ehensible, had allowed the Tory bands who had enlisted under his
banner, to gratify their own thirst of blood in the most revolting
barbarities. Towards Butler, however, he demeaned himself with more
consideration--and sometimes even extended to him such little courtesies
as might be indulged without risk to the principal purpose of his safe
custody. A separate room was provided for the prisoner, and he was
allowed the occasional services of Harry Winter and the other companions
of his late misfortune. Still, the familiar scenes of suffering and
death which Butler was constrained to witness amongst his compatriots,
and the consciousness of his own inability to avert these calamities,
greatly weighed upon his spirits. His persuasion, too, that Ferguson was
now aiding, by what seemed to be a most effectual participation, in the
plan for the capture of Clarke, and his belief that this blow would
sadly afflict, if not altogether dishearten the friends of independence
in the South, added to his private grief. He knew nothing of the
mustering of the mountaineers, and saw no hope of extrication from the
difficulties that threatened to overwhelm his cause.

Such was the condition of Butler during the first four or five days of
his captivity at Gilbert-town. At the end of this period, circumstances
occurred to raise in his bosom the most lively excitement. Suddenly, an
order was issued for the immediate movement of the army southwards--and
the prisoners were directed to accompany the march. It was apparent that
information of importance had been received, and that some decisive
event was at hand. When, in pursuance of this command, the troops were
marshalled for their journey, and Butler was stationed in the column,
along with all the other prisoners of the post, he was startled to
observe the dragoon, James Curry, appear in the ranks, as one regularly
attached to the corps. Butler had seen nor heard nothing of this man
since he had parted from him at Blackstock's after the battle of
Musgrove's mill; and his conviction, that, acting under the control of
some higher authority, this individual had been the principal agent in
his present misfortunes, gave him a painful anxiety in regard to the
future. This anxiety was far from being diminished, when he now
discovered that the same person, with a party of dragoons, was specially
intrusted with his guardianship. Winter and the other troopers who had,
until this moment, been allowed to