ply of provisions, which the men were employed in cooking for breakfast, when his Lordship's van engaged our piquets, under the command of Captains Benson, of Maryland, and Morgan of Virginia. These two companies, supported by the veteran Kirkwood with his brave Delaware company, met the unexpected shock with firmness, and gallantly fought their way back to the lines of the encampment. This gave General Greene the little time required to prepare for the battle. The second Maryland regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Ford, was ordered to advance upon the enemy's right flank, while the first under Colonel Gunby and Lieutenant Colonel Howard was ordered to charge in front. The British left was in like manner attacked by the Virginia regiments, under General Huger, and the two Lieutenant Colonels Campbell and Hawes, and led on by General Greene himself. The artillery conducted by Colonel Harrison, was posted in the centre, and opened with good effect. Thus the whole of the continentals were engaged at once, and Greene feeling himself assured of victory, ordered Washington with his cavalry to gain the enemy's rear so as to cut off his retreat. The fire of the whole line now became animated: Washington had accomplished his orders in handsome style and was charging with irresistible effect in the rear, while Harger on the right and Hawes in the centre were evidently pressing with advantage on the foe. At this critical moment, when the fate of Lord Rawdon was suspended by a thread, Gunby's first Maryland regiment, which had been ordered to advance and charge bayonets without firing, and which had for some time bravely obeyed the order, began an irregular fire from the right which gradually extended through the whole

regiment. Thus forgetting their orders in the first instance, and quickly losing all self command, the two right companies fell back, and the remaining four being thrown into some confusion, but still keeping their ground, Gunby inconsiderately ordered the regiment to reform on their right company. This of course occasioned a retrograde movement, the enemy rushed forward with the shout of victory, a panick seized the regiment, from which all the efforts of Colonels Williams, Gunby and Howard, could not recover them. The remaining continentals maintained the contest a short time longer, but Lieutenant Colonel Ford of the second Maryland regiment, being mortally wounded, that regiment also was thrown into disorder and fell back. No prospect now remained of recovering the order of battle, and General Greene ordered a retreat, which was effected in good order and without loss. Washington who had in the course of the action taken near 200 prisoners, some of whom he parolled on the field, was now obliged to relinquish the greater part of these evidences of his gallantry, and make good his retreat. He succeeded, however, in carrying off 50 of his prisoners.

The enemy pursued for about three miles, when Washington turned upon them with his cavalry and a detachment of infantry, and finding the New York volunteer horse, somewhat in advance of the main body, made a rapid charge, killed a number, dispersed the remainder, and effectually checked all further pursuit; the enemy returned to Cambden, and General Greene continuing his retreat across Saunders' creek, encamped for the night about four miles from the field of battle, which lay covered with the dead of both armies. Our loss in this engagement, in killed,

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wounded and missing, was 268-among the former were Lieutenant Colonel Ford and Captain Beatty, of the first Maryland regiment, two officers of great bravery and worth. The enemy's loss was nearly equal, including the prisoners so gallantly brought off by Colonel Washington: their killed, however, amounted only to 38, among whom was but one offi

cer.

The issue of this battle can hardly be accounted for upon any of the common principles that influence the decision of human affairs. Hitherto the disappointments of General Greene at the moment of victory, had been occasioned by the fears of militia, unaccustomed to the noise and din of battle, who have fled without cause and dreaded when there was no danger. Here a regiment upon which all his hopes were fixed, which had behaved with such heroick bravery at the battle of the Cowpens, and which at the subsequent battle of Guilford had driven back the guards, and followed them almost to the mouth of the enemy's artillery, a regiment composed for the most part of veterans, now gave way before an inferiour enemy, when every circumstance of the battle was in their favour. Notwithstanding the efforts of Colonel Gunby to lead the regiment again to the charge, so much censure rested upon that officer, that he felt it due to his reputation to demand a court of inquiry. The court declared his conduct unexceptionable, but Greene still maintained the opinion that the order for the regiment to fall back upon its right company led to the disgraceful conduct which followed.

The day after the battle General Greene retired to Rudgely's mill, whence he despatched orders to Lee to join him with his legion; but these orders were again

countermanded, on learning the probability of their intercepting Colonel Watson, and Greene, with a view of cutting off the supplies from Lord Rawdon, who, he knew, was in too weak a state without this reinforcement, to make another attempt upon him, moved again into the vicinity of Cambden. Colonel Watson after a long, circuitous, and dangerous march, by which he succeeded in eluding the active vigilance of Marion and Lee, at length reached Cambden on the 7th of May. General Greene, rightly presuming that the arrival of this succour would induce the British commandant to seek another engagement, for which he was not at all prepared, relinquished his position near Cambden, and moved to the high hills behind Sawney's creek.

This timely movement of General Greene, shows the judgement and penetration of the American commander, in a conspicuous point of view, for Lord Rawdon lost not a moment after the junction of Watson's troops, in crossing Cambden ferry with a view of getting upon Greene's rear. Disappointed by the unexpected retreat of his adversary, Lord Rawdon followed him to his present position, where after vainly endeavouring to draw him out, and finding the position too strong for any hope of a successful attack, he left him untouched, and retraced his steps to Cambden.

Marion and Lee, in the mean time, finding that Watson had escaped them, turned their attention to the post at Motte's, near the junction of the Congaree and Santee rivers, which soon yielded to their vigorous attack. The loss of this post was a severe blow to the British commander, as it was the depot of a large quantity of supplics intended for Cambden. On

the 10th, Lord Rawdon, believing that the longer occupation of Cambden would be attended with no advantage, abandoned that post, and retired to the south of the Santee, having first destroyed the works, the mill, jail, several other buildings, and every thing of value which could not be taken away. His lordship arrived at Nelson's ferry on the very day that Major McPherson was compelled to surrender the fort at Motte's, but being unable to render any assistance, he continued his march to Monk's Corner, fearful the safety of Charleston might be endangered, from the spirit which now every where began to manifest itself among the people. Thus though the British arms gained the victory at Cambden, a victory too, which gave to Lord Rawdon deserved honours, the result was rather favourable than otherwise to the American

cause.

The surrender of Motte's was followed by that of Orangeburg, Fort Granby, and the whole line of British posts in South Carolina, with the exception of Ninety-Six and Charleston. General Greene, having broken up his post at Sawney's Creek upon the evacuation of Cambden by Lord Rawdon, moved forward with his army, and arrived at Fort Granby, the day after it had surrendered to Lee, the 15th of May. He immediately despatched Lee to join General Pickens in the neighbourhood of Augusta, and after reposing his troops for a few days, proceeded himself to the reduction of Ninety-Six.

Lee accomplished the march with his legion, (a distance of 75 miles) in less than three days; and hearing on his arrival in the vicinity of Augusta, that the annual present from the British to the Indians, consisting of arms, ammunition, blankets, and many