A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
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William Dobein James. >> A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
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I am, Sir,
Yours, &c.
(Signed)
John Watson.
____________
Capt. John Saunders to Gen. Marion.
~Georgetown, March 24, 1781.~
Sir,
The enclosed were received from Lieut. Col. Balfour, with orders
to forward them to you. There is such an apparent dissimilarity
in the cases of Mr. Merritt and Mr. Postell, that I am confident that
Mr. Merritt will be immediately sent in. I am happy to hear by Capt. Spencer,
who fell into my hands yesterday, that the detention of Mr. Merritt
is occasioned equally by that act as by sending an improper person
with a flag.
I am, Sir,
Yours, &c.
(Signed)
John Saunders,
~Commandant, Georgetown.~
____________
Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Camp, Deep River, April 4, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
This will be handed to you by Capt. Conyers,* who will inform you
what we have contemplated. He is sent forward to collect provisions
for the subsistence of the army, and I beg you will assist him
in this necessary business. The army will march tomorrow,
and I hope you will be prepared to support its operations
with a considerable force; Gen. Sumter is written to, and I doubt not
will be prepared to cooperate with us. The captain can give you
a full history of Lord Cornwallis' manoeuvers in this state,
and of the several skirmishes as well as the battle of Guilford,
which finally terminated in a retreat of the enemy, and his lordship
was obliged in turn to run hastily.
--
* Soon after Major Conyers.
--
I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.
N. Greene.
____________
Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Head Quarters, Widow Shoemaker's, April 17, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
We are on our march for Camden, and shall be there the day after tomorrow.
I am greatly in the dark respecting the enemy's strength and situation
in South Carolina, and also of Lord Cornwallis' motions.
This last circumstance is of the highest importance to the safety of our army,
and I beg you to communicate to me all the intelligence you can obtain,
and take measures to get all you can. Lieut. Col. Lee is gone
towards the Santee; intelligence to him is as equally necessary as to me.
You will please therefore to send him information accordingly.
Do not spare either time or pains, and forward it as soon as possible.
Your present force and situation I should be glad to have a particular
account of. Please give me an official account of Col. Horry's attack
upon a party of Watson's detachment.
I am, dear Sir,
Yours, &c.
(Signed)
N. Greene.
____________
Extract of a Letter from Col. Harden to Gen. Marion.
~Camp, on Saltketcher, April 17, 1781.~
Dear General,
I marched on, and got within sight of Fort Balfour, at Pocotaligo,
at twelve o'clock in the day; I placed my men, and sent ten of the best horses
to draw them out, but luckily Cols. Fenwick and Letchmere were at Vanberst,
and were taken with seven of the dragoons, and brought to me;
the rest were in the fort. I then sent Capt. Harden with a flag,
to demand a surrender of the fort and the men in it; they sent for answer,
they would not give it up. I sent the second time, and told them
that if I was obliged to storm the fort, that I would give no quarter.
Col. Kelsel then desired half an hour to consider. I gave him twenty minutes:
they then agreed to give up the fort on terms which I granted;
and in two hours, the fort with one militia colonel, one major,
three captains, three lieutenants and sixty privates of Col. Fenwick's,
one lieutenant and twenty-two dragoons with their horses, gave up to me,
and they marched out and piled their arms without the abbatis;
and I marched in and took possession of it; and during that night
and the next day had it destroyed.
(Signed)
Wm. Harden.
____________
Gen. Marion to Gen. Greene.
~Fort Watson, (Scott's Lake) April 23, 1781.~
Sir,
Lieut. Col. Lee made a junction with me at Santee, the 14th inst.
after a rapid march from Ramsay's mill, on Deep river, which he performed
in eight days. The 15th we marched to this place and invested it.
Our hope was to cut off their water. Some riflemen and continentals
immediately took post between the fort and the lake. The fort is situated
on a small hill, forty feet high, stockaded, and with three rows of abbatis
around it. No trees near enough to cover our men from their fire.
The third day after we had invested it, we found the enemy had sunk a well
near the stockade, which we could not prevent them from;
as we had no entrenching tools to make our approach, we immediately determined
to erect a work equal in height to the fort. This arduous work
was completed this morning by Major Maham, who undertook it.
We then made a lodgment on the side of the mount near the stockade.
This was performed with great spirit and address by Ensign Johnson
and Mr. Lee, a volunteer in Col. Lee's legion, who with difficulty
ascended the hill and pulled away the abbatis, which induced the commandant
to hoist a flag; and Col. Lee and myself agreed to the enclosed capitulation,
which I hope may be approved of by you. Our loss on this occasion
is two killed, and three continentals and three militia wounded. I am
particularly indebted to Col. Lee for his advice and indefatigable diligence
in every part of these tedious operations, against as strong a little post
as could be well made, and on the most advantageous spot
that could be wished for. The officers and men of the legion and militia,
performed every thing that could be expected, and Major Maham, of my brigade,
had, in a particular manner, a great share of this success,
by his unwearied diligence, in erecting a tower which principally
occasioned the reduction of the fort. In short, Sir, I have had
the greatest assistance from every one under my command.
Enclosed is a list of the prisoners and stores taken, and I shall,
without loss of time, proceed to demolish the fort; after which
I shall march to the High Hills of Santee, encamp at Capt. Richardson's,
and await your orders.
(Signed)
Francis Marion.
____________
Extract of a Letter from Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Camp, before Camden, April 24, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
I thank you for the measures you have taken to furnish us with provisions,
and for the intelligence you communicate. A field piece is coming
to your assistance, which I hope will enable you and Col. Lee
to get possession of the fort. With the artillery you will receive
one hundred pounds of powder and four hundred pounds of lead;
I wish my present stock would enable me to forward you a larger supply,
but it will not, having sent you nearly half we have.
(Signed)
N. Greene.
____________
Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Head Quarters, before Camden, April 26, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters,
dated 23d and 25th inst. I congratulate you on your success
against Fort Watson. The articles of capitulation I highly approve of,
and feel myself particularly indebted to you, and all the officers and men
under you, for their spirit, perseverance and good conduct upon the occasion.
The enemy advanced upon us yesterday and gave us battle. The conflict
was short, and seemed at one time to promise us advantage; but we were obliged
to retire and give up the field; though without material loss.
We are now within five miles of Camden, and shall closely invest it
in a day or two again. That we may be enabled to operate with more certainty
against this post, I should be glad you would move up immediately
to our assistance, and take post on the north side of the town.
I have detached a field piece to your assistance, with an escort
of a few continental troops under the command of Major Eaton.
I should be glad you would send them a guide and conduct them to your camp.
I am, Sir,
With great esteem and respect,
Yours, &c.
(Signed)
N. Greene.
P.S. -- I should be glad you would move up within seven miles of Camden.
____________
Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Camp, at Cornal's Creek, May 9, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
I am favoured with yours of the 6th instant. I am sorry
the militia are deserting,* because there is no greater support.
If they were influenced by proper principles, and were impressed
with a love of liberty and a dread of slavery, they would not shrink
at difficulties. If we had a force sufficient to recover the country,
their aid would not be wanted, and they cannot be well acquainted
with their true interest to desert us, because they conceive our force
unequal to the reduction of the country without their consent.
I shall be always happy to see you at head quarters, but cannot think
you seriously mean to solicit leave to go to Philadelphia.
It is true your task has been disagreeable, but not more so than others.
It is now going on seven years since the commencement of this war.
I have never had leave of absence an hour, nor paid the least attention
to my own private affairs. Your state is invaded; your all is at stake;
what has been done will signify nothing unless we persevere to the end.
I left a wife in distress and every thing dear and valuable,
to come and afford you all the assistance in my power, and if you leave us
in the midst of our difficulties, while you have it so much in your power
to promote the service, it must throw a damp upon the spirits of the army,
to find that the first men in the state are retiring from the busy service,
to indulge themselves in more agreeable amusements. However, your reasons
for wishing to decline the command of the militia, may be more pressing
than I imagine. I will therefore, add nothing more upon this subject
till I see you. My reasons for writing so pressingly respecting the dragoons,
was from the distress we were in. It is not my wish to take the horses
from the militia if it will injure the public service --
the effects and consequences you can better judge of than I can.
You have rendered important service to the public with the militia
under your command, and done great honour to yourself; and I would not wish
to render your situation less agreeable with them, unless it is to answer
some very great purpose; and this I persuade myself you would agree to
from a desire to promote the public good. I wish you success
in the fort you are besieging. Lord Rawdon was out yesterday;
we had the night before taken a new position on Sawney's creek, and I imagine
he came out to attack, expecting to find us on the Twenty-five mile creek.
We did not like the position on Sawney's creek to risk an action on,
and therefore took a new one at this place, leaving the horse,
light infantry and picketts at the old encampment; the enemy came and drew up
on the other side of the creek, but did not attempt to cross,
and retired into Camden before night. We are in daily expectation
of a large reinforcement of Virginia militia and some continental troops;
when those arrive we shall push our operations with more vigour.
No further news of Lord Cornwallis.
--
* This letter is an answer to one of Marion's, (which is missing,)
soon after his arrival at Fort Watson, with only eighty men. See page 109.
[Chapter III Paragraph 26. See Simms for more complete details. -- A. L.]
--
I am, Sir,
With the highest esteem and regard,
Yours, &c.
N. Greene.
____________
Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Camp, before Ninety-Six, June 10, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favours of the 22d and 29th ult.
It gives me great pleasure to hear the enemy have left Georgetown,
and I am of opinion with you, that it will be attended
with many good consequences to that part of the country.
After you have dismantled the enemy's works, you will collect your force,
take the position you mentioned, and act in conjunction with Gen. Sumter,
agreeable to the advice I gave you before. I have the pleasure
to congratulate you on the reduction of the enemy's fort at Augusta.
This event took place on the 7th inst. by capitulation;
and I hope in a few days to have the pleasure of congratulating you
on the reduction of this place; but we are opposed to many difficulties,
and the garrison resists with great obduracy.
I am, Sir,
With every sentiment of respect and esteem,
Yours, &c.
N. Greene.
____________
Extract of a Letter from Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.
~Head Quarters, near Sandy River, June 25, 1781.~
Dear Sir,
I am favoured with your letter dated at the Congaree.
The enemy have obliged us to raise the siege of Ninety-Six,
when it was upon the eve of surrendering. It was my wish
to have fought Lord Rawdon before he reached Ninety-Six,
and could I have collected your force and that of Gen. Sumter and Pickens,
I would have done it: and am persuaded we should have defeated him;
but being left alone, I was obliged to retire.
(Signed)
N. Greene.
Finis.
Notes:
(1) About this etext.
(2) A. S. Salley's Introduction from the 1948 edition.
(3) For the purists: A list of changes and corrections to the text.
(1) About this etext.
This etext was prepared from the original 1821 edition and the 1948 edition.
In the case of any differences in the text, the 1821 edition was used,
except where there was an obvious mistake (see the section for the purists).
Although the 1948 edition maintained the original text as far as possible,
a few errors crept in -- only one which changed the meaning of the text,
and only in a minor way. This etext was transcribed twice,
and electronically compared using "diff". This weeds out most errors,
so that, with the correction of a number of errors in the original,
this is very likely the cleanest copy to date.
As far as I can tell, the original text has only been published twice
in unaltered form: in 1821 (Gould and Riley, Charleston, S. C.) and in 1948.
That made it very difficult to find this text. I am indebted to the following
for their help in procuring these:
The librarians in the Southern Literature section at the Public Library
in Birmingham, Alabama, for helping me in the search for the 1821 edition.
Carolyn Lancaster, (lancaster_carolyn/furman@furman.edu)
a Library Assistant at the Special Collections Department,
Furman University Library, Greenville, South Carolina,
for kindly aiding me to acquire a photocopy of the 1821 edition.
(The Collection contains the South Carolina Baptist materials
and Furman University Archives and older, non-circulating, "rare books",
such as this one.) Phone: (864) 294-2194. Fax: (864) 294-3004.
Mail: Special Collections, Furman University Library, 3300 Poinsett Hwy.,
Greenville, SC 29613. Web: http://carolus.furman.edu/library/welcome
Gary M. Johnson, at the Library of Congress (gjohnson@mail.loc.gov),
for a great deal of help, including a copy of the 1948 edition.
The online Library of Congress catalog is at: http://lcweb.loc.gov/
This etext was prepared by Alan Robert Light (alight@mercury.interpath.net),
who, as a former member of the South Carolina National Guard,
has a special interest in the subject. Two related works are already online,
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