could have been reached. Moultrie continued in advance of Prevost,
and reached Charleston a few hours before him; just in season to establish
something like order, and put the place in a tolerable state of defence.
The fire from the lines arrested the British advance. The place was summoned,
and defiance returned. Night followed, and the next morning
the enemy had disappeared. His object had been surprise.
He was unprepared for the assault, having no heavy artillery,
and his departure was hastened by intercepted advices
from Lincoln and Governor Rutledge, which announced to the garrison
the approach of the regular troops and the country militia.
Prevost retired to the neighboring islands, and established himself
in a strong fort at Stono ferry. Here he was attacked by General Lincoln
in a spirited but unsuccessful affair, in which the latter was compelled
to retreat. The attack of Lincoln was followed by one of Moultrie,
in galleys. The situation of the British became unpleasant,
and they did not wait a repetition of these assaults, but retreated along
the chain of islands on the coast, until they reached Beaufort and Savannah.
Both of these places they maintained; the latter with their main army,
the former with a strong body of troops, apart from their sick,
wounded and convalescent. Here they were watched by General Lincoln,
in a camp of observation at Sheldon, until the appearance of a French fleet
on the coast led to renewed activity, and hopes, on the part of the Americans,
which were destined to bitter disappointment.

Marion was certainly with his regiment at Sheldon, and when it became probable
that there was some prospect of battle, we find him at Fort Moultrie,
when Prevost was in possession of the contiguous islands.
But a junction of the French and American forces, necessarily compelling
the concentration of the whole of the southern invading army at Savannah,
lessened the necessity of his remaining at a post which stood