life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第10章
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are so confusedly drawn； they will admit； as against the accused； of any
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latitude of construction： yet they denounce confiscation； imprisonment and
death。 Under the circumstances stated； the confiscations of Lord
Cornwallis were robberies； his imprisonments were unjust and cruel； and
his executions； always upon the gibbet； were military murders。 And if； to
gain his point； he did not； like the Duke of Alva； （employed in a similar
vocation） make use of the rack； the stake； and the faggot； yet Lord
Cornwallis resorted to every other mode of punishment； a more improved
civilization had left him； to suppress civil liberty。 Such was the character
of the commander in chief of the British forces in South Carolina。
Now； we hold a generous foe entitled to favour and respect； and we
shall hereafter bestow it； wherever due； but the interest of humanity
requires； and it is a sacred trust； in the historian； that cruel domineering
spirits should be fully exposed。
Soon after the affair at Nelson's； Gen。 Marion marched back to Port's
ferry。 On the way； many of the militia； and all the liberated continentals；
except three； deserted him。 Two of these were Sergeants M‘Donald and
Davis； who were afterwards noted； the first for his daring spirit and
address in single combat； the second； for his patient services； after being
crippled by a wound。 It is a real pleasure to record the virtues of men； who；
serving in a subordinate capacity； never expected such virtues should be
known。 By the exertions of Gen。 Marion and his officers； the spirits of the
drooping militia began to revive。 But about the 27th day of August； when；
having the command of only one hundred and fifty men； he heard of the
approach of Major Wemyss； above Kingstree； at the head of the 63d
regiment； and a body of tories； under Maj。 Harrison。
Maj。 James was instantly despatched； at the head of a company of
volunteers； with orders to reconnoitre； and count them。 Col。 Peter Horry
was called in； and the general crossed Lynch's creek； and advanced to give
battle。 The night after Maj。 James received his orders； the moon shone
brightly； and by hiding himself in a thicket； close to their line of march； he
formed a good estimate of the force of the enemy。 As their rear guard
passed； he burst from his hiding place； and took some prisoners。 On the
same night； about an hour before day； Marion met the major half a mile
from his plantation。 The officers immediately dismounted； and retired to
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consult； and the men sat on their horses in a state of anxious suspense。 The
conference was long and animated。 At the end of it； an order was given to
direct the march back to Lynch's creek； and no sooner was it given than a
hollow groan might have been heard along the whole line。 A bitter cup had
now been mingled for the people of Williamsburgh and Pedee； and they
were doomed to drain it to the dregs： but in the end it proved a salutary
medicine。 Maj。 James reported the British force to be double that of
Marion's； and Ganey's party of tories in the rear； had always been
estimated at five hundred men。 In such a crisis； a retreat was deemed
prudent。 Gen。 Marion recrossed the Pedee； at Port's； and the next evening；
at the setting sun； commenced his retreat to North Carolina。 （28th August；
1780。） He was accompanied by many officers； the names of all are not
now recollected； and it may appear invidious to mention a few； the
number of privates had dwindled down to sixty men。 Capt。 John James；
with about ten chosen men； was left behind to succour the distressed； and
to convey intelligence。 The general's march； was； for some time； much
impeded by the two field pieces； which he attempted to take along； but；
after crossing the little Pedee； he wheeled them off to the right； and
deposited them in a swamp； where they may since have amused the
wondering deer hunter。 This was the last instance of military parade
evinced by the general。 By marching day and night； he arrived at Amy's
mill； on Drowning creek； whence he detached Maj。 James； with a small
party of volunteers； back to South Carolina； to gain intelligence； and to
rouse the militia。 Considering the distance back； and the British and tories
in the rear； this was a perilous undertaking。 The general continued his
march； and pitched his camp for some time； on the east side of the White
marsh； near the head of the Waccamaw。
At this place； the author had； （in the absence of his father；） the honour
to be invited to dine with the general。 The dinner was set before the
company by the general's servant； Oscar； partly on a pine log； and partly
on the ground； it was lean beef； without salt； and sweet potatoes。 The
author had left a small pot of boiled homminy in his camp； and requested
leave of his host to send for it； and the proposal was acquiesced in； gladly。
The homminy had salt in it； and proved； although eaten out of the pot； a
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most acceptable repast。 The general said but little； and that was chiefly
what a son would be most likely to be gratified by； in the praise of his
father。 They had nothing to drink but bad water； and all the company
appeared to be rather grave。
At length Maj。 James arrived。 The news was； that the country through
which Wemyss had marched； for seventy miles in length； and at places for
fifteen miles in width； exhibited one continued scene of desolation。 On
most of the plantations every house was burnt to the ground； the negroes
were carried off； the inhabitants plundered； the stock； especially sheep；
wantonly killed； and all the provisions； which could be come at； destroyed。
Fortunately the corn was not generally housed； and much of that was
saved。 Capt。 James had fired upon a party at M'Gill's plantation； but it only
increased the rage of the enemy。 Adam Cusan had shot at the black servant
of a tory officer； John Brockington； whom he knew； across Black creek。
He was taken prisoner soon after； and for this offence； tried by a court
martial； and； on the evidence of the negro； hanged。 His wife and children
prostrated themselves before Wemyss； on horseback； for a pardon； and he
would have rode over them； had not one of his own officers prevented the
foul deed； from this scene he proceeded on to superintend the execution。
But these acts of wantonness and cruelty had roused the militia； and Maj。
James reported they were ready to join the general。 Marion； in a few days
after； returned to South Carolina by a forced march。 On the second day；
while passing through the tory settlement； on Little Pedee； he traversed
sixty miles； and arriving near Lynch's creek； was joined by Capts。 John
James and Henry Mouzon； with a considerable force。 Here he was
informed that a party of tories； but more numerous than his own； lay at
Black Mingo； fifteen miles below； under the command of Capt。 John
Coming Ball。 He might soon have been reinforced； but finding his men
unanimous for battle； he gratified their wishes。 The tories were posted at
Shepherd's ferry； on the south side of Black Mingo； a deep navigable creek；
and had command of the passage。 To approach them； Gen。 Marion was
obliged to cross the creek； one mile above； over a boggy causeway and
bridge of planks。 It was nearly midnight when he arrived at the bridge； and
while the party was crossing it； an alarm gun was heard in the tory camp。
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The general immediately ordered his men to follow him in full gallop； and；
in a few minutes； they reached the main road which led to the ferry； about
three hundred yards in front of it。 Here they all dismounted； except a small
body； which acted as cavalry。 The general ordered a corps of
supernumerary officers； under the command of Capt。 Thomas Waties； to
proceed down the road； and attack Dollard's house； where it was supposed
the tories were posted； and at the same time he detached two companies to
the right； under Col。 Hugh Horry； and the cavalry to the left； to support the
attack。 Before the corps of officers could reach the house； the party on the
right had encountered the enemy； who had left the house； and were drawn
up in an old field opposite to it。 This circumstance gave to the latter all the
advantage of a surprise； and their first fire was so severe and unexpected；
as to oblige Horry's men to fall back in some confusion； these were；
however； soon rallied by the great exertions of Capt。 John James。 And the
tories in the mean time being attacked on their flank by the corps of
officers； and finding themselves between two fires； gave way after a few
rounds； and took refuge in Black Mingo swamp； which was in their rear。
This action； although of short duration； was so closely and sharply
contested； that the loss on both sides was nearly one third； killed and
wounded。
Capt。 George Logan； of Charleston； had been sick near the White
marsh； but； hearing that Marion had marched for South Carolina； he rose
from his bed； mounted his horse； and rode eighty miles the day before the
action； to join him； and was killed that night at Black Mingo。 Such was the
energy of this fallen patriot。 Two other gallant officers； Capt。 Henry
Mouzon and his Lieut。 Joseph Scott； were； by their wounds； rendered unf
