rected the enemy's wounded to be collected; and as many of them as could be sheltered, were laid in the houses. Calculating that Tarlton would renew the action with his increased force, Twiggs ordered the troops to retreat, and pass the Tyger river, where they would be unassailable; and left colonel Winn with his command on the battle ground until night; when Winn caused a num. ber of fires to be lighted up, as indications of an encampment, and he retreated across the river. The ball in Sumpter's shoulder was extracted, and he being placed in a bier, suspended on two horses, the troops retreated slowly up the country, passing Broad river some distance, and dispersing in small parties to refresh themselves on such viands as they could find. Tarlton in his usual gasconade, called this defeat "a victory;" having cut up the "rebel rear-guard ;" this other havock amongst "the rebels," he states at "one hundred killed," and of that number, were three colo. nels; while in fact there was only one man killed, and the general and two men wounded.* Tarlton acknowledged that the Americans had behaved with humanity toward his wounded. On his retreat to Winnsborough, he made captive a number of old men and stout boys, and carried them to head-quarters, as trophies won in the recent action: many of his captives however, proved their loyalty, and obtained their liberty; the others were doomed to a tedious imprisonment in

See Tarlton's report to lord Cornwallis in the London Chronicle

Camden gaol. In order to mark his route of retreat, so that it should be remembered, he hanged Mr. Johnston, a respectable man, and the father of a numerous family of young children.

To the friends of independence, in SouthCarolina and Georgia, a ray of hope appeared from the north. General Nathaniel Greene was hourly expected with re-enforcements of continental troops, to take command in the southern department of the United-States. The recent ac. tions at Fish-dam ford and Blackstocks, inspired the militia with confidence in themselves, when opposed to the British troops, especially their cavalry, which had before appeared so formidable to them. The time had nearly arrived, when it became necessary for every man to resume his arms and select his party: neutrality had nearly worn out, and had become of little use in the protection of property or life. The unexampled cruelties and pillage, which had been practised and encouraged by the British, had drawn many into arms in their favour, however unwillingly; fearful that the struggles for independence would be unavailing. The best affected settlement to the cause of independence, in the neighbourhood of Ninety-six, was that of Long-cane; to which colonels Clarke and M'Call turned their attention for recruits to their force, and to annoy the enemy about Ninety-six.

After resting for a few days, near Berwick's iron works, they advanced by an upper route

toward Long-cane, early in December, and on the way, were joined by colonel Benjamin Few, with a part of the refugees from Georgia: the attention of this force was turned toward Ninetysix, and encamped on Long-cane creek. Colonel Few being the senior officer, assumed the com. mand. The position of the encampment was favourable for the augmentation of their numbers, and the prospect was flattering that in a short time they would be sufficiently strong to confine the British within their strong hold.

Colonel Cruger, who commanded at Ninetysix, aware of the consequences which would result from permitting Few to remain unmolested in his position, determined to attack him in his camp; the irregularity of which, he was fully informed of, and hoped to take him by surprise. For this purpose, he detached lieutenant-colonel Allen with two hundred regular troops, two hundred loyalists, and fifty dragoons. The enemy were within three miles of Few's camp before he was apprized of their approach. Colonel Clarke, lieutenant-colonel M'Call, and major Lindsey, with one hundred Georgia and Carolina militia, were ordered to meet the enemy, commence the action, and sustain it until the main body could be brought up to their assistance. They advanced about one mile and a half and engaged the enemy's front, which was composed of royal militia. The action was lively for a short time, and Clarke sent an express to Few to hasten the march of the

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main body. In about ten minutes the loyalists retreated, some of them fled, and the remainder formed in the rear of the regular troops. Clarke received a wound in the shoulder, which was at first supposed to be mortal, and he was carried off

the field.

Colonel Allen ordered the loyalists to commence and sustain the attack, until the regular troops were formed: when this was effected, the bayonet was presented and the loyalists were ordered to form in the rear and turn upon the American flanks. About this time, M'Call was wounded in the arm, and his horse killed, and he was so entangled by the horse falling upon him, that he narrowly escaped. The Americans retreated and were charged by the enemy's dra goons. Major Lindsey had fallen under three wounds, and was left on the ground; in that condition, captain Lang, of dragoons, fell upon him while he lay on the ground, chopped his head and arms in several places, and cut off one of his hands.

Fourteen Americans were killed, and seven wounded. Several of the wounded were killed, who lay upon the ground and were unable to make resistance; which accounts for the number of wounded being less than that of the slain. The loss of the enemy was very trifling, and is not accurately known.

When the remains of colonel Clarke's command returned to the camp, they found colonel Few and the main body of the troops under orders

for retreat, and ready to move off, without giving any previous intimation to those in advance, of such intention. Some harsh observations were made by some of the officers who had been engaged, relative to Few's courage; whether correct on that occasion is unknown: he had previously given proofs of courage and good conduct. He justified himself by saying, that the intelligence he received after colonel Clarke was engaged, induced a belief that the force of the enemy was so far superior to his own, that it would have been imprudent to have met them in a general engagement: but this was not considered as a justification for withholding from Clarke a notice of his intentions, or of making an effort to secure his retreat. The American force was five hundred men; the British was four hundred and fifty.

Colonel Clarke was placed upon a bier, supported by two horses, and with great difficulty conveyed to a place of safety. The Americans retreated to North Carolina, and during the confine ment of colonel Clarke, by his wound, major John Cunningham commanded the Georgia troops.

Colonel Pickens, and other influential characters in Ninety-six district, had been urged to the resumption of their arms in the American cause. To these remonstrances, Pickens replied that his honour was pledged, and that he was bound by the solemnity of an oath, not to take up arms until the conditions of that protection were violated by the British, or those who acted under the