The local militia made off in various directions; while Shelby and his men pushed straight for the mountains, crossed them, and returned each man to his own home.

Ferguson speedily stamped out the few remaining sparks of rebellion in South Carolina, and crossing the boundary into the North State he there repeated the process.

On September 12th he caught McDowell and the only remaining body of militia at Cane Creek, of the Catawba, and beat them thoroughly, [Footnote: Draper apparently endorses the absurd tradition that makes this a whig victory instead of a defeat.

It seems certain (see Draper), contrary to the statements of the Tennessee historians, that Sevier had no part in these preliminary operations.] the survivors, including their commander, fleeing over the mountains to take refuge with the Holston men.

Except for an occasional small guerilla party there was not a single organized body of American troops left south of Gates' broken and dispirited army.
All the southern lands lay at the feet of the conquerors.