In this operation, his horses threw off some of the loosened planks, and made a chasm, over which the following section, led by Lieutenant Carrington, leaped with difficulty.

In doing this some other planks were thrown off, and the horses of the third section refused to take the leap.

At this time Lee came up, and every effort was made to replace the planks, but without success.

The creek was too deep and miry to afford foot hold to those who attempted to raise them from the water.
This halt revived the courage of the British soldiers, who returned to the support of their commander, then engaged in an equal conflict with the cavalry who had passed the bridge.

These gallant men[4] finding themselves overpowered by numbers, and that their comrades could not support them, pressed over the causeway, and wheeling into the woods, made their escape.
[Footnote 4: Mr.Johnson states that Captain M'Cauley, of South Carolina, had joined Armstrong and Carrington.