d urging his horse to full speed, in a short time
overtook and communicated the interesting intelligence to his commander.
Lee was then meditating an attack upon Tarleton, who had crossed the Haw
River to support the insurgents; but, perceiving the vast importance of
crushing the revolt in the bud, he informed General Greene of his plan
by a confidential messenger, and hastened to the point of rendezvous,
where Pyle, with upwards of four hundred men, had already arrived. You
have heard of the bloody work that ensued. Pyle and his Tories believed
to the last that the soldiers of the Legion were Tarleton's men, and
were therefore easily surprised About three hundred of them were
killed--the rest fled or were made prisoners. I don't want to justify
such butchery; but our men ought to be excused, according to the laws of
war, when we consider that these same Tories and their red-coat friends
never gave the Whigs quarter in case of a surprise, and that some such
slaughter was necessary to make them feel that they couldn't murder
without paying for it."

[Illustration: LEE'S LEGION.]

"We've already argued that question," said Davenport, "and in my mind,
it is a settled point that Lee was right." Nobody seemed disposed to
revive the argument, and Kinnison continued.

"In this instance you see how ready Manning was to break a net or weave
one. I can tell you of another instance in which he showed his daring
courage, and quickness of resource in time of danger. At the battle of
Eutaw, after the British line had been broken, and the _Old Buffs_, a
regiment that had boasted of the extraordinary feats that they were to
perform, were running from the field, Manning, sprang forward in
pursuit, directing the platoon which he commanded, to follow him. He did
not cast an eye behind him until he found himself near a large brick
house, into which the York Volunteers, commanded by Cruger, were
retiring. The British were on all sides of him, and not an American
soldier nearer than one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards. He did
not hesitate a moment, but springing at an officer who was near him,
seized him by the collar, and exclaiming in a harsh tone of voice--'Damn
you, sir, you are my prisoner,' wrested his sword from his grasp,
dragged him by force from the house, and keeping his body as a shield of
defence from the heavy fire sustained from the windows, carried him off
without receiving any injury. Manning has often related, that