The credit with his sovereign which that nobleman was believed to possess; and the use which, from his avowed attachment to the United States, it was supposed he would make of that credit; were motives with Congress for adding to those resolutions which expressed their sense of his meritorious services, others requesting their ministers in Europe to confer with him on the situation of American affairs, and employ his assistance in accelerating such supplies as might be afforded by his Most Christian Majesty.

and about sixty Indians who had just joined him, and who, he said, "are the best cavalry for the service of the wilderness," he commenced a rapid pursuit; and in the morning of the 30th, at a ford on Canada creek, fell in with about forty whites and some Indians, who were left in the rear to procure provisions. These were attacked, and the greater number of them killed or taken, upon which the main body fled with such rapidity that the pursuit proved ineffectual. In the party at Canada creek was Major Walter Butler, the person who perpetrated the massacre at Cherry-valley. His entreaties for quarter were disregarded, and he fell the victim of that vengeance which his own savage temper had directed against himself.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER XI.

Greene invests Camden-Battle of Hobkirk's hillSeveral British posts taken-Lord Rawdon retires into the lower country.-Greene invests Ninety-sixIs repulsed, and retires from before that placeActive movements of the two armies—After a short repose they resume active operations-Battle of Eutau-The British army retires towards Charles

town.

N South Carolina and Georgia, the campaign

IN

of 1781 was uncommonly active. The importance of the object, the perseverance with which it was pursued, the talents of the generals, the courage and sufferings of the armies, and the accumulated miseries of the inhabitants, gave to the contest for these states a degree of interest seldom bestowed on military transactions in which greater numbers have not been employed.

When Lord Cornwallis entered North Carolina, the charge of preserving the authority of his sovereign in the more southern states was committed to Lord Rawdon. For the perfect establishment of his power, a line of posts had been continued from Charlestown, by the way of Camden and Ninety

Ninety-six, to Augusta in Georgia. The most important point of this line was Camden. To complete and secure the communication, and to cover the country, several small intermediate sta tions were taken, the garrison of which consisted of a few regular troops and of the neighbouring militia, whose attachment to the royal cause was assiduously cultivated and improved. These posts were in general slightly fortified, so as to resist the sudden attacks that might be made by any force which could be collected in the country; and no apprehensions were entertained of a more formidable enemy. The spirit of resistance was still kept up in the north-western and north-eastern parts of the state by Generals Sumpter and Marion, who respectively commanded a corps of mounted militia. Their celerity of movement protected them from the attempts made against them by Lord Rawdon; who had been unable to form a body of cavalry, and was consequently incapable of overtaking them after they had been routed. Their exertions, though bold, scem not to have been successful; and they excited no alarm, because there was no probability that their strength would be increased.

Such was the situation of the country when General Greene formed the bold resolution of attempting to reannex it to the American union. By a return made on the last day of March, it

appears

appears that his effective continental infantry amounted to fifteen hundred men. To this num. ber, the legion of Lee, and the cavalry of Washington, made an addition which might be estimated at not quite three hundred. His prospect of procuring subsistence was unpromising, and the chance of being reinforced was precarious. He was apprised of the dangers about to be encountered, but believed it to be for the public interest to meet them. "I shall take every measure," said this gallant officer, in a letter communicating to General Washington his plans of operation, "to avoid a misfortune; but necessity obliges me to commit myself to chance, and if an accident should attend me, I trust my friends will do jus tice to my reputation."

The extensive line of posts kept up by Lord Rawdon for the purpose of more completely reestablishing the royal government, presented to Greene many objects at which it was probable he might strike with advantage. In order to make the greatest immediate impression, he reinforced the legion with a company of infantry; and the day preceding his own departure from the camp on Deep river, he had detached Lee to join General Marion. At the same time, his intention of entering South Carolina was communicated to General Pickens; who was requested to assemble the western militia, and lay siege to Ninety-six and Augusta,

Augusta. He hoped, by a sudden and vigorous exertion of the strength he possessed, to carry many of the small posts held by the British general, to break up the communication between those which were more capable of being defended, to cut off their supplies, and probably to weaken the garrison at Camden by alarming Lord Rawdon for the safety of the country below him.

Having made these arrangements, he moved from Deep river on the seventh of April, and on the nineteenth of the same month encamped before Camden, within about half a mile of the British works. Hopes had been entertained of arriving in the vicinity of that place before his approach should be communicated, and of finding the garrison weakened by detachments to support the posts attacked by Marion and Lee; but the inhabitants of the territory through which he had marched, were almost entirely disaffected, and his progress had been retarded by the necessity of foraging for the subsistence of his army with the same caution which would have been used had he penetrated the country of an open enemy. In consequence of these circumstances, Lord Rawdon had received early notice of his approach, and had prepared for his reception.

Camden stands on a plain; and is covered on the south by the Wateree,* and on the east by

Higher up, this river is called the Catawba,

Pinetree