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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* Two boys, Francis G. Deliesseline and Samuel Dupre, had the boldness
to undertake, and did recover fourteen of White's cavalry horses
from the British, and delivered them to Major Jamieson in Georgetown,
refusing a reward he offered.
--
As soon as the town had surrendered, Lord Cornwallis, with 2500 men,
and five field pieces, marched from St. Thomas' to Nelson's ferry.
Thence he detached Tarleton, with 700 infantry and cavalry,
in quest of Gen. Caswell and Col. Buford, who had been approaching
to the relief of Charleston, with about 700 militia, and between
3 and 400 continentals. At Camden, Caswell, with the militia, quitted Buford,
who then commanded the continentals, and retreated by the way of Pedee.
Buford's regiment was soon after placed under the command of Gen. Huger,
as an escort to Gov. Rutledge, then at Camden; and was detained,
with a fatal security, by the general, for two days in that place.
And so much off their guard, were our rulers themselves, that Gov. Rutledge,
and his council, were soon after hospitably entertained, at Clermont,
by Col. Rugely, an Englishman, professedly opposed to the American cause.
At midnight, he woke them up, advised them of Tarleton's approach,
and with some difficulty, persuaded them to escape; at daylight,
Tarleton arrived at Clermont. That morning, Huger gave up the command again
to Buford, and took the Charlotte road, with the governor
and his two remaining council, Daniel Huger and John L. Gervais.
Buford proceeded on rapidly, upon the Salisbury road, and from circumstances,
his baggage waggons must have been sent on before he took the command again,
that morning; otherwise, in making the very quick march he did,
they must have been left far in his rear. But Tarleton blames him,
for sending them ahead, because they might have served him as a rampart,
and other historians have adopted his account. After a pursuit
of one hundred miles, in fifty-four hours, Tarleton approached Buford,
about forty miles from Camden, and twenty-six from Clermont;
and dispatched Capt. David Kinloch with a flag, summoning him to surrender
upon the terms granted to the garrison of Charleston.
Buford called a council of his officers, who deeming it a deception,
he continued his march. In the afternoon, Tarleton overtook him,
unfortunately, in an open wood, and cut to pieces his rear guard.
At the sound of his bugle, Buford drew up his men, all infantry;
but Capt. Carter, (not Benjamin,) who commanded his artillery,
and led the van, continued his march. Tarleton advanced,
with his infantry in the centre, and his cavalry on the wings.
He was checked by Buford's fire; but the cavalry wheeling, gained his rear.
Seeing no hope of any longer making a defence, Buford sent Ensign Cruitt
with a flag of truce, and grounded his arms. Disregarding the flag,
and the rules of civilized warfare, Tarleton cut Cruitt down,
and charged upon Buford, with his cavalry in the rear; while Maj. Cochrane,
an infuriated Scotchman, rushed with fixed bayonets, in front.
A few of Buford's men, resumed their arms, and fired, when the British
were within ten steps, but with little effect;* as might have been expected,
from what has been stated.
--
* See Dr. Brownfield's account of this affair, which throws
more light upon it, than any thing heretofore written. Appendix, p. 1.
To paliate his conduct, Tarleton has written a most partial account of it,
which has been followed by Moultrie, and substantially by Ramsay.
The faults committed by Buford, he says, were his sending his baggage ahead,
and not firing till the cavalry were within ten steps. -- But Buford,
notwithstanding all the odium excited against him by his ill fortune,
was tried by a court martial, and acquitted. Tarleton excuses his cruelty,
by stating, that his horse was knocked down, at the first fire:
and his men, thinking him killed, to avenge his death,
were more sanguinary than usual, and he was unable, from that circumstance,
for a while to restrain them. But Lord Cornwallis approved the whole,
and praised and caressed Tarleton, while he was fortunate.
--
Buford's regiment was entirely broken by the charge, no quarters were given
by the British; 113 men were killed of the Americans, and 151 so badly wounded
as to be left on the ground. This was nearly two thirds of the whole
American force, according to Tarleton's own account; and the manner in which
those left on the ground were mangled, is told, by others, as horrible.
No habitation was near, but the lone cabin of a poor widow woman;
and the situation of the dead, was fortunate, when compared with
that of the living. Tarleton says, he lost but two officers,
and three privates killed, and one officer and thirteen privates wounded.
The massacre took place at the spot where the road from
Lancaster to Chesterfield now crosses the Salisbury road.
The news of these two events, the surrender of the town,
and the defeat of Buford, were spread through the country about the same time,
and the spirit of the whigs, sunk into despondency. The American cause
appeared to be lost; but, on this expedition, Tarleton burnt
the house of Gen. Sumter, near Stateburgh,* and roused the spirit of the lion;
at Camden, a party of his men cut to pieces Samuel Wiley,
whom they mistook for his brother, John Wiley, then sheriff of the district,
at his own house.** Governor Rutledge and his council again escaped Tarleton,
by a few minutes, and by taking the road to Charlotte, in North Carolina.
On the 1st of June, Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot
offered to the inhabitants, with some exceptions, "pardon for their past
treasonable offences, and a reinstatement in their rights and immunities
heretofore enjoyed, exempt from taxation, except by their own legislature."
To many, this specious offer appeared to be all that they had been
contending for; and they flocked in from all quarters to gain
such high privileges. These, having signed declarations of allegiance,
received protections as subjects, or were parolled to their plantations
as prisoners of war. But, in the short space of twenty days,
a second proclamation was issued, stating, that it was necessary
for all persons to take an active part in securing his majesty's government,
that all the inhabitants then prisoners on parole, except those taken
at Charleston, and others in confinement, should be freed from their paroles,
and restored to the rights of citizens; and all who neglected
to return to their allegiance should be considered as rebels.
--
* The proper name is Stateburgh. But so great is the propensity of Americans
for introducing the S into the already hissing English language,
that it is now written commonly Statesburgh.
** Tarleton despatched his favourite sergeant Hutt, who always charged
by his side, with a sergeant's guard, to perform this deed.
The visit was quite unexpected by Wiley. In going up to his house,
two men were left concealed, behind two large gate posts,
at the entrance of the yard; while Hutt, with the rest,
broke into the house abruptly; he demanded Wiley's shoe buckles,
and while he stooped down to unbuckle them, the wretch Hutt
aimed a stroke with his sword at his head. Wiley, seeing the gleam
of the descending weapon, parried the blow from his head, by his hand,
with the loss of some fingers; then, springing out of the door,
he ran for the gate, where the two concealed men despatched him
with many blows. The cause of offence was, that John Wiley, as sheriff,
had superintended the execution of some men under the existing state laws,
at that time against treason. After the battle of Cowpens
Hutt disappeared.
--
Nothing could have astonished the people more, than this last proclamation,
those who had taken the paroles expected to remain on their plantations
in security and ease; but now, they were called upon to return
to their allegiance, and assist in securing his majesty's government.
The purport of which was well understood; they were in fact to take up arms
against their countrymen: at the very thought of which they were abhorrent.
This crooked policy was no sooner adopted, than the British cause
began to decline in South Carolina. The thread of the events above recorded,
will now naturally lead us to the history of Marion's brigade.
About the end of June, in this year, Capt. Ardesoif, of the British navy,
arrived at Georgetown, to carry the last proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton
into effect, and invited the people to come in and swear allegiance
to King George. Many of the inhabitants of that district
submitted to this new act of degradation. But there remained a portion of it,
stretching from the Santee to the Pedee, and including the whole
of the present Williamsburgh, and part of Marion district,
into which the British arms had not penetrated. The inhabitants of it
were generally of Irish extraction; a people, who at all times during the war,
abhorred either submission or vassalage. Among them, tradition has
handed down the following story: -- A public meeting was called,
to deliberate upon their critical situation, and Major John James,
who had heretofore commanded them in the field, and represented them
in legislature, was selected as the person who should go down
to Capt. Ardesoif, and know from him, whether, by his proclamation,
he meant that they should take up arms against their countrymen.
He proceeded to Georgetown, in the plain garb of a country planter,
and was introduced to the captain, at his lodgings, a considerable distance
from his ship. An altercation of the following nature took place.
After the major had narrated the nature of his mission,
the captain, surprised that such an embassy should be sent to him,
answered, "the submission must be unconditional." To an inquiry,
whether the inhabitants would not be allowed to stay at home,
upon their plantations, in peace and quiet? he replied,
"although you have rebelled against his majesty, he offers you a free pardon,
of which you are undeserving, for you ought all to be hanged;
but as he offers you a free pardon, you must take up arms
in support of his cause." To Major James' suggesting that the people
he came to represent would not submit on such terms,
the captain, irritated at his republican language, particularly,
it is supposed, at the word ~represent~, replied, "you damned rebel,
if you speak in such language I will immediately order you to be hanged
up to the yard-arm." -- The captain wore a sword, and Major James none,
but perceiving what turn matters were likely to take,
and not brooking such harsh language, he suddenly seized the chair
on which he was seated, brandished it in the face of the captain,
and making his retreat good through the back door of the house,
mounted his horse, and made his escape into the country. This circumstance,
apparently trivial, certainly hastened the rise of Marion's brigade.
The story narrated, as now told, or embellished, always concluded
in the same way: "you must take up arms in support of his majesty's cause."
Many of the people of Williamsburgh had submitted and taken paroles,
but to be obliged to imbrue their hands in the blood of their countrymen,
was in their minds a breach of one of the commands of God, and they shuddered
at the very thought. -- They had besides, had two officers put over them,
by the British commander, Amos Gaskens and John Hamilton;
the first they despised on account of his petty larceny tricks,
and the last they hated because of his profanity. About this time,
news of the approach of Gates having arrived, a public meeting of this people
was called, and it was unanimously resolved to take up arms
in defence of their country. Major James was desired to command them
as heretofore, and they again arrayed themselves under their captains
William M`Cottry, Henry Mouzon, John James,* of the lake, and John M`Cauley.
The four companies, resolved on this great enterprise,
consisted of about two hundred men. Shortly after, Col. Hugh Giles, of Pedee,
proposed to join them, with two companies, Whitherspoon's and Thornly's;
and his offer was gladly accepted. Gen. Gates had now arrived on
the confines of the state, and in a consultation, held among these officers,
it was agreed to send to him, to appoint them a commander.
This was a wise resolution, and attended with the most salutary consequences.
In the mean time, they made prisoners of Col. Cassels, Capt. Gaskens,
and most of the officers appointed over them by the British, and took post
at the pass of Lynch's creek, at Witherspoon's ferry. At this period,
the tories on Lynch's creek, in the neighbourhood of M`Callum's ferry,
had already begun their murders and depredations. Messrs. Matthew Bradley,
Thomas Bradley, and John Roberts, respectable citizens, who had then
joined neither party, and also, some others, were killed by them,
in their own houses. These were headed by the two Harrisons,
one afterwards a colonel, the other a major in the British service;
whom Tarleton calls men of fortune. They were in fact
two of the greatest banditti that ever infested the country.
Before the fall of Charleston they lived in a wretched log hut,
by the road, near M`Callum's, in which there was no bed-covering
but the skins of wild beasts; during the contest the major was killed;
but after it was over, the colonel retired to Jamaica, with much wealth,
acquired by depredation. Capt. M`Cottry was now posted
in advance of Witherspoon's ferry, at Indian town, and Col. Tarleton,
having crossed at Lenud's ferry, and hearing of the Williamsburgh meeting,
advanced, at the head of seventy mounted militia and cavalry,
to surprise Major James. M`Cottry, first receiving notice of his movement,
sent back for a reinforcement, and immediately marched his company,
of about fifty mounted militia, to give him battle. Tarleton had been posted
at dark, at the Kingstree, and M`Cottry approached him at midnight,
but Tarleton marched away a few hours before he arrived.
By means of the wife of Hamilton, the only tory in that part of the country,
he had gained intelligence of M`Cottry's approach, as reported to him,
with five hundred men. -- The latter pursued, but, perhaps fortunately,
without overtaking him. In this route Tarleton burnt
the house of Capt. Mouzon; and after posting thirty miles,
from Kingstree up to Salem, took Mr. James Bradley prisoner, the next day.
Soon after this Lieut. Col. Hugh Horry arrived from Georgetown;
and by right he would have had the command of Major James' party,
but he declined it for some time. Of him more will be said hereafter.
On the 10th or 12th of August, General Marion arrived at the post,
at Lynch's creek, commissioned by Governor Rutledge to take the command
of the party there, and a large extent of country on the east side of Santee.
He was a stranger to the officers and men, and they flocked about him,
to obtain a sight of their future commander.** He was rather below
the middle stature of men, lean and swarthy. His body was well set,
but his knees and ankles were badly formed; and he still limped upon one leg.
He had a countenance remarkably steady; his nose was aquiline;
his chin projecting; his forehead was large and high, and his eyes
black and piercing. He was now forty-eight years of age;
but still even at this age, his frame was capable of enduring
fatigue and every privation, necessary for a partisan.
His wisdom and patriotism will become henceforth conspicuous.
Of a character, so much venerated, even trifles become important.
He was dressed in a close round bodied crimson jacket, of a coarse texture,
and wore a leather cap, part of the uniform of the second regiment,
with a silver crescent in front, inscribed with the words, "Liberty or death."
He was accompanied by his friend Col. Peter Horry, and some other officers.
On the second or third day after his arrival, General Marion
ordered his men to mount white cockades, to distinguish themselves
from the tories, and crossed the Pedee, at Port's ferry, to disperse
a large body of tories, under Major Ganey, stationed on Britton's neck,
between great and little Pedee. He surprised them at dawn in the morning,
killed one of their captains and several privates, and had two men wounded.
Major James was detached at the head of a volunteer troop of horse, to attack
their horse; he came up with them, charged, and drove them before him.
In this affair, Major James singled out Major Ganey, (as he supposed)
as the object of his single attack. At his approach Ganey fled,
and he pursued him closely, and nearly within the reach of his sword,
for half a mile; when behind a thicket, he came upon a party of tories,
who had rallied. Not at all intimidated, but with great presence of mind,
Major James called out, "Come on my boys! -- Here they are! --
Here they are!" And the whole body of tories broke again,
and rushed into little Pedee swamp. Another party of tories
lay higher up the river, under the command of Capt. Barefield;
who had been a soldier in one of the South Carolina regiments.
These stood to their ranks, so well, and appeared to be so resolute,
that Gen. Marion did not wish to expose his men, by an attack on equal terms;
he therefore feigned a retreat, and led them into an ambuscade,
near the Blue Savannah, where they were defeated. This was the first
manoeuvre of the kind, for which he afterwards became so conspicuous.
--
* He was second cousin to the major. Of this family,
there were five brothers, than whom no men under Marion were more brave;
these were John, William, Gavin, Robert and James.
Gavin died a few weeks since, with whom the family became extinct.
More of Gavin and Robert hereafter. 20th July, 1821.
** He was not appointed a general till some time after this, but as we
have not the date of his commission, henceforth he will be styled general;
and his other officers, to avoid repetitions, are designated generally
by the rank they held at the disbandment of the brigade.
--
Thus Gen. Marion, at once, fell upon employment, as the true way
to encourage and to command militia; and their spirits began to revive.
He returned to Port's ferry, and threw up a redoubt on the east bank
of the Pedee, on which he mounted two old iron field pieces,
to awe the tories. On the 17th of August, he detached Col. Peter Horry,
with orders to take command of four companies, Bonneau's, Mitchell's,
Benson's, and Lenud's, near Georgetown, and on the Santee; to destroy
all the boats and canoes on the river, from the lower ferry to Lenud's;
to post guards, so as to prevent all communication with Charleston,
and to procure him twenty-five weight of gunpowder, ball or buck shot,
and flints in proportion. This order was made in pursuance of a plan
he afterwards carried into effect; to leave no approach for the enemy
into the district of which he had taken the command.
The latter part of the order, shows how scanty were the means of his defence.
There were few men, even in those days of enthusiasm,
who would not have shrunk from such an undertaking. Gen. Marion himself
marched to the upper part of Santee, it is believed,
with the same object in view with which he had entrusted Horry.
On his way he received intelligence of the defeat of Gates at Camden,
and, without communicating it, he proceeded immediately
towards Nelson's ferry. (16th August.) Near Nelson's,
he was informed, by his scouts, that a guard, with a party of prisoners,
were on their way to Charleston; and had stopped at the house,
at the great Savannah, on the main road, east of the river. (20th of August.)
It was night, and the general, a little before daylight next morning,
gave the command of sixteen men to Col. Hugh Horry. He was ordered
to gain possession of the road, at the pass of Horse creek, in the swamp,
while the main body, under himself, was to attack in the rear.
In taking his position, in the dark, Col. Horry advanced too near
to a sentinel, who fired upon him. In a moment he rushed up to the house,
found the British arms piled before the door, and seized upon them.
Twenty-two British regulars, of the 63d regiment, two tories,
one captain, and a subaltern were taken, and one hundred and fifty
of the Maryland line, liberated. In his account of this affair
Gen. Marion says he had one man killed, and Maj. Benson wounded.
But the man, Josiah Cockfield, who was shot through the breast;
lived to fight bravely again, and to be again wounded.
In the account given of this action by Col. Tarleton, he says, contemptuously,
the guard was taken by "a Mr. Horry"; but Gen. Marion, as commanding officer,
is entitled to the credit of it. The news of the defeat of Gen. Gates
now became public, and repressed all joy upon this occasion;
no event which had yet happened, was considered so calamitous.
An account of it will be given in his own words. Extract of a letter,
from Gen. Gates, to the president of congress, dated Hillsborough,
20th August, 1780: --
"Sir,
In the deepest distress and anxiety of mind, I am obliged to acquaint
your excellency with the defeat of the troops under my command. I arrived
with the Maryland line, the artillery, and the North Carolina militia,
on the 13th inst. at Rugely's, thirteen miles from Camden;
took post there, and was the next day joined by Gen. Stevens,
with 700 militia from Virginia. The 15th, at daylight,
I reinforced Colonel Sumter, with 300 North Carolina militia,
100 of the Maryland line, and two three-pounders from the artillery:
having previously ordered him down from the Waxhaws, opposite to Camden,
to intercept any stores coming to the enemy, and particularly troops
coming from Ninety-Six. This was well executed by Col. Sumter.
Having communicated my plan to the general officers
in the afternoon of the 15th, it was resolved to march at ten at night,
to take post in a very advantageous situation, with a deep creek in front,
(Gum Swamp*) seven miles from Camden. At ten the army began to march,
and having moved about five miles, the legion was charged
by the enemy's cavalry, and well supported by Col. Porterfield, who beat back
the enemy's horse, and was himself unfortunately wounded, (mortally)
but the enemy's infantry advancing with a heavy fire, the troops in front
gave way to the first Maryland brigade, and a confusion ensued
which took some time to regulate. At length the army was ranged
in line of battle. Gen. Gists' brigade on the right, close to a swamp;
the North Carolina militia in the centre; the Virginia militia,
the light infantry, and Porterfield's corps, on the left; the artillery
divided to the brigades. The first Maryland brigade as a corps de reserve
on the road. Col. Armand's corps was ordered to support the left flank.
At daylight, they attacked and drove in our light party in front,
when I ordered the left to advance and attack the enemy;
but, to my astonishment, the left wing and North Carolina militia gave way.
Gen. Caswell and myself, assisted by a number of officers,
did all in our power to rally them; but the enemy's cavalry
harassing their rear, they ran like a torrent, and bore all before them."
This is all the general seemed to know of the action.
Part of the brigade of North Carolina militia, commanded by Gen. Gregory,
behaved well. They formed on the left of the continentals,
and kept the field while their cartridges lasted. In bringing off his men,
Gen. Gregory was thrice wounded by a bayonet, and several of his brigade,
made prisoners, had no wounds but from the bayonet. The continental troops,
under De Kalb and Gist, with inferior numbers, stood their ground
and maintained the unequal conflict with great firmness. At one time
they had taken a considerable body of prisoners; but at length,
overpowered by numbers, they were compelled to leave the field.
Tarleton's legion pursued the fugitives to the Hanging rock, fifteen miles,
and glutted themselves with blood. Baron De Kalb, the second in command,
an officer of great spirit, and long experience, was taken prisoner,
after receiving eleven wounds, and died. Congress resolved that a monument
should be erected to him at Annapolis. The gratitude of the people of Camden,
has erected another in that town, and named a street De Kalb, after him.**
Capts. Williams and Duval, of the Maryland troops, were killed;
and Gen. Rutherford, of North Carolina, and Maj. Thomas Pinckney,
of South Carolina, were wounded, and taken prisoners. Du Buysson,
aid to Baron De Kalb, generously exposing himself to save his general,
received several wounds and was taken. Lord Cornwallis states
the force of Gates to have been six thousand men, and his own
at near two thousand: a great disparity indeed. The loss of the Americans
he calculates at between eight and nine hundred killed,
and one thousand prisoners, many of whom were wounded; a number of colours,
seven pieces of brass cannon, all the military stores and baggage,
and one hundred and fifty waggons. His Lordship no doubt obtained
a splendid victory; but tarnished it by his orders, issued soon after.
Extract from the orders of Lord Cornwallis: --
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