This information was not kept secret from the men. In fact, during such time as I had the good fortune to serve under Francis Marion, I never knew him to conceal from his force, whether it was much or small, the true condition of affairs. Therefore no one was surprised at hearing that we had a long march before us. Captain Horry stated openly that our destination would be Hope Mountain, where it was believed we could not only hold our own against those whom we had every reason to believe were to come in pursuit, but would be in a district where was every reason to believe we might find men who had more of blood in their veins than those whom Colonel Wemyss had driven like cattle down from Camden. While we were getting breakfast and feeding the horses, a messenger was despatched to Snow’s Island to give information there as to our movements, and also instruct those left in charge of the camp to bring whatsoever of stores and ammunition might be readily transported to the new encampment. Then we were ordered to make ready for the march within reasonable time, and as our people brought out food from their wallets to break their fast, those faint-hearted prisoners who dared not stand up like men because my Lord Clinton had sent out his bombastic proclamations far and near urged that we share with them our scanty allowance of food, thus giving me the keen satisfaction of telling one of that weak-kneed crowd how I would serve out those who refused to stand up for themselves. “Whatsoever I have shall ever be shared with those who are serving the Cause,” I said, and no doubt spoke to my elders in a way unbecoming a lad, “but when men who do not dare to brave the threats of those who serve the king, ask for food, I would deny it them even though they were starving, and I had of such abundance that I knew not what disposition to make of it.” Some of the hungry cowards laughed at me, but that did not dispel the satisfaction which was mine at thus having an opportunity of giving free words to the angry thoughts which had been mine since the moment they failed to respond to the commander’s request. The “ragged regiment” was on the march before the sun was two hours high, we Minute Boys riding side by side, as may be supposed, and it was only natural that we should speak of the events of the previous night.