life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第40章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
* Marion's letter to Horry； 10th January。
Almost the whole of the warfare was henceforth carried on in St。
Thomas' and St。 James'； Santee。 About this time； Col。 Richard Richardson
commanded the post at Cainhoy。 A British galley lay in the river Wando；
which he watched； and patroled the road down to Daniel's island by day；
and returned into the woods and lay without fire by night。 A fortnight after
he was posted there； hearing of a party of British which had landed at
Daniel's island； he immediately sent out scouts to the causeway over to the
island； and wrote for a reinforcement。 In the morning Maham's horse
110
… Page 111…
Life of Marion。
arrived； four troops in uniform； and fully equipt； but their colonel； who
would have been ranked by Richardson； was not present； and they were
under the command of Maj。 Giles。 The British took the Strawberry road；
and about noon stopped at Bishop Smith's； Brabant； about fourteen miles
up the road。 To the north of that plantation is a swamp of considerable
width； with a causeway and bridge。 Beyond the causeway； on the right
going up； was a fence on a bank and a ditch behind it； with trees in front。
Richardson passed the swamp above； and going down to the hill above
this fence； immediately went to reconnoitre； but came back with a British
troop and Capt。 Campbell at his heels。 He ordered a charge。 At the
commencement of the onset it was easy to be seen that Maham's corps had
not yet been trained。 They charged in some disorder； but at first drove the
British horse easily before them。 At the bridge they met the British
infantry； who gave them a volley。 All was now confusion； horses and men
wedged together upon a narrow causeway。 The front striving to retreat；
and the rear urging them on。 The British horse being rallied； now came in
to aid the infantry； and a total rout and scene of carnage ensued。 Of
Maham's officers； Capt。 Samuel Cooper rallied his men； and returning to
the road； saved several lives and drove back a troop of black dragoons。 In
this affair the six months men particularly suffered。 Being near the road
when the rout commenced； they wheeled their lean horses and ran directly
up it； consequently they were trampled down by both parties。 Capt。
Bennett； with twelve men； after having been pursued by a party of British；
double his number； and stopped by an impassable creek； when inspiring
his men with courage； and setting the example； they wheeled about and
drove back the enemy。 In the course of this day； G。 S。 Capers took three
swords from the British in single rencounters； and Gen。 Marion promoted
him to a lieutenancy。 It appears that the defeat might have been prevented
if Richardson had posted his militia behind the fence described。 Twenty…
two Americans were buried on the causeway； how many were killed in the
pursuit is not known。 Of the British； Capt。 Campbell was killed； and
several of his men； but the number was not ascertained。
Gen。 Marion had now taken his seat in the senate at Jacksonborough；
but his presence； as will shortly be seen； was much more necessary in
111
… Page 112…
Life of Marion。
camp； but he could not get leave of absence； nor be spared without
breaking up the house； for there were but thirteen senators present； which
number was required as a quorum to do business。 They were passing a
new militia act； and one for raising the continental quota of troops for the
state； and the confiscation act at that time and place was esteemed of
greater consequence than the commanding of a brigade。 But in all his
letters dated from that place； Gen。 Marion expresses the utmost anxiety to
return to his command。
In the mean time Horry； by orders of Gen。 Marion； took a position on
the north side of Wambaw； a large creek emptying into the Santee。 He lay
in the angle formed by the two roads which pass from Lenud's ferry road
to Mr。 Horry's； about a quarter of a mile from the bridge。 In his rear there
was a wood。 His new raised regiment； scarcely yet half completed； lay at
Durant's plantation about a mile above； under the immediate command of
Maj。 Benson。 On the 23d of February； Horry had out patroles upon the
Christ Church road； and scouts down in St。 Thomas'。 Thinking himself
secure； and being sick； on the 24th he went over the river to his plantation；
and left the brigade under the command of Col。 M‘Donald； contrary to
Gen。 Marion's order； which was to leave it in such case under Maham。
While Benson was at dinner； Capt。 Bennett； who commanded the scouts in
St。 Thomas'； came in with intelligence that the British were approaching；
but at that time of day he was an unwelcome messenger。 Bennett
proceeded down to head quarters at Mr。 Horry's； where M‘Donald was
also at dinner。 He likewise would not believe the intelligence； because he
said he had been down into Christ Church the day before； but he desired
Maj。 James who had just arrived in camp； and came for orders； to take
command of his regiment。 In less than half an hour after a firing
commenced at Durant's。 M‘Donald's regiment was on the right towards
Echaw； and two regiments of six months men on the left towards Wambaw。
Maj。 James immediately formed M‘Donald's regiment in the wood in the
rear； and rode to the left for orders from the commanding officer present；
Col。 Screven； but when he arrived； Screven's men had broke； and he was
in the act of rallying them； but the attempt was vain。 They ran over the
bridge and threw off the planks。 Maj。 James returned to his own men； and
112
… Page 113…
Life of Marion。
as fugitives were now passing in numbers from Horry's corps； he ordered a
retreat to the bridge。 As he brought up the rear and was on horseback； two
British dragoons attempted in succession to cut him down； but he kept
them in check with his pistols； and finally leaped a chasm in the bridge；
supposed to be twenty feet in width。 He by this means gained time to rally
his men； and checked the British。
Thus Gen。 Marion had not left his brigade more than six weeks； before
it had dwindled away and had been defeated。 On the part of Horry's
cavalry it was a complete surprise。 Major Benson was killed； and what
number of men cannot be ascertained； but he lost thirty…five horses。
The British were commanded by Col。 Thompson； afterwards the
celebrated Count Rumford。 Maham having refused to cooperate with
Horry； lay still at Mepkin； and Gen。 Marion passing there on the 24th； took
command of his corps and proceeded towards Wambaw； but the colonel
was not present。 On his way Gen。 Marion was sorely vexed with the
disagreeable news of the defeat of his brigade； but with such a fine corps
as Maham's was then he felt sure of beating the enemy should they appear。
He proceeded dow
