The regiment appears to have been in garrison during the remainder of this year; and in January, 1781, it was ordered to proceed to Fort Ninety-Six, which place was then besieged by the Americans; but when on the march, the regiment received orders to join a body of troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, and march against General Morgan, who was posted at Pacolet with a strong division of the American army. "The progress of the King's troops was greatly impeded by heavy rains, which swelled the rivers and creeks; yet Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton conducted his march so well, and got so near to General Morgan (who was retreating before him), as to make it dangerous for him to pass the Broad-River, and came up with him at eight o'clock A.M. on the 17th of January, at a place called _Cow-Pens_. The attack was begun by the first line of infantry, consisting of the SEVENTH regiment, the infantry of the legion, and the corps of light infantry annexed to it: a troop of cavalry was placed on each flank: the first battalion of the seventy-first, and the remainder of the cavalry, formed the reserve. The enemy's line soon gave way, and their militia quitted the field; but our troops having been thrown into some disorder by the pursuit, General Morgan's corps faced about and gave them a heavy fire: this unexpected event occasioned the utmost confusion in the first line. The two three-pounders were taken, and I fear the colours of the SEVENTH regiment shared the same fate."[14] In this unfortunate engagement the Royal Fusiliers sustained a very serious loss in killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. [Sidenote: 1782] [Sidenote: 1783] The regiment was subsequently placed in garrison in South Carolina, where it remained until 1782; when, the British Government having been induced to concede the independence of the United States, pacific overtures were made, which were succeeded by a cessation of hostilities. South Carolina was evacuated, and the ROYAL FUSILIERS proceeded to New York, where they remained until the conclusion of the treaty of peace in 1783, when they returned to England; at the same time the establishment was reduced to eight companies. [Sidenote: 1784] [Sidenote: 1785] [Sidenote: 1786] After occupying quarters at Gloucester and Plymouth, the regiment proceeded to Scotland in the spring of 1786. [Sidenote: 1788] [Sidenote: 1789] On the decease of General Prescott in the autumn of 1788, the colonelcy was conferred on Major-General the Honourable William Gordon, who was removed in April, 1789, to the seventy-first regiment, and the colonelcy of the ROYAL FUSILIERS was conferred on PRINCE EDWARD (fourth son of King George III.), afterwards DUKE OF KENT. [Sidenote: 1790] In 1790 the regiment embarked from Leith and the Isle of Man for Gibraltar, and, arriving at that important fortress in August, occupied the King's barracks, under the command of its colonel, His Royal Highness PRINCE EDWARD. [Sidenote: 1791] [Sidenote: 1792]