of the descending weapon, parried the blow from his head, by his hand,
with the loss of some fingers; then, springing out of the door,
he ran for the gate, where the two concealed men despatched him
with many blows. The cause of offence was, that John Wiley, as sheriff,
had superintended the execution of some men under the existing state laws,
at that time against treason. After the battle of Cowpens
Hutt disappeared.
--

Nothing could have astonished the people more, than this last proclamation,
those who had taken the paroles expected to remain on their plantations
in security and ease; but now, they were called upon to return
to their allegiance, and assist in securing his majesty's government.
The purport of which was well understood; they were in fact to take up arms
against their countrymen: at the very thought of which they were abhorrent.
This crooked policy was no sooner adopted, than the British cause
began to decline in South Carolina. The thread of the events above recorded,
will now naturally lead us to the history of Marion's brigade.
About the end of June, in this year, Capt. Ardesoif, of the British navy,
arrived at Georgetown, to carry the last proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton
into effect, and invited the people to come in and swear allegiance
to King George. Many of the inhabitants of that district
submitted to this new act of degradation. But there remained a portion of it,
stretching from the Santee to the Pedee, and including the whole
of the present Williamsburgh, and part of Marion district,
into which the British arms had not penetrated. The inhabitants of it
were generally of Irish extraction; a people, who at all times during the war,
abhorred either submission or vassalage. Among them, tradition has
handed down the following story: -- A public meeting was called,
to deliberate upon their critical situation, and Major John James,