life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第33章
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commander； with a salary of about 500 pounds。** Yet； in despite of his
recent and meritorious services； this moderate appointment became a butt
at which they who are forever seeking popularity by recommending
curtailments in useful and even necessary expenditures； soon levelled their
shafts。 His spirit could not easily brook such treatment； but his debts made
it prudent to submit。
* Marion's letter to Col。 P。 Horry； 18th Jan。 1781。 ** Act； 10th
March； 1784。
At this juncture； his merit and high reputation had made a favourable
impression on the heart of Miss Mary Videau； one of his relations。 She
was observed to be fond of hearing his achievements spoken of in terms of
high approbation； some of the general's friends noticed it； and gave him a
hint。 He paid his addresses to her and was well received。 They were soon
after married； and he resigned his command at the fort。 She brought him a
handsome fortune； and as there was no great disparity； either in their years
or disposition； she made him an excellent wife。 She was in countenance
the exact counterpart of the general。 She partook in all his amusements；
accompanied him in his journeys； and in his absence could not be better
pleased than by hearing his praises。 In short； nothing could have made this
matrimonial connexion more happy； but its being more fruitful。 They
never had an heir。 The general built a comfortable house of a single story；
with one sitting room； but many chambers； its materials were of the most
durable kind of cypress； but it received no coat either of paint or varnish。
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Here his friends were received with a hearty welcome and good cheer； and
the stranger with kind hospitality。 His planting interest was judiciously
managed； and his property increased yearly。 In the summer months he
made excursions； into the upper country almost every year； for the benefit
of his health。 In these journeys he loved to renew former recollections。 He
had retained his marquee； camp bed and cooking utensils； and he always
travelled as he had done in his brigade。 To his wife nothing could be more
pleasant； and she has often recounted these jaunts to her friends with
delight。 The old pot； kettle and frying…pan； tin plates； knives and forks
were preserved as precious relics： the sumpter mules as friends。 His
faithful servant Oscar； who had accompanied him through all his
difficulties； always received high marks of his favour。 As to honours； Gen。
Marion did not aspire higher than to a seat in the senate； which he
continued to fill as long as he pleased； as a member for St。 John's。 In May；
1790； he was a member of the convention for forming the state
constitution； after which he declined all public duties。 In politics he was a
moderate federalist； such as were many great revolutionary characters。 In
May； 1794； the militia of the state were re…organized； and soon after Gen。
Marion resigned his commission in the militia。 Shortly after his
resignation； at a meeting of the citizens of Georgetown； a committee of
four was appointed to draw up an address to the general。 These were
William D。 James； Robert Brownfield； Thomas Mitchell and Joseph
Blythe。 An address was prepared by the chairman （James；） and
unanimously adopted。 Copies were also directed to be distributed through
the district。 It is as follows：
〃Dear General； At the present juncture； when the necessity of public
affairs requires the military of this state to be organized anew； to repel the
attacks of an enemy from whatever quarter they may be forced upon us；
we； citizens of the district of Georgetown； finding you no longer at our
head； have agreed to convey to you our grateful sentiments for your
former numerous services。 In the decline of life when the merits of the
veteran are too often forgotten； we wish to remind you that yours are still
fresh in the remembrance of your fellow citizens。 Could it be possible for
men who have served and fought under you； to be now forgetful of that
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Life of Marion。
general； by whose prudent conduct their lives have been saved and their
families preserved from being plundered by a rapacious enemy？ We mean
not to flatter you。 At this time it is impossible for you to suspect it。 Our
present language is the language of free men expressing only sentiments
of gratitude。 Your achievements may not have sufficiently swelled the
historic page。 They were performed by those who could better wield the
sword than the pen。 By men whose constant dangers precluded them from
the leisure； and whose necessities deprived them of the common
implements of writing。 But this is of little moment： they remain recorded
in such indelible characters upon our minds； that neither change of
circumstances nor length of time can efface them。 Taught by us； our
children shall hereafter point out the places and say to their children； here
Gen。 Marion； posted to advantage； made a glorious stand in defence of the
liberties of his country； there； on disadvantageous ground； retreated to
save the lives of his fellow citizens。 What could be more glorious for the
general commanding free men than thus to fight； and thus to save the lives
of his fellow soldiers？ Continue general in peace to till those acres which
you once wrested from the hands of an enemy。 Continue to enjoy dignity；
accompanied with ease； and to lengthen out your days blessed with the
consciousness of conduct unaccused of rapine or oppression； and of
actions ever directed by the purest patriotism。〃
This address was presented to the general and gave him great pleasure；
but as he had not latterly been much in the habit of using his pen； his
answer was a verbal one； expressive of his sincere thanks。
On the 27th day of February； 1795； Gen。 Marion died at his house in St。
John's parish。 As his fame is yet but indistinctly known； and much of that
through the medium of fable； the present attempt has been made to arrest
its progress； to do honour to his memory； and to transmit his example to
posterity。
Appendix。
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Life of Marion。
~The following is the letter of Dr。 Robert Brownfield to the author；
giving a detailed account of the defeat of Buford's regiment； referred to at
page 39。~ ＇Chapter II Paragraph 6＇
Dear Sir；
In obedience to your request； I send you a detailed account of the
defeat and massacre of Col。 Buford's regiment； near the borders of North
Carolina； on the road leading from Camden to Salisbury。 This regiment
consisting of three hundred and fifty men； well appointed and equipped；
had marched from Virginia for the relief of Charleston； and had advanced
to Santee； where they were met by intelligence of the surrender； a retreat
then became unavoidable。 Between this place and Camden they fell in
with Gen。 Caswell； at the head of about seven hundred North Carolina
militia； whose object had been the same； and whose retreat became
equally imperious。 At Camden these two corps unfortunately separated；
Caswell filed off to Pedee； and Buford pursued the road to Salisbury。 This
measure was accounted for by the want of correct intelligence of Tarleton's
prompt and rapid movements； who was in full pursuit with three hundred
cavalry； and each a soldier of infantry behind him。 Neglecting Caswell
and his militia； the pursuit was continued after Buford to the Waxhaw。
Finding he was approximating this corps； he despatched a flag； saying he
was at Barclay's with seven hundred men； and summoned them to
surrender on the terms granted to the garrison in Charleston。 Buford
immediately laid the summons before a council of his officers with three
distinct propositions from himself： Shall we comply with Tarleton's
summons？ Shall we abandon the baggage； and； by a rapid movement； save
ourselves？ or； shall we fortify ourselves by the waggons； and wait his
approach？
The first and second were decidedly rejected by the unanimous voice
of the council； declaring it to be incompatible with their honour as soldiers；
or the duty they owed their country； either to surrender or abandon the
baggage on the bare statement of Tarleton。 They had no certainty of the
truth of his assertion； and that it might be only a ~ruse de guerre~ to alarm
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their fears and obtain a bloodless victory。 The third was also negatived on
the ground； that although they might by this means defend themselves
against Tarleton； but as no succour was near； and as Tarleton could； in a
short time； obtain reinforcements from Cornwallis； against which no
effectual resistance could be made； this measure would be unavailable。
The discussion soon resulted in a resolution to continue the march；
maintaining the best possible order for the reception of the enemy。 In a
short time Tarleton's bugle was heard； and a furious attack was made on
the rear guard； commanded by Lieut。 Pearson。 Not a man escaped。 Poor
Pearson was inhumanely mangled on the face as he lay on his back。 His
nose and lip were bisected obliquely； several of his teeth were broken out
in the upper jaw； and the under completely divided on each side。 These
wounds were inflicted after he had fallen； with several others on his head；
