olonel Williams, were led on
to a brisk charge, with trailed arms, through a heavy cannonade
and a shower of musket balls. Nothing could exceed the gallantry
and firmness of both officers and soldiers upon this (p. 054)
occasion. They preserved their order, and pressed on with such
unshaken resolution that they bore all before them. The enemy was
routed in all quarters. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee had, with great
address, gallantry, and good conduct, turned the enemy's left
flank, and was charging them in rear at the same time the
Virginia and Maryland troops were charging them in front. A most
valuable officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Hampton, who commanded the
State cavalry, and who fortunately succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel
Henderson in command, charged a party of the enemy, and took
upwards of one hundred prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel Washington
brought up the corps of reserve upon the left, where the enemy
seemed disposed to make further resistance, and charged them so
briskly with the cavalry and Captain Kirkwood's infantry as gave
them no time to rally or form. Lieutenant-Colonels Polk and
Middleton, who commanded the State infantry, were no less
conspicuous for their good conduct than their intrepidity; and
the troops under their command gave a specimen of what may be
expected from men, naturally brave, when improved by proper
discipline. Captain-Lieutenant Gaines, who commanded the
three-pounders with the front line, did great execution until his
pieces were dismounted. We kept close at the enemy's heels after
they broke, until we got into their camp, and a great number of
prisoners were continually falling into our hands, and some
hundreds of the fugitives ran off toward Charleston. But a party
threw themselves into a large three-story brick house, which
stands near the spring; others took post in a picqueted garden,
while others were lodged in an impenetrable thicket, consisting
of a cragged shrub called a blackjack. Thus secured in front, and
upon the right by the house and a deep ravine, upon the left by
the picqueted garden and in the impenetrable shrubs, and the rear
also being secured by the springs and deep hollow ways, the enemy
renewed the action. Every exertion was made to dislodge them.
Lieutenant-Colonel Washington made most