As Lord Cornwallis retreated, Gates advanced to Charlotte, Smallwood encamped lower down the Catawba on the road to Camden; and Morgan was pushed forward some distance in his front.  In the expectation that farther active operations would be postponed until the spring, Gates intended to pass the winter in this position.  Such was the arrangement of the troops when their general was removed.

[Sidenote:  November 5.]

On the 5th of November, without any previous indications of dissatisfaction, congress passed a resolution requiring the Commander-in-chief to order a court of inquiry on the conduct of General Gates as commander of the southern army, and to appoint some other officer to that command, until the inquiry should be made.

[Sidenote:  Greene appointed to the command of the southern army.]

Washington, without hesitation, selected Greene for that important and difficult service.  In a letter to congress recommending him to their support, he mentioned General Greene as “an officer in whose abilities, fortitude, and integrity, from a long and intimate experience of them, he had the most entire confidence.”  To Mr. Matthews, a delegate from South Carolina, he said, “You have your wish in the officer appointed to the southern command.  I think I am giving you a general; but what can a general do without men, without arms, without clothing, without stores, without provisions?” About the same time the legion of Lee was ordered into South Carolina.

[Sidenote:  Arrives in camp.]

Greene hastened to the army he was to command; and, on the second of December, reached Charlotte, then its head quarters.  Soon after his arrival in camp, he was gratified with the intelligence of a small piece of good fortune obtained by the address of Lieutenant Colonel Washington.

Smallwood, having received information that a body of royal militia had entered the country in which he foraged, for the purpose of intercepting his wagons, detached Morgan and Washington against them.  Intelligence of Morgan’s approach being received, the party retreated; but Colonel Washington, being able to move with more celerity than the infantry, resolved to make an attempt on another party, which was stationed at Rugely’s farm, within thirteen miles of Camden.  He found them posted in a logged barn, strongly secured by abattis, and inaccessible to cavalry.  Force being of no avail, he resorted to the following stratagem.  Having painted the trunk of a pine, and mounted it on a carriage so as to resemble a field piece, he paraded it in front of the enemy, and demanded a surrender.  The whole party, consisting of one hundred and twelve men, with Colonel Rugely at their head, alarmed at the prospect of a cannonade, surrendered themselves prisoners of war.[53]

[Footnote 53:  The author received this account both from General Morgan and Colonel Washington.]

[Sidenote:  Detaches Morgan over the Catawba.]