The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Col. Marion to General Gates, dated White marsh, Bladen county, Sept. 15.

"On the 3d instant, I had advice that upwards of 200 tories intended to attack me the next day. I immediately marched with 53 men, which was all I could get, on the 4th in the morning I surprised a party of 45 men, which I mistook for the main body of the enemy; I killed and wounded all but fifteen, which escaped. I then marched immediately to attack the main body, which I met about three miles, in full march towards me; I directly attacked them, and put them to flight (though they had 200 men) when they got into a swamp, impassable to all but tories. I had one man wounded in the first action, 3 in the second, and two horses killed; and finding it impossible to come at them, I retreated to camp. The next day I was informed they all dispersed. On the 15th I was joined by about 60 men; I then threw up a small redoubt, to secure my camp from being surprised by the tories, should they again collect. On the 17th I crossed Pedee and Lynch's creek, with 100 men (and left 50 to secure my camp and the river) to attack a party of regulars and militia, said to be 120, which were in Williamsburg township, burning all the houses of three men who had joined me. When I got to Indian town, Captain James, who I had sent to reconnoitre the enemy, returned to me; he had taken a prisoner belonging to Col. Ferguson's rifle regiment, by whom I learned that there were 200 British, and a number of tories, and that Major Wims, with 200 more, was to join them that night. They were seen after dark on their march, and by an orderly book taken with an officer's baggage, with the above mentioned prisoner, I found their intention was to remove me, and proceed to the Cheraws. I also had intelligence that 200 men, part regulars, had arrived in Georgetown, from Santee, which obliged me to return to my camp, which I did that day. On the 8th I had intelligence that Major Wims had crossed Lynch's creek, to come on my front, and those in Georgetown had crossed Black river and Waccamaw, to fall on my rear; and that the tories which I had lately dispersed were collecting on my right, which would completely surround me, and cut off my retreat: This obliged me to retreat to this place with 60 men, the rest left me to see after their families, who had had their houses burnt. The enemy have burnt a number of houses on Black river, Lynch's creek and Waccamaw. I shall remain here until I hear from you, or have an opportunity of doing something."