life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第32节
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Life of Marion。
whole town； except a few houses on the outskirts； was burnt。 No doubt
Manson had his orders from Balfour。
As the continental troops were without pay and clothing； a plan was
adopted by the governor and council to impress all the indigo for public
service which could be found； and it was expected that it would now serve
instead of money as a medium of exchange。 The principle had been
authorised by an old militia law； but it was a rigourous measure and a poor
expedient； although the best that could be devised at the time。 Many thrifty
planters had hoarded up their indigo； ever since the commencement of the
war； hoping some day to turn it into money。 Capt。 Wm。 Richardson； of
Bloomhill； was appointed commissary general by the governor； and
assistants were appointed by him in the several districts of the state； who
went about with press warrants in their pockets； and parties to assist them；
and set a price upon each man's indigo； for which they gave him a receipt；
promising payment from the state。 The general depot was fixed at
Bloomhill。
It was in contemplation at the time likewise to raise two regiments of
state troops to be attached to Marion's brigade； and for this purpose all the
horses fit for cavalry were impressed； except those of men actually in
service。 These were indeed high handed measures； but appeared necessary
at the time。 Winter was approaching； and Gen。 Greene states in a letter to
Col。 Peter Horry； of the 11th of November； 〃Blankets are so scarce with us；
that more than three…fourths of our men are without。〃 A few goods fit for
service were afterwards purchased for indigo； but at an enormous
advance。*
* Instance New England rum at 3 75。 Soldier's saddles 25。
Blankets none as yet。 Best indigo in exchange three shillings sterling。
Letter 9th October。
On the 27th of September Gov。 Rutledge had ordered by proclamation；
that the disaffected should come in within thirty days and do duty for six
months。 This measure brought down disgrace； and soon after nearly ruin
upon Marion's brigade。 This proclamation is long but to the following
effect：
〃That whereas； the British had been compelled to evacuate all their
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Life of Marion。
strong posts； and could no more give protection to their adherents； and as
many of them still remained with the British or lurked in secret places。
And whereas； the commandant of Charleston； having sent beyond sea the
wives and families of all the avowed friends of America in town and
country； and the brigadiers of militia had been ordered to retaliate by
sending the wives and families of such adherents within the British lines；
and it is understood that they are in great distress and poverty。 Therefore； a
free pardon is offered for the offence of having borne arms； provided they
surrender themselves up to a brigadier of the state within thirty days； and
do constant duty in the militia service for six months； and upon
performance of these conditions their wives and children were allowed to
return； except such as having joined the enemy； were called upon by two
proclamations to return in forty days； in pursuance of an ordinance of the
legislature。 All such as were sent out of the state for refusing to take the
oath required of them by law and had returned。 All such as subscribed
addresses to Sir H。 Clinton and Lord Cornwallis； congratulating them on
their victories。 All such as hold or have held military commissions。 And all
those whose conduct has been so infamous that they cannot consistent
with policy and justice partake of the rights of citizens。 But if they
surrender to the commander in chief for the time； and were judged
inadmissible； they should not be detained。〃
This abstract has been given to show the singular manner of legislating
in those times。* Not； but that it was necessary thus to legislate； as it was
certainly better to have some kind of civil government than none。 The
raising of two regiments of cavalry was suggested by Gen。 Greene； and
highly approved both by the governor and Marion； and it certainly
promised well at first。 Col。 Hezekiah Maham； who had been elected by the
provincial congress a captain in the first rifle regiment； when they passed
an act to raise two such regiments； in March； 1776； was now appointed
commander of one corps； and Col。 Peter Horry commander of the other；
he had been captain in the 2d regiment from the beginning of 1775； and
was the older officer of the two； the reader will hereafter see the effect of
this observation。
* Governor Rutledge had but two of his council with him at this
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Life of Marion。
time； Daniel Huger and John L。 Gervais。
As they had no bounty money to give； recruiting went on slowly； and
they fell upon the following expedient； which was warmly opposed by
Gov。 Rutledge at first； but it is supposed was favoured by Marion。 All men
that could hire a substitute in the regiments now raising were exempted
from militia duty。 This soon drew from the ranks the best of Marion's
men； men who had served from the first； and had left their families at
home in huts； and still in distress； but they could yet spare one or two
negroes； which they did not much value； to hire a substitute to do duty for
them。 The war was now moved comparatively far from them； and they
sighed for home。 In the mean time； the six months men came tumbling in
by scores； to supply their places。 Their new white feathers； fine coats； new
saddles and bridles； and famished horses； showed they had lately been in
the British garrison。 These were not the men to endure privations and fight
their country's battles。 Those of Marion's tried men who remained； could
never confide in them； and now； as is always usual in armies； the most
unprincipled men enlisted in the new regiments； but were not kept in the
discipline necessary for taming such characters； or making them good
soldiers。 When Maham had got about seventy men and Horry not yet a
troop； both their commissions being of the same date； they quarreled about
precedence in rank； and although Gov。 Rutledge reasoned； Gen。 Greene
persuaded； and Marion threatened； they could never be reconciled。 Maham
appears to have been very refractory on this occasion； and would listen to
no accommodation。 While in the end； Horry acted much in the wrong。
There are in the correspondence of that day many letters of Gov。
Rutledge； several of which； without the suppression of names； it would be
highly injurious to the feelings of many to publish at the present time； the
rest are not interesting； except a few which show the spirit of the times；
and are mostly long and able constructions of militia laws； now obsolete。
About this time he issued a proclamation suspending the acts of assembly；
and making paper money* a tender in law； which； although strong； was
certainly a just proceeding。
* For an example of its present depreciation； see p。 152。 ＇Detached
Narratives for 1781； Paragraph 6 list of prices。 A。 L。＇
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Life of Marion。
Col。 Maham having now raised and equipped part of his cavalry；
passed the Santee； burnt some British stores in the house of Sir John
Colleton； at Fairlawn； and took some prisoners。 On the 16th of October；
Gen。 Greene writes to Marion； 〃Col。 Maham's success is highly
honourable to himself and corps； and I hope will be followed by future
strokes of good fortune。〃 This hope was not realized。 A letter from Col。
Doyle； of the Bri
