ome dozen horns of the
harshest tones, and with the most ear-piercing discord, kept up an
incessant braying, until the alarmed echoes were startled from a
thousand points amongst the hills. In spite of the commands of officers,
straggling shots of salutation were fired, and loud greetings of
individual acquaintances were exchanged from either ranks, as the
approaching body filed across the whole front of the drawn-up line. When
this ceremony was over, Colonel Cleveland rode up to the little group
of officers who awaited his report, and, after a long and hearty
welcome, announced his command to consist of three hundred and fifty
stout hearts, ready and tried friends to the issues of the war.

The force of the confederates, by this accession, now amounted to about
fourteen hundred men. It became necessary, at this juncture, to give to
these separate bands a more compact character, and with that view it was
indispensable that the command of the whole should be committed to one
of the present leaders. In the difficulty and delicacy of selecting an
individual for this duty, the common opinion inclined to the propriety
of submitting the appointment to General Gates. A messenger was
accordingly despatched on that night, to repair to the American
head-quarters at Hillsborough, to present this subject to the attention
of the General. In the meantime, Shelby, whose claim, perhaps, to the
honor of leading the expedition was most worthy of consideration, with
that patriotic and noble postponement of self which occurs so frequently
in the history of the men of the Revolution, himself suggested the
expediency of conferring the command upon his friend Campbell, until the
pleasure of Gates should be known. The suggestion was heartily adopted,
and Colonel William Campbell was accordingly, from this moment, the
chosen leader of our gallant and efficient little army.

On the following day the troops were in motion at an early
hour--designing to advance, with a steady pace, towards Gilbert-town,
and thence on the track of the enemy across the border into South
Carolina. In the course of the forenoon, the vanguard were met by a
small body of horsemen, whose travel-worn plight and haggard aspects
showed that they had lately been engaged in severe service. They were
now in quest of the very party whom they had thus fortunately
encountered upon the march; and it was with a lively demonstration of
joy that they now rode with the officer of the