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Life of Marion。
ships； under Sir Peter Parker。 Of the particulars of this battle； every one
has heard； and they need not be narrated here。 Two of the ships carried
fifty guns； the ship Bristol； commodore Sir Peter Parker； and the
Experiment； and as powder was very scarce in the fort； the orders were；
〃mind the commodore！〃 〃Fire at the two fifty gun ships。〃 Col。 Moultrie
received the thanks of the commander in chief； of congress； Gen。 Lee； and
of president Rutledge； for his gallant conduct in that victory； and； what
was more； the heart…felt gratitude of his countrymen。 The fort was called
by his name； and he was raised to the rank of brigadier general。 His major
then rose to the rank of lieut。 colonel。 This action excited the highest
resentment in the breasts of the British rulers； and in the end they inflicted
severe vengeance on the state of South Carolina。 Three years； however；
elapsed before they made another attempt。 In December； 1778； a British
fleet of thirty seven sail； arrived off Savannah in Georgia； and landed
about 4000 men。 One half of these； under Col。 Campbell； immediately
made an attack upon the town。 Gen。 Howe； with six or seven hundred
Americans； attempted to oppose them； but was defeated at the first onset。
The enemy took possession of the town； and； as the Georgia militia were
backward in turning out； the whole country soon fell under their dominion。
Shortly after the taking of Savannah； Gen。 Lincoln took command of the
American army； and Gen。 Prevost of the British。 On the 3d of Feb。 1779；
Gen。 Moultrie； with a party of about 300 militia； mostly citizens of
Charleston and Beaufort； with the company of ancient artillery of
Charleston； was posted at Beaufort； where he heard the enemy was
advancing。 He immediately dispatched his aid； Capt。 Francis Kinloch； to
reconnoitre； while he moved forward on the road to Beaufort ferry。
Kinloch returning soon； stated the supposed force of the British； and that
they were near upon the road； Moultrie now pushed on to gain a defile； but
found it occupied by the enemy。 There being no alternative； he then drew
up his men in open ground； with two field pieces in the centre； and one on
the right。 The British force was two companies of picked light infantry；
posted under cover of a swamp。 The militia engaged them； and fought
under this disadvantage till their ammunition was all expended； and
Moultrie ordered a retreat； but the British made a simultaneous movement；
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Life of Marion。
and it became a drawn battle。 Lieut。 Wilkins of the ancient artillery； was
mortally wounded； and seven men were killed。 Capt。 Heyward； Lieuts。
Sawyer and Brown； and fifteen men； were wounded。 In the general's
account of the action； the loss of the British is not stated； he speaks highly
of the conduct of his officers and men； particularly of Capt。 John Barnwell；
and indeed it was no little matter； thus to bring militia； in the open field； to
fight regulars under cover。
Lincoln's force was fluctuating； as it consisted principally of militia；
who could not be brought under control； and in the midst of arms； when
the enemy were at the distance of only three miles； their officers refused to
subject them to the articles of war； and insisted upon their being tried by
the militia laws of the state； which only subjected them to a small
pecuniary fine。 The case too was a flagrant one； a private of Col。
Kershaw's regiment had absented himself from guard； and upon being
reproved by his captain； gave him abusive language； the captain ordered
him under guard； and the man attempted to shoot his officer； but was
prevented。 This case was referred to the general assembly then sitting；
who also refused to bring the militia under the articles of war。 Had Gen。
Jackson lately submitted to such an interference with his authority； we
should never have heard of the glorious victory of New Orleans。 Gen。
Lincoln would have nothing more to do with the militia； and gave up the
command of them to Gen。 Moultrie； to act with them as a separate corps。
Pursuant to this resolution； and after calling a council of war； he marched
off （20th April） about 2000 light troops and cavalry； for Augusta； leaving
his baggage to follow。 Near Augusta； he expected a reinforcement of 3000
men； and his intentions were to take possession of some strong post in
Georgia； to circumscribe the limits of the enemy； and to prevent their
receiving recruits from the Cherokee Indians； and tories。 He left Gen。
Moultrie； with about 1200 militia； at Black Swamp。 As soon as Gen。
Prevost heard of this movement； he availed himself of it； and immediately
crossed over the Savannah； from Abercorn to Purysburgh； twenty…five
miles below Black Swamp； with the intention of surprising Moultrie； but
he； receiving intelligence of his crossing； retired to Coosawhatchie。 At this
place he left a rear guard； and pitched his head quarters on the hill to the
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Life of Marion。
eastward of Tulifinny； two miles in advance towards Charleston。 （1st May。）
After reconnoitring the fords of Coosawhatchie； and Tulifinny above the
bridges； the general found so little water in the swamps； from the
excessive drought which then prevailed；* that he determined not to risk an
action at this post。 He was about to send one of his aids to bring off his
rear guard； when Col。 John Laurens offered himself as a volunteer for that
service； he was readily accepted； and captain； afterwards Major John
James； with 150 picked riflemen； was sent to cover his flanks： these； with
the rear guard； made near a fourth of the retreating army。 Instead of
bringing off the rear guard； Col。 Laurens drew them over to the east side
of the river； posted the riflemen at the bridge； threw off the planks； and
engaged the enemy。 The British occupied the houses on the wes