life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第15部分
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undertaken to visit the tory settlements in the upper country； and train up
the young men to arms。 Among these several unprincipled people had
joined him； and acted with their usual propensity for rapine and murder。
Many Americans； fleeing before them； passed over into the state of
Tennessee； then beginning to be settled。 By their warm representations；
they roused the spirit of the people of that country； which has since
become so often conspicuous。 Although safe from any enemy but the
savages of their cane brakes； they left their families； and generously
marched to the assistance of their friends。 Nine hundred of them mounted；
under the command of Col。 Campbell； poured down from the Allegany；
like the torrents from its summit。 Gunpowder they had already learnt to
prepare from the saltpetre in their caves； and lead they dug out of their
mines。 Dried venison satisfied their hunger； pure water slaked their thirst；
and at the side of a rock they enjoyed comfortable repose。 Armed with
rifles； sure to the white speck on the target； at the distance of one hundred
paces； or to decapitate the wild turkey on the top of the tallest pine these
were indeed a formidable band。 Their other leaders were Shelby； Sevier；
Williams and Cleveland； all inured to the pursuit of the savage or the wild
beast of the forest。 Thus equipped and commanded； and with such few
wants； they moved rapidly on to attack Ferguson； a no less formidable foe；
and on the 7th of October； 1780； reached him； strongly posted on King's
mountain。 Campbell divided his men into three bands； one under himself；
one under Cleveland； and the other under Shelby。 Cleveland
commenced the attack； and fired until Ferguson； advancing sufficiently
near； ordered the British to charge with bayonets； before these he retired。
By this time Shelby had ascended the mountain； and gave an unexpected
and deadly fire。 The bayonet had scarcely been again successful； when
Campbell reached the summit and fired in another and more destructive
volley。 Ferguson presented a new front； and the bayonet again prevailed。
But Cleveland had rallied his men and poured in the fourth fire： and now
as often as one American party was driven back； another returned to the
attack； and as victory was becoming sure； with more determined resolution。
The unconquerable spirit of Ferguson still refused to submit； but baited
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thus； as he was on all sides； resistance became vain。 At length this
distinguished officer received a mortal wound； and falling upon the field；
his second in command； Capt。 Abraham De Peyster； sued for quarters。
Eleven hundred of the enemy were killed； wounded or taken； of which one
hundred were British。 The Americans lost but few men； but among these
were Col。 Williams and Major Chronicle。 Thus； through the successes of
Sumter and Marion； and this brilliant achievement； towards the close of
this memorable year the drooping spirits of the people began to revive；
and men flocked on all sides to the standard of their country。
Detached Narratives for 1780。
As these are intended to be unconnected； and entirely miscellaneous；
they will be inserted without much regard to time or place。 We have just
recorded the fate of the distinguished Ferguson； and the first meed of
praise is due to him。 Yes！ reader； praise to a generous enemy！ He was a
major； and commanded a rifle corps during the campaign of Washington；
in New Jersey。 On one occasion Gen。 Washington rode out with a few
French and American officers to reconnoitre； and Ferguson； with his
riflemen； lay in a wood near to the road by which they both went and
returned。 Washington was conspicuous from his stature； and uniform； and
the grey horse which he rode。 He passed hard by the corps； at an easy
canter； and Ferguson's men were preparing to fire upon him； when their
leader prevented the act。 Who would not hereafter applaud the character of
Ferguson？ In a letter which he wrote to a friend； that contains this
narrative； he mentions he was glad he did not know it was Gen。
Washington at the time； lest he should have been tempted to fire at him。
But the same generous spirit which prevented it in the one case； would； it
is more than probable； have actuated him in the other。
The next meed of praise is certainly due to friendship。 In this action
the hon。 Robert Stark； then a boy of fourteen； was among the American
combatants。 Like a war worn veteran he was seen firing his rifle and
encouraging others to the onset。 It was here that； actuated by the cause of
his country； and the rigourous confinement of his father in irons； he first
avenged himself of the enemy。 His next battle was at the Cowpens； where
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he acted as an adjutant under Gen。 Pickens。
During the time General Marion lay at the White marsh； Capt。 Gavin
Witherspoon； of Pedee； with three or four men； were concealing
themselves in Pedee swamp： in the night he discovered a camp of the
tories； whom he had reason to think were in pursuit of him； and watched
them till they had all fallen asleep； he proposed to his men to attack them；
but they were fearful of numbers。 He then declared he would take them
himself。 Creeping up cautiously； he found that they had encamped at the
butt of a pine； blown up by the roots； and that their guns were piled up
against a limb； at the distance of forty or fifty feet from them。 He
continued to creep till he got possession of their guns； and then called to
them loudly to surrender。 Not knowing his force； they did so； and
Witherspoon's men came to his assistance and tied them； in number seven。
Gavin； and John Witherspoon； his brother； were two active spirited men at
this period。 They succeeded each other as captains in the neck between
Pedee and Lynch's creek； and at the call of danger were generally foremost。
After Capt。 Baxter was promoted to be major； Thomas Potts was elected
captain of the upper Pedee company； he had been captain in the rifle
regiment of state troops； and was a brave soldier and firm patriot。
Major Wemyss； in laying waste the country； was particularly inimical
to looms and sheep； no doubt that he might deprive the inhabitants of the
means of clothing themselves。 What sheep he did not kill for the use of his
men； he ordered to be bayoneted。 He burnt the Presbyterian church at
Indiantown； because； as he said； it was a sedition shop。 Before a house
was burnt； permission was seldom given to remove the furniture。 When he
came to Maj。 James' he was met by his lady with much composure。 He
wished to bring her husband to submission； and said to her； 〃If he would
come in and lay down his arms； he should have a free pardon。〃 She replied；
〃As to that she could not have any influence over him。 That times were
such he was compelled to take a part； and he had taken that of his
country。〃 Wemyss after this had her and her children locked up in a
chamber； from whence they did not come out； for two days and a half； and
until the house was about to be burnt。 Capt。 David Campbell （of Edisto；）
carried with his own hands； food and other refreshments to a back window
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for her； apparently unknown to Wemyss。 Capt。 John James； son of the
major； had been taken in Charleston； and paroled。 He was ordered into
custody； with the threat； that 〃If he was found to have broken his parole；
he would be hanged in the morning to yonder tree。〃 Accordingly a court
martial sat over him in the morning。 The witnesses called were his own
and his father's negroes； but； strange to tell； no evidence was given against
him； and he was acquitted。 Such were the mock trials of the British。 As；
when we come to speak of the battle of Eutaw； there will be many chiefs
of higher title to be named； it is but justice to Capt。 James now to mention；
that before that time he was exchanged； and fought there with much
bravery； as an adjutant。 As there was no trade or intercourse between that
part of the country and a market； people were to be seen； after the fires；
searching for every thing they could find； knife blades； scissors； hinges；
nails； &c。 Handles were put to the knives； dishes and plates were rudely
manufactured out of wood； and log huts were gradually built by the
assistance of one another。 Many negroes were taken out of Williamsburgh；
these were afterwards recovered by Maj。 James。 Directly after the retreat
of Rawdon from Camden； he； at the head of f
