life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第18章
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on that point to such an extent； as to gain his ill will and that of many other
British officers。 How much it is to be regretted that the rigid rules of
warfare should have arrayed such a man in opposition to Marion； when
both professed the same humane principles。
We come now to the most interesting part of the warfare of Gen。
Marion； which； bringing into action all the energies of his officers and
men； at the same time developed all the skill and patience of their
commander。
At the juncture of the retreat of Gen。 Greene before Cornwallis；
Sumter and Marion were left alone in South Carolina； Sumter on the
Catawba； in York district； and Marion on the Pedee； at Snow's island；
about two hundred miles apart； and Lord Rawdon directly between them；
with a much superior force。 Thus situated his lordship laid a well digested
plan to crush Marion。 Col。 Watson with a British regiment； and Harrison's
regiment of tories； amounting in the whole to more than five hundred men；
was ordered to march down the Santee； towards Snow's island； and he
commenced his expedition from Fort Watson about the first of March。
Shortly after Col。 Doyle with another British regiment； was directed to
proceed by the way of M‘Callum's ferry on Lynch's creek； and down
Jeffer's creek； to the Pedee road to the same point； where they were to
form a junction。 Doyle had to open a road from M‘Callum's to Pedee； and
his approach； though slow； was unexpected； but Marion's scouts placed
from Camden down； with relays of horses； soon informed him of Watson's
movement。 By one of his rapid marches he met him at Wiboo； about
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midway between Nelson's and Murray's ferry； and at this swamp
commenced his arduous contest with Watson。 Col。 Peter Horry was placed
in advance at the swamp； while the general with the cavalry； and
remainder of the brigade； amounting to about four hundred men； lay in
reserve。 Horry made considerable impression upon the tories in advance；
but Watson with two field pieces； and at the head of his column of regulars；
dislodged him from the swamp； and the tory cavalry under Harrison
pursued。 As they advanced； Gavin James； a private of gigantic size and
spirit； mounted on a strong grey horse； and armed with a musket and
bayonet； threw himself in their way。 He first deliberately fired upon the
column and one man fell。 The causeway was narrow and this occasioned a
pause； in which a volley was fired at him without effect。 One dragoon
advanced and was struck off his horse by the bayonet。 A second came to
his aid and shared a like fate； in falling he laid hold of the musket near the
muzzle to jerk it away； and James dragged him forty or fifty paces。 This
bold action produced a considerable effect； and was soon followed by
many others； not so well recollected； and too numerous to be inserted。
Harrison had not pursued far； when Marion ordered the cavalry to charge；
Capts。 M‘Cauley and Conyers； met him； and soon dispersed his force；
whilst Conyers killed one of his officers； said to be Major Harrison； with
his own hands。 Thus were the tories intimidated at the outset。
On the 9th of March； Col。 Watson encamped at Cantey's plantation；
and wrote a letter to Gen。 Marion； in which he justifies （what the other had
complained of by a previous communication；*） the burning of houses and
the hanging of those citizens who had taken paroles； and afterwards joined
the Americans； upon the principles of the laws of war and nations。 It
seems the colonel had reference to the code of barbarous nations。 Marion
made him no reply； but gave orders to his nightly patroles； to shoot his
sentinels and cut off his pickets。 Such a retaliation was to be expected； and
thus raged the civil warfare。
* Letter of Marion； 7th March。
Watson marched down the river； and at Mount Hope had to build up
the bridges； and to sustain a second conflict with Col。 Hugh Horry； at the
head of Marion's advance。 By dint of his field pieces； and the strength of
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Life of Marion。
his column； he at length made good his way。 Near Murray's ferry he
passed the Kingstree road to his left； and when he came to the Black river
road； which crosses at the lower bridge； he made a feint of still continuing
down the Santee； but soon after wheeling took that road on which the
lower bridge was； distant twelve miles。 His manoeuvre did not long
deceive Marion。 He detached Major James at the head of seventy men；
thirty of whom were riflemen under M‘Cottry； to destroy the remnant of
the bridge； which had been partially broken； and to take post there； while
the general kept an eye on Watson。
The pass of the lower bridge was now to decide the fate of
Williamsburgh； and seventy of her sons； under her most approved leaders；
were gone forth to defend it。 Maj。 James proceeded with great expedition；
and crossing the river by a shorter route than the road； arrived at the bridge
in time to throw down two of the middle arches； and to fire the string
pieces at the eastern end。 At this place the west bank of the river is
considerably elevated； the east low and somewhat swampy； and on the
west the road passes to the bridge through a ravine； the river is forty or
fifty yards wide； and though deep； was fordable below the bridge。 As soon
as the breach in it was effected； Maj。 James drew up M'Cottry's riflemen
on each side of the ford and end of the bridge； so as to have a fair view of
the ravine； and disposed the rest of his little band on the flanks。 Not long
after； Marion arriving； took post in the rear； and sent Capt。 Thomas Potts；
with his Pedee company； to reinforce Maj。 James； and this had scarcely
been effected； when Watson's field pieces opened their fire； from the
opposite bank to clear his way； for a passage at the ford。 These field pieces
could not be brought to bear on the low grounds to the east without
exposing his artillerists on the hill to the fire of the riflemen。 His balls hit
the pines across the river； about midway their trunks； or passed over
disregarded。 This attempt not succeeding； Watson drew up his columns in
the old field over the river； and his advance was now seen approaching the
ford with an officer at its head； waving his sword。 M‘Cottry fired the
signal gun； and the officer clapped his hand to his breast and fell to the
ground。 The riflemen and musketeers next poured in a well directed and
deadly fire； and the British advance fled in disorder； nor did the reserve
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move forward to its support。 Four men returned to bear off their officer；
but all four shared his fate。 In the evening； Watson succeeded in removing
his dead and wounded； and took up his head quarters at John
Witherspoon's； a mile above the bridge。 Here he was overheard to say；
〃that he never saw such shooting in his life。〃 To men fighting for their
homes； wives； families； and their very existence； 〃nothing appeared
difficult；〃 and good shooting； if not a virtue in them； was highly
commendable。 Gen。 Marion took a position on a ridge below the ford of
the river； which is still called the general's island。 Next day he pushed
M‘Cottry and Conyers over the river； and recommenced shooting Watson's
pickets and sentinels。 Watson posted himself a little farther up the river； at
Blakely's plantation； where he pitched his camp in the most open place he
could find； but still Marion kept him in a bad humour； （as his letters from
that place indicate；） and his regulars in a constant panic。 Here he remained
for more than a week* in inactivity and irresolution； perhaps he waited for
Doyle to make an impression at Snow's island； but if Marion heard of
Doyle； he kept it a profound secret。 While Blakely's and Witherspoon's
provisions lasted； his present plan answered pretty well； but when they
failed； it became necessary to have more at a greater distance； and these
could not be obtained； but by daily skirmishes。 In these Capt。 Conyers was
greatly distinguished。 He was most daring； and sat and managed his horse
so remarkably well； that as was the case with the centaur of old； they
might have been taken for one animal。 Conyers was at this time fighting
under the auspicious eye of a young lady；** to whom his faith had been
plighted； and beneath her alternate smiles and fears； he presented himself
daily before the lines of the enemy； either as a single champion； or at the
head of his troop。 Often did she hear them repeat； 〃Take care！ there is Capt。
Conyers！〃 It was a ray of chivalry athwart the gloom of unrelenting
warfare。
* About ten days； as it appears from the dates of his letters。 ** This
young lady was Mary； the second daughter of John Witherspoon； who
after the war； was married to Conyers。 One day when her lover made his
appearance as usual； a British officer made use of language disrespectful
to him； which she bore for some time with patience； at last he said
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something indelicate to herself。 She immediately drew off a walking shoe
from her foot； and flung it in his face； saying； 〃coward！ go meet him。〃 In
those days kid slippers were not fashionable。
To
