“Ay, lad, that is what I think he will do. Francis ever believed that in warfare the weaker army should be constantly the aggressor so far as possible, and he is, if I mistake not, now simply carrying out his own theory as to how it may be possible for raw recruits, who love their country, to worst a superior force.” I was by no means averse to aiding in such a plan; but it appeared to me that if we were thus to ride to and fro over the country, alternately fighting and running away, the chances of recruiting the ranks of the Minute Boys would be slight indeed. I had counted that we might be able to go here and there where we knew certain lads lived, and thus enlist them; but it looked just then as if our party of five was to constitute the entire strength of the Minute Boys of South Carolina. Shortly before the expiration of the time set for the halt, General Marion and Captain Horry returned, and when next we advanced it was in the direction they had scouted. We rode at a fairly good pace until arriving at the road leading from Georgetown to Nelson’s Ferry, and then I began to have an inkling of what was our purpose in this section of the country. It is well known that the “war-path” from Charleston to Camden crosses the Santee River at Nelson’s Ferry, and there above all other places would one who was eager for fight be likely to get his fill. In order to avoid dwelling too long on what others may consider unimportant details, I have said nothing regarding this day’s march, but must set down the fact that more than once during the ride had we learned from white men and negroes who remained true to the Cause, additional particulars concerning the blunder of General Gates, and before arriving at the Georgetown road we understood beyond a peradventure that the story told by Seth Hastings was only untrue in so far as it did not contain all the disaster which had befallen the American army. Now we knew how many prisoners had been taken during the much-to-be-regretted engagement, and, what was more to the purpose, learned that our unfortunate countrymen were being sent as rapidly as possible from the scene of the one-sided conflict to Charleston. While we were riding along the highway, Gabriel, Archie, and I side by side with the two Marshall boys, and old Peter directly in our rear, a sudden thought came to my mind, and turning in the saddle, I asked: “Are you lads well acquainted with the country hereabout?” and Edward Marshall replied: “It is as familiar as our own plantation.” “Then tell me, if those troopers whom we stirred up last night did not recover courage sufficient to come back in search of us, where would they be most like to go?” “Nelson’s Ferry is the only place I can think of as at all likely.” “You are hitting the truth closely,” Gabriel said as if it were possible to read my thoughts. “But of what was I thinking?” I asked laughingly. “As to why we are going to Nelson’s Ferry.”