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brothers； than whom no men under Marion were more brave； these were
John； William； Gavin； Robert and James。 Gavin died a few weeks since；
with whom the family became extinct。 More of Gavin and Robert
hereafter。 20th July； 1821。 ** He was not appointed a general till some
time after this； but as we have not the date of his commission； henceforth
he will be styled general； and his other officers； to avoid repetitions； are
designated generally by the rank they held at the disbandment of the
brigade。
Thus Gen。 Marion； at once； fell upon employment； as the true way to
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Life of Marion。
encourage and to command militia； and their spirits began to revive。 He
returned to Port's ferry； and threw up a redoubt on the east bank of the
Pedee； on which he mounted two old iron field pieces； to awe the tories。
On the 17th of August； he detached Col。 Peter Horry； with orders to take
command of four companies； Bonneau's； Mitchell's； Benson's； and Lenud's；
near Georgetown； and on the Santee； to destroy all the boats and canoes on
the river； from the lower ferry to Lenud's； to post guards； so as to prevent
all communication with Charleston； and to procure him twenty…five weight
of gunpowder； ball or buck shot； and flints in proportion。 This order was
made in pursuance of a plan he afterwards carried into effect； to leave no
approach for the enemy into the district of which he had taken the
command。 The latter part of the order； shows how scanty were the means
of his defence。 There were few men； even in those days of enthusiasm；
who would not have shrunk from such an undertaking。 Gen。 Marion
himself marched to the upper part of Santee； it is believed； with the same
object in view with which he had entrusted Horry。 On his way he received
intelligence of the defeat of Gates at Camden； and； without
communicating it； he proceeded immediately towards Nelson's ferry。 （16th
August。） Near Nelson's； he was informed； by his scouts； that a guard； with
a party of prisoners； were on their way to Charleston； and had stopped at
the house； at the great Savannah； on the main road； east of the river。 （20th
of August。） It was night； and the general； a little before daylight next
morning； gave the command of sixteen men to Col。 Hugh Horry。 He was
ordered to gain possession of the road； at the pass of Horse creek； in the
swamp； while the main body； under himself； was to attack in the rear。 In
taking his position； in the dark； Col。 Horry advanced too near to a sentinel；
who fired upon him。 In a moment he rushed up to the house； found the
British arms piled before the door； and seized upon them。 Twenty…two
British regulars； of the 63d regiment； two tories； one captain； and a
subaltern were taken； and one hundred and fifty of the Maryland line；
liberated。 In his account of this affair Gen。 Marion says he had one man
killed； and Maj。 Benson wounded。 But the man； Josiah Cockfield； who
was shot through the breast； lived to fight bravely again； and to be again
wounded。 In the account given of this action by Col。 Tarleton； he says；
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Life of Marion。
contemptuously； the guard was taken by 〃a Mr。 Horry〃； but Gen。 Marion；
as commanding officer； is entitled to the credit of it。 The news of the
defeat of Gen。 Gates now became public； and repressed all joy upon this
occasion； no event which had yet happened； was considered so calamitous。
An account of it will be given in his own words。 Extract of a letter； from
Gen。 Gates； to the president of congress； dated Hillsborough； 20th August；
1780：
〃Sir； In the deepest distress and anxiety of mind； I am obliged to
acquaint your excellency with the defeat of the troops under my command。
I arrived with the Maryland line； the artillery； and the North Carolina
militia； on the 13th inst。 at Rugely's； thirteen miles from Camden； took
post there； and was the next day joined by Gen。 Stevens； with 700 militia
from Virginia。 The 15th； at daylight； I reinforced Colonel Sumter； with 300
North Carolina militia； 100 of the Maryland line； and two three…pounders
from the artillery： having previously ordered him down from the Waxhaws；
opposite to Camden； to intercept any stores coming to the enemy； and
particularly troops coming from Ninety…Six。 This was well executed by
Col。 Sumter。 Having communicated my plan to the general officers in the
afternoon of the 15th； it was resolved to march at ten at night； to take post
in a very advantageous situation； with a deep creek in front； （Gum
Swamp*） seven miles from Camden。 At ten the army began to march； and
having moved about five miles； the legion was charged by the enemy's
cavalry； and well supported by Col。 Porterfield； who beat back the enemy's
horse； and was himself unfortunately wounded； （mortally） but the enemy's
infantry advancing with a heavy fire； the troops in front gave way to the
first Maryland brigade； and a confusion ensued which took some time to
regulate。 At length the army was ranged in line of battle。 Gen。 Gists'
brigade on the right； close to a swamp； the North Carolina militia in the
centre； the Virginia militia； the light infantry； and Porterfield's corps； on
the left； the artillery divided to the brigades。 The first Maryland brigade as
a corps de reserve on the road。 Col。 Armand's corps was ordered to support
the left flank。 At daylight； they attacked and drove in our light party in
front； when I ordered the left to advance and attack the enemy； but； to my
astonishment； the left wing and North Carolina militia gave way。 Gen。
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Life of Marion。
Caswell and myself； assisted by a number of officers； did all in our power
to rally them； but the enemy's cavalry harassing their rear； they ran like a
torrent； and bore all before them。〃 This is all the general seemed to know
of the action。 Part of the brigade of North Carolina militia； commanded by
Gen。 Gregory； behaved well。 They formed on the left of the continentals；
and kept the field while their cartr