into Black river, the other into Sampit, completely
insulates the town, which stands on the north side of the latter river
near its junction with Winyaw bay. Over the creek which empties into
the Sampit, there is a bridge, two miles from Georgetown. In the rear of
these swamps, Marion concealed himself with the main body of his
force, sending out two parties to reconnoitre. One of these parties was
commanded by Col. P. Horry, the other by Capt. Melton. These officers
both encountered the enemy, but they were not both equally fortunate in
the result. Horry may be allowed to tell his own story. "I was sent,"
he writes, "by Gen. Marion to reconnoitre Georgetown. I proceeded with
a guide through the woods all night. At the dawn of day, I drew near the
town. I laid an ambuscade, with thirty men and three officers, near the
road. About sunrise a chair appeared with two ladies escorted by two
British officers. I was ready in advance with an officer to cut them
off, but reflecting that they might escape, and alarm the town, which
would prevent my taking greater numbers, I desisted. The officers and
chair halted very near me, but soon the chair went on, and the officers
gallopped in retrograde into the town. Our party continued in ambush,
until 10 o'clock A.M.

"Nothing appearing, and men and horses having eaten nothing for
thirty-six hours, we were hungered, and retired to a plantation of my
quarter-master's, a Mr. White, not far distant. There a curious scene
took place. As soon as I entered the house... four ladies appeared, two
of whom were Mrs. White and her daughter. I was asked what I wanted. I
answered, food, refreshment. The other two ladies were those whom I had
seen escorted by the British officers. They seemed greatly agitated,
and begged most earnestly that I would go away, for the family was very
poor, had no provisions of any sort,--that I knew that they were Whigs,
and surely would not add to their distress. So pressing were they for my
immediately leaving the plantation, that I thought they had more in
view than they pretended. I kept my eye on Mrs. White, and saw she had
a smiling countenance, but said nothing. Soon she left the room, and I
left it also and went into the piazza, laid my cap, sword and pistols
on the long bench, and walked the piazza;--when I discovered Mrs. White
behind the house chimney beckoning me. I got to her undiscovered by the
young ladies, when she said: 'Colonel Horry, be on your guard