life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第7章
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advanced； with his infantry in the centre； and his cavalry on the wings。 He
was checked by Buford's fire； but the cavalry wheeling； gained his rear。
Seeing no hope of any longer making a defence； Buford sent Ensign Cruitt
with a flag of truce； and grounded his arms。 Disregarding the flag； and the
rules of civilized warfare； Tarleton cut Cruitt down； and charged upon
Buford； with his cavalry in the rear； while Maj。 Cochrane； an infuriated
Scotchman； rushed with fixed bayonets； in front。 A few of Buford's men；
resumed their arms； and fired； when the British were within ten steps； but
with little effect；* as might have been expected； from what has been
stated。
* See Dr。 Brownfield's account of this affair； which throws more
light upon it； than any thing heretofore written。 Appendix； p。 1。 To paliate
his conduct； Tarleton has written a most partial account of it； which has
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Life of Marion。
been followed by Moultrie； and substantially by Ramsay。 The faults
committed by Buford； he says； were his sending his baggage ahead； and
not firing till the cavalry were within ten steps。 But Buford；
notwithstanding all the odium excited against him by his ill fortune； was
tried by a court martial； and acquitted。 Tarleton excuses his cruelty； by
stating； that his horse was knocked down； at the first fire： and his men；
thinking him killed； to avenge his death； were more sanguinary than usual；
and he was unable； from that circumstance； for a while to restrain them。
But Lord Cornwallis approved the whole； and praised and caressed
Tarleton； while he was fortunate。
Buford's regiment was entirely broken by the charge； no quarters were
given by the British； 113 men were killed of the Americans； and 151 so
badly wounded as to be left on the ground。 This was nearly two thirds of
the whole American force； according to Tarleton's own account； and the
manner in which those left on the ground were mangled； is told； by others；
as horrible。 No habitation was near； but the lone cabin of a poor widow
woman； and the situation of the dead； was fortunate； when compared with
that of the living。 Tarleton says； he lost but two officers； and three privates
killed； and one officer and thirteen privates wounded。 The massacre took
place at the spot where the road from Lancaster to Chesterfield now
crosses the Salisbury road。 The news of these two events； the surrender of
the town； and the defeat of Buford； were spread through the country about
the same time； and the spirit of the whigs； sunk into despondency。 The
American cause appeared to be lost； but； on this expedition； Tarleton burnt
the house of Gen。 Sumter； near Stateburgh；* and roused the spirit of the
lion； at Camden； a party of his men cut to pieces Samuel Wiley； whom
they mistook for his brother； John Wiley； then sheriff of the district； at his
own house。** Governor Rutledge and his council again escaped Tarleton；
by a few minutes； and by taking the road to Charlotte； in North Carolina。
On the 1st of June； Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot offered to
the inhabitants； with some exceptions； 〃pardon for their past treasonable
offences； and a reinstatement in their rights and immunities heretofore
enjoyed； exempt from taxation； except by their own legislature。〃 To many；
this specious offer appeared to be all that they had been contending for；
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and they flocked in from all quarters to gain such high privileges。 These；
having signed declarations of allegiance； received protections as subjects；
or were parolled to their plantations as prisoners of war。 But； in the short
space of twenty days； a second proclamation was issued； stating； that it
was necessary for all persons to take an active part in securing his
majesty's government； that all the inhabitants then prisoners on parole；
except those taken at Charleston； and others in confinement； should be
freed from their paroles； and restored to the rights of citizens； and all who
neglected to return to their allegiance should be considered as rebels。
* The proper name is Stateburgh。 But so great is the propensity of
Americans for introducing the S into the already hissing English language；
that it is now written commonly Statesburgh。 ** Tarleton despatched his
favourite sergeant Hutt； who always charged by his side； with a sergeant's
guard； to perform this deed。 The visit was quite unexpected by Wiley。 In
going up to his house； two men were left concealed； behind two large gate
posts； at the entrance of the yard； while Hutt； with the rest； broke into the
house abruptly； he demanded Wiley's shoe buckles； and while he stooped
down to unbuckle them； the wretch Hutt aimed a stroke with his sword at
his head。 Wiley； seeing the gleam of the descending weapon； parried the
blow from his head； by his hand； with the loss of some fingers； then；
springing out of the door； he ran for the gate； where the two concealed
men despatched him with many blows。 The cause of offence was； that
John Wiley； as sheriff； had superintended the execution of some men under
the existing state laws； at that time against treason。 After the battle of
Cowpens Hutt disappeared。
Nothing could have astonished the people more； than this last
proclamation； those who had taken the paroles expected to remain on their
plantations in security and ease； but now； they were called upon to return
to their allegiance； and assist in securing his majesty's government。 The
purport of which was well understood； they were in fact to take up arms
against their countrymen： at the very thought of which they were
abhorrent。 This crooked policy was no sooner adopted； than the British
cause began to decline in South Carolina。 The thread of the events above
recorded； will now naturally lead us to the history of Marion's brigade。
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Life of Marion。
About the end of June； in this year； Capt。 Ardesoif； of the British navy；
arrived at Georgetown； to carry the last proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton
into effect； and invited the people to come in and swear allegiance to King
George。 Many of the inhabitants of that district submitted to this new act
of degradation。 But there remained a portion of it； stretching from the
Santee to the Pedee； and including the whole of the present Williamsburgh；
and part of Marion district； into which the British arms had not penetrated。
The inhabitants of it were generally of Irish extraction； a people； who at all
times during the war； abhorred either submission or vassalage。 Among
them； tradition has handed down the following story： A public meeting
was called； to deliberate upon their critical situation； and Major John
James； who had heretofore commanded them in the field； and represented
them in legislature； was selected as the person who should go down to
Capt。 Ardesoif； and know from him； whether； by his proclamation； he
meant that they should take up arms against their countrymen。 He
proceeded to Georgetown； in the plain garb of a country planter； and was
introduced to the captain； at his lodgings； a considerable distance from his
ship。 An altercation of the following nature took place。 After the major had
narrated the nature of his mission； the captain； surprised that such an
embassy should be sent to him； answered； 〃the submission must be
unconditional。〃 To an inquiry； whether the inhabitants would not be
allowed to stay at home； upon their plantations； in peace and quiet？ he
replied； 〃although you have rebelled against his majesty； he offers you a
free pardon； of which you are undeserving； for you ought all to be hanged；
but as he offers you a free pardon； you must take up arms in support of his
cause。〃 To Major James' suggesting that the people he came to represent
would not submit on such terms； the captain； irritated at his republican
language； particularly； it is supposed； at the word ~represent~； replied；
〃you damned rebel； if you speak in such language I will immediately order
you to be hanged up to the yard…arm。〃 The captain wore a sword； and
Major James none； but perceiving what turn matters were likely to take；
and not brooking such harsh language； he suddenly seized the chair on
which he was seated； brandished it in the face of the captain； and making
his retreat good through the back door of the house； mounted his horse；
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Life of Marion。
and made his escape into the country。 This circumstance； apparently trivial；
certainly hastened the rise of Marion's brigade。 The story narrated； as now
told； or embellished； always concluded in the same way： 〃you must take
up arms in support of his majesty's cause。〃 Many of the people of
Williamsburgh had submitted and taken paroles； but to be obliged to
imbrue their hands in the blood of their countrymen； was in their minds a
breach of one of the commands of God； and they shuddered at the very
thought。 They had besides； had two officers put over them； by the
British commander； Amos Gaskens and John Hamilton； the first they
despised on account of his petty larceny tricks； and the last they hated
because of his profanity。 About this time； news of the approach of Gates
having arrived； a public meeting of this people was called； and it was
unanimously resolved to take up arms in defence of their co
