life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第31章
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exposed to his depredations； it was good policy to awe him； and to
endeavour to keep him quiet。 After a little time Horry negociated a treaty；
humiliating enough to Ganey； by which； among other matters； he and his
officers agreed to lay down their arms and remain neutral； to deliver up all
those who refused to comply with the treaty and all deserters from the
Americans； and also to restore all negroes and other plundered property。
This treaty was ratified on the 17th of June； but was not strictly complied
with until Marion afterwards found leisure to enforce it； as shall be
narrated in its place。
Soon after the siege of Fort Motte； Gen。 Greene proceeding on with
his main army； laid siege to Ninety…Six； in which Lieut。 Col。 Cruger
commanded a garrison of five hundred men； and defended himself with
energy and ability。 On the right of the besiegers was a strong stockade fort；
and on the left a work called the Star redoubt。 On the night of the 26th of
May； the celebrated Kosciusko； who acted at that time as an engineer for
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Life of Marion。
Greene； raised two block batteries within three hundred and fifty yards of
the besieged。 Soon after a third and a fourth were erected； and lastly a rifle
battery within thirty yards of the ditch of the fort。 The abbatis was turned；
and two trenches and a mine were extended within six feet of the ditch。
The fort must soon have been taken； but Lord Rawdon was approaching
fast to the relief of the garrison； with two thousand men； which he had
lately received from Ireland； （18th June） and Gen。 Greene was obliged to
raise the siege and retreat over the Saluda。 His loss before the fort was
about one hundred and fifty men。 Lord Rawdon followed the Americans；
as far as the Ennoree； but finding the pursuit fruitless； he drew off a part of
the garrison from Ninety…Six； and fixed a detachment of his army at the
Congaree。 Gen。 Greene； finding the British force divided； faced about and
offered Lord Rawdon battle； but he； in his turn； retreated to Orangeburgh。
About the beginning of July； in this year； Lord Rawdon still lay in
Orangeburgh； strongly posted； and Gen。 Greene was near； watching his
motions。 While thus situated； Col。 Cruger evacuated his post at Ninety…Six；
and marching down through the fork of Edisto； joined Rawdon。 As there
was no other place at which the Edisto could then be passed but at
Orangeburgh； it was out of Greene's power to prevent the junction； and
Rawdon's army being thus reinforced； Gen。 Greene thought it prudent to
retire to Bloom hill； Richardson's plantation； at the High Hills of Santee。
Before retiring； however； he detached Gen。 Sumter as commander； and
ordered Marion to join him； to strike at the posts below。 On his way down；
Sumter made several successful attacks on British outposts； which were
conducted more immediately by Col。 Lee and Col。 Wade Hampton。
Generals Sumter and Marion formed a junction near Biggen； and marched
to attack the fort there； garrisoned by five hundred infantry and one
hundred cavalry； and commanded by Col。 Coates； a spirited officer。 His
cavalry at first repulsed Sumter's advance； but were driven in by the state
troops under Col。 Hampton。 In the evening after； Col。 Coates set fire to the
church； which contained all his heavy baggage and stores； and retreating
by the Strawberry road over Watboo bridge； destroyed it； and thus gained a
considerable advance upon Sumter； who had to march round by a ford in
pursuit。 Coates； in like manner； threw the plank off Huger's bridge； and
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Life of Marion。
proceeded rapidly for Quimby。 Here he had loosened the planks of the
bridge； and was waiting for his rear guard； but； in the mean time； Lee had
come up with and taken it。 Dr。 Irvine； by advancing too far among the
combatants； was wounded in this affair；* together with several of Lee's
men。 While Coates was waiting； Capt。 Armstrong； at the head of five of
his own men； and Capt。 James M‘Caulay's troop of militia horse crossed
the bridge and charged in among the enemy； who at first threw down their
arms； but seeing the force so small； soon resumed them； and began to fire；
but Armstrong made good his way through them down the road。 In the
mean while； the passage of the cavalry over the bridge had opened such a
chasm** in the plank； that Lee could not cross to follow up the advantage
thus gained； and the critical moment was lost。 The enemy had time to
recover from their panic； and to post themselves in Col。 Shubrick's house
and out houses； which were near。 After some delay； Sumter arrived and
ordered an attack； which was led on by Marion； whose men； and a
regiment of Sumter's； under Col。 Thomas Taylor； marched up in open
ground； with a view of gaining a fence near the houses； and were exposed
to a most galling fire； from riflemen aiming at them from behind cover。
More than fifty were killed and wounded； generally of Marion's men； who
were most exposed。 Capt。 Perry and Lieut。 June； of his brigade； were
killed； and Lieut。 Col。 John Baxter； who was very conspicuous； from his
gigantic size and full uniform； received five wounds； Major Swinton was
also severely wounded。 A retreat was ordered。 The attack was made
against Marion's opinion； who blamed Sumter afterwards for wasting the
lives of his men。 But； with such a force； Sumter had not the disposition to
be idle； and wanted only a field piece to have ensured success。 Col。 Coates
had now the command of boats； and a wide river before him； and could
easily have effected his retreat in that way to Charleston； but Sumter did
not attack him again； because； it was said； a reinforcement was coming to
his assistance。 After this； Gen。 Marion retired to the Santee； and took post
at Cordes'； and afterwards at Peyre's plantation； near the mouth of the
present Santee canal； where he reposed his men and horses； until about the
25th of August。
* Dr。 Irvine was riding between Cols。 Lee and Maham； and was
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Life of Marion。
wounded by a discharge of small arms from the enemy； as they wheeled at
a short turn of the road。 Lee had two surgeons in his corps； Irvine and
Skinner； Irvine was apt to expose himself to danger； but Skinner； although
he had on one occasion killed his adversary in a duel； was a coward； and
the method he now took to punish Irvine for what he called his temerity；
was not to dress his wounds until the last。 ** Lee states that he found such
a chasm in the bridge his men could not cross it。
The British lay near M‘Cord's ferry； with a strong party at Monk's
corner and Dorchester； and Gen。 Greene was still encamped at
Richardson's plantation on the High Hills of Santee； directly opposite the
enemy； where they might easily see each other； but with a wide swamp
between them。 A
