life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第6节
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Black Mingo and the fork of Black river。 Attempt on Georgetown
frustrated。 Marion takes post at Snow Island。 Sumter's career。 Ferguson's
defeat。 Spirit of the whigs begins to revive。
The year 1780； was the most eventful one； in the annals of South
Carolina。 The late failure of the attack on Savannah； the little opposition
which Gen。 Prevost met with； in a march of more than one hundred miles
through the state； the conduct of the planters； in submitting； to save their
property； and the well known weakness of the southern army； all
conspired to induce the enemy to believe； that Charleston； and South
Carolina； would become an easy prey。 Sir Henry Clinton； their commander
in chief； meditating a formidable expedition against them； with this view
sailed from New York on the 26th December； 1779； with an army； which；
with subsequent reinforcements amounted to about 12；000 men。 To oppose
this great force； Gen。 Lincoln had not more than two thousand； a great part
of which was militia。 His head quarters were in Charleston； where the
general assembly were setting in calm deliberation； for they had not yet
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Life of Marion。
heard of the rising storm。 Lieut。 Col。 Marion； had command of the out…
post of this little army； at Sheldon； near Pocotaligo； where he had orders to
watch the motions of Prevost； and prevent him from obtaining supplies of
provisions； from the Carolina side of Savannah river。 It was expected he
was to remain here for some time； and great confidence was reposed in
him； by Gen。 Lincoln； as appears by his letters； at this period。 The British
had a tedious passage； in which they lost part of their ordnance； most of
their artillery； and all the horses； destined to mount their cavalry。 On the
11th Feb。 1780； they landed about thirty miles from Charleston。 The
assembly sitting there； immediately broke up； after delegating； 〃till ten
days after their next session； to John Rutledge； and such of his council as
he could conveniently consult； a power to do every thing necessary for the
public good； except the taking away the life of a citizen； without a legal
trial。〃 This was nearly the same power； with which the senate of Rome；
invested their dictators。 But a resolution； fatal in its consequences； was
unanimously adopted by this assembly： namely； to defend the town to the
utmost extremity。 The power； thus delegated to the governor and council；
was carried into effect afterwards； with vigour； and with what would now
be thought an infraction of private rights。 But in the spirit of the times； and
the public situation； such vigour was necessary。 The governor's council；
was composed of upright and virtuous men； and John Rutledge was one of
the most distinguished sons； to whom South Carolina has given birth。 His
eloquence was proverbial； both in congress； and at home。 It was that of
Demosthenes； concise； energetic； and commanding。 There was something
in his very manner； and the tone of his voice； that riveted the attention of
his audience。 They stood subdued before him。 He swayed the councils of
the state； he swayed the councils of the general who commanded the
southern army： and if he erred； he erred with a good conscience； and from
the purest motives。
The first order issued by Governor Rutledge； was； to call out the
drafted militia； for the defence of the town； under pain of confiscation of
property。 This order was but partially obeyed； the militia； who were
friendly to the cause； had been much harassed in the last campaign； and it
was generally known that the small…pox was in the town。 At the same time；
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Life of Marion。
the governor sent out many influential officers； to secure the execution of
his first order； and though intended only to operate for the present； this last
order was in time productive of a fortunate result； as these officers
afterwards headed the people。 In the mean time； Gen。 Lincoln had ordered
Lieut。 Col。 Marion to select two hundred men； out of the three regiments
with him； at Sheldon； and to march immediately to town。 （31st Jan。） No
troops were to be left in the field but two hundred light infantry； and the
horse under Col。 Washington。 Marion repaired to town； according to
orders； but before the garrison was hemmed in by the enemy； he； by
accident； in attempting to escape from a drinking party； dislocated his
ankle。 Gen。 Lincoln had issued an order； 〃that all supernumerary officers；
and all officers who were unfit for duty； must quit the garrison； and retire
into the country。〃 In consequence of this order； Marion retired to St。 John's。
He was afterwards obliged to move about； from house to house； as
favoured by friends； and often to hide in the woods； until he got better； but；
as soon as he was able； he collected a few friends； and joined Gen。 De
Kalb； who was then advancing； with about fourteen hundred men； of the
Maryland and Delaware troops； towards South Carolina。 The
correspondence of Gen。 Horry here breaks off suddenly； and we hear no
more of Marion for five months。 But an accident； which must have
appeared to him a great misfortune； at the time； was afterwards productive
of the most happy effects。 Another has been noted only a few pages back。
In the mean time； the enemy proceeded cautiously in the siege of
Charleston。 They formed a depot on James Island； and erected a
fortification on it； and the main； near Wappoo cut。 On the 28th of March
they crossed Ashley river； near the ferry； and made a lodgement in
Charleston neck。 Col。 Laurens； with the light infantry； skirmished with
them； but； as they greatly exceeded him in numbers； he was obliged to
retire within the lines。 On the night of the 1st of April； Sir Henry Clinton
commenced his first parallel； at the distance of eleven hundred yards from
the American works。 On the 7th； twelve sail of the enemy's ships passed
Fort Moultrie； under a heavy fire。 The garrison had been assiduous in
preparing for defence； the old works were strengthened； and lines and
redoubts were extended from Ashley to Cooper river。 A strong abbatis was
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Life of Marion。
made in front； and a deep； wet ditch was opened from the marsh on one
side； to that on the other； and the lines were so constructed as to rake it。 On
the 10th； the enemy had completed their first parallel； and Gen。 Lincoln
was summoned to surrender； but refused。 All attempts at removing the
force besieged； out of the town； had； while it was practicable； been
opposed by the governor and council； and the officers of the South
Carolina troops； and Gen。 Lincoln； had not the resolution to counteract
them。 At length it was thought advisable； that the governor and three of his
council should leave the town； and that Lieut。 Gov。 Gadsden and five
others should remain。 The ships of war； in the harbour of Charleston；
being quite inadequate to oppose the force which had passed Fort Moultrie；
were divested of their guns； to reinforce the batteries； and were sunk
nearly opposite the exchange； to impede the passage of the enemy up
Cooper river。 Soon after this； Sir Henry Clinton； being reinforced by two
thousand five hundred men； under Lord Cornwallis； pushed them over
Cooper river； and enclosed the besieged on the side of St。 Thomas' parish
and Christ church； and the town was now completely invested by land and
water。 About this time； the American forces in the field having been
defeated； as hereafter to be narrated； and the British having completed
their second parallel； an offer to capitulate was made by Lincoln； to Sir
Henry Clinton； an
