124 Life of Count Rumford. 



leave England for a return to America to serve with his regi- 

 ment. He had intended to land at New York, but contrary 

 winds compelled him to disembark at Charleston [South Carolina]. 

 Obliged to pass the winter there, he was made commander of 

 the remains of the cavalry in the royal army which was then 

 under the orders of Lieutenant-General Leslie. This corps 

 was broken up, and he promptly restored it and won the 

 confidence and attachment of the commander. He led them 

 often against the enemy, and was always successful in his 

 enterprises. 



" That which is called good fortune and success in war is 

 achieved amid many scenes deeply saddening for a kind heart. 

 The sort of engagements to which he was drawn multiplied 

 these harrowing scenes. It was a war of posts and a civil war 

 at the same time. So there was much of danger and fatigue 

 with little glory, and the spectacle of a people reduced to 

 desolation and despair. Such was his position at that time. I 

 have seen his eyes filled with tears when he told me certain 

 anecdotes relating to those times and to his military career. A 

 German painter has undertaken to represent one of these scenes, 

 which makes one shudder, and which I have not now heart or 

 time to describe to you." 



Pictet would seem in this last sentence to refer to 

 some picture shown him by his friend, then Count 

 Rumford, drawn by description and narrative furnished 

 by the latter to some German artist. I have been the 

 more ready to quote the sentiment which the Swiss 

 friend connects with his statement of facts, because, 

 though it may be a little overstrained, I should be glad 

 to believe that the larger part of it was to be credited 

 to Pictet's informant. There were indeed some pe- 

 culiarly sad and harrowing circumstances connected with 

 the desultory warfare in our Southern Provinces; but 

 I have not been able to identify Colonel Thompson as 

 an actor in, or even as a spectator of, many of them. 



