The battle was on, and a lively battle it was, for a while. The rattle of the musketry and pistols was loud, and the yells of pain from the wounded British soldiers added to the din. The patriots were not injured much, because the bullets from the enemy’s weapons did not penetrate the earthworks. The British made a desperate attempt to enter the encampment and capture the patriot force, but they failed, and finally retreated, taking their dead and wounded with them. The patriots were very well satisfied with the result of the battle, but they realized that they might not be successful again, and so General Greene called a council and asked the officers if they did not think it best to begin a retreat. The officers said they favored retreating, as the British were now too strong for them, and so that evening, after supper was over and the soldiers had rested a while, they broke camp and started on the march toward the east. They marched onward till about midnight, and then they stopped and went into camp. They were far enough away from the British, so that they did not fear an attack, but there might be Indians around, though hardly in strong enough force to make much trouble. The patriots did not break camp next morning till rather late, and they had just got started, when a British force was seen approaching from the direction of Fort Ninety-Six. “They are coming in pursuit,” said General Greene. This was indeed the case, and during that day there was almost a constant exchange of shots between the British and the patriots. A large party of Indians put in an appearance, also, and aided the British in hindering the marching of the patriots as much as possible. The redskins were so good at concealing themselves behind trees that it was difficult to injure them, and they did considerable damage. That night the patriot force went into camp on the top of a knoll and made its position as strong as possible. Double the usual number of sentinels were stationed, and it would not be possible for the British to take them by surprise. The British did not make an attack that night, however, but instead encircled the encampment of the patriots, and when morning came, the patriots found that they could not proceed, unless they fought their way through the British lines. What to do was the question. If they remained, they would probably sooner or later be captured, as the British force was more than twice as strong as their own, and to try to break through the enemy’s lines would be to cause the loss of many patriot lives. It was decided, at a council, to remain on the knoll and hold the British in check as long as possible. “If we can get word to General Sumpter, he will come to our assistance,” said General Greene, and he summoned Dick Dare and asked him if he were willing to make the attempt to slip through the British lines, after nightfall, that evening, and carry a message to General Sumpter.