life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第17节
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major； and commanded a rifle corps during the campaign of Washington；
in New Jersey。 On one occasion Gen。 Washington rode out with a few
French and American officers to reconnoitre； and Ferguson； with his
riflemen； lay in a wood near to the road by which they both went and
returned。 Washington was conspicuous from his stature； and uniform； and
the grey horse which he rode。 He passed hard by the corps； at an easy
canter； and Ferguson's men were preparing to fire upon him； when their
leader prevented the act。 Who would not hereafter applaud the character of
Ferguson？ In a letter which he wrote to a friend； that contains this
narrative； he mentions he was glad he did not know it was Gen。
Washington at the time； lest he should have been tempted to fire at him。
But the same generous spirit which prevented it in the one case； would； it
is more than probable； have actuated him in the other。
The next meed of praise is certainly due to friendship。 In this action
the hon。 Robert Stark； then a boy of fourteen； was among the American
combatants。 Like a war worn veteran he was seen firing his rifle and
encouraging others to the onset。 It was here that； actuated by the cause of
his country； and the rigourous confinement of his father in irons； he first
avenged himself of the enemy。 His next battle was at the Cowpens； where
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he acted as an adjutant under Gen。 Pickens。
During the time General Marion lay at the White marsh； Capt。 Gavin
Witherspoon； of Pedee； with three or four men； were concealing
themselves in Pedee swamp： in the night he discovered a camp of the
tories； whom he had reason to think were in pursuit of him； and watched
them till they had all fallen asleep； he proposed to his men to attack them；
but they were fearful of numbers。 He then declared he would take them
himself。 Creeping up cautiously； he found that they had encamped at the
butt of a pine； blown up by the roots； and that their guns were piled up
against a limb； at the distance of forty or fifty feet from them。 He
continued to creep till he got possession of their guns； and then called to
them loudly to surrender。 Not knowing his force； they did so； and
Witherspoon's men came to his assistance and tied them； in number seven。
Gavin； and John Witherspoon； his brother； were two active spirited men at
this period。 They succeeded each other as captains in the neck between
Pedee and Lynch's creek； and at the call of danger were generally foremost。
After Capt。 Baxter was promoted to be major； Thomas Potts was elected
captain of the upper Pedee company； he had been captain in the rifle
regiment of state troops； and was a brave soldier and firm patriot。
Major Wemyss； in laying waste the country； was particularly inimical
to looms and sheep； no doubt that he might deprive the inhabitants of the
means of clothing themselves。 What sheep he did not kill for the use of his
men； he ordered to be bayoneted。 He burnt the Presbyterian church at
Indiantown； because； as he said； it was a sedition shop。 Before a house
was burnt； permission was seldom given to remove the furniture。 When he
came to Maj。 James' he was met by his lady with much composure。 He
wished to bring her husband to submission； and said to her； 〃If he would
come in and lay down his arms； he should have a free pardon。〃 She replied；
〃As to that she could not have any influence over him。 That times were
such he was compelled to take a part； and he had taken that of his
country。〃 Wemyss after this had her and her children locked up in a
chamber； from whence they did not come out； for two days and a half； and
until the house was about to be burnt。 Capt。 David Campbell （of Edisto；）
carried with his own hands； food and other refreshments to a back window
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Life of Marion。
for her； apparently unknown to Wemyss。 Capt。 John James； son of the
major； had been taken in Charleston； and paroled。 He was ordered into
custody； with the threat； that 〃If he was found to have broken his parole；
he would be hanged in the morning to yonder tree。〃 Accordingly a court
martial sat over him in the morning。 The witnesses called were his own
and his father's negroes； but； strange to tell； no evidence was given against
him； and he was acquitted。 Such were the mock trials of the British。 As；
when we come to speak of the battle of Eutaw； there will be many chiefs
of higher title to be named； it is but justice to Capt。 James now to mention；
that before that time he was exchanged； and fought there with much
bravery； as an adjutant。 As there was no trade or intercourse between that
part of the country and a market； people were to be seen； after the fires；
searching for every thing they could find； knife blades； scissors； hinges；
nails； &c。 Handles were put to the knives； dishes and plates were rudely
manufactured out of wood； and log huts were gradually built by the
assistance of one another。 Many negroes were taken out of Williamsburgh；
these were afterwards recovered by Maj。 James。 Directly after the retreat
of Rawdon from Camden； he； at the head of five or six men； passed
through the country from Santee to an island near Beaufort； where he
found and brought away one hundred and fifty； all plundered from his own
neighbourhood。 This account has been inserted here； that the chain of
events might not hereafter be broken。
It is stated； （page 45；*） that Col。 Tarleton took Mr。 James Bradley
prisoner； the manner in which this was done； and the subsequent treatment
of Bradley； are well deserving a place in this narrative。 After being chased
from his breakfast； thirteen miles below； by M'Cottry； Tarleton and a few
officers came to Bradley's at midday； passed himself as Col。 Washington；
and requested an early dinner。 Bradley provided dinner for him； and
unsuspectingly communicated to him the plans of his countrymen。 After
dinner； Tarleton asked him to guide him over two difficult fords across two
branches of Black river； near his house； Bradley consented； and after they
had passed Magirt's swamp； Tarleton told him he was a prisoner。 A wild
Arab would not have treated him thus。 Bradley； though circumvented in
this manner； was a wise but unsuspicious man； and before that had much
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influence in the legislature。 He was sent to Camden gaol； and confined in
heavy irons； he was often carted to the gallows and saw others executed；
he expected death； and was prepared for it； but he had many friends in
Marion's brigade； and it was well known to the enemy that his execution
would have been severely retaliated。 He was not released from gaol until
the 10th of May the next year； when Rawdon retreated from Camden； and
he bore the marks of the irons until his death。 Being requested； on one
occasion he showed these to the author； then a youth； and said； 〃If the
good of your country requires the sacrifice； be ready to suffer
imprisonment and death in its cause。〃 Soon after his confinement； Mrs。
Bradley petitioned Tarleton to liberate her husband； but he treated her with
scurrilous language and great brutality。 This man； who had been treated by
Mrs。 Bradley to a plentiful meal； after he had fasted for twenty…four hours；
and when he and his followers were fainting with fatigue and want； had
now the impudence and cruelty to call her by the grossest names in the
vocabulary of bilingsgate。 Mrs。 Bradley！ one of the most humane； gentle
and affectionate of her sex； who would willingly have offered him bread in
his true character。 Tarleton even denied her admittance with her supplies to
her husband； and she sought and obtained it elsewhere。
* Chapter II Paragraph 8。 A。 L
