We were about midway from where the last halt had been made and the British camp, which was set up in true military order, with tents in abundance and sentinels posted properly, when our commander gave the word for us to make ready for opening fire. “See to it that every shot counts!” he cried, now that the redcoats could be seen pouring out from their tents like so many wasps from their nest. “If we can strike a sufficiently heavy blow at first, the work is done before having been fairly begun, therefore look well to your aim.” We were less than half a musket-shot distant when the word to fire was given, and by this time the surprised soldiers were gathered in a dense mass, as if awaiting the word to form into line, and he who would have failed to hit a target must have shot wild indeed. The effect of this first volley was that men fell by scores, one bullet most like wounding several, and the officers had not yet buckled on their finery to receive us according to the British ideas of warfare, when we were riding directly upon the soldiers, who would have fought bravely enough had they stood in proper alignment according to their training. It was with these disciplined soldiers as it had been with those we had previously encountered; they were bewildered, frightened by what one of them afterward called our “unsoldierly attack.” Had we been sufficiently polite to give them due warning that they might have formed in rank to receive us, then indeed had we been wiped out as one snuffs a candle. Or perchance, if the officers had had time to show themselves in proper uniform, then might the result have been different, but as it was we rode straight through them, many leaping into the stream to wade or swim across as best they might, while others took to the woods on the right, and the greater number fled before us, an undisciplined, terrified mob. We gave them three volleys as we rode on in pursuit for half a mile, the Minute Boys cheering wildly because they had, as was indeed the fact, ridden in the forefront of that stampede, and then to my surprise came the word to halt. While we were yet aquiver with the excitement of the sudden dash and unexpected victory, came the order to wheel about, and at full speed, as if bent on retreating at the very instant he was victorious, General Marion led us at our swiftest pace back to the encampment. Here we found about a hundred and fifty prisoners, some of whom, when their guards fled, began searching for weapons dropped by the redcoats in their flight, and at the same time taking good care to secure one or more horses.