anies, under Col. Hugh Horry, were sent to the
right, and the cavalry to the left, to support the attack, Marion
himself bringing up the reserve. It so happened, however, that the
Tories had taken the alarm, and having withdrawn from the house, had
chosen a strong position in an old field near it. Here they encountered
Horry's command, on the advance, with a fire equally severe and
unexpected. The effect was that of a surprise upon the assailants.
Horry's troops fell back in confusion, but were promptly rallied and
brought to the charge. The battle was obstinate and bloody, but the
appearance of the corps under Waties, suddenly, in the rear of the
Tories, soon brought it to a close. Finding themselves between two
fires, the enemy gave way in all directions, and fled for refuge to the
neighboring swamp of Black Mingo. So warmly contested was this affair,
that, though soon over, fully one third of the men brought into the
field were put 'hors de combat'. The loss of Marion was proportionably
very considerable. Captain Logan was among his slain; and Captain Mouzon
and Lieut. Scott so severely wounded as to be unfit for future service.
The force of the Tories was almost twice as great as that of the Whigs.
They lost their commander, and left nearly half their number, killed and
wounded, on the ground. But for the alarm given by the tread of Marion's
horses, while crossing the neighboring bridge, the Tories would most
probably have been surprised. At any rate, the affair would have been
settled without subjecting the brigade to the severe loss which it
sustained. After this event Marion adopted the precaution, whenever
about to cross a bridge by night, with an enemy near, to cover the
planks with the blankets of his men. But he generally preferred fords,
where they could possibly be had, to bridges.

* See ante, pp. 50-52 [End of Chapter 4].--

This victory was very complete. Many of the Tories came in, and joined
the ranks of the conqueror. Those who did not, were quite too much
confounded to show much impatience in taking up arms against him. His
uniform successes, whenever he struck, had already strongly impressed
the imaginations of the people. His name was already the rallying word
throughout the country. To join Marion, to be one of Marion's men,
was the duty which the grandsire imposed upon the lad, and to the
performance of which, throwing aside his crutch, he led the way.

We have already shown why the force