The victorious mountaineers, having accomplished the object for which they assembled, returned to their homes.
[Sidenote: Lord Cornwallis retreats out of North Carolina.] The destruction of this party arrested the progress of Lord Cornwallis in North Carolina, and inspired serious fears for the posts in his rear.

He retreated to Wynnsborough, between Camden and Ninety Six, where he waited for reinforcements from New York.
The victory obtained on the 16th of August having suggested views of more extensive conquest in the south, Sir Henry Clinton had determined to send a large reinforcement to the southern army.

In the opinion that Lord Cornwallis could meet with no effectual resistance in the Carolinas, he had ordered the officer commanding this reinforcement to enter the Chesapeake in the first instance, and to take possession of the lower parts of Virginia, after which he was to obey the orders he should receive from Lord Cornwallis, to whom a copy of his instructions had been forwarded.
The detachment amounted to near three thousand men, under the command of General Leslie.

It sailed on the 6th of October, and, entering James River after a short passage, took possession of the country on the south side as high as Suffolk.

After a short time, Leslie drew in his out-posts, and began to fortify Portsmouth.