life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第39章
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Being a pretty good mimic； he bethought himself of assuming the
character of a drunken sailor ~going on board his own ship~； and acted his
part so admirably well； that he was suffered； though often threatened； to
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Life of Marion。
pass through the whole fleet。 Capt。 Capers lost no time in joining Gen。
Marion； with whom he fought bravely in the ranks until the general
advanced down into St。 Thomas' parish； where he commanded a company；
and where he had left property at the mercy of the enemy。* Capt。 Wm。
Capers； and his brother G。 Sinkler Capers； were often afterwards the terror
of the enemy； who had early oppressed and imprisoned them； for G。 S。
Capers had also made his escape from the ~provost~。
* The following is a curious fact in natural history。 When Capt。 G。 S。
Capers returned to his plantation in 1782； it had been completely stripped
of all live stock and poultry； except one cock。 When the British chased him
he had always taken refuge under a kitchen low to the ground。 This bird
was carefully preserved。 After the war； it was the fashion for ladies to wear
scarlet cloaks； and so strong was his recollection （must it be so called） of
the colour of the British uniform； that whenever he saw ladies in scarlet
cloaks； he would squall out； as such birds usually do at sight of danger；
and run directly under the kitchen。
Francis G。 Deliesseline； the present sheriff of Charleston district；
joined Marion when a boy； and made if possible a still more surprising and
narrow escape out of the same ~provost~； but as the narrative would
expose certain names which he wishes concealed； he has declined giving it
publicity。 At so early an age； none behaved better than Deliesseline； and
no one has refreshed the author's memory more in the detail of facts of
that period。
Many of the privates of Marion's brigade were men of character and
honour； most of them lost their fortunes by the war； and many made them；
or at least handsome competencies； after it； but it is believed that more；
cast out of the ways of industry and economy； and losing their all； sunk
under the pressure brought upon them。 Where they are known； what an
injustice would it be to pass over the merits of such men？ On the
monument erected by the Greeks at Thermopylae； the names of Leonidas
and his three hundred men were not inscribed； because it was thought
impossible to imagine they could ever be forgotten。
Pardon me； ye sons of my fellow soldiers！ should my memory be
found not so tenacious； and should I have passed over the merits of many
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Life of Marion。
of your fathers without even a shade of remembrance。
Chapter IV。
CAMPAIGN OF 1782。
The military history of this year； is not remarkable for any great events；
but the most material of these happened in the brigade of Marion。 As they
are not altogether of a pleasant nature； it appears to have been the wish of
many to bury them in oblivion； and therefore some of them have been
suppressed； and others but slightly recorded。 But； the correspondence
gives dates and hints； which bring the whole to recollection； and it is the
duty of the biographer to be impartial。 It was hoped that he might have
avoided saying any thing more about the dispute which arose between
Cols。 Peter Horry and Maham； but； as that dispute terminated in unhappy
consequences； it becomes necessary that they should be developed。 Gen。
Marion was returned； at the elections which took place for the
Jacksonborough assembly； a member of the senate for St。 John's； Berkley。
Being about to take his seat； he gave the immediate command of the
brigade to Col。 Peter Horry；* subject to his future order。 Of this order； all
that is necessary to state here； is as follows： 〃You will take command of
my brigade until I return。 You will keep the guards at Cainhoy and
Fogartie's。 Their orders are to prevent any boats or persons from going to
or from town； without a written pass from me or yourself。 Col。 Maham's
corps will be ordered to Mepkin； to remain there until my further orders。〃
As the enemy got most of their intelligence from persons； more especially
women； going to and from town； this part of the order was very material。
In the mean time application was made by Gen。 Marion to Greene to
decide this unhappy dispute between the colonels； and； in a conciliating
letter； he decided it in favour of Horry。 （16th Jan。） On the 18th of January；
Gen。 Marion writes to Horry： 〃I send you Gen。 Greene's letter in answer to
mine； sent him as soon as I arrived here； and it is determined as I expected。
You will keep the letter； and if the enemy should approach your quarters；
and you find it necessary； you must call on Col。 Maham's troops and horse；
as reinforcements； and I wish he may not be called upon for any other
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purpose。〃 In a letter from Col。 Maham to Horry； of the 20th of January； it
is to be inferred that the latter had immediately called upon him for a
return of his corps； and to submit to his orders； for he answers； 〃I cannot
think of being commanded by an officer of the same rank。 I think it proper
not to make you any return of my regiment； and I shall not obey any order
you may be pleased to send。〃 It appears from a subsequent letter of
Maham's of the same date； that Gen。 Marion had not written to him
concerning the determination of Gen。 Greene； but Gen。 Marion's order；
both then and subsequently； was certainly sufficient to convince him he
ought to submit。 After this Col。 Horry writes to Gen。 Marion： 〃Col。
Maham interferes with my command so much that I can scarcely act； he
gave passes to several ladies to go to town without my leave； and they
accordingly went in a boat； which boat has since returned； and the ladies
have since come up。〃 And again； 〃I assure you your presence is much
wanted。 Your brigade lessens daily。〃 （31st Jan。） On the 3d of February；
Marion answers： 〃I am surprised at Col。 Maham's interference with your
command。 I have written him positive orders not to do so in any respect
whatever； and was in hopes Gen。 Greene would have prevented such evils
before this。〃 But from a former letter of Gov。 Rutledge； which is a
philippic against Horry； and the subsequent determination of Gov。
Matthews； it is evident that Maham had got the civil authority on his side；
and he did not regard the general's。 And thus it is； when civilians interfere
with military affairs that they invariably commit blunders。 Having
premised these facts； to show that in Marion's absence there was naught
but discord and dissention； we now proceed to state the consequences。
* Marion's letter to Horry； 10th January。
Almost the whole
