nd this victory was of the last
importance to the Americans. It would have involved the loss of one
entire British regiment, at a moment when, two others having been
required at New York from South Carolina, the force remaining with
Rawdon would have been barely adequate to the retention of Charleston.
This necessity would have withdrawn the latter general at once from
Orangeburg, and the subsequent bloody battle of Eutaw would have been
averted accordingly. Greene, speaking of this combat, writes:--"The
affair was clever, but by no means equal to what it ought to have been.
The whole regiment of six hundred men would have been captured, if
General Sumter had not detailed too much, and had not mistaken a
covering party for an attack." It may be added, that the party actually
engaged in the attack on Coates, were almost exclusively South Carolina
militia. Under favorite leaders they had betrayed no such apprehensions
as are natural enough to men who lack confidence in themselves and
captains. They had shown the courage of veterans, though they may have
failed of that entire success which is usually supposed to follow from a
veteran experience.

Chapter 16.

Marion moves secretly to Pon-Pon--Rescues Col. Harden--
Defeats Major Frazier at Parker's Ferry--Joins the main
Army under Greene--Battle of Eutaw.

After the battle of Quinby the joint forces of Sumter and Marion were
separated. The former retired up the Congaree; the latter took charge of
the country on the Santee; while Greene placed himself in a camp of
rest at the High Hills in the district which has since taken the name
of Sumter. His troops were in a wretched state of incapacity, in
consequence of sickness. The region to which he retired was famous for
its salubrity, and the intense heat of the season effectually forbade
much military activity. The opposing generals were content to watch
each other. It was while he held this position that Col. Hayne, of the
militia, was executed as a traitor by the British. The case of this
gentleman was that of many in the State. He had taken parole at a time
when the country was overrun by the enemy. This parole was subsequently
withdrawn by the conquerors, when they supposed the people to have been
subdued, and desired their services as militia. But the British were in
turn driven from the field. The Americans acquired the ascendant.
The section of the country in which Hayne resided was overrun by