life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第35章
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James'； on the right going downwards； a beautiful spot； but now deserted。
Many of Greene's wounded officers and men died； and lie buried on a hill
near where the author is now writing。 An officer； who died of his wound；
（Capt。 De Wolfe；） lies interred near De Wolfe's spring； on his plantation。
He was a most gallant soldier。 No mound or grave stone points out the
spot where such brave men repose。 Even the mounds； where the dead at
Eutaw were buried； have been lately violated by the cutting of a ditch
through them。 Alas！ my country； why have such things been suffered？
Marion retired to his favourite encampment； at Peyre's plantation； in
Santee river swamp。 On the banks of the river at that time there were
extensive cornfields on all the plantations； and the most of the low places
were cultivated in rice。* The crops of three or four years past had been
housed； and kept out of the enemy's reach by the difficulty of approach
and their retired situation。 Here the general fixed himself； much to his
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liking； in a cane brake； about a quarter of a mile from the river； which
however was soon cleared to thatch the huts of himself and his men。 Some
lakes which skirted the high land； rendered the post difficult of approach；
and here was forage for horses； and beef； pork； rice； and green corn** for
the men； in the greatest abundance。 Such a place suited Marion's views
exactly； and here； or in the neighbourhood； he encamped often； but did not
stay long at present。 It appears now there was very little sickness at that
day。
* Very soon after the revolutionary war； this scene was entirely
changed。 Planters； in clearing their land； had rolled logs and other rubbish
from their fields； into the lakes and creeks leading from the river； and
many threw trees into it to get them quickly out of the way。 The upper
country also soon became more opened； and gave freer vent from above to
the waters。 There came on a succession of six or seven years； which were
wet； and the consequence was； that the usual passages for the waters
below being obstructed； they flooded the low grounds； and ruined the
planters。 Where fine corn grew at that time； trees may now be seen a foot
and a half in diameter； in the midst of briars and cane brakes。 **
Commonly called ~mutton~ corn； a corruption of ~matin~； that is ~early~
corn。
Soon after the battle of Eutaw； Gen。 Alexander Leslie took command
of the British army。 On the 17th of September Gen。 Greene wrote to
Marion： 〃I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the arrival of Count
De Grasse； in Chesapeake bay； with twenty…eight sail of the line； a number
of frigates and six thousand land forces； Gen。 Washington is also arrived
in Virginia to take command of the army。 From these circumstances； and
from some further intelligence of Lord Cornwallis' movements； it is highly
probable that his lordship will endeavour to retreat through North Carolina
to Charleston。 I must therefore entreat that you will use every exertion to
collect a large force of militia together； and as speedy as possible； that we
may be able to intercept his lordship。〃 As Gen。 Marion's scouts at this time
frequently passed round the enemy； and harrassed them much between
their camp and Charleston； it has often been a matter of surprise why he
should recross the Santee； but this letter explains it； for he crossed it to
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collect his men； and he encamped at Cantey's plantation a considerable
time for that purpose。 On the 1st of Sept。 Gov。 Rutledge had ordered out
only the half of the militia； now all were again directed to take the field as
formerly。
Another good reason for Gen。 Greene and Marion's lying so long
inactive at this season； is to be found in a letter in the correspondence
mentioned； and though the date is later than the present period； yet the fact
comes in properly here。 Gen。 Marion； as it appears from what follows after；
had written to Greene and the governor for ammunition on the 9th of
October。 On the 10th； Gov。 Rutledge answers his letter： 〃I received yours
yesterday； by Mr。 Boone； and wrote in the most pressing terms to Col。
Williams； （Gen。 Greene not being yet returned from Charlotte； for which
place he set out on Friday） for a supply of ammunition； I wish to God it
was in my power to send you ammunition instantly； but it is not。〃 Col。
Otho Williams； who was second in command of the army； writes to Gen。
Marion； and； although his letter is not dated； the connection of the
correspondence is evident： 〃As Gen。 Greene is not in camp； I took the
liberty of opening your letter of the 9th instant。 Our stock of ammunition
is quite exhausted we have not an ounce of powder； or a cartridge； in
store。 The arrival of some military stores which we expect every hour； will
put it in the general's power to supply you amply。 His excellency Gov。
Rutledge has intimated that you meditated an expedition over the Santee；
in making your determination； if it is not settled； permit me to recommend
to your consideration； that the general depends upon you entirely for
intelligence of the enemy's motion。〃 These extracts of letters must be read
with astonishment。 With what uncommon fortitude must such men have
been endowed； to bear up under such continued discouragements。 As Gen。
Marion lay a long time here； it will give occasion to relate some other
matters； which as fortunate events have for some time past thickened；
would have perplexed the narrative to have introduced before。
About the 10th August； Georgetown was burnt。 One Manson；
commanding a small armed vessel； arrived within gunshot of the town；
and sent a party in a boat under cover of his guns； and set fire to some
houses on a wharf at the lower end of the Bay； and the wind favouring； the
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whole town； except a few houses on the outskirts； was burnt。 No doubt
Manson had his orders from Balfour。
As the continental troops were without pay and clothing； a plan was
adopted by the governor and council to impress all the indigo for public
service which could be found； and it was expected that it would now serve
instead of money as a medium of exchange。 The principle had been
authorised by an old militia law； but it was a rigourous measure and a poor
expedient； although the best that could be devised at the time。 Many thrifty
planters had hoarded up their indigo； ever since the commencement of the
war； hoping some day to turn it into money。 Capt。 Wm。 Richardson； of
Bloomhill； was appointed commissary general by the governor； and
assistants were appointed by him in the several districts of the state； who
went about with press warrants in their pockets； an
