life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第27节
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met with him as a general and his army emerging from the wilderness。
This ~first broad road~ must again from the necessity of the case； for there
was no other at that time； have been the road from Cheraw hill to Camden。
Thus have the accounts of two respectable witnesses； Dr。 Irvine and Gen。
Cantey； been reconciled； which appeared at first sight impossible。
Although so weak after the affair at Hobkirk； Gen。 Greene； had sent a
reinforcement to Marion under Major Eaton with a six…pounder； and on
the 8th of May； Marion and Lee commenced firing upon Fort Motte。 As
soon as Gen。 Greene heard of the retreat of Lord Rawdon from Camden；
he decamped from Cornal's creek； and moving down on the west bank of
the Wateree； took a position near M‘Cord's ferry； so as to cover the
besiegers。 Fort Motte stood on a high hill called Buckhead； a little on the
right of the Charleston road； where it leaves the Congaree below M‘Cord's。
Within its walls was included the house of Mrs。 Motte； who had retired to
that of her overseer。 When told it was necessary to burn the house； in
order to take the fort expeditiously； she at once requested it should be done；
and； as the means of effecting it； furnished an Indian bow and arrows。 On
the night of the 10th； the fires of Lord Rawdon's camp were seen on the
Santee hills； in his retreat from Camden； and encouraged the garrison for a
while； but on the 12th the house was set on fire； and the commander Lieut。
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Life of Marion。
M‘Pherson； and one hundred and sixty…five men； surrendered。 This deed
of Mrs。 Motte has been deservedly celebrated。 Her intention to sacrifice
her valuable property was patriotic； but the house was not burnt； as is
stated by historians； nor was it fired by an arrow from an African bow； as
sung by the poet。 Nathan Savage； a private in Marion's brigade； made up
a ball of rosin and brimstone； to which he set fire； slung it on the roof of
the house。 The British surrendered before much mischief was done to it；
and Marion had the fire put out。 At the commencement of this siege； Serjt。
M‘Donald； now advanced to a lieutenancy； was killed。 He was a native of
Cross creek； in North Carolina； and his father and other relations had
espoused the opposite side of the cause。 Lieut。 Cryer； who had often
emulated M‘Donald； shared a similar fate。 On the 25th Nov。 last； we have
seen Gen。 Sumter severely wounded at Black Stocks； but on the 20th Feb。
just three months after； he sat down before Fort Granby； to besiege it； and
wrote to Marion； who was his junior officer； to move in such a direction as
to attract the attention of Lord Rawdon； but at that time the fort was
relieved。
On the same day that Fort Motte surrendered； Gen。 Sumter took the
British fort at Orangeburgh； with a garrison consisting of seventy tories
and twelve British； and in three days after； on the 15th May； he took Fort
Granby； long the object of his wishes。 This fort was surrendered to him by
Major Maxwell； of the British； with nineteen officers； three hundred and
twenty…nine men； mostly royalists； and five pieces of ordnance。*
* Major Burnet's letter； 28th April。 He was aid to Gen。 Greene。
Gen。 Marion soon after taking Fort Motte； re…crossed the Santee； and
encamped at Cantey's plantation； a little more than midway from Nelson's
to Murray's ferry； and here he reposed his men for some time and collected
reinforcements。 In consequence of the evacuation of Camden； and recent
successes； the militia turned out well and in high spirits。 About the 3d of
June； he marched for Georgetown； and appearing before it on the 6th；
began his approach by breaking ground； but on the night after the garrison
evacuated the town； and took shipping。 Remaining here for some time； the
general threw off his old habiliments； furnished his wardrobe anew； and
fitted himself out with a suit of regimentals。 He also procured a couple of
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Life of Marion。
mules to transport his baggage。 His privations； during the period passed
over； were so great that he even wanted a blanket； for on a certain night his
bed of pine straw catching fire under him； while he was soundly reposing
after one of his forced marches； half of the only one he had was burnt；*
and his leather cap was wrinkled upon one side； from the contact of the
same element。 Hereafter he indulged himself with the luxury of coffee for
breakfast； but often without bread to it； and he seldom tasted wine or
spirits； but was fond of vinegar and water； the drink of a Roman soldier。
However； Georgetown was no Capua to him。 He soon returned again to
Cantey's plantation； and kept out scouts constantly towards Biggen church；
where the enemy had a garrison of considerable force。
* Nothing shows the moderation of Gen。 Marion more than this
simple matter of fact。 Although the country at that time was plundered and
miserably poor； yet he had only to express a wish and he would have had a
dozen homespun blankets。 He had then in his pocket a power from the
governor to impress them。
About this period； Gen。 Marion sent Col。 Peter Horry with a force to
negociate a treaty with Major Ganey and his party。 As he could not well
turn his arms against him； and the whig settlements on Pedee were left
exposed to his depredations； it was good policy to awe him； and to
endeavour to keep him quiet。 After a little time Horry negociated a treaty；
humiliating enough to Ganey； by which； among other matters； he and his
officers agreed to lay down their arms and remain neutral； to deliver up all
those who refused to comply with the treaty and all deserters from the
Americans； and also to restore all negroes and other plundered property。
This treaty was ratified on the 17th of June； but was not strictly complied
with until Marion afterwards found leisure to enforce it； as shall be
narrated in its place。
Soon after the siege of Fort Motte； Gen。 Greene proceeding on with
his main army； laid siege to Ninety…Six； in which Lieut。 Col。 Cruger
commanded a garrison of five hundred men； and defended himself with
energy and ability。 On the right of the besiegers was a strong stockade fort；
and on the left a work called the Star redoubt。 On the night of the 26th of
May； the celebrated Kosciusko； who acted at that time as an engineer for
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Life of Marion。
Greene； raised two block batteries within three hundred and fifty yards of
the besieged。 Soon after a third and a fourth were erected； and lastly a rifle
battery within thirty yards of the ditch of the fort。 The abbatis was turned；
and two trenches and a mine were extended within six feet of the ditch。
The fort must soon have been taken； but Lord Rawdon was approaching
fast to the relief of the garrison； with two thousand men； which he had
lately received from Ireland； （18th June） and Gen。 Greene was obliged to
raise the siege and retreat over the Saluda。 His loss before the fort was
about one hundred and fifty men。 Lord Rawdon followed the Americans；
as far as the Ennoree； but finding the pursuit fruitless； he drew off a part of
the garrison from Ninety…Six； and fixed a detachment of his army at the
Congaree。 Gen。 Greene； finding the British force divided； faced about and
offered Lord Rawdon battle； but he； in his turn； retreated to Orangeburgh。
About the beginning of July； in this year； Lord Rawdon still lay in
Orangeburgh； strongly posted； and Gen。 Greene was near； watching his
motions。 While thus situated； Col。 Cruger evacuated his post at Ninety…Six；
and marching down through the fork of Edisto； joined Rawdon。 As there
was no other place at which the Edisto could then be passed but at
Orangeburgh； it was out of Greene's power to prevent the junction； and
Rawdon's army being thus reinforced； Gen。 Greene thought it prudent to
retire to Bloom hill； Richardson's plantation； at the High Hills of Santee。
Before retiring； however； he d
