On the 12th May Charleston surrendered to General Clinton, who thereupon prepared to return to New York. But first he sent three expeditions up three different rivers to the interior to pursue the advantages gained by the surrender. Of these three, one, under Lord Cornwallis, was ordered to cross the Santee River and pursue a large train of American stores and ammunition which, under the command of Colonel Burford, was retreating in all haste by the north-east bank towards North Carolina. Accordingly, on the 18th May, Cornwallis with a mixed force [Sidenote: 1780.] of 2500 men, including Tarleton’s legion and the Seventeenth, marched off and crossed the Santee in boats at Lanew’s Ferry. The legion and Seventeenth were then at once detached to Georgetown to clear the left flank of Cornwallis’s line of march, while the main body pursued its way up the river to Nelson’s Ferry. Having rejoined Cornwallis at that point on the 27th, Tarleton was detached once more with 40 men of the Seventeenth, 130 of the legion dragoons, 100 mounted infantry, and a three-pounder field-gun, to follow Burford by forced marches. So intense was the heat that many both of the men and of the horses broke down; but by dint of impressing fresh horses on the road the little column reached Camden (sixty miles distant as the crow flies) on the following day. There Tarleton learned that Burford was still far ahead of him, having left Rugeley’s Mills (twenty miles as the crow flies beyond Camden) on the 26th. Moreover, American reinforcements were on the march to join him from North Carolina, and both columns were making all haste to effect a junction. Seeing that such junction must at all hazards be prevented, Tarleton started off again at 2 A.M. on the 29th, reached Rugeley’s Mills at daylight, and there [Sidenote: 29th May.] obtained information of Burford still in retreat twenty miles ahead of him. In the hope of delaying him Tarleton sent him a message, wherein he exaggerated the strength of his force, to summon him to surrender. But Burford was too cunning either to pause or to surrender; so there was nothing for Tarleton to do but to leave his three-pounder behind and press on with his weary men and horses as best he could. At last at three in the afternoon the British advanced parties came up with Burford’s rear-guard, captured five men, and forced Burford to turn and fight. His force was 380 infantry, a detachment of cavalry, and 2 guns. The British had started but 300 strong, had marched a hundred and five miles in fifty-four hours, and had perforce left some men behind them on the way. Tarleton divided his little party into three columns, whereof the men of the Seventeenth, under Captain Talbot, formed the centre, and attacked at once. [Sidenote: 1780.] The Americans reserved their fire till the cavalry was within ten yards of them, but failed to check the charge of the British, who galloped straight into the middle of them and did fearful execution.