44 



but unsuccessfully, the negroes remaining faithful to their charge. The 

 horses were led out, on the approach of the enemy, and concealed in the 

 swamps. One n:iorning a detachment from the British camp seized one 

 of the stable boys, and tried, by every possible artifice, and promises of 

 rich rewards, to make him point out the spot where the horses were con- 

 cealed, particularly Flimnap, but nothing could extort the secret from 

 him. At lengtli they threatened to hang him, and did actually suspend 

 him from the limb of a tree before the house. They then retired, leav- 

 ing him for dead. As soon as they were gone one of the servants about 

 the house ran out and cut him down. Life was found not to be extinct, 

 and he was, after assiduous care and attention, resuscitated. 



As soon as it was considered safe to venture through the country, a 

 trusty groom belonging to Major Harleston, removed Flimnap into 

 North Carolina, where he continued until South Carolina got rid of her 

 invaders. 



Some time subsequent to the above occurrence, another search was 

 made for the horses by a detachment of British troops. The party, 

 however, was, on this occasion, defeated by the timely appearance of an 

 American force. After a skirmish, in which Major Harleston himself, 

 the owner of the horses, then in the continental army, under (Jeneral 

 Greene, was engaged, the British soldiery retreated. On reporting at 

 their head quarters the unsuccessful issue of the day, a Col. Campbell, 

 who, for his furious, violent conduct, was nicknamed " Crazy Campbell," 

 vowed immediate vengeance, and that he would kill, burn, and destroy 

 every thing on the place. The negroes gave the alarm that Crazy 

 Campbell was coming in great fury, and vowing vengeance. The ladies 

 were in the greatest alarm. Panic seized the negroes, and they scat- 

 tered in every direction. 



Now it liad fortunately happened, previously to the ladies of the fam- 

 ily retiring into the country, that one of them, at the house of a tory 

 relative in Charleston, who was in the constant habit of entertaining the 

 British officers, by balls and dinners, had met, among others, this very 

 officer. Col. Campbell, and he had manifested, on many occasions, a 

 marked interest in her. She immediately bethought her of this ac- 

 quaintance, and resolved to turn it to the best possible account. As 

 Col. Campbell rode up the avenue, she went out to meet him. The mo- 

 ment that lie saw her his purpose seemed changed ; his countenance as- 

 sumed a smile, he waved his troops back, sprang from his horse, forbade 

 his soldiers doing any injury, walked into the house, made a long and a 

 pleasant visit, and finally took leave of the family in the kindest and 

 most friendly manner. 



