red
prisoners had fallen into his hands. Such tidings only mocked his own
disaster. He could only, in reply, relate his own irretrievable defeat,
point to his fugitives, and counsel Sumter to immediate retreat from
his triumphant and now returning enemy. Unhappily, ignorant of Gates'
disaster, and of a bold, incautious temper, Sumter was approaching,
rather than hastening from, danger. His flight, when he did retire, was
not sufficiently rapid, nor sufficiently prudent. He was one of
those men who too quickly feel themselves secure. He was surprised by
Tarleton, but two days after, his troops utterly dispersed, he, too, a
fugitive like Gates, with all the fruits of his late victory taken from
his grasp. In almost every instance where the Americans suffered defeat,
the misfortune was due to a want of proper caution--an unobservance of
some of the simplest rules of military prudence. In a brilliant sortie,
a manful charge, a sudden onslaught, no troops could have surpassed
them--nay, we find as many examples of the sternest powers of human
endurance, under the severest trials of firmness, in their military
history, as in that of any other people. But to secure what they
had won--to be consistently firm--always on their guard and beyond
surprise,--were lessons which they were slow to acquire--which they
learned at last only under the heaviest penalties of blood. Marion was
one of the few Captains of American militia, that never suffered himself
to be taken napping.

* As farm-yards are becoming rare, it may benefit future
readers to know that this proverb is almost certainly,
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."--A. L., 1996.--

Chapter 8.

Organization of "Marion's Brigade"--Surprise of Tories
under Gainey--Defeat of Barfield--Capture of British
Guard with Prisoners at Nelson's Ferry.

The people of Williamsburg, by whom Marion was summoned from the camp
of Gates, were sprung generally from Irish parentage. They inherited,
in common with all the descendants of the Irish in America, a hearty
detestation of the English name and authority. This feeling rendered
them excellent patriots and daring soldiers, wherever the British Lion
was the object of hostility. Those of whom we are now to speak, the
people of Williamsburg, were men generally of fearless courage, powerful
frame, well-strung nerves, and an audacious gallantry that led them
to delight in dangers, even where the