366 LEE COUNTY. 



unwilling to accept an office which he thought might expose 

 him to the jealousy of older officers. In 1779, the operations 

 of the enemy were directed chiefly against the more southern 

 States ; and as the post of danger was the one he always de- 

 sired, he repaired to South Carolina. At Coosawatchie, defend- 

 ing the pass with a few men against the whole of Provost's 

 army, he was wounded. Garden, in his Revolutionary 

 Anecdotes, says, " he probably was indebted for his life to 

 the gallantry of Capt. Wigg, who gave him his horse to carry 

 him from the field, when incapable of moving, his own being 

 shot under him." He headed the light infantry, and was 

 among the first to mount the British lines at Savannah. In 

 the siege of Charleston he displayed great intrepidity. In 

 1781 he was sent by Congress on a special mission to France, 

 to ask for a loan of money, and to procure military stores. 

 For his success in this business he was honoured with the 

 thanks of Congress. Upon his return, he immediately rejoin- 

 ed the American army, which was then commencing the siege 

 of Yorktown. The terms of the capitulation were arranged 

 by him, and he received with his own hand the presented 

 sword of Cornwallis. After this he repaired to South Caro- 

 lina, a portion of which was still in the possession of the enemy ; 

 and whilst leading a detachment against a foraging party 

 of the British army, near Combahee, in South Carolina, the 

 27th of August, 1782, hereceiveda wound which terminated his 

 life. His character is thus given by Allen : " Colonel Laurens, 

 uniting the talents of a great officer with the knowledge of 

 the scholar and engaging manners of the gentleman, was the 

 glory of the army and the idol of his country."* 



LEE. 



Boundaries, Extent. — Bounded on the 'N. by Sum- 

 ter, on the E. by Dooly, on the W. by Randolph, and on the S. 



* Ramsey's South Carolina. Allen's Biographical Dictionary. Garden's 

 Revolutionary Anecdotes. 



