life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第31节
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eighty…five killed；* three hundred fifty…one wounded； and two hundred
fifty…seven missing。 The loss of the Americans was five hundred killed and
wounded； among whom were sixty officers。 The disparity in these returns
of the different commanders is great； but Greene's prisoners could be
counted at leisure。 Lieut。 Col。 Campbell fell as he was leading the Virginia
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line to the charge。 Gen。 Greene says of him； 〃though he fell with
distinguished marks of honour； yet his loss is much to be regretted； he was
the great soldier； and the firm patriot。〃 Gen。 Marion had many of his men
and Col。 Hugh Horry wounded； but fewer killed than at Quimby； among
the latter was the brave Capt。 John Simons； of Pedee。
* Maj。 Marjoribanks； by whom in conjunction with Sheridan； the
British army was saved； lies buried on the Santee canal road； about half a
mile below the chapel； he was a brave and generous enemy； and on an old
head board； the following inscription is still to be seen： 〃JOHN
MARJORIBANKS； Esqr。 late major to the 19th regt。 inf'y and
commanding a flank bat'n。 of his majesty's army。 ~Obiit~。 22d October；
1781。〃
The British shot generally about five feet too high； but the wind blew
that day favourably for Marion's marksmen； and they did great execution。
They fired from fifteen to twenty rounds each man。 Both sides claimed the
victory； but the fruits of one were with the Americans。
It being now autumn； and his men sickly； Gen。 Greene retired to the
High Hills of Santee； his favourite encampment； Col。 Lee calls them； 〃The
benign hills of Santee。〃 At this time Gen。 Greene encamped on the range
of hills immediately below Stateburgh。 His head quarters were at Mr。
James'； on the right going downwards； a beautiful spot； but now deserted。
Many of Greene's wounded officers and men died； and lie buried on a hill
near where the author is now writing。 An officer； who died of his wound；
（Capt。 De Wolfe；） lies interred near De Wolfe's spring； on his plantation。
He was a most gallant soldier。 No mound or grave stone points out the
spot where such brave men repose。 Even the mounds； where the dead at
Eutaw were buried； have been lately violated by the cutting of a ditch
through them。 Alas！ my country； why have such things been suffered？
Marion retired to his favourite encampment； at Peyre's plantation； in
Santee river swamp。 On the banks of the river at that time there were
extensive cornfields on all the plantations； and the most of the low places
were cultivated in rice。* The crops of three or four years past had been
housed； and kept out of the enemy's reach by the difficulty of approach
and their retired situation。 Here the general fixed himself； much to his
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liking； in a cane brake； about a quarter of a mile from the river； which
however was soon cleared to thatch the huts of himself and his men。 Some
lakes which skirted the high land； rendered the post difficult of approach；
and here was forage for horses； and beef； pork； rice； and green corn** for
the men； in the greatest abundance。 Such a place suited Marion's views
exactly； and here； or in the neighbourhood； he encamped often； but did not
stay long at present。 It appears now there was very little sickness at that
day。
* Very soon after the revolutionary war； this scene was entirely
changed。 Planters； in clearing their land； had rolled logs and other rubbish
from their fields； into the lakes and creeks leading from the river； and
many threw trees into it to get them quickly out of the way。 The upper
country also soon became more opened； and gave freer vent from above to
the waters。 There came on a succession of six or seven years； which were
wet； and the consequence was； that the usual passages for the waters
below being obstructed； they flooded the low grounds； and ruined the
planters。 Where fine corn grew at that time； trees may now be seen a foot
and a half in diameter； in the midst of briars and cane brakes。 **
Commonly called ~mutton~ corn； a corruption of ~matin~； that is ~early~
corn。
Soon after the battle of Eutaw； Gen。 Alexander Leslie took command
of the British army。 On the 17th of September Gen。 Greene wrote to
Marion： 〃I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the arrival of Count
De Grasse； in Chesapeake bay； with twenty…eight sail of the line； a number
of frigates and six thousand land forces； Gen。 Washington is also arrived
in Virginia to take command of the army。 From these circumstances； and
from some further intelligence of Lord Cornwallis' movements； it is highly
probable that his lordship will endeavour to retreat through North Carolina
to Charleston。 I must therefore entreat that you will use every exertion to
collect a large force of militia together； and as speedy as possible； that we
may be able to intercept his lordship。〃 As Gen。 Marion's scouts at this time
frequently passed round the enemy； and harrassed them much between
their camp and Charleston； it has often been a matter of surprise why he
should recross the Santee； but this letter explains it； for he crossed it to
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Life of Marion。
collect his men； and he encamped at Cantey's plantation a considerable
time for that purpose。 On the 1st of Sept。 Gov。 Rutledge had ordered out
only the half of the militia； now all were again directed to take the field as
formerly。
Another good reason for Gen。 Greene and Marion's lying so long
inactive at this season； is to be found in a letter in the correspondence
mentioned； and though the date is later than the present period； yet the fact
comes in properly here。 Gen。 Marion； as it appears from what follows after；
had written to Greene and the governor for ammunition on the 9th of
October。 On the 10th； Gov。 Rutledge answers his letter： 〃I received yours
yesterday； by Mr。 Boone； and wrote in the most pressing terms to Col。
Williams； （Gen。 Greene not being yet returned from Charlotte； for which
place he set out on Friday） for a supply of ammunition； I wish to God it
was in my power to send you ammunition instantly； but it is not。〃 Col。
Otho Williams； who was second in command of the army； writes to Gen。
Marion； and； although his letter is not dated； the connection of the
correspondence is evident： 〃As Gen。 Greene is not in camp； I took the
liberty of opening your letter of the 9th instant。 Our stock of ammunition
is quite exhausted we have not an ounce of powder； or a cartridge； in
store。 The arrival of some military stores which we expect every hour； will
put it in the general's power to supply you amply。 His excellency Gov。
Rutledge has intimated that you meditated an expedition over the Santee；
in making your determination； if it is not settled； permit me to recommend
to your consideration； that the general depends upon you entirely for
intelligence of the enemy's motion。〃 These extracts of letters must be read
with astonishment。 With what uncommon fortitude must such men have
been endowed； to bear up under such continued discouragements。 As Gen。
Marion lay a long time here； it will give occasion to relate some other
matters； which as fortunate events have for some time past thickened；
would have perplexed the narrative to have introduced before。
About the 10th August； Georgetown was burnt。 One Manson；
commanding a small armed vessel； arrived within gunshot of the town；
and sent a party in a boat under cover of his guns； and set fire to some
houses on a wharf at the lower end of the Bay； and the wind favouring； the
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