ge on the east side. The gaol, a strong brick building of two
stories, not inferior to a strong redoubt, with some other buildings,
commanded the approach. "The crown of the hill on which it stood, was
sufficiently spacious for manoeuvering the whole British army, and the
houses and fences afforded shelter against all attempts of the American
cavalry or mounted militia," while, in case of defeat, the bridge in
their rear afforded as secure means of retreat. An attempt upon such
a position, with a force consisting chiefly of mounted infantry, would
have been folly, and Greene, after a brief demonstration, determined to
withdraw one half of his army towards the Congaree, while the other was
sent forward upon that memorable incursion into the lower country, by
which the enemy, from all quarters, were driven into Charleston; and,
with the exception of the force at Orangeburg, for a brief period, every
vestige of British power was swept away, down to the very gates of the
former place. The command of this detachment was given to Sumter. Acting
under him, were Marion, Lee, the Hamptons, Taylor, Horry, Mayham, and
others of those active partisans who had kept alive the war from the
beginning. The command consisted of all the State troops, Lee's legion,
and a detachment of artillery, with one field piece; in all about a
thousand men. The object of this movement was not only to strike at the
British line of posts, but to divert the attention of Rawdon from the
Congaree, where it was his policy to re-establish himself in force.

The force under Sumter, as it approached the scene of operations,
was broken into separate detachments. Dorchester was yielded without
resistance to the corps under Lee, while Col. Wade Hampton, pressing
to the very lines of Charleston, captured the guard and patrol at the
Quarter House, and spread terror through the city. Sumter and Marion
then proceeded against the post at Biggin, held by Col. Coates of
the British army, a spirited officer, with a garrison of five hundred
infantry, one hundred and fifty horse, and one piece of artillery. The
post at Biggin consisted of a redoubt at Monk's Corner, and the church,
about a mile distant, near Biggin Bridge. This church was a strong brick
building, which covered the bridge, and secured the retreat at that
point, by way of Monk's Corner. Biggin Creek is one of many streams
which empty into Cooper river. Of these, it is the most northwardly. On
the east of this