llowers, though it furnished reasons for the greatest
circumspection. At this moment Marion's was the only body of American
troops in the State, openly opposed to the triumphant progress of the
British. The Continentals were dispersed or captured; the Virginia and
North Carolina militia scattered to the four winds; Sumter's legion cut
up by Tarleton, and he himself a fugitive, fearless and active still,
but as yet seeking, rather than commanding, a force. Though small and
seemingly insignificant, the force of Marion had shown what might be
done, with the spirit and the personnel of the country, under competent
leaders. The cruelties of the British, who subjected the vanquished
to the worst treatment of war, helped his endeavors. Shortly after the
victory over Gates, Lord Cornwallis addressed an order to the British
commandants at the several posts throughout the country, of which the
following are extracts:

"I have given orders that all of the inhabitants of this province who
have subscribed, and have taken part in this revolt, should be punished
with the greatest rigor; and also those who will not turn out, that
they may be imprisoned and their whole property taken from them or
destroyed.... I have ordered in the most positive manner that every
militia man, who has borne arms with us, and afterwards joined the
enemy, shall be immediately hanged!"

This gentleman has been called, by some of the American writers, the
"amiable Cornwallis". It is rather difficult to say for which of his
qualities this dulcet epithet was bestowed. The preceding may well
justify us in the doubt we venture to express, whether it was not given
as much in mockery as compliment. But, lest his commands should not
be understood, as not sufficiently explicit, his Lordship proceeded
to furnish examples of his meaning, which left his desires beyond
reasonable question. Immediately after his return to Camden, he stained
the laurels of his recent victory, and celebrated his triumph over
Gates, by hanging some twelve or fifteen wretched prisoners, old men and
boys, who were only suspected of treachery to the royal cause. Similar
barbarities were practised by subordinate officers, emulative of
this example of their superior, or in obedience to his orders. But,
fortunately for the country, even this brutality, which was intended
to alarm the fears of the people, and do that which the arts of their
conqueror had failed to effect, was not productive of th