life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第36节
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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
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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
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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 down to Mrs。 Tiddiman's plantation； between Echaw and
Wambaw； and there halted for provisions。 （25th Feb。） There was a lane
with a high fence on each side； leading up to the house； and the cavalry
picketted in the lane。 In front of the lane was an old field； and a little to the
right a pond of water。 Scarce half an hour had elapsed when the British
appearing in the old field； displayed their columns and seemed to pause。
Capt。 John Carraway Smith commanded Maham's corps； he drew up his
men in solid column； and Gen。 Marion having posted a small body of
infantry to great advantage along the fence of the lane； ordered Smith to
charge。 He proceeded very well till he got to the edge of the pond； where
an inclination to the left was necessary to reach the enemy； but in
performing this evolution his men fell into disorder； and the enemy
charged with a shout。 All was now rout and dismay； but the British
followed no further than the edge of the woods。 Gen。 Marion had rallied a
troop there； and checked the pursuit。 The loss was but little； Lieut。 Smizer
and three men only were killed； but the disgrace was great。 Had this corps
been well trained the enemy must have been beaten。 Horry had thus lost a
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Life of Marion。
great part of his horses； and Maham's corps was a second time shamefully
defeated。
We have seen Count Rumford opposed to Gen。 Marion with a degree
of success； which perhaps he would not have obtained had the orders of
the general been obeyed。 It is well known that Count Rumford was a
native of Massachusetts； and of the town there whence he took his title；
also that he became after this a celebrated philosopher； and especially in
economics； his writings have been of great use to the world。 It is a pity
that the career of such a man should have commenced in hostility to his
native country。 His life has been published； but we have not yet had the
pleasure of reading it； and perhaps it may not contain the following
anecdote。 After his dashing success at the Santee he formed a grand
scheme； which was no less than that of surprising Gen。 Greene in his camp
at Ashley hill。 To effect this he must either have crossed Ashley river over
Bacon bridge； at Dorchester； which was too well secured for a sudden
attack of cavalry； or he must cross the river at Ashley ferry； ten miles from
town。 He determined on the latter； and put his four troops of cavalry in
motion。 When he arrived at the ferry it was ebb of tide； the water was
running out as from a millsluice； the banks on each side were so miry as
scarcely to support a crab the river was at least one hundred yards wide；
and there was not a boat。 He however ordered Major Fraser to lead on
the first troop into the river and swim across。 Fraser viewed him for some
time with astonishment； suspecting him not to be in his sober senses。 But
finding he appeared so； he said to him； 〃Why； Sir； I am not in the habit of
disputing； or hesitating to perform any order given by my commander； but
this thing is utterly impossible。〃 〃How so；〃 said Thompson； 〃it may be
difficult but not impossible； and if we do not attempt difficult things we
shall never be distinguished。 Alexander swam across the Granicus； beat
the Persians and immortalized himself。〃 〃And it would no doubt
immortalize you；〃 replied Fraser； 〃if you could swim the Ashley； and
surprise Gen。 Greene； but let
