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calmly on the gibbet。 The character of Balfour was already so black there
was scarcely room for an additional blot； but the execution of Col。 Hayne
must ever continue a stain upon the reputation of Lord Rawdon。 He had
not even the excuse that it was the law of the conqueror； for Lord
Cornwallis and himself were conquerors no more。
* These St。 Augustine friends； were sixty…two influential characters；
citizens of Charleston； whom Lord Cornwallis； soon after the town
surrendered； had ordered to be sent and imprisoned at St。 Augustine；
contrary to the terms of the capitulation。 ** Vatt。 B。1。C。13。 S。170…2。
Montesq。 B。6。C。3。
The two hostile armies still lay encamped and watching each other in
the positions before mentioned； at Bloomhill and M‘Cord's ferry； but
about the beginning of September； Gen。 Greene； for the want of boats；
marched up the Wateree and crossed it not far below Camden；* and
marching down through the fork between the two rivers； passed the
Congaree at Howell's ferry and encamped at Motte's plantation； on a direct
route to meet the enemy； who had been encamped but a short distance
below him。
* It is believed； at English's ferry； nine miles below Camden。
Here he received intelligence that the British army commanded by
Brigadier Gen。 Stewart* had retreated and halted at the Eutaw Spring；
about forty miles below； that they had been reinforced there； and were
about to establish a permanent post。 To prevent this； he determined to risk
a battle； though his force was thought to be inferior。 Accordingly he sent
back his baggage to Howell's ferry； and proceeded by easy marches to
Burdell's plantation seven miles from Eutaw； where he was joined by Gen。
Marion。 Gen。 Stewart had posted himself to great advantage at Eutaw； his
head quarters were in a strong brick house； which stood at that time a little
to the west of the spring or rather fountain。 In his rear； to the south； there
was an open field； in his front a thick wood covered with pines and
scrubby oaks。 Below the fountain on his right there was a deep valley；
through which the Eutaw creek； five or six feet deep； takes its course
towards the north…east。 Between the fountain and the brick house the
Congaree road passes to the north。
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Life of Marion。
* Col。 Doyle gives him that title in a letter hereafter noticed。
It was down this road Gen。 Greene marched to attack the British army；
on the memorable 8th of September； 1781。 The effective force of each
army was nearly equal； except the cavalry； in which Greene would have
had the advantage； if the nature of the ground had permitted the use of it；
for none of the ground was then open； and particularly on his left it was
covered by scrubby oaks。 While moving down the road in the morning
with much circumspection； Col。 Lee in advance met a party which covered
another that was foraging。 Several of these were killed； and their captain
and forty men taken。 Pressing forward； Lee soon met another party； with
whom another action commenced； and he requested the support of artillery
to counteract that of the enemy； which had now opened。 Two field pieces
were quickly brought up by Capt。 Gaines； and began to fire。
During this firing both armies formed。 The South Carolina militia
under Marion； and the North Carolina under Col。 Malmedy occupied the
first line； the South Carolinians on the right。 The continentals formed the
second line。 The Virginians under Col。 Campbell； occupied the right。 Gen。
Sumner with the North Carolina new levied troops； the centre； and the
Marylanders； under Cols。 Williams and Howard； the left； on the
Charleston road。 Lee had charge of the right； and Henderson of the left
flank； with their cavalry。 Two field pieces were disposed in the front and
two in the rear line。 Washington's horse and Kirkwood's infantry formed
the reserve。
The enemy was drawn up in one line； the Buffs on the right； Cruger's
corps in the centre； and the 63d and 64th on the left。 Major Marjoribanks
with one battalion of light infantry was posted on the Eutaw creek；
flanking the Buffs； and the cavalry under Major Coffin were drawn up in
the open field in the rear； these were not numerous。 The artillery were
posted on the Charleston road and the one leading to Roach's plantation。
The action commenced about a mile from the fountain。 Marion and
Pickens continued to advance and fire； but the North Carolina militia
broke at the third round。 Sumner with the new raised troops； then
occupied their place； and behaved gallantly。 Marion's marksmen firing
with great precision； and galling the enemy greatly； had now advanced
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Life of Marion。
more than half a mile； when the British charged upon them with fixed
bayonets； and Marion ordered a retreat。 The Virginia and Maryland troops
now advanced with trailed arms； and scarcely had Marion cleared the right
of the Virginians； when the crash of bayonets was heard。 But by degrees it
receded； and becoming less and less audible； a loud shout of huzza for
America！ told the issue of the contest。 Gen。 Marion now rallied his men。
Col。 Henderson of the South Carolina state troops was wounded early in
the action； and the command devolved on Col。 Wade Hampton； who made
a spirited charge； but being warmly received； Col。 Washington brought up
the reserve to his aid； and at first charged so briskly that the enemy gave
way； but advancing into the thickest part of the woods； Marjoribanks came
to the assistance of the Buffs； Washington's horse was killed under him；
and he was wounded and taken。 After this； and the loss of many officers
and men； the corps was drawn off by Capt。 Parsons。 Marjoribanks though
victorious on the right； now fell back to assist Stewart； and Major
Sheridan with the New York volunteers； threw himself into the brick house。
Stewart was busily engaged in rallying his men