life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第38章
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thicket below。 This tree overlooked the garrison and both roads leading out
of town。 I used to climb into it and watch for days together； and if I saw
any thing important； immediately came down； mounted my horse； hid in a
neighbouring swamp； and told it to the general myself； or sent the only
other person we trusted。〃 The gum tree stood there lately； but Robert
James sleeps with his fathers。 〃Alas； poor Yorick！ I knew him Horatio。〃 It
was generally thought that although he swam so often on horseback； or
crossed rivers in unsteady canoes； the general could not swim himself。 His
body was sufficient for endurance； and his mind； to sagacity and foresight；
united the higher virtues of patience and fortitude。 In one thing he
appeared singular； long swords were now in fashion as best for attack or
defence； but Gen。 Marion always wore the little cut and thrust； which was
in use in the second regiment； and he was seldom； perhaps never； seen to
draw it。 His messmates told a story； whether true or not is of little
consequence； as it shows the public opinion。 The sum of this story was；
that on one occasion he attempted to draw it； but it was so rusty he could
not extricate it from the scabbard。 He had a reason for this apparent
singularity； a long sword might have tempted him； a small man； to act the
common soldier； and he appeared to place no reliance on his personal
prowess。 Gen。 Greene depended entirely upon him for intelligence。 Now；
intelligence is the life of an army。 Sumter and Greene were then at
variance； and if Sumter gained any； he would not condescend to let Greene
know it； but take advantage of it himself。 Lee； whose particular business it
was to furnish Greene with intelligence； was always too fond of seeing his
men and horses in good plight； to expose them to hardships。 Marion's were
for every day's use。
An anecdote worthy to be recorded happened at the brick house at the
Eutaw。 Capt。 Laurence Manning； since adjutant general in this state；
marched at the head of the legion infantry to batter down the door of the
house。 Intent on this single object； and relying confidently on his men； he
advanced boldly up to the door； when； looking behind him for the first
time； behold his men had deserted him。 He stood for a moment at the side
of the door； revolving what was to be done。 Fortunately a British officer；
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Life of Marion。
Capt。 Barry； opened the door gently to peep out； and Manning seizing him
fast by the collar； jerked him out。 He then used him as an ancient warrior
would have done his shield； and the enemy； fearing to shoot least they
should kill Barry； Manning escaped without a shot being fired at him from
the house。
During the struggle of the present year； （1781） Capt。 Wm。 Allston； of
True Blue； on Little river； All Saints parish； served under Gen。 Marion。 He
was a firm patriot and good soldier； indeed he may well be enumerated
among the martyrs to the cause of his country； for having been seized with
a fever in camp； he had scarcely time to reach his home； where he expired
at a middle age。 He left behind him； by his last wife； two sons and a
daughter； his eldest son he named after the illustrious Washington； and he
has since proved himself to be highly worthy of that distinction。 In this son
will be readily recognised the distinguished artist； Washington Allston；
whose pencil has bestowed celebrity upon the place of his birth； and
whom every American should be proud to claim as his countryman。
Towards the conclusion of this year； Maj。 Edward Hyrne； one of Gen。
Greene's aids； was commissioned by him to negociate a cartel of exchange
of prisoners in Charleston。 He had to conduct this with Col。 Balfour； who
was haughty and unreasonable as well as cruel； his demands were so
exorbitant； that Maj。 Hyrne； after waiting upon him several times with
much patience； at length declared they were utterly inadmissible； and took
his leave。 Returning to his lodgings； he wrote a note to each British officer
on parole in town； informing him he must prepare to follow him into the
country the next day。 His firmness or good policy had the desired effect；
Balfour's quarters were soon besieged by at least forty officers； many of
whom were of higher rank than himself； and Major Hyrne succeeded to
the extent of his wishes。
The party under Major John Postell； which was ordered out on the
29th January in this year； and succeeded in taking eleven British waggons
with soldiers' clothing at Keithfield； consisted with the officers；
commanding of thirty…eight men。* They carried off what clothing they
could； and what they could not they burnt。 What was carried away was
sold for a division； and bought in； as it appears； in continental dollars； on
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Life of Marion。
the 2d February； 1781。
* This statement is confusing。 To paraphrase； Postell's party （which
made this attack） consisted of thirty…eight supernumerary officers。 A。 L。；
1997。
The prices of a few are inserted； sixteen blankets were sold。 1 Bought
by Major Postell for 1590 1 do。 Capt。 Wm。 Capers 2200 1 do。 （the lowest
priced） by Capt。 Thomas Potts； 900 1 Loaf of sugar； Francis Greene； 2000
1 Coat by Capt。 Capers； 6210 1 Knife and fork； A。 Simons； 700 1 Pair of
Stockings； Capt。 Capers； 800 &c。 &c。 &c。
Most of this party were supernumerary officers； who placed
themselves under the command of Major （then Captain） Postell； who was
justly considered as one of the most enterprising officers in Marion's
brigade。 Of these thirty…eight men； the only survivor is Richard Greene；
who has been long a respectable and opulent planter on Black river。 The
account of sales is in the hand writing of Capt。 Thomas Potts。 There is a
list of the names of the thirty…eight； many of whom fought then and
afterwards with great bravery。 John Futhey； then a lieutenant； after being
promoted to a captaincy was killed in a skirmish at Avant's ferry on Black
river。 Thomas Potts； jun。 a lieutenant； was twice wounded。 John M‘Bride；
father of the late friend of the author； Dr。 James M‘Bride； was always at
his post。 What a loss to science was the early death of the son？ Capt。 Wm。
Capers was imprisoned by Balfour in the upper story of his ~provost~； and
made his escape by slipping past the keeper at night when he brought their
scanty supper to the prisoners。 He had then to descend a steep flight of
stairs and pass the guard at the bottom。 Luckily he stumbled at the head of
the stairs and fell to the bottom； and the guard mistaking him for the
keeper； raised him up and gave him much consolation。 He had only to
refrain from speaking and to utter a few groans； which being an indistinct
tone of the voice； made no discovery； and the guard suffered him to pass。
A friend furnished him with a small boat to pass Cooper river； but now the
difficulty was to get through the British guard ships which lined the river。
Being a pretty good mimic； he bethought himself of assuming the
character of
