life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第20节
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half the Americans were either militia or new levies； the superiority was
on the side of Tarleton； whose men； except two hundred； were veterans；
and he had two field pieces。 The ground too he acknowledges was
advantageous； so that every thing was in his favour； but ~an agency~
which he could not control。 But in the last account we can find no place
where he and his handful of brave men could encounter Col。 Washington。
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In his bewildered fancy perhaps it was some other object he encountered；
since for the space of five and twenty miles； not their faces； but only their
backs were to be seen。 The fact is； that never was victory more complete；
never was vanity more humbled； nor cruelty more justly requited than in
the defeat of this tyrannical man。 Its first effect was to raise the spirits of
the people； its ultimate consequence was the downfall of Cornwallis and
peace to the country。 But most severe trials are yet to be surmounted； and
patriotism the most exemplary remains yet to be recorded。
On the day the last letter of Greene； of the 23d Jan。 was written； Gen。
Marion and Col。 Lee projected a joint expedition to surprise Georgetown。
Capts。 Carnes and Rudulph； with ninety men； dropped down the Pedee
from Snow's island in a boat； to fall in on the back of the town by Winyaw
bay； while Marion and Lee were to come down with the main body by
land。 Carnes with his party went ashore at Mitchell's landing； and
marched over his rice…field bank into the town at day light。 The surprise
would have been complete； had they pushed up directly to the redoubt； but
they delayed too long on the Bay。 They took the commandant； Col。
Campbell； out of his bed； and killed Major Irvine and some others； but
Marion and Lee could not arrive in time to cooperate。 The redoubt was
alarmed and placed in a state of defence； and Carnes was obliged to retreat。
The great cause of delay was the inclination to take the commandant； by
which they lost the fort and the town。 Lieut。 Cryer killed Irvine； by whose
orders he had received five hundred lashes some time before； for
attempting to take away his horse from Georgetown。
On the 28th Jan。 Gen。 Huger transmitted an order from Greene to
Marion； to strike at the posts beyond Santee。 But this Gen。 Marion had
anticipated。 From Cordes' plantation； in advance； at the distance of one
hundred miles from Greene； and on the 29th Jan。 he had detached Col。
Postell and Major Postell on this important service。 The latter had but
thirty…eight men； and it is presumed from circumstances； the colonel had
about an equal number。 The colonel burnt a great quantity of valuable
stores at Manigault's ferry； and the major a great many more in its vicinity。
Thence the latter posted to Keithfield； near Monk's corner； and burnt
fourteen waggons loaded with soldiers' clothing； baggage and other
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valuable stores； and took prisoners about forty British regulars； without
losing a man。 To the Postells 〃nothing indeed appeared difficult。〃 They
received the thanks of Gen。 Greene。
About the beginning of this year； Gen。 Marion appointed two aids；
Thomas Elliott and Lewis Ogier； the first of whom conducted the most of
his correspondence。 He formed a mess of which Col。 Hugh Horry and Col。
James Postell were inmates； and apparently his principal counsellors； Serjt。
Davis was his caterer； and supplied his dinners； ~such as they were~：
heretofore he had seldom any thing but meat and sweet potatoes； and often
not both of these at a time； but now he had the luxury of rice。 He did what
was of more consequence than this； he put in requisition all the saws in the
country； and all the blacksmiths； and made swords for four troops of
militia cavalry。 He had so little ammunition this expedient was
necessary。 He gave the command of this corps to Col。 Peter Horry； who
had been a captain with him in the second regiment and had been an
excellent infantry officer。 His major was Benson； and his captains John
Baxter； John Postell； Daniel Conyers and James M‘Cauley； John T。
Greene soon after succeeded Baxter； who was appointed colonel on the
resignation of Ervine。 Hugh Horry had command of M‘Donald's regiment；
who was a prisoner on parole； and ~his~ officers have been mentioned。
Capt。 Wm。 M‘Cottry commanded a company of riflemen who were the
dread of the enemy。 As the brigade was not strong enough for this corps of
horse to act in conjunction； single troops were commonly detached by the
general。 At the head of a party of this cavalry Col。 Peter Horry had soon an
opportunity to make a trial of his skill in cavalry evolutions。 He met and
charged a troop of British horse on Waccamaw neck； but by his own
account he appears to have been rather worsted； for he was unhorsed
himself and his life saved by Serjt。 M‘Donald； however he brought off
some prisoners。 Major John Postell； who was mentioned before； was
stationed to guard the lower part of Pedee； had better fortune。 On the 18th
Jan。 Capt。 James Depeyster； with twenty…nine grenadiers of the British
army； had posted himself in the dwelling house of the major's father； and
Postell commanded but twenty…eight militia men。 Towards day on the
morning after； the major； by knowing well the ground and avoiding the
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Life of Marion。
sentinels； got possession of the kitchen； and summoned Depeyster to
surrender； this was at first refused； and the major set fire to the kitchen。 He
then summoned him a second time； with the positive declaration if he did
not surrender he would burn the house； the British being intimidated； laid
down their arms and surrendered unconditionally。
From a part of the correspondence of Gen。 Marion with Capt。
Saunders； now commandant of Georgetown； it appears that he had either
soon after the 17th Jan。 or before that； imprisoned Mr。 John Postell； the
father of the major； Gen。 Marion offers 〃to exchange him； and hopes
humanity will induce Capt。 Saunders to treat him like a gentleman。〃* Mr。
John Postell was at least seventy years of age； and much afflicted with
disease； but possessed the spirit of a Cato。
* Marion's letter； 22d February。
Soon after this； Col。 Peter Horry had a conflict with Major Ganey at
White's bridge； near Georgetown； which had a more decisive effect than
could have been expected at the time。 Early in the morning he made a
charge upon a party who were killing beeves at the camp near that place。
They fled and were pursued through the woods on the left towards
Georgetown； with some disorder on the side of Horry。 In the mean time
the firing was heard in the town； and their tory friends came out to their
assistance。 A kind of savage warfare now took place in the woods；
between the Sampit and Black river roads； during the whole morning。 A
party of Horry's was at one time seen advancing； and the tories retreating；
then again the tories were advancing； and a party of Horry's retreating。 At
one time the commander was left as he thought alone； and Capt。 Lewis at
the head of a party was rushing on to shoot him down； when suddenly
from behind a tree off went the gun of a boy by the name of Gwyn； and
shot Lewis； whose party thinking more guns were behind trees ran away。
As Lewis fell his gun went off and killed Horry's horse。 Finally the tories
were routed。 In this affair Serjt。 M‘Donald performed essential service； he
had singled out Ganey as his object of attack； and the latter fled from him。
In going at full speed down the Black river ro
