men were employed on both fides, who immediately 1781, levelled at every person that appeared in fight, and feldom miffed their object. The additional force of Lee's legion after the furrender of fort Cornwallis, was highly seasonable; as most of the American militia had withdrawn, either to carry home their plunder, or to fecure their families from the ravages of the royalifts, who began to get rid of their apprehenfions, on a report, that a large reinforcement from Europe had arrived at Charlestown, and that lord Rawdon was marching to the relief of Ninety Six.

On the 3d of June, a fleet arrived from Ireland, hav- June ing on board the 3d, 19th, and 30th British regiments, 3. a detachment from the guards, and a confiderable body of recruits, the whole commanded by lieut. col. Gould. This was a seasonable arrival; for the royal army had loft a number of brave officers and foldiers, through the fudden and unexpected attack of the Americans upon their detached pofts in different parts of the country. On the 7th, Rawdon marched from Charlestown with a number of thefe newly arrived troops, in order to relieve the garrison at Ninety Six. Great were the difficulties they had to encounter, in rapidly marching under the rage of a burning fun through the whole extent of South Carolina; but much greater was their aftonishment, when they were told, that their services in the field were neceffary to oppofe the yet unfubdued rebels in the province. They had been amufed with hopes, that nothing remained for them to do, but to fit down as fettlers on the forfeited lands of a conquered country. General Greene's army had advanced their approaches very near that critical point, after which fur

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1781.ther refiftance would have been temerity. At this interesting moment, intelligence was received, that lord Rawdon was nigh at hand, with a reinforcement of at least 1700 foot, and 150 horfe. An American lady, lately married to an officer in the garrifon, had been prevailed upon by a large fum of money to convey a letter to Cruger, with the news of their approach. Attempts had been made to retard their march, but without the defired effect. Their vicinity made it necessary either to raise the fiege, or make a bold attempt for the reduction of the place. The American army was eager for this effort, in which every one knew and despised the danger. But Greene confidered the confequences of a repulfe, and instead of a general affault, ordered June the batteries to be well manned and a furious cannonade to commence, while the troops lined the trenches and parallel lines with all the appearances of a meditated coup-de-main. One of the redoubts was quickly abandoned, and Lee's light infantry took poffeffion of it. Immediately afterward, a felect party from the Maryland brigade under lieut. Duval, and another from the Virginia brigade under lieut. Selden, followed by a number of pioneers provided with entrenching tools, and grapples, entered the ditch of the strongest work called the Star fort, and endeavoured to pull down the fand bags and to make a lodgment. The aftonishment of the enemy at first made their oppofition feeble; but the ftrength of their works requiring much time to reduce them, fome of their troops who had abandoned the post were brought back to its defence, and parties were thrown into the ditch to charge the Americans on each flank,' who were repulfed with lofs, and then fucceeded by

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others that fuffered alfo, while those within fought en-1781. tirely under cover. The American parties in the ditch were enfiladed and galled exceedingly by the fire from the flank angles of their fort, The enterprise however was not foon relinquifhed. Expofed as they were, with their noses almost touching the muzzles of the enemy's musketry, flanked on both fides, and. fighting foot to foot, they bravely maintained poffeffion of the ditch, and vigorously urged the daring defign, till they were ordered to retire. The conflict continued near an hour, when Greene obferving that every thing had been attempted which could promise fuccefs, directed the furviving affailants to be called off. About one third fell in the ditch, and near as many were brought off wounded. Duval and Selden were both wounded. During the attack, the ft Maryland regiment, commanded by capt. Benfon (which was to fuftain the advanced parties in cafe they penetrated the fort) manned the advanced parallel line, and both lines of approach, which were within a few feet of the enemy's works. The officers could not be at once neighbours and ftrangers to danger. They frequently obferved the fituation of affairs, and fometimes ordered their foldiers to rife up and fire over the heads of their companions, to prevent the enemy from looking and firing over their fand bags. Capt. Armstrong received a ball through the head, and capt. Benfon a very dangerous wound through the left shoulder and neck. Rawdon's near approach obliged Greene to raise the siege on the evening of the 19th, after having loft, fince the 22d of May, about 150 men in killed, wounded and miffing.

1781. It was a mortifying circumstance to the Americans, to be obliged to abandon the fiege, when in the grasp of victory-to be compelled, when nearly masters of the whole country, to retreat to its extremity. On this fudden turn of affairs, Greene was advised by fome perfons to leave the state, and retire with his remaining force to Virginia. To fuch fuggeftions he nobly anfwered-" I will recover the country, or die in the atJune 20. tempt." On the 20th, the American army croffed the Saluda and retired toward Broad river. They reached the Enoree on the 24th. Thus far lord Rawdon purfued them; when finding it impoffible to overtake them, he faced about and returned. He confoled himself with the apprehenfion that they were gone to North Carolina or Virginia. But they halted and refreshed themselves near the Cross roads, till Greene was informed, that his lordship with about half his army was marching to the Congaree. Upon this the American invalids and heavy baggage filed off toward Camden, and all the effective infantry marched by way of Wynfborough to meet his lordship at fort Granby. The cavalry was previously detached to watch his motions; and did it fo effectually, that a part of them charged and took a captain, a lieutenant, a cornet, and 45 privates of the British dragoons, with all their horfes and accoutrements, one mile July from their encampment. The day following, the 4th of July, his lordship marched from the Congaree to Orangeburgh, where he was joined by the 3d regiment under lieut. col. Stewart, with a convoy of provisions. Greene, after collecting the militia under Sumpter and Marion, and attaching them to the continentals, offered him battle on the 12th. His lordship, fecure in his strong

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ftrong position, would not venture out, and Greene was 1781. too weak to attack him with any prospect of fuccess. Advice being received that Cruger had evacuated Ninety Six, and was marching with his troops to join Rawdon, Greene ordered the Americans to retire about seven miles that evening. The next day the cavalry of the legion, the state troops and militia were detached to make a diverfion toward Charlestown, and the reft of the army was ordered to the High-Hills of Santee. The fame day Rawdon and Cruger formed a junction. A few days after, his lordship left Orangeburgh with a confiderable detachment and a great number of waggons, and marched to Charlestown. His lordship intends returning to Great Britain. His ill ftate of health will fully juftify his ufing that leave of abfence which has been granted; while the nature of the service in the Carolinas can be no inducement for him to remain.

The evacuation of Camden having been partly effected by striking at the posts below, Greene was for trying how far the like measure might induce the British to leave Orangeburgh. The detachment was fent off to Monk's Corner and Dorchester, and moved down by different roads; in three days they commenced their operations. Lee took all the waggons and waggon horfes belonging to a convoy of provifions. Lieut. col. Wade Hampton, with the state cavalry, charged a party of British dragoons within five miles of Charlestown. He also took 50 prifoners at Strawberry ferry, and burned four veffels loaded with valuable ftores for the British army. Sumpter appeared before the garrifon at Biggin's church, confifting of 500 infantry and upward of 100 cavalry. Lieut. col. Coates who commanded VOL. IV.

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