for fuch deferters as they might procure belonging to 1780. any other regiment. Colonel Sumpter having taken the field, a party of his corps, confifting of 133 men, engaged a detachment 12. of the British troops, and a large body of tories, commanded by capt. Huck, in the upper parts of South Carolina. The royalists were pofted in a lane, both ends of which were entered at the fame time by the Americans. They were fpeedily routed and difperfed. Col. Ferguson of the British militia, capt. Huck, and feve-> ral others were killed. This was the first advantage gained over the royal forces fince their landing in the beginning of the year. At the moment the attack was made, a number of women were on their knees vainly foliciting capt. Huck in behalf of their families and property. During his command, he in a very particular manner displayed his enmity to the prefbyterians, by burning the library and dwelling-house of their clergyman, and all bibles containing the Scotch translation of the pfalms, which is held in the highest veneration by the generality of the Scotch and Irish prefbyterians, and their defcendants, through the United States. These proceedings infpired the numerous devout people of the district with an unusual animation. They generally arranged themfelves under col. Sumpter, and opposed the British with the enthusiasm of men called upon to defend, not only their civil liberties but their holy religion. The effects of this ardor were very fenfibly felt, for the colonel was foon reinforced to the number of 600 men. No fooner did gen. Gates hear of the commencement of Sir H. Clinton's operations to the southward, but he wrote in the beginning of March to Mr. Matthews, a They fup pewter with 1789. followers were in a great measure unfurnished with arms and ammunition, and had no magazines from which they could draw a fupply. The iron tools on the neighbouring farms, were worked up for their use by common blacksmiths into rude weapons of war. plied themselves with bullets, by melting the which they were furnished by private housekeepers. When the colonel at the head of thefe volunteers penetrated into his own ftate, and re-commenced a military oppofition to the British, after it had been fufpended about fix weeks; all the indignant paffions of the royal afficers were roused against the inhabitants. Without taking any share of the blame to themselves, for their mistaken policy in conftraining men to an involuntary fubmiffion, they charged them with ftudied duplicity and treachery, and laid afide lenient measures for those that were dictated by revenge. They were further irritated, by a fufpicion that the inhabitants connived at, if not facilitated the escape of deferters who were become numerous. An apprehenfion of that kind wrought fo July upon lord Rawdon, that he threatened to punish either I. by whipping, imprisonment, or transportation to the West Indies there to ferve his majefty, any person who fhould meet a foldier ftraggling without a written pafs beyond the picquets, and not do his utmoft to fecure him; or who fhould fhelter fuch ftraggling foldiers, ferve them as a guide, or furnish them with any other affiftance. To encourage the country people in putting a ftop to desertions, he promised to give them ten guineas for the head of any deferter belonging to the volunteers of Ireland, and five guineas only if they brought him in alive; and a reward, though not to that amount, for fuch deferters as they might procure belonging to 1780. any other regiment. Colonel Sumpter having taken the field, a party of his corps, consisting of 133 men, engaged a detachment 12. of the British troops, and a large body of tories, commanded by capt. Huck, in the upper parts of South Carolina. The royalifts were pofted in a lane, both ends of which were entered at the fame time by the Americans. They were speedily routed and difperfed. Col. Ferguson of the British militia, capt. Huck, and feveral others were killed. This was the firft advantage gained over the royal forces fince their landing in the beginning of the year. At the moment the attack was made, a number of women were on their knees vainly foliciting capt. Huck in behalf of their families and property. During his command, he in a very particular manner difplayed his enmity to the prefbyterians, by burning the library and dwelling-house of their clergyman, and all bibles containing the Scotch tranflation of the pfalms, which is held in the highest veneration by the generality of the Scotch and Irish prefbyterians, and their defcendants, through the United States. These proceedings infpired the numerous devout people of the district. with an unusual animation. They generally arranged themfelves under col. Sumpter, and opposed the British with the enthusiasm of men called upon to defend, not only their civil liberties but their holy religion. The effects of this ardor were very fenfibly felt, for the colonel was foon reinforced to the number of 600 men. No fooner did gen. Gates hear of the commencement of Sir H. Clinton's operations to the fouthward, but he wrote in the beginning of March to Mr. Matthews, a with 1780. followers were in a great measure unfurnished with arms and ammunition, and had no magazines from which they could draw a fupply. The iron tools on the neighbouring farms, were worked up for their use by common blacksmiths into rude weapons of war. They fupplied themselves with bullets, by melting the pewter which they were furnished by private housekeepers. When the colonel at the head of thefe volunteers penetrated into his own ftate, and re-commenced a military oppofition to the British, after it had been fufpended about fix weeks; all the indignant paffions of the royal officers were roufed against the inhabitants. Without taking any share of the blame to themselves, for their mistaken policy in conftraining men to an involuntary fubmiffion, they charged them with studied duplicity and treachery, and laid afide lenient measures for those that were dictated by revenge. They were further irritated, by a fufpicion that the inhabitants connived at, if not facilitated the efcape of deferters who were become numerous. An apprehenfion of that kind wrought fo July upon lord Rawdon, that he threatened to punish either I. by whipping, imprisonment, or transportation to the West Indies there to ferve his majefty, any person who fhould meet a foldier ftraggling without a written pass beyond the picquets, and not do his utmoft to fecure him; or who fhould fhelter fuch ftraggling foldiers, ferve them as a guide, or furnish them with any other affistance. To encourage the country people in putting a ftop to desertions, he promised to give them ten guineas for the head of any deferter belonging to the volunteers of Ireland, and five guineas only if they brought him in alive; and a reward, though not to that amount, for such deferters as they might procure belonging to 1780. any other regiment. Colonel Sumpter having taken the field, a party of his corps, confifting of 133 men, engaged a detachment 12. of the British troops, and a large body of tories, commanded by capt. Huck, in the upper parts of South Carolina. The royalifts were pofted in a lane, both ends of which were entered at the fame time by the Americans. They were fpeedily routed and difperfed. Col. Ferguson of the British militia, capt. Huck, and feve-> ral others were killed. This was the firft advantage gained over the royal forces fince their landing in the beginning of the year. At the moment the attack was made, a number of women were on their knees vainly foliciting capt. Huck in behalf of their families and property. During his command, he in a very particular manner difplayed his enmity to the prefbyterians, by burning the library and dwelling-house of their clergyman, and all bibles containing the Scotch tranflation of the pfalms, which is held in the highest veneration by the generality of the Scotch and Irish prefbyterians, and their defcendants, through the United States. These proceedings infpired the numerous devout people of the district with an unusual animation. They generally arranged themfelves under col. Sumpter, and opposed the British with the enthusiasm of men called upon to defend, not only their civil liberties but their holy religion. The effects of this ardor were very fenfibly felt, for the colonel was foon reinforced to the number of 600 men. No fooner did gen. Gates hear of the commencement of Sir H. Clinton's operations to the fouthward, but he wrote in the beginning of March to Mr. Matthews, a |