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mean while； the passage of the cavalry over the bridge had opened such a
chasm** in the plank； that Lee could not cross to follow up the advantage
thus gained； and the critical moment was lost。 The enemy had time to
recover from their panic； and to post themselves in Col。 Shubrick's house
and out houses； which were near。 After some delay； Sumter arrived and
ordered an attack； which was led on by Marion； whose men； and a
regiment of Sumter's； under Col。 Thomas Taylor； marched up in open
ground； with a view of gaining a fence near the houses； and were exposed
to a most galling fire； from riflemen aiming at them from behind cover。
More than fifty were killed and wounded； generally of Marion's men； who
were most exposed。 Capt。 Perry and Lieut。 June； of his brigade； were
killed； and Lieut。 Col。 John Baxter； who was very conspicuous； from his
gigantic size and full uniform； received five wounds； Major Swinton was
also severely wounded。 A retreat was ordered。 The attack was made
against Marion's opinion； who blamed Sumter afterwards for wasting the
lives of his men。 But； with such a force； Sumter had not the disposition to
be idle； and wanted only a field piece to have ensured success。 Col。 Coates
had now the command of boats； and a wide river before him； and could
easily have effected his retreat in that way to Charleston； but Sumter did
not attack him again； because； it was said； a reinforcement was coming to
his assistance。 After this； Gen。 Marion retired to the Santee； and took post
at Cordes'； and afterwards at Peyre's plantation； near the mouth of the
present Santee canal； where he reposed his men and horses； until about the
25th of August。
* Dr。 Irvine was riding between Cols。 Lee and Maham； and was
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Life of Marion。
wounded by a discharge of small arms from the enemy； as they wheeled at
a short turn of the road。 Lee had two surgeons in his corps； Irvine and
Skinner； Irvine was apt to expose himself to danger； but Skinner； although
he had on one occasion killed his adversary in a duel； was a coward； and
the method he now took to punish Irvine for what he called his temerity；
was not to dress his wounds until the last。 ** Lee states that he found such
a chasm in the bridge his men could not cross it。
The British lay near M‘Cord's ferry； with a strong party at Monk's
corner and Dorchester； and Gen。 Greene was still encamped at
Richardson's plantation on the High Hills of Santee； directly opposite the
enemy； where they might easily see each other； but with a wide swamp
between them。 About this time Gen。 Greene ordered Marion to go to the
assistance of Col。 Harden； who was then much pressed by the enemy； to
the south of the Edisto。 Immediately he detached a party of mounted
militia under Capt。 George Cooper； to the neighbourhood of Dorchester
and Monk's corner； to create a diversion there； whilst he with about two
hundred picked men； by a circuitous route and forced march of at least one
hundred miles； crossed the Edisto； joined Harden and approached the
British。 When sufficiently near he drew up his men in a swamp upon the
road near Parker's ferry； and sent out some of his swiftest horse to lead the
British into the ambuscade。 While lying there a small party of tories
crossed at the ferry； and in passing on one of them called out that he saw a
white feather； and fired his gun。 This occasioned an exchange of a few
shots on both sides； but （as is supposed） it was thought by Major Fraser；
who commanded the British； to be only Harden's party that was in the
swamp； he pursued the horsemen sent out as a decoy； and led his corps in
full charge within forty or fifty yards parallel to the ambuscade。 A deadly
fire from the swamp； was the first notice he had that a greater force than
Harden's was there。 He attempted to wheel and charge into the swamp； but
only exposed his men the more； as they were thus delayed before the fire；
and were wedged up on a causeway so closely that every shot had its
utmost effect。 Finding all his efforts ineffectual； Fraser at length retreated
along the road to the ferry； and thus passed the whole ambuscade。 A large
body of infantry with a field piece； were now seen advancing； and Marion
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Life of Marion。
retreated without counting the dead； but men and horses were seen lying
promiscuously in heaps on the road。 Although a large body of infantry was
advancing； yet Marion in his situation had not much to fear from them；
and indeed had often encountered such； therefore the true cause of his
retreating could not have been because they were advancing； but the
probability is； because he wanted ammunition。 How often he was thus
impeded in his enterprizes was known only to himself。 A party under Capt。
Melton； went out the next day to the battle ground； and counted twenty…
seven dead horses； the men had been buried。 As Marion's men fired with
either a ball and buck shot； or heavy buck shot alone； and as none would
aim at horses； the loss of the British must have been great。 But though
their loss could not be ascertained； the effect of this well conducted affair
soon became evident； for at the battle of Eutaw； nine days after； the enemy
had but few cavalry in the field。 It is not a little surprising that there is no
record or date of this action to be found； but in the thanks of congress to
Gen。 Marion； which fix it on the 31st of August。
In the mean time； Capt。 Cooper passed on to the Cypress； and there
routed a party of tories； and then proceeding down the road； he drove off
the cattle from before the enemy's fort at Dorchester。 He next moved on
down the Charleston road； a body of tories lay in a brick church； which
stood then twelve miles from town； he charged and drove them before him。
Next； passing into Goose creek road； he proceeded to the ten mile house；
returned and passed over Goose creek bridge； took a circuitous route
around the British at Monk's corner and arrived in camp at Peyre's
plantation near the canal； where Gen。 Marion now lay； with many
pri