第 27 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9322
  met   with   him   as   a   general   and   his   army   emerging   from   the   wilderness。
  This ~first broad road~ must again from the necessity of the case; for there
  was no other at that time; have been the road from Cheraw hill to Camden。
  Thus have the accounts of two respectable witnesses; Dr。 Irvine and Gen。
  Cantey; been reconciled; which appeared at first sight impossible。
  Although so weak after the affair at Hobkirk; Gen。 Greene; had sent a
  reinforcement   to   Marion   under   Major   Eaton   with   a   six…pounder;   and   on
  the 8th of May; Marion and Lee commenced firing upon Fort Motte。 As
  soon as Gen。 Greene heard of the retreat of Lord Rawdon from Camden;
  he decamped from Cornal's creek; and moving down on the west bank of
  the   Wateree;     took   a  position   near   M‘Cord's     ferry;   so  as  to  cover    the
  besiegers。 Fort Motte stood on a high hill called Buckhead; a little on the
  right of the Charleston road; where it leaves the Congaree below M‘Cord's。
  Within its walls was included the house of Mrs。 Motte; who had retired to
  that of her overseer。  When told it was necessary to burn the house; in
  order to take the fort expeditiously; she at once requested it should be done;
  and; as the means of effecting it; furnished an Indian bow and arrows。 On
  the night of the 10th; the fires of Lord Rawdon's camp were seen on the
  Santee hills; in his retreat from Camden; and encouraged the garrison for a
  while; but on the 12th the house was set on fire; and the commander Lieut。
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  M‘Pherson; and one hundred and sixty…five men; surrendered。 This deed
  of Mrs。  Motte  has   been deservedly  celebrated。  Her  intention   to   sacrifice
  her   valuable   property   was   patriotic;   but   the   house   was   not   burnt;   as   is
  stated by historians; nor was it fired by an arrow from an African bow; as
  sung by the poet。  Nathan Savage; a private in Marion's brigade; made up
  a ball of rosin and brimstone; to which he set fire; slung it on the roof of
  the house。 The British surrendered before much mischief was done to it;
  and Marion had the fire put out。 At the commencement of this siege; Serjt。
  M‘Donald; now advanced to a lieutenancy; was killed。 He was a native of
  Cross   creek;   in   North   Carolina;   and   his   father   and   other   relations   had
  espoused   the   opposite   side   of   the   cause。   Lieut。   Cryer;   who   had       often
  emulated M‘Donald; shared a similar fate。 On the 25th Nov。 last; we have
  seen Gen。 Sumter severely wounded at Black Stocks; but on the 20th Feb。
  just three months after; he sat down before Fort Granby; to besiege it; and
  wrote to Marion; who was his junior officer; to move in such a direction as
  to   attract   the   attention   of   Lord   Rawdon;   but   at   that   time   the   fort   was
  relieved。
  On   the   same   day  that   Fort   Motte surrendered;  Gen。   Sumter   took   the
  British   fort   at   Orangeburgh;   with   a   garrison   consisting   of   seventy   tories
  and twelve British; and in three days after; on the 15th May; he took Fort
  Granby; long the object of his wishes。 This fort was surrendered to him by
  Major Maxwell; of the British; with nineteen officers; three hundred and
  twenty…nine men; mostly royalists; and five pieces of ordnance。*
  * Major Burnet's letter; 28th April。 He was aid to Gen。 Greene。
  Gen。 Marion soon after taking Fort Motte; re…crossed the Santee; and
  encamped at Cantey's plantation; a little more than midway from Nelson's
  to Murray's ferry; and here he reposed his men for some time and collected
  reinforcements。 In consequence of the evacuation of Camden; and recent
  successes; the militia turned out well and in high spirits。 About the 3d of
  June;   he   marched   for   Georgetown;   and   appearing   before   it   on   the   6th;
  began his approach by breaking ground; but on the night after the garrison
  evacuated the town; and took shipping。 Remaining here for some time; the
  general   threw  off   his   old   habiliments;  furnished his   wardrobe   anew;   and
  fitted himself out with a suit of regimentals。 He also procured a couple of
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  mules   to   transport his   baggage。  His   privations;  during   the period   passed
  over; were so great that he even wanted a blanket; for on a certain night his
  bed of pine straw catching fire under him; while he was soundly reposing
  after one of his forced marches; half of the only one he had was burnt;*
  and his leather cap was wrinkled upon one side; from the contact of the
  same element。 Hereafter he indulged himself with the luxury of coffee for
  breakfast;   but   often   without   bread   to   it;   and   he   seldom   tasted   wine   or
  spirits; but was fond of vinegar and water; the drink of a Roman soldier。
  However;  Georgetown   was   no   Capua to him。   He  soon   returned   again   to
  Cantey's plantation; and kept out scouts constantly towards Biggen church;
  where the enemy had a garrison of considerable force。
  *   Nothing   shows   the   moderation   of   Gen。   Marion   more   than   this
  simple matter of fact。 Although the country at that time was plundered and
  miserably poor; yet he had only to express a wish and he would have had a
  dozen   homespun   blankets。   He   had   then   in   his   pocket   a   power   from   the
  governor to impress them。
  About this period; Gen。 Marion sent Col。 Peter Horry with a force to
  negociate a treaty with Major Ganey and his party。 As he could not well
  turn   his   arms   against   him;   and   the   whig   settlements   on   Pedee   were   left
  exposed      to  his   depredations;      it  was   good    policy    to  awe    him;   and   to
  endeavour to keep him quiet。 After a little time Horry negociated a treaty;
  humiliating enough to Ganey; by which; among other matters; he and his
  officers agreed to lay down their arms and remain neutral; to deliver up all
  those   who   refused   to   comply   with   the   treaty   and   all   deserters   from   the
  Americans; and also to restore all negroes and other plundered property。
  This treaty was ratified on the 17th of June; but was not strictly complied
  with    until   Marion     afterwards     found     leisure   to  enforce    it;  as  shall   be
  narrated in its place。
  Soon after the siege   of   Fort Motte;  Gen。  Greene   proceeding on   with
  his   main   army;     laid   siege   to  Ninety…Six;     in   which    Lieut。   Col。   Cruger
  commanded   a   garrison   of   five   hundred   men;   and   defended   himself   with
  energy and ability。 On the right of the besiegers was a strong stockade fort;
  and on the left a work called the Star redoubt。 On the night of the 26th of
  May; the celebrated Kosciusko; who acted at that time as an engineer for
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  Greene; raised two block batteries within three hundred and fifty yards of
  the besieged。 Soon after a third and a fourth were erected; and lastly a rifle
  battery within thirty yards of the ditch of the fort。 The abbatis was turned;
  and two trenches and a mine were extended within six feet of the ditch。
  The fort must soon have been taken; but Lord Rawdon was approaching
  fast   to   the   relief   of   the   garrison;   with   two   thousand   men;   which   he   had
  lately received from Ireland; (18th June) and Gen。 Greene was obliged to
  raise   the   siege   and   retreat   over   the   Saluda。   His   loss   before   the   fort   was
  about one hundred and fifty men。 Lord Rawdon followed the Americans;
  as far as the Ennoree; but finding the pursuit fruitless; he drew off a part of
  the garrison from Ninety…Six; and fixed a detachment of his army at the
  Congaree。 Gen。 Greene; finding the British force divided; faced about and
  offered Lord Rawdon battle; but he; in his turn; retreated to Orangeburgh。
  About   the   beginning   of   July;   in   this   year;   Lord   Rawdon   still   lay   in
  Orangeburgh;   strongly   posted;   and   Gen。   Greene   was   near;   watching   his
  motions。 While thus situated; Col。 Cruger evacuated his post at Ninety…Six;
  and marching down through the fork of Edisto; joined Rawdon。 As there
  was     no  other    place   at  which     the  Edisto    could    then   be   passed    but  at
  Orangeburgh;   it   was   out   of   Greene's   power   to   prevent   the   junction;   and
  Rawdon's army being thus reinforced; Gen。 Greene thought it prudent to
  retire to Bloom hill; Richardson's plantation; at the High Hills of Santee。
  Before   retiring;   however;   he   d