life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第27章
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and Lee had moved on towards the Santee for that purpose。 Commencing
his march immediately； Gen。 Marion crossed the Pedee in his rear； and left
Witherspoon with a small party to watch Watson。 The line of march was
directed through Williamsburgh； and Marion joined Lee near Fort Watson；
on Scott's lake。
* Greene's letters； 4th and 17th April。
About the same time； Capt。 John Brockington； of the tories； had been
up to his plantation at Cashway； and hearing the same news with Baker
Johnson； pushed over the river； and gave Watson the like information。 He
lost no time； but immediately rolled his two field pieces into Catfish creek；
destroyed all his heavy baggage； re…crossed the little Pedee； and not
venturing by Euhany； he passed the Waccamaw at Greene's ferry； and
retreating through the neck； between that river and the sea； crossed
Winyaw bay； three miles wide； and thus arrived in Georgetown。 To those
unacquainted with this route； a bare inspection of the map of the country
will at once give information； how much Marion was dreaded by Watson。
Upon forming a junction with Col。 Lee； it was decidedly the opinion
of Gen。 Marion； that they should pursue Watson； and either take him or
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Life of Marion。
prevent his junction with Lord Rawdon。 But Lee was of opinion it would
lead them too far from Gen。 Greene。 Gen。 Marion must have given up his
point with much reluctance； for he was afterwards heard repeatedly to
regret that his orders did not permit him to pursue Col。 Watson。 But；
perhaps the true reason was that Marion and Lee were both bare of
ammunition； and could get it only by taking Fort Watson。 It was left
without the presence of its commander； and as in that day there was no
road from Kingstree up Black river to Camden； and the swamps were
impassable except to hunters； by taking a position at Scott's lake； they
would be on the only road there was from Georgetown； on a direct line； to
intercept Watson； as he marched up to Camden。 But while Gen。 Marion
passed through Williamsburgh； his men having now performed a tour of
duty of more than a month against Watson； which with all its watchings
and privations was unusually severe； and being suddenly relieved from
that pressure； many of them took the liberty of going home to recruit
themselves； and he was left to his great mortification with only eighty men。
However； they soon dropped in； one or two at a time。*
* Gen。 Greene's elegant letter to Marion； 9th May。
On the 15th of April； Gen。 Marion invested Fort Watson； at Scott's lake；
without any other means of annoyance than musketry。 The fort stood on an
Indian mound； about forty feet high； and was stockaded； and had three
rows of abbatis round it。* The besiegers took post between the fort and the
lake； to cut off the water； but the besieged sunk a well in the fort。 As there
were no trees or other covering near the fort； Marion's riflemen were too
much exposed at first to fire with effect； but Col。 Maham contrived to
raise a tower of logs in one night； so high that it overtopped the fort； and
the marksmen began to fire into it。 Gen。 Marion had no entrenching tools
to make a regular approach； but on the day after the investment； a party of
militia under Ensign Baker Johnson； and of continentals under Mr。 Lee； a
volunteer in the legion； with a sudden movement； and much intrepidity；
made a lodgment near the stockade； and began to pull away the abbatis
and fling them down the mound。 Lieut。 M‘Kay； who commanded； then
hoisted a white flag； and the garrison； consisting of one hundred and
fourteen men and officers； capitulated。 Major Eaton had been detached by
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Life of Marion。
Gen。 Greene； with one field piece； to join Marion； but arrived too late to
participate in this siege。 The loss of the Americans was only two militia
men killed； and three continentals and three militia wounded。 As this
fort lay on the great line of communication between Camden and
Charleston； its fall was a great loss to the enemy； and by taking it Gen。
Marion obtained supplies of ammunition； which he soon turned to great
advantage。
* Marion's letter； 23d April。
During the siege； Col。 Watson evaded Marion and Lee。 Having arrived
in Georgetown； and not yet recovered from his panic； he crossed the north
and south Santee； at the lower ferries； and having surmounted this
difficulty； he marched up the west side of the river and arrived in Camden
by the way of the ferry near the town； with forces much impaired by the
incessant attacks of Marion； and long marches； combined with much
desertion； but his loss is not confessed by the enemy； nor could it be
discovered by the Americans。 Had he been able to have cooperated with
Doyle in sufficient time； with their overwhelming force； assisted by
Harrison and Ganey； with an equal； if not greater number of tories； there
can be little doubt； but Gen。 Marion with his scanty means of defence；
must either have fallen in the conflict or been driven out of the country。
When he first marched from Scott's lake； Col。 Watson had only seventy
miles to traverse； and only Black river to pass； before he reached Snow's
island； yet such was the consummate skill and indefatigable exertions of
Gen。 Marion； that from the 9th of March until the 10th of April； he had not
reached his place of destination； and then made a hasty retreat through
roads unfrequented； and over wide swamps and rivers； unpursued。 To
effect this he took a circuitous route； nearly one hundred miles out of his
way； which detained him until about the 9th of May； more than two
months from his first setting out on this expedition。
Col。 Watson was considered by the British one of their best partisans；
yet we have seen how he was foiled。 Had his regiment attempted； as was
no doubt intended； to ford the river at the lower bridge； they would have
found the passage narrow； and the river at that time deep； or had he
undertaken to repair the bridge； in either case he must have lost a great
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Life of Marion。
portion of his men。 He was； however； a better officer than historian or
civilian； otherwise he would not have justified the practice of burning
houses； in the face of the universal censure cast upon Lewis XIV。 for
adopting the same measure in the Palatinate。 But when Watson； Balfour；
and other British officers； professing to know the laws of war and nations；
burnt houses and hanged those citizens who had taken deceptive paroles
upon their authority； certainly it may be affirmed that Marion； who was
self…taught； and had no book of the law of nations； or perhaps any other
book in his camp； was justifiable as a matter of retaliation； to shoot down
their pickets and cut off
