stream of water, which served to cover their rear. They felled a large tree, before which on the approach of night, a brilliant fire was lighted. Each individual cut a log of wood about the size of his body, rolled it nicely in his blanket, placed his hat upon the extremity, and laid it before the fire; that the enemy might be deceived, and mistake it for a man. After logs equal in number to the sergeant's party were thus fitted out, and so artfully arranged, that they might be easily mistaken for so many soldiers, the men with loaded muskets placed themselves behind the fallen tree, by which time the shades of evening began to close around The fire was supplied in fuel, and kept burning brilliantly until late in the evening, when it was suffered to decline. The critical time was now approaching, when an attack might be expected from the Indians; but the sergeant's men rested in their place of concealment with great anxiety, till near midnight, without perceiving any movement of the enemy.

"At length a tall Indian was discovered through the glimmering of the fire, cautiously moving towards them, making no noise, and apparantly using every means in his power to conceal himself from any one about the camp. For a time his actions showed him to be suspicious, that a guard might be stationed to watch any unusual appearance, who would give the alarm in case of danger; but all appearing quiet, he ventured forward more boldly, rested upon his toes, and was distinctly seen to move his finger as he numbered each log of wood, or what he supposed to be a human being quietly enjoying repose. To satisfy himself more fully, as to the number, he counted them over a second time, and cautiously retired. He was succeeded by another Indian, who went through the same movements, and retired in the same manner. Soon after the whole party, sixteen in number, were discovered, approaching, and greedily eyeing their supposed victims. The feelings of the sergeant's men can better be imagined than described, when they saw the base and cruel purpose of their enemies, who were now so near, that they could scarcely be restrained from firing upon them. The plan however, of the sergeant was to have his men remain silent in their places of concealment till the muskets of the savages were discharged, that their own fire might be more effectual, and opposition less formidable.

"Their suspense was not of long duration. The Indians, in a body, cautiously approached, till within a short distance, they ther halted, took deliberate aim, discharged their pieces upon inanimate logs, gave the dreadful warwhoop, and instantly rushed forward, with tomahawk and scalping knife in hand, to despatch the living, and obtain the scalps of the dead. As soon as they had collected in close order, more effectually to execute their horrid intentions, the party of the sergeant, with unerring aim, dis

charged their pieces, not on logs of wood, but perfidious savages, not one of whom escaped destruction by the snare into which their cowardly and blood-thirsty dispositions had led them."

A GALLANT COMBAT.

SOON after the capture of Charleston, Capt. Watson, at the head of a party of mounted Rangers, conceived the idea of surprising a party of Tories encamped near Orangeburgh. He was joined by William Butler, who commanded a small body of cavalry, some fifteen in number. Butler was burning with the desire to avenge the most brutal and atrocious murder of his father, which had occurred a short time before. He had been surrounded in a house by a large body of Tories, and in view of the superior numbers, himself and party had capitulated, when they were marched out of the house one by one, and deliberately cut to pieces. The elder Butler, was singled out by the blood-thirsty leader of the party, who slew him with his own hand. Fired by this remembrance, young Butler, afterward so distinguished in the annals of the south, let no opportunity pass for wreaking his vengeance on the enemy. On this occasion the whole party, under Watson, set out, at near sundown, and rode rapidly towards their destination. On their route they captured a Tory, who unfortunately afterwards escaped, and thus their hope of meeting their adversaries unprepared, was destroyed. Watson prudently advocated for return, but the fiery Butler, still mourning his murdered parent's memory, earnestly urged an advance, and avowed his determination to proceed with his own command, whether as

sisted by Watson or not. Watson was of too chivalrous a nature to turn his back upon his friend, and they, therefore, hurried forward upon their enterprise. It was after daylight when they arrived near the place where they expected to find the Tory encampment. They descried two men standing alone, and Butler, Watson, and Varney, a sergeant of renowned courage, rode up to arrest them. Suddenly Watson cried out, "Beware! the whole body of the enemy are at hand!" The whole party were close at his heels, when suddenly the Tories, sprang from their ambuscade, and poured into the devoted body of patriots, a destructive and terrible fire. The heroic Watson, and the intrepid Varney, with several others, tumbled wounded from their horses. Butler, alone of all the officers, was unwounded. "Suffer me not," exclaimed Watson, to him, "to fall into their hands." Butler sprang forward, and seizing the bodies of his friends, unmindful of the fire poured in by the enemy, he triumphantly bore them into the midst of his own party.

It was seen that the Tories doubled the Whigs, while to give them a greater preponderance, a part of the Whigs took flight and fled. But those that remained, were every one a hero, and prepared to conquer or fall. To add to the desperation of their situation, their ammunition, in the conflict that ensued, soon gave out, and the Royalists began to advance upon them. Butler, however, was equal to the emergency. He formed his men in compact order, and placing himself at their head, charged impe-. tuously on the enemy. With nothing but their swords and their high courage to support them, the heroic band hurled themselves upon their adversaries, and with so much violence and impetuous fury was the crash, that the enemy were staggered, and began to fall into confusion. Butler's sword swept everything before him,

and fell upon his opponent like a thunderbolt, each blow nerved by the recollection of his murdered father. The little band bore their antagonists along, who, in vain, though far superior in number, endeavored to bear up against their assailants. They began to yield, and to seek safety in flight; their resistance grew weak, and Butler following up his charge with still greater resolution, they were driven into the swamp in their rear, and the whigs remained master of the field. It had been a hard fought conflict against a superior number, and the victory was gallantly and heroically achieved. But alas! it was attained by a fearful price. Those gallant heroes, Watson and Varney, lay weltering in their blood. As the party passed the place where they lay, Varney, by an effort, raised himself on one arm-waved his hand, while a gleam of triumph passed athwart his countenance-fell back, and his book of life was closed. They dug with their swords, soldier's graves, and buried them on the field of victory.*

A GALLANT ENTERPRISE.

"On the river Ogechee, in the state of Georgia, was stationed Captain French, with a detachment of about forty British regulars. At the same place, lay five British vessels; of these, four were armed, the largest mounting fourteen guns.

"Col. John White, of the Georgia line, meditating the capture of this station, was able to call to his assistance but four individuals, Captain Etholen, and three privates. Resolute in their

* Garden.