life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第7节
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Henry Clinton； and rejected。 The batteries of the besiegers； having now
obtained a decided superiority over those of the besieged； when the third
parallel had opened its cannonade； and the British having crossed the wet
ditch by sap； they opened a fire of rifles within twenty…five yards of the
Americans。 The caution of Sir Henry Clinton； in advancing so slowly； had
been extreme； and the unsuspecting security of the Americans was still
great； but Gen。 Duportail； a French officer of engineers； having arrived in
town before the communication was closed with the country； declared； that
the works of the besieged were not tenable； and might have been stormed
ten days before。 This disclosed his true situation； and induced Gen。
Lincoln to listen to a capitulation； which was proposed to him on the 8th
of May。 From that until the 10th； the negociation was continued。 On the
11th； the capitulation was agreed to； and； on the next day； the Americans
marched out and grounded their arms。 After a siege of a month and
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fourteen days； 2500 men submitted to an army of 12；000； and it was only
surprising they held out so long。 The continental troops and sailors were to
remain prisoners of war until exchanged； the militia were permitted to
return home as prisoners on parole； which； as long as they observed it；
should secure them from being molested in their property。
On the morning； when the Americans had paraded to surrender； tears
were seen coursing down the cheeks of Gen。 Moultrie。
The loss of the Americans； in the siege； was not great； only five
officers of distinction： Col。 Parker； and Capts。 Bowman； Moultrie；
Templeton and Neyle； were killed。 During the siege； Gen。 Lincoln called
two councils of war； to devise the means of retreating from the town； but
all attempts of that kind were opposed； first by the civil authority； next by
the South Carolina officers； and finally by the inhabitants。 He ought not to
have entered the town； he had the example of the illustrious Washington
before him； who had declined to act in that manner； and had thus
preserved the independence of his country。 The American army acting in
the country； would have kept up the spirits of the militia； and kept the
British from mounting their cavalry； and gaining supplies of provisions；
with such ease as they did。 Although Lincoln's force was small； it was at
least equal to that of Gen。 Washington； when he retreated over the
Delaware； in 1776。 The country was not so open； and more fit for a
partisan warfare； than New Jersey； and in a few months the climate would
have fought his battles。 It was not intended by the author to narrate the
particulars of the siege of Charleston； these have been detailed by the
enlightened historian of South Carolina； Dr。 Ramsay。 But the effects of it
upon the minds of the people in the country； come more particularly
within his province； since they would hereafter be disposed to act
according as they were affected； by passing incidents。 There being now no
force in the field； but the two hundred light infantry； under Gen。 Huger；
and the horse under Col。 Washington； which were those mentioned in
Lincoln's order to Gen。 Marion； the British were suffered to detach small
parties through the country； and to take all the horses which were fit； either
to transport their cannon and baggage； or to mount their cavalry。 In one
month after their landing； Col。 Tarleton had his legion mounted； and began
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his career of slaughter。 On the 18th March； he surprised a party of 80
militia； at Saltketcher bridge； killed and wounded several； and dispersed
the rest。 On the 23d； he put to flight another party at Ponpon； killed three；
wounded one； and took four prisoners。 On the 27th； near Rantowle's
bridge； he had a rencounter with Col。 Washington； at the head of his legion
of 300 men； Tarleton was worsted in this affair； and lost seven men；
prisoners。 On the 13th April； the American infantry and cavalry under Gen。
Huger； lay； the infantry at Biggen church； and the cavalry under Col。
Washington； at Monk's corner。 Col。 Tarleton with Ferguson's corps of
marksmen； advanced on from the quarter…house to Goose Creek； where he
was joined by Col。 Webster； with the 33d and 64th regiments of infantry。
There an attack upon the American post was concerted； and it was judged
advisable to make it in the night； as that would render the superiority of
Washington's cavalry useless。 A servant of one of Huger's officers was
taken on the road； and he agreed for a few dollars； to conduct the enemy
through a by…road； to Monk's corner。 At three o'clock in the morning； they
charged Washington's guard on the main road； and pursued them into the
camp。 The Americans were completely surprised。 Major Vernier； of
Pulaski's legion； and twenty…five men； were killed。 One hundred officers；
and dragoons； fifty waggons loaded with ammunition； clothing and arms；
and four hundred horses； with their accoutrements； were taken。 A most
valuable acquisition to the British。 Major Cochrane with the British legion
of infantry； forced the passage at Biggen bridge； and drove Gen。 Huger
and the infantry before him。 In this affair； Major James Conyers； of the
Americans； distinguished himself by a skilful retreat； and by calling off
the attention of the enemy from his sleeping friends； to himself。 The
British had only one officer and two men wounded。 The account of the
loss of the Americans in this affair； is taken from Tarleton； who blames
〃the injudicious conduct of the American commander； who besides
making a false disposition of his corps； by placing his cavalry in front of
the bridge； during the night； and his infantry in the rear； neglected sending
patroles in front of his videttes。〃 In this surprise； the British made free use
of the bayonet； the houses in Monk's corner； then a village； were
afterwards deserted； and long bore the marks of deadly thrust； and much
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bloodshed。 Col。 White soon after took the command of the American
cavalry； but with no better fortune。 On the 5th May； he took a British
officer and seventeen men of the legion； at Ball's plantation； near
Strawberry； in the morning； and pushed back twenty…five miles； to Lenud's
ferry； on Santee。 While crossing there； Tarleton surprised him； at three in
the afternoon； who states； that five officers and 36 men of the Americans
were killed and wounded； and seven officers and sixty dragoons were
taken； while he lost only two men； and retook his dragoons。 Cols。 White
and Washington； Major Jamieson； and several officers and men； escaped
by swimming the river； but many perished in the like attempt。* Thus the
American corps of cavalry and infantry； in the open field； was completely
annihilated； and from the Saltketcher to the Santee； a distance of one
hundred and twenty miles； either terror or a general depression of spirits；
had spread through the country。 What served to increase this； was the
cannonade at the town。 This was a novel thing in South Carolina； and
along water courses； it was heard more than one hundred miles。 In that
distance； there were but few families； who had not a husband； father；
brother or son in the garrison； and these listened to the sound； with the
deepest anxiety； and； as was natural； with no little despondency。
* Two boys； Francis G。 Deliesseline and Samuel Dupre； had the
boldness to undertake； and did recover fourteen of White's caval
