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The 18th of June, 1781, was the day chosen for this assault. But made, as it was, with the besiegers’ works incomplete, though the men fought with desperate courage, the fort was successfully defended, and General Greene ordered his troops to retire, after they had suffered the loss of one hundred and eighty-five killed and wounded.

Nothing was now left but retreat. For some twenty-six days the besieging army had been at work before the fort, and in three days more all their arrangements would have been completed and the post have fallen into their hands. It was therefore deeply mortifying and dispiriting to be forced to retire, just as success was about crowning their efforts. But far-seeing, prudent, and looking more to future results than present triumphs, General Greene, on the 19th, commenced retreating toward the Saluda, which river he passed in safety, and moved forward with all possible despatch for the Enoree. Before his rear-guard had left the south side of this river, the van of Lord Rawdon’s army appeared in pursuit. But the British commander hesitated to make an attack upon Greene’s cavalry, which was under the command of Lee and Colonel Washington, and was a brave, well-disciplined, and superior troop, and so permitted them to pass the Enoree unmolested. While Lord Rawdon paused at this point, undetermined which course to pursue, General Greene moved on toward the Broad River, where he halted and made his encampment.

Such was the aspect of affairs at the time our story begins–a story of woman’s self-devotion and heroism. Near the place where General Greene had halted with his weary and disheartened troops, stood the unpretending residence of a country farmer in moderate circumstances. His name was Geiger. He was a true friend of the American cause, and, but for ill health, that rendered him unable to endure the fatigues of the camp, would have been under arms in defence of his country. The deep interest felt in the cause of liberty by Geiger, made him ever on the alert for information touching the progress of affairs in his State, and the freedom with which he expressed his opinions created him hosts of enemies among the evil-minded tories with whom he was surrounded. Geiger had an only daughter, eighteen years of age, who was imbued with her father’s spirit.

“If I were only a man!” she would often say, when intelligence came of British or tory outrages, or when news was brought of some reverse to the American arms. “If I were only a man! that I could fight for my country.”

On the third day of General Greene’s encampment near the residence of Geiger, a neighbour dropped in.

“What news?” asked the farmer.

“Lord Rawdon has determined to abandon the fort at Ninety-Six.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. General Greene received the information this morning. Rawdon has despatched intelligence to Colonel Stuart to advance with his regiment from Charleston to Friday’s Ferry on the Congaree, where he will join him immediately. He leaves Cruger at Ninety-Six, who is to move, as soon as possible, with his bloody tory recruits and their property, and take a route that will put the Edisto between him and our forces. Moving down the southern bank of this river to Orangeburg, he will thence make a junction with Rawdon at Friday’s Ferry.”

“Then they will divide their force?” said Geiger eagerly.

“Yes.”

“And giving Greene an advantage by which he will not be slow to profit. Cruger will not be a day on the march before our general will make his acquaintance.”

“No,” replied the neighbour. “If I heard aright, it is General Greene’s intention to pursue Rawdon, and strike a more decisive blow.”

“Why did he not encounter him at the Saluda, when the opportunity offered?”

“General Sumter was not with him.”

“Nor is he now.”

“And, I fear, will not join him, as he so much desires.”

“For what reason?” inquired Geiger.

“He finds no one willing to become bearer of despatches. The country between this and Sumter’s station on the Wateree, is full of the enemies of our cause–blood-thirsty tories, elated by the defeat of our arms at Ninety-Six–who will to a certainty murder any man who undertakes the journey. I would not go on the mission for my weight in gold.”