n a blaze. McPherson immediately ordered a party
to the roof, but this had been prepared for, and the fire of the
six-pounder soon drove the soldiers down. The flames began to rage,
the besiegers were on the alert, guarding every passage, and no longer
hopeful of Rawdon, McPherson hung out the white flag imploring mercy.
The gentle nature of Marion readily yielded to his prayer, though, as
Lee tells us, "policy commanded death."

In this siege Marion lost two brave fellows, one of whom has been more
than once conspicuous in this narrative--the daring Sergeant McDonald,
and Lieutenant Cruger. McDonald had reached a lieutenancy before he
fell. The prisoners were paroled, but their officers before leaving
partook of a sumptuous dinner given by Mrs. Motte to the victors. This
noble lady, whose grace of demeanor is represented as quite equal to
her patriotism, presided at her table, in such a manner as to render all
parties at home. Col. P. Horry tells us of some of the incidents which
took place at the dinner. A captain of the British army, taken among the
prisoners, on finding himself near Horry, said to him:

"You are Col. Horry, I presume, sir." Horry answered in the affirmative.
"Well," said the other, "I was with Col. Watson when he on Sampit fought
your General Marion. I think I saw you there with a party of horse. I
think you were also at Nelson's Ferry, when Marion surprised our party
at the house? But," added the officer, "I was hid in high grass and
escaped. Were you not there also?" Horry answered, "No! It was my
brother Hugh." "Well," said the captain, "YOU were fortunate in your
escape [at Sampit] for Watson and Small had 1200 men." "If so," said
Horry, "I certainly was fortunate, for I did not suppose they had more
than half that number." The captain then added--"I consider myself
equally fortunate in escaping at Nelson's old field." "Truly, you were,"
answered Horry drily; "for Marion had but 30 militia on that occasion."
"At this," says our worthy Colonel, "the captain's countenance fell, and
he retired, and avoided me the rest of the day. General Greene, the
next day (Greene had reached Marion's camp that night) said to me, 'Col.
Horry, how came you to affront Capt. Ferguson?' I answered, he affronted
himself by telling his own story. It militated so greatly against
himself as to compel the officers who were near to laugh. The captain
and I, sir, agreed that we were both equally fortunate in war. Greene
re