NARRATIVE OF AN 



however, proving to be a falfe alarm, by a Hag ruHiing 

 out through the foliage, we foon rofe, and after marching 

 the whole day through water and mire, at three in the 

 afternoon encamped on a high ridge, where not a drop 

 of water was to be found till we had dug a hole for that 

 purpofe, and this was fo very thick and muddy, that we 

 were obliged to ftrain it through our neckcloths or lliirt- 

 jQeeves before we could drink it. Here I was once more 

 accofted by the Lieutenant Colonel, who invited me to 

 feme fupper in his hut, and treated me upon the whole 

 with fuch very great civility as I could not account for 

 after his former behaviour. 



On the fucceeding day we marched again, keeping 

 courfe W. and N. W. with very heavy rain, while I 

 had the rear-guard ; and once more entered on a quag- 

 mire, which cofl me three hours time to bring up the 

 rear to the beach, this march being particularly diftref- 

 ling, as the negro flaves, with their burdens, broke 

 through the furface every moment, while the loaded 

 marines had enough to do to mind themfelves, and I 

 too weak by my late lofs of blood to afford them any af- 

 fiftance whatever. At laft, approaching the beach, I per- 

 ceived the dead bodies of feveral rebel negroes fcattered 

 on the ground, with their heads and right-hands chopped 

 off. Thefe bodies being frelh, induced me to conclude^ 

 that they muft have been very lately killed, in fome en- 

 gagement with the troops and rangers ftationed on the 

 Pirica river.—And here I muft again remark, that had I 

 n been 



