life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第10章
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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 country。 Major
James was desired to command them as heretofore； and they again arrayed
themselves under their captains William M‘Cottry； Henry Mouzon； John
James；* of the lake； and John M‘Cauley。 The four companies； resolved on
this great enterprise； consisted of about two hundred men。 Shortly after；
Col。 Hugh Giles； of Pedee； proposed to join them； with two companies；
Whitherspoon's and Thornly's； and his offer was gladly accepted。 Gen。
Gates had now arrived on the confines of the state； and in a consultation；
held among these officers； it was agreed to send to him； to appoint them a
commander。 This was a wise resolution； and attended with the most
salutary consequences。 In the mean time； they made prisoners of Col。
Cassels； Capt。 Gaskens； and most of the officers appointed over them by
the British； and took post at the pass of Lynch's creek； at Witherspoon's
ferry。 At this period； the tories on Lynch's creek； in the neighbourhood of
M‘Callum's ferry； had already begun their murders and depredations。
Messrs。 Matthew Bradley； Thomas Bradley； and John Roberts； respectable
citizens； who had then joined neither party； and also； some others； were
killed by them； in their own houses。 These were headed by the two
Harrisons； one afterwards a colonel； the other a major in the British
service； whom Tarleton calls men of fortune。 They were in fact two of the
greatest banditti that ever infested the country。 Before the fall of
Charleston they lived in a wretched log hut； by the road； near M‘Callum's；
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Life of Marion。
in which there was no bed…covering but the skins of wild beasts； during
the contest the major was killed； but after it was over； the colonel retired to
Jamaica； with much wealth； acquired by depredation。 Capt。 M‘Cottry was
now posted in advance of Witherspoon's ferry； at Indian town； and Col。
Tarleton； having crossed at Lenud's ferry； and hearing of the
Williamsburgh meeting； advanced； at the head of seventy mounted militia
and cavalry； to surprise Major James。 M‘Cottry； first receiving notice of
his movement； sent back for a reinforcement； and immediately marched
his company； of about fifty mounted militia； to give him battle。 Tarleton
had been posted at dark； at the Kingstree； and M‘Cottry approached him at
midnight； but Tarleton marched away a few hours before he arrived。 By
means of the wife of Hamilton； the only tory in that part of the country； he
had gained intelligence of M‘Cottry's approach； as reported to him； with
five hundred men。
