Chapter 24: Chapter 23: Surprise, Surprise

"I bring urgent news from General Washington!"

A lone rider wearing a Continental Army uniform rode his horse into the center of the town, where General Kim and several of the Continental Army and militia officers were gathered. The general was marking a map of Amelia in order to organize the defense of the town from any enemy assaults while the officers offered suggestions and comments. When the rider stopped in front of the group, all the officers halted their activities and looked at the messenger.

"What do you have to report?" General Kim asked as the rider took a few moments to compose himself. After a few moments, the rider handed General Kim a letter and the general read it immediately.

"General Washington is under attack by thousands of Loyalists and British regulars at Kingstree, while the British are bombarding and assaulting General Lee just north of Georgetown! General Washington is asking for any available units to reinforce his position, as the general has sent some of his own men to assist General Lee."

General Kim frowned, "The roads from here to Kingstree is not safe. If I send a sole regiment towards General Washington, it will take them at least eight hours for them to get to him. During that time, they can be ambushed at any given point."

The messenger grimaced, "I was fired at by several hidden woodsmen several times, but I managed to arrive here in one piece. However, General Washington believes that it is unlikely that the British will strike at Amelia for the time being. While the numbers are uncertain, a large number of British soldiers and Loyalist militiamen are striking the Kingstree and Georgetown. The commander believes it is an attempt to flank around Amelia and strike at Camden."

It was a tough choice, but Colonel Knowlton was still in the wilderness and General Kim needed all his units to be at full strength. If the colonel found the Swamp Devil, then the marine general needed to deploy his men and defeat him rapidly before Major Marion became a bigger threat. However, if General Washington was dislodged from Kingstree, then General Kim's forces would be cut off from the eastern parts of the state and be suspect to a two-way frontal assault.

"I will go, sir."

Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, who was promoted for his heroics in Canada, was now the leader of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment and the 4th Connecticut Regiment. The two regiments combined consisted of nearly two thousand men and were well trained due to the rigorous training set by General Arnold. After the marines, the Connecticut Regiments were most definitely the best-disciplined regiments under General Kim's command.

The general looked at his counterpart uneasily, "Are you sure, General Arnold? The roads will be treacherous and if Major Marion's men saw the messenger, then the enemy may be expecting your men to pass by."

"Then we will break through them and reach General Washington. You are needed here, sir. I will guide my men to help our commander."

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"If you and your regiments leave, then it will leave our defenses significantly weakened."

General Arnold didn't disagree but locked eyes with his superior, "The defenses around Amelia are nearly complete and you still have nearly three thousand regulars and two thousand militiamen under your command. Just like in Quebec, a small force attacking from the flank can make the difference between victory and defeat."

A moment of silence passed between the two of them before General Kim nodded in agreement, "Ready your men for combat and march east immediately. If you are ambushed along the way, you are to fire your flare gun into the air."

"Understood, sir. I will not let you down," General Arnold saluted before moving towards his units.

After about half an hour, the two regiments under General Arnold's command was on the move to the east with the messenger. Shortly afterward, a flare round was shot into the air southwest of the town.

The officers, who had just resumed the meeting, looked at the flare and then at their leader for orders. General Kim barked his orders at the officers, "Colonel Warren, you are to lead First and Second Company to assist Colonel Knowlton. I will watch over the defenses and ensure that the British do not attempt to attack. If you are outnumbered and outgunned, you are to do your best to rescue Colonel Knowlton and his men and commit to a fighting retreat."

Colonel Warren gave the general a crisp salute and left the meeting with the officers of the First and Second Company of the Marines. They were out of the town within a span of ten minutes and rapidly began their march towards the location of the flare.

During this time, General Kim hastened the remaining defenders to take positions in the defensive lines in case of a British attack. However, an hour passed and there were no British troops in sight.

Instead, two flare rounds were fired just minutes apart from each other. One of them came from the southwest awhile the other came from the east.

Before the general could deploy any troops to help the two groups, the British attack descended upon Amelia.

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