Then his gigantic form fell backward, like a
majestic pine yielding to the ax; but still, as he slowly fell, he
continued to wield his saber, and once more the deep tones of his voice
were heard uttering, "Come on!"
The advancing Americans paused aghast, and, turning, they abandoned the
field to the royal troops.
It was neither the intention nor the policy of the English commander to
pursue his success, for he well knew that strong parties of the
Americans would soon arrive; accordingly he only tarried to collect his
wounded, and forming in a square, he commenced his retreat towards the
shipping. Within twenty minutes of the fall of Lawton, the ground was
deserted by both English and Americans. When the inhabitants of the
country were called upon to enter the field, they were necessarily
attended by such surgical advisers as were furnished by the low state of
the profession in the interior at that day. Dr. Sitgreaves entertained
quite as profound a contempt for the medical attendants of the militia
as the captain did of the troops themselves. He wandered, therefore,
around the field, casting many a glance of disapprobation at the slight
operations that came under his eye; but when, among the flying troops,
he found that his comrade and friend was nowhere to be seen, he hastened
back to the spot at which Hollister was posted, to inquire if the
trooper had returned.
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