gies
to the reduction of Ninety-Six, giving orders at the same time, for
General Sumter to remain in the country south and west of the Congaree,
so as to cut off all communication between Lord Rawdon, who was at
Charleston awaiting reinforcements from England, and Colonel Cruger,
who was in command at Ninety-Six.

Day after day the siege of Ninety-Six went on, the Americans slowly
approaching the fort by a series of works constructed under the
superintendence of Kosciusko, and Cruger still holding out in
expectations of reinforcements from Charleston, although not a single
word of intelligence from Lord Rawdon had reached him since the
investment of the post which he held with so much bravery and
perseverance.

On the 3d of June, the long-expected reinforcement from England reached
Lord Rawdon, and on the 7th he started for the relief of Colonel Cruger
with a portion of three Irish regiments, and was joined soon after by
the South Carolina royalists, swelling his force to two thousand men.
But all his efforts to transmit intelligence of his approach to the
beleaguered garrison at Ninety-Six proved unavailing. His messengers
were intercepted by Sumter and Marion, who held possession of the
intermediate region.

On the 11th of June, General Greene received intelligence from General
Sumter of the approach of Rawdon. Directing Sumter to keep in front of
the enemy, he reinforced him with all his cavalry under
Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, and urged him to use every means in his
power to delay the advancing British army, until he should be able to
complete the investment of the fort at Ninety-Six, and compel it to
surrender. Then with renewed diligence he pressed the siege, hoping to
obtain a capitulation before Colonel Cruger should receive news of the
approaching succour, and thus break up, with the exception of
Charleston, the last rallying point of the enemy in South Carolina. But
the commander of the fort was ever on the alert to make good his
defences and to annoy and retard the besiegers in every possible way;
and, though ignorant of the near approach of aid, he would listen to no
overtures for a capitulation.

One evening, while affairs retained this aspect, a countryman rode
along the American lines, conversing familiarly with the officers and
soldiers on duty. No particular notice was taken of this, as, from the
beginning of the siege, the friends of our cause were permitted to
enter the camp and go wherever