life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第34章
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the open field in the rear； these were not numerous。 The artillery were
posted on the Charleston road and the one leading to Roach's plantation。
The action commenced about a mile from the fountain。 Marion and
Pickens continued to advance and fire； but the North Carolina militia
broke at the third round。 Sumner with the new raised troops； then
occupied their place； and behaved gallantly。 Marion's marksmen firing
with great precision； and galling the enemy greatly； had now advanced
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Life of Marion。
more than half a mile； when the British charged upon them with fixed
bayonets； and Marion ordered a retreat。 The Virginia and Maryland troops
now advanced with trailed arms； and scarcely had Marion cleared the right
of the Virginians； when the crash of bayonets was heard。 But by degrees it
receded； and becoming less and less audible； a loud shout of huzza for
America！ told the issue of the contest。 Gen。 Marion now rallied his men。
Col。 Henderson of the South Carolina state troops was wounded early in
the action； and the command devolved on Col。 Wade Hampton； who made
a spirited charge； but being warmly received； Col。 Washington brought up
the reserve to his aid； and at first charged so briskly that the enemy gave
way； but advancing into the thickest part of the woods； Marjoribanks came
to the assistance of the Buffs； Washington's horse was killed under him；
and he was wounded and taken。 After this； and the loss of many officers
and men； the corps was drawn off by Capt。 Parsons。 Marjoribanks though
victorious on the right； now fell back to assist Stewart； and Major
Sheridan with the New York volunteers； threw himself into the brick house。
Stewart was busily engaged in rallying his men under cover of the fire
from Sheridan； and Greene now ordered Lee to charge upon Coffin。 Lee at
the beginning of the action had advanced with the legionary infantry upon
the left of the enemy； and ordered his cavalry under Eggleston to follow in
the rear； but sending for Eggleston； at present； he found that by some
mistaken order he had gone to assist Washington。 Thus a most favourable
opportunity of completing the rout already commenced； was irretrievably
lost。 Greene had now brought up his artillery against the brick house； and
sent for Marion who came to his assistance； but the weight of his metal
was too light to effect a breach。 Here； after losing many men and making
unavailing efforts； he was obliged to desist； bringing off one field piece；
which he had taken from the enemy； and losing two of his own。 Thus
Sheridan and Marjoribanks saved the British army。
Gen。 Greene； in this manner disappointed in the most sanguine
expectation of a complete victory； collected all his wounded； except those
under the fire of the enemy； and placing a strong picket on the field of
battle； retired sullenly from the ground in search of water。 The battle had
taken place on a dry thirsty soil； and in a hot day； and the want of water
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Life of Marion。
was severely felt。 Four or five miles up the Congaree road； there is a
remarkably boggy pond； still the dread of travellers； the cavalry had
passed through it； twice or thrice in the course of the day； and it was now
become a filthy puddle； but into this did the men as soon as they arrived；
throw themselves headlong； over the shoulders of each other； and drink
with an avidity which seemed insatiable。 This was the ~first water in
Greene's rear~； which is mentioned by historians； as being resorted to by
his army。* The battle had lasted more than three hours。
* Plenty of water might have been procured； in Eutaw creek； some
hundred yards from the battle ground； and why the retreat was not directed
there； or to Santee river； distant a mile； the author is at a loss to discover：
unless it was that Greene's force was scattered up the road； and he wished
to concentrate it。 It was not from dread of the enemy。
Next morning； Marion and Lee were ordered by a circuitous route to
gain the enemy's rear； in order； as it was expected they would retreat； to
retard their march and prevent their being reinforced。 On the evening of
the 9th of September； Stewart piled up the arms of his dead and wounded；
and set them on fire； destroyed his stores； left seventy of his own wounded；
and some of Greene's； at the Eutaw； and retreated precipitately towards
Monk's corner。 So hurried was his retreat for fifteen miles； that he brought
his first division within a few miles of M‘Arthur； coming to his aid； before
Marion and Lee reached Ferguson's swamp； their point of destination。 To
fight between two fires； became hazardous； and the junction of the enemy
was effected。 Capt。 O‘Neal of Lee's horse； fell upon the cavalry of their
rear guard； and took most of them prisoners； but Stewart continued his
retreat to Wantoot； （Ravenel's plantation；） about twenty miles below
Eutaw； and Greene pursued to Martin's tavern； fifteen miles。 In this battle；
the British lost by Greene's account six hundred men； killed and wounded；
and five hundred made prisoners。 According to Stewart's return； he lost
eighty…five killed；* three hundred fifty…one wounded； and two hundred
fifty…seven missing。 The loss of the Americans was five hundred killed and
wounded； among whom were sixty officers。 The disparity in these returns
of the different commanders is great； but Greene's prisoners could be
counted at leisure。 Lieut。 Col。 Campbell fell as he was leading the Virginia
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Life of Marion。
line to the charge。 Gen。 Greene says of him； 〃though he fell with
distinguished marks of honour； yet his loss is much to be regretted； he was
the great soldier； and the firm patriot。〃 Gen。 Marion had many of his men
and Col。 Hugh Horry wounded； but fewer killed than at Quimby； among
the latter was the brave Capt。 John Simons； of Pedee。
* Maj。 Marjoribanks； by whom in conjunction with Sheridan； the
British army was saved； lies buried on the Santee canal road； about half a
mile below the chapel； he was a brave and generous enemy； and on an old
head board； the following inscription is still to be seen： 〃JOHN
MARJORIBANKS； Esqr。 late major to the 19th regt。 inf'y and
commanding a flank bat'n。 of his majesty's army。 ~Obiit~。 22d October；
1781。〃
The British shot generally about five feet too high； but the wind blew
that day favourably for Marion's marksmen； and they did great execution。
They fired from fifteen to twenty rounds each man。 Both sides claimed the
victory； but the fruits of one were with the Americans。
It being now autumn； and his men sickly； Gen。 Greene retired to the
High Hills of Santee； his favourite encampment； Col。 Lee calls them； 〃The
benign hills of Santee。〃 At this time Gen。 Greene encamped on the range
of hills immediately below Stateburgh。 His head quarters were at Mr。
James'； on the right going downwards； a beautiful spot； b
