life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第9章
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occasion； no event which had yet happened； was considered so calamitous。
An account of it will be given in his own words。 Extract of a letter； from
Gen。 Gates； to the president of congress； dated Hillsborough； 20th August；
1780：
〃Sir； In the deepest distress and anxiety of mind； I am obliged to
acquaint your excellency with the defeat of the troops under my command。
I arrived with the Maryland line； the artillery； and the North Carolina
militia； on the 13th inst。 at Rugely's； thirteen miles from Camden； took
post there； and was the next day joined by Gen。 Stevens； with 700 militia
from Virginia。 The 15th； at daylight； I reinforced Colonel Sumter； with 300
North Carolina militia； 100 of the Maryland line； and two three…pounders
from the artillery： having previously ordered him down from the Waxhaws；
opposite to Camden； to intercept any stores coming to the enemy； and
particularly troops coming from Ninety…Six。 This was well executed by
Col。 Sumter。 Having communicated my plan to the general officers in the
afternoon of the 15th； it was resolved to march at ten at night； to take post
in a very advantageous situation； with a deep creek in front； （Gum
Swamp*） seven miles from Camden。 At ten the army began to march； and
having moved about five miles； the legion was charged by the enemy's
cavalry； and well supported by Col。 Porterfield； who beat back the enemy's
horse； and was himself unfortunately wounded； （mortally） but the enemy's
infantry advancing with a heavy fire； the troops in front gave way to the
first Maryland brigade； and a confusion ensued which took some time to
regulate。 At length the army was ranged in line of battle。 Gen。 Gists'
brigade on the right； close to a swamp； the North Carolina militia in the
centre； the Virginia militia； the light infantry； and Porterfield's corps； on
the left； the artillery divided to the brigades。 The first Maryland brigade as
a corps de reserve on the road。 Col。 Armand's corps was ordered to support
the left flank。 At daylight； they attacked and drove in our light party in
front； when I ordered the left to advance and attack the enemy； but； to my
astonishment； the left wing and North Carolina militia gave way。 Gen。
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Caswell and myself； assisted by a number of officers； did all in our power
to rally them； but the enemy's cavalry harassing their rear； they ran like a
torrent； and bore all before them。〃 This is all the general seemed to know
of the action。 Part of the brigade of North Carolina militia； commanded by
Gen。 Gregory； behaved well。 They formed on the left of the continentals；
and kept the field while their cartridges lasted。 In bringing off his men；
Gen。 Gregory was thrice wounded by a bayonet； and several of his brigade；
made prisoners； had no wounds but from the bayonet。 The continental
troops； under De Kalb and Gist； with inferior numbers； stood their ground
and maintained the unequal conflict with great firmness。 At one time they
had taken a considerable body of prisoners； but at length； overpowered by
numbers； they were compelled to leave the field。 Tarleton's legion pursued
the fugitives to the Hanging rock； fifteen miles； and glutted themselves
with blood。 Baron De Kalb； the second in command； an officer of great
spirit； and long experience； was taken prisoner； after receiving eleven
wounds； and died。 Congress resolved that a monument should be erected
to him at Annapolis。 The gratitude of the people of Camden； has erected
another in that town； and named a street De Kalb； after him。** Capts。
Williams and Duval； of the Maryland troops； were killed； and Gen。
Rutherford； of North Carolina； and Maj。 Thomas Pinckney； of South
Carolina； were wounded； and taken prisoners。 Du Buysson； aid to Baron
De Kalb； generously exposing himself to save his general； received several
wounds and was taken。 Lord Cornwallis states the force of Gates to have
been six thousand men； and his own at near two thousand： a great disparity
indeed。 The loss of the Americans he calculates at between eight and nine
hundred killed； and one thousand prisoners； many of whom were wounded；
a number of colours； seven pieces of brass cannon； all the military stores
and baggage； and one hundred and fifty waggons。 His Lordship no doubt
obtained a splendid victory； but tarnished it by his orders； issued soon
after。 Extract from the orders of Lord Cornwallis：
* Had Gen。 Gates reached the important pass of Gum Swamp； and
occupied it properly； the fortune of war might have been changed。 It is a
miry creek； impassible for many miles； except at the road。 He missed it
only by a few minutes。 And his popularity； though gained by much merit；
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was lost by no greater crime than that of trusting too much to militia。 **
The Marquis De La Fayette and Baron De Kalb arrived in the United
States in the same small vessel； which made the land at North inlet； near
Georgetown； about the middle of June； in the year 1777。 They lay in the
offing； and seeing a canoe； with two negroes in it； come out of the inlet a
fishing； they sent off a boat； which intercepted them。 Fortunately they
belonged to Capt。 Benjamin Huger； who had just arrived at North Island
with his family； to spend the summer。 The negroes conducted the marquis
and baron to their master's house； where he received them with joy； and； it
need not be added； with hospitality。 Never was a meeting of three more
congenial souls。 The major afterwards conducted his two illustrious guests
to Charleston。 Major Huger was the father of Col。 Huger； who afterwards
engaged in the well known enterprize of delivering the marquis from the
dungeon of Olmutz； and perhaps the seeds of that honourable undertaking
were sown under his father's roof。
〃I have given orders； that the inhabitants of the province； who have
taken part in this revolt； should be punished with the greatest rigour； and
also those who will not turn out； that they may be imprisoned； and their
property taken from them； or destroyed。 I have likewise ordered； that
compensation be made out of their estates； to the persons who have been
injured or oppressed by them。 I have ordered； in the most positive manner；
that every militia man who has borne arms with us； and afterwards joined
the army； shall be immediately hanged。 I desire you will take the most
rigourous measures to punish the rebels in the district in which you
command； and that you obey in the strictest manner the directions I have
given in this letter； relative to the inhabitants of this country。〃 And
wherever the British had garrisons or power these orders were carried into
effect。 Under them； at； or near Camden； Samuel Andrews； Richard Tucker；
John Miles； Josiah Gayle； Eleazar Smith； Sones； and many others；
were hanged。 Under them also； Cols。 John Chesnut and Joseph Kershaw；
Mr。 James Brown； Mr。 Strother； Mr。 James Bradley； and a multitude of
others； languished in irons； while their property was destroyed； and their
families were starving。 Yet Tarleton says of Lord Cornwallis； 〃He
endeavoured so to conduct himself as to give offence to no party； and the
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consequence was that he was able entirely to please none。〃 Of what kind
of stuff must this man's heart have been made？ But let us inquire a little
further into the nature of these orders； which； in their extent； would have
condemned to death； imprisonment and confiscation three fourths of the
militia； who at that time； or afterwards； acted under the American standard
in South Carolina。 The proclamation of the British commanders of the 1st
of June； 1780； before noticed； was either a snare to entrap the people into
allegiance； and； as a necessary consequence； into recruits for their army； or
it was terms of capitulation； fairly offered by the British commanders； to
all such people as would submit to them。 In other words； it was ~a solemn
covenant~。*1* If the proclamation was a snare； to bring the people to fight
against their countrymen； as it has been generally thought； it was a breach
of faith in those commanders； and not binding upon the people；*2* and
the sooner they could avoid the treachery the better。 Then； upon this view
of the case； the more wicked were the orders of Lord Cornwallis； issued
on the unsound principle of a faithless proclamation。 Again； if it was
intended as a covenant； as the paroles issued under it made them prisoners；
the people； from the terms and the nature of it； ought to have been suffered
to remain at home； in peace and quiet； for being prisoners； they could not；
consistent with reason or principle； serve under those who held them in
imprisonment。 Further； the second proclamation declaring all paroles； after
the 20th June； to be null and void； was an arbitrary change of what had
been agreed upon by one party； the strongest； without the consent of the
other； which； in the language of civilians； ~is odious~。*3* Then the
British commanders； having broken their covenant and declared it void；
upon what principle could the people be punished by a breach of it？ Upon
none； for it did not exist。 But further； the taking up arms in favour of the
British； in nine cases out of ten； was compulsory； and could have no
binding effect； either legally or morally speaking。
*1* Puff。 L。N。 viii。6。24。 Vatt。 B。2。C。14。 S。214…15。 *2* Ibid；
B。2。C。13。 S。200。 *3* Vattel B。2。C。17。 S。304。 B。3。C。13。 S。201。
In addition to the enormity of the principle； upon which such men
were to suffer； was the uncertainty of the law； for Lord Cornwallis' orders
are so confusedly drawn； they will admit； as against the accused； of any
