第 34 节
作者:
江暖 更新:2021-02-19 20:44 字数:9321
in use in the second regiment; and he was seldom; perhaps never; seen to
draw it。 His messmates told a story; whether true or not is of little
consequence; as it shows the public opinion。 The sum of this story was;
that on one occasion he attempted to draw it; but it was so rusty he could
not extricate it from the scabbard。 He had a reason for this apparent
singularity; a long sword might have tempted him; a small man; to act the
common soldier; and he appeared to place no reliance on his personal
prowess。 Gen。 Greene depended entirely upon him for intelligence。 Now;
intelligence is the life of an army。 Sumter and Greene were then at
variance; and if Sumter gained any; he would not condescend to let Greene
know it; but take advantage of it himself。 Lee; whose particular business it
was to furnish Greene with intelligence; was always too fond of seeing his
men and horses in good plight; to expose them to hardships。 Marion's were
for every day's use。
An anecdote worthy to be recorded happened at the brick house at the
Eutaw。 Capt。 Laurence Manning; since adjutant general in this state;
marched at the head of the legion infantry to batter down the door of the
house。 Intent on this single object; and relying confidently on his men; he
advanced boldly up to the door; when; looking behind him for the first
time; behold his men had deserted him。 He stood for a moment at the side
of the door; revolving what was to be done。 Fortunately a British officer;
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Capt。 Barry; opened the door gently to peep out; and Manning seizing him
fast by the collar; jerked him out。 He then used him as an ancient warrior
would have done his shield; and the enemy; fearing to shoot least they
should kill Barry; Manning escaped without a shot being fired at him from
the house。
During the struggle of the present year; (1781) Capt。 Wm。 Allston; of
True Blue; on Little river; All Saints parish; served under Gen。 Marion。 He
was a firm patriot and good soldier; indeed he may well be enumerated
among the martyrs to the cause of his country; for having been seized with
a fever in camp; he had scarcely time to reach his home; where he expired
at a middle age。 He left behind him; by his last wife; two sons and a
daughter; his eldest son he named after the illustrious Washington; and he
has since proved himself to be highly worthy of that distinction。 In this son
will be readily recognised the distinguished artist; Washington Allston;
whose pencil has bestowed celebrity upon the place of his birth; and
whom every American should be proud to claim as his countryman。
Towards the conclusion of this year; Maj。 Edward Hyrne; one of Gen。
Greene's aids; was commissioned by him to negociate a cartel of exchange
of prisoners in Charleston。 He had to conduct this with Col。 Balfour; who
was haughty and unreasonable as well as cruel; his demands were so
exorbitant; that Maj。 Hyrne; after waiting upon him several times with
much patience; at length declared they were utterly inadmissible; and took
his leave。 Returning to his lodgings; he wrote a note to each British officer
on parole in town; informing him he must prepare to follow him into the
country the next day。 His firmness or good policy had the desired effect;
Balfour's quarters were soon besieged by at least forty officers; many of
whom were of higher rank than himself; and Major Hyrne succeeded to
the extent of his wishes。
The party under Major John Postell; which was ordered out on the
29th January in this year; and succeeded in taking eleven British waggons
with soldiers' clothing at Keithfield; consisted with the officers;
commanding of thirty…eight men。* They carried off what clothing they
could; and what they could not they burnt。 What was carried away was
sold for a division; and bought in; as it appears; in continental dollars; on
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the 2d February; 1781。
* This statement is confusing。 To paraphrase; Postell's party (which
made this attack) consisted of thirty…eight supernumerary officers。 A。 L。;
1997。
The prices of a few are inserted; sixteen blankets were sold。 1 Bought
by Major Postell for 1590 1 do。 Capt。 Wm。 Capers 2200 1 do。 (the lowest
priced) by Capt。 Thomas Potts; 900 1 Loaf of sugar; Francis Greene; 2000
1 Coat by Capt。 Capers; 6210 1 Knife and fork; A。 Simons; 700 1 Pair of
Stockings; Capt。 Capers; 800 &c。 &c。 &c。
Most of this party were supernumerary officers; who placed
themselves under the command of Major (then Captain) Postell; who was
justly considered as one of the most enterprising officers in Marion's
brigade。 Of these thirty…eight men; the only survivor is Richard Greene;
who has been long a respectable and opulent planter on Black river。 The
account of sales is in the hand writing of Capt。 Thomas Potts。 There is a
list of the names of the thirty…eight; many of whom fought then and
afterwards with great bravery。 John Futhey; then a lieutenant; after being
promoted to a captaincy was killed in a skirmish at Avant's ferry on Black
river。 Thomas Potts; jun。 a lieutenant; was twice wounded。 John M‘Bride;
father of the late friend of the author; Dr。 James M‘Bride; was always at
his post。 What a loss to science was the early death of the son? Capt。 Wm。
Capers was imprisoned by Balfour in the upper story of his ~provost~; and
made his escape by slipping past the keeper at night when he brought their
scanty supper to the prisoners。 He had then to descend a steep flight of
stairs and pass the guard at the bottom。 Luckily he stumbled at the head of
the stairs and fell to the bottom; and the guard mistaking him for the
keeper; raised him up and gave him much consolation。 He had only to
refrain from speaking and to utter a few groans; which being an indistinct
tone of the voice; made no discovery; and the guard suffered him to pass。
A friend furnished him with a small boat to pass Cooper river; but now the
difficulty was to get through the British guard ships which lined the river。
Being a pretty good mimic; he bethought himself of assuming the
character of a drunken sailor ~going on board his own ship~; and acted his
part so admirably well; that he was suffered; though often threatened; to
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pass through the whole fleet。 Capt。 Capers lost no time in joining Gen。
Marion; with whom he fought bravely in the ranks until the general
advanced down into St。 Thomas' parish; where he commanded a company;
and where he had left property at the mercy of the enemy。* Capt。 Wm。
Capers; and his brother G。 Sinkler Capers; were often afterwards the terror
of the enemy; who had early oppressed and imprisoned them; for G。 S。
Capers had also made his escape from the ~provost~。
* The following is a curious fact in natural history。 When Capt。 G。 S。
Capers returned to his plantation in 1782; it had been completely stripped
of all live stock and poultry; except one cock。 When the British chased him
he had always taken refuge under a kitchen low to the ground。 This bird
was carefully preserved。 After the war; it was the fashion for ladies to wear
scarlet cloaks; and so strong was his recollection (must it be so called) of
the colour of the British uniform; that whenever he saw ladies in scarlet
cloaks; he would squall out; as such birds usually do at sight of danger;
and run directly under the kitchen。
Francis G。 Deliesseline; the present sheriff of Charleston district;
joined Marion when a boy; and made if possible a still more surprising and
narrow escape out of the same ~provost~; but as the narrative would
expose certain names which he wishes concealed; he has declined giving it
publicity。 At so early an age; none behaved better than Deliesseline; and
no one has refreshed the author'