life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第21部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
overtaken by Marion upon this road； his infantry were passing like horses
at a full trot。 Here he had not so many obstacles to encounter as on the
other road； and； by wheeling covertly and marching so briskly； had gained
considerable ground。 However； Col。 Peter Horry now advanced ahead
with the cavalry and riflemen； and annoyed him in flank and in front；
while Marion attacked in the rear； until they reached Sampit bridge； where
the last skirmish took place。 News from Doyle appears to have arrested
Marion's progress； and summoned him to new perils。
71
… Page 72…
Life of Marion。
Watson reached Georgetown； with two waggon loads of wounded
men。* It is evident from an intercepted letter of his of the 20th of March；
that he had been hemmed in so closely that he was in want of every thing；
and had taken this route to Georgetown； fifty miles out of his way； to
obtain supplies。 From Fort Watson to the lower bridge； he had not
advanced more than forty miles on his premeditated route to join Doyle。
* Horry's Narrative。
In the mean time； Col。 Doyle； an active； enterprising officer； had
driven Col。 Ervin； who commanded only a weak guard； from Snow's
island。 But before retreating he had Marion's arms； stores and ammunition
thrown into Lynch's creek。 This； at the crisis； was a most serious loss。
From Sampit； Gen。 Marion marched back towards Snow's island； on
the way he received intelligence that Doyle lay at Witherspoon's ferry； and
he proceeded forthwith to attack him。 Doyle had taken a position on the
north side of the ferry； and when M‘Cottry； in advance； with his mounted
riflemen； arrived at the creek； the British were scuttling a ferry boat on the
opposite side。 He took a position behind trees； and gave them a well
directed and deadly fire； they ran to their arms and returned a prodigious
volley； which did no more harm than that of knocking off the limbs of
trees among the riflemen。 Doyle had received news； which occasioned him
to retreat for Camden。 The ferry boat being now scuttled and sunk on the
opposite side； and Lynch's creek being swollen； and at this place wide and
deep； Gen。 Marion proceeded up the creek； and swam over it at the first
place he reached； five miles above Witherspoon's。 This was the shortest
route to come at Doyle。 He pursued all that day； and the next morning till
nine or ten o'clock； when he came to a house where Doyle had destroyed
all his heavy baggage； and had proceeded on with great celerity towards
Camden。 This seemed mysterious at the time； but here Marion halted。
It appears from what follows； shortly； as well as from Horry's account；
that this pursuit was undertaken by Gen。 Marion with the desperate
resolution of either selling his own life and that of his followers； as dearly
as possible； or of cutting his way through the enemy to make good a
retreat into North Carolina。 Happily for his country； Doyle evaded him；
and thus prevented the dangerous attempt。 The general now received the
72
… Page 73…
Life of Marion。
melancholy account of the extent of his loss in ammunition and other
stores on Snow's island； which under present circumstances appeared
irretrievable。 However he was but little disposed to brood over
misfortunes； and if he had； his enemies were not inclined to allow him
leisure。 In the mean time Col。 Watson； having refreshed and reinforced his
party； and received a fresh supply of military stores and provisions at
Georgetown； proceeded again towards the Pedee。 On his march he had
nothing to impede him but a few bridges broken down。 He took the nearest
route across Black river at Wragg's ferry； and crossing the Pedee at
Euhany； and the little Pedee at Potato bed ferry； he halted at Catfish creek；
a mile from where Marion court house now stands。 Here Ganey's party
flocked in to him in such numbers that he was soon nine hundred strong。
Gen。 Marion returning from the pursuit of Doyle； and hearing of the
approach of Watson； crossed the Pedee and encamped at the Warhees； five
miles from him。 At this place he consulted with his field officers then in
camp； and informed them that although his force was now recruited to five
hundred men； that yet he had no more ammunition than about two rounds
to each man； and asked them 〃if he should retreat into the upper parts of
North Carolina； or if necessary to the mountains； whether they would
follow him。〃 With a firm and unanimous voice the resolution to follow
him was adopted。 These field officers； whose names should be engraved
on tablets of brass； were Cols。 Peter Horry； Hugh Horry； James Postell and
John Ervin； and Majors John James； John Baxter and Alexander Swinton。
Not long after this resolution was taken； Gen。 Marion met Capt。 Gavin
Witherspoon； who said to him； 〃General had we not better fight Col。
Watson before any more tories join him。〃 〃My friend；〃 replied he； 〃I know
that would be best； but we have not ammunition。〃 〃Why； general；〃 said
Witherspoon； 〃here is my powder horn full；〃 holding it up。 〃Ah！ my
friend；〃 said Marion； 〃you are an extraordinary soldier； but as for others；
there are not two rounds to a man。〃 Witherspoon passed off in silent
sorrow； but as soon as he reached his camp； met Baker Johnson； an old
tried whig； who begged him for God's sake to give him something to eat；
and he set before him some cold rice in a pot。 While Johnson was eating；
Witherspoon sat pondering over what he had heard for some time； but at
73
… Page 74…
Life of Marion。
last inquired； 〃What news； Johnson？〃 〃Fine news；〃 said he； 〃I saw a great
number of continental troops； horse and foot； crossing at Long bluff。〃
〃Come and tell the general；〃 said Witherspoon。 〃No；〃 replied the other； 〃I
am starving with hunger； and if the general wants the news he must come
to me。〃 Witherspoon immediately posted off to the general； who lost no
time in going to Johnson； around whom some hundreds were soon
collected。 The bearer of the good tidings was to be depended on。 The news
was sudden and unexpected； and to men now in a state of desperation
nothing could be more transporting。 Scarce was there an eye but what was
suffused with tears of joy。 All sufferings appeared now to be at an end； and
that balm of the soul hope began to revive。 But while Johnson was still
communicating his intelligence； it was confirmed by the sound of a drum
in the rear； and soon after by the arrival of Major Conyers and Capt。 Irby；
with Lieut。 Col。 Lee's legionary infantry。 By Conyers； Marion received
orders from Gen。 Greene to join Lee； and cooperate with him in striking at
the posts below Camden； and in furnishing provisions for the main army；*
and Lee had moved on towards the Santee for that purpose。 Commencing
his march immediately； Gen。 Marion crossed the Pedee in his rear； and left
Witherspoon with a small party to watch Watson。 The line of march was
directed through Williamsburgh； and Marion joined Lee near Fort Watson；
on Scott's lake。
* Greene's letters； 4th and 17th April。
About the same time； Capt。 John Brockington； of the tories； had been
up to his plantation at Cashway； and hearing the same news with Baker
Johnson； pushed over the river； and gave Watson the like information。 He
lost no time； but immediately rolled his two field pieces into Catfish creek；
destroyed all his heavy baggage； re…crossed the little Pedee； and not
venturing by Euhany； he passed the Waccamaw at Greene's ferry； and
retreating through the neck； between that river and the sea； crossed
Winyaw bay； three miles wide； and thus arrived in Georgetown。 To those
unacquainted with this route； a bare inspection of the map of the country
will at once give information； how much Marion was dreaded by Watson。
Upon forming a junction with Col。 Lee； it was decidedly the opinion
of Gen。 Marion； that they should pursue Watson； and either take him or
74
… Page 75…
Life of Marion。
prevent his junction with Lord Rawdon。 But Lee was of opinion it would
lead them too far from Gen。 Greene。 Gen。 Marion must have given up his
point with much reluctance； for he was afterwards heard repeatedly to
regret that his orders did not permit him to pursue Col。 Watson。 But；
perhaps the true reason was that Marion and Lee were both bare of
ammunition； and could get it only by taking Fort Watson。 It was left
without the presence of its commander； and as in that day there was no
road from Kingstree up Black river
