Page:Acadiensis Q2.djvu/307

Lt.-Col. Cruger and his corps gained additional honor at the taking of Charleston by the British forces, May 12, 1780; and again their conduct was highly commended at the battle of Camden, where the Americans under General Gates were totally defeated with a loss of 2,000 in killed, wounded and prisoners.

The first and second de Lanceys, however, won their brightest laurels in the heroic defence of the post near Camden, known as "Ninety-Six."^[1] Lt.-Colonel Cruger was in command. His wife we are told "lived in the garrison, fared as the people did, was beloved by the soldiers, and caressed, esteemed and almost adored by the officers for her kindness and hospitality upon all occasions." The garrison at "Ninety-Six" included 150 men of deLancey's brigade, 200 of the New Jersey Volunteers, under Lt.-Col. Isaac Allen, and 200 militia under Colonel King. The defences were in a very unfinished state, and Cruger had only a few cannon and a scanty supply of ammunition. The garrison put forth every effort to strengthen their position, but were still quite unprepared for a siege when General Greene suddenly appeared on the scene with 4,000 men.

On the night of the 21st May, 1781, the besiegers broke ground and threw up two works within seventy paces of the fort. While they were engaged the next night in strengthening these works they were attacked by the garrison and every man bayoneted, the works demolished and even the intrenching tools carried off. The besiegers now proceeded more cautiously, and in the next ten days by incessant labor advanced their trenches nearly to the fort. Meanwhile they were harassed by the frequent sorties of the defenders.

At this juncture General Greene peremptorily summoned the garrison to surrender. Cruger replied that it was his