第 9 节
作者:
江暖 更新:2021-02-19 20:43 字数:9322
Cowpens Hutt disappeared。
Nothing could have astonished the people more; than this last
proclamation; those who had taken the paroles expected to remain on their
plantations in security and ease; but now; they were called upon to return
to their allegiance; and assist in securing his majesty's government。 The
purport of which was well understood; they were in fact to take up arms
against their countrymen: at the very thought of which they were
abhorrent。 This crooked policy was no sooner adopted; than the British
cause began to decline in South Carolina。 The thread of the events above
recorded; will now naturally lead us to the history of Marion's brigade。
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Life of Marion。
About the end of June; in this year; Capt。 Ardesoif; of the British navy;
arrived at Georgetown; to carry the last proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton
into effect; and invited the people to come in and swear allegiance to King
George。 Many of the inhabitants of that district submitted to this new act
of degradation。 But there remained a portion of it; stretching from the
Santee to the Pedee; and including the whole of the present Williamsburgh;
and part of Marion district; into which the British arms had not penetrated。
The inhabitants of it were generally of Irish extraction; a people; who at all
times during the war; abhorred either submission or vassalage。 Among
them; tradition has handed down the following story: A public meeting
was called; to deliberate upon their critical situation; and Major John
James; who had heretofore commanded them in the field; and represented
them in legislature; was selected as the person who should go down to
Capt。 Ardesoif; and know from him; whether; by his proclamation; he
meant that they should take up arms against their countrymen。 He
proceeded to Georgetown; in the plain garb of a country planter; and was
introduced to the captain; at his lodgings; a considerable distance from his
ship。 An altercation of the following nature took place。 After the major had
narrated the nature of his mission; the captain; surprised that such an
embassy should be sent to him; answered; 〃the submission must be
unconditional。〃 To an inquiry; whether the inhabitants would not be
allowed to stay at home; upon their plantations; in peace and quiet? he
replied; 〃although you have rebelled against his majesty; he offers you a
free pardon; of which you are undeserving; for you ought all to be hanged;
but as he offers you a free pardon; you must take up arms in support of his
cause。〃 To Major James' suggesting that the people he came to represent
would not submit on such terms; the captain; irritated at his republican
language; particularly; it is supposed; at the word ~represent~; replied;
〃you damned rebel; if you speak in such language I will immediately order
you to be hanged up to the yard…arm。〃 The captain wore a sword; and
Major James none; but perceiving what turn matters were likely to take;
and not brooking such harsh language; he suddenly seized the chair on
which he was seated; brandished it in the face of the captain; and making
his retreat good through the back door of the house; mounted his horse;
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Life of Marion。
and made his escape into the country。 This circumstance; apparently trivial;
certainly hastened the rise of Marion's brigade。 The story narrated; as now
told; or embellished; always concluded in the same way: 〃you must take
up arms in support of his majesty's cause。〃 Many of the people of
Williamsburgh had submitted and taken paroles; but to be obliged to
imbrue their hands in the blood of their countrymen; was in their minds a
breach of one of the commands of God; and they shuddered at the very
thought。 They had besides; had two officers put over them; by the
British commander; Amos Gaskens and John Hamilton; the first they
despised on account of his petty larceny tricks; and the last they hated
because of his profanity。 About this time; news of the approach of Gates
having arrived; a public meeting of this people was called; and it was
unanimously resolved to take up arms in defence of their country。 Major
James was desired to command them as heretofore; and they again arrayed
themselves under their captains William M‘Cottry; Henry Mouzon; John
James;* of the lake; and John M‘Cauley。 The four companies; resolved on
this great enterprise; consisted of about two hundred men。 Shortly after;
Col。 Hugh Giles; of Pedee; proposed to join them; with two companies;
Whitherspoon's and Thornly's; and his offer was gladly accepted。 Gen。
Gates had now arrived on the confines of the state; and in a consultation;
held among these officers; it was agreed to send to him; to appoint them a
commander。 This was a wise resolution; and attended with the most
salutary consequences。 In the mean time; they made prisoners of Col。
Cassels; Capt。 Gaskens; and most of the officers appointed over them by
the British; and took post at the pass of Lynch's creek; at Witherspoon's
ferry。 At this period; the tories on Lynch's creek; in the neighbourhood of
M‘Callum's ferry; had already begun their murders and depredations。
Messrs。 Matthew Bradley; Thomas Bradley; and John Roberts; respectable
citizens; who had then joined neither party; and also; some others; were
killed by them; in their own houses。 These were headed by the two
Harrisons; one afterwards a colonel; the other a major in the British
service; whom Tarleton calls men of fortune。 They were in fact two of the
greatest banditti that ever infested the country。 Before the fall of
Charleston they lived in a wretched log hut; by the road; near M‘Callum's;
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Life of Marion。
in which there was no bed…covering but the skins of wild beasts; during
the contest the major was killed; but after it was over; the colonel retired to
Jamaica; with much wealth; acquired by depredation。 Capt。 M‘Cottry was
now posted in advance of Witherspoon's ferry; at Indian town; and Col。
Tarleton; having crossed at Lenud's ferry; and hearing of the
Williamsburgh meeting; advanced; at the head of seventy mounted militia
and cavalry; to surprise Major James。 M‘Cottry; first receiving notice of
his movement; sent back for a reinforcement; and immediately marched
his company; of about fifty mounted militia; to give him battle。 Tarleton
had been posted at dark; at the Kingstree; and M‘Cottry approached him at
midnight; but Tarleton marched away a few hours before he arrived。 By
means of the wife of Hamilton; the only tory in that part of the country; he
had gained intelligence of M‘Cottry's approach; as reported to him; with
five hundred men。 The latter pursued; but; perhaps fortunately; without
overtaking him。 In this route Tarleton burnt the house of Capt。 Mouzon;
and after posting thirty miles; from Kingstree up to Salem; took Mr。 James
Bradley prisoner; the next day。 Soon after this Lieut。 Col。 Hugh Horry
arrived from Georgetown; and by right he would have had the command
of Major James' party; but he declined it for some time。 Of him more will
be said hereafter。 On the 10th or 12th of August; General Marion arrived at
the post; at Lynch's creek; commissioned by Governor Rutledge to take the
command of the party there; and a large extent of country on the east side
of Santee。 He was a stranger to the officers and men; and they flocked
about him; to obtain a sight of their future commander。** He was rather
below the middle stature of men; lean and swarthy。 His body was well set;
but his knees and ankles were badly formed; and he still limped upon on