Colonel Armand then retired in safety with his prisoners. In 1780, Armand received orders to join the southern army, previously to which the legion had been incorporated with the remains of Pulaski's corps, including the independent troop of captain Bedkin. It was about the middle of July when the French colonel joined the forces under major-general, the Baron de Kalb, at the encampment at Deep river in North Carolina, a few days before general Gates arrived and took the command. During the subsequent march to Clermont in South Carolina, Gates ordered the horses belonging to offi-cers to be taken from them, in order to expedite the move-ment of his artillery through the wilderness: a proceeding which led to serious altercation with Armand, and before a reconciliation was effected the American commander deter-mined upon a night march for the purpose of surprising his antagonist. On the 15th of August, a few hours before his troops were put in motion, Gates issued his general orders by which Armand was required to lead the advance at the head of his dragoons, and in case of attack by the British horse was positively directed to withstand the enemy's charge whatever might be their numbers. The officers and men of the legion had previously been in the worst possible humor with general Gates, ascribing to neglect on his part, the unusual and excessive service that had devolved upon them,

26 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

and the sickness they had suffered in consequence of bad quarters and scanty and unwholesome provisions. They now exclaimed loudly against the order of march as related to themselves, attributing it to resentment and a design to sacrifice them.-- Their colonel equally displeased openly avowed the same opinion, seeming to think the positive directions respecting himself implied a doubt of his courage and declaring that cavalry had never before been put in the front of a line of battle in the dark.