第 4 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:43      字数:9322
  jurisdiction;   and   other  judges   were  directed   to   be   chosen by  the   general
  assembly。
  * Pond Bluff is presently at the bottom of Lake Marion; S。C。  A。 L。;
  1997。 ** Such as tarring and feathering。
  In a few years; such confusion followed; that we shall see the president;
  soon after denominated governor; and two of the privy council; exercising
  all the civil and military powers of the state。
  John   Rutledge   was   chosen   president;   Henry   Laurens   vice…president;
  and     ~ex…officio~     president     of  the  privy    council。    In  this  year;   (1776;)
  Francis Marion had risen to the rank of major in the second regiment; and
  was stationed with his colonel in the fort at Sullivan's Island。 He was in
  the  action of   the  28th   of  June;   between   that   fort   and nine   of   the   British
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  Life of Marion。
  ships; under Sir Peter  Parker。 Of the particulars   of this battle; every  one
  has   heard;   and   they  need   not   be   narrated   here。 Two   of   the   ships   carried
  fifty    guns;    the   ship    Bristol;   commodore         Sir   Peter    Parker;    and    the
  Experiment; and as powder was very scarce in the fort; the orders were;
  〃mind   the   commodore!〃   〃Fire   at   the   two   fifty  gun ships。〃   Col。   Moultrie
  received the thanks of the commander in chief; of congress; Gen。 Lee; and
  of   president   Rutledge;   for   his   gallant   conduct   in   that   victory;   and;   what
  was more; the heart…felt gratitude of his countrymen。 The fort was called
  by his name; and he was raised to the rank of brigadier general。 His major
  then   rose   to   the   rank   of   lieut。   colonel。   This   action   excited   the   highest
  resentment in the breasts of the British rulers; and in the end they inflicted
  severe   vengeance   on   the   state   of   South   Carolina。  Three   years;   however;
  elapsed before they  made another   attempt。 In December;  1778; a   British
  fleet   of   thirty   seven   sail;   arrived   off   Savannah   in   Georgia;   and   landed
  about   4000   men。   One   half   of   these;   under   Col。   Campbell;   immediately
  made   an   attack   upon   the   town。   Gen。   Howe;   with   six   or   seven   hundred
  Americans; attempted to oppose them; but was defeated at the first onset。
  The enemy took possession of the town; and; as the Georgia militia were
  backward in turning out; the whole country soon fell under their dominion。
  Shortly after the taking of Savannah; Gen。 Lincoln took command of the
  American army; and Gen。 Prevost of the British。 On the 3d of Feb。 1779;
  Gen。     Moultrie;     with   a   party   of  about    300    militia;   mostly     citizens   of
  Charleston       and    Beaufort;     with    the   company       of   ancient     artillery   of
  Charleston;       was    posted    at  Beaufort;     where     he   heard    the  enemy      was
  advancing。 He immediately dispatched his aid; Capt。 Francis Kinloch; to
  reconnoitre;      while     he  moved      forward     on   the   road    to  Beaufort     ferry。
  Kinloch returning soon; stated the supposed force of the British; and that
  they were near upon the road; Moultrie now pushed on to gain a defile; but
  found it occupied by the enemy。 There being no alternative; he then drew
  up his men in open ground; with two field pieces in the centre; and one on
  the   right。  The   British   force   was   two   companies   of   picked   light   infantry;
  posted   under   cover   of   a   swamp。   The   militia   engaged   them;   and   fought
  under     this   disadvantage      till  their   ammunition       was    all  expended;      and
  Moultrie ordered a retreat; but the British made a simultaneous movement;
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  Life of Marion。
  and it became a drawn battle。 Lieut。 Wilkins of the ancient artillery; was
  mortally   wounded;   and   seven   men   were   killed。   Capt。   Heyward;   Lieuts。
  Sawyer      and    Brown;     and   fifteen   men;    were    wounded。      In   the  general's
  account of the action; the loss of the British is not stated; he speaks highly
  of the conduct of his officers and men; particularly of Capt。 John Barnwell;
  and indeed it was no little matter; thus to bring militia; in the open field; to
  fight regulars under cover。
  Lincoln's   force   was   fluctuating;   as   it   consisted   principally  of   militia;
  who could not be brought under control; and in the midst of arms; when
  the enemy were at the distance of only three miles; their officers refused to
  subject them to the articles of war; and insisted upon their being tried by
  the    militia   laws    of  the   state;   which    only    subjected     them    to  a   small
  pecuniary       fine。  The    case    too   was    a  flagrant    one;   a   private   of   Col。
  Kershaw's   regiment   had   absented   himself   from   guard;   and   upon   being
  reproved by his captain; gave him abusive language; the captain ordered
  him   under   guard;   and   the   man   attempted   to   shoot   his   officer;   but   was
  prevented。   This   case   was   referred   to   the   general   assembly   then   sitting;
  who also refused to bring the militia under the articles of war。 Had Gen。
  Jackson   lately   submitted   to   such   an   interference   with   his   authority;   we
  should   never   have   heard   of   the   glorious   victory   of   New   Orleans。   Gen。
  Lincoln would have nothing more to do with the militia; and gave up the
  command of them to Gen。 Moultrie; to act with them as a separate corps。
  Pursuant to this resolution; and after calling a council of war; he marched
  off (20th April) about 2000 light troops and cavalry; for Augusta; leaving
  his baggage to follow。 Near Augusta; he expected a reinforcement of 3000
  men;   and   his   intentions   were   to   take   possession   of   some   strong   post   in
  Georgia;   to   circumscribe   the   limits   of   the   enemy;   and   to   prevent   their
  receiving   recruits   from   the   Cherokee   Indians;   and   tories。   He   left   Gen。
  Moultrie;   with   about   1200   militia;   at   Black   Swamp。   As   soon   as   Gen。
  Prevost heard of this movement; he availed himself of it; and immediately
  crossed   over   the   Savannah;   from   Abercorn   to   Purysburgh;   twenty…five
  miles below Black Swamp; with the intention of surprising Moultrie; but
  he; receiving intelligence of his crossing; retired to Coosawhatchie。 At this
  place he left a rear guard; and pitched his head quarters on the hill to the
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  Life of Marion。
  eastward of Tulifinny; two miles in advance towards Charleston。 (1st May。)
  After reconnoitring the fords of Coosawhatchie; and Tulifinny above the
  bridges;     the   general     found    so   little  water    in  the   swamps;      from     the
  excessive drought which then prevailed;* that he determined not to risk an
  action at this post。 He was about to send one of his aids to bring off his
  rear guard; when Col。 John Laurens offered himself as a volunteer for that
  service;     he   was   readily    accepted;     and   captain;    afterwards     Major     John
  James; with 150 picked riflemen; was sent to cover his flanks: these; with
  the   rear   guard;    made   near     a  fourth   of   the  retreating   army。     Instead    of
  bringing off the rear guard; Col。 Laurens drew them over to the east side
  of the   river;  posted the riflemen   at   the   bridge;   threw   off   the   planks;   and
  engaged   the   enemy。   The   British   occupied   the   houses   on   the   west   bank;
  from which   they kept   up   a galling   fire; a number   of Laurens'   men   were
  killed   and   wounded;   and;   as   he   was   very   conspicuous   on   horse   back   in
  regimentals; with a large white plume; he was soon wounded himself; and
  his    horse    killed。   Laurens      then   retired;   and    captain;    afterwards      Col。
  Shubrick; ordered a retreat。 In the mean time Moultrie had decamped; and
  the riflemen were obliged; as the planks were thrown off; to pass Tulifinny
  and Pocotaligo bridges on the string pieces; and did not overtake the main
  body   till   they   had    passed   Saltketcher   bridge。   Here       let   us   pause   for  a
  moment; and take a view of the ground; twelve miles of country had been
  passed over in one  morning;  which was   a  continued defile of   causeway;
  lined on both sides with either thick woods; or ditches and fences; and four
  rivers had been crossed; over which were high bridges; and only a slight
  skirmish had taken place。 True; the swamps above the