life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第30部分
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But if he did feel joy upon a few occasions； certain it is that watchful
anxiety was the daily inmate of his breast。
* This date is given both here and in Simms' Life of Marion； but it
must be an error； as Cornwallis did not surrender until the 19th。 The 29th
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October or 9th November are more likely dates。 A。 L。； 1997。
On the same day he received the thanks of congress 〃for his wise；
decided and gallant conduct； in defending the liberties of his country； and
particularly for his prudent and intrepid attack on a body of British troops
on the 31st day of August last； and for the distinguished part he took in the
battle of the 8th Sept。〃 Immediately on receiving the intelligence of the
capture of Lord Cornwallis； Gen。 Greene prepared for moving his army
into the lower country。 On the 5th November； he writes to Gen。 Marion；
〃Gen。 Sumter has orders to take post at Orangeburgh； to prevent the tories
in that quarter from conveying supplies to town； and his advanced parties
will penetrate as low as Dorchester； therefore you may act in conjunction
with him； or employ your troops on the enemy's left； as you may find from
information； they can best be employed。 Please to give me your opinion on
which side they can be most useful。〃 Gen。 Marion four days after passed
the Santee； and in a short time took post near Huger's bridge； as it was still
termed； though all the bridges in the lower country were taken down；
except the one at Goose creek； which seemed to be left by mutual consent
of both armies； for the purpose of reaching one another； by at least one
way。 He arrived at Huger's bridge in the night； and in less than an hour
after detached a strong party by the heads of Huger's and Quimby creeks；
to Cainhoy； in St。 Thomas'。 On the 23d November Gen。 Sumter was posted
at Orangeburgh； on the 17th of the same month Gen。 Greene marched for
the Fourholes。 December 7th； he lay at Jacksonborough； and on the 13th
of the same month； he encamped at the Round O。
His movements were at this time cautious； in keeping both the Edisto
and Ashley between himself and the enemy； because he had heard they
were reinforced； and he was as yet without ammunition。 He wrote now
frequently to Gen。 Marion； and almost every letter has a clause similar to
the one of the 15th of November： 〃You are at liberty to act as you think
advisable。 I have no particular instructions to give you； and only wish you
to avoid surprise。〃
At the close of this year； Gov。 Rutledge and his council issued writs of
election for members of the senate and house of representatives； which； by
proclamation issued afterwards； were appointed to meet at
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Jacksonborough。 Gen。 Greene still lay at the Round O； where he secured
the rice and other provisions from the enemy； by sending out patroles of
cavalry as far as Dorchester： but he had not yet received a supply of
ammunition for his infantry； and Marion was also without that
indispensible muniment of war。 As to other necessaries he says； 〃Our
horsemen have neither cloaks or blankets； nor have our troops received a
shilling of pay since they came into this country。 Nor is there a prospect of
any。 Yet they do not complain。〃* At length on the 14th of December he
received a supply of ammunition and sent ~it all~ to Marion； then at
Watboo； saying； 〃he was in expectation of soon receiving more。〃
* Greene's letters； 13th and 14th December。
The British extended their patroles of cavalry nearly up to Dorchester；
but their main body was now confined to Charleston neck。
Thus； in the course of the campaign of 1781； the American army under
Gen。 Greene； without pay； without clothing； and as we have seen
frequently without ammunition； had driven the enemy from all their strong
holds but one； had defeated them in battle； and retaken all South Carolina
but a neck of land。
Detached Narratives for 1781。
There was with Marion's brigade throughout； a young man； Robert；
commonly called Bob James； but oftener； ~the general's right hand man~。
It was known to very few that Marion employed him often to gain
intelligence from the enemy in Georgetown and other places。 The general
never suffered him to mount guard or do common duties； being an
excellent woodsman； he was his favourite guide； being an expert swimmer；
he was generally by his side when swimming rivers； or paddled him over
in a canoe if they had one； being a good fisherman； he often caught him
fish； the general would laugh and joke with him； but with no other private。
He did not however employ Bob in these small matters when he had any
thing serious for him to do。 Surprised at his exact intelligence from
Georgetown and other places； the author asked him once 〃how he got it？〃
He related several interesting particulars； among others this one： 〃Just in
the outskirts of Georgetown there is a pond full of bushes； and in the
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middle of it a large gum…tree with a thick top and branches that reach the
thicket below。 This tree overlooked the garrison and both roads leading out
of town。 I used to climb into it and watch for days together； and if I saw
any thing important； immediately came down； mounted my horse； hid in a
neighbouring swamp； and told it to the general myself； or sent the only
other person we trusted。〃 The gum tree stood there lately； but Robert
James sleeps with his fathers。 〃Alas； poor Yorick！ I knew him Horatio。〃 It
was generally thought that although he swam so often on horseback； or
crossed rivers in unsteady canoes； the general could not swim himself。 His
body was sufficient for endurance； and his mind； to sagacity and foresight；
united the higher virtues of patience and fortitude。 In one thing he
appeared singular； long swords were now in fashion as best for attack or
defence； but Gen。 Marion always wore the little cut and thrust； which was
in use in the second regiment； and he was seldom； perhaps never； seen to
draw it。 His messmates told a story； whether true or not is of little
consequence； as it shows the public opinion。 The sum of this story was；
that on one occasion he attempted to draw it； but it was so rusty he could
not extricate it from the scabbard。 He had a reason for this apparent
singularity； a long sword might have tempted him； a small man； to act the
common soldier； and he appeared to place no reliance on his personal
prowess。 Gen。 Greene depended entirely upon him for intelligence。 Now；
intelligence is the life of an army。 Sumter and Greene were then at
variance； and if Sumter gained any； he would not condescend to let Greene
know it； but take advantage of it himself。 Lee； whose particular business it
was to furnish Greene with intelligence； was always too fond of seeing his
men and horses in good plight； to expose them to hardships。 Marion's were
for every day's use。
An anecdote worthy to be recorded happened at the brick house at the
Eutaw。 Capt。 Laurence Manning； since adjutant general in this state；
marched at the head of the legion infantry to batter down the door of the
house。 Intent on this single object； and relying confidently on his men； he
advanced boldly up to the door； when； looking behind him for the first
time； behold his men had deserted him。 He stood for a moment at the side
of the door； revolving what was to be done。 Fortunately a British officer；
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Capt。 Barry； opened the door gently to peep out； and Manning seizing him
fast by the collar； jerked him out。 He then used him as an ancient warrior
would have done his shield； and the enemy； fearing to shoot least they
should kill Barry； Manning escaped without a shot being fired at him from
the house。
During the struggle of the present year； （1781） Capt。 Wm。 Allston； of
True Blue； on Little river； All Saints parish； served under Gen。 Marion。 He
was a firm patriot and good soldier； indeed he may well be enumerated
among the martyrs to the cause of his country； for having been seized with
a fever in camp； he had scarcely time to reach his home； where he expired
at a middle age。 He left behind him； by his last wife； two sons and a
daughter； his eldest son he named after the illustrious Washington； and he
has since proved himself to be highly worthy of that distinction。 In this son
will be readily recognised the distinguished artist； Washington Allston；
whose pencil has bestowed celebrity upon the place of his birth； and
whom every American should be proud to claim as his countryman。
Towards the conclusion of this
