 This became dangerous duty in the rebel colony of South Carolina, where de Peyster served under and tried to assist his regimental commander, the recklessly aggressive Patrick Ferguson.Major Ferguson had led the regiment into the Upcountry of South Carolina, where he and his men were badly outnumbered.After the hemmed-in Loyalist regiment tried to entrench themselves on a low mountaintop near Kings Pinnacle, Patriot riflemen surrounded the small detachment of King's troops on 17 October 1780.