l the guns should come up with
him. Six days he stayed there, and then the British commander decided to
attack him without further delay.

The prison yard would have given a good view of the battle but for a
board fence which had lately been built on top of the wall. Andrew
looked everywhere for a crack in the boards, but could find none. He
managed, however, during the night to cut a hole with an old razor blade
which had been given the prisoners to serve as a meat knife. Through
this hole he saw something of the battle next day, and described what he
saw to the men in the yard below him.

The Americans were not expecting the British attack. When the British
general led out his nine hundred men early in the morning the Americans
were scattered over the hill, washing their clothes, cleaning their
guns, cooking, and playing cards. Andrew saw the enemy steal about the
base of the hill. There was no way in which he could warn his
countrymen. He saw the British steal up the hill, and break suddenly on
the surprised soldiers. The colonials rushed for their arms, fell into
line, met the charge. The American horse dashed upon the British rear,
and a cheer went up from the waiting prisoners. Then the British made a
second charge, and this time carried men and horses before them, down
the slope and out into the plain. The Americans ceased firing, and
finally broke in full retreat. The prisoners were in more wretched state
than they had been before.

After the battle Andrew's spirits sank to the lowest ebb. He fell ill
with the first symptoms of the dreaded smallpox. His brother was in even
worse condition. The wound in his head had not healed, as it had never
been properly treated. He also was ill, and it seemed as though both
boys were about to fall victims to the plague.

Fortunately, at this great crisis, help suddenly appeared. Their devoted
mother learned of the boys' state, and went by herself to Camden to see
if she could not procure a transfer of prisoners. She saw the British
general, and arranged that he should free her two sons and five of her
neighbors in return for thirteen British soldiers who had been recently
captured by a Waxhaw captain. The boys were set free, and joined their
mother. She was shocked to find them so changed by hunger, illness, and
wounds. Robert could not stand, and Andrew was little better off. They
were free, however, at last, and Mrs. Jackson planned to get them home
as soon as possible.