CHAPTER partisan militia were busy, meanwhile, in harassing the XLII. enemy, and keeping the Tories in awe. Greene, as well 1781. as Cornwallis, lived at free quarters, or, if he paid at all, paid only in certificates. Joined by fresh troops from Maryland and Virginia, his Continentals now amounted to sixteen hundred men. His whole force was presently raised to four thousand five hundred, by a body of six weeks' volunteers from Virginia and North Carolina. Anxious to avail himself of these volunteers, he approached the British army, and, in his turn, sought a battle. Though Greene's force was more than double of his, relying on the superior discipline of his troops, Cornwallis did not decline. At such a distance from his supplies, in a region where his enemies were zealous and determined, and his friends doubtful and wavering, he considered a victory essential to secure his position. March 15. As the armies approached, a warm skirmish took place between the advanced light infantry. All that vicinity was a wilderness of high trees and thick underwood, with here and there a clearing. Greene had drawn up his first and second lines on a wooded hill, with an open field in front, some two or three miles from Guilford Court House. The first line, North Carolina militia, many of them compelled to serve as a punishment for their suspected Toryism, were posted behind a rail fence in the skirt of the wood. In the road on their right were planted two pieces of artillery. The second line, of Virginia militia, were posted entirely in the wood, three hundred yards in the rear. Among them were a considerable number of discharged Continentals; but General Stevens, their commander, took the precaution to station a row of sentinels behind them, with orders to shoot down the first who ran. The third line, four Continental regiments, two of Maryland and two of Virginia, was stationed in The two flanks XLII. The baggage had been 1781. the rear of the militia, in another open field, nearer the CHAPTER court-house, on the right of the road. were covered by light troops. left seventeen miles in the rear. the British, the North Carolina militia fled, throwing away their arms, and even their knapsacks and canteens. The Virginia militia stood better, and from behind the trees poured in an effective fire; but they could not hold out against the British bayonet. Greene relied on his Continentals; but a newly-raised Maryland regiment broke and fled at the first charge. The British, rushing forward in pursuit, were checked by a heavy fire from the other regiments, and, being charged by Washington's horse, were driven back in confusion. The British artillery opening on the pursuers, the fugitives were rallied; and, finding his artillery captured and himself very hard pressed, Greene directed a retreat. It was made with order, the severe loss of the British, upward of five hundred men, preventing any active pursuit. The American army lost on the field upward of four hundred men; and a large part of the militia dispersed and returned home. The wounded of both armies lay scattered over a wide space. There were no houses nor tents to receive them. The night that followed the battle was dark and tempestuous; horrid shrieks resounded through the woods; many expired before morning. There were no provisions in the British camp; the soldiers had marched and fought without eating; nor was it till the evening of the day after that they received a trifling allowance. Such is war! The British gained nothing by this dear-bought victory; the gain, in fact, was all on the other side. The British army was so weakened, and Cornwallis found it so difficult to obtain provisions, that he resolved to fall back on Cross Creek (now Fayetteville), where there was a settlement of XLII. CHAPTER Tories, and where he hoped supplies might reach him up the Cape Fear River from Wilmington. In this expecta1781. tion, however, he was disappointed; and, finding provisions very scarce at Cross Creek, he continued to fall back toward the mouth of the river. April. Though his numbers had been greatly diminished by the departure of the militia, Greene, too, found it difficult to subsist his army, for which purpose he halted on Deep River. Cornwallis having retired toward Wilmington, Greene adopted the bold policy of marching directly into South Carolina, held in subjection by Rawdon with a small British force. Either Cornwallis must march in pursuit, thus relieving North Carolina, or Rawdon, if unsupported, might be driven back, and the open country of South Carolina and Georgia be recovered. At the head of eighteen hundred men Greene advanced rapidly upon Camden, where Rawdon was posted with about nine hundred men, chiefly of the Loyalist regiments. Camden was connected on the one hand with Charleston, on the other with Ninety-six and Augusta, by a chain of posts slightly fortified, and garrisoned mostly by bodies of Loyalist militia, but strong enough to resist the mounted partisan corps under Marion and others, which continued to give the British some annoyance, though unable to excite any serious alarm. Greene pushed along the road which Gates had followed some seven or eight months before, through the country of the Regulators, a barren region, where it was by no means easy, especially at that season of the year, to find subsistence for the troops. Having entered South Carolina, he detached Lee with his cavalry to join Marion, and to assail Rawdon's line of communication with Charleston. Greene was well on his march before Cornwallis was aware of his intention. It was then too late to succor XLII. Rawdon, and Cornwallis imitated Greene's bold policy by CHAPTER marching north toward Virginia, to join the British force already there under Arnold and Phillips. rear. 1781. Not being strong enough to assault or to invest Camden, after various movements Greene encamped at Hobkirk's Hill, within two miles of the British lines. Rawdon made a circuit, and following the edge of the swamp, relied upon as a cover to the American left, gained that flank; but Greene promptly formed his troops, and the April 25. attempted surprise proved a failure. The British, advancing with a very narrow front, were exposed to a galling fire from the American artillery, and Greene ordered the extremities of his line to take the British column on either flank, while Washington's horse fell upon their They seemed on the point of being surrounded, when Rawdon called up his reserve and extended his front. Gunby's veteran Maryland regiment, which formed the American center, though distinguished in many previous actions, gave way before the charge of the British column. The whole line was thus thrown into confusion, and obliged to retreat over the hill. The superiority of the Americans in cavalry prevented any pursuit ; and Washington's horse brought off the cannon which the retreating troops had left behind. Greene retired some twelve miles to Rugeley's Mills, where he encamped. The loss on either side was about two hundred and fifty. Two days before this battle, Fort Watson, on the San- April 23. tee, one of the posts on the line of communication between Camden and Charleston, had surrendered to Lee and Marion. The inhabitants between the Peedee and the San tee hastened to take pied. up arms. All the passes were occuThe British line of communication on the north side of the Santee was broken. Colonel Watson, on his march with five hundred men to re-enforce Rawdon, after CHAPTER vainly attempting to make his way up that side of the XLII. river, was obliged to descend the Santee, cross near its 1781. mouth, and march up on the other side. Thus re-enMay 8. forced, Rawdon sought another battle; but Greene had occupied another position, too strong to be assailed. Meanwhile, Lee and Marion crossed to the south side of the Santee, and laid siege to Fort Motte. He Alarmed at these operations in his rear, Rawdon abanMay 10. doned Camden, and, followed by a number of Tory families, retreated to Monk's Corner. Fort Motte surrendered; Sumter took the post at Orangeburg; and, after tak ing Fort Granby, Lee was sent against Augusta. was joined in this enterprise by the Whig militia of the upper district, led by Pickens, and, after a brave defense, June 5. Augusta was obliged to capitulate. Greene, meanwhile, had marched against Ninety-six, the chief British stronghold in the upper country, where he was presently joined by Lee. Ninety-six was very obstinately defended by a garrison of American Loyalists; and the unwelcome intelligence presently arrived that Rawdon, re-enforced by three regiments from Ireland, was advancing to relieve it. An assault was attempted; but the storming party was repulsed with loss, and, as Rawdon approached, Greene June 18. abandoned the siege, and retired across the Saluda. Rawdon followed as far as the Ennoree; but the heat of the weather had become excessive; Rawdon had resolved to contract the limits of his defense; Ninety-six was abandoned, and the British army retired to Orangeburg, followed by a train of frightened Tory families. Greene followed also; but presently retired to the hills of Santee to refresh his troops, and to wait for supplies and re-enforcements. The British army encamped on the July. Congaree, distant from Greene, in an air line, not more |