life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第12章
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From Benbow's ferry； Gen。 Marion's first expedition was planned
against Georgetown。 The formidable enemy he had nearly encountered；
had not diminished his energies。 Georgetown； at that period； and
afterwards； was often the point to which his views were directed； since it
was there only he expected to take the supplies of ammunition； clothing
and salt； which he sorely wanted。 To expedite his scheme he crossed Black
river； at Potato ferry； a retired place； and proceeded on towards
Georgetown by the Gap way。 Three miles from the town there is a
swamp called White's bay；* which discharges itself by two mouths； the
one into Black river； the other into Sampit； thus insulating the town。 Over
the one； which empties itself into Sampit； there is a bridge； two miles from
Georgetown； called White's bridge。 Back of these swamps； Gen。 Marion
took his stand； near a place called the Camp； above the bridge。 Here he
despatched Col。 P。 Horry towards the Black river； and Capt。 John Melton
to the Sampit road； both leading into the town； to reconnoitre。 At White's
plantation； Horry fell in with Capt。 Merritt； who； with a few dragoons； was
escorting a couple of ladies from Georgetown； Merritt； after defending
himself bravely； escaped and gave the alarm。 Melton； unfortunately； came
in contact with a party of tories； under Barefield； much larger than his own；
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who were patroling near the bridge。 A few shots were exchanged； and
Melton was compelled to retreat。 But in this short affair Gabriel Marion；
nephew of the general； had his horse killed under him； and was taken
prisoner； but as soon as his name was announced； he was inhumanely shot。
The instrument of death was planted so near that it burnt his linen at the
breast。 He had been a lieutenant in the second regiment； was a young
gentleman of good education； of whom high expectations were formed；
and who was much beloved in the brigade。 As the general had no children；
he mourned over this nephew； as would a father over an only son； but he
soon recollected that he had an example to set； and shortly after publicly
expressed this consolation for himself that his nephew was a virtuous
young man that he had fallen in the cause of his country； and he would
mourn over him no more。 At the same time Mr。 Swaineau； a worthy man；
was killed。 Ere this； he had exercised the peaceful profession of a
schoolmaster； but finding there was no employment for him in these
perilous times； he had boldly shouldered the musket； and died a soldier。
But so prone are mankind to pass over the merits of this most useful class
of men； that had he not fallen by the side of a Marion； perhaps his memory
would have been forgotten。 About the same time； Mr。 Bentley； another
schoolmaster； was killed in action。 The suspension of all public education；
which led to the fate of such men； and the discontinuance of all religious
worship； hereafter more particularly noticed； are striking instances of the
calamitous state of the country during this period。
* Inland swamps in the lower and middle country are called ~Bays~；
from their natural growth； which is the ~bay~ tree； a name sufficiently
appropriate。
The British in Georgetown being now alarmed； Gen。 Marion's wise
scheme to surprise them was frustrated； and he retired to Snow's island。
This island became henceforth the most constant place of his encampment；
a secure retreat； a depot for his arms and ammunition； and； under similar
pressures； a second ~Athelney~； from which he might sally out upon the
modern； but no less ferocious plunderers than their ancestors； the Danes。
Snow's island； not quite so marshy as was the retreat of the great Alfred；
lies at the confluence of Lynch's creek and the Pedee。 On the east flows
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Life of Marion。
the Pedee； on the west Clark's creek； a navigable stream； issuing from
Lynch's creek above； and on the north lies Lynch's creek； nearly choked up
by rafts of logs； but wide and deep。 The island is high river swamp； and
large； of itself affording much provision and live stock； as did all the
Pedee river swamp at that day。 In places； there were open cultivated lands
on the island； but it was much covered by thick woods and cane brakes； it
was also near to Ganey's party of tories； and by crossing the river； and
marching two or three hours； Marion could forage in an enemy's country。
All these advantages were well suited to the views of such a leader as Gen。
Marion； and the reader is to bear in mind that such was the kind of
swamps he commonly occupied。 Reinforcements were now coming in to
him daily； and his party began at this time to assume the appearance and
force of a brigade。 He lay here to receive them； and to repose his men； and
horses； which； from the time he left the White marsh until he halted at
Snow's island； had passed over at least three hundred and sixty miles； in
rapid marches and counter marches； made principally in the night。 Marion
now kept out a strict watch upon the enemy。 About this time； Lieut。 Roger
Gordon was sent out with a party； to patrole on Lynch's creek； and stopped
at a house for provisions and refreshments。 While there； he was attacked
by Capt。 Butler with a much larger party of tories； who having succeeded
in making good his approaches to the house； set it on fire。 Gordon then
capitulated on a promise of quarters； but no sooner had his party grounded
their arms； than they were all put to death。 Not long after； Col。 Kalb； Mr。
Thomas Evans and some others； were murdered by Gibson； a coloured
man； and his party of tories； in a manner still more shocking to humanity。
In the dead of night； Kalb's own house was surrounded； and set on fire； he；
his wife； and family； and some neighbours were in it； and in bed； when
awaking； they sued for quarters。 Gibson promised that they should not be
hurt； if they surrendered； but as soon as the men had passed out into the
light of the conflagration； they were all shot。 We have some time since
mentioned the murder of the two Bradleys； and others； on Lynch's Creek；
and lately that of Gabriel Marion。 Such provocations were no longer to be
borne。 Henceforth； there commenced such a bloody warfare between the
whigs and tories； as is seldom recorded in the annals of even civil
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commotion。* Besides the provocations mentioned； when a tory was taken
prisoner； there were no means of securing him； and he commonly soon
made his escape； and thereafter became a guide to his associates。 It was
not so with whigs who were made prisoners； for they could be sent to
Georgetown or Camden。 But now； seldom were prisoners made on either
side； and if made； that was no security for their lives： they were sure to be
put to death； either openly or privately； by a few infuriated men； who
could be subjected to no subordination。 Enough is said。 Let the rest be
buried in oblivion。
* Bella； plus quam civilia； bella； nullos habitura triumphos。
At and near Snow's island； Gen。 Marion secured what boats he wanted；
and burnt those more remote。 To prevent the approach of an enemy； he fell
upon a plan of insulating as much as possible the country under his
command。 For this purpose he broke down bridges； and felled trees across
causeways and difficult passes。 As there was no market in that day； and the
vicinity of a road was dangerous； the inhabitants aided him much in this
design。 History furnishes innumerable instances of the good effect of such
a system of defensive warfare。 His scouting parties moved principally in
the night； and in all directions； and to whatever course they turned an
enemy was easily found。 The British had posts at Nelson's ferry； Scott's
lake； and Georgetown； and the tories on Lynch's creek； and Little Pedee；
were more numerous； but not so well directed as Marion's party。
Col。 P。 Horry and Maj。 John Postell； with detachments； were posted；
the first on Waccamaw creek； the second on the neck between Black and
Pedee rivers； with orders to take all boats and canoes； and all horses； from
friends or foes； to impress negroes as boat hands and pioneers； to seize all
arms and ammunition； to prevent provisions from being sent to the enemy
in Georgetown； and to send up as much rice and salt to Snow's island； as
possible。 （30th Dec。 1780。） All who would not join them were to be taken
prisoners； and all who supplied the enemy with stock； or grain； were to be
treated as traitors。 Thus martial law was fully established； and； for self
defence； never was it more necessary。 When Gen。 Marion himself； or any
of his parties； left the island on an expedition； they almost invariably
struck into the woods towards the heads of the larger water courses； and
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crossed them near their source； and if in haste； they swam over them。
Many of the general's trails remained for a long time after； and some are
now roads。 When it is said hereafter that Gen。 Marion crossed a river； for
instance the Santee； it is not to be understood that he stopped； like Caesar
at the Rhine； to build a bridge over it； or that he was provided with the
convenient modern apparatus of pontoons； or oftentimes with a common
flat； even the last would have been too slow for the usual rapidity of his
motions。 He seldom waited for more than a single canoe； along side of
which his sorrel horse Ball；* was usually led into the river； and he floated
over like an amphibious animal。 The rest of the horses soon learned to
follow instinc
