life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第13章
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follow instinctively。 Where a canoe was not to be had； the general swam
over frequently on the back of this uncommon horse。 No leader； in ancient
or modern times； ever passed rivers with more rapidity。 His plans were
laid； and his movements conducted； with the most uncommon secrecy。
After making a movement； his most confidential officers and men have
had to search for him for days together； perhaps without finding him。 His
scouts； when returning； and at a loss； used a loud and shrill whistle； as a
signal； which could be heard in the night to an astonishing distance。 It is
well described in Scott's Lady of the Lake： 〃He whistled shrill； And
he was answered from the hill； Wild as the scream of the curlew； From
crag to crag； the signal flew。〃
* He was taken from Capt。 Ball； at Black Mingo。
As an instance of the secrecy with which Gen。 Marion's plans were
always adopted and conducted； the following may be regarded as a
specimen in his progress throughout。 His men having been several times
unexpectedly led out upon long expeditions； without preparation； and
suffering for the want of food on such occasions； after some time； were in
the habit of watching his cook； and if they saw him unusually busied in
preparing any of the frugal fare then in use； they prepared accordingly。
The general's favourite time for moving was at the sitting sun； and then it
was expected the march would continue all night。 But the present time；
and afterwards； before striking any sudden blow； he has been known to
march sixty or seventy miles； without taking any other refreshment； than a
meal of cold potatoes and a drink of cold water； in twenty…four hours。
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During this period men were but badly clothed in homespun； which
afforded little warmth。 They slept in the open air； according to their means；
either with or without a blanket。 They had nothing but water to drink。
They fed chiefly upon sweet potatoes； either with or without fresh beef。
And they submitted to this without a murmur； but all sighed for salt！ for
salt！ that first article of necessity for the human race。 Little do the
luxurious of the present day know of the pressure of such a want。 Salt was
now ten silver dollars the bushel； when brought more than thirty miles
from the Waccamaw sea shore； where it was coarsely manufactured。 It was
harder to get one silver dollar then； than ten now； so that on a low
calculation； a bushel of coarse bay salt； sold at that time for one hundred
dollars value of the present day。 As soon as Gen。 Marion could collect a
sufficient quantity of this desirable article at Snow's island； he distributed
it out in quantities； not exceeding a bushel to each whig family； and thus
endeared himself the more to his followers。
Thus closed the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty； over the
head of Gen。 Marion。 We will leave him for a moment； to such repose as
the island afforded； and state some matters to carry on the chain of events。
On the 12th July； General Sumter commenced his brilliant career。 On
the west of the Catawba； he defeated a large party of tories； and a party of
British； and killed Col。 Ferguson； who commanded the former； and Capt。
Huck； at the head of the latter。 This man had shocked the good
Presbyterians in that part of the country by his profanity； he burnt their
church； their parsonage； and their bibles； and treated them with insult and
cruelty。 About the 30th July； Gen。 Sumter nearly annihilated the Prince of
Wales' regiment； and routed a large body of tories at the Hanging rock。
Soon after the defeat of Gates； the enemy was left at liberty to turn a
greater force upon Sumter； and his men； being worn down by fatigue and
want of sleep； he was surprised and defeated at Fishing creek； by Tarleton；
but with little loss； for he rallied his forces ~in three days after~。* On the
12th Nov。 Major Wemyss attempted to surprise him near the Fishdam ford；
on Broad river； at the head of a corps of infantry and dragoons。 Col。
Thomas Taylor； with his regiment； was posted in advance； and his men lay
securely at their fires； thinking the enemy at a distance。 But the colonel；
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Life of Marion。
from what has been termed a ~presentiment~； was uneasy and could not
rest； he got up； and hearing the barking of dogs and some other unusual
noises； he woke up his men； and removed them back from their fires。 Soon
after； the British appeared at them； and thus offered themselves to the aim
of experienced marksmen。 In the mean time Sumter came up to their aid；
and the enemy was totally defeated。 Major Wemyss was severely wounded
and taken。 He had in his pocket a list of the houses he had burnt at
Williamsburgh and Pedee； with great trepidation he showed it to Sumter；
and begged he would protect him from the militia。 Notwithstanding his
atrocities he was treated with indulgence； but became a cripple for life。 On
the 20th of the same month Sumter was attacked by Col。 Tarleton； at Black
Stocks。 The action was severe； and of the British officers； Major Money；
and Lieuts。 Gibson and Cape； were killed。 Sumter lost few men； but he
was himself wounded。 The ball passed through the shoulder and carried
away a small portion of the backbone。 He was placed in a raw bullock's
hide； fastened between two horses； and thus carried with a guard of five
men to the mountains。
* Notwithstanding the ~bruit~ made in history about this defeat of
Sumter； the author can re…assert； and from written evidence now before
him； that Sumter was ~in three days~ at the head of a very respectable
force。 This was not obtained by any communication from the general； but
by an investigation of dates。
Tarleton； as usual； sent an account of his victory； much exaggerated； to
Lord Cornwallis； who writes to him on the 22d of the same month： 〃I most
heartily wish you joy of your success； but wish it had not cost you so
much。〃 And again； on the next day： 〃I shall be very glad to hear that
Sumter is in a condition to give us no further trouble； he certainly has been
our greatest plague in this country。〃 The inhabitants of the New
Acquisition； now York district； were among the warm friends of Gen。
Sumter； it was among these people he generally recruited his forces。 They
never submitted to the British nor took protection。 The most distinguished
leaders； under Sumter； were Colonels Niel； Hill； Lacey； Winn； Bratton；
Brandon； and Majors Davie and Winn。 Davie commanded a corps of
cavalry； which was never surprised nor dispersed during the war。
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In the summer of 1780； Col。 Ferguson； of the British 71st； had
undertaken to visit the tory settlements in the upper country； and train up
the young men to arms。 Among these several unprincipled people had
joined him； and acted with their usual propensity for rapine and murder。
Many Americans； fleeing before them； passed over into the state of
Tennessee； then beginning to be settled。 By their warm representations；
they roused the spirit of the people of that country； which has since
become so often conspicuous。 Although safe from any enemy but the
savages of their cane brakes； they left their families； and generously
marched to the assistance of their friends。 Nine hundred of them mounted；
under the command of Col。 Campbell； poured down from the Allegany；
like the torrents from its summit。 Gunpowder they had already learnt to
prepare from the saltpetre in their caves； and lead they dug out of their
mines。 Dried venison satisfied their hunger； pure water slaked their thirst；
and at the side of a rock they enjoyed comfortable repose。 Armed with
rifles； sure to the white speck on the target； at the distance of one hundred
paces； or to decapitate the wild turkey on the top of the tallest pine these
were indeed a formidable band。 Their other leaders were Shelby； Sevier；
Williams and Cleveland； all inured to the pursuit of the savage or the wild
beast of the forest。 Thus equipped and commanded； and with such few
wants； they moved rapidly on to attack Ferguson； a no less formidable foe；
and on the 7th of October； 1780； reached him； strongly posted on King's
mountain。 Campbell divided his men into three bands； one under himself；
one under Cleveland； and the other under Shelby。 Cleveland
commenced the attack； and fired until Ferguson； advancing sufficiently
near； ordered the British to charge with bayonets； before these he retired。
By this time Shelby had ascended the mountain； and gave an unexpected
and deadly fire。 The bayonet had scarcely been again successful； when
Campbell reached the summit and fired in another and more destructive
volley。 Ferguson presented a new front； and the bayonet again prevailed。
But Cleveland had rallied his men and poured in the fourth fire： and now
as often as one American party was driven back； another returned to the
attack； and as victory was becoming sure； with more determined resolution。
The unconquerable spirit of Ferguson still refused to submit； but baited
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thus； as he was on all sides； resistance became vain。 At length this
distinguished officer received a mortal wound； and falling upon the field；
his second in command； Capt。 Abraham De Peyster； sued for q
