第 33 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9322
  strokes of good   fortune。〃 This hope   was not   realized。 A letter   from  Col。
  Doyle; of the British; shows strongly what different views; men engaged
  on opposite sides; will take of the same transaction。 It is to Gen。 Marion:
  〃Sir;   I   am   directed   by   Brigadier   Gen。   Stewart;   to   represent   to   you   an
  outrage   that   has   been   committed   by   a   party   of   your   corps;   under   the
  command   of   Col。   Maham;  upon   a   parcel of   sick;   helpless soldiers in   an
  hospital at Colleton house; on the morning of the 17th inst。 The burning an
  hospital;     and   dragging      away    a  number      of   dying    people    to  expire    in
  swamps; is a species of barbarity hitherto unknown in civilized   warfare。
  The general expects that those unhappy sufferers will be sent immediately
  as    prisoners    upon    parole。    Attacks     on   hospitals    are;  among      your   own
  continental   army;   unprecedented。   The   hospital   at   Camden   was   by   Gen。
  Greene's order protected; although it had an armed guard for its internal
  police。〃 Gen。 Greene; who ere this; the reader must have perceived; was
  polite to his friends; and humane to his enemies; for even they are obliged
  to   confess it;  immediately  instituted   an   inquiry  into   this   complaint;*   but
  how it was accommodated cannot now be ascertained。
  * Greene's letter; 24th Nov。
  On the 9th October; 1781;* Gen。 Marion received the most agreeable
  news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis; and the next evening gave a fete
  to   the   ladies   of   Santee;   at   the   house   of   Mr。   John   Cantey。   The   general's
  heart was not very susceptible of the gentler emotions; he had his friend;
  and was kind to his inferiors; but his mind was principally absorbed by the
  love   of   country;   and   as   the   capture   of   Lord   Cornwallis   was   intimately
  connected with this passion there is no doubt he felt joy on the occasion。
  But   if   he   did   feel   joy   upon   a   few   occasions;   certain   it   is   that   watchful
  anxiety was the daily inmate of his breast。
  * This date is given both here and in Simms' Life of Marion; but it
  must be an error; as Cornwallis did not surrender until the 19th。 The 29th
  102
  … Page 103…
  Life of Marion。
  October or 9th November are more likely dates。  A。 L。; 1997。
  On   the   same   day   he   received   the   thanks   of   congress   〃for   his   wise;
  decided and gallant conduct; in defending the liberties of his country; and
  particularly for his prudent and intrepid attack on a body of British troops
  on the 31st day of August last; and for the distinguished part he took in the
  battle   of   the   8th   Sept。〃   Immediately   on   receiving   the  intelligence   of   the
  capture   of   Lord   Cornwallis;   Gen。   Greene   prepared   for   moving   his   army
  into the lower country。 On the 5th November; he writes to Gen。 Marion;
  〃Gen。 Sumter has orders to take post at Orangeburgh; to prevent the tories
  in that quarter from conveying supplies to town; and his advanced parties
  will penetrate as low as Dorchester; therefore you may act in conjunction
  with him; or employ your troops on the enemy's left; as you may find from
  information; they can best be employed。 Please to give me your opinion on
  which side they can be most useful。〃 Gen。 Marion four days after passed
  the Santee; and in a short time took post near Huger's bridge; as it was still
  termed;   though   all   the   bridges   in   the   lower   country   were   taken   down;
  except the one at Goose creek; which seemed to be left by mutual consent
  of   both   armies;  for   the  purpose  of   reaching   one  another;   by  at   least  one
  way。 He   arrived   at Huger's   bridge in the night;  and   in less   than   an hour
  after detached a strong party by the heads of Huger's and Quimby creeks;
  to Cainhoy; in St。 Thomas'。 On the 23d November Gen。 Sumter was posted
  at Orangeburgh; on the 17th of the same month Gen。 Greene marched for
  the Fourholes。 December 7th; he lay at Jacksonborough; and on the 13th
  of the same month; he encamped at the Round O。
  His movements were at this time cautious; in keeping both the Edisto
  and Ashley   between   himself   and   the   enemy;   because   he   had   heard   they
  were   reinforced;   and   he   was   as   yet   without   ammunition。   He   wrote   now
  frequently to Gen。 Marion; and almost every letter has a clause similar to
  the one of the 15th of November: 〃You are at liberty to act as you think
  advisable。 I have no particular instructions to give you; and only wish you
  to avoid surprise。〃
  At the close of this year; Gov。 Rutledge and his council issued writs of
  election for members of the senate and house of representatives; which; by
  proclamation         issued      afterwards;       were     appointed        to    meet     at
  103
  … Page 104…
  Life of Marion。
  Jacksonborough。 Gen。 Greene still lay at the Round O; where he secured
  the rice and other provisions from the enemy; by sending out patroles of
  cavalry   as   far   as   Dorchester:   but   he   had   not   yet   received   a   supply   of
  ammunition         for   his   infantry;    and    Marion     was     also   without     that
  indispensible   muniment   of   war。   As   to   other   necessaries   he   says;   〃Our
  horsemen have neither cloaks or blankets; nor have our troops received a
  shilling of pay since they came into this country。 Nor is there a prospect of
  any。 Yet they do   not complain。〃* At length on the   14th of December   he
  received   a   supply   of   ammunition   and   sent   ~it   all~   to   Marion;   then   at
  Watboo; saying; 〃he was in expectation of soon receiving more。〃
  * Greene's letters; 13th and 14th December。
  The British extended their patroles of cavalry nearly up to Dorchester;
  but their main body was now confined to Charleston neck。
  Thus; in the course of the campaign of 1781; the American army under
  Gen。     Greene;     without    pay;   without     clothing;    and   as   we   have    seen
  frequently without ammunition; had driven the enemy from all their strong
  holds but one; had defeated them in battle; and retaken all South Carolina
  but a neck of land。
  Detached Narratives for 1781。
  There was with Marion's brigade throughout; a young man; Robert;
  commonly called Bob James; but oftener; ~the general's right hand man~。
  It   was   known     to  very   few    that  Marion     employed      him   often   to  gain
  intelligence from the enemy in Georgetown and other places。 The general
  never     suffered   him    to  mount     guard   or   do   common      duties;   being    an
  excellent woodsman; he was his favourite guide; being an expert swimmer;
  he was generally by his side when swimming rivers; or paddled him over
  in a canoe if they had one; being a good fisherman; he often caught him
  fish; the general would laugh and joke with him; but with no other private。
  He did not however employ Bob in these small matters when he had any
  thing    serious   for   him   to  do。   Surprised    at  his   exact   intelligence    from
  Georgetown and other places; the author asked him once 〃how he got it?〃
  He related several interesting particulars; among others this one: 〃Just in
  the   outskirts   of   Georgetown   there   is   a   pond   full   of   bushes;   and   in   the
  104
  … Page 105…
  Life of Marion。
  middle of it a large gum…tree with a thick top and branches that reach the
  thicket below。 This tree overlooked the garrison and both roads leading out
  of town。 I used to climb into it and watch for days together; and if I saw
  any thing important; immediately came down; mounted my horse; hid in a
  neighbouring   swamp;   and   told   it   to   the   general   myself;   or   sent   the   only
  other   person   we   trusted。〃   The   gum   tree   stood   there   lately;   but   Robert
  James sleeps with his fathers。 〃Alas; poor Yorick! I knew him Horatio。〃 It
  was   generally  thought   that   although   he   swam   so   often   on   horseback;   or
  crossed rivers in unsteady canoes; the general could not swim himself。 His
  body was sufficient for endurance; and his mind; to sagacity and foresight;
  united     the   higher    virtues   of   patience    and   fortitude。    In   one   thing   he
  appeared singular; long swords were now in fashion as best for attack or
  defence; but Gen。 Marion always wore the little cut and thrust; which was
  in use in the second regiment; and he was seldom; perhaps never; seen to
  d