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;
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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。
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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
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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。