and boys, some white and others black. Their wretched clothing gained for them the name of "the ragged regiment", and led the proud Gates, who had just been appointed to the command of the southern department, to disperse with their services in the regular army, and send them to the interior of Carolina. Though Gates was ashamed of "the ragged regiment", their gallant leader was not. Increasing their number from time to time, as circumstances allowed, he achieved with their aid a series of minor though brilliant victories. Still Cornwallis remained master of South Carolina. Camden [see Map, p. 286] was his principal rendezvous in the upper country, and thither the tories flocked. Meanwhile the American army just alluded to was slowly approaching. Its command had been intrusted to the veteran De Kalb; but, towards the end of July, Gen. Gates superseded De Kalb by the appointment of Congress. Elated by his former success, Gates resolved to strike a decisive blow, and pushed rapidly on, though his men were suffering much from sickness and scarcity of food. As he advanced, the British outposts fell back on Camden; and by the middle of August the two armies lay encamped within a short distance of each other, ready for battle. 376. The hopes of southern patriots were revived by the news of Gates' approach. A number of farmers, hunters, and others, who were tired of the British yoke, quickly appeared in the field; and Sumter, who was called to their command, soon found himself at the head of 600 men. With these he dispersed several bodies of the enemy near the Great Pe-dee'. On the 6th of August, he attacked a large detachment at Hanging Rock. The powder used on this occasion was saved by the heroism of two women. It had been Marion's "ragged regiment". What did Gates think of it? What did it enable Marion to achieve? To what place did the tories flock? What was the American army doing? Who commanded it? What did Gates resolve to do? On what place did the British outposts fall back? What was the position of the armies at the middle of August? 376. What effect had Gates' approach on the southern patriots? What partisan leader Look the command? Where did Sumter operate with success? [See Map, p. 286.— Where is the Great Pedee? Where is Camden? On what river is Hanging Rock?] On the 6th of August, what did Sumter do? How was his powder saved from the Brit 1780] BATTLE OF HANGING ROCK. 273 stored in a house occupied by Mrs. Thomas with her daughter and son-in-law, which was attacked by a party of the enemy. Aware that Sumter's army would be powerless if the ammunition were taken, they determined to defend it to the last extremity. The doors were barricaded. The two women loaded guns, and the son-in-law discharged them with such rapidity and effect, that the British supposed a body of men to be posted there, and gave up the attack. The powder was saved, but there was only enough to afford each man two charges. With this small allowance, the battle of Hanging Rock was commenced. Fortunately the tories fled early in the action, and the ammunition they left behind enabled Sumter's men to repel the bayonets of the British. Nothing but the arrival of reinforcements saved the latter from total defeat. Among the boys who began a brave career under Sumter in the battle of Hanging Rock, was Andrew Jackson, not yet fourteen years of age. He and his brother were soon afterwards captured, but in the spring of 1781 they were set free by an exchange of prisoners. Both were sick with smallpox at the time; Andrew survived, his brother died. The account they gave of the sufferings of their countrymen on the prison-ships in Charleston harbor induced their widowed mother, with a few other intrepid women, to visit them, at the risk of insult and danger, with food, clothing, and medicine. Having contracted the fatal prison fever on board one of the ships, Mrs. Jackson died on her return, a short distance from Charleston, a martyr to the heroic spirit which animated the daughters of Carolina in "the times that tried men's souls". The young Andrew, thus left without a single relative in the land of his birth, devoted much of his life from this time to the service of his country, who afterwards rewarded his fidelity with the highest office in her gift. 377. Sumter's success, added to the intelligence of Gates' rapid approach, alarmed Cornwallis, and he hastened from ish? How many charges did each man have? How was a further supply obtained? How did the battle of Hanging Rock terminate? Who began a brave career at Hanging Rock? How old was he? What befell Andrew Jackson and his brother? Give an Charleston to Camden to take command of the army, which had been left under Lord Rawdon. Eight hundred men were too sick to take the field. A still larger number in the American ranks were unfit for service from the same cause; so that, after sending the sick with his extra stores and luggage to Waxhaws, Gates found he had but 3,663 men in his camp. With this force drawn up in order of battle, at ten o'clock on the night of August 15 [1780], he set out in profound silence, in the hope of surprising the enemy. By a singular coincidence, Cornwallis had formed the same design; and about the time that Gates marched for Camden, he left his quarters to surprise the American camp. Neither party was aware of the other's movements; and, at two on the morning of the 16th, much to their surprise, the hostile forces met. The discovery was made on both sides at the same moment, and firing immediately commenced. The interval till daylight was employed in preparing for a general engagement. Hardly had the battle begun, when part of the American militia, quailing before the terrible fire to which they were exposed, threw down their arms and fled. In vain the regulars nobly seconded the efforts of the intrepid De Kalb; they were forced to give way before the superior discipline of the British regiments. Tarleton's cavalry completed the rout, and strewed the road for miles with dying and dead. The defeat at Camden cost the Americans great quantities of stores, and nearly 2,000 men, killed, wounded, and captured. De Kalb, the friend of La Fayette and fellowsufferer with Washington at Valley Forge, fell in the battle, pierced with eleven wounds, and died a prisoner three days afterwards. A lieutenant, who threw his arms round his commander to save him from the bayonets of the foe, was himself mortally wounded. Forty-five years after the death of De Kalb, a monument was erected to his memory at Camden, the corner-stone of which was laid by La Fayette. account of their mother's fate. 377. Who took command of the British army at Camden? How many of Cornwallis's men were unfit for service? How large a force had Gates? Where did Gates send his sick? What was his plan of operations on the 15th of August? What was contemplated by Cornwallis? Under what circumstances did the hostile armies meet? What followed? Give an account of the battle of Camden. 1780] DEPRECIATION OF CONTINENTAL MONEY. 275 Gates was unable to rally his men. Over dreary miles of swamp and pine-barrens they held their flight. Many who had before been wavering, now hastened to show their devotion to the king and secure a share of the spoils by joining in the pursuit. At last, harassed and exhausted, the remnants of the defeated army found refuge in Charlotte, N. C.; and there, after a time, Gates was superseded by Gen. Greene, 378. Carolina was now completely at the mercy of the British. Sumter, after capturing some stores at Wa-ter-ee' Ford, was surprised by the active Tarleton, and lost most of his men. Marion retired to his forest fastnesses, but was still the scourge of hostile parties, on whom he fell when they deemed themselves most secure. For a time this gallant partisan and his men were the only active defenders of American liberty in the south. 379. During the year 1780, Congress was continually hampered in its action by a want of money. At the commencement of the war, the feeble colonies, having no funds at command, had been obliged to issue bills of credit, for the payment of which they pledged the public faith. The cause of liberty required constant advances; and in 1780 it was found that no less than $200,000,000 of continental money (as it was called) was in circulation. At first the bills passed at par, that is for the full sum which they promised to pay; but, as Congress kept issuing large amounts, which they could not redeem with gold or silver, people would not take them, except at a great discount, or allowance. Thus, in April, 1780, one silver dollar was worth forty in continental bills; and soon afterwards no less than $75 in bills was given for one in specie. A pair of boots at this time sold for $600 continental money. To injure still more the credit of Congress, the British flooded the country What did this defeat cost the Americans? What able general fell? Where has a monument been erected to De Kalb's memory? Describe the retreat of the American army. Where did the remnants of the army assemble? Who superseded Gates? 378. What befell Sumter? Who for a time was the sole defender of the American cause in Carolina? 879. Describe the financial difficulties of Congress. At last how much continental money was in circulation? For what did the bills originally pass? What caused them to become less valuable? To what extent did they depreciate? What means did the with counterfeit bills, which it was impossible to distinguish from those that were genuine. At last no one would take continental money on any terms; those who had it on hand were plunged in the greatest distress, and all business was paralyzed. In this desperate state of affairs, a few noblehearted patriots stepped forward to the relief of their suffer. ing country. Robert Morris, with the aid of some influential fellow-citizens, established a bank in Philadelphia, which was found so useful that Congress pledged the faith of the United States to sustain it, and in 1781 established the bank of North America on the same basis, intrusting Mr. Morris with its management. 380. The noble efforts of the women of our country must not be forgotten. Wishing to do all in their power for the holy cause, they organized societies and made up large quantities of clothing with their own hands for the suffering soldiers. Particularly was this done in Philadelphia, where Dr. Franklin's daughter and the wife of Gen. Joseph Reed took a prominent part in the movement. No less than $7,500 worth of clothing was thus contributed; and many a needy and ragged soldier invoked a blessing on the tender-hearted women of the dear land for which he fought, when he was enabled, through their labors, to exchange his tattered garments for a warm and comfortable suit. CHAPTER XVII. ARNOLD'S TREACHERY.-BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 381. THE British attempted little in the north during 1780; and the condition of Washington's army prevented him from acting on the offensive. Notwithstanding the re British take to injure the credit of Congress? What was the result? Who came forward to the aid of Congress? How were the difficulties in question for a time relieved? 380. How did the women of America contribute to the relief of the soldiers? Where, In particular, was this done? $81. What is said of operations in the north during 1780? What hampered Wash |