life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第26章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the British army。 On the 17th of September Gen。 Greene wrote to
Marion： 〃I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the arrival of Count
De Grasse； in Chesapeake bay； with twenty…eight sail of the line； a number
of frigates and six thousand land forces； Gen。 Washington is also arrived
in Virginia to take command of the army。 From these circumstances； and
from some further intelligence of Lord Cornwallis' movements； it is highly
probable that his lordship will endeavour to retreat through North Carolina
to Charleston。 I must therefore entreat that you will use every exertion to
collect a large force of militia together； and as speedy as possible； that we
may be able to intercept his lordship。〃 As Gen。 Marion's scouts at this time
frequently passed round the enemy； and harrassed them much between
their camp and Charleston； it has often been a matter of surprise why he
should recross the Santee； but this letter explains it； for he crossed it to
97
… Page 98…
Life of Marion。
collect his men； and he encamped at Cantey's plantation a considerable
time for that purpose。 On the 1st of Sept。 Gov。 Rutledge had ordered out
only the half of the militia； now all were again directed to take the field as
formerly。
Another good reason for Gen。 Greene and Marion's lying so long
inactive at this season； is to be found in a letter in the correspondence
mentioned； and though the date is later than the present period； yet the fact
comes in properly here。 Gen。 Marion； as it appears from what follows after；
had written to Greene and the governor for ammunition on the 9th of
October。 On the 10th； Gov。 Rutledge answers his letter： 〃I received yours
yesterday； by Mr。 Boone； and wrote in the most pressing terms to Col。
Williams； （Gen。 Greene not being yet returned from Charlotte； for which
place he set out on Friday） for a supply of ammunition； I wish to God it
was in my power to send you ammunition instantly； but it is not。〃 Col。
Otho Williams； who was second in command of the army； writes to Gen。
Marion； and； although his letter is not dated； the connection of the
correspondence is evident： 〃As Gen。 Greene is not in camp； I took the
liberty of opening your letter of the 9th instant。 Our stock of ammunition
is quite exhausted we have not an ounce of powder； or a cartridge； in
store。 The arrival of some military stores which we expect every hour； will
put it in the general's power to supply you amply。 His excellency Gov。
Rutledge has intimated that you meditated an expedition over the Santee；
in making your determination； if it is not settled； permit me to recommend
to your consideration； that the general depends upon you entirely for
intelligence of the enemy's motion。〃 These extracts of letters must be read
with astonishment。 With what uncommon fortitude must such men have
been endowed； to bear up under such continued discouragements。 As Gen。
Marion lay a long time here； it will give occasion to relate some other
matters； which as fortunate events have for some time past thickened；
would have perplexed the narrative to have introduced before。
About the 10th August； Georgetown was burnt。 One Manson；
commanding a small armed vessel； arrived within gunshot of the town；
and sent a party in a boat under cover of his guns； and set fire to some
houses on a wharf at the lower end of the Bay； and the wind favouring； the
98
… Page 99…
Life of Marion。
whole town； except a few houses on the outskirts； was burnt。 No doubt
Manson had his orders from Balfour。
As the continental troops were without pay and clothing； a plan was
adopted by the governor and council to impress all the indigo for public
service which could be found； and it was expected that it would now serve
instead of money as a medium of exchange。 The principle had been
authorised by an old militia law； but it was a rigourous measure and a poor
expedient； although the best that could be devised at the time。 Many thrifty
planters had hoarded up their indigo； ever since the commencement of the
war； hoping some day to turn it into money。 Capt。 Wm。 Richardson； of
Bloomhill； was appointed commissary general by the governor； and
assistants were appointed by him in the several districts of the state； who
went about with press warrants in their pockets； and parties to assist them；
and set a price upon each man's indigo； for which they gave him a receipt；
promising payment from the state。 The general depot was fixed at
Bloomhill。
It was in contemplation at the time likewise to raise two regiments of
state troops to be attached to Marion's brigade； and for this purpose all the
horses fit for cavalry were impressed； except those of men actually in
service。 These were indeed high handed measures； but appeared necessary
at the time。 Winter was approaching； and Gen。 Greene states in a letter to
Col。 Peter Horry； of the 11th of November； 〃Blankets are so scarce with us；
that more than three…fourths of our men are without。〃 A few goods fit for
service were afterwards purchased for indigo； but at an enormous
advance。*
* Instance New England rum at 3 75。 Soldier's saddles 25。
Blankets none as yet。 Best indigo in exchange three shillings sterling。
Letter 9th October。
On the 27th of September Gov。 Rutledge had ordered by proclamation；
that the disaffected should come in within thirty days and do duty for six
months。 This measure brought down disgrace； and soon after nearly ruin
upon Marion's brigade。 This proclamation is long but to the following
effect：
〃That whereas； the British had been compelled to evacuate all their
99
… Page 100…
Life of Marion。
strong posts； and could no more give protection to their adherents； and as
many of them still remained with the British or lurked in secret places。
And whereas； the commandant of Charleston； having sent beyond sea the
wives and families of all the avowed friends of America in town and
country； and the brigadiers of militia had been ordered to retaliate by
sending the wives and families of such adherents within the British lines；
and it is understood that they are in great distress and poverty。 Therefore； a
free pardon is offered for the offence of having borne arms； provided they
surrender themselves up to a brigadier of the state within thirty days； and
do constant duty in the militia service for six months； and upon
performance of these conditions their wives and children were allowed to
return； except such as having joined the enemy； were called upon by two
proclamations to return in forty days； in pursuance of an ordinance of the
legislature。 All such as were sent out of the state for refusing to take the
oath required of them by law and had returned。 All such as subscribed
addresses to Sir H。 Clinton and Lord Cornwallis； congratulating them on
their victories。 All such as hold or have held military commissions。 And all
those whose conduct has been so infamous that they cannot consistent
with policy and justice partake of the rights of citizens。 But if they
surrender to the commander in chief for the time； and were judged
inadmissible； they should not be detained。〃
This abstract has been given to show the singular manner of legislating
in those times。* Not； but that it was necessary thus to legislate； as it was
certainly better to have some kind of civil government than none。 The
raising of two regiments of cavalry was suggested by Gen。 Greene； and
highly approved both by the governor and Marion； and it certainly
promised well at first。 Col。 Hezekiah Maham； who had been elected by the
provincial congress a captain in the first rifle regiment； when they passed
an act to raise two such regiments； in March； 1776； was now appointed
commander of one corps； and Col。 Peter Horry commander of the other；
he had been captain in the 2d regiment from the beginning of 1775； and
was the older officer of the two； the reader will hereafter see the effect of
this observation。
* Governor Rutledge had but two of his council with him at this
100
… Page 101…
Life of Marion。
time； Daniel Huger and John L。 Gervais。
As they had no bounty money to give； recruiting went on slowly； and
they fell upon the following expedient； which was warmly opposed by
Gov。 Rutledge at first； but it is supposed was favoured by Marion。 All men
that could hire a substitute in the regiments now raising were exempted
from militia duty。 This soon drew from the ranks the best of Marion's
men； men who had served from the first； and had left their families at
home in huts； and still in distress； but they could yet spare one or two
negroes； which they did not much value； to hire a substitute to do duty for
them。 The war was now moved comparatively far from them； and they
sighed for home。 In the mean time； the six months men came tumbling in
by scores； to supply their places。 Their new white feathers； fine coats； new
saddles and bridles； and famished horses； showed they had lately been in
the British garrison。 These were not the men to endure privations and fight
their country's battles。 Those of Marion's tried men who remained； could
never confide in them； and now； as is always usual in armies； the most
unprincipled men enlisted in the new regiments； but were not kept in the
discipline necessary fo
