He says--"According to the reports of the country, General Marion's numbers were hourly increasing, which induced Lt.-Col.

Tarleton to move his corps, for a short time, in a very compact body, lest the Americans should gain any advantage over patrols or detachments.

But as soon as he found that the account of numbers was exaggerated, and that the enemy declined an engagement, he divided his corps into several small parties, publishing intelligence that each was on patrol, and that the main body of the King's troops had countermarched to Camden.

Notwithstanding the divisions scattered throughout the country, to impose upon the enemy, Lt.-Col.

Tarleton took care that no detachment should be out of the reach of assistance; and that the whole formed after dark every evening a solid and vigilant corps during the night.