life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第30节
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Burdell's plantation seven miles from Eutaw； where he was joined by Gen。
Marion。 Gen。 Stewart had posted himself to great advantage at Eutaw； his
head quarters were in a strong brick house； which stood at that time a little
to the west of the spring or rather fountain。 In his rear； to the south； there
was an open field； in his front a thick wood covered with pines and
scrubby oaks。 Below the fountain on his right there was a deep valley；
through which the Eutaw creek； five or six feet deep； takes its course
towards the north…east。 Between the fountain and the brick house the
Congaree road passes to the north。
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Life of Marion。
* Col。 Doyle gives him that title in a letter hereafter noticed。
It was down this road Gen。 Greene marched to attack the British army；
on the memorable 8th of September； 1781。 The effective force of each
army was nearly equal； except the cavalry； in which Greene would have
had the advantage； if the nature of the ground had permitted the use of it；
for none of the ground was then open； and particularly on his left it was
covered by scrubby oaks。 While moving down the road in the morning
with much circumspection； Col。 Lee in advance met a party which covered
another that was foraging。 Several of these were killed； and their captain
and forty men taken。 Pressing forward； Lee soon met another party； with
whom another action commenced； and he requested the support of artillery
to counteract that of the enemy； which had now opened。 Two field pieces
were quickly brought up by Capt。 Gaines； and began to fire。
During this firing both armies formed。 The South Carolina militia
under Marion； and the North Carolina under Col。 Malmedy occupied the
first line； the South Carolinians on the right。 The continentals formed the
second line。 The Virginians under Col。 Campbell； occupied the right。 Gen。
Sumner with the North Carolina new levied troops； the centre； and the
Marylanders； under Cols。 Williams and Howard； the left； on the
Charleston road。 Lee had charge of the right； and Henderson of the left
flank； with their cavalry。 Two field pieces were disposed in the front and
two in the rear line。 Washington's horse and Kirkwood's infantry formed
the reserve。
The enemy was drawn up in one line； the Buffs on the right； Cruger's
corps in the centre； and the 63d and 64th on the left。 Major Marjoribanks
with one battalion of light infantry was posted on the Eutaw creek；
flanking the Buffs； and the cavalry under Major Coffin were drawn up in
the open field in the rear； these were not numerous。 The artillery were
posted on the Charleston road and the one leading to Roach's plantation。
The action commenced about a mile from the fountain。 Marion and
Pickens continued to advance and fire； but the North Carolina militia
broke at the third round。 Sumner with the new raised troops； then
occupied their place； and behaved gallantly。 Marion's marksmen firing
with great precision； and galling the enemy greatly； had now advanced
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Life of Marion。
more than half a mile； when the British charged upon them with fixed
bayonets； and Marion ordered a retreat。 The Virginia and Maryland troops
now advanced with trailed arms； and scarcely had Marion cleared the right
of the Virginians； when the crash of bayonets was heard。 But by degrees it
receded； and becoming less and less audible； a loud shout of huzza for
America！ told the issue of the contest。 Gen。 Marion now rallied his men。
Col。 Henderson of the South Carolina state troops was wounded early in
the action； and the command devolved on Col。 Wade Hampton； who made
a spirited charge； but being warmly received； Col。 Washington brought up
the reserve to his aid； and at first charged so briskly that the enemy gave
way； but advancing into the thickest part of the woods； Marjoribanks came
to the assistance of the Buffs； Washington's horse was killed under him；
and he was wounded and taken。 After this； and the loss of many officers
and men； the corps was drawn off by Capt。 Parsons。 Marjoribanks though
victorious on the right； now fell back to assist Stewart； and Major
Sheridan with the New York volunteers； threw himself into the brick house。
Stewart was busily engaged in rallying his men under cover of the fire
from Sheridan； and Greene now ordered Lee to charge upon Coffin。 Lee at
the beginning of the action had advanced with the legionary infantry upon
the left of the enemy； and ordered his cavalry under Eggleston to follow in
the rear； but sending for Eggleston； at present； he found that by some
mistaken order he had gone to assist Washington。 Thus a most favourable
opportunity of completing the rout already commenced； was irretrievably
lost。 Greene had now brought up his artillery against the brick house； and
sent for Marion who came to his assistance； but the weight of his metal
was too light to effect a breach。 Here； after losing many men and making
unavailing efforts； he was obliged to desist； bringing off one field piece；
which he had taken from the enemy； and losing two of his own。 Thus
Sheridan and Marjoribanks saved the British army。
Gen。 Greene； in this manner disappointed in the most sanguine
expectation of a complete victory； collected all his wounded； except those
under the fire of the enemy； and placing a strong picket on the field of
battle； retired sullenly from the ground in search of water。 The battle had
taken place on a dry thirsty soil； and in a hot day； and the want of water
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Life of Marion。
was severely felt。 Four or five miles up the Congaree road； there is a
remarkably boggy pond； still the dread of travellers； the cavalry had
passed through it； twice or thrice in the course of the day； and it was now
become a filthy puddle； but into this did the men as soon as they arrived；
throw themselves headlong； over the shoulders of each other； and drink
with an avidity which seemed insatiable。 This was the ~first water in
Greene's rear~； which is mentioned by historians； as being resorted to by
his army。* The battle had lasted more than three hours。
* Plenty of water might have been procured； in Eutaw creek； some
hundred yards from the battle ground； and why the retreat was not directed
there； or to Santee river； distant a mile； the author is at a loss to discover：
unless it was that Greene's force was scattered up the road； and he wished
to concentrate it。 It was not from dread of the enemy。
Next morning； Marion and Lee were ordered by a circuitous route to
gain the enemy's rear； in order； as it was expected they would retreat； to
retard their march and prevent their being reinforced。 On the evening of
the 9th of September； Stewart piled up the arms of his dead and wounded；
and set them on fire； destroyed his stores； left seventy of his own wounded；
and some of Greene's； at the Eutaw； and retreated precipitately towards
Monk's corner。 So hurried was his retreat for fifteen miles； that he brought
his first division within a few miles of M‘Arthur； coming to his aid； before
Marion and Lee reached Ferguson's swamp； their point of destination。 To
fight between two fires； became hazardous； and the junction of the enemy
was effected。 Capt。 O‘Neal of Lee's horse； fell upon the cavalry of their
rear guard； and took most of them prisoners； but Stewart continued his
retreat to Wantoot； （Ravenel's plantation；） about twenty miles below
Eutaw； and Greene pursued to Martin's tavern； fifteen miles。 In this battle；
the British lost by Greene's account six hundred men； killed and wounded；
and five hundred made prisoners。 According to Stewart's return； he lost
eighty…five killed；* three hundred fifty…one wounded； and two hundred
fifty…seven missing。 The loss of the Americans was five hundred k
