THE FAIR COURIER. 63

 

seeing that his force was much inferior
to that of the British, he resolved to make
an attack upon the fort, and, if not success-
ful in reducing it, to retire with his army
toward North Carolina before Rawdon
came up.

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 cou-
rage, 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