528 SUMTER COUNTY. 



Here he was attacked by Col. Wemyss ; but so gallantly did 

 Sumter defend his position, that the British fled, leaving their 

 commander in the hands of the Americans. 



Col. Wemyss had rendered himself very obnoxious to the 

 Americans by his cruelties. In addition to many offences 

 of the same character, a memorandum of the houses and es- 

 tates he was yet to destroy was found upon his person. This 

 was shown to Sumter, but he, with the magnanimity becom- 

 ing a hero, threw the paper into the 'fire, and would permit no 

 injury to be inflicted upon the British ofiicer. After this ac- 

 tion, he crossed Broad river, and being joined by an addi- 

 tional force, he prepared to attempt the British post at Ninety- 

 Six ; but hearing of the approach of Tarlton, he changed his 

 movements, and took up his position at the house of Black- 

 stock, where he was attacked by the British ; but a well 

 directed fire from the Americans forced him to give up the 

 assault. In this engagement 192 of the enemy were left on 

 the field, of whom 92 were slain, and the rest wounded. The 

 loss of the Americans was almost nominal. General Sumter 

 received a ball through the breast near the shoulder, which 

 for a long time rendered him unfit for service. Congress ac- 

 knowledged his services by a vote of thanks. 



In the early part of 1781, he again took the field, and made 

 a rapid movement towards Fort Granby, and succeeded in 

 destroying its magazines, and the very next day he surprised 

 an escort convoying wagons of stores from Charleston to Cam- 

 den, slew thirteen of the escort, and made sixty-six prisoners. 

 Not long after this he was attacked by Major Fraser, near Cam- 

 den ; but that officer got the worst in the conflict, making off" 

 with the loss of twenty men. Receiving a letter from General 

 Greene, requesting him to do all in his power towards break- 

 ing up the British communication, Sumter was already in 

 the field, sweeping the country lying between the Broad, Sa- 

 luda, and Wateree rivers. 



On the 10th of May, he took the British post, at Orange- 

 burgh, with its garrison, consisting of 100 men, and all its 

 stores. About this time Gen. Sumter, embroiled in a dispute 

 with Col. Lee, sent his commission to Gen. Greene, whom he 

 thought improperly partial to Lee. This was returned with 



