life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第7部分
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and four hundred horses； with their accoutrements； were taken。 A most
valuable acquisition to the British。 Major Cochrane with the British legion
of infantry； forced the passage at Biggen bridge； and drove Gen。 Huger
and the infantry before him。 In this affair； Major James Conyers； of the
Americans； distinguished himself by a skilful retreat； and by calling off
the attention of the enemy from his sleeping friends； to himself。 The
British had only one officer and two men wounded。 The account of the
loss of the Americans in this affair； is taken from Tarleton； who blames
〃the injudicious conduct of the American commander； who besides
making a false disposition of his corps； by placing his cavalry in front of
the bridge； during the night； and his infantry in the rear； neglected sending
patroles in front of his videttes。〃 In this surprise； the British made free use
of the bayonet； the houses in Monk's corner； then a village； were
afterwards deserted； and long bore the marks of deadly thrust； and much
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Life of Marion。
bloodshed。 Col。 White soon after took the command of the American
cavalry； but with no better fortune。 On the 5th May； he took a British
officer and seventeen men of the legion； at Ball's plantation； near
Strawberry； in the morning； and pushed back twenty…five miles； to Lenud's
ferry； on Santee。 While crossing there； Tarleton surprised him； at three in
the afternoon； who states； that five officers and 36 men of the Americans
were killed and wounded； and seven officers and sixty dragoons were
taken； while he lost only two men； and retook his dragoons。 Cols。 White
and Washington； Major Jamieson； and several officers and men； escaped
by swimming the river； but many perished in the like attempt。* Thus the
American corps of cavalry and infantry； in the open field； was completely
annihilated； and from the Saltketcher to the Santee； a distance of one
hundred and twenty miles； either terror or a general depression of spirits；
had spread through the country。 What served to increase this； was the
cannonade at the town。 This was a novel thing in South Carolina； and
along water courses； it was heard more than one hundred miles。 In that
distance； there were but few families； who had not a husband； father；
brother or son in the garrison； and these listened to the sound； with the
deepest anxiety； and； as was natural； with no little despondency。
* Two boys； Francis G。 Deliesseline and Samuel Dupre； had the
boldness to undertake； and did recover fourteen of White's cavalry horses
from the British； and delivered them to Major Jamieson in Georgetown；
refusing a reward he offered。
As soon as the town had surrendered； Lord Cornwallis； with 2500 men；
and five field pieces； marched from St。 Thomas' to Nelson's ferry。 Thence
he detached Tarleton； with 700 infantry and cavalry； in quest of Gen。
Caswell and Col。 Buford； who had been approaching to the relief of
Charleston； with about 700 militia； and between 3 and 400 continentals。 At
Camden； Caswell； with the militia； quitted Buford； who then commanded
the continentals； and retreated by the way of Pedee。 Buford's regiment was
soon after placed under the command of Gen。 Huger； as an escort to Gov。
Rutledge； then at Camden； and was detained； with a fatal security； by the
general； for two days in that place。 And so much off their guard； were our
rulers themselves； that Gov。 Rutledge； and his council； were soon after
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hospitably entertained； at Clermont； by Col。 Rugely； an Englishman；
professedly opposed to the American cause。 At midnight； he woke them up；
advised them of Tarleton's approach； and with some difficulty； persuaded
them to escape； at daylight； Tarleton arrived at Clermont。 That morning；
Huger gave up the command again to Buford； and took the Charlotte road；
with the governor and his two remaining council； Daniel Huger and John
L。 Gervais。 Buford proceeded on rapidly； upon the Salisbury road； and
from circumstances； his baggage waggons must have been sent on before
he took the command again； that morning； otherwise； in making the very
quick march he did； they must have been left far in his rear。 But Tarleton
blames him； for sending them ahead； because they might have served him
as a rampart； and other historians have adopted his account。 After a pursuit
of one hundred miles； in fifty…four hours； Tarleton approached Buford；
about forty miles from Camden； and twenty…six from Clermont； and
dispatched Capt。 David Kinloch with a flag； summoning him to surrender
upon the terms granted to the garrison of Charleston。 Buford called a
council of his officers； who deeming it a deception； he continued his
march。 In the afternoon； Tarleton overtook him； unfortunately； in an open
wood； and cut to pieces his rear guard。 At the sound of his bugle； Buford
drew up his men； all infantry； but Capt。 Carter； （not Benjamin；） who
commanded his artillery； and led the van； continued his march。 Tarleton
advanced； with his infantry in the centre； and his cavalry on the wings。 He
was checked by Buford's fire； but the cavalry wheeling； gained his rear。
Seeing no hope of any longer making a defence； Buford sent Ensign Cruitt
with a flag of truce； and grounded his arms。 Disregarding the flag； and the
rules of civilized warfare； Tarleton cut Cruitt down； and charged upon
Buford； with his cavalry in the rear； while Maj。 Cochrane； an infuriated
Scotchman； rushed with fixed bayonets； in front。 A few of Buford's men；
resumed their arms； and fired； when the British were within ten steps； but
with little effect；* as might have been expected； from what has been
stated。
* See Dr。 Brownfield's account of this affair； which throws more
light upon it； than any thing heretofore written。 Appendix； p。 1。 To paliate
his conduct； Tarleton has written a most partial account of it； which has
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Life of Marion。
been followed by Moultrie； and substantially by Ramsay。 The faults
committed by Buford； he says； were his sending his baggage ahead； and
not firing till the cavalry were within ten steps。 But Buford；
notwithstanding all the odium excited against him by his ill fortune； was
tried by a court martial； and acquitted。 Tarleton excuses his cruelty； by
stating； that his horse was knocked down； at the first fire： and his men；
thinking him killed； to avenge his death； were more sanguinary than usual；
and he was unable； from that circumstance； for a while to restrain them。
But Lord Cornwallis approved the whole； and praised and caressed
Tarleton； while he was fortunate。
Buford's regiment was entirely broken by the charge； no quarters were
given by the British； 113 men were killed of the Americans； and 151 so
badly wounded as to be left on the ground。 This was nearly two thirds of
the whole American force； according to Tarleton's own account； and the
manner in which those left on the ground were mangled； is told； by others；
as horrible。 No habitation was near； but the lone cabin of a poor widow
woman； and the situation of the dead； was fortunate； when compared with
that of the living。 Tarleton says； he lost but two officers； and three privates
killed； and one officer and thirteen privates wounded。 The massacre took
place at the spot where the road from Lancaster to Chesterfield now
crosses the Salisbury road。 The news of these two events； the surrender of
the town； and the defeat of Buford； were spread through the country about
the same time； and the spirit of the whigs； sunk into despondency。 The
American cause appeared to be lost； but； on this expedition； Tarleton burnt
the house of Gen。 Sumter； near Stateburgh；* and roused the spirit of the
lion； at Camden； a party of his men cut to pieces Samuel Wiley； whom
they mistook for his brother； John Wiley； then sheriff of the district； at his
own house。** Governor Rutledge and his council again escaped Tarleton；
by a few minutes； and by taking the road to Charlotte； in North Carolina。
On the 1st of June； Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot offered to
the inhabitants； with some exceptions； 〃pardon for their past treasonable
offences； and a reinstatement in their rights and immunities heretofore
enjoyed； exempt from taxation； except by their own legislature。〃 To many；
this specious offer appeared to be all that they had been contending for；
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and they flocked in from all quarte
