第 26 节
作者:
江暖 更新:2021-02-19 20:44 字数:9322
surrendered himself prisoner to a lieutenant of the British; and after he had
delivered his sword; was struck by the lieutenant with the broad side of it。
At the battle of Guilford; Smith had killed Col。 Stewart; of the British
guards; in a single rencounter; and his bravery was otherwise so well
known that the British officers invited him to a dinner in Camden。 Before
dinner; he mentioned how he had been treated by the lieutenant; and it was
agreed among them; that; as that officer was to be present at the dinner;
Smith should be at liberty to treat him as he thought fit。 Accordingly
Smith kicked him down stairs; and as he did not resent it; he was soon
after cashiered。
Upon Watson's arrival in Camden; Lord Rawdon being now reinforced;
marched out to attack Gen。 Greene; at Sawney's creek; on the west side of
the Wateree。 Greene did not like his position for a general engagement;
and took a new one at Cornal's creek; leaving the horse; light infantry and
pickets; at his old encampment。 The enemy approached and drew up on
the opposite side of the creek; but did not attempt to cross; and retired into
Camden before night。 Early in the morning of the next day (10th of May;
1781;) Lord Rawdon burnt the mill at Camden; the gaol; his stores; and
many private houses; and evacuating it; retreated towards Nelson's ferry。
Thus was Camden evacuated in less than a year after the British obtained
possession of it; but during that short period it had become the scene of
innumerable spoliations; and other atrocities。 While they held it; the loss
of property; and being reduced to poverty; were the least considerable
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incidents; which happened to the inhabitants。 To form an accurate idea; as
well of the wretched situation of the people of that town and its vicinity;
during this period; as to elucidate a part of history not yet explained; let
the reader take the following narrative; partly in and partly out of its due
order。 Gen。 Greene; having traversed that part of North Carolina from
Guilford to Pedee; and passed through nearly one half the breadth of South
Carolina; by the way of Cheraw hill; and Lynch's creek; arrived at Town
creek; four miles below Camden; about the middle of April。 Except at the
Pedee; the country through which he had marched was destitute of
provisions; and no where; unless he had impressed salt provisions; could
he find any thing better than beef driven out of the woods; which in April
is well known to be lean and nauseating。 For the last fifty miles; his route
had been across the sand hills; between Pedee and the Wateree; here his
guide deserted him; and when he arrived at Town creek; he and his men
were at a loss which way to proceed; and were literally starving。 The fine
low grounds of the Wateree now lay before him; where he expected an
abundance of provisions; but he was most grievously disappointed。 The
British had swept away every thing of the kind that could be found; and
what little subsistence was left to the planters was hid in small parcels; and
in different places in the swamps。 Scarcely any thing fit to eat; was visible;
where prior to this period; and subsequently; every kind of provisions had
been so abundant。 But Gen。 Greene; in his distress; happily* met with a
young man; whom; while he had been at Hick's creek in January last; he
had appointed assistant commissary general; and who had served him with
zeal and ability in that department。 This young man; (the present Gen。
Cantey; of Camden;) had but just returned from Dan river; where he had
supplied Gen。 Greene; with fifteen waggon loads of flour; and nearly one
thousand head of hogs; which he had driven from the Pedee; by private
ways; with so much skill and address; as to avoid Lord Cornwallis; and the
numerous tories by whom he was surrounded; and Cantey was still
zealous to serve his country。 After gaining some intelligence of the enemy;
Gen。 Greene requested his commissary to endeavour to get them some
provisions; for they were famishing。 Cantey's father lived not far off; and
recollecting he had some bacon and corn meal hid in a swamp; he
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immediately went and brought enough for the general's mess; and in a
short time after; drove in beeves; such as they were; sufficient for a supper
for the men; but so destitute was the neighbourhood; that Cantey
recommended it to Gen。 Greene to move above Camden; where provisions
might be collected from the upper country; and it was more probable he
would receive aid from the militia。 But for this explanation; the good
judgment of Gen。 Greene; in taking post above Camden; might well be
questioned; since his wisest; and hitherto favoured plan; had been to strike
at the posts below。 It is thought; if he could have taken a position at Town
creek; or Swift creek below; all surprise might have been prevented。 At
this time; Gen。 Greene sent Cantey to Gen。 Sumter; distant more than one
hundred miles; to request him to join him; but Sumter; who was
meditating an attack on fort Granby; declined any further cooperation
except in that way。 When this answer was communicated to Gen。 Greene;
by Cantey; he was exceedingly angry; and said he had a great mind to
leave ~them~ to defend the country as well as they could; without his
assistance。 Could he have concentrated his force; and ~had not regarded
Ninety…Six~; he might have driven the British into Charleston; before the
sickly season commenced。 But the system of leaving fortresses behind an
invading army; so strongly recommended by Machiavelli; and so much
followed by Bonaparte; had not yet been adopted in tactics。 But we are
anticipating our narrative。
* As all the accounts of the movements of Greene and Col。 Lee; into
South Carolina; are confused; from a want of information of the local
situation of the country; and the clashing of the names of places; the
present note has been subjoined to rectify misconceptions。 From Ensign
Johnson Baker's account we have seen Lee at the Long bluff; since called
Greenville; now Society…hill。 At that time; the marshes of Black creek; and
the bogs of Black river; were impassable (except to Marion;) on any direct
route to Camden; or Scott's lake; or Santee; but there was an Indian path;
by the way of the present Darlington court house and Day's ferry; on
Lynch's creek; to Kingstree; and from the latter place there was a road to
Murray's ferry on Santee。 From the necessity of the case; therefore; this
must have been Lee's route; for he cannot explain it himself。 Lee had been
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the principal adviser of Greene to return to South Carolina; for which the
country can never be too grateful to him; and being now about to invest
fort Watson; he sent Dr。 Matthew Irvine; for whom both leaders had a
great friendship; and who; from his persuasive powers was highly fitted
for the mission; to inspire Greene with hope and confidence。 Irvine
obtained a guide and an escort from Col。 Richardson; and proceeded by
the route of the Piny lands; back of the Santee hills; then a pathless
wilderness; now a thickly settled country; and ~on the first broad road~ he
fell in with in this tract; he unexpectedly met with Greene; about fifteen
miles from Camden。 Irvine continued with him; until descending a range
of Sand hills between little and great Pinetree creeks; about a mile from
Camden; he crossed great Pinetree creek at the place now called M‘Crae's
mill。 From the latter place; Greene proceeded about three miles to an old
mill on Town creek; called English's; and here Irvine left him; and Cantey
met with him as a general and his army emerging from the wilderness。
This ~first broad road~ must again f