Nor could the Britishers make a move toward separating me from the lifeless body of him who had killed the bravest lad that ever lived among us, for at that moment our people made a charge straight through the encampment, and we who a moment before had been prisoners were left to our own devices. I know nothing whatsoever of that which followed. Rage and grief had kindly deprived me of my senses, and I was spared the knowledge, for the time being, that our adventure, from which we hoped so much, was come to naught within ten minutes after our dear lad’s murder. * * * * * Even now, after we have seen a new nation spring into existence, having had a hand in the making of it--after we are enjoying the repose which follows a well-earned victory, my heart is too sore because of that dastardly blow struck by the cur, Seth Hastings, to permit of my setting down that which the Minute Boys did when Gabriel Marion was no longer with us. Much against my will, the lads made me their leader, and before the struggle for independence was come to a glorious end, the company numbered a hundred strong. Therefore do I see another reason why I should leave to some one else the task of depicting what we did in aid of the Cause before the king was ready to sue for peace. Hence it is that I shall copy down here the account of our movements in the Carolinas, after that day when Gabriel left us forever in this world, as it has been written by one whose trade it is to write the history of our country, only adding to his words the explanation that the Minute Boys of South Carolina remained under command of Francis Marion until the united Colonies were acknowledged as a free nation by all the rulers of the world: “After his discomfiture at Georgetown, Marion retired to Snow’s Island, where he fixed his camp and secured it by such works of art as the absence of natural defences required. Because of the murder of the general’s brother, the battle cry of the ragged regiment ever was, ‘No quarter for Tories!’ “From Snow’s Island Marion sent out his scouts in every direction, and there he planned some of his boldest expeditions. Reinforcements came, and at the close of 1780, Marion was strong enough to confront any British detachments then abroad from headquarters.