life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第37章
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strokes of good fortune。〃 This hope was not realized。 A letter from Col。
Doyle； of the British； shows strongly what different views； men engaged
on opposite sides； will take of the same transaction。 It is to Gen。 Marion：
〃Sir； I am directed by Brigadier Gen。 Stewart； to represent to you an
outrage that has been committed by a party of your corps； under the
command of Col。 Maham； upon a parcel of sick； helpless soldiers in an
hospital at Colleton house； on the morning of the 17th inst。 The burning an
hospital； and dragging away a number of dying people to expire in
swamps； is a species of barbarity hitherto unknown in civilized warfare。
The general expects that those unhappy sufferers will be sent immediately
as prisoners upon parole。 Attacks on hospitals are； among your own
continental army； unprecedented。 The hospital at Camden was by Gen。
Greene's order protected； although it had an armed guard for its internal
police。〃 Gen。 Greene； who ere this； the reader must have perceived； was
polite to his friends； and humane to his enemies； for even they are obliged
to confess it； immediately instituted an inquiry into this complaint；* but
how it was accommodated cannot now be ascertained。
* Greene's letter； 24th Nov。
On the 9th October； 1781；* Gen。 Marion received the most agreeable
news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis； and the next evening gave a fete
to the ladies of Santee； at the house of Mr。 John Cantey。 The general's
heart was not very susceptible of the gentler emotions； he had his friend；
and was kind to his inferiors； but his mind was principally absorbed by the
love of country； and as the capture of Lord Cornwallis was intimately
connected with this passion there is no doubt he felt joy on the occasion。
But if he did feel joy upon a few occasions； certain it is that watchful
anxiety was the daily inmate of his breast。
* This date is given both here and in Simms' Life of Marion； but it
must be an error； as Cornwallis did not surrender until the 19th。 The 29th
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Life of Marion。
October or 9th November are more likely dates。 A。 L。； 1997。
On the same day he received the thanks of congress 〃for his wise；
decided and gallant conduct； in defending the liberties of his country； and
particularly for his prudent and intrepid attack on a body of British troops
on the 31st day of August last； and for the distinguished part he took in the
battle of the 8th Sept。〃 Immediately on receiving the intelligence of the
capture of Lord Cornwallis； Gen。 Greene prepared for moving his army
into the lower country。 On the 5th November； he writes to Gen。 Marion；
〃Gen。 Sumter has orders to take post at Orangeburgh； to prevent the tories
in that quarter from conveying supplies to town； and his advanced parties
will penetrate as low as Dorchester； therefore you may act in conjunction
with him； or employ your troops on the enemy's left； as you may find from
information； they can best be employed。 Please to give me your opinion on
which side they can be most useful。〃 Gen。 Marion four days after passed
the Santee； and in a short time took post near Huger's bridge； as it was still
termed； though all the bridges in the lower country were taken down；
except the one at Goose creek； which seemed to be left by mutual consent
of both armies； for the purpose of reaching one another； by at least one
way。 He arrived at Huger's bridge in the night； and in less than an hour
after detached a strong party by the heads of Huger's and Quimby creeks；
to Cainhoy； in St。 Thomas'。 On the 23d November Gen。 Sumter was posted
at Orangeburgh； on the 17th of the same month Gen。 Greene marched for
the Fourholes。 December 7th； he lay at Jacksonborough； and on the 13th
of the same month； he encamped at the Round O。
His movements were at this time cautious； in keeping both the Edisto
and Ashley between himself and the enemy； because he had heard they
were reinforced； and he was as yet without ammunition。 He wrote now
frequently to Gen。 Marion； and almost every letter has a clause similar to
the one of the 15th of November： 〃You are at liberty to act as you think
advisable。 I have no particular instructions to give you； and only wish you
to avoid surprise。〃
At the close of this year； Gov。 Rutledge and his council issued writs of
election for members of the senate and house of representatives； which； by
proclamation issued afterwards； were appointed to meet at
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Jacksonborough。 Gen。 Greene still lay at the Round O； where he secured
the rice and other provisions from the enemy； by sending out patroles of
cavalry as far as Dorchester： but he had not yet received a supply of
ammunition for his infantry； and Marion was also without that
indispensible muniment of war。 As to other necessaries he says； 〃Our
horsemen have neither cloaks or blankets； nor have our troops received a
shilling of pay since they came into this country。 Nor is there a prospect of
any。 Yet they do not complain。〃* At length on the 14th of December he
received a supply of ammunition and sent ~it all~ to Marion； then at
Watboo； saying； 〃he was in expectation of soon receiving more。〃
* Greene's letters； 13th and 14th December。
The British extended their patroles of cavalry nearly up to Dorchester；
but their main body was now confined to Charleston neck。
Thus； in the course of the campaign of 1781； the American army under
Gen。 Greene； without pay； without clothing； and as we have seen
frequently without ammunition； had driven the enemy from all their strong
holds but one； had defeated them in battle； and retaken all South Carolina
but a neck of land。
Detached Narratives for 1781。
There was with Marion's brigade throughout； a young man； Robert；
commonly called Bob James； but oftener； ~the general's right hand man~。
It was known to very few that Marion employed him often to gain
intelligence from the enemy in Georgetown and other places。 The general
never suffered him to mount guard or do common duties； being an
excellent woodsman； he was his favourite guide； being an expert swimmer；
he was generally by his side when swimming rivers； or paddled him over
in a canoe if they had one； being a good fisherman； he often caught him
fish； the general would laugh and joke with him； but with no other private。
He did not however employ Bob in these small matters when he had any
thing serious for him to do。 Surprised at his exact intelligence from
Georgetown and other places； the author asked him once 〃how he got it？〃
He related several interesting particulars； among others this one： 〃Just in
the outskirts of Georgetown there is a pond full of bushes； and in the
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middle of it a large gum…tree with a thick top and branches that reach the
thicket below。 This tree overlooked the garrison and both roads leading
