第 40 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9322
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  Life of Marion。
  In taking such wise measures as have been related for the defence of the
  lives and property of his friends; Gen。 Marion could extend none of them
  to his own possessions。 His plantation in St。 John's lay within a mile of the
  marches   and   countermarches          of   the  British;   and   was    subject   to  every
  species   of   wanton   waste   and   depredation。   One   half   of   his   negroes   were
  taken away; and the other half must have been faithful; or they would not
  have remained。 He had ten workers left; but plantation utensils; clothes for
  his people; household furniture; and stock of cattle and horses; were all to
  be purchased without a cent of money。* He expected to receive half pay;
  but even in this was disappointed。 At a session of the legislature shortly
  after;   a   garrison   was   established   at   fort   Johnson;   and   he   was   appointed
  commander;  with   a   salary  of   about   500 pounds。** Yet;  in   despite   of   his
  recent and meritorious services; this moderate appointment became a butt
  at   which     they   who    are  forever    seeking     popularity    by   recommending
  curtailments in useful and even necessary expenditures; soon levelled their
  shafts。 His spirit could not easily brook such treatment; but his debts made
  it prudent to submit。
  *   Marion's   letter   to   Col。   P。   Horry;   18th   Jan。   1781。   **   Act;   10th
  March; 1784。
  At this juncture; his merit and high reputation had made a favourable
  impression   on   the   heart   of   Miss   Mary  Videau;   one   of   his   relations。   She
  was observed to be fond of hearing his achievements spoken of in terms of
  high approbation; some of the general's friends noticed it; and gave him a
  hint。 He paid his addresses to her and was well received。 They were soon
  after married; and he resigned his command at the fort。 She brought him a
  handsome fortune; and as there was no great disparity; either in their years
  or disposition; she made him an excellent wife。 She was in countenance
  the   exact   counterpart   of the general。  She   partook   in   all his   amusements;
  accompanied him in his journeys; and in his absence could not be better
  pleased than by hearing his praises。 In short; nothing could have made this
  matrimonial       connexion      more    happy;   but   its  being   more    fruitful。  They
  never had an heir。 The general built a comfortable house of a single story;
  with one sitting room; but many chambers; its materials were of the most
  durable kind of cypress; but it received no coat either of paint or varnish。
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  Life of Marion。
  Here his friends were received with a hearty welcome and good cheer; and
  the   stranger   with   kind   hospitality。   His   planting   interest   was   judiciously
  managed;   and   his   property   increased   yearly。   In   the   summer   months   he
  made excursions; into the upper country almost every year; for the benefit
  of his health。 In these journeys he loved to renew former recollections。 He
  had retained his marquee; camp bed and cooking utensils; and he always
  travelled as he had done in his brigade。 To his wife nothing could be more
  pleasant;   and   she   has   often   recounted   these   jaunts   to   her   friends   with
  delight。   The   old   pot;   kettle   and   frying…pan;   tin   plates;   knives   and   forks
  were     preserved     as   precious    relics:   the   sumpter     mules    as   friends。   His
  faithful     servant    Oscar;     who     had    accompanied        him    through      all  his
  difficulties; always received high marks of his favour。 As to honours; Gen。
  Marion      did   not   aspire   higher    than    to  a  seat   in  the  senate;    which     he
  continued to fill as long as he pleased; as a member for St。 John's。 In May;
  1790;      he   was    a   member       of   the   convention      for   forming      the   state
  constitution; after which he declined all public duties。 In politics he was a
  moderate federalist; such as were many great revolutionary characters。 In
  May; 1794; the militia of the state were re…organized; and soon after Gen。
  Marion       resigned     his    commission        in   the   militia。    Shortly     after   his
  resignation;   at   a   meeting   of   the   citizens   of   Georgetown;   a   committee   of
  four   was   appointed   to   draw   up   an   address   to   the   general。   These   were
  William      D。   James;     Robert     Brownfield;      Thomas      Mitchell     and    Joseph
  Blythe。      An    address      was    prepared      by    the   chairman       (James;)     and
  unanimously adopted。 Copies were also directed to be distributed through
  the district。 It is as follows:
  〃Dear General; At the present juncture; when the necessity of public
  affairs requires the military of this state to be organized anew; to repel the
  attacks of an enemy from whatever quarter they may be forced upon us;
  we;   citizens   of   the   district   of   Georgetown;   finding   you   no   longer   at   our
  head;     have   agreed     to  convey     to  you   our   grateful    sentiments     for   your
  former   numerous   services。   In   the   decline   of   life   when   the   merits   of   the
  veteran are too often forgotten; we wish to remind you that yours are still
  fresh in the remembrance of your fellow citizens。 Could it be possible for
  men who have served and fought under you; to be now forgetful of that
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  Life of Marion。
  general; by whose prudent conduct their lives have been saved and their
  families preserved from being plundered by a rapacious enemy? We mean
  not to flatter you。 At this time it is impossible for you to suspect it。 Our
  present language is the language of free men expressing only sentiments
  of   gratitude。   Your   achievements   may   not   have   sufficiently   swelled   the
  historic page。 They were performed by those who could better wield the
  sword than the pen。 By men whose constant dangers precluded them from
  the    leisure;   and    whose     necessities    deprived     them     of   the   common
  implements of writing。 But this is of little moment: they remain recorded
  in   such    indelible   characters     upon    our  minds;    that   neither   change     of
  circumstances   nor       length   of  time   can   efface   them。   Taught   by   us;   our
  children shall hereafter point out the places and say to their children; here
  Gen。 Marion; posted to advantage; made a glorious stand in defence of the
  liberties   of   his   country;   there;   on   disadvantageous   ground;   retreated   to
  save the lives of his fellow citizens。 What could be more glorious for the
  general commanding free men than thus to fight; and thus to save the lives
  of his fellow soldiers? Continue general in peace to till those acres which
  you once wrested from the hands of an enemy。 Continue to enjoy dignity;
  accompanied   with   ease;   and   to   lengthen   out   your   days   blessed   with   the
  consciousness       of   conduct    unaccused      of  rapine   or   oppression;     and   of
  actions ever directed by the purest patriotism。〃
  This address was presented to the general and gave him great pleasure;
  but   as   he   had   not   latterly   been   much   in   the   habit   of   using   his   pen;   his
  answer was a verbal one; expressive of his sincere thanks。
  On the 27th day of February; 1795; Gen。 Marion died at his house in St。
  John's parish。 As his fame is yet but indistinctly known; and much of that
  through the medium of fable; the present attempt has been made to arrest
  its progress; to do honour to his memory; and to transmit his example to
  posterity。
  Appendix。
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  Life of Marion。
  ~The   following   is   the   letter   of   Dr。   Robert   Brownfield   to   the   author;
  giving a detailed account of the defeat of Buford's regiment; referred to at
  page 39。~ 'Chapter II Paragraph 6'
  Dear Sir;
  In   obedience   to   your   request;   I   send   you   a   detailed   account   of   the
  defeat and massacre of Col。 Buford's regiment; near the borders of North
  Carolina;   on   the   road   leading   from   Camden   to   Salisbury。   This   regiment
  consisting of three hundred and fifty men; well appointed and equipped;
  had marched from Virginia for the relief of Charleston; and had advanced
  to Santee; where they were m