Early the following morning, he struggled into his cleaned clothes, leaving them as loose on his body as possible and not worrying about stains from the grease that still covered his most badly burned places. He could not put any weight on his right foot, which was afflicted with deep wounds, so that he could almost see the bones in two of his toes. Still two hours before daybreak, he had the innkeeper fill his saddlebags with provisions and obtain a crutch for him to use. There were difficult choices to be made, particularly concerning his foot and his buttocks. Finally, he spread the thick folds of his blanket across the saddle, placed his musket in its scabbard, put his empty right boot in a bag suspended from the saddle, and had the innkeeper help him onto the horse. He guided his mount through the empty street to the river and finally succeeded in rousing the ferryman, who was excited and nervous when he recognized his customer. After paying what amounted to a small bribe, Brown crossed the river alone, still in the saddle, and then walked his horse slowly northward toward his destination. He had to obtain assistance before proceeding on to Ninety Six. After just a short ride he desperately needed to rest but felt that he could not dismount and then climb back onto his saddle. With difficulty, he was able to urinate, but not without wetting his trousers and the side of his horse. After riding just a few hundred yards, Brown realized that he was increasingly dizzy and could go no farther without falling from his horse.

When he heard a stream gurgling off to his right, he rode alongside it until he located a fallen log as high as his stirrups, eased off his horse, tied the rein where the animal could nibble grass, ate some food beside the stream, and then lay on the ground and slept fitfully. After taking a long drink, he led the horse back alongside the log and eased himself onto the padded seat. He found the pain to be bearable and proceeded for a couple of hours before coming to a small clearing with a log cabin, a lean-to behind it, and a few acres of crops and pasture.

Before he arrived at the front door, a farmer came out on the porch to meet him, a rifle held in the crook of his arm. Brown decided to address the man forthrightly and said, “I have been burned and can hardly travel, and I need to get to the fort at Ninety Six as soon as I can. I know that all your crops are not yet harvested, but hope that you can help me with my journey. I’ll pay you for your time and trouble, and will be deeply grateful.”