determined upon a
different mode of managing his enemy, and resorted to a stratagem,
which, subsequently, he frequently made use of. Putting a select party
of his men in ambush near the Blue Savannah, he feigned retreat with
another, and thus beguiled his enemy from his strong position. The
result accorded with his wishes. Barfield followed and fell into the
snare. The defeat was equally complete with that of Gainey.

The conduct and skill, in managing his raw militia-men, which these two
achievements displayed, naturally inspired his followers with confidence
in themselves and their leader. They produced a corresponding effect
upon the people of the country, and were productive of no small
annoyance to the Tories, who were thus suddenly reminded that there
might be retribution for crime even when sheltered under the dragon
folds of England. Another benefit from these occurrences was in better
providing the brigade with some of the proper weapons and munitions of
war.

Among the recent captures of Marion were two old field-pieces. Returning
to Port's Ferry, he threw up a redoubt on the east bank of the Pedee,
upon which he mounted them. He seldom troubled himself with such heavy
baggage, and probably disposed of them in this way, quite as much to
disencumber himself of them, as with any such motive, as was alleged,
when placing them in battery, of overawing the Tories by their presence.
Movements of so rapid a kind, and so frequently made as his, requiring
equal dispatch and secrecy, forbade the use of artillery; and he
very well knew, that, to employ men for the maintenance of isolated
posts--such posts as he could establish,--would have no other effect
than to expose his brigade to the chances of being cut up in detail.

On the 17th August, the day following the defeat of Gates,--of which
event he was as yet wholly ignorant--he dispatched Col. Peter Horry,
with orders to take command of four companies, Bonneau's, Mitchell's,
Benson's and Lenud's, near Georgetown, on the Santee; to destroy all the
boats and canoes on the river from the lower ferry to Lenud's--to break
up and stop all communications with Charleston, and to procure, if
possible, supplies of gunpowder, flints and bullets. "Twenty-five weight
of gunpowder, ball or buckshot," is the language of his orders. This
will show how scanty were the supplies which were to be procured of the
material upon which everything depended. Marion frequently went into
acti