The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-11-12
Ann NON N, slsna,el to al. IN

"CUiaA on, Come on. We Will
smash them"
And away they went at :: sallop,
following the well-beaten road taken,
by the troops.
NJ. Vernon reached the nei8hhor-
hood OF the Villere plantation before
sandown, and by the time that Cen
eral Jackson and his staff had arrived,
he had formed plan OF reconnols-
sance OF the enemy's lines; plan
which, when presented to the colo-
mande-, was accepted at once. lie
was allowed to choose fifty mounted
men, some OF them well acquainted
with the coantry, and make bold
ride right down through tho British
pickets.
He was successiul; and what he did
had in it u smack of the old time
aud the knight!y. The invaders had
flung ont II weak line OF pickets, and'
upon one of these the horsemen cast
themselves at headlong speed. Close
by Mr.. Vernon's side rode Tasseur,
mounted on a wiry little creole pony.
There, too, young Louis Livingston,
son OF Edward. smooth-faced and boy
ish, dashed along, eager for the, most
dangerous adventure.
II was growing dark, and thin
fog was creeping across from the
marshes Of Borgus; the lights OF the
British camp-dres hared and flickered
in @ zigzag line from the river on the
west t, the dark swamp on the east.
Mr.. Vernon was familiar with every
feature Of the country, and there was
one with him who knew just how to
find the rustic bridges over the
bitches and how to avoid the many
miry sloughs wherein the horses
would have stuck fast. So they rode
in line that was a paraboia, the
longer part Of the curve sklrting the
swamp. while the other touched the
river levee.
The pony was shot dead under Vas
seur. bat this scarcely caused a pause
in the rush. Mr. Vernoon stopped
and swgns the little ;naa mp behind
him. \ little further on, down went
Lonis Livingston's horse. The
nimble youth was taken csre OF by
one of his fellows in imitation o; the
leader.
At about the point where they
reached the deepest swing OF taeir
charge they dashed almost over n
party os officers taking tea by a fire.
Mr.. Vernon was still ahead OF all
tho rest and Vasseur was cliaging to
him like leech.
The group Of surprised and startled
Englishmcu at the fire sprans up and
reached wildly for their arms; bnt
galioping over the soft, sandy soil the
horses made scarcely any noise, and
the riders were upon them before they
could prepare for defense. One OF
them, however, was quick. cool and
ready. He leaped forward aud fired
q pistol just after Mr.. Vernon had
passed. His aim was deadly: q young
creole threw up his arms aud tumbled
from his saddle.
Vasseur c'utched Mr.. Vernon, and
cried out:
"Pierre Rameau! That was Pierre
Rameau!'
There was a rnsh OF charging men
and a yo!ley of musketry from behind
n tsngle of low trees. Bullets sang
past, but not horse or rider was hit.
The movement opened view OF the
enemy's line at this poirt aud showed
that it was strong.
did you see Pierre Rameau? Did
Won see Colonel Loriugi" Vasseur
kept repeating from his seat behind
Mr.. VERNON.
The old man made no answer to the
Questions; but they did not fail to
reach his ears. He had nsed his eyes
with as much effect as had Vasseur
and had seen by the red fare OF the
fire the tall form and perfectly calm
face OF Loring.
It was impossible to stop or turn
back; the fate of Jackson's army, the
fate of New Orleans might be de-
pending on the success OF this recon-
naisssance.
Meanwhile General Jackson WAS
pertect,ns his line 1t battle and pre-
pairing TO" an advance upon the en-
euy. Livingston was a. his side al.
The tim5 aud more taan once re.
marked that when NJ. Vernon re-
tnrnsd w..k his report the whole plan
at attack might haze to he changed.
They heard the firing. aad Jackson
looked uneasE.
Don fear. general" said Living
sion, They will not capture Vernon;
he knows what he's about [ assure
you"
well, we sliall have to wait till he
gets back
The wait was not long. Nj. Yer
noa with Vasseur still clingins on at
the crupper came straight to the spot.
Jackson, who a. the time was not
mounted, leaned on the sweating neck
of the old mans horse aud heard the
story of what had been seen along the
British front.
"We must turn their right flank,
Mr.. Vernon added, after giving rapid