第 43 节
作者:
江暖 更新:2021-02-19 20:44 字数:9321
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Life of Marion。
regiment; with a number of tories; at the Great Savannah; near Nelson's
ferry。 Killed and took twenty…two regulars; and two tories prisoners; and
retook one hundred and fifty continentals of the Maryland line; one
waggon and a drum; one captain and a subaltern were also captured。 Our
loss is one killed; and Capt。 Benson is slightly wounded on the head。
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Brig。 Gen。 Marion to Adjt。 Postell。*
* Major John Postell。
~Snow's Island; Dec。 30; 1780。~
Sir;
You will proceed with a party down Black river; from Black Mingo to
the mouth of Pedee; and come up to this place; you will take all the boats
and canoes from Euhaney up; and impress negroes to bring them to camp;
put some men to see them safe; you will take every horse; to whomsoever
he may belong; whether friend or foe。 You will take all arms and
ammunition for the use of our service。 You will forbid all persons from
carrying any grains; stock or any sort of provisions to Georgetown; or
where the enemy may get them; on pain of being held as traitors and
enemies to the Americans。 All persons who will not join you you will take
prisoners and bring to me。 You will return as soon as possible。 Let me
know any intelligence you may gain of the enemy's strength or
movements。
I am; your obedient servant; Francis Marion。
~Adjt。 Postell。~
N。 B。 You will bring up as much rice and salt in the boats as
possible。
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Gen。 Marion to Capt。 John Postell。
~Goddard's Plantation;* Pedee; Jan。 19; 1781。~
* Snow's Island。
Dear Sir;
I send Lieut。 King with fifteen men; to reinforce you。 I would have all
the flats and boats you can collect; loaded with rice; and sent to Mr。 Joseph
Allston's plantation; on Bull's creek; to the north of Pedee; where there is a
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ferry to Euhaney; and the rice is to be there stored; and the boats kept
going until all that is beat out in your district is carried。 From there I will
send for it up higher。 You must take such negroes for the boats as belong
to those persons who may be with the enemy; or from those estates which
the enemy think forfeited。 Gen。 Greene is in want of a number of negroes …
… say fifty for the use of the army。 You will collect them in your district;
and send them to me; taking care not to distress any family; but taking
them where they can be best spared。 I shall detain those negroes that came
up with the boats you have sent。 One boat has arrived; and I have sent to
assist in getting up the others。 I beg you would give me intelligence of the
movements of the enemy in Georgetown; and; if possible; their particular
strength: what corps of horse and foot; and how many militia; and if there
are any cannon mounted on their redoubt; and whether they are making
any new works。 You will send Capt。 W; and Mr。 S; and all such men
(who have taken; or are suspected of having taken part with the enemy) to
me。 You must not suffer any person to carry property where the enemy has
possession; or have any intercourse with them。
I am; with regard; dear Sir; Your obedient servant; Francis Marion。
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Extract of a Letter from Gen。 Marion to Capt。 Postell。
~January 19; 1781。~
Dear Sir;
Your father may keep the canoe you mention。 I have received the
prisoners; by Mr。 M‘Pherson;* and shall give them the pleasure of seeing
head quarters。
* Depeyster's company of grenadiers。
I am; dear Sir; Your obedient servant; Francis Marion。
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Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp; on Pedee; Jan。 19; 1781。~
Dear Sir;
The enclosed letter; from Capt。 Odingsells; came to hand last evening;
I have directed him to apply to you for orders on the subject。 I have
detached Major Anderson; with one thousand regulars; and one hundred
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Virginia militia; to attack and disperse the tories at Mr。 Amy's mill; on
Drowning creek。 The party marched yesterday; with orders to endeavour
to surprise them; perhaps you might be able to make some detachment that
would contribute to their success。 By the last accounts; Lieut。 Col。
Tarleton was in motion; with about one thousand troops; towards Gen。
Morgan; who is in the fork of Broad river。 Lord Cornwallis is moving in
force to cover him。 I wish your answer respecting the practicability of
surprising the party near Nelson's; the route; and force you will be able to
detach。 This inquiry is a matter that requires the greatest secrecy。
I am; dear Sir; Your most obedient humble servant; N。 Greene。
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Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp;* Jan。 22; 1781。~
* Camp Hicks。
Sir;
I have received your letter of the 18th; containing an account of the
several little skirmishes between your people and the enemy; which were
clever and do them much honour。 I am sorry that so few horses fit for
service are to be had in your quarter; as we are in great want。 Get as many
as you can; and let us have fifteen or twenty sent to camp without loss of
time; they being wanted for immediate service。 Major Hyrne who is
appointed deputy commissary general of prisoners; has settled the business
with Mr。 Walter。 I beg you will please to favour me with weekly returns of
the militia serving under you; and the number of horses you have in
service; and the particular duties on which they are employed; to be made
every Monday morning。 I also wish separate returns of the continental
troops serving with you; the rank and names of the officers; and the corps
to which they belong。
I am; Sir; Your most obedient servant; N。 Greene。
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Brig。 Gen。 Marion to Capt。 John Postell。
~January 23; 1781。~
Sir;
Particular circumstances make me desire that you will immediately
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Life of Marion。
march all the men under your command to join me at the Kingstree; you
must proceed by forced marches until you come up to me; for no time is to
be lost。 Leave your post as secretly as possible; without letting any one
know where you are going; or of your intention to leave it。
I am; Sir; Your obedient servant; Francis Marion。
'Six days after this date Gen。 Marion detached Major Postell on the
expedition which we have mentioned; page 91。' 'Chapter III Paragraph 7 …
… the party of supernumerary officers; who captured and destroyed British
supplies。 A。 L。'
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Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp; on Pedee; Jan。 23; 1781。~
Dear Sir;
I have the particular pleasure to congratulate you on the entire defeat
of the enemy under Lieut。 Col。 Tarleton。 Major Giles; this moment arrived;
brings the glorious intelligence; which I have the pleasure to transmit。
On the 17th; at day…break; the enemy consisting of eleven hundred and
fifty British troops; and fifty militia; attacked Gen。 Morgan; who was at
the Cowpens; between Pacolet and Broad river; with two hundred and
ninety infantry; eighty cavalry and about six hundred militia。 The action
lasted fifty minutes and was remarkably severe。 Our brave troops charged
the enemy with bayonets; and entirely routed them; killing near one
hundred and fifty; wounding upwards of two hundred; and taking more
than five hundred prisoners; exclusive of the prisoners with two pieces of
artillery; thirty…five waggons; upwards of one hundred dragoon horses; and
with the loss only of ten men killed and fifty…five wounded。 Our intrepid
party pursued the enemy upwards of