life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第38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！
145
… Page 146…
Life of Marion。
induced the commandant to hoist a flag； and Col。 Lee and myself agreed
to the enclosed capitulation； which I hope may be approved of by you。 Our
loss on this occasion is two killed； and three continentals and three militia
wounded。 I am particularly indebted to Col。 Lee for his advice and
indefatigable diligence in every part of these tedious operations； against as
strong a little post as could be well made； and on the most advantageous
spot that could be wished for。 The officers and men of the legion and
militia； performed every thing that could be expected； and Major Maham；
of my brigade； had； in a particular manner； a great share of this success； by
his unwearied diligence； in erecting a tower which principally occasioned
the reduction of the fort。 In short； Sir； I have had the greatest assistance
from every one under my command。 Enclosed is a list of the prisoners and
stores taken； and I shall； without loss of time； proceed to demolish the fort；
after which I shall march to the High Hills of Santee； encamp at Capt。
Richardson's； and await your orders。
（Signed） Francis Marion。
____________
Extract of a Letter from Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； before Camden； April 24； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I thank you for the measures you have taken to furnish us with
provisions； and for the intelligence you communicate。 A field piece is
coming to your assistance； which I hope will enable you and Col。 Lee to
get possession of the fort。 With the artillery you will receive one hundred
pounds of powder and four hundred pounds of lead； I wish my present
stock would enable me to forward you a larger supply； but it will not；
having sent you nearly half we have。
（Signed） N。 Greene。
____________
Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Head Quarters； before Camden； April 26； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters； dated 23d and
25th inst。 I congratulate you on your success against Fort Watson。 The
146
… Page 147…
Life of Marion。
articles of capitulation I highly approve of； and feel myself particularly
indebted to you； and all the officers and men under you； for their spirit；
perseverance and good conduct upon the occasion。 The enemy advanced
upon us yesterday and gave us battle。 The conflict was short； and seemed
at one time to promise us advantage； but we were obliged to retire and
give up the field； though without material loss。 We are now within five
miles of Camden； and shall closely invest it in a day or two again。 That we
may be enabled to operate with more certainty against this post； I should
be glad you would move up immediately to our assistance； and take post
on the north side of the town。 I have detached a field piece to your
assistance； with an escort of a few continental troops under the command
of Major Eaton。 I should be glad you would send them a guide and
conduct them to your camp。
I am； Sir； With great esteem and respect； Yours； &c。 （Signed） N。
Greene。
P。S。 I should be glad you would move up within seven miles of
Camden。
____________
Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； at Cornal's Creek； May 9； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I am favoured with yours of the 6th instant。 I am sorry the militia are
deserting；* because there is no greater support。 If they were influenced by
proper principles； and were impressed with a love of liberty and a dread of
slavery； they would not shrink at difficulties。 If we had a force sufficient to
recover the country； their aid would not be wanted； and they cannot be
well acquainted with their true interest to desert us； because they conceive
our force unequal to the reduction of the country without their consent。 I
shall be always happy to see you at head quarters； but cannot think you
seriously mean to solicit leave to go to Philadelphia。 It is true your task
has been disagreeable； but not more so than others。 It is now going on
seven years since the commencement of this war。 I have never had leave
of absence an hour； nor paid the least attention to my own private affairs。
Your state is invaded； your all is at stake； what has been done will signify
147
… Page 148…
Life of Marion。
nothing unless we persevere to the end。 I left a wife in distress and every
thing dear and valuable； to come and afford you all the assistance in my
power； and if you leave us in the midst of our difficulties； while you have
it so much in your power to promote the service； it must throw a damp
upon the spirits of the army； to find that the first men in the state are
retiring from the busy service； to indulge themselves in more agreeable
amusements。 However； your reasons for wishing to decline the command
of the militia； may be more pressing than I imagine。 I will therefore； add
nothing more upon this subject till I see you。 My reasons for writing so
pressingly respecting the dragoons； was from the distress we were in。 It is
not my wish to take the horses from the militia if it will injure the public
service the effects and consequences you can better judge of than I can。
You have rendered important service to the public with the militia under
your command； and done great honour to yourself； and I would not wish
to render your situation less agreeable with them； unless it is to answer
some very great purpose； and this I persuade myself you would agree to
from a desire to promote the public good。 I wish you success in the fort
you are besieging。 Lord Rawdon was out yesterday； we had the night
before taken a new position on Sawney's creek； and I imagine he came out
to attack； expecting to find us on the Twenty…five mile creek。 We did not
like the position on Sawney's creek to risk an action on； and therefore took
a new one at this place； leaving the horse； light infantry and picketts at the
old encampment； the enemy came and drew up on the other side of the
creek； but did not attempt to cross； and retired into Camden before night。
We are in daily expectation of a large reinforcement of Virginia militia and
some continental troops； when those arrive we shall push our operations
with more vigour。 No further news of Lord Cornwallis。
* This letter is an answer to one of Marion's； （which is missing；）
soon after his arrival at Fort Watson； with only eighty men。 See page 109。
＇Chapter III Paragraph 26。 See Simms for more complete details。 A。 L。＇
I am； Sir； With the highest esteem and regard； Yours； &c。 N。
Greene。
____________
148
… Page 149…
Life of Marion。
Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； before Ninety…Six； June 10； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favours of the 22d and 29th
ult。 It gives me great pleasure to hear the enemy have left Georgetown；
and I am of opinion with you； that it will be attended with many good
consequences to that part of the country。 After you have dismantled the
enemy's works； you will collect your force； take the position you
mentioned； and act in conjunction with Gen。 Sumter； agreeable to the
advice I gave you before。 I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the
reduction of the enemy's fort at Augusta。 This event took place on the 7th
inst。 by capitulation； and I hope in a few days to have the pleasure of
congratulating you on the reduction of this place； but we are opposed to
many difficulties； and the garrison resists with great obduracy。
I am； Sir； With every sentiment of respect and esteem； Yours； &c。 N。
Greene。
____________
Extract of a Letter from Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Head Quarters； near Sandy River； June 25； 1781。~
Dear Sir；
I am favoured with your letter dated at the Congaree。 The enemy have
obliged us to raise the siege of Ninety…Six； when it was upon the eve of
surrendering。 It was my wish to have fought Lord Rawdon before he
reached Ninety…Six； and could I have collected your force and that of Gen。
Sumter and Pickens； I would have done it： and am persuaded we should
have defeated him； but being left alone； I was obliged to retire。
（Signed） N。 Greene。
Finis。
Notes：
（1） About this etext。 （2） A。 S。 Salley's Introduction from the 1948
149
… Page 150…
Life of Marion。
edition。 （3） For the purists： A list of changes and corrections to the text。
（1） About this etext。
This etext was prepared from the original 1821 edition and the 1948
edition。 In the case of any differences in the text； the 1821 edition was
used； except where there was an obvious mistake （see the section for the
purists）。 Although the 1948 edition maintained the original text as far as
possible； a few errors crept in only one which changed the meaning of
the text； and only in a minor way。 This etext was transcribed twice； and
electronically compared using 〃diff〃。 This weeds out most errors； so that；
with the correction of a number of errors in the original； this is very likely
the cleanest copy to date。
As far as I can tell； the original text has only been published twice in
unaltered form： in 1821 （Gould and Riley； Charleston； S。 C。） and in 1948。
That made it very difficult to find this text。 I am indebted to the following
for their help in procuring these：
The librarians in the Southern Literature section at the Public Library
in Birmingham； Alabama； for helpin
