life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第10节
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below the middle stature of men； lean and swarthy。 His body was well set；
but his knees and ankles were badly formed； and he still limped upon one
leg。 He had a countenance remarkably steady； his nose was aquiline； his
chin projecting； his forehead was large and high； and his eyes black and
piercing。 He was now forty…eight years of age； but still even at this age； his
frame was capable of enduring fatigue and every privation； necessary for a
partisan。 His wisdom and patriotism will become henceforth conspicuous。
Of a character； so much venerated； even trifles become important。 He was
dressed in a close round bodied crimson jacket； of a coarse texture； and
wore a leather cap； part of the uniform of the second regiment； with a
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Life of Marion。
silver crescent in front； inscribed with the words； 〃Liberty or death。〃 He
was accompanied by his friend Col。 Peter Horry； and some other officers。
On the second or third day after his arrival； General Marion ordered his
men to mount white cockades； to distinguish themselves from the tories；
and crossed the Pedee； at Port's ferry； to disperse a large body of tories；
under Major Ganey； stationed on Britton's neck； between great and little
Pedee。 He surprised them at dawn in the morning； killed one of their
captains and several privates； and had two men wounded。 Major James
was detached at the head of a volunteer troop of horse； to attack their
horse； he came up with them； charged； and drove them before him。 In this
affair； Major James singled out Major Ganey； （as he supposed） as the
object of his single attack。 At his approach Ganey fled； and he pursued
him closely； and nearly within the reach of his sword； for half a mile；
when behind a thicket； he came upon a party of tories； who had rallied。
Not at all intimidated； but with great presence of mind； Major James called
out； 〃Come on my boys！ Here they are！ Here they are！〃 And the
whole body of tories broke again； and rushed into little Pedee swamp。
Another party of tories lay higher up the river； under the command of Capt。
Barefield； who had been a soldier in one of the South Carolina regiments。
These stood to their ranks； so well； and appeared to be so resolute； that
Gen。 Marion did not wish to expose his men； by an attack on equal terms；
he therefore feigned a retreat； and led them into an ambuscade； near the
Blue Savannah； where they were defeated。 This was the first manoeuvre of
the kind； for which he afterwards became so conspicuous。
* He was second cousin to the major。 Of this family； there were five
brothers； than whom no men under Marion were more brave； these were
John； William； Gavin； Robert and James。 Gavin died a few weeks since；
with whom the family became extinct。 More of Gavin and Robert
hereafter。 20th July； 1821。 ** He was not appointed a general till some
time after this； but as we have not the date of his commission； henceforth
he will be styled general； and his other officers； to avoid repetitions； are
designated generally by the rank they held at the disbandment of the
brigade。
Thus Gen。 Marion； at once； fell upon employment； as the true way to
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Life of Marion。
encourage and to command militia； and their spirits began to revive。 He
returned to Port's ferry； and threw up a redoubt on the east bank of the
Pedee； on which he mounted two old iron field pieces； to awe the tories。
On the 17th of August； he detached Col。 Peter Horry； with orders to take
command of four companies； Bonneau's； Mitchell's； Benson's； and Lenud's；
near Georgetown； and on the Santee； to destroy all the boats and canoes on
the river； from the lower ferry to Lenud's； to post guards； so as to prevent
all communication with Charleston； and to procure him twenty…five weight
of gunpowder； ball or buck shot； and flints in proportion。 This order was
made in pursuance of a plan he afterwards carried into effect； to leave no
approach for the enemy into the district of which he had taken the
command。 The latter part of the order； shows how scanty were the means
of his defence。 There were few men； even in those days of enthusiasm；
who would not have shrunk from such an undertaking。 Gen。 Marion
himself marched to the upper part of Santee； it is believed； with the same
object in view with which he had entrusted Horry。 On his way he received
intelligence of the defeat of Gates at Camden； and； without
communicating it； he proceeded immediately towards Nelson's ferry。 （16th
August。） Near Nelson's； he was informed； by his scouts； that a guard； with
a party of prisoners； were on their way to Charleston； and had stopped at
the house； at the great Savannah； on the main road； east of the river。 （20th
of August。） It was night； and the general； a little before daylight next
morning； gave the command of sixteen men to Col。 Hugh Horry。 He was
ordered to gain possession of the road； at the pass of Horse creek； in the
swamp； while the main body； under himself； was to attack in the rear。 In
taking his position； in the dark； Col。 Horry advanced too near to a sentinel；
who fired upon him。 In a moment he rushed up to the house； found the
British arms piled before the door； and seized upon them。 Twenty…two
British regulars； of the 63d regiment； two tories； one captain； and a
subaltern were taken； and one hundred and fifty of the Maryland line；
liberated。 In his account of this affair Gen。 Marion says he had one man
killed； and Maj。 Benson wounded。 But the man； Josiah Cockfield； who
was shot through the breast； lived to fight bravely again； and to be again
wounded。 In the account given of this action by Col。 Tarleton； he says；
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Life of Marion。
contemptuously； the guard was taken by 〃a Mr。 Horry〃； but Gen。 Marion；
as commanding officer； is entitled to the credit of it。 The news of the
defeat of Gen。 Gates now became public； and repressed all joy upon this
occasion； no event which had yet happened； was considered so calamitous。
An account of it will be given in his own words。 Extract of a letter； from
Gen。 Gates； to the president of congress； dated Hillsborough； 20th August；
1780：
〃Sir； In the deepest distress and anxiety of mind； I am obliged to
acquaint your excellency with the defeat of the troops under my command。
I arrived with the Maryland line； the artillery； and the North Carolina
militia； on the 13th inst。 at Rugely's； thirteen miles from Camden； took
post there； and was the next day joined by Gen。 Stevens； with 700 militia
from Virginia。 The 15th； at daylight； I reinforced Colonel Sumter； with 300
North Carolina militia； 100 of the Maryland line； and two three…pounders
from the artillery： having previously ordered him down from the Waxhaws；
opposite to Camden； to intercept any stores coming to the enemy； and
particularly troops coming from Ninety…Six。 This was well executed by
Col。 Sumter。 Having communicated my plan to the general officers in the
afternoon of the 15th； it was resolved to march at ten at night； to take post
in a very advantageous situation； with a deep creek in front； （Gum
Swamp*） seven miles from Camden。 At ten the army began to march； and
having moved about five miles； the legion was charged by the enemy's
cavalry； and well supported by Col。 Porterfield； who beat back the enemy's
horse； and was himself unfortunately wounded； （mortally） but the enemy's
infantry advancing with a heavy fire； the troops in front gave way to the
first Maryland brigade； and a confusion ensued which took some time to
regulate。 At length the army was ranged in line of battle。 Gen。 Gists'
brigade on the right； close to a swamp； the North Carolina militia in the
centre； the Virginia militia； the light infantry； and Porterfield's corps； on
t
