and learned from his step-daughter, who had just returned from the vicinity of Ninety-Six, that the siege was raised and Greene in full retreat had crossed Saluda at the Island ford, with Lee's legion bringing up the rear. The young officer was William Butler, and this was his first meeting with the lady whom he subsequently married. He had been detached from the vicinity of Ninety-Six upon some separate service under General Henderson, from whom he derived his first commission as captain in 1781. He at once determined to join the retreating army, and being told that two stragglers from Rawdon's force were down in Savage's low grounds, taking the plantation horses, he took them prisoners, mounted one of them behind himself and the other behind his orderly, swam Saluda near what is now called Boazman's Ferry, and joined Lee about ten miles from the island on the Newberry side. He had learned from the prisoners that Rawdon had formed a strong light corps, including both cavalry and infantry, in hot pursuit of the Americans. When William Butler came up with Lee he informed him of the pursuit, and the information came none too soon. Lee had halted his command and was lying on his saddle-blanked, making a pillow of his saddle. His prompt direction to Armstrong, one of his captains, was: "Form your troops in the rear and fight while we
