Balfour justify their cruel execution of Colonel Hayne, and it will be difficult to calculate the number of miserable wretches who have fallen sacrifices to the same relentless spirit; nor are the mandates of Lord Rawdon less sanguinary, as will appear by the following specimen.

Extract of a letter to Colonel Rugely, commanding the British militia, near Camden.

"If attachment to their sovereign will not move the country people to check a crime so disastrous to the service, desertion, it must be my care to urge them to their duty, as good subjects, by using invariable severity against every one who shall show so criminal a neglect of the public interest. If any person meet a soldier, straggling without a written pass beyond the picquets, and shall not do his utmost to secure him, or shall not spread an alarm for this purpose, or if any person shall give shelter to soldiers straggling as above mentioned, or shall serve them as a guide, or shall furnish them with passes, or any other assistance, the persons so offending may assure themselves of rigorous punishment, as by whipping, imprisonment, or by being sent to serve in the West Indies, according as I shall think the degree of criminality may require; for I have ordered that every soldier who passes the picquet, shall submit himself to be examined, by any militia man who has a suspicion of him. If a soldier, therefore, attempts to escape, when ordered by a militia man to stop, he is immediately to be fired on as a deserter. I will give ten guineas for the head of any deserter belonging to the volunteers of Ireland, and five guineas only if he be brought alive."

But the strong measures which they pursued to crush the rebellion has produced a contrary effect, and lighted a flame which rages with tenfold violence, and which will eventually afford an essential aid in the establishment of our Independence.

For some months previous to the capture of Cornwallis, and while his army was traversing the states of the Carolinas and Virginia, he was opposed by the Marquis de la Fayette with an inferior force. His Lordship having received a reinforcement, was so confident of success against his opponent, that he unguardedly wrote in a letter, which was afterwards intercepted," the boy cannot escape me;" but he was disappointed in his sanguine expectations. Cornwallis at one time formed a plan to surprize the Marquis while on the same side of James river with himself, but the attempt was prevented by the following incident. The Marquis, unapprized of the particular situation of his opponent, contrived to send into his camp, a spy to obtain intelligence. A soldier belonging to New Jersey, by the name of Charles Morgan, generally called Charley, agreed to undertake this hazardous service; but insisted that, in case he should be discovered and hanged, the Marquis, to secure his reputation, should have it inserted in the New Jersey paper, that he was employed in the service of his commander. Having reached the royal camp, he was soon introduced into his Lordship's presence, who inquired the reason of his deserting. Charley replied, "that he had been in the continental service from the beginning, and while under Washington he was well satisfied; but being now commanded by a Frenchman he was displeased with it and had quitted the service." His Lordship commended and rewarded him for his conduct, and Charley soon commenced the double duty of soldier under the English commander, and a spy in the employment of the Marquis, without suspicion. Lord Cornwallis, while in conversation with several of his officers, inquired of Charley, how long a time it would take for the Marquis to cross James river? pausing a moment, he replied, "three hours, my Lord." His Lordship exclaimed, "three hours! it will take three days." "No, my Lord," said Charley, "the Marquis has

such a number of boats, and each boat will carry so many men; if you will please to calculate, you will find he can pass in three hours." His Lordship turning to the officers said, "the scheme will not do." After having obtained the information required, Morgan began to prepare for a return to the Marquis, and he prevailed with several British soldiers to desert with him. When challenged by the sentinels, he artfully tampered with them by giving them rum, and while drinking he seized their arms and then compelled them to go, and this brave fellow actually brought off seven deserters to our camp. On his return to head quarters, the Marquis accosted him with "well Charley, have you got back ?" "Yes, please your Excellency, and have brought seven men with me." Having communicated his information, the Marquis offered to reward him, but he declined receiving money, and when it was proposed to promote him to a corporal or sergeant, he replied, "I have ability to discharge the duties of a commom soldier, and my character stands fair, but should I be promoted, I may fail, and lose my reputation." He, however, requested that his destitute comrades who came with him, might be furnished with shoes and clothing, which was readily granted.

A warm action took place early in September, between General Greene and the main body of the royal army, under Colonel Stuart, at Eutaw springs. Though inferior in force, General Greene sought the enemy and made a furious attack; the battle became general and continued four hours, it was the hottest, and the most bloody, for the numbers engaged, that General Greene ever witnessed; many of the officers combated sword to sword, and the soldiers rushing together, with the point of the bayonet contended with increased rage and effort, for life, for blood and carnage. A party of the enemy possessed themselves of a three story brick house and a picketed garden, which gave them considerable advantage,

and saved their army from a total rout. In a charge which decided the fate of the day in our favor, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, of the Virginia line, who with undaunted firmness was leading on his brigade, received a mortal wound, and on being informed that the enemy were flying in all quarters said, "I die contented." Lieutenant Colonel Washington had his horse killed under him, was wounded and taken prisoner. The American loss is not less than sixty commissioned officers killed and wounded, one hundred and thirty rank and file killed, and three hundred and forty wounded or missing. The loss on the side of the British is supposed to be fully equal in point of numbers, excepting in officers, and five hundred men including seventy wounded which were left, were the next day made prisoners by our army. Victory is claimed by both commanders, but the consequences have proved most disastrous to the enemy, for the next day Colonel Stuart destroyed a large quantity of stores, abandoned his position, and leaving one thousand stand of arms and seventy wounded men, retired in haste towards Charleston.

31st. Our troops are now employed in embarking the artillery and stores on board of transports, and we are soon to proceed by water to the head of Elk river, on our way to the North river. Dined with General Hazen, in company with a number of officers both American and French. Here we enjoyed a profusion of mutual congratulations on our late glorious success, and this was the chief topic of conversation. Lord Cornwallis and his officers since their capitulation, have received all the civilities and hospitality which is in the power of their conquerors to bestow. General Washington, Count Rochambeau, and other general officers have frequently invited them to entertainments, and they have expressed their grateful acknowledgments in return. They cannot avoid feeling the striking contrast between the treatment which they now experience, and that

which they have bestowed on our prisoners who have unfortunately fallen into their hands. It is a dictate of humanity and benevolence after sheathing the sword, to relieve and meliorate the condition of the vanquished prisoner.

On one occasion, while in the presence of General Washington, Lord Cornwallis was standing with his head uncovered, his Excellency said to him politely, "My Lord, you had better be covered from the cold;" his Lordship applying his hand to his head replied, "it matters not, Sir, what becomes of this head now."

November 3d.-While our soldiers were loading a quantity of bombs and shot on board of transports, a shell burst, by which one man was unfortunately killed and two dangerously wounded. It is much to be lamented that these brave men, whose lives have been preserved through the dangers of the siege, should meet their adverse fate in such a manner. Orders are now received for our regiment of infantry to embark on board the Diligence, a French frigate of thirty two guns, commanded by Captain Cleoughnaugh, bound up the Chesapeake, to the head of Elk river. Major Nathan Rice commands our regi

ment.

December.-We sailed from York river on the 4th of November, and in consequence of severe storms and contrary winds, our voyage was very unpleasant and protracted to sixteen days, which has often been performed in three. Captain Cleoughnaugh and his officers were very polite and accommodating, we dined constantly at the table of the captain, and shared with him in his store of wine, &c. It happened unfortunately that a few days after we left York, four of our soldiers were seized with the small pox, and having on board about eighty men who were liable to receive the infection, they were with several officers put on the Virginia shore, to march round by land. We disembarked at the head of Elk, on the 20th of