for which place it was thought lord Cornwallis was pre- 1780. paring to advance with his army. A comfortable supply of fresh meat and meal or flour, was procured for the hofpital; and beef was better and more plenty at Hillf borough than it used to be in camp. An arrangement of the broken troops took place upon an agreement of a council of general and field officers, and by order of the commanding officer. The firft, third, fifth and feventh Maryland regiments, formed together one battalion, called the firft, and was commanded by major Anderson. The fecond, fourth and fixth Maryland regiments, with the Delaware, conftituted the second battalion, and was commanded by major Hardman. These two battalions were completely officered and formed one regiment, commanded by col. Otho Holland Williams, and lieut. col. Howard. The troops being without pay, clothing, and fometimes provifion, many temptations were used to seduce them from their duty, and to defert to the British army, which was well clothed and fed, and duly fupplied with rum, a thing of no fmall confideration with common men: yet fuch was their fidelity, that very few left the field, even to return to their families; and they several times feized and brought before their officers, thofe who would have conducted them to Camden, and have rewarded them for their treachery. They were, after a time, encamped about a mile out of town, though without tents, by the help of fence-rails, poles, brush and Indian corn-tops. The officers fuffered no circumftance of humiliation or diftrefs, to induce them into a remiffion of difcipline; and being alway with their respective commands and fharing their fate, a mutual confidence and affection, 1780. and at the fame time a due fubordination prevailed throughout the line. Col. Buford having recruited his regiment, (which had been fo cruelly handled by Tarleton's legion) to about 200 men, arrived from Virginia on the 16th of September: but they were badly armed, and almost destitute of clothing. Near the fame time, fixty Virginia militia arrived; as did about fifty of Porterfield's light infantry on the 18th: thefe joined Buford's corps. The regiments commanded by him and Williams were formed into one brigade by general orders, and the command given to gen. Smallwood. Sept. 18. Early in September col. Clark collected a number of Americans, and marched through the upper parts of South Carolina on his way to Georgia. A few joined him in Ninety Six, but the more prudent discouraged him from his ill-timed enterprife. He however profecuted his defign; and by the 14th arrived at Augusta with about 500 men. He foon engaged lieut. col. Brown the commandant; who with his fmall garrifon and a few Indians, defended himself bravely, till he got poffeffion of the Garden hill: then the action became warm for about a quarter of an hour, when the Americans gave way, on which he took poft at the houses. At one the next day about 50 Cherokee Indians fhowed themfelves on the oppofite hill, and got into the garrifon; and as foon as they were furnifhed with arms and ammunition, the Americans were difcovered advancing. A warm engagement followed foon after, and continued till night. Clark afterward fummoned Brown to furrender, and received for anfwer, "I fhall do my duty as an officer by defending myself to the laft extremity." Brown was then threatened in a fecond letter, and re plied to Clark, "If you have nothing further to offer, 1780. upon the return of the flag hoftilities will commence. afresh." Brown expected to be relieved, which took place on Monday morning the 18th, by the arrival of lieut. col. Cruger from Ninety Six, with a party of regular troops and militia, on the oppofite hill. By the time Cruger had croffed the first of his people over the river, part of the garrifon fallied out upon the Americans, and brought in two pieces of artillery and fome prifoners, one of whom (Henry Dukes) was instantly hanged. Brown was wounded in both thighs at the beginning of the action. The lofs was confiderable on the fide of the royalifts; though more fo on that of the Americans. When the last had left Augufta, the inhabitants who had joined Clark, or were fuppofed to favor his defign, were treated with the utmoft feverity (Brown hanged about thirty) which has, greatly difgufted, and prepared the minds of the people for a determined. revolt. In confequence of meafures taken by the governor and affembly of North Carolina, a small quantity of clothing was obtained; and in a few days four companies of light infantry were equipped and felected from the line. The remains of the firft and third regiments of cavalry came to camp the 2d of October, commanded by lieut. cols. Washington and White. On the fame day col. Morgan, who had been but a few days arrived, was invested with the command of the light troops, confifting of the cavalry under Washington, four companies of regularinfantry under Howard, and a fmall body of riflemen from Virginia. Morgan had orders to march immediately toward Salisbury, and act in concert with the 1780. and at the fame time a due fubordination prevailed throughout the line. Col. Buford having recruited his regiment, (which had been fo cruelly handled by Tarleton's legion) to about 200 men, arrived from Virginia on the 16th of September: but they were badly armed, and almost destitute of clothing. Near the fame time, fixty Virginia militia arrived; as did about fifty of Porterfield's light infantry on the 18th: thefe joined Buford's corps. The regiments commanded by him and Williams were formed into one brigade by general orders, and the command given to gen. Smallwood. Sept. Early in September col. Clark collected a number of Americans, and marched through the upper parts of South Carolina on his way to Georgia. A few joined him in Ninety Six, but the more prudent discouraged him from his ill-timed enterprife. He however profecuted his design; and by the 14th arrived at Augusta with about 500 men. He foon engaged lieut. col. Brown the commandant; who with his small garrifon and a few Indians, defended himself bravely, till he got poffeffion of the Garden hill: then the action became warm for about a quarter of an hour, when the Americans gave way, on which he took poft at the houses. At one the next day about 50 Cherokee Indians fhowed themfelves on the oppofite hill, and got into the garrifon; and as foon as they were furnifhed with arms and ammunition, the Americans were discovered advancing. A warm engagement followed foon after, and continued till night. Clark afterward fummoned Brown to furrender, and received for answer, " I shall do my duty as an officer by defending myself to the last extremity." Brown was then threatened in a fecond letter, and re plied to Clark," If you have nothing further to offer, 1780. upon the return of the flag hoftilities will commence. afresh." Brown expected to be relieved, which took place on Monday morning the 18th, by the arrival of lieut. col. Cruger from Ninety Six, with a party of regular troops and militia, on the oppofite hill. By the time Cruger had croffed the first of his people over the river, part of the garrifon fallied out upon the Americans, and brought in two pieces of artillery and fome prifoners, one of whom (Henry Dukes) was inftantly hanged. Brown was wounded in both thighs at the beginning of the action. The lofs was confiderable on. the fide of the royalifts; though more fo on that of the Americans. When the last had left Augufta, the inhabitants who had joined Clark, or were fuppofed to favor his defign, were treated with the utmost severity (Brown hanged about thirty) which has greatly difgufted, and prepared the minds of the people for a determined. revolt. In confequence of meafures taken by the governor and affembly of North Carolina, a small quantity of clothing was obtained; and in a few days four companies of light infantry were equipped and felected from the line. The remains of the firft and third regiments of cavalry came to camp the 2d of October, commanded by lieut. cols. Washington and White. On the fame day col. Morgan, who had been but a few days arrived, was invested with the command of the light troops, confifting of the cavalry under Washington, four companies of regularinfantry under Howard, and a small body of riflemen from Virginia. Morgan had orders to march immediately toward Salisbury, and act in concert with the |