life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第16部分
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of Rawdon from Camden； he； at the head of five or six men； passed
through the country from Santee to an island near Beaufort； where he
found and brought away one hundred and fifty； all plundered from his own
neighbourhood。 This account has been inserted here； that the chain of
events might not hereafter be broken。
It is stated； （page 45；*） that Col。 Tarleton took Mr。 James Bradley
prisoner； the manner in which this was done； and the subsequent treatment
of Bradley； are well deserving a place in this narrative。 After being chased
from his breakfast； thirteen miles below； by M'Cottry； Tarleton and a few
officers came to Bradley's at midday； passed himself as Col。 Washington；
and requested an early dinner。 Bradley provided dinner for him； and
unsuspectingly communicated to him the plans of his countrymen。 After
dinner； Tarleton asked him to guide him over two difficult fords across two
branches of Black river； near his house； Bradley consented； and after they
had passed Magirt's swamp； Tarleton told him he was a prisoner。 A wild
Arab would not have treated him thus。 Bradley； though circumvented in
this manner； was a wise but unsuspicious man； and before that had much
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influence in the legislature。 He was sent to Camden gaol； and confined in
heavy irons； he was often carted to the gallows and saw others executed；
he expected death； and was prepared for it； but he had many friends in
Marion's brigade； and it was well known to the enemy that his execution
would have been severely retaliated。 He was not released from gaol until
the 10th of May the next year； when Rawdon retreated from Camden； and
he bore the marks of the irons until his death。 Being requested； on one
occasion he showed these to the author； then a youth； and said； 〃If the
good of your country requires the sacrifice； be ready to suffer
imprisonment and death in its cause。〃 Soon after his confinement； Mrs。
Bradley petitioned Tarleton to liberate her husband； but he treated her with
scurrilous language and great brutality。 This man； who had been treated by
Mrs。 Bradley to a plentiful meal； after he had fasted for twenty…four hours；
and when he and his followers were fainting with fatigue and want； had
now the impudence and cruelty to call her by the grossest names in the
vocabulary of bilingsgate。 Mrs。 Bradley！ one of the most humane； gentle
and affectionate of her sex； who would willingly have offered him bread in
his true character。 Tarleton even denied her admittance with her supplies to
her husband； and she sought and obtained it elsewhere。
* Chapter II Paragraph 8。 A。 L。
To people of good feelings； but particularly the religious； this period
（1780 and 1781） was truly distressing。 From the time of the fall of
Charleston； all public education was at an end； and soon after； all public
worship was discontinued。 Men from sixty years of age； down to boys of
fourteen； （few of whom dared to stay at home） were engaged in active and
bloody warfare。 These had their minds in constant occupation； which； in
whatever moral situation a man may be placed； brings with it a certain
degree of satisfaction； if not contentment。 All were actuated by the love of
country； and but few by the love of fame： and next to the duties of religion；
the exercise of those of patriotism excites the highest energy and brings
the most sublime satisfaction to the human mind。 But to the female sex；
and the superannuated of the male； little consolation of that nature could
be afforded。 Even these were exposed to that kind of danger which might
be inflicted by brutality at home； and most of them had relatives in the
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field to whom they were bound by the most tender and sacred ties； who
were subjected to constant dangers； and for whose fate they were
unceasingly anxious。 There was no place for the pleasures of society； for
in the country these were too remote from a home that must constantly be
watched。 As a comfort in this situation females employed themselves in
domestic occupations； in which that of the distaff had a considerable share；
and all might indeed have exercised their private devotions； but that faint
picture of heaven； that sweet consolation which is derived from
associating with one's friends in public worship； was wholly denied them。
Most of the churches in towns and the country； were either burnt or made
depots for the stores of the enemy； some in fact were converted into
stables； and of the remainder； all in the country were closed。 In a
warfare of such atrocity there was little safety in any situation where
numbers were collected； and as we have seen that the tories； by their
murders； violated the sanctity of private dwellings； how then could it be
expected they would be awed by the holiness of a church？ In a camp；
where was no permanency and but little rest； there was no place for
chaplains；* and at home there was not security even for pious pastors；
consequently； as the most prudent course； they generally went into exile。
Among these one shall be mentioned； the Rev。 Dr。 Thomas Reese； of
Salem； on Black river。 It was in his congregation that the murders
perpetrated by Harrison and his followers first began； and three
respectable men of his flock had already fallen victims to civil rage。 Had
he gone about to administer comfort out of his own family； it would have
been termed sedition； and Dr。 Reese would have made himself a voluntary
martyr。 He took the wiser course of retiring with his family before the
storm； and under many privations； continued to preach。 In theology；
modern philosophy； and all the sciences connected with his profession he
was deeply read。 For classic literature； which it is so common for the
superficial to decry； he was a great advocate； and to evince his sincerity
retained his knowledge of the dead languages as long as he lived。 In his
discourses he was neither an extempore preacher； nor did he read。 He
wrote out his sermons correctly； and then committing them carefully to
memory； left the copy at home； and afterwards delivered them from the
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pulpit with all the energy of extemporary preaching； and so tenacious was
his memory that he was never known to faulter。 He wrote many excellent
sermons； all of which except two； preserved in the American Preacher； and
those not his best； are believed to be lost。 He also wrote an essay 〃on the
influence of religion in civil society〃； which； from Princeton college；
where he was educated； obtained for him the degree of Doctor of Divinity。
But like most American productions； it was soon neglected； and did not
pass into a second edition。 In contemplating the meek and unobtrusive
virtues of this pious man； we do not hesitate to say he was a pattern of
Christian charity； as nearly resembling his divine master as has been seen
in modern times。 The author knew him well for several years after the
peace of 1782； he was his friend and tutor； and he owes to Dr。 Reese the
highest obligations； and to his memory the most profound respect。
* Marion was often without a surgeon to dress his wounded； and if a
wound reached an artery the patient bled to death。
Chapter III。
CAMPAIGN OF 1781。
The year 1781 commenced under auspices more propitious than those
of the last year。 The British had exercised so much oppression and rapacity
over all those who would not join them； and so much insolence over those
who did； and were in the least suspected； that the people of South Carolina
found there was no alternative but between a state of downright vassalage
and warfare。 Most of the men of principle already had； or were prepared to
take up arms against the enemy； and in general the unprincipled only
remained with them in the expectation of plunder。 Their army too； being
divided into different cantonments over the country； while it extended their
oppression； exposed their weakness。 The history of all ages shows that a
country may be overrun with more facility than kept in a state of
subjection； and that a partisan warfare is the best that can be carried on
against an enemy of superior force and discipline。
During the present winter Lord Cornwallis formed a design of
conquering the upper counties of North Carolina； and marched by the way
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of Charlotte towards Salisbury； for that
