22 THE KOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



Duxcent's Plantation, Monday, February 25, 1782. 



SIR, I did not expect, after the affair of yesterday, the 

 enemy would so soon have put it in my power to congra- 

 tulate you upon another defeat of their troops by those 

 which you have done me the honour to put under my com- 

 mand. We had the good fortune this morning to fall in 

 with a chosen corps, under the command of General Marion 

 in person, which we attacked and totally routed, killing a 

 considerable number of them, taking sixteen prisoners, and 

 driving General Marion and the greatest part of his army 

 into the Santee, where it is probable a great many of them 

 perished. 



After resting and refreshing our horses at the plantation 

 where we halted last night, at nine o'clock this morning 

 the cavalry marched back to the Santee, to the ground 

 where we fell in with the enemy yesterday. The infantry 

 marched at the same time for this place, and we promised 

 to join them in the afternoon. 



We had advanced about nine miles from the place we 

 left in the morning, when, coming in through a gate- way 

 to the cleared grounds of a plantation, we discovered the 

 enemy about three hundred yards distant, directly in front 

 of us, drawn up in the area between the negroe huts 

 belonging to the plantation. 



As soon as the troops were formed I ordered a charge 

 to be sounded, and the line moved forwards. The enemy 

 also sounded a charge, but, instead of coming out to meet 

 us, they were discovered going off by their right in the 

 greatest hurry and confusion, and attempting to gain a 

 swamp that was upon the banks of the river on that side. 

 We immediately charged after them at full speed, and had 

 the good fortune to coine up in time to cut off a great part 

 of their rear. Those that gained the swamp were pursued, 

 and many of them were killed in attempting to get into the 

 river ? and others were shot and drowned in attempting to 



