efeat. The retreat was made
in tolerable good order, and so stern was the appearance of our regular
force, that the enemy did not think proper to press our rear, nor
continue the pursuit more than three miles. Our greatest loss is four
pieces of artillery and the field."

During the next month another ineffectual attempt was made upon Camden,
and pursuing the plan formed of allowing the actors in these scenes to
speak for themselves, we have Col. Williams' account of the efforts of
the army as follows:

"CAMP BEFORE CAMDEN, _27 April, 1781_.

"_Dear Elie_--We have been here ever since the 19th instant, and
have made several manoeuvres, upon different quarters of the
town, but have neither been able to discover advantages, that
promised success by a storm, nor to completely invest the place.
The town is flanked on the West by the Wateree, and on the East by
two deep creeks; the other quarters are strongly fortified. A
villain of a drummer went in to the enemy on the the 24th, when we
were encamped within a mile of the town, and gave them such
information of our circumstances, position and numbers, as induced
Lord Rawdon to sally with all his best troops the next morning,
about eleven o'clock.

"This was what we wished, and the only hope we had of a speedy
reduction of the post. Lieut. Col. Washington was ordered to pass
the right flank of the enemy with his cavalry, which he did, and
threw himself in their rear. Capt. Kirkwood, with two small
companies of light infantry, was behaving bravely in front, and the
picquets were doing their duty upon the flanks, when the line was
ordered to advance, and the artillery to play upon the enemy. The
first Maryland regiment particularly, was ordered to charge
bayonets, without firing, but for some cause not yet clearly
ascertained, the regiment received orders to retire and then broke.
The second regiment retired in consequence. The second Virginia
regiment was ordered off, and the first broke. The unfavorable
consequences were, that the army lost a glorious opportunity of
gaining a complete victory, taking the town, and biasing the beam
of fortune greatly in favor of our cause.

"The action was at no time very warm, but it was durable, and our
troops by the gallant exertions of our officers, were rallied
frequently, but always f