第 16 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9321
  calculation; a bushel of coarse bay salt; sold at that time for one hundred
  dollars value of the present day。 As soon as Gen。 Marion could collect a
  sufficient quantity of this desirable article at Snow's island; he distributed
  it out in quantities; not exceeding a bushel to each whig family; and thus
  endeared himself the more to his followers。
  Thus closed the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty; over the
  head of Gen。 Marion。 We will leave him for a moment; to such repose as
  the island afforded; and state some matters to carry on the chain of events。
  On the 12th July; General Sumter commenced his brilliant career。 On
  the west of the Catawba; he defeated a large party of tories; and a party of
  British; and killed Col。 Ferguson; who commanded the former; and Capt。
  Huck;      at  the   head    of   the  latter。   This   man     had   shocked      the  good
  Presbyterians   in   that   part   of   the   country  by  his   profanity;   he   burnt   their
  church; their parsonage; and their bibles; and treated them with insult and
  cruelty。 About the 30th July; Gen。 Sumter nearly annihilated the Prince of
  Wales' regiment; and routed a large body of tories at the Hanging rock。
  Soon   after   the   defeat   of   Gates;   the   enemy   was   left   at   liberty   to   turn   a
  greater force upon Sumter; and his men; being worn down by fatigue and
  want of sleep; he was surprised and defeated at Fishing creek; by Tarleton;
  but with little loss; for he rallied his forces ~in three days after~。* On the
  12th Nov。 Major Wemyss attempted to surprise him near the Fishdam ford;
  on   Broad   river;   at   the   head   of   a   corps   of   infantry   and   dragoons。   Col。
  Thomas Taylor; with his regiment; was posted in advance; and his men lay
  securely at their fires; thinking the enemy at a distance。 But the colonel;
  49
  … Page 50…
  Life of Marion。
  from what has been termed a ~presentiment~; was uneasy and could not
  rest; he got up; and hearing the barking of dogs and some other unusual
  noises; he woke up his men; and removed them back from their fires。 Soon
  after; the British appeared at them; and thus offered themselves to the aim
  of experienced marksmen。 In the mean time Sumter came up to their aid;
  and the enemy was totally defeated。 Major Wemyss was severely wounded
  and   taken。   He   had   in   his   pocket   a   list   of   the   houses   he   had   burnt   at
  Williamsburgh and Pedee; with great trepidation he showed it to Sumter;
  and begged he would protect him from the militia。  Notwithstanding his
  atrocities he was treated with indulgence; but became a cripple for life。 On
  the 20th of the same month Sumter was attacked by Col。 Tarleton; at Black
  Stocks。 The action was severe; and of the British officers; Major Money;
  and   Lieuts。   Gibson   and   Cape;   were   killed。   Sumter   lost   few   men;   but   he
  was   himself  wounded。 The  ball   passed through the   shoulder  and   carried
  away a small portion of the backbone。 He was placed in a raw bullock's
  hide; fastened between two horses; and thus carried with a guard of five
  men to the mountains。
  * Notwithstanding the ~bruit~ made in history about this defeat of
  Sumter;   the   author   can   re…assert;   and   from   written   evidence   now   before
  him;   that   Sumter   was   ~in   three   days~   at   the   head   of   a   very   respectable
  force。 This was not obtained by any communication from the general; but
  by an investigation of dates。
  Tarleton; as usual; sent an account of his victory; much exaggerated; to
  Lord Cornwallis; who writes to him on the 22d of the same month: 〃I most
  heartily   wish   you   joy   of   your   success;   but   wish   it   had   not   cost   you   so
  much。〃   And   again;   on   the   next   day:   〃I   shall   be   very   glad   to   hear   that
  Sumter is in a condition to give us no further trouble; he certainly has been
  our     greatest    plague     in  this   country。〃     The    inhabitants      of   the   New
  Acquisition;   now   York   district;   were   among   the   warm   friends   of   Gen。
  Sumter; it was among these people he generally recruited his forces。 They
  never submitted to the British nor took protection。 The most distinguished
  leaders;   under   Sumter;   were   Colonels   Niel;   Hill;   Lacey;   Winn;   Bratton;
  Brandon;   and       Majors   Davie      and   Winn。    Davie   commanded          a   corps  of
  cavalry; which was never surprised nor dispersed during the war。
  50
  … Page 51…
  Life of Marion。
  In    the  summer       of  1780;    Col。   Ferguson;      of  the   British    71st;   had
  undertaken to visit the tory settlements in the upper country; and train up
  the   young   men   to   arms。   Among   these   several   unprincipled   people   had
  joined him; and acted with their usual propensity for rapine and murder。
  Many       Americans;      fleeing    before    them;    passed    over   into   the   state  of
  Tennessee;   then   beginning   to   be   settled。   By   their   warm   representations;
  they   roused      the  spirit  of   the  people    of   that  country;    which     has   since
  become   so   often   conspicuous。   Although   safe   from   any   enemy   but   the
  savages      of  their   cane    brakes;   they    left  their  families;    and   generously
  marched to the assistance of their friends。 Nine hundred of them mounted;
  under   the   command   of   Col。   Campbell;   poured   down   from   the Allegany;
  like   the torrents   from  its summit。  Gunpowder   they  had   already  learnt   to
  prepare   from  the   saltpetre   in   their   caves;   and   lead   they  dug   out   of   their
  mines。 Dried venison satisfied their hunger; pure water slaked their thirst;
  and   at   the   side   of   a   rock   they   enjoyed   comfortable   repose。 Armed   with
  rifles; sure to the white speck on the target; at the distance of one hundred
  paces; or to decapitate the wild turkey on the top of the tallest pine  these
  were indeed a formidable band。 Their other leaders were Shelby; Sevier;
  Williams and Cleveland; all inured to the pursuit of the savage or the wild
  beast   of   the   forest。   Thus   equipped   and   commanded;   and   with   such   few
  wants; they moved rapidly on to attack Ferguson; a no less formidable foe;
  and on the 7th of October; 1780; reached him; strongly posted on King's
  mountain。 Campbell divided his men into three bands; one under himself;
  one      under    Cleveland;       and    the   other     under    Shelby。        Cleveland
  commenced   the   attack;   and   fired   until   Ferguson;   advancing   sufficiently
  near; ordered the British to charge with bayonets; before these he retired。
  By this time Shelby had ascended the mountain; and gave an unexpected
  and   deadly   fire。   The   bayonet   had   scarcely   been   again   successful;   when
  Campbell reached the  summit   and   fired in   another  and   more  destructive
  volley。 Ferguson presented a new front; and the bayonet again prevailed。
  But Cleveland had rallied his men and poured in the fourth fire: and now
  as often as one American party was driven back; another returned to the
  attack; and as victory was becoming sure; with more determined resolution。
  The   unconquerable   spirit   of   Ferguson   still   refused   to   submit;   but   baited
  51
  … Page 52…
  Life of Marion。
  thus;    as  he   was    on   all  sides;   resistance     became     vain。   At   length    this
  distinguished officer received a mortal wound; and falling upon the field;
  his   second   in   command;   Capt。   Abraham   De   Peyster;   sued   for   quarters。
  Eleven hundred of the enemy were killed; wounded or taken; of which one
  hundred were British。 The Americans lost but few men; but among these
  were Col。 Williams and Major Chronicle。 Thus; through the successes of
  Sumter  and   Marion;  and   this brilliant   achievement;  towards   the  close  of
  this   memorable   year   the   drooping   spirits   of   the   people   began   to   revive;
  and men flocked on all sides to the standard of their country。
  Detached Narratives for 1780。
  As these are intended to be unconnected; and entirely miscellaneous;
  they will be inserted without much regard to time or place。 We have just
  recorded   the   fate   of   the   distinguished   Ferguson;   and   the   first   meed   of
  praise is due to him。 Yes! reader; praise to a generous enemy! He was a
  major; and commanded a rifle corps during the campaign of Washington;
  in   New   Jersey。   On   one   occasion   Gen。