life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第3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！
to us； by any official account。 General Moultrie says of him； 〃he was an
9
… Page 10…
Life of Marion。
active； brave； and hardy soldier； and an excellent partisan officer。〃 We
come now to that part of Marion's life； where； acting in a more
conspicuous situation； things are known of him； with more certainty。 In the
beginning of the year 1775； he was elected one； of what was then called
the provincial congress of South Carolina； from St。 John's。 This was the
public body which agreed to the famous continental association；
recommended by congress； to prevent the importation of goods； wares；
and merchandizes； from Great Britain： they likewise put a stop to all suits
at law； except where debtors refused to renew their obligations； and to give
reasonable security； or when justly suspected of intentions to leave the
province； or to defraud their creditors； and they appointed committees in
the several districts and parishes in the state； which were called
committees of public safety； to carry these acts into effect。 These exercised
high municipal authority； and supported generally by a population
sometimes intemperate； inflicted singular punishments** upon such as
were not only guilty； but even suspected； of infringing the association。 The
provincial congress also； after receiving the news of the battle of
Lexington； determined upon a defensive war； and resolved to raise two
regiments of infantry； and one of cavalry。 Marion was elected a captain in
the second regiment of these two； of which William Moultrie was colonel。
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney； and Thomas Pinckney； since so much
distinguished； were likewise elected captains in this regiment at the same
time。 The first of Captain Marion's appearing in arms against the British；
was in the latter part of this year； when he acted as one of three captains
under Colonel Motte； in taking possession of Fort Johnson； on James
Island。 On this occasion much resistance was expected； but the garrison
abandoned the fort； and escaped to two British vessels； the Tamar and
Cherokee； then lying in Charleston harbour。 In the autumn of the same
year a post was established at Dorchester； where it was thought prudent to
send part of the military stores； and the public records out of Charleston；
and here Captain Marion had the command。 This is only worthy of remark
in the circumstance； that as the climate of this place is remarkably bad in
autumn； it shows that our patriots had already so much enthusiasm in the
cause in which they had embarked； that they refused no station； however
10
… Page 11…
Life of Marion。
perilous。 As the provincial congress and committees of public safety
exercised all the legislative and judicial powers in the state； as might have
been expected； they soon became too complicated for them； and were
thrown into great confusion。 The criminal code was still left in force； but
there were no judges to exercise that jurisdiction。 The provincial congress；
therefore； without waiting for a convention of the people； framed a
constitution： by this they took the name of the general assembly of South
Carolina； and limited their own continuance until the 21st October； 1776；
and； in every two years after that period； a general election was to take
place for members of the assembly。 The legislative powers were vested in
a president； the assembly； and a legislative council； to be chosen out of
their own body。 All resolutions of the continental and provincial congress；
and all laws then of force； were continued。 They passed a law； that only
two thirds of the rice made in the state should be permitted to be exported；
the other third was to remain in the country for its consumption； and for
exchange for the necessary articles of life： and upon these prices were to
be fixed； it was recommended to the people to cultivate cotton； the breed
of sheep was directed to be improved； and； after a certain day； none were
to be killed for market or home consumption； but the continental congress
soon after； passed a law that no rice should be exported； and it was
submitted to； without a murmur。 A vice…president and privy council of six
members were elected； and among other duties； were to exercise chancery
jurisdiction； and other judges were directed to be chosen by the general
assembly。
* Pond Bluff is presently at the bottom of Lake Marion； S。C。 A。 L。；
1997。 ** Such as tarring and feathering。
In a few years； such confusion followed； that we shall see the president；
soon after denominated governor； and two of the privy council； exercising
all the civil and military powers of the state。
John Rutledge was chosen president； Henry Laurens vice…president；
and ~ex…officio~ president of the privy council。 In this year； （1776；）
Francis Marion had risen to the rank of major in the second regiment； and
was stationed with his colonel in the fort at Sullivan's Island。 He was in
the action of the 28th of June； between that fort and nine of the British
11
… Page 12…
Life of Marion。
ships； under Sir Peter Parker。 Of the particulars of this battle； every one
has heard； and they need not be narrated here。 Two of the ships carried
fifty guns； the ship Bristol； commodore Sir Peter Parker； and the
Experiment； and as powder was very scarce in the fort； the orders were；
〃mind the commodore！〃 〃Fire at the two fifty gun ships。〃 Col。 Moultrie
received the thanks of the commander in chief； of congress； Gen。 Lee； and
of president Rutledge； for his gallant conduct in that victory； and； what
was more； the heart…felt gratitude of his countrymen。 The fort was called
by his name； and he was raised to the rank of brigadier general。 His major
then rose to the rank of lieut。 colonel。 This action excited the highest
resentment in the breasts of the British rulers； and in the end they inflicted
severe vengeance on the state of South Carolina。 Three years； however；
elapsed before they made another attempt。 In December； 1778； a British
fleet of thirty seven sail； arrived off Savannah in Georgia； and landed
about 4000 men。 One half of these； under Col。 Campbell； immediately
made an attack upon the town。 Gen。 Howe； with six or seven hundred
Americans； attempted to oppose them； but was defeated at the first onset。
The enemy took possession of the town； and； as the Georgia militia were
backward in turning out； the whole country soon fell under their dominion。
Shortly after the taking of Savannah； Gen。 Lincoln took command of the
American army； and Gen。 Prevost of the British。 On the 3d of Feb。 1779；
Gen。 Moultrie； with a party of about 300 militia； mostly citizens of
Charleston and Beaufort； with the company of ancient artillery of
Charleston； was posted at Beaufort； where he heard the enemy was
advancing。 He immediately dispatched his aid； Capt。 Francis Kinloch； to
reconnoitre； while he moved forward on the road to Beaufort ferry。
Kinloch returning soon； stated the supposed force of the British； and that
they were near upon the road； Moultrie now pushed on to gain a defile； but
found it occupied by the enemy。 There being no alternative； he then drew
up his men in open ground； with two field pieces in the centre； and one on
the right。 The British force was two companies of picked light infantry；
posted under cover of a swamp。 The militia engaged them； and fought
under this disadvantage till their ammunition was all expended； and
Moultrie ordered a retreat； but the British made a simultaneous movement；
12
… Page 13…
Life of Marion。
and it became a drawn battle。 Lieut。 Wilkins of the ancient artillery； was
mortally wounded； and seven men were killed。 Capt。 Heyward； Lieuts。
Sawyer and Brown； and fifteen men； were wounded。 In the general's
account of the action； the loss of the British is not stated； he speaks highly
of the conduct of his officers and men； particularly of Capt。 John Barnwell；
and indeed it was no little matter； thus to bring militia； in the open field； to
fight regulars under cover。
Lincoln's force was fluctuating； as it consisted principally of militia；
who could not be brought under control； and in the midst of arms； when
the enemy were at the distance of only three miles； their officers refused to
subject them to the articles of war； and insisted upon their being tried by
the militia laws of the state； which only subjected them to a small
pecuniary fine。 The case too was a flagrant one； a private of Col。
Kershaw's regiment had absented himself from guard； and upon being
reproved by his captain； gave him abusive language； the captain ordered
him under guard； and the man attempted to shoot his officer； but was
prevented。 This case was referred to the general assembly then sitting；
who also refused to bring the militia under the articles of war。 Had Gen。
Jackson lately submitted to such an interference with his authority； we
should never have heard of the glorious victory of New Orleans。 Gen。
Lincoln would have nothing more to do with the militia； and gave up the
command of them to Gen。 Moultrie； to act with them as a separate corps。
Pursuant to this resolution； and after calling a council of war； he marched
off （20th April） about 2000 light troops and cavalry； for Augusta； leaving
his baggage to fo
