第 31 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9321
  eighty…five   killed;*   three   hundred   fifty…one   wounded;   and   two   hundred
  fifty…seven missing。 The loss of the Americans was five hundred killed and
  wounded; among whom were sixty officers。 The disparity in these returns
  of   the   different   commanders   is   great;   but   Greene's   prisoners   could   be
  counted at leisure。 Lieut。 Col。 Campbell fell as he was leading the Virginia
  95
  … Page 96…
  Life of Marion。
  line    to  the   charge。    Gen。    Greene     says    of  him;    〃though     he   fell  with
  distinguished marks of honour; yet his loss is much to be regretted; he was
  the great soldier; and the firm patriot。〃 Gen。 Marion had many of his men
  and Col。 Hugh Horry wounded; but fewer killed than at Quimby; among
  the latter was the brave Capt。 John Simons; of Pedee。
  *   Maj。   Marjoribanks;   by   whom   in   conjunction   with   Sheridan;   the
  British army was saved; lies buried on the Santee canal road; about half a
  mile below the chapel; he was a brave and generous enemy; and on an old
  head     board;     the   following      inscription     is  still  to   be   seen:    〃JOHN
  MARJORIBANKS;                Esqr。    late    major     to   the   19th     regt。   inf'y   and
  commanding   a   flank   bat'n。   of   his   majesty's   army。   ~Obiit~。   22d   October;
  1781。〃
  The British shot generally about five feet too high; but the wind blew
  that day favourably for Marion's marksmen; and they did great execution。
  They fired from fifteen to twenty rounds each man。 Both sides claimed the
  victory; but the fruits of one were with the Americans。
  It being now autumn; and his men sickly; Gen。 Greene retired to the
  High Hills of Santee; his favourite encampment; Col。 Lee calls them; 〃The
  benign hills of Santee。〃 At this time Gen。 Greene encamped on the range
  of   hills   immediately   below   Stateburgh。   His   head   quarters   were   at   Mr。
  James'; on the right going downwards; a beautiful spot; but now deserted。
  Many of Greene's wounded officers and men died; and lie buried on a hill
  near where the author is now writing。 An officer; who died of his wound;
  (Capt。 De Wolfe;) lies interred near De Wolfe's spring; on his plantation。
  He   was   a   most   gallant   soldier。   No   mound   or   grave   stone   points   out   the
  spot where such brave men repose。 Even the mounds; where the dead at
  Eutaw   were   buried;   have   been   lately   violated   by   the   cutting   of   a   ditch
  through them。 Alas! my country; why have such things been suffered?
  Marion   retired   to   his   favourite   encampment;  at   Peyre's plantation;  in
  Santee   river   swamp。   On   the   banks   of   the   river   at   that   time   there   were
  extensive cornfields on all the plantations; and the most of the low places
  were   cultivated   in   rice。* The   crops of   three   or   four   years past   had   been
  housed;   and   kept   out   of   the   enemy's   reach   by  the   difficulty  of   approach
  and   their   retired   situation。   Here   the   general   fixed   himself;   much   to   his
  96
  … Page 97…
  Life of Marion。
  liking;   in   a   cane   brake;   about   a   quarter   of   a   mile   from   the   river;   which
  however was soon cleared to thatch the huts of himself and his men。 Some
  lakes which skirted the high land; rendered the post difficult of approach;
  and here was forage for horses; and beef; pork; rice; and green corn** for
  the   men;   in   the   greatest   abundance。   Such   a   place   suited   Marion's   views
  exactly; and here; or in the neighbourhood; he encamped often; but did not
  stay long at present。 It appears now there was very little sickness at that
  day。
  *   Very   soon   after   the   revolutionary   war;   this   scene   was   entirely
  changed。 Planters; in clearing their land; had rolled logs and other rubbish
  from   their   fields;   into   the   lakes   and   creeks   leading   from   the   river;   and
  many  threw   trees   into   it   to   get   them  quickly   out   of   the   way。   The   upper
  country also soon became more opened; and gave freer vent from above to
  the waters。 There came on a succession of six or seven years; which were
  wet;   and   the   consequence   was;   that   the   usual   passages   for   the   waters
  below   being   obstructed;   they   flooded   the   low   grounds;   and   ruined   the
  planters。 Where fine corn grew at that time; trees may now be seen a foot
  and     a  half   in  diameter;     in   the  midst    of   briars   and    cane    brakes。    **
  Commonly called ~mutton~ corn; a corruption of ~matin~; that is ~early~
  corn。
  Soon after the battle of Eutaw; Gen。 Alexander Leslie took command
  of   the   British   army。   On   the   17th   of   September   Gen。   Greene   wrote   to
  Marion: 〃I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the arrival of Count
  De Grasse; in Chesapeake bay; with twenty…eight sail of the line; a number
  of frigates and six thousand land forces; Gen。 Washington is also arrived
  in Virginia to take command of the army。 From these circumstances; and
  from some further intelligence of Lord Cornwallis' movements; it is highly
  probable that his lordship will endeavour to retreat through North Carolina
  to Charleston。 I must therefore entreat that you will use every exertion to
  collect a large force of militia together; and as speedy as possible; that we
  may be able to intercept his lordship。〃 As Gen。 Marion's scouts at this time
  frequently   passed   round   the   enemy;   and   harrassed   them   much   between
  their camp and Charleston; it has often been a matter of surprise why he
  should   recross the   Santee;   but   this   letter  explains   it;  for he   crossed  it   to
  97
  … Page 98…
  Life of Marion。
  collect   his   men;   and   he   encamped   at   Cantey's   plantation   a   considerable
  time for that purpose。 On the 1st of Sept。 Gov。 Rutledge had ordered out
  only the half of the militia; now all were again directed to take the field as
  formerly。
  Another   good   reason   for   Gen。   Greene   and   Marion's   lying   so   long
  inactive   at   this   season;   is   to   be   found   in   a   letter   in   the   correspondence
  mentioned; and though the date is later than the present period; yet the fact
  comes in properly here。 Gen。 Marion; as it appears from what follows after;
  had   written   to   Greene   and   the   governor   for   ammunition   on   the   9th   of
  October。 On the 10th; Gov。 Rutledge answers his letter: 〃I received yours
  yesterday;   by   Mr。   Boone;   and   wrote   in   the   most   pressing   terms   to   Col。
  Williams; (Gen。 Greene not being yet returned from Charlotte; for which
  place he set out on Friday) for a supply of ammunition; I wish to God it
  was   in   my   power   to   send   you   ammunition   instantly;   but   it   is   not。〃   Col。
  Otho Williams; who was second in command of the army; writes to Gen。
  Marion;      and;    although     his   letter  is  not   dated;    the   connection      of  the
  correspondence   is   evident:   〃As   Gen。   Greene   is   not   in   camp;   I   took   the
  liberty of opening your letter of the 9th instant。 Our stock of ammunition
  is quite exhausted  we have not an ounce of powder; or a cartridge; in
  store。 The arrival of some military stores which we expect every hour; will
  put   it   in   the   general's   power   to   supply   you   amply。   His   excellency   Gov。
  Rutledge has intimated that you meditated an expedition over the Santee;
  in making your determination; if it is not settled; permit me to recommend
  to   your    consideration;      that  the   general   depends      upon    you    entirely   for
  intelligence of the enemy's motion。〃 These extracts of letters must be read
  with astonishment。  With what uncommon fortitude must such men have
  been endowed; to bear up under such continued discouragements。 As Gen。
  Marion   lay   a   long   time   here;   it   will   give   occasion   to   relate   some   other
  matters;   which   as   fortunate   events   have   for   some   time   past   thickened;
  would have perplexed the narrative to have introduced before。
  About      the   10th   August;     Georgetown        was    burnt。      One    Manson;
  commanding   a   small   armed   vessel;   arrived   within   gunshot   of   the   town;
  and sent   a party  in   a boat under   cover of   his guns;  and set   fire to some
  houses on a wharf at the lower end of the Bay; and the wind favouring; the
  98
  … Page 99…