life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第6章
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offer； Gen。 Gadsden and Mr。 Thomas Ferguson dissented。 To carry terms
so disgraceful； to Prevost； Col。 Laurens was pitched upon； but he
indignantly refused to be the bearer。 Cols。 M‘Intosh and Roger Smith were
then persuaded to go with a flag。 The British commander appointed Col。
Prevost； as commissioner to receive them； and he delivered a message
from the general； 〃that he had nothing to do with the governor； that his
business was with Gen。 Moultrie； and as the garrison was in arms； they
must surrender prisoners of war。〃 At this answer； the governor and council
looked blank； and some were for submitting even to this degrading
proposal： but Moultrie cut the conference short； by declaring； 〃that as it
was left to him； he would fight to the last extremity。〃 Laurens； who was
present； and sitting； bounded to his feet at the expression； raised his hands；
and thanked his God！ Thus it was only by a mistake of Prevost； as to the
high powers of the civil authority； that the town； and the state of South
Carolina； were then saved。 What renders this offer the more astonishing；
was； that the garrison； 3180 strong； were in good spirits； and an army
under Lincoln； was marching to their assistance； on the rear of the enemy；
who were not much stronger than the besieged； being computed at 3680
men。** Early the next morning； Prevost decamped； and retreated to John's
and James Islands。 （May 13th。） There was great rejoicing in the town； but
the consequence to which it had arrived； by repelling two attempts of the
enemy； only brought against it a greater armament； and in the end； sunk it
into deeper distress。 An attack upon the British at Stono ferry； was now
planned by Gen。 Lincoln。 Gen。 Moultrie； was to throw over on James
Island； all the troops which could be spared from the town； and make a
feint on that side； or attack； if a favourable opportunity offered； while the
principal effort was to be made by Lincoln； at Stono。 He made the attack
before Moultrie could cooperate； （June 20） and the enemy remaining in
their lines； and being reinforced； obliged him to retreat。 In this affair a few
men were killed； and Col。 Roberts； of the artillery； mortally wounded。 His
loss was greatly and justly lamented。 William Richardson Davie； lately
deceased； and afterwards so much celebrated as Gen。 Davie； was among
the wounded。 Prevost； soon after this； retreated along the chain of islands
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Life of Marion。
on the coast； until he reached Port Royal and Savannah。 During the time
Prevost lay before the lines of Charleston； Maj。 Benjamin Huger； an active
officer； a wise statesman； and a virtuous citizen； was unfortunately killed。
What rendered his fate the more melancholy； was； that the act was done by
the mistake of his own countrymen。 It was at this time also； that Gen。
Count Pulaski； a Polander； began to distinguish himself as a partisan。 His
address in single combat； was greatly celebrated。 Col。 Kowatch； under his
command； was killed before the lines； and shamefully mutilated by the
British。 Of the campaign of 1779； it was not the intention of the author to
give a minute detail； but only to sketch out those feelings； and that line of
conduct； in the cabinet and field； which； followed up in the succeeding
year； brought ruin and disgrace upon the country。
* Lincoln's letter； 20th April。 ** 1st vol。 Moultrie's memoirs； from
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Chapter II。
CAMPAIGN OF 1780。
Sir Henry Clinton arrives with an army of 12；000 men in South
Carolina。 The General Assembly sitting in Charleston； break up。 Gen。
Lincoln shuts himself up in the town； and Clinton lays siege to it。 Before
the town is entirely hemmed in； Marion dislocates his ankle； and retires
into the country。 The town capitulates。 Tarleton's career of slaughter。
Defeat of Gen。 Huger at Monk's Corner and of Buford at the Waxhaws。
Rising of the people in Williamsburgh； and at Pedee。 Gen。 Marion sent to
them as a commander。 Gates； defeat。 Marion retakes 150 American
prisoners at Nelson's Ferry。 Maj。 Wemyss sent against him； he retreats to
the White Marsh； in North Carolina。 Returns and defeats the tories at
Black Mingo and the fork of Black river。 Attempt on Georgetown
frustrated。 Marion takes post at Snow Island。 Sumter's career。 Ferguson's
defeat。 Spirit of the whigs begins to revive。
The year 1780； was the most eventful one； in the annals of South
Carolina。 The late failure of the attack on Savannah； the little opposition
which Gen。 Prevost met with； in a march of more than one hundred miles
through the state； the conduct of the planters； in submitting； to save their
property； and the well known weakness of the southern army； all
conspired to induce the enemy to believe； that Charleston； and South
Carolina； would become an easy prey。 Sir Henry Clinton； their commander
in chief； meditating a formidable expedition against them； with this view
sailed from New York on the 26th December； 1779； with an army； which；
with subsequent reinforcements amounted to about 12；000 men。 To oppose
this great force； Gen。 Lincoln had not more than two thousand； a great part
of which was militia。 His head quarters were in Charleston； where the
general assembly were setting in calm deliberation； for they had not yet
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heard of the rising storm。 Lieut。 Col。 Marion； had command of the out…
post of this little army； at Sheldon； near Pocotaligo； where he had orders to
watch the motions of Prevost； and prevent him from obtaining supplies of
provisions； from the Carolina side of Savannah river。 It was expected he
was to remain here for some time； and great confidence was reposed in
him； by Gen。 Lincoln； as appears by his letters； at this period。 The British
had a tedious passage； in which they lost part of their ordnance； most of
their artillery； and all the horses； destined to mount their cavalry。 On the
11th Feb。 1780； they landed about thirty miles from Charleston。 The
assembly sitting there； immediately broke up； after delegating； 〃till ten
days after their next session； to John Rutledge； and such of his council as
he could conveniently consult； a power to do every thing necessary for the
public good； except the taking away the life of a citizen； without a legal
trial。〃 This was nearly the same power； with which the senate of Rome；
invested their dictators。 But a resolution； fatal in its consequences； was
unanimously adopted by this assembly： namely； to defend the town to the
utmost extremity。 The power； thus delegated to the governor and council；
was carried into effect afterwards； with vigour； and with what would now
be thought an infraction of private rights。 But in the spirit of the times； and
the public situation； such vigour was necessary。 The governor's council；
