Ball, determined, however painful the
necessity, to anticipate his proceedings; and, with his usual celerity,
he laid waste the country himself; removing across the Santee to places
of safety, not only all the stock and cattle, but all the provisions,
that could be collected. They were thus saved, as well for the
subsistence of his men, as for the proprietor. Anxious to oppose himself
more actively to the enemy, he sent pressing dispatches to Greene for
assistance in covering the country. Col. Washington, with his admirable
corps of cavalry, was accordingly dispatched to his assistance. We have
seen that the commander-in-chief had proceeded in person against the
British post at Ninety-Six. To Sumter and Marion had been entrusted the
care of Rawdon. They were required to check and prevent his progress in
the event of any attempt which he might make to relieve the post. They
were unsuccessful in doing so. The arrival of a British fleet with
reinforcements, comprising three fresh regiments from Ireland, enabled
Rawdon to despise any attempts, which, with their inferior force, our
partisans might make. Some idea of the diligence of Marion and the
excellence of his plans for procuring intelligence, may be gathered from
the fact that the Charleston paper of the 2d of June, announcing the
arrival of these regiments, was in his possession the very day on which
it was printed, and transmitted instantly, through Sumter's command,
to Greene.* Greene was unsuccessful in his attempts on Ninety-Six. The
place was relieved, after an obstinate defence, by Rawdon, who, with
his new troops, by forced marches, arrived in time for its deliverance.
Greene was compelled to retreat after much sanguinary fighting. He
was pursued by Rawdon for a small distance; but the latter, contenting
himself with having rescued, withdrew the garrison, and abandoned the
place to the Americans. He was in no condition to pursue his enemy or to
maintain his position. His Irish regiments were not to be trusted,
and the maintenance of the city and the seaboard were paramount
considerations. With such active and enterprising foes as Marion and
Sumter, between his army and his garrison, he felt the insecurity of
his hold upon the country. His posts in the interior had now everywhere
fallen into the hands of the Americans. Augusta, with the three posts,
Cornwallis, Grierson and Galphin, had just been yielded to the arms of
Pickens and Lee. There were no longer any int