ly invested by General
Greene with the main American army in the Southern States.

About this time, a change took place in the South Carolina Regiment.
Lord Rawdon, in a letter to Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis, dated
Charlestown, June 5th, 1781, speaks of the difficulty which he has
experienced in the formation of cavalry, and goes on to say that the
inhabitants of Charlestown having subscribed 3000 guineas for a corps of
dragoons, out of compliment to those gentlemen "I have ordered the South
Carolina Regiment to be converted into cavalry, and I have the prospect
of their being mounted and completely appointed in a few days."

On the 3rd of June, Lord Rawdon had received considerable reinforcements
from England, and on the 9th he left Charlestown with about 2000 men,
including the South Carolina Regiment in its new capacity, for the
relief of Ninety-six. In their rapid progress over the whole extent of
South Carolina, through a wild country and under a burning sun, the
sufferings of the troops were severe, but they advanced with celerity to
the assistance of their comrades. On the 11th of June, General Greene
received notice of Lord Rawdon's march, and immediately sent Sumpter
with the whole of the cavalry to keep in front of the British army and
retard its progress. Lord Rawdon, however, passed Sumpter a little below
the junction of the Saluda and Broad Rivers, and that officer was never
able to regain his front.

In the meantime, the Americans were pushing hard the garrison of
Ninety-six; they were nearly reduced to extremities, and in a few days
must have surrendered; but the rapid advance of Lord Rawdon left Greene
no alternative but to storm or raise the siege. On the 18th of June, he
made a furious assault upon the place; but, after a desperate conflict
of nearly an hour, was compelled to retire. Next day he retreated,
crossing the Saluda on the 20th, and encamping at Little River.

On the morning of the 21st, Lord Rawdon arrived at Ninety-six, and the
same evening set out in pursuit of Greene, who, however, retreated; and
Rawdon, despairing of overtaking him, returned to Ninety-six. He now
found it necessary to evacuate that position and contract his posts;
and, having destroyed the works, he marched towards the Congaree. There,
on the 1st of July, while out foraging, two officers and forty dragoons
of the South Carolina Regiment were surrounded and taken prisoners by
Lee's Legion. This blow sadly crippl