having made them ground their arms near the road, brought up the rear.
The prisoners threw themselves upon the earth -- the woman and her child,
near its father. Little did any of them dream that deliverance was at hand.
The child fell asleep in the mother's lap. Two of the armed men kept guard,
but we may suppose with little caution. What had they to apprehend,
within sight of a walled town in the possession of their friends?
Two others approached the spring, in order to bring water to the prisoners.
Resting their muskets against a tree they proceeded to fill their canteens.
At this moment Jasper gave the signal to his comrade. In an instant
the muskets were in their hands. In another, they had shot down
the two soldiers upon duty; then clubbing their weapons, they rushed out
upon the astonished enemy, and felling their first opponents each at a blow,
they succeeded in obtaining possession of the loaded muskets.
This decided the conflict, which was over in a few minutes.
The surviving guard yielded themselves to mercy before the presented weapons.
Such an achievement could only be successful from its audacity
and the operation of circumstances. The very proximity of Savannah
increased the chances of success. But for this the guard would have taken
better precautions. None were taken. The prompt valor, the bold decision,
the cool calculation of the instant, were the essential elements
which secured success. The work of our young heroes was not done imperfectly.
The prisoners were quickly released, the arms of the captured British
put into their hands, and, hurrying away from the spot
which they have crowned with a local celebrity not soon to be forgotten,
they crossed the Savannah in safety with their friends and foes.
This is not the last achievement of the brave Jasper which we shall have
occasion to record. The next, however, though not less distinguished
by success, was unhappily written in his own blood.

The campaign which followed was distinguished by several vicissitudes,