life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第23节
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from her foot； and flung it in his face； saying； 〃coward！ go meet him。〃 In
those days kid slippers were not fashionable。
To increase the panic of the British； Serjt。 M‘Donald； with a rifle； shot
Lieut。 Torriano through the knee； at the distance of three hundred yards。
This appears to have softened even the proud spirit of Watson； for； on the
15th of March； he wrote a letter to Marion； stating； 〃we have an officer
and some men wounded； whom I should be glad to send where they could
be better taken care of。 I wish； therefore； to know if they will be permitted
to pass to Charleston。〃 Gen。 Marion wrote for a list of them； and next day
sent the following pass： 〃Gen。 Marion's pass； granted to Lieut。 Torriano
and twelve privates。 One officer and six wounded men； with six
attendants； of the British troops； are permitted to pass to Nelson's ferry；
thence to Charleston； unmolested；〃 &c。 Col。 Watson was now literally
besieged； his supplies were cut off on all sides； and so many of his men
killed； that； he is said by tradition； to have sunk them in Black river to hide
their number。 There is a quarry of rock in the neighbourhood of the place；
and the only one in that part of the country； where； it is said； he sunk his
men。 At length Watson； decamping； made a forced march down the
Georgetown road； but paused at Ox swamp； six miles below the lower
bridge。 On each side of the road there was then a thick； boggy swamp
trees were felled across the causeway three bridges were destroyed； and
Marion was watching him with the eye of an eagle。 Thus situated； and
having to force a more difficult pass at Johnson's swamp； ten miles ahead；
Watson most prudently wheeled to the right； and passed on； through open
piney woods； to the Santee road； distant about fifteen miles。 When
overtaken by Marion upon this road； his infantry were passing like horses
at a full trot。 Here he had not so many obstacles to encounter as on the
other road； and； by wheeling covertly and marching so briskly； had gained
considerable ground。 However； Col。 Peter Horry now advanced ahead
with the cavalry and riflemen； and annoyed him in flank and in front；
while Marion attacked in the rear； until they reached Sampit bridge； where
the last skirmish took place。 News from Doyle appears to have arrested
Marion's progress； and summoned him to new perils。
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Watson reached Georgetown； with two waggon loads of wounded
men。* It is evident from an intercepted letter of his of the 20th of March；
that he had been hemmed in so closely that he was in want of every thing；
and had taken this route to Georgetown； fifty miles out of his way； to
obtain supplies。 From Fort Watson to the lower bridge； he had not
advanced more than forty miles on his premeditated route to join Doyle。
* Horry's Narrative。
In the mean time； Col。 Doyle； an active； enterprising officer； had
driven Col。 Ervin； who commanded only a weak guard； from Snow's
island。 But before retreating he had Marion's arms； stores and ammunition
thrown into Lynch's creek。 This； at the crisis； was a most serious loss。
From Sampit； Gen。 Marion marched back towards Snow's island； on
the way he received intelligence that Doyle lay at Witherspoon's ferry； and
he proceeded forthwith to attack him。 Doyle had taken a position on the
north side of the ferry； and when M‘Cottry； in advance； with his mounted
riflemen； arrived at the creek； the British were scuttling a ferry boat on the
opposite side。 He took a position behind trees； and gave them a well
directed and deadly fire； they ran to their arms and returned a prodigious
volley； which did no more harm than that of knocking off the limbs of
trees among the riflemen。 Doyle had received news； which occasioned him
to retreat for Camden。 The ferry boat being now scuttled and sunk on the
opposite side； and Lynch's creek being swollen； and at this place wide and
deep； Gen。 Marion proceeded up the creek； and swam over it at the first
place he reached； five miles above Witherspoon's。 This was the shortest
route to come at Doyle。 He pursued all that day； and the next morning till
nine or ten o'clock； when he came to a house where Doyle had destroyed
all his heavy baggage； and had proceeded on with great celerity towards
Camden。 This seemed mysterious at the time； but here Marion halted。
It appears from what follows； shortly； as well as from Horry's account；
that this pursuit was undertaken by Gen。 Marion with the desperate
resolution of either selling his own life and that of his followers； as dearly
as possible； or of cutting his way through the enemy to make good a
retreat into North Carolina。 Happily for his country； Doyle evaded him；
and thus prevented the dangerous attempt。 The general now received the
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Life of Marion。
melancholy account of the extent of his loss in ammunition and other
stores on Snow's island； which under present circumstances appeared
irretrievable。 However he was but little disposed to brood over
misfortunes； and if he had； his enemies were not inclined to allow him
leisure。 In the mean time Col。 Watson； having refreshed and reinforced his
party； and received a fresh supply of military stores and provisions at
Georgetown； proceeded again towards the Pedee。 On his march he had
nothing to impede him but a few bridges broken down。 He took the nearest
route across Black river at Wragg's ferry； and crossing the Pedee at
Euhany； and the little Pedee at Potato bed ferry； he halted at Catfish creek；
a mile from where Marion court house now stands。 Here Ganey's party
flocked in to him in such numbers that he was soon nine hundred strong。
Gen。 Marion returning from the pursuit of Doyle； and hearing of the
approach of Watson； crossed the Pedee and encamped at the Warhees； five
miles from him。 At this place he consulted with his field officers then in
camp； and informed them that although his force was now recruited to five
hundred men； that yet he had no more ammunition than about two rounds
to each man； and asked them 〃if he should retreat into the upper parts of
North Carolina； or if necessary to the mountains； whether they would
follow him。〃 With a firm and unanimous voice the resolution to follow
him was adopted。 These field officers； whose names should be engraved
on tablets of brass； were Cols。 Peter Horry； Hugh Horry； James Postell and
John Ervin； and Majors John James； John Baxter and Alexander Swinton。
Not long after this resolution was taken； Gen。 Marion met Capt。 Gavin
Witherspoon； who said to him； 〃General had we not better fight Col。
Watson before any more tories join him。〃 〃My friend；〃 replied he； 〃I know
that would be best； but we have not ammunition。〃 〃Why； general；〃 said
Witherspoon； 〃here is my powder horn full；〃 holding it up。 〃Ah！ my
friend；〃 said Marion； 〃you are an extraordinary soldier； but as for others；
there are not two rounds to a man。〃 Witherspoon passed off in silent
sorrow； but as soon as he reached his camp； met Baker Johnson； an old
tried whig； who begged him for God's sake to give him something to eat；
and he set before him some cold rice in a pot。 While Johnson was eating；
Witherspoon sat pondering over what he had heard for some time； but at
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Life of Marion。
last inquired； 〃What news； Johnson？〃 〃Fine news；〃 said he； 〃I saw a great
number of continental troops； horse and foot； crossing at Long bluff。〃
〃Come and tell the general；〃 said Witherspoon。 〃No；〃 replied the other； 〃I
am starving with hunger； and if the general wants the news he must come
to me。〃 Witherspoon immediately posted off to the general； who lost no
time in g
