advanced to Ninety-six, and encamped before it on the 23rd of May. Regular approaches by saps, were necessarily resorted to, under the direction of colonel Kosciusko, chief of engineers. On the 3rd of June, three regiments from Ireland arrived at Charleston, to re-enforce lord Rawdon, who commenced his march at the head of two thousand troops, to the relief of the garrison at Ninety-six. General Sumpter was directed to check his progress, by harassing his front, but without effect. An express reached colonel Cruger, informing him of Rawdon's approach to his relief. As general Greene was unable to meet Rawdon, he determined on an assault, but the works were unassailable, and the forlorn hope, conducted with great courage and perseverance by lieutenants Duval and Sheldon on the 18th of June, proved unsuccessful. General Greene raised the siege and retired toward North-Carolina. Rawdon pursued him a short distance, and finding that Greene had taken a strong position, he retired toward Ninety-six, where he rested two days, and then returned to the Congaree river, with one thousand men. The British force thus divided, encouraged general Greene to follow Rawdon toward Charleston. Colonel Cruger was left in command at Ninety-six, and after affording time for the loyalists to remove their property and join him, he destroyed the works, burned the village, and retreated to Orangeburg, where he formed a junction with Rawdon.

When general Greene raised the siege, he ordered major James Jackson, who had been left in command at Augusta, to demolish his works and join him. Jackson attempted to retreat between Ninety-six and Camden, but finding that route occupied by the enemy, he changed his course toward Wilkes county, to join colonel Clarke. Hearing that Cruger had retreated, he returned and re-occupied his former position at Augusta:

In July, two small forts on Broad river were attacked and taken by James Tillet, with a party of loyalists and Indians. Eighteen men, women and children were murdered. Such of the women as were able to bear the fatigues of a rapid march, were carried into captivity and compelled to endure all the difficulties of a savage life.

The advantages which general Greene had derived from the service of legionary corps, composed of an equal number of cavalry and light infantry, induced him to order a body of this des cription to be raised in Georgia. In the active genius and enterprise of major James Jackson, he discovered the qualities necessary for the commanding-officer: accordingly he was appointed colonel of the Georgia legion, to consist of three companies of cavalry and two of infantry. This corps was filled without delay and equipped for service. Having gained possession of the western division of Georgia, general Twiggs' attention was directed to the eastern. He ordered colonel Jackson to advance toward Savannah, and to take

a position as near the enemy as his force would authorise; and to consult the safety of his command, and the advantages of his country, by advancing or retreating, as circumstances might require. A short time before Jackson marched from Augusta, a plot was discovered to have been formed by a part of his legion, to assassinate their commanding-officer, and carry off the governor and members of the executive council to the Bri tish in Savannah. The greater part of Jackson's legion was composed of British deserters and loyalists, who had changed their political opinions and quited the British service. After the plan had been digested by some of the non-commissioned officers and privates of the infantry, it was communicated to the British general Clarke in Savannah, who ordered a detachment to meet the re. volters, and to aid them in the execution of their purposes and escape. A faithful soldier named David Davis, who was the colonel's waiter, dis. covered that there was something in agitation of an extraordinary nature in the camp; and in order to obtain a knowledge of the secret, affected an extreme dislike to the colonel, and united with the conspirators in the use of the most unqualified language of abuse and disrespect for him. Supposing that Davis' situation would enable him to be of great service to the party, they lent a favour. able ear to his observations. This stratagem had the desired effect, and drew from the traitors a disclosure of the diabolical purposes in contempla

tion, which he immediately communicated to his colonel, and informed him that no time was to be lost in checking its progress, as it was ripe for execution. The dragoons, who did not appear to have been engaged in the conspiracy, were ordered to mount their horses and repair to colonel Jackson's quarters, prepared for action. The infantry were ordered to parade without arms, under the pretence of searching for some clothing which had been stolen the preceeding night. The dragoons were ordered in front, with drawn swords, and the ring-leaders seized and confined. A general court-martial was ordered to convene, and the culprits brought up for trial: John Goodgame, William Simmons, and one Honeycut, were ascertained to be the projectors and leaders in the conspiracy. The court found them guilty of treason, and sentenced them to suffer death, by being hanged, and they were executed accordingly. The remaining seventeen, turned states evidence, confessed their guilt, and were pardoned in consequence of their apparent penitence.

General Alured Clarke had ordered captain Brantley, with forty-five men, to advance within a few miles of Augusta, join the conspirators in the night, on the skirts of the town, and cooperate in the execution of the plan. Great rewards had been offered by the British general, in case of success, as stated by the witnesses before the court-martial; but fortune nipt its progress in the bud, and the leaders were hurled into eternity

under the premeditated and detestable crimes of murder and treason.

Davis was complimented by the legislature for his attachment and fidelity to the cause of his country, and rewarded by a present of five hundred acres of valuable land, and an elegant horse, saddle and bridle. Captain Brantley had advanced as far as Spirit creek, about ten miles from Augusta, and skirmished with a small party, one mile and a half from general Twiggs' camp, killed one man and took off some horses. When Brantley was informed that the plan had been defeated, by the discovery of the plot, he retreated to Savannah.

While vigorous preparations were making, in the vicinity of Augusta, to annoy the British by land, the American privateers, and small government vessels, were actively employed upon the sea coast. The impolitic prohibitions, imposed by congress at an early period of the war, upon British importations of every description, had been very severely felt by the inhabitants, as well as by the army of the United States: clothing, ammunition, and many other articles, could not be procured for the army; but among the most material, was the article of salt: the demand for it, at one time in the southern states, was so great, that it was sold at the exorbitant price of two dollars per quart: those who were not able to procure it, substituted ashes and red pepper to save their meat. This idea was borrowed from the Indian tribes, who generally apply hickory ashes,