better; but it is reasonably certain that no governor who was not a military genius could have prepared the scattered militia and led it successfully against this sudden invasion.

It is true that Washington had sent warning that a British fleet was making toward Virginia; but the water-front of Virginia is so vast, a fleet can strike at so many different places, that it was impossible to know when and where to have the militia assemble.

In the lower Southern States the situation has a peculiarity all its own. There is no large American army under the general command of some overshadowing figure; but there are a dozen small armies, flying columns, under chiefs whose names are almost unknown to history, but whose services are of priceless value to the cause.

As a rule, these partizan bands have nothing to do with Washington's movements, nor he with theirs. As a rule, he knows nothing of what they intend to do until it is done. As a rule, they call on him for no help of any kind, nor does Congress bear the burden of their necessities. Generally they draw their supplies from the territory in which they operate. Horses, guns, ammunition, food, recruits-all come from the Southern colonies.

Chief of these partizan leaders is General Francis Marion, "the Swamp Fox "; next is General Thomas Sumpter, "the Game-Cock "-heroes

of South Carolina. Second to these come such men as Pickens, Horry, Lacey, Hampton, and Hender

son.

In North Carolina there are such dashing leaders as Sevier, Shelby, Ashe, Williams, and McDowell.

In Georgia the bands are led and fought by Generals Elijah Clarke, John Twiggs, James Jackson, Lachlan McIntosh, James Screven, Samuel Elbert, and John White.

These partizan leaders are ever in the saddle. Savannah may fall, Augusta and Charleston may surrender, but the British conquest stops at the limit of the British camp. In the interior, resistance holds its head up all the time. The flag never ceases to fly.

In vain Cornwallis comes with huge regiments; in vain Tarleton and Ferguson raid and ravage the land; they can not stamp out the rebellion. Heavy battalions may win this battle and that battle; but on the morrow will come Marion and Sumpter, and Twiggs and Clarke to fight again.

Chase these partizans from Georgia, and they give battle in the Carolinas. Chase them from the Carolinas, and they are back in Georgia, as ready for the fray as before.

A score of Southern leaders fight as many pitched battles which are not so much as mentioned in the books of general history; and some of these

fights were brilliant little victories for the American cause.

The triumph of Elijah Clarke and Samuel Hammond over a portion of Ferguson's command at Cedar Springs in July, 1780; the success of these officers, aided by Williams and Shelby, at Musgroves' Mill in August, 1780, were the important preludes to that crowning achievement which was soon to follow.