62 THE FAIR COURIER.

 

proved to be from Lord Rawdon, and
brought the welcome intelligence of his
near approach.

Hoping still to reduce the fort before the
arrival of Lord Rawdon, General Greene
urged on the work of investment, and by
every means in his power sought to weaken
the garrison, so as to make victory certain
when all was ready for the final assault.
But before he had accomplished his task, a
messenger from Sumter arrived with the
unwelcome intelligence that Rawdon had
succeeded in passing him and was pushing
on rapidly for Ninety-Six. The crisis had
now come. Greene must either hazard an
assault upon the fort ere his works were in
complete readiness, risk a battle with Raw-
don, or retire over the Saluda, and thus
give confidence and strength to the tories
and royalist army. His first determination
was to meet the relieving army under
Rawdon, but every thing depending on his
“not giving the enemy, at this particular
crisis of affairs in the South, a victory, and