We shall see the effect of this system in the end. In the same manner
the Edisto and Ashley were now passed, without striking a blow.
The Americans suffered greatly both for provisions and for the want of water,
drinking out of every puddle in the road, however filthy. The enemy,
on the contrary, passed through the richest part of the state,
and were suffered to scatter themselves abroad, and to satiate themselves
with choice fare, and valuable plunder. General Moultrie continued
his march to Charleston, and Prevost took post before the lines.

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* The fine spring at Tulifinny had then entirely failed.
** 1st Volume Moultrie's memoirs, p. 403-4.
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We have for some time lost sight of Lieut. Col. Marion,
and the reader may naturally inquire, was he at Tulifinny? He was not.
With the second regiment under his command, he was in garrison
at fort Moultrie. Before Gen. Moultrie broke up his camp at Black Swamp,
he wrote to Gen. Lincoln to give him advice of the movement of the enemy
to Purysburgh, and from time to time of their progress to Charleston;
but Lincoln marched up to Augusta, crossed over into Georgia,
and moved down on the other side of the river for some time,
very deliberately.* However, from Jannett's ferry, he writes a letter,
of which the following is an extract: "If the enemy should give
public evidence of their designs against Charleston, I think, with your force,
as you are in possession of ~strong passes~, you will be able
to stop their progress and give us time to come up." On the 10th of May,
he again writes to Gen. Moultrie, "We are making, and shall continue to make,
every exertion for the relief of Charleston. The baggage will be left.
The inability of the men only, will put a period to our daily marches.