第 42 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9295
  when a serjeant came up; who addressed him with apparent humanity; and
  offered him protection from further injury at the risk of his life。 All I ask;
  said   Stokes;   is   to   be   laid   by   that   officer   that   I   may   die   in   his   presence。
  While   performing         this   generous   office   the   humane   serjeant   was   twice
  obliged   to   lay  him  down;  and   stand   over   him  to   defend   him  against   the
  fury   of   his   comrades。   Doct。   Stapleton;   Tarleton's   surgeon;   whose   name
  ought to be held up to eternal obloquy; was then dressing the wounds of
  the   officer。   Stokes;   who     lay   bleeding     at   every   pore;   asked    him   to  do
  something for his wounds; which he scornfully and inhumanely refused;
  until peremptorily ordered by the more humane officer; and even then only
  filled   the   wounds   with   rough   tow;   the   particles   of   which   could   not   be
  separated from the brain for several days。
  Capt。   Stokes   was   a   native   of   Pittsylvania   county;   Virginia。   He   was
  early  intended   for   the   bar;   and   having   gone   through   the   usual   course   of
  classical   and   other   preparatory   studies;   he   commenced   the   practice   with
  the most flattering indications of future eminence。 But the calm pursuits of
  peace not comporting with the ardour of his mind; he relinquished the fair
  prospect of professional emolument; and accepted a captaincy in Buford's
  regiment。
  At    this  catastrophe;     he   was    about   twenty…seven       years    of  age。   His
  height was about the common standard; his figure and appearance; even in
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  his   mangled   situation;   inspired   respect   and   veneration;   and   the   fire   of
  genius that sparkled in his dark piercing eye; gave indications of a mind
  fitted not only for the field; but for all the departments of civil life。
  Shortly after the adoption of the constitution of the United States; he
  was promoted to the bench in the Federal Court  married Miss Pearson
  and settled on the Yadkin river; where the county is called Stokes; after his
  name。 (Signed;)        R。 Brownfield。
  The   following   letter   from  Major   Keating   Simons;   was   received  too
  late to be inserted either in the body; or in a note to this work; although it
  contains one of the finest traits of the character of Gen。 Marion。  Major
  Muller and Major Simons acted as brigade majors to the general; and both
  were high in his confidence。
  After the war Major Simons engaged in the useful business of a factor;
  and   received   the   patronage   and   approbation   of   numerous   friends。  While
  himself     labouring     under    many     difficulties;   arising    from    the   war;   he
  extended his helping hand to his old friend the general; struggling from the
  same cause under still greater embarrassments; and had the satisfaction to
  assist in extricating him from many of them。 This debt of gratitude was not
  forgotten; when Mrs。 Marion was dying she left the one half of her fortune
  to the late Keating Lewis Simons; Esq。 eldest son of the major: but two
  short years since the ornament of the bar and of his country。
  ~Charleston; November 17th; 1821。~
  Dear Sir;
  The anecdote of Gen。 Marion you requested me to relate to you; I now
  take   the   first   opportunity   to   mention。   It   occurred   late   in   the   year   1782;
  when the British troops were preparing to evacuate Charleston: they had a
  covering party on James' island to protect their wood…cutters; and another
  on Lamprere's point to protect their getting water for their shipping。 Col。
  Kosciusko; a Polander; solicited Gen。 Greene to afford him an opportunity
  of   distinguishing   himself;   and   as   the   covering   party   to   the   wood…cutters
  was   the   only   one   which   now   presented   itself;   the   general   gave   him   a
  command to attack them; which he did; and was defeated with the loss of a
  great many men; and among the slain was the gallant Capt。 Wilmot。
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  About the same time that Gen。 Greene gave Kosciusko this command;
  he    wrote   to   Gen。   Marion;     〃that  he   understood     the   watering     party   at
  Lamprere's       point   was   so  situated    as  to  afford   him    an  opportunity     of
  attacking it with success。 Gen。 Marion replied; 〃that he had not overlooked
  the situation of the British at that spot; but he viewed the war in Carolina
  as over; and as the enemy were preparing to go away; he had sent a party
  to protect them from being annoyed by his own men; that he commanded
  his   fellow   citizens   who   had   already   shed   blood   enough   in   the   cause   of
  freedom; and that he would not spill another drop of it; now when it was
  unnecessary; no; not for the highest honours that could be conferred upon
  him。〃
  If you think this anecdote worth mentioning in the biography of that
  great man; it is quite at your service。
  With   much   respect   and   esteem;   I   am;   dear   Sir;   Yours   very   truly;
  Keating Simons。
  Correspondence。
  Gen。 Lincoln to Lieut。 Col。 Marion; at Sheldon。
  ~Head Quarters; Charleston; Jan。 31; 1780。~
  Sir;
  The state of affairs is such as to make it necessary that we draw our
  force to a point as much and as soon as possible。 No troops will be kept in
  the   field   except   two   hundred     light   infantry   and   the   horse。*   You   will;
  therefore; please to select from the three regiments with you; two hundred
  of your best men; and those who are best clothed; and organize them into
  corps   with   proper   officers。   All   the   remainder   with   the   baggage   of   the
  whole (saving such as is absolutely necessary for light troops) will march
  immediately to this town。 You will please take the command of the light
  infantry; until Lieut。 Col。 Henderson arrives; which I expect will be in a
  few days。 After that I wish to see you as soon as possible in Charleston。
  Cross   will   deliver   you   this   with   a   letter   to   Col。   Parker;   and   another   to
  Major   Jamieson。   You   will   send   them   towards   Augusta   in   the   common
  route by four   horsemen。 Two   will guide   Col。 Parker to this   town by  the
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  shortest way; the other two will guide Major Jamieson to your camp。
  * Washington's。
  I am; Sir; Your most obedient servant;            B。 Lincoln。
  ____________
  Col。 Marion to Col。 P。 Horry。
  ~Lynch's Creek; Aug。 17; 1780。*~
  *   Written   about   a   week   after   Gen。   Marion   took   command   of   the
  militia。
  Sir;
  You   will   take   the   command   of   such   men   as   will   be   collected   from
  Capts。  Bounneau's;  Mitchell's   and   Benson's   companies;  and   immediately
  proceed   to   Santee;   from   the   lower   ferry   to   Lenud's;   and   destroy   all   the
  boats and canoes on the river; and post guards at each crossing place; to
  prevent persons from crossing to or from Charleston; on either side of the
  river。  You will give all necessary intelligence; and the number of men
  you    may   have     collected    as  early   as  possible。    You   will   procure    about
  twenty…five weight of gunpowder; and a proportionable quantity of ball or
  swanshot;       also  flints;   and   send    them    up   to  me    immediately;      to  the
  Kingstree; by an express。
  I am with esteem; Your obedient servant;              Francis Marion。
  N。 B。  You will also take the command of Capt。 Lenud's company;
  and   furnish   your   men   with   arms;   wherever   you   can   find   them;   giving
  receipts。
  ____________
  Extract of a Letter from Col。 Marion to Col。 P。 Horry。
  ~Lynch's Creek; Aug。 27; 1780。~
  Dear Sir;
  I am sorry to acquaint you that Gen。 Gates is defeated with great loss;
  he   was   obliged   to   retreat   to   Charlotte;   which  obliges   me   also   to   retreat。
  You will without delay retreat with what men you can get; to Briton's neck;
  where I have encamped。 It is   necessary to obtain   ammunition; arms   and
  accoutrements;        and   as  many     horses   as   you   can   get;  also   stores   from
  Georgetown; which you will send if possible up the river to Briton's neck。
  On the 20th inst。 I   attacked a guard of the 63d and Prince of Wales'