[Laurens’s] gallantry, in action, was highly characteristic of his love of fame. The post of danger was his favourite station. Some, indeed, may style his display of intrepidity, at every risk, the height of rashness.—Strictly speaking, it was so. But, at the commencement of the war, when the British Officers were persuaded, or affected to believe, that every American was a coward, such total disregard of personal safety, on the part of Laurens, such display of chivalric intrepidity, that equally excited their surprise and admiration, was, essentially, beneficial to our cause. To deny that his anxiety to meet the foe, led him too often into unnecessary peril, is impossible. I had, too often, cause to see and to lament it. Let one instance suffice to prove it. A Centinel on the bank of Ashley River, opposite to Dorchester, perceiving a Red Coat moving through the brush wood on the other shore, gave the alarm that the enemy were without their lines. This being communicated to Lieutenant Colonel Laurens, a troop of dragoons, and a company of infantry of the Legion, were ordered to cross the river and reconnoiter. But, the rapidity of the stream determined Captain O’Neal, who commanded, to wait till a boat, which had been sent for, should arrive. In the interim, Lieutenant Colonel Laurens gallopped up and demanded with warmth, “Why this halt, Captain—were not orders given to cross?” “Yes, Colonel, but look to the current, and judge if it be practicable.” “This is no time for argument,” rejoined Laurens. “You, who are brave men, follow me.” Saying this, he plunged into the river, but was instantaneously obliged to quit his horse, and with extreme difficulty reached the opposite shore. O’Neal, than whom a braver man did not exist, indignant at the speech of Laurens, replied, “You shall see, sir, that there are men here as courageous as yourself,” and at the head of his troop, entered the river. I cannot do justice to the scene that followed. All was tumult and confusion; for, although no life was lost, several of the men were so nearly drowned, that it became necessary to use every means to make them disgorge the water they had swallowed; and all were so much exhausted, that a temporary halt was indispensably necessary. The infantry, by the aid of plank, and large doors torn from a neighbouring ware-house, passed over with less difficulty. In the mean time, Lieutenant Colonel Laurens, attended by Messrs. Ralph and Walter Izard, and Mr. Wainwright, who ever accompanied him as his Aids, hastened to the spot where the British regimental had been seen. It then was found, that a military coat had been hung up in a tree, by a soldier who had been whipped and drummed out of the 64th Regiment, for drunkenness, and whose lacerated back would admit of no covering.
From Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War in America, with Sketches of Character of Persons the Most Distinguished, in the Southern States, for Civil and Military Services by Alexander Garden (of Lee's Partisan Legion; aid-de-camp to Major General Greene; and honorary member of the historical society of New-York)