We Minute Boys were greatly perplexed immediately all this was made known, for if the troopers were to break camp then would our plan for capturing Seth Hastings come to naught, although Archie boldly declared we had the right, under all the circumstances, to separate ourselves from the “ragged regiment,” if such should be our desire, and the pity of it is, as I look back now, that we did not listen more attentively to his advice. We were yet discussing this information when some of the troopers who had been sent out as scouts returned, bringing word that a large number of Britishers were on the road from Camden, evidently destined for Georgetown. It had not been possible to discover what troops these might be, but, taken in connection with the information already received, they were probably a portion, if not the whole, of Tarleton’s Legion. This therefore confirmed the news already received. Immediately our people set about making ready for a move without waiting for word or command, because the reply which the general gave to those who told him of Tarleton’s purpose was sufficient to show his intention. Of course, had we lads been long enough in the service to realize better what a soldier’s duties are, there would have been no question in our minds as to what must be done, but as it was, holding ourselves as an independent command, and believing it remained with our leader to say whether he would obey orders of the general or not, a discussion arose as to what we should do. Seeing that Gabriel was pained because we had even the slightest idea of breaking away from his brother, I did not take any very great part in the discussion, which at one time seemed about to terminate in favor of Archie Gordon’s proposition, which was that our sole duty should be to find the lad who would have worked us so much harm. However, Gabriel’s prayers, for he did condescend to beg of his comrades, finally prevailed, and we agreed to do that which should have been plain before us at the outset, for, having joined General Marion’s force at our own good pleasure, we had no right to leave it for private ends. It is necessary I set down here the fact that at this time, when we were making ready to march toward Tarleton lest he should have difficulty in finding us, the “ragged regiment” increased wondrously in size. It is not possible to state the exact number of men comprising it, but I should say we were not less than six hundred strong, all mounted and well armed, thanks to Colonel Tyne’s stores, and with a fairly good supply of ammunition. Because we had not as yet been repulsed, but had found it much the same as child’s play to take possession of any encampment we chanced upon, our people were confident we could successfully cope with a force two or three times as large as our own. Therefore were we overconfident, which is sometimes as much of a crime as cowardice.