42 



lost nt tliis Race, and Flimnap sold at public vendue the same day for 

 £300 sterling. 



"At the Races I saw a fine collection of excellent though very high 

 priced horses, and was let a little into the ' singular art and mystery of 

 the Turf.' " 



In reference to the horses of South Carolina, Hewitt also observes in 

 his work, (2d vol. p. 303) published in 1779 : 



"The horses of the country, though hardy and serviceable animals, 

 made little figure, and therefore, to improve the breed, many have been, 

 of late years, imported from England. The planters being fond of fine 

 hoi'ses, have been at great pains to raise them, so that they now have 

 plenty, of an excellent kind, both for the carriage and the Turf." 



Wars, and rumors of wars, now began to have their effect upon the 

 popular pastimes of the Carolinians. The independence of the country 

 having been declared, no event of interest on the Turf occurred for 

 many years. Not only were all the horses thrown out of training, but 

 on the appearance of Lord Cornwallis' army in the low country, they 

 were either used as chargers by those who had taken up arms in the de- 

 fence of the country, or they were hid in the swamps, adjoining the dif- 

 ferent plantations on which they were bred, to prevent them from being 

 carried off by the British. Several anecdotes, illustrative of the times 

 which " tried men's souls," have been communicated to me, not inappro- 

 priate to my subject. 



At the close of the year 1784 the American army, under Gen. Greene, 

 moved into the lower country, to protect their provisions for the winter, 

 acting wholly on the defensive. The British troops, at the same time, 

 retreated either within their fortifications in Charleston, or its vicinity. 

 Lord Cornwallis had an encampment at Silk Hope, in St. Thomas' Par- 

 ish, for some time, whilst Gen. Marion, with his gallant brigade, kept 

 hovering around, watching the movements of the enemy from the 

 neighboring swamps. 



As both armies lay encamped, comparatively inactive, the incursions 

 of the British soldiery, upon the adjoining plantations, were productive 

 of great distress and annoyance. Of those who were well disposed to 

 the American cause, there were few who had not their houses and plan- 

 tations repeatedly visited and rifled. The will of the strongest was the 

 only law recognized. Listigated by the love of plunder, the most wan- 

 ton dejn'edarions were committed. Delicate females were frequently 

 obliged, at the dead of night, to abandon their homes, and fly to the 

 ■woods and swamps to escape insult. These outrages, however, were not 



