life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第24部分
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short time after； drove in beeves； such as they were； sufficient for a supper
for the men； but so destitute was the neighbourhood； that Cantey
recommended it to Gen。 Greene to move above Camden； where provisions
might be collected from the upper country； and it was more probable he
would receive aid from the militia。 But for this explanation； the good
judgment of Gen。 Greene； in taking post above Camden； might well be
questioned； since his wisest； and hitherto favoured plan； had been to strike
at the posts below。 It is thought； if he could have taken a position at Town
creek； or Swift creek below； all surprise might have been prevented。 At
this time； Gen。 Greene sent Cantey to Gen。 Sumter； distant more than one
hundred miles； to request him to join him； but Sumter； who was
meditating an attack on fort Granby； declined any further cooperation
except in that way。 When this answer was communicated to Gen。 Greene；
by Cantey； he was exceedingly angry； and said he had a great mind to
leave ~them~ to defend the country as well as they could； without his
assistance。 Could he have concentrated his force； and ~had not regarded
Ninety…Six~； he might have driven the British into Charleston； before the
sickly season commenced。 But the system of leaving fortresses behind an
invading army； so strongly recommended by Machiavelli； and so much
followed by Bonaparte； had not yet been adopted in tactics。 But we are
anticipating our narrative。
* As all the accounts of the movements of Greene and Col。 Lee； into
South Carolina； are confused； from a want of information of the local
situation of the country； and the clashing of the names of places； the
present note has been subjoined to rectify misconceptions。 From Ensign
Johnson Baker's account we have seen Lee at the Long bluff； since called
Greenville； now Society…hill。 At that time； the marshes of Black creek； and
the bogs of Black river； were impassable （except to Marion；） on any direct
route to Camden； or Scott's lake； or Santee； but there was an Indian path；
by the way of the present Darlington court house and Day's ferry； on
Lynch's creek； to Kingstree； and from the latter place there was a road to
Murray's ferry on Santee。 From the necessity of the case； therefore； this
must have been Lee's route； for he cannot explain it himself。 Lee had been
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Life of Marion。
the principal adviser of Greene to return to South Carolina； for which the
country can never be too grateful to him； and being now about to invest
fort Watson； he sent Dr。 Matthew Irvine； for whom both leaders had a
great friendship； and who； from his persuasive powers was highly fitted
for the mission； to inspire Greene with hope and confidence。 Irvine
obtained a guide and an escort from Col。 Richardson； and proceeded by
the route of the Piny lands； back of the Santee hills； then a pathless
wilderness； now a thickly settled country； and ~on the first broad road~ he
fell in with in this tract； he unexpectedly met with Greene； about fifteen
miles from Camden。 Irvine continued with him； until descending a range
of Sand hills between little and great Pinetree creeks； about a mile from
Camden； he crossed great Pinetree creek at the place now called M‘Crae's
mill。 From the latter place； Greene proceeded about three miles to an old
mill on Town creek； called English's； and here Irvine left him； and Cantey
met with him as a general and his army emerging from the wilderness。
This ~first broad road~ must again from the necessity of the case； for there
was no other at that time； have been the road from Cheraw hill to Camden。
Thus have the accounts of two respectable witnesses； Dr。 Irvine and Gen。
Cantey； been reconciled； which appeared at first sight impossible。
Although so weak after the affair at Hobkirk； Gen。 Greene； had sent a
reinforcement to Marion under Major Eaton with a six…pounder； and on
the 8th of May； Marion and Lee commenced firing upon Fort Motte。 As
soon as Gen。 Greene heard of the retreat of Lord Rawdon from Camden；
he decamped from Cornal's creek； and moving down on the west bank of
the Wateree； took a position near M‘Cord's ferry； so as to cover the
besiegers。 Fort Motte stood on a high hill called Buckhead； a little on the
right of the Charleston road； where it leaves the Congaree below M‘Cord's。
Within its walls was included the house of Mrs。 Motte； who had retired to
that of her overseer。 When told it was necessary to burn the house； in
order to take the fort expeditiously； she at once requested it should be done；
and； as the means of effecting it； furnished an Indian bow and arrows。 On
the night of the 10th； the fires of Lord Rawdon's camp were seen on the
Santee hills； in his retreat from Camden； and encouraged the garrison for a
while； but on the 12th the house was set on fire； and the commander Lieut。
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Life of Marion。
M‘Pherson； and one hundred and sixty…five men； surrendered。 This deed
of Mrs。 Motte has been deservedly celebrated。 Her intention to sacrifice
her valuable property was patriotic； but the house was not burnt； as is
stated by historians； nor was it fired by an arrow from an African bow； as
sung by the poet。 Nathan Savage； a private in Marion's brigade； made up
a ball of rosin and brimstone； to which he set fire； slung it on the roof of
the house。 The British surrendered before much mischief was done to it；
and Marion had the fire put out。 At the commencement of this siege； Serjt。
M‘Donald； now advanced to a lieutenancy； was killed。 He was a native of
Cross creek； in North Carolina； and his father and other relations had
espoused the opposite side of the cause。 Lieut。 Cryer； who had often
emulated M‘Donald； shared a similar fate。 On the 25th Nov。 last； we have
seen Gen。 Sumter severely wounded at Black Stocks； but on the 20th Feb。
just three months after； he sat down before Fort Granby； to besiege it； and
wrote to Marion； who was his junior officer； to move in such a direction as
to attract the attention of Lord Rawdon； but at that time the fort was
relieved。
On the same day that Fort Motte surrendered； Gen。 Sumter took the
British fort at Orangeburgh； with a garrison consisting of seventy tories
and twelve British； and in three days after； on the 15th May； he took Fort
Granby； long the object of his wishes。 This fort was surrendered to him by
Major Maxwell； of the British； with nineteen officers； three hundred and
twenty…nine men； mostly royalists； and five pieces of ordnance。*
* Major Burnet's letter； 28th April。 He was aid to Gen。 Greene。
Gen。 Marion soon after taking Fort Motte； re…crossed the Santee； and
encamped at Cantey's plantation； a little more than midway from Nelson's
to Murray's ferry； and here he reposed his men for some time and collected
reinforcements。 In consequence of the evacuation of Camden； and recent
successes； the militia turned out well and in high spirits。 About the 3d of
June； he marched for Georgetown； and appearing before it on the 6th；
began his approach by breaking ground； but on the night after the garrison
evacuated the town； and took shipping。 Remaining here for some time； the
general threw off his old habiliments； furnished his wardrobe anew； and
fitted himself out with a suit of regimentals。 He also procured a couple of
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Life of Marion。
mules to transport his baggage。 His privations； during the period passed
over； were so great that he even wanted a blanket； for on a certain night his
bed of pine straw catching fire under him； while he was soundly reposing
after one of his forced marches； half of the only one he had was burnt；*
and his leather cap was wrinkled upon one side； from the contact of the
same element。 Hereafter he indulged himself with the luxury of coffee for
breakfast； but often without bread to it； and he seldom tasted wine or
spirits； but was fond of vinegar and water； the drink of a Roman soldier。
However； Georgetown was no Capua to him。 He soon returned again to
Cantey's plantation； and kept out scouts constantly towards Biggen church；
where the enemy had a garrison of considerable force。
* Nothing shows the moderation of Gen。 Marion more than this
simple matter of fact。 Although the country at that time was plundered and
miserably poor； yet he had only to express a wish and he would have had a
dozen homespun blankets。 He had then in his pocket a power from the
governor to impress them。
About this period； Gen。 Marion sent Col。 Peter Horry with a force to
negociate a treaty with Major Ganey and his party。 As he could not well
turn his arms against him； and the whig settlements on Pedee were left
exposed to his depredations； it was good policy to awe him； and
