life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第17章
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Greene soon after succeeded Baxter； who was appointed colonel on the
resignation of Ervine。 Hugh Horry had command of M‘Donald's regiment；
who was a prisoner on parole； and ~his~ officers have been mentioned。
Capt。 Wm。 M‘Cottry commanded a company of riflemen who were the
dread of the enemy。 As the brigade was not strong enough for this corps of
horse to act in conjunction； single troops were commonly detached by the
general。 At the head of a party of this cavalry Col。 Peter Horry had soon an
opportunity to make a trial of his skill in cavalry evolutions。 He met and
charged a troop of British horse on Waccamaw neck； but by his own
account he appears to have been rather worsted； for he was unhorsed
himself and his life saved by Serjt。 M‘Donald； however he brought off
some prisoners。 Major John Postell； who was mentioned before； was
stationed to guard the lower part of Pedee； had better fortune。 On the 18th
Jan。 Capt。 James Depeyster； with twenty…nine grenadiers of the British
army； had posted himself in the dwelling house of the major's father； and
Postell commanded but twenty…eight militia men。 Towards day on the
morning after； the major； by knowing well the ground and avoiding the
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sentinels； got possession of the kitchen； and summoned Depeyster to
surrender； this was at first refused； and the major set fire to the kitchen。 He
then summoned him a second time； with the positive declaration if he did
not surrender he would burn the house； the British being intimidated； laid
down their arms and surrendered unconditionally。
From a part of the correspondence of Gen。 Marion with Capt。
Saunders； now commandant of Georgetown； it appears that he had either
soon after the 17th Jan。 or before that； imprisoned Mr。 John Postell； the
father of the major； Gen。 Marion offers 〃to exchange him； and hopes
humanity will induce Capt。 Saunders to treat him like a gentleman。〃* Mr。
John Postell was at least seventy years of age； and much afflicted with
disease； but possessed the spirit of a Cato。
* Marion's letter； 22d February。
Soon after this； Col。 Peter Horry had a conflict with Major Ganey at
White's bridge； near Georgetown； which had a more decisive effect than
could have been expected at the time。 Early in the morning he made a
charge upon a party who were killing beeves at the camp near that place。
They fled and were pursued through the woods on the left towards
Georgetown； with some disorder on the side of Horry。 In the mean time
the firing was heard in the town； and their tory friends came out to their
assistance。 A kind of savage warfare now took place in the woods；
between the Sampit and Black river roads； during the whole morning。 A
party of Horry's was at one time seen advancing； and the tories retreating；
then again the tories were advancing； and a party of Horry's retreating。 At
one time the commander was left as he thought alone； and Capt。 Lewis at
the head of a party was rushing on to shoot him down； when suddenly
from behind a tree off went the gun of a boy by the name of Gwyn； and
shot Lewis； whose party thinking more guns were behind trees ran away。
As Lewis fell his gun went off and killed Horry's horse。 Finally the tories
were routed。 In this affair Serjt。 M‘Donald performed essential service； he
had singled out Ganey as his object of attack； and the latter fled from him。
In going at full speed down the Black river road； at the corner of
Richmond fence； M‘Donald shot one of Ganey's men； and overtaking him
soon after thrust a bayonet up to the hilt in his back； the bayonet separated
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Life of Marion。
from the gun； and Ganey carried it into Georgetown； he recovered； but
tired of a garrison life； after a few months he and his men deserted the
British。
As the navigation of the Wateree river was at that time imperfect； the
British were obliged to have most of their stores of rum； salt； ammunition
and clothing sent over land； across Nelson's ferry； to Camden； and as the
Americans were destitute of these articles； constant conflicts took place
upon that road to obtain them from the enemy。 To secure these； they had
established a line of posts； at Biggen； at Nelson's； and at Scott's lake。
Besides this protection； their supplies were always attended by escorts；
which； since the enterprizes of the two Postells； seldom consisted of less
than three or four hundred men。 About the middle of February； Major
M'Ilraith was marching from Nelson's ferry at the head of one of these
escorts； and Marion with about an equal force assailed him near Halfway
swamp； on the road； he first cut off two pickets in his rear in succession；
then wheeling round his main body； attacked him in flank and in front。 As
M'Ilraith had no cavalry； his situation became perilous in the extreme。 By
a forced march； and constant skirmishing； he at length gained a field upon
the road； now belonging to Mr。 Matthew James； and as it was open and
enclosed； he posted himself on the west of the road； within the enclosure。
On the east； skirting the road； there is a large cypress pond stretching
towards Halfway swamp； and on the verge of this Marion pitched his
camp。 Here M'Ilraith sent him a flag； reproaching him with shooting his
pickets； contrary； as he alleged； to all the laws of civilized warfare； and
defying him to a combat in the open field。 Marion replied； that the practice
of the British in burning the houses of all who would not submit and join
them； was more indefensible than that of shooting pickets； and that as long
as they persisted in the one he would persevere in the other。 That as to his
defiance； he considered it that of a man in desperate circumstances； but if
he wished to witness a combat between twenty picked men on each side；
he was ready to gratify him。 The offer was accepted； and a place pitched
upon to the south of an oak tree； which still stands in the field。
Accordingly； Gen。 Marion appointed Maj。 John Vanderhorst； then a
supernumerary officer； to take command of this band； and Capt。 Samuel
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Life of Marion。
Price； of All Saints； to be second in command。 The names of the men were
written on slips of paper； and presented to them individually； and the first
slip was handed to Gavin Witherspoon。 Not one refused。 Vanderhorst
formed in Indian file； and they proceeded to the fence； where Gen。 Marion
met and harangued them to the following effect： 〃My brave soldiers！ you
are twenty men picked this day out of my whole brigade。 I know you all；
and have often witnessed your bravery。 In the name of your country； I call
upon you once more to show it。 My confidence in you is great； and I am
sure it will not be disappointed。 Fight like men； fight as you have always
done； and you are sure of the victory。〃 This short speech was received with
applause by the combatants。 Vanderhorst now asked Witherspoon； 〃What
distance would you choose as the surest to strike with buck shot？〃 〃Fifty
yards for the first fire；〃 was the reply。 Then； said the commander； 〃when
we get within fifty yards； my boys； as I am not a good judge of distances；
Mr。 Witherspoon will tap me on the shoulder。 I will then give the word；
and you will form on my left opposite those fellows。 As you form； each
man will fire at the one directly opposite him； and my word for it； few will
be left for a second shot。〃 The British had now formed in a single line in
front of the oak； and Vanderhorst advanced boldly on within one hundred
yards。 At this juncture； an officer was seen to pass swiftly on toward the
oak； and the enemy shouldered their muskets and retreated with a quick
step towards the main body。 Vanderhorst and his men gave them three
huzzas！ but did not at that distance fire a shot。 Thus a British officer was
met on his own boasted ground and proved recreant。 The next morning
Major M‘Ilraith abandoned his heavy baggage； left his fires burning； and
retired silently from the ground； along the river road towards Singelton's
mill； distant ten miles。 Near day Marion discovered his movement； and
detached Col。 Hugh Horry with one hundred men to get ahead of him；
before he should reach the mill。 The colonel made all possible speed； but
finding he could not overtake him； detached Major James at the head of a
party mounted on the swiftest horses； to cross the mill pond above； and
take possession of Singelton's houses； which stood on a high hill；
commanding a narrow defile on the road； between the hill and Wateree
swamp。 Major James reached the houses as the British advanced to the
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foot of the hill； but found Singelton's family down with the small pox。
This was more dreaded than the enemy。 He gave them one fire； by which a
captain was killed； and retired。 As M‘Ilraith was now in a strong hold；
Marion pursued him no further。
The character of Major M‘Ilraith has been constantly represented by
the inhabitants of this state； among whom he passed as the most humane
of all the officers of the British army。 To those in their power even
forbearance was at that time a virtue； but his virtues were active。 It has
been currently reported that he carried his dislike to house burning so far；
that he neglected to carry into effect the orders of his commander in chief
on that point to such an extent； as to gain his ill will and that of many other
British officer
