life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第25节
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book in his camp； was justifiable as a matter of retaliation； to shoot down
their pickets and cut off their sentinels wherever he could find them； and
always to fight such invaders in their own barbarian manner。 Nothing ever
showed； in such a strong light； the plain good sense of Marion。 Col。
Watson had orders to burn houses； but did not however appear to wish to
carry them rigourously into effect。 It is believed he burnt but two； one was
the house of Lieut。 Dickson； who was with Marion； the other belonged to
Nathaniel Dwight； of Waccamaw neck。 Upon a retrospection； Col。
Watson's character appears in a favourable point of view； and； as far as
was consistent with orders； his humanity is undoubted。
On the 18th of April； Col。 William Harden； acting under the orders of
Marion； took the British fort at Pocotaligo； with one militia colonel； one
major； three captains； three lieutenants； sixty privates and twenty…two
dragoons； prisoners。 He writes； 〃I wish you would send some commissions；
with your orders。 It seems they wait for Col。 Hayne； and he says he cannot
act without a commission； and I am sure； if he turns out； at least two
hundred will join him。 If so； I am very certain that this part of the country
may be held。〃 Every one has either read or heard of the subsequent
melancholy fate of Col。 Hayne； but more of that in the sequel。
Major John Postell had been pitched upon as the first victim。 After
distinguishing himself； as related； he obtained leave from his general to go
with a flag to Georgetown； to obtain the release of his father； （who was
still a prisoner） and of some others。 Capt。 Saunders； now the commandant；
detained him； and threw him also into gaol； on the plea of his having
broken his parole；* and； in a long correspondence with Gen。 Marion； he
and Col。 Balfour； the commandant of Charleston； vindicated the measure；
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Life of Marion。
as consistent with the laws of war and nations。 It appears Balfour was the
civilian of the British while here in power。 He was just such a minion as
would have suited the purposes of Tiberius Caesar。 He had several
hundreds of Americans pining in want and misery in loathsome prison…
ships； and in dungeons under the Exchange； damp and noisome； which he
called ~his provost~。
* By a copy of Major Postell's parole； preserved in Horry's
correspondence； it appears he was paroled in Charleston； but； soon after；
the British or tories stripped him of all his property； which was a breach of
it on their part。 In a letter to Gen。 Marion； 14th Jan。 he says； 〃My honour is
all I have left my family has been reduced to beg their bread。〃
He writes thus to Saunders； concerning Major Postell； 〃send him by
water；〃 （by land was not safe） 〃by a fast sailer under a guard ~be so
good~ as to let him have no chance of escaping。〃 ~Be so good~ here；
meant to clap him in irons。 This royal tiger； secure in his jungle； was now
crouching to spring upon what he deemed defenceless prey； but； while
reasoning about the law of nations； Saunders had the folly to send out Capt。
Merrett with a flag。 Marion immediately detained him； and swore a bitter
oath； that if they touched a hair of Postell's head he would hang Merrett。
Major Postell lost all further opportunity of distinguishing himself； and
underwent a long and rigourous imprisonment； but this had become a
common case； and the British knew Marion too well to carry matters
further。 On the 25th of April；* Gen。 Greene lay at Hobkirk hill； at that time
a mile out of Camden； but now partly in the town。 His army consisted of
only about seven hundred continentals； and as many militia； his left rested
on Pinetree creek； and his right extended across the road leading to
Lancaster； uncovered by any obstructions。 Having just received a
comfortable supply of provisions； which they much wanted； his men were
employed in cooking and washing。 At this juncture； Rawdon sallied out of
Camden； at the head of nine hundred men； his whole disposable force。
Between him and Greene； along Pinetree creek； were thick woods and
shrubbery； and he preferred this route for concealment。 His advance was
not suspected； until he was fired upon by the American pickets； but these
received him bravely； and during the contest with them； Greene formed his
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Life of Marion。
army。 The Virginia brigade； under Gen。 Huger； took the right； the
Maryland brigade； under Col。 Williams； the left。 The continentals were
thus disposed in one line； and the artillery； under Col。 Harrison； were in
the centre。 The reserve were the cavalry； under Col。 Washington； and two
hundred and fifty North Carolina militia； under Col。 Reade。 Rawdon
advanced with the King's American regiment on the right； the New York
volunteers in the centre； and the 63d on the left； his right supported by
Robertson's corps； and his left by the volunteers of Ireland。 Greene
discovering his narrow front； ordered Col。 Campbell； of the Virginia； and
Col。 Ford； of the Maryland line； to turn his flanks； the centre regiments to
advance with fixed bayonets； and Washington to gain his rear。 Rawdon
perceiving his danger； brought up the volunteers of Ireland into line。 The
battle opened with vigour； and Huger evidently gained ground。
Washington in the rear； was carrying all before him； and Col。 Hawes in the
centre； was descending the hill with fixed bayonets。 At this flattering
moment； the veteran regiment of Gunby； the 1st Maryland； fired contrary
to orders； while Capt。 Armstrong； with two sections； was moving ahead
upon the enemy。 Gunby； being anxious to lead his regiment into battle
thoroughly compacted； ordered Armstrong back； instead of making him
the point of view in forming。 Retrograde being the consequence of this
order； the British shouted and pressed forward； and the regiment of Gunby；
considered the bulwark of the army； never recovered from its panic。
Williams； Gunby； and Howard； all strove in vain to bring it to order。 The
Virginia brigade and second Maryland regiment maintained the contest
bravely； but the 2d Maryland； feeling the effect of the retreat of the 1st；
became somewhat deranged； and its commander； Lieut。 Col。 Ford； being
wounded in repressing it； this corps also fell back。 Rawdon's right having
now gained the summit； and flanking Hawes； Gen。 Greene ordered a
retreat； which was covered by Hawes。 Col。 Washington having gained his
point of attack； and taken two hundred prisoners； was confident of victory；
but seeing the retreat； he paroled the officers on the field； and relinquished
all the prisoners but fifty。 These he brought off； and made good his retreat；
with the loss of only three men。 Greene's field pieces were now likely to
fall into the hands of the enemy； and seeing Capt。 John Smith；** with his
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Life of Marion。
company of picked light infantry； marching off the field in good order； he
rode up and called to him； 〃Smith； my brave fellow； save the field pieces。〃
He immediately fell in the rear； and executed his orders； with the loss of
his whole company。 All were killed but one man and Smith； and they were
made prisoners。 Gen。 Greene rallied his army at the pass of Sanders' creek；
six miles from Camden； and soon after occupied the position Gates had
intended to take； at Gum swamp。 The British lost between sixty and
seventy； and Greene two hundred men。 This affair shows upon how small
an incident the fate of war generally depends。
* This is partly extracted from Lee's Memoirs。 ** Capt。 Smith；
afterwards well known in this state as Col。 John Smith； of Darlington；
surrendered himself prisoner to a lieutenant o
