life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第44节
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with the loss only of ten men killed and fifty…five wounded。 Our intrepid
party pursued the enemy upwards of twenty miles。 About thirty
commissioned officers are among the prisoners。 Col。 Tarleton had his
horse killed and was wounded； but made his escape with two hundred of
his troops。 This important intelligence I wish you to communicate to Lieut。
Col。 Lee if possible。 I have not time to write him。 If he has not attacked
Georgetown； I wish he could privately transmit it to the garrison。
I am with esteem； Your most obedient humble servant； N。 Greene。
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Life of Marion。
Extract of a Letter from Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； on Pedee； Jan。 25； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
Your letter of the 20th is before me； before this I hope you have
received the agreeable news of the defeat of Lieut。 Col。 Tarleton by Gen。
Morgan； after this nothing will appear difficult。
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Gen。 Huger to Brig。 Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； Hick's Creek； Jan。 28； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
Gen。 Greene wishes that you will attempt to cross the Santee； and if
possible reach some of the enemy's magazines and destroy them。 I am
persuaded you will not leave any practicable measure unattempted to
effect this business。 The execution is left entirely to your judgment and
address。
I am； dear Sir； With much esteem； Your most obedient humble
servant； Is。 Huger。
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Gen。 Marion to Capt。 John Postell。
~Cordes' Plantation； Jan。 29； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
You will cross Santee river with twenty…five men； and make a forced
march to Watboo bridge； there burn all the British stores of every kind； it
is possible you will find a small guard there； which you may surprise； but
bring no prisoners with you。 You will return the same way； and recross the
river at the same place； which must be done before daylight next morning。
After effecting my purpose at Watboo； it will not be out of your way to
come by Monk's corner； and destroy any stores or waggons you may find
there。 You can learn from the people at Watboo what guard there is at the
corner； if it should be too strong you will not attempt that place。 In going
to Watboo； you must see if there is a guard at the church； if there is you
will shun it； you will consider provisions of all kinds British property。 The
destruction of all the British stores in the above…mentioned places is of the
greatest consequence to us； and only requires boldness and expedition。
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Life of Marion。
Take care that your men do not get at liquor； or clog themselves with
plunder so as to endanger their retreat。
I am with regard； dear Sir； Your obedient servant； Francis Marion。
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Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； at Guilford Court House； Feb。 11； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I received your favour of the 31st ult。 and request you to give my
particular thanks to Major and Capt。 Postell for the spirit and address with
which they executed your orders over the Santee。 Your crossing the Santee
must depend upon your own discretion。 I think it would be attended with
many advantages； if it can be executed with safety。 Gen。 Sumter is desired
to call out all the militia of South Carolina and employ them in destroying
the enemy's stores and perplexing their affairs in the state。 Please to
communicate and concert with him your future operations until we have a
better opportunity to have more free intercourse。 Great activity is
necessary to keep the spirits of the people from sinking； as well as to
alarm the enemy respecting the safety of their posts。 We formed a junction
at this place last night； but our force is so much inferior to the enemy's that
we dare not hazard a general action if it can be avoided； but I am not
certain that it can。 The enemy are within thirty miles of us； up towards the
shallow ford on the Yadkin。
I am； dear Sir； Your most obedient humble servant； N。 Greene。
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Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； at Halifax Court House； Virginia； Feb。 16； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I have seen your letter to Gen。 Huger of the 6th inst。 and am surprised
that Col。 Baker or Capt。 Snipes should pretend that they had my directions
for crossing the Santee。 I beg you will encourage the militia and engage
them to continue their exertions。 If the supplies expected from the
northward arrive in season； we shall be able to assist you。 The movements
of the enemy were so rapid； that few of the militia joined us on our march
from Pedee； which reduced us to the necessity of passing the Dan； or
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risking an action on very unequal terms。 The enemy are upon the banks of
the river； but the people of this country appear to be in earnest。 I hope we
shall soon be able to push Lord Cornwallis in turn。 I wrote to you from
Guilford； which I hope you have received。
I am； dear Sir； Your most obedient servant； N。 Greene。
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Gen。 Marion to Lieut。 Col。 Balfour。
~Santee； March 7； 1781。~
Sir；
I sent Capt。 John Postell with a flag to exchange some prisoners；
which Capt。 Saunders； commandant of Georgetown； had agreed to； but
contrary to the law of nations； he has been seized and detained as a
prisoner。 As I cannot imagine that his conduct will be approved of by you；
I hope orders will be immediately given to have my flag discharged； or I
must immediately acquaint congress of this violation。 The ill consequence
of which it is now in your power to prevent。 I am sorry to complain of the
ill treatment my officers and men meet with from Capt。 Saunders； the
officers are closely employed in a small place； where they can neither
stand or lie at length； nor have they more than half rations。 I have treated
your officers and men who have fallen into my hands in a different manner。
Should these evils not be prevented in future； it will not be in my power to
prevent retaliation。 Lord Rawdon and Col。 Watson have hanged three men
of my brigade for supposed crimes； which will make as many of your men
in my hands suffer。 I hope this will be prevented in future； for it is my
wish to act with humanity and tenderness to those unfortunate men； the
chances of war may throw in my power。
I have the honour to be Your obedient servant； Francis Marion。
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Gen。 Marion to Col。 Watson； of the British。
~Santee； March 7； 1781。~
Sir；
Enclosed is a letter which I wish may be forwarded as soon as possible。
I make no doubt but that you will be surprised to see a flag sent at the head
of an armed party。 The reason of it is； that Capt。 Saunders； commandant of
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Georgetown； has violated the law of nations； by taking； detaining and
imprisoning Capt。 Postell； who carried prisoners to exchange； which was
agreed to by him。 The hanging of prisoners and the violation of my flag
will be retaliated if a stop is not put to such proceedings； which are
disgraceful to all civilized nations。 All of your officers and men who have
fallen into my hands； have been treated with humanity and tenderness； and
I wish sincerely that I may not be obliged to act contrary to my
inclinations； but such treatment as my unhappy followers； whom the
chances of war may throw in the hands of my enemies receive； such may
those expect who fall in my hands。
I have the honour to be Your obedient servant； Francis Marion。
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Extract of a Letter from Gov。 J。 Rutledge to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； at Haw River； March 8； 1781。~
I have not yet received the blank
