396 Letters to the Governor and Council

July 17
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Enemys movements had given the Country such an Alarm that the
few militia in our interest were tardy in turning out. I left the Army
on the March for the Congaree and went ahead with the Cavalry to
Collect our force to the best point for operating; We got intelligence
by an intercepted letter that Col^l Stewart with a reinforcement of
400 or 500 Men was convoying a quantity of Provision & Stores
from Charles Town up to Lord Rawdon. We made a rapid March
with the whole of our Cavalry, and a body of mounted Militia under
Marian to intercept them; but unfortunately we were too late:
However Col^l Horrey took 3 of their Waggons loaded with a variety
of Stores —

On the arrival of the Enemy on the Congaree we drew our force
together at Beaver Creek, Gen^l Pickens was detached towards 96 to
watch the motions of the Enemy in that quarter — With the rest of
our force being joined by Gen^ls Sumter and Marian with about 1000
Men composed of State Troops and Militia, We began our march on
the 11^th to attack the Enemy at Orangeburg. We arrived before
the Town on the 12^th but found them so strong and advantageously
Posted that we had little hopes of succeeding, as our Cavalry from
the nature of the Ground coud not act to Advantage, nor coud we
have improved a defeat as the Enemy had a safe retreat over the
Edisto river and the only pass defended by a large British Goal equal
to any Common redoubt, in which & several other buildings they
were posted; Could we have got them out into the open Country
we could have cut them to pieces in a few minutes; but secured as
they were on one side by an empassable River, and covered on the
other by the buildings, little was to be expected from our Attack.
In this Situation we got intelligence of the evacuation of 96 & that
Col^l Cruger with the forces with him on their March in the forks
of the Edisto for Orangeburg. There was no possibility of striking
at him as the North Branch of the Edisto which lay between Us had
no other pass for 30 Miles, either above or below — then that what
the Enemy occupied. As the evacuation of 96 was one great motive
of our manouvre, and as the Enemy were driven from the Congaree
we thought it most likely by attacking their lower posts, at Monks
Corner, & Dorchester (which are nothing but Churches -occupied)
we should prevent their return to the Congaree and oblige them to
retire into the lower Country, for the Protection of those Posts.
Gen^ls Sumpter & Marian with the Legion Cavalry were detached
upon this Service and began their March from the Neighbourhood of
Orangeburg on the 13^th at which time we began our March for this
place to refresh the Army & form a Junction with Gen^l Sumner and
a body of Militia expected from Salisbury district. The day after we
left Orangebourg the Enemy formed their junction & had not made
any movements the day before yesterday.