he sixteenth, and which had early this morning reached Innis,
threw a spirit of the highest exultation into the camp. The event was
considered decisive of the fate of the rebel power; and the most
extravagant anticipations were indulged by the loyalists, in regard to
the complete subjugation of the Whigs of the southern provinces. The
work of confiscation was to be carried out to the most bitter extreme,
and the adherents of the royal government were to grow rich upon the
spoils of victory. The soldiers of Innis were permitted to give way to
uncontrolled revelry; and, from the first promulgation of the news, this
became a day devoted to rejoicings. Innis himself looked upon the
victory at Camden with more satisfaction, as it gave him reason to
believe that the sentence pronounced against Butler might be executed,
without fear of vengeance threatened against the Ensign St. Jermyn. He
was, however, exceedingly anxious to see this young officer released
from the hands of the enemy; and had determined to respect the threat
as long as there was any doubt that it might be performed. The personal
consideration of Captain St. Jermyn, his station as an officer of
importance, and, above all, the great influence of his family, in the
esteem of the royal leaders, made it an object of deep concern to Innis
to save the ensign, by the most scrupulous regard to his present
difficulties. His power to do so seemed to be much increased by the late
victory.

In the afternoon of the same day, further rumors were brought to Innis's
camp, importing that Sumpter had been attacked on that morning upon the
Catawba, by Tarleton, and completely routed. The prisoners and baggage,
taken on the fifteenth, had been regained, and Sumpter was flying with
the scattered remnant of his troops towards North Carolina. At the same
time an order was brought to Innis to break up his camp and move
northwards. This only added to the shouts and rejoicings of the troops,
and drove them into deeper excesses. The war, they thought, was coming
rapidly to an end, and they already anticipated this conclusion, by
throwing off the irksomeness of military restraint. The officers were
gathered into gossiping and convivial circles; and laughed, in
unrestrained feelings of triumph, at the posture of affairs. The private
soldiers, on their part, imitated their leaders, and formed themselves
into knots and groups, where they caroused over their cups, danced, and
sang. All was f