With the Swamp Fox

to Black Mingo Swamp, I can set down but little of my own knowledge, because Gavin Witherspoon, Percy and myself were with

these words, and there can be no doubt as to its correctness, how

caution, and the general ordered his men to follow him at a gallop until the force re

under Captain Waties was ordered down the road to attack Dollard's house where the Tories had been posted. Two companies und

ft the house immediately after being alarmed, an

evere and unexpected. The effect was that of a surprise upon the colonists. Horry's

ame up suddenly in the rear of the Tories, soon brought it to a close. Finding themselves between two

battle as I have heard my

hree comrades played, I ca

or inaction had whetted our desire, and once more we ga

chose to serve a king whose only delight was in oppression; but that it was a real and a bloody battle was known full well after we had gained possession of the field, for then our offic

ideration the fact that we made the attack,

ded that even though their lives were saved it would be impossible for them to

was dead, and a full two hundred lay on the ground lifeles

and they who had a few hours previous believed the Cause of freedom i

ning ascendancy, and this one victory had put the Cause on a different footing from what it h

least, that not one among our leaders had any idea of the good which might result from what was littl

that, who had previously declared his allegiance to the king, came into

severe blows before death should befall us. Then to find that the Cause had suddenly received a new lease of life was so unexpected and happily surprising, that even at this late day I cannot fo

us, and the faint-hearted inhabitants nearabout time to declare their pretended love for the

oined by a young man hardly older than myself, who

ad loved by our commander as if he had been a son, and on whom one

come to take him to our hearts as we did. The general wore a somber countenan

al tone, while Gabriel never lost

d's Ferry the general sent for Percy and myself, and, when we prese

efore do I present him to you two lads whom I know to be true and faithful to whatsoever you set your word. Make o

nd it can well be imagined that we were especially careful from th

ing him, and once having formed his acquaintance, he was fou

o us, since we were regularly enrolled as members of his u

any enemies of the Cause, it was that young

ight be met, and the three of us were resolved to capture him at the first opportunity whatever the hazard, for in all the Carolinas could

en we have made him prisoner, holding the scoundrel so close that he cannot escape until the Cause be won or hopeles

do so much mischief?" Gabriel asked, a

w him for what he is, it would naturally be thought that he was incapable of harm. I ha

h a merry laugh; but there was no need I should answer the question, for he knew full

unable to set down, because there was much to occupy our time, a

and bring in food, so that one day went by after another with exceeding swiftness and so much of

he camp that we were to set out at once for Lynch's Creek,

e in with tidings that the renegades were gathering in la

as good subjects of his majesty to take the field against their countrymen, and he brought with him ample s

s with bayonets, broad swords, pistols, saddles, bridles, and of powder an

have presented itself, I believe the men of his brigade, obedient and faithful as they

with the definite information that Colonel Tynes was encamped at Tarcote, on the forks of Black River, and apparently

ch we of the brigade were best adapted, and every man was in a fever to be at the task which w

re only necessary to make the statement in order to have their desires fulfilled, and, in short, there

d ours was that gallant general of Carolina, my father's kinsman, General Sumter standing ever ready to interpose lest Tarleton sh

f blood, for the names of Sumter and James stood high, and with good cause, among the defend

of those who remained true during the darkest days known by the southern colonies; but yet how may it be possible to tell any portion of the stor

omrades were sent forward

ent Colonel Tynes, and yet the story must be brief, because the adventure was no more than an

had been brought, General Marion's brigade descend

n all that store, throwing so many well-armed men into a

rd to reconnoiter, and true it is that we failed to find a single sentinel on guard. In some of the camps

n a building hard by, and there

ng friends, and when we returned to where General Marion and my uncle the major, awaited our comi

en, and we, as I have said, ove

fuge in flight, hoping to gain the fastness of Tarcote Swamp, and to have cut them down in their panic woul

all its wealth of British stores was our own, and here and there came some scurvy Tory craw

a foraging expedition among peo

soners. We hardly troubled ourselves about the Tories, save that Gavin, Percy, Gab

heed to breaking our fast the old and patched saddles were replaced by new ones of English make; our powder-horns and shot-pouches were filled; we wore b

encampment that had been wrested from the Britishers or their allies, we feasted and made merry, Gabriel declarin

rfare in its most bitter ph

so short a time and loved so well, I must hasten over them because of

ays of the struggle, and then suddenly participated in the joy which cam

flushed with the excitement of unexpected su

he Cause, and from the cowards who believed safety lay only in friendship with the "rebels,"

vow that he would capture "the scurvy Swamp Fox," and that his Legion, which was before Camden, had ord

here was one of ours, and, as my uncle said with a grim smile, when speaking to Gavin Witherspoon after orders had been given us to prepare for the march,

ith this human brute who had devastated the Carolinas wherever he marched, and we

h a swiftness such as astounded the British horsemen, and it is little wonder t

ion, which numbered upwards of eleven hundred men; but yet we pressed forward even after having come upon their trail, and knowing how much greater their f

because his uncle had called a halt, although the steed the lad be

t work while our steeds were feeding, throwing up such rude shelters as would suffice for the use of the sharp-shooters, when Co

er to us, would have prevented him from even speaking with one of our officers, had he not referred to his s

d amid a clump of bushes discussing plans for the next day's work, and had

ven before the general and the major had time to welcome him. "Tarleton's L

" my uncle, the major, said, in a

een vain-I saw a lad, whom I believe to be one of the Tory Lees from nearabout Kingstree, ride up and demand audience of Tarleton. So near was the butcher to me at the moment that I heard plainly the young scoundrel's speech, and it was to the effect that Gen

my uncle, the major, said proudly, whereat Co

a stand would be useless sacrifice of life, and I conjure you, General Marion, that you seek a more advantageous place in which to meet the e