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his correspondence。 He formed a mess of which Col。 Hugh Horry and Col。
James Postell were inmates； and apparently his principal counsellors； Serjt。
Davis was his caterer； and supplied his dinners； ~such as they were~：
heretofore he had seldom any thing but meat and sweet potatoes； and often
not both of these at a time； but now he had the luxury of rice。 He did what
was of more consequence than this； he put in requisition all the saws in the
country； and all the blacksmiths； and made swords for four troops of
militia cavalry。 He had so little ammunition this expedient was
necessary。 He gave the command of this corps to Col。 Peter Horry； who
had been a captain with him in the second regiment and had been an
excellent infantry officer。 His major was Benson； and his captains John
Baxter； John Postell； Daniel Conyers and James M‘Cauley； John T。
Greene soon after succeeded Baxter； who was appointed colonel on the
resignation of Ervine。 Hugh Horry had command of M‘Donald's regiment；
who was a prisoner on parole； and ~his~ officers have been mentioned。
Capt。 Wm。 M‘Cottry commanded a company of riflemen who were the
dread of the enemy。 As the brigade was not strong enough for this corps of
horse to act in conjunction； single troops were commonly detached by the
general。 At the head of a party of this cavalry Col。 Peter Horry had soon an
opportunity to make a trial of his skill in cavalry evolutions。 He met and
charged a troop of British horse on Waccamaw neck； but by his own
account he appears to have been rather worsted； for he was unhorsed
himself and his life saved by Serjt。 M‘Donald； however he brought off
some prisoners。 Major John Postell； who was mentioned before； was
stationed to guard the lower part of Pedee； had better fortune。 On the 18th
Jan。 Capt。 James Depeyster； with twenty…nine grenadiers of the British
army； had posted himself in the dwelling house of the major's father； and
Postell commanded but twenty…eight militia men。 Towards day on the
morning after； the major； by knowing well the ground and avoiding the
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Life of Marion。
sentinels； got possession of the kitchen； and summoned Depeyster to
surrender； this was at first refused； and the major set fire to the kitchen。 He
then summoned him a second time； with the positive declaration if he did
not surrender he would burn the house； the British being intimidated； laid
down their arms and surrendered unconditionally。
From a part of the correspondence of Gen。 Marion with Capt。
Saunders； now commandant of Georgetown； it appears that he had either
soon after the 17th Jan。 or before that； imprisoned Mr。 John Postell； the
father of the major； Gen。 Marion offers 〃to exchange him； and hopes
humanity will induce Capt。 Saunders to treat him like a gentleman。〃* Mr。
John Postell was at least seventy years of age； and much afflicted with
disease； but possessed the spirit of a Cato。
* Marion's letter； 22d February。
Soon after this； Col。 Peter Horry had a conflict with Major Ganey at
White's bridge； near Georgetown； which had a more decisive effect than
could have been expected at the time。 Early in the morning he made a
charge upon a party who were killing beeves at the camp near that place。
They fled and were pursued through the woods on the left towards
Georgetown； with some disorder on the side of Horry。 In the mean time
the firing was heard in the town； and their tory friends came out to their
assistance。 A kind of savage warfare now took place in the woods；
between the Sampit and Black river roads； during the whole morning。 A
party of Horry's was at one time seen advancing； and the tories retreating；
then again the tories were advancing； and a party of Horry's retreating。 At
one time the commander was left as he thought alone； and Capt。 Lewis at
the head of a party was rushing on to shoot him down； when suddenly
from behind a tree off went the gun of a boy by the name of Gwyn； and
shot Lewis； whose party thinking more guns were behind trees ran away。
As Lewis fell his gun went off and killed Horry's horse。 Finally the tories
were routed。 In this affair Serjt。 M‘Donald performed essential service； he
had singled out Ganey as his object of attack； and the latter fled from him。
In going at full speed down the Black river road； at the corner of
Richmond fence； M‘Donald shot one of Ganey's men； and overtaking him
soon after thrust a bayonet up to the hilt in his back； the bayonet separated
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Life of Marion。
from the gun； and Ganey carried it into Georgetown； he recovered； but
tired of a garrison life； after a few months he and his men deserted the
British。
As the navigation of the Wateree river was at that time imperfect； the
British were obliged to have most of their stores of rum； salt； ammunition
and clothing sent over land； across Nelson's ferry； to Camden； and as the
Americans were destitute of these articles； constant conflicts took place
upon that road to obtain them from the enemy。 To secure these； they had
established a line of posts； at Biggen； at Nelson's； and at Scott's lake。
Besides this protection； their supplies were always attended by escorts；
which； since the enterprizes of the two Postells； seldom consisted of less
than three or four hundred men。 About the middle of February； Major
M'Ilraith was marching from Nelson's ferry at the head of one of these
escorts； and Marion with about an equal force assailed him near Halfway
swamp； on the road； he first cut off two pickets in his rear in succession；
then wheeling round his main body； attacked him in flank and in front。 As
M'Ilraith had no cavalry； his situation became perilous in the extreme。 By
a forced march； and constant skirmishing； he at length gained a field upon
the road； now belonging to Mr。 Matthew James； and as it was open and
enclosed； he posted himself on the west of the road； within the enclosure。
On the east； skirting the road； there is a large cypress p