life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第21章
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further。 On the 25th of April；* Gen。 Greene lay at Hobkirk hill； at that time
a mile out of Camden； but now partly in the town。 His army consisted of
only about seven hundred continentals； and as many militia； his left rested
on Pinetree creek； and his right extended across the road leading to
Lancaster； uncovered by any obstructions。 Having just received a
comfortable supply of provisions； which they much wanted； his men were
employed in cooking and washing。 At this juncture； Rawdon sallied out of
Camden； at the head of nine hundred men； his whole disposable force。
Between him and Greene； along Pinetree creek； were thick woods and
shrubbery； and he preferred this route for concealment。 His advance was
not suspected； until he was fired upon by the American pickets； but these
received him bravely； and during the contest with them； Greene formed his
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army。 The Virginia brigade； under Gen。 Huger； took the right； the
Maryland brigade； under Col。 Williams； the left。 The continentals were
thus disposed in one line； and the artillery； under Col。 Harrison； were in
the centre。 The reserve were the cavalry； under Col。 Washington； and two
hundred and fifty North Carolina militia； under Col。 Reade。 Rawdon
advanced with the King's American regiment on the right； the New York
volunteers in the centre； and the 63d on the left； his right supported by
Robertson's corps； and his left by the volunteers of Ireland。 Greene
discovering his narrow front； ordered Col。 Campbell； of the Virginia； and
Col。 Ford； of the Maryland line； to turn his flanks； the centre regiments to
advance with fixed bayonets； and Washington to gain his rear。 Rawdon
perceiving his danger； brought up the volunteers of Ireland into line。 The
battle opened with vigour； and Huger evidently gained ground。
Washington in the rear； was carrying all before him； and Col。 Hawes in the
centre； was descending the hill with fixed bayonets。 At this flattering
moment； the veteran regiment of Gunby； the 1st Maryland； fired contrary
to orders； while Capt。 Armstrong； with two sections； was moving ahead
upon the enemy。 Gunby； being anxious to lead his regiment into battle
thoroughly compacted； ordered Armstrong back； instead of making him
the point of view in forming。 Retrograde being the consequence of this
order； the British shouted and pressed forward； and the regiment of Gunby；
considered the bulwark of the army； never recovered from its panic。
Williams； Gunby； and Howard； all strove in vain to bring it to order。 The
Virginia brigade and second Maryland regiment maintained the contest
bravely； but the 2d Maryland； feeling the effect of the retreat of the 1st；
became somewhat deranged； and its commander； Lieut。 Col。 Ford； being
wounded in repressing it； this corps also fell back。 Rawdon's right having
now gained the summit； and flanking Hawes； Gen。 Greene ordered a
retreat； which was covered by Hawes。 Col。 Washington having gained his
point of attack； and taken two hundred prisoners； was confident of victory；
but seeing the retreat； he paroled the officers on the field； and relinquished
all the prisoners but fifty。 These he brought off； and made good his retreat；
with the loss of only three men。 Greene's field pieces were now likely to
fall into the hands of the enemy； and seeing Capt。 John Smith；** with his
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company of picked light infantry； marching off the field in good order； he
rode up and called to him； 〃Smith； my brave fellow； save the field pieces。〃
He immediately fell in the rear； and executed his orders； with the loss of
his whole company。 All were killed but one man and Smith； and they were
made prisoners。 Gen。 Greene rallied his army at the pass of Sanders' creek；
six miles from Camden； and soon after occupied the position Gates had
intended to take； at Gum swamp。 The British lost between sixty and
seventy； and Greene two hundred men。 This affair shows upon how small
an incident the fate of war generally depends。
* This is partly extracted from Lee's Memoirs。 ** Capt。 Smith；
afterwards well known in this state as Col。 John Smith； of Darlington；
surrendered himself prisoner to a lieutenant of the British； and after he had
delivered his sword； was struck by the lieutenant with the broad side of it。
At the battle of Guilford； Smith had killed Col。 Stewart； of the British
guards； in a single rencounter； and his bravery was otherwise so well
known that the British officers invited him to a dinner in Camden。 Before
dinner； he mentioned how he had been treated by the lieutenant； and it was
agreed among them； that； as that officer was to be present at the dinner；
Smith should be at liberty to treat him as he thought fit。 Accordingly
Smith kicked him down stairs； and as he did not resent it； he was soon
after cashiered。
Upon Watson's arrival in Camden； Lord Rawdon being now reinforced；
marched out to attack Gen。 Greene； at Sawney's creek； on the west side of
the Wateree。 Greene did not like his position for a general engagement；
and took a new one at Cornal's creek； leaving the horse； light infantry and
pickets； at his old encampment。 The enemy approached and drew up on
the opposite side of the creek； but did not attempt to cross； and retired into
Camden before night。 Early in the morning of the next day （10th of May；
1781；） Lord Rawdon burnt the mill at Camden； the gaol； his stores； and
many private houses； and evacuating it； retreated towards Nelson's ferry。
Thus was Camden evacuated in less than a year after the British obtained
possession of it； but during that short period it had become the scene of
innumerable spoliations； and other atrocities。 While they held it； the loss
of property； and being reduced to poverty； were the least considerable
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incidents； which happened to the inhabitants。 To form an accurate idea； as
well of the wretched situation of the people of that town and its vicinity；
during this period； as to elucidate a part of history not yet explained； let
the reader take the following narrative； partly in and partly out of its due
order。 Gen。 Greene； having traversed that part of North Carolina from
Guilford to Pedee； and passed through nearly one half the breadth of South
Carolina； by the way of Cheraw hill； and Lynch's creek； arrived at Town
creek； four miles below Camden； about the middle of April。 Except at the
Pedee； the country through which he had marched was destitute of
provisions； and no where； unless he had impressed salt provisions； could
he find any thing better than beef driven out of the woods； which in April
is well known to be lean and nauseating。 For the last fifty miles； his route
had been across the sand hills； between Pedee and the Wateree； here his
guide deserted him； and when he arrived at Town creek； he and his men
were at a loss which way to proceed； and were literally starving。 The fine
low grounds of the Wateree now lay before him； where he expected an
abundance of provisions； but he was most grievously disappointed。 The
British had swept away every thing of the kind that could be found； and
what little subsistence was left to the planters was hid in small parcels； and
in different places in the swamps。 Scarcely any thing fit to eat； was visible；
where prior to this period； and subsequently； every kind of provisions had
been so abundant。 But Gen。 Greene； in his distress； happily* met with a
young man； whom； while he had been at Hick's creek in January last； he
had appointed assistant commissary general； and who had served him with
zeal and ability in that department。 This young man； （the present Gen。
Cantey； of Camden；） had but just returned from Dan river； where he had
supplied Gen。 Greene； with fifteen waggon loads of flour； and nearly one
thousand head of hogs； which he had driven from the Pedee； by private
ways； with so much skill and address； as to avoid Lord Cornwallis； and the
numerous tories by whom he was surrounded； and Cantey was still
zealous to serve his country。 After gaining some intelligence of the enemy；
Gen。 Greene requested his commissary to endeavour to get them some
provisions； for they were famishing。 Cantey's father lived not far off； and
recollecting he had some bacon and corn meal hid in a swamp； he
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immediately went and brought enough for the general's mess； and in a
short time after； drove in beeves； such as they were； sufficient for a supper
for the men； but so destitute was the neighbourhood； that Cantey
recommended it to Gen。 Greene to move above Camden； where provisions
might be collected from the upper country； and it was more probable he
would receive aid from the militia。 But for this explanation； the good
judgment of Gen。 Greene； in taking post above Camden； might well be
questioned； since his wisest； and hitherto favoured plan； had been to strike
at the posts below。 It is thought； if he could have taken a position at Town
creek； or Swift creek below； all surprise might have been prevented。 At
this time； Gen。 Greene sent Cantey to Gen。 Sumter； distant more than one
hundred miles； to request him to join him； but Sumter； who was
meditating an attack on fort Granby； declined any further cooperation
except in that way。 When this answer was communicated to Gen。 Greene；
by Cantey； he was exceeding
