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engaged the enemy。 The British occupied the houses on the west bank；
from which they kept up a galling fire； a number of Laurens' men were
killed and wounded； and； as he was very conspicuous on horse back in
regimentals； with a large white plume； he was soon wounded himself； and
his horse killed。 Laurens then retired； and captain； afterwards Col。
Shubrick； ordered a retreat。 In the mean time Moultrie had decamped； and
the riflemen were obliged； as the planks were thrown off； to pass Tulifinny
and Pocotaligo bridges on the string pieces； and did not overtake the main
body till they had passed Saltketcher bridge。 Here let us pause for a
moment； and take a view of the ground； twelve miles of country had been
passed over in one morning； which was a continued defile of causeway；
lined on both sides with either thick woods； or ditches and fences； and four
rivers had been crossed； over which were high bridges； and only a slight
skirmish had taken place。 True； the swamps above the bridges were dry；
but then they were so wide and thick； that the British would never have
ventured into them。 It is likewise true that Col。 Laurens said the militia
would not fight； yet the riflemen stood till they were ordered to retreat；
and their retreat had like to have been cut off。 Laurens was not wrong in
fighting； for it is always best to keep militia employed： but in engaging
without orders； and in not burning down the houses near the river； he is
blamed by Gen。 Moultrie。** However Moultrie himself was more to
blame in suffering the enemy to pass over Coosawhatchie。 At least they
ought not to have been permitted to cross the Saltketcher。 There is no
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Life of Marion。
doubt but Moultrie was a firm patriot and a brave soldier； but he acted now
under the impulse of an opinion； which then generally prevailed among
the officers of the South Carolina troops； that Charleston was all important；
and if taken； the state must be lost。 We shall see the effect of this system in
the end。 In the same manner the Edisto and Ashley were now passed；
without striking a blow。 The Americans suffered greatly both for
provisions and for the want of water； drinking out of every puddle in the
road； however filthy。 The enemy； on the contrary； passed through the
richest part of the state； and were suffered to scatter themselves abroad；
and to satiate themselves with choice fare； and valuable plunder。 General
Moultrie continued his march to Charleston； and Prevost took post before
the lines。
* The fine spring at Tulifinny had then entirely failed。 ** 1st Volume
Moultrie's memoirs； p。 403…4。
We have for some time lost sight of Lieut。 Col。 Marion； and the reader
may naturally inquire； was he at Tulifinny？ He was not。 With the second
regiment under his command； he was in garrison at fort Moultrie。 Before
Gen。 Moultrie broke up his camp at Black Swamp； he wrote to Gen。
Lincoln to give him advice of the movement of the enemy to Purysburgh；
and from time to time of their progress to Charleston； but Lincoln marched
up to Augusta； crossed over into Georgia； and moved down on the other
side of the river for some time； very deliberately。* However； from
Jannett's ferry； he writes a letter； of which the following is an extract： 〃If
the enemy should give public evidence of their designs against Charleston；
I think； with your force； as you are in possession of ~strong passes~； you
will be able to stop their progress and give us time to come up。〃 On the
10th of May； he again writes to Gen。 Moultrie； 〃We are making； and shall
continue to make； every exertion for the relief of Charleston。 The baggage
will be left。 The inability of the men only； will put a period to our daily
marches。 Our men are full of spirits。 Do not give up； or suffer the people
to despair。〃 But the governor and council did despair already； for a
majority of them had finally offered to capitulate； and proposed a
neutrality； during the war between Great Britain and South Carolina； and
the question； whether the state should belong to Great Britain； or remain
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Life of Marion。
one of the United States； to be determined by the treaty of peace； from this
offer； Gen。 Gadsden and Mr。 Thomas Ferguson dissented。 To carry terms
so disgraceful； to Prevost； Col。 Laurens was pitched upon； but he
indignantly refused to be the bearer。 Cols。 M‘Intosh and Roger Smith were
then persuaded to go with a flag。 The British commander appointed Col。
Prevost； as commissioner to receive them； and he delivered a message
from the general； 〃that he had nothing to do with the governor； that his
business was with Gen。 Moultrie； and as the garrison was in arms； they
must surrender prisoners of war。〃 At this answer； the governor and council
looked blank； and some were for submitting even to this degrading
proposal： but Moultrie cut the conference short； by declaring； 〃that as it
was left to him； he would fight to the last extremity。〃 Laurens； who was
present； and sitting； bounded to his feet at the expression； raised his hands；
and thanked his God！ Thus it was only by a mistake of Prevost； as to the
high powers of the civil authority； that the town； and the state of South
Carolina； were then saved。 What renders this offer the more astonishing；
was； that the garrison； 3180 strong； were in good spirits； and an army
under Lincoln； was marching to their assistance； on the rear of the enemy；
who were not much stronger than the besieged； being computed at 3680
men。** Early the next morning； Prevost decamped； and retreated to John's
and James Islands。 （May 13th。） There was great rejoicing in the town； but
the consequence to which it had arrived； by repelling two attempts of the
enemy； only brought against it a greater armament； and in the end； sunk it
into deeper distress。 An attack upon the British at Stono ferry； was now
planned by Gen。 Lincoln。 Gen。 Moultrie； was to throw over on James
Island； all the troops which could be spared from the town； and make a
feint on that side； or att