They refused to submit to the articles of war, and desired to serve only under those laws by which the militia was governed.

Chagrined with this resistance, Lincoln transferred the militia to Moultrie, and, at the head of about 2000 troops of the regular service, he marched up the country to Augusta, proposing by this course to circumscribe the progress of the enemy in that quarter.

Taking advantage of this movement, by which the regular troops were withdrawn from the seaboard, the British General, Prevost, immediately crossed the Savannah with the intention of surprising Moultrie, who, with 1200 militia-men, lay at Black Swamp.
But Moultrie, advised of his enemy, retired to Coosawhatchie, where he placed his rear guard; his headquarters being pitched on the hill, east of Tuliffinnee, two miles in advance, and on the route to Charleston.
Here the rear-guard, under Colonel Laurens, engaged the enemy's advance, and was driven before it.

Moultrie gradually retired as Prevost advanced, and the contest which followed between the two, seemed to be which should reach Charleston first.

The defenceless condition of that city was known to the British General, whose object was to take it by 'coup de main'.