life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第29章
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company of picked light infantry； marching off the field in good order； he
rode up and called to him； 〃Smith； my brave fellow； save the field pieces。〃
He immediately fell in the rear； and executed his orders； with the loss of
his whole company。 All were killed but one man and Smith； and they were
made prisoners。 Gen。 Greene rallied his army at the pass of Sanders' creek；
six miles from Camden； and soon after occupied the position Gates had
intended to take； at Gum swamp。 The British lost between sixty and
seventy； and Greene two hundred men。 This affair shows upon how small
an incident the fate of war generally depends。
* This is partly extracted from Lee's Memoirs。 ** Capt。 Smith；
afterwards well known in this state as Col。 John Smith； of Darlington；
surrendered himself prisoner to a lieutenant of the British； and after he had
delivered his sword； was struck by the lieutenant with the broad side of it。
At the battle of Guilford； Smith had killed Col。 Stewart； of the British
guards； in a single rencounter； and his bravery was otherwise so well
known that the British officers invited him to a dinner in Camden。 Before
dinner； he mentioned how he had been treated by the lieutenant； and it was
agreed among them； that； as that officer was to be present at the dinner；
Smith should be at liberty to treat him as he thought fit。 Accordingly
Smith kicked him down stairs； and as he did not resent it； he was soon
after cashiered。
Upon Watson's arrival in Camden； Lord Rawdon being now reinforced；
marched out to attack Gen。 Greene； at Sawney's creek； on the west side of
the Wateree。 Greene did not like his position for a general engagement；
and took a new one at Cornal's creek； leaving the horse； light infantry and
pickets； at his old encampment。 The enemy approached and drew up on
the opposite side of the creek； but did not attempt to cross； and retired into
Camden before night。 Early in the morning of the next day （10th of May；
1781；） Lord Rawdon burnt the mill at Camden； the gaol； his stores； and
many private houses； and evacuating it； retreated towards Nelson's ferry。
Thus was Camden evacuated in less than a year after the British obtained
possession of it； but during that short period it had become the scene of
innumerable spoliations； and other atrocities。 While they held it； the loss
of property； and being reduced to poverty； were the least considerable
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incidents； which happened to the inhabitants。 To form an accurate idea； as
well of the wretched situation of the people of that town and its vicinity；
during this period； as to elucidate a part of history not yet explained； let
the reader take the following narrative； partly in and partly out of its due
order。 Gen。 Greene； having traversed that part of North Carolina from
Guilford to Pedee； and passed through nearly one half the breadth of South
Carolina； by the way of Cheraw hill； and Lynch's creek； arrived at Town
creek； four miles below Camden； about the middle of April。 Except at the
Pedee； the country through which he had marched was destitute of
provisions； and no where； unless he had impressed salt provisions； could
he find any thing better than beef driven out of the woods； which in April
is well known to be lean and nauseating。 For the last fifty miles； his route
had been across the sand hills； between Pedee and the Wateree； here his
guide deserted him； and when he arrived at Town creek； he and his men
were at a loss which way to proceed； and were literally starving。 The fine
low grounds of the Wateree now lay before him； where he expected an
abundance of provisions； but he was most grievously disappointed。 The
British had swept away every thing of the kind that could be found； and
what little subsistence was left to the planters was hid in small parcels； and
in different places in the swamps。 Scarcely any thing fit to eat； was visible；
where prior to this period； and subsequently； every kind of provisions had
been so abundant。 But Gen。 Greene； in his distress； happily* met with a
young man； whom； while he had been at Hick's creek in January last； he
had appointed assistant commissary general； and who had served him with
zeal and ability in that department。 This young man； （the present Gen。
Cantey； of Camden；） had but just returned from Dan river； where he had
supplied Gen。 Greene； with fifteen waggon loads of flour； and nearly one
thousand head of hogs； which he had driven from the Pedee； by private
ways； with so much skill and address； as to avoid Lord Cornwallis； and the
numerous tories by whom he was surrounded； and Cantey was still
zealous to serve his country。 After gaining some intelligence of the enemy；
Gen。 Greene requested his commissary to endeavour to get them some
provisions； for they were famishing。 Cantey's father lived not far off； and
recollecting he had some bacon and corn meal hid in a swamp； he
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immediately went and brought enough for the general's mess； and in a
short time after； drove in beeves； such as they were； sufficient for a supper
for the men； but so destitute was the neighbourhood； that Cantey
recommended it to Gen。 Greene to move above Camden； where provisions
might be collected from the upper country； and it was more probable he
would receive aid from the militia。 But for this explanation； the good
judgment of Gen。 Greene； in taking post above Camden； might well be
questioned； since his wisest； and hitherto favoured plan； had been to strike
at the posts below。 It is thought； if he could have taken a position at Town
creek； or Swift creek below； all surprise might have been prevented。 At
this time； Gen。 Greene sent Cantey to Gen。 Sumter； distant more than one
hundred miles； to request him to join him； but Sumter； who was
meditating an attack on fort Granby； declined any further cooperation
except in that way。 When this answer was communicated to Gen。 Greene；
by Cantey； he was exceedingly angry； and said he had a great mind to
leave ~them~ to defend the country as well as they could； without his
assistance。 Could he have concentrated his force； and ~had not regarded
Ninety…Six~； he might have driven the British into Charleston； before the
sickly season commenced。 But the system of leaving fortresses behind an
invading army； so strongly recommended by Machiavelli； and so much
followed by Bonaparte； had not yet been adopted in tactics。 But we are
anticipating our narrative。
* As all the accounts of the movements of Greene and Col。 Lee； into
South Carolina； are confused； from a want of information of the local
situation of the country； and the clashing of the names of places； the
present note has been subjoined to rectify misconceptions。 From Ensign
Johnson Baker's account we have seen Lee
