life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第14部分
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lake； and Georgetown； and the tories on Lynch's creek； and Little Pedee；
were more numerous； but not so well directed as Marion's party。
Col。 P。 Horry and Maj。 John Postell； with detachments； were posted；
the first on Waccamaw creek； the second on the neck between Black and
Pedee rivers； with orders to take all boats and canoes； and all horses； from
friends or foes； to impress negroes as boat hands and pioneers； to seize all
arms and ammunition； to prevent provisions from being sent to the enemy
in Georgetown； and to send up as much rice and salt to Snow's island； as
possible。 （30th Dec。 1780。） All who would not join them were to be taken
prisoners； and all who supplied the enemy with stock； or grain； were to be
treated as traitors。 Thus martial law was fully established； and； for self
defence； never was it more necessary。 When Gen。 Marion himself； or any
of his parties； left the island on an expedition； they almost invariably
struck into the woods towards the heads of the larger water courses； and
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crossed them near their source； and if in haste； they swam over them。
Many of the general's trails remained for a long time after； and some are
now roads。 When it is said hereafter that Gen。 Marion crossed a river； for
instance the Santee； it is not to be understood that he stopped； like Caesar
at the Rhine； to build a bridge over it； or that he was provided with the
convenient modern apparatus of pontoons； or oftentimes with a common
flat； even the last would have been too slow for the usual rapidity of his
motions。 He seldom waited for more than a single canoe； along side of
which his sorrel horse Ball；* was usually led into the river； and he floated
over like an amphibious animal。 The rest of the horses soon learned to
follow instinctively。 Where a canoe was not to be had； the general swam
over frequently on the back of this uncommon horse。 No leader； in ancient
or modern times； ever passed rivers with more rapidity。 His plans were
laid； and his movements conducted； with the most uncommon secrecy。
After making a movement； his most confidential officers and men have
had to search for him for days together； perhaps without finding him。 His
scouts； when returning； and at a loss； used a loud and shrill whistle； as a
signal； which could be heard in the night to an astonishing distance。 It is
well described in Scott's Lady of the Lake： 〃He whistled shrill； And
he was answered from the hill； Wild as the scream of the curlew； From
crag to crag； the signal flew。〃
* He was taken from Capt。 Ball； at Black Mingo。
As an instance of the secrecy with which Gen。 Marion's plans were
always adopted and conducted； the following may be regarded as a
specimen in his progress throughout。 His men having been several times
unexpectedly led out upon long expeditions； without preparation； and
suffering for the want of food on such occasions； after some time； were in
the habit of watching his cook； and if they saw him unusually busied in
preparing any of the frugal fare then in use； they prepared accordingly。
The general's favourite time for moving was at the sitting sun； and then it
was expected the march would continue all night。 But the present time；
and afterwards； before striking any sudden blow； he has been known to
march sixty or seventy miles； without taking any other refreshment； than a
meal of cold potatoes and a drink of cold water； in twenty…four hours。
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Life of Marion。
During this period men were but badly clothed in homespun； which
afforded little warmth。 They slept in the open air； according to their means；
either with or without a blanket。 They had nothing but water to drink。
They fed chiefly upon sweet potatoes； either with or without fresh beef。
And they submitted to this without a murmur； but all sighed for salt！ for
salt！ that first article of necessity for the human race。 Little do the
luxurious of the present day know of the pressure of such a want。 Salt was
now ten silver dollars the bushel； when brought more than thirty miles
from the Waccamaw sea shore； where it was coarsely manufactured。 It was
harder to get one silver dollar then； than ten now； so that on a low
calculation； a bushel of coarse bay salt； sold at that time for one hundred
dollars value of the present day。 As soon as Gen。 Marion could collect a
sufficient quantity of this desirable article at Snow's island； he distributed
it out in quantities； not exceeding a bushel to each whig family； and thus
endeared himself the more to his followers。
Thus closed the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty； over the
head of Gen。 Marion。 We will leave him for a moment； to such repose as
the island afforded； and state some matters to carry on the chain of events。
On the 12th July； General Sumter commenced his brilliant career。 On
the west of the Catawba； he defeated a large party of tories； and a party of
British； and killed Col。 Ferguson； who commanded the former； and Capt。
Huck； at the head of the latter。 This man had shocked the good
Presbyterians in that part of the country by his profanity； he burnt their
church； their parsonage； and their bibles； and treated them with insult and
cruelty。 About the 30th July； Gen。 Sumter nearly annihilated the Prince of
Wales' regiment； and routed a large body of tories at the Hanging rock。
Soon after the defeat of Gates； the enemy was left at liberty to turn a
greater force upon Sumter； and his men； being worn down by fatigue and
want of sleep； he was surprised and defeated at Fishing creek； by Tarleton；
but with little loss； for he rallied his forces ~in three days after~。* On the
12th Nov。 Major Wemyss attempted to surprise him near the Fishdam ford；
on Broad river； at the head of a corps of infantry and dragoons。 Col。
Thomas Taylor； with his regiment； was posted in advance； and his men lay
securely at their fires； thinking the enemy at a distance。 But the colonel；
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Life of Marion。
from what has been termed a ~presentiment~； was uneasy and could not
rest； he got up； and hearing the barking of dogs and some other unusual
noises； he woke up his men； and removed them back from their fires。 Soon
after； the British appeared at them； and thus offered themselves to the aim
of experienced marksmen。 In the mean time Sumter came up to their aid；
and the enemy was totally defeated。 Major Wemyss was severely wounded
and taken。 He had in his pocket a list of the houses he had burnt at
Williamsburgh and Pedee； with great trepidation he showed it to Sumter；
and begged he would protect him from the militia。 Notwithstanding his
atrocities he was treated with indulgence； but became a cripple for life。 On
the 20th of the same month Sumter was attacked by Col。 Tarleton； at Black
Stocks。 The action was severe； and of the British officers； Major Money；
and Lieuts。 Gibson and Cape； were killed。 Sumter lost few men； but he
was himself wounded。 The ball passed through the shoulder and carried
away a small portion of the backbone。 He was placed in a raw bullock's
hide； fastened between two horses； and thus carried with a guard of five
men to the mountains。
* Notwithstanding the ~bruit~ made in history about this defeat of
Sumter； the author can re…assert； and from written evidence now before
him； that Sumter was ~in three days~ at the head of a very respectable
force。 This was not obtained by any communication from the general； but
by an investigation of dates。
Tarleton； as usual； sent an account of his victory； much exaggerated； to
Lord Cornwallis； who writes to him on the 22d of the same month： 〃I most
heartily wish you joy of your success； but wish it had not cost you so
much。〃 And again； on the next day： 〃I shall be very glad to hear that
Sumter is in a condition to give us no further trouble； he certainly has been
our greatest plague in this country。〃 The inhabitants of the New
Acquisition； now York district； were among the warm friends of Gen。
Sumter； it was among these people he generally recruited his forces。 They
never submitted to the British nor took protection。 The most distinguished
leaders； under Sumter； were Colonels Niel； Hill； Lacey； Winn； Bratton；
Brandon； and Majors Davie and Winn。 Davie commanded a corps of
cavalry； which was never surprised nor dispersed during the war。
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In the summer of 1780； Col。 Ferguson； of the British 71st； had
undertaken to visit the tory settlements in the upper country； and train up
the young men to arms。
