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began his approach by breaking ground； but on the night after the garrison
evacuated the town； and took shipping。 Remaining here for some time； the
general threw off his old habiliments； furnished his wardrobe anew； and
fitted himself out with a suit of regimentals。 He also procured a couple of
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mules to transport his baggage。 His privations； during the period passed
over； were so great that he even wanted a blanket； for on a certain night his
bed of pine straw catching fire under him； while he was soundly reposing
after one of his forced marches； half of the only one he had was burnt；*
and his leather cap was wrinkled upon one side； from the contact of the
same element。 Hereafter he indulged himself with the luxury of coffee for
breakfast； but often without bread to it； and he seldom tasted wine or
spirits； but was fond of vinegar and water； the drink of a Roman soldier。
However； Georgetown was no Capua to him。 He soon returned again to
Cantey's plantation； and kept out scouts constantly towards Biggen church；
where the enemy had a garrison of considerable force。
* Nothing shows the moderation of Gen。 Marion more than this
simple matter of fact。 Although the country at that time was plundered and
miserably poor； yet he had only to express a wish and he would have had a
dozen homespun blankets。 He had then in his pocket a power from the
governor to impress them。
About this period； Gen。 Marion sent Col。 Peter Horry with a force to
negociate a treaty with Major Ganey and his party。 As he could not well
turn his arms against him； and the whig settlements on Pedee were left
exposed to his depredations； it was good policy to awe him； and to
endeavour to keep him quiet。 After a little time Horry negociated a treaty；
humiliating enough to Ganey； by which； among other matters； he and his
officers agreed to lay down their arms and remain neutral； to deliver up all
those who refused to comply with the treaty and all deserters from the
Americans； and also to restore all negroes and other plundered property。
This treaty was ratified on the 17th of June； but was not strictly complied
with until Marion afterwards found leisure to enforce it； as shall be
narrated in its place。
Soon after the siege of Fort Motte； Gen。 Greene proceeding on with
his main army； laid siege to Ninety…Six； in which Lieut。 Col。 Cruger
commanded a garrison of five hundred men； and defended himself with
energy and ability。 On the right of the besiegers was a strong stockade fort；
and on the left a work called the Star redoubt。 On the night of the 26th of
May； the celebrated Kosciusko； who acted at that time as an engineer for
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Life of Marion。
Greene； raised two block batteries within three hundred and fifty yards of
the besieged。 Soon after a third and a fourth were erected； and lastly a rifle
battery within thirty yards of the ditch of the fort。 The abbatis was turned；
and two trenches and a mine were extended within six feet of the ditch。
The fort must soon have been taken； but Lord Rawdon was approaching
fast to the relief of the garrison； with two thousand men； which he had
lately received from Ireland； （18th June） and Gen。 Greene was obliged to
raise the siege and retreat over the Saluda。 His loss before the fort was
about one hundred and fifty men。 Lord Rawdon followed the Americans；
as far as the Ennoree； but finding the pursuit fruitless； he drew off a part of
the garrison from Ninety…Six； and fixed a detachment of his army at the
Congaree。 Gen。 Greene； finding the British force divided； faced about and
offered Lord Rawdon battle； but he； in his turn； retreated to Orangeburgh。
About the beginning of July； in this year； Lord Rawdon still lay in
Orangeburgh； strongly posted； and Gen。 Greene was near； watching his
motions。 While thus situated； Col。 Cruger evacuated his post at Ninety…Six；
and marching down through the fork of Edisto； joined Rawdon。 As there
was no other place at which the Edisto could then be passed but at
Orangeburgh； it was out of Greene's power to prevent the junction； and
Rawdon's army being thus reinforced； Gen。 Greene thought it prudent to
retire to Bloom hill； Richardson's plantation； at the High Hills of Santee。
Before retiring； however； he detached Gen。 Sumter as commander； and
ordered Marion to join him； to strike at the posts below。 On his way down；
Sumter made several successful attacks on British outposts； which were
conducted more immediately by Col。 Lee and Col。 Wade Hampton。
Generals Sumter and Marion formed a junction near Biggen； and marched
to attack the fort there； garrisoned by five hundred infantry and one
hundred cavalry； and commanded by Col。 Coates； a spirited officer。 His
cavalry at first repulsed Sumter's advance； but were driven in by the state
troops under Col。 Hampton。 In the evening after； Col。 Coates set fire to the
church； which contained all his heavy baggage and stores； and retreating
by the Strawberry road over Watboo bridge； destroyed it； and thus gained a
considerable advance upon Sumter； who had to march round by a ford in
pursuit。 Coates； in like manner； threw the plank off Huger's bridge； and
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Life of Marion。
proceeded rapidly for Quimby。 Here he had loosened the planks of the
bridge； and was waiting for his rear guard； but； in the mean time； Lee had
come up with and taken it。 Dr。 Irvine； by advancing too far among the
combatants； was wounded in this affair；* together with several of Lee's
men。 While Coates was waiting； Capt。 Armstrong； at the head of five of
his own men； and Capt。 James M‘Caulay's troop of militia horse crossed
the bridge and charged in among the enemy； who at first threw down their
arms； but seeing the force so small； soon resumed them； and began to fire；
but Armstrong made good his way through them down the road。 In the
mean while； the passage of the cavalry over the bridge had opened such a
chasm** in the plank； that Lee coul