Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/88

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down towards the enemy, armed with his favorite double-barrel gun loaded with buckshot. Joining some of the cavalry in observation, he rode towards the Federal troops and urged a near approach. When within range he opened tire with both barrels, and was in favor of charging down upon them, but the officer in command prudently withdrew his small force. I have heard the General express the regret that Broad River was between the enemy's camp and the mainland, and that we had no ships to go after them! I think his ambition was to sacrifice his life for the State and "the cause." He survived the war a few years, and, riding in his buggy to the " White Hall" Plantation, where President Washington was entertained on his visit to South Carolina in 1791, without an enemy in the world, universally esteemed and respected, he was murdered and robbed by two negroes.


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GEORGIA MILITIA AT HONEY HILL AND THEIR GALLANT LEADER, GENERAL G. W. SMITH.

Night had closed in; the column of attack, with their guns, stores and supplies, had been landed, and the main body had marched from the landing, and occupied the old Savannah dirt road, near Bolan's Church, as shown on the map, and erected field works to- guard against attack from Bee's creek. At this time only a few field pieces and less than two hundred cavalry armed with short Enfield rifles were in their front, divided into two small commands, one on Bee's creek road.Junder Captain H. C. Raysor, the other on Hill road, under Captain W. B. Peeples. In the early morning of the 3Oth, as soon as Captain Raysor, Company E, found that the naval brigade had retraced their advance towards Bee's creek, he knew that the attack would be made on the Honey Hill road, and before daylight his company was put in motion for that point.

It was a night of watchfulness and anxiety unless the expected infantry reinforcements arrived before daylight the fearful odds of more than twenty-five to one would be encountered in the morning. Every one of this small band of Confederate soldiers, in front of the enemy that night, deliberately made up his mind that the Federal army was to be held in check, whatever the odds, whatever the sac- rifice this Captain Peeples did with 120 men for three hours next morning.

That a record be made of the true situation on that eventful night, I introduce here proper mention of the distinguished officer, (k.n-