The life and times of Gen. Francis Marion, with an appendix. Containing: biographical notices of Greene, Morgan, Pickens, Sumpter, Washington, Lee, Davie, and other distinguished officers of the southern campaign, durning the American revolution

Chapter I

Some account of Marion's family— his birth — early life — his voyage to sea,, and shipwreck — remains at home a planter. Indian insurrections, Marion's first campaign against the Cherokees— frightful picture of Indian warfare. Marion's letter. Marion among the first to espouse the cause of his country in its struggles with British tyranny — J^is active measures — elecled a captain under the gallant Moultrie — bombardment of Fort Sullivan by the British fieet — gallant defence of the fort — aneccbteSf etc.

As a man and a patriot, bright is the example we have in the career of Francis Marion. Asa soldier, his name, more than any other, is identified with the stratagic wisdom, heroic exploits and military successes of the partizan war in the Carol inas, during the Revolution ; a war in which he " and his brigade were so distinguished," says Dr. Ramsay, " and at the same time so detached in their operations, as to merit and require particular notice." In following him through the trying times in which he acted, much cause as we shall have to glory in him as a military chieftain, we shall have po less reason to admire the self-command, rectitude, and everactive humanity of his character.

S MABION AND HIS TIMES.

The family of Marion was one of the many Pro testant ones who who fled from France in consequence of the persecutions they experienced under the reign of Louis XIV. These dissenters from the Catholic religion were termed Huguenots, and our hero's grandlather, towards the close of the seventeenth century, left France and emigrated to the shores of America. His son, Gabriel Marion, was the father of Francis Marion^ whose birth occurred at a place called Winvah, (S. C.) in the year 1732 or 1733. Biographers differ as to the year, but we are inclined to receive the earlier date as the more correct of the two. Francis Marion was the youngest of several children. He had four brothers and two sisters. " I have it from good authority," says Weems,* " that this great soldier, at his birth, was not larger than a New-England lobster, and might easily enough have been put^ into a quart pot." And all the accounts we have, concur in regard to the -fact, that he was a puny and sickly infant ; so much so, that it was thought he would never survive till manhood. He however, lived through infancy, and at the age of sixteen, such had been the change of his constitution, he was an active and daring boy, who had already conceived a strong notion of leaving the farmer's life he had been brought up to, and entering upon that of a sailor. The quiet life of the farmer was not one suited to his disposition, and though his mother endeavored to dissuade him from his inclination, his mind was determined, and she finally yielded a reluctant consent. He started, as a sailor before the mast, upon a voyage to the West Indies, and had the misfortune to be shipwrecked. The ship foundered, says tradition, from the injury done her by the stroke of a large whale. The

* Weems* Life of Gen, Francis Marion.

INDIAN INSUHRECTIONS. 9

crew escaped from the sinking vessel in the jolly-boat, and were tossed about on the ocean in a helpless condition for more than a week, when they were picked up by a passing vessel. While in the boat, they were without provisions, and had subsisted on the raw flesh and blood of a dog, which, as the ship was sinking, jumped into the boat. Six persons had entered this boat, but only four were taken from it by the passing vessel. The captain and mate, in a state of phrenzy, produced from exposure to the rays of a scorching sun, and the use of salt-water, had the day before thrown themselves overboard, and perished. Marion and three others finally reached their homes. Marion, in compliance with the earnest entreaties of his mother, resumed his occupation of farming, at which he industriously continued, and, at the death of his father in 1758, he settled himself, at the age of twenty-six, upon a place that is called Pond Bluff.

The colony of South Carolina, like other provinces of North America, was much harrassed by the predatory incursions of Indians, and in the beginning of the year 1759 a war broke out between the colonists and the Cherokee tribe, and Marion turned out with the militia ; but a treaty of peace was soon concluded, the Indians not finding matters in the train they expected, and by which they anticipated a butchering conquest over the white men. Scarcely were the militia disbanded before the treacherous Cherokees again showed signs of hostility, and, such were their agressions upon the frontier settlements, that it was the next year decided that the country of the Indians should be invaded. The command of the whol-e forces now raised was given to Col. Grant of the British army, and Marion was appointed lieutenant of a native regiment, under the immediate command of Col. Moultrie, himself under the command of Col. Middleton.

The combined forces under Colonels Grant and Middleton advanced (in June 1761) into the Indian country. The approach was of course, from the kind of warfare carried on by the enemy, conducted with caution, and finding that the adversary was advantageously posted behind the thick wood crowning a mountain, through a dark defile of which the road lay. This, it was resolved, should be forced rapidly by a small body of soldiers, whilst the main army passed. For this perilous enterprise a " forlorn hope" of thirty men, headed by Francis Marion, was chosen. Marion, with a heart undaunted by the almost certain death that awaited him, took the lead of his chosen band, and advanced y:'v\\ courageous rapidity, whilst the main army followed to su{)port him and effecl. their passage. No sooner had Marion and his men entered the dark defile, than the loud war-whoop resounded from all sides, and a destructive fire blazed forth from behind the trees. Twenty one of the forlorn hope instantly were killed, and the hideously painted savages rushed forth in pursuit, with demonical yells and brandished tomahawks. Marion and his remnant of men fell back to the main army.

The commanding officers, fully aware that a sanguinary conflict was at hand, animated their soldiers on, and represented the peculiar demand there now was for exertions of valor, inasmuch as if defeated they would be the victims of an indiscriminate slaughter. The soldiers cheered, and advanced gallantly to the conflict, determined to yield then only with their lives — they knew no quarter would be shown to a prisoner, and that they must gain the victory or die on the spot. The Indians, too, were defending the most important pass into their

INDIAN WABFARE. 11

country, and it could not be otherwise expected than that they would fight with signal bravery. And now followed the sharp crack of rifle after rifle; here, there, and on all sides, the flash illumed the dark lurking place .of the foe ; the bayonet of the soldier would be plunged into the thicket, its point penetrating the breast of an Indian, and at the same instant a ball reaches his own heart, he and his enemy falling dead side by side. Long the contest continued without any decisive result, and terrible was the carnage on both sides ; but at last it could be perceived that victory leaned to the side of the army ; that the Indian, who repeatedly dislodged, had as desperately returned to the combat, was now reluctantly yielding. The battle raged with great spirit for three hours, and in an hour more the surviving soldiers of the army had the satisfaction of congratulating each other upon a hard-fought victory.

Colonel Grant followed up his victory by pursuing the flying foe into the heart of their country, burning their towns, ravaging their corn-fields, and taking all possible means to punish them for their inhuman aggressions upon the frontier settlements. Not so much for vengeance was the object, but to deter them from future encroachments by the severe retribution that they must expect from this precedent. It is said that Marion long after looked back upon the horrors of this war with a feeling of sorrow ; and that such was the fact, is corroborated by his own words in a letter written to a friend. He writes as follows : " We arrived at the Indian towns in the month of July. As the lands were rich, and the season favorable, the corn was bending under the double weight of lusty roasting ears and pods of clustering beans. The furrows seemed to rejoice under their precious loads ; the fields stood thick with bread.

12 MAKION AND HIS TIMES.

We encamped the first night in the woods, near the fields, where the whole army feasted on the young corn, which, with fat venison, made a most delicious treat. The next morning we proceeded, by order of Colonel Grant, to burn down the Indian cabins. Some of our men seemed to enjoy this cruel work, laughing very heartily at the curling flames, as they mounted, loud crackling, over the tops of the huts. But to me it appeared a shocking sight. " Poor creatures !" thought I, " we surely need not grudge you such miserable habitations." But when we came (according to orders) to cut down the fields of corn, I could scarcely refrain from tears. For who could see the stalks that stood so stately, with broad green leaves and gaily-tasseled stocks, filled with sweet milky fluid and flour, the staff of life ; — who, I say, without grief could see these sacred plants sinking under our swords, with all their precious load, to wither and rot untasted in their mourning fields 1

" I saw everywhere around," continues his letter, " the footsteps of the little Indian children, where they had lately played under the shade of their rustling corn. No doubt they had often looked up with joy to the swelling shocks, and gladdened when they thought of their abundant cakes for the coming winter. When we are gone, thought I, they will return, and peeping through the weeds with tearful eyes, will mark the ghastly ruin poured over their homes and happy fields, where they had so often played. " Who did this ? they will ask their mothers. " The white people, the Christians did it !" will be the reply.

The disastrous result of this war (to the Indians) seems to have broken up all their hopes, and in a measure to have crushed their spirit forever, Marion again

STAMP ACT. 13

retired to private life, fulfilling his duties as a citizen and a farmer, and for fourteen years he continued this peaceful life, and by the honesty of his dealings and the probity of his character, he gained the esteem of all that knew hi'm, and it is said no man was so universally beloved by his neighbors. Thus we find him when hostilities commenced between the colonies and Great Britain.

Everything in South Carolina contributed to nourish a spirit of liberty and independence. Its settlement was nearly coeval with the Revolution in England, (1 688,) and many of its inhabitants had imbibed a large portion of that spirit which brought one tyrant to the block* and expelled another from his dominions.f Every inhabitant was, or easily might be a freeholder. Settled on lands of his own, he was both farmer and landlord. Having no superiors to whom he was obliged to look up, and producing all the necessaries of life from his own grounds, he soon became independent.

The first statue that roused general and united opposition to British taxation was the memorable Stamp Act, passed in the year 1765. By this it was enacted, that the instruments of writing which are in daily use among a commercial people should be void in law unless executed on stamped paper, or parchment, charged with a duty imposed by the British parliament. The indignation which this roused, induced an uniform line of conduct to be adopted by the different colonies, and a congress of deputies from each province was recommended. This first step towards Continental Union, was adopted in South Carolina before it had been agreed to by any colony to the southward of New England. The example of this province had a considerable influ- 2 * Charles I. t James II.

14 MARION AND HIS TI3tES.

ence in recommending the measure to others who were more tardy in their concurrence. The colonies on this occasion not only presented petitions and remonstrances to the British government, but spiritedly enterid into associations against importing British manufactures till the Stamp Act should be repealed— and they obtained their point.

The experiment of taxation, however, was renewed in the year 1767, but in a more artful manner. Small duties wore imposed on glass, paper, tea, and painter\>< colors. The colonists again remonstrated, again associated to import no more British manufactures. And a second time did the government make a concession.

In the year 1773 a scheme was adopted by the East- India company, to export large quantities of tea, to be sold on their account in several capitals of the British colonies. The colonists reasoned with themselves, that as the duty, and the price of the commodity were inseparably blended if the tea was sold, every purchaser would pay a tax imposed by the British parliament as a part of the purchase-money ; and, determined never to submit to British taxation, they everywhere entered into combinations to obstruct the sales of the tea sent out by the East-India Company. The cargoes sent to South Carolina were stored, the consignees being restrained from exposing it to sale. In other provinces, the landing of it being forbidden, the captain's were obliged to return without discharging their cargoes. In Boston a few men, disguised as Indians, threw all the tea overboard from the ships lying at the wharves. When the intelligence of this reached England, the British parliament proceeded to take legislative vengeance on that city.

This measure of hostility towards Massachusetts had

Marion's patriotism. 15

for its object the dissevering of the other provinces from her, but its effect was directly contrary. The other colonies determined to support her, and, as has been stated, Soyth Carolina was the first southern province that did so. The whole country resounded with din of martial preparation. Volunteer companies were organized in every city, town and hamlet, throughout the provinces. Guns, powder, and the implements of war, were collected, and carefully treasured from the eyes of the government's officers and spies ; and liberal sums of money were contributed by persons of every rank and age, and the liveliest enthusiasm prevailed for the cause of liberty.

Marion at once espoused the cause of his country — his native land ; and that chivalrous feeling which so unhesitatingly prompted his heart to assert the undeniable rights of mankmd, at the same time rendered him prompt in action. Not like your milk-and-water patriots who only talk of liberty, he went boldly forward to do. Many of his tory-hearted fellow-citizens wavered between their fears, and doubtful of the issue, desired to be on the successful side. Policy, not principle, governed their craven hearts. Marion, unlike these, convinced of the justice of his cause, was bravely ready to do and die for it, and was one of the foremost of those gallant spirits who enlisted in the army raised by the legislature of his native state. He was also a member of the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, which in the exigency of the cas^ was called together, sitting as a representative from Berkeley County.

No sooner had the news of the battle of Lexington reached Charleston than the followincr act was passed. " The actual commencement of hostilities against this Continent by the British troops, in the bloody scene

16 MARION AND HIS TOIES*

of the 1 9th of April last,* near Boston — the increase of arbitrary imposition from a wicked and despotic ministry — and the dread insurrections in the Colonies — are causes sufficient to drive an oppressed people to the use of arms. We, therefore, the subscribers, inhabitants of South Carolina, holding ourselves bound by that most sacred of all obligations, the duty of good citizens to an injured country, and thoroughly convinced, that under our present distressed circumstances, we shall be justified before God and man, in resisting force by force — do unite ourselves, under every tie of religion and honor, and associate as a band in her defence, against every foe — hereby solemnly engaging, that, whenever our Continental and Provincial Council shall deem it necessary, we will go forth, and be ready to sacrifice our Uves and fortunes to secure her freedom and safety. This obligation to continue in force, until a reconciliation shall take place between Great Britain and America upon Constitutional principles — an event which we most ardently desire. And, we hold all those persons inimical to the liberty of the Colonies, who shall refuse to subscribe to this association." f

Declarations similar to the above were passed in most of the Provinces, and we perceive that a final separation from the Mother Country was not as yet contemplated, the object in view extended no farther than to a redress of grievances. (It was not until a year later that on the 4th of July 1773, delegates from each state assembled at Philadelphia, and passed that celebrated Declaration \^ich is now the charter of our liberties.)

Two regiments were to be raised in South Carolina,

* In the year 1775. t Vide Ramsay, vol 2. page 236.

BATTLE AT FORT SULLIVAN. 17

and Francis Marion was chosen a captain in the second, of which William Moultrie, under whonn Marion had served in the Indian wars, was appointed colonel. The officers at once set about making recruits. Captain Horry, Marion's firm friend throughout all his future career, and who was electa^ an officer in the same regiment at the same time, accompanied Marion on his recruiting expedition.

Many amusing incidents are recorded as having occured to these officers in the duty upon which they were now engaged, but we pass over them to follow more particularly the momentous and chivalrous deeds of our hero, merely stating that the officers were successful in raising (notwithstanding the amount of Tory opposition they encountered) two regiments of South Carolinians.

The erection of Fort Sullivan on Sullivan's Island was now commenced and rapidly proceeded with. The defence of this fort was confided to the gallant Moultrie, wilfe about four hundred men, and thirty pieces of cannon. Daily in expectation of a British fleet, the men worked with untiring industry, and on the 31st of May,* a fleet appeared in sight. And now, for nearly a month, tides, calms and baffling winds, conspired to frustrate the fleet, and they were not enabled to get within the bar till the 27th of June. In the meantime the works of the fort were carried on, and indefatigable preparations made to receive the enemy. On the morning of the 28th, the fleet, commanded by Sir Peter Parker, came up with a fine breeze, and all sails set, before the fort and dropped anchor. Instantly the bombardment commenced. The British outnumbered

* 1776. 2* the Americans in men and guns. From the port holes of nine ships was an unceasing fire kept up, whilst the defenders of the fort, stripping off their coats, (the weather was very hot) fired their guns, loaded, fired again, and worked like men brave in a righteous cause. For eleven hours the action lasted, in which time such terrible destruction was made upon the enemy's fleet that Sir Peter Parker moved off, and the gallant defenders of the fort found themselves victorious over a foe that battled in the cause of tyranny. Conspicuous throughout the action was Marion, and he often leveled the guns himself. He, Moultrie, and several of the officers, (such was their coolness in the midst of the balls that everywhere fell around them) smoked their pipes, laying them down only when their duties called them to give orders, or, as we said of Marion, when they relieved a soldier at a gun.

During the action a ball from the fleet struck the flag-staff, which fell on the beach, outside of the breastwork, Jasper, a serjeant of grenadiers, immediately, in face of the enemy's fire, leaped over the ramparts, picked it up, regained the inside of the fort in safety, and restored the flag to its place.

At one period of the action, the want of powder was severely felt by the Americans, and Marion, with a small party left the fort, seized upon an armed schooner, (it is said, and we have no reason to disbelieve the tradition) and thus obtained a supply of powder sufficient to keep up the fire until a quantity was received from Charleston.

Tradition also awards to the aim of Marion the tremendous effect of the last shot that was fired from the fort. It was aimed at the Bristol, (the commodore's ship) and entering one of the cabin windows, struck down two

THE BRITISH DEFEATED 19

officers who were drinking, and, ranging through the bulk-heads and steerage, killed three sailors. This information was got from five sailors of the British fleet, who that night deserted and came to the Americans.

The loss of the British in this engagement, by their own account, was 113 killed and sixty wounded. Sir Peter Parker lost an arm upon the occasion. On the other side their was but about 12 killed and 25 wounded. The vessels of the British, two of them especially, were greatly damaged, and one, called the Acteon run a ground and was afterwards burnt.

This defence of Fort Sullivan (or Fort Moultrie, as it was subsequently named in honor of the brave man who so successfully commanded it upon this occasion) is one of the most brilliant achievements that the history of our country records, and it was of incalcuable importance to the cause of liberty throughout the colonies. Moultrie was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General ; Marion to that of Lieutenant Colonel in the regular service.

CHAPTER ir.

Declaration of Independence. The British at Savannah — arrival of the French Fleet — activity oC Marion — the battle — deaths of Count Pulaski and Serjeant Jasper — Charlestown besieged by the Britigh — anecdote of Marion — surrender of Charleston — massacre of the Americans at the Waxhaw settiementa — hair-breadth escapes of Marion ; he retires to North Carolina, and joins the army under Gates. A description of Marion and his men. Battle. Gates defeated — brave conduct and glorious death of De Kalb. Marion and his men burning boats.

The Declaration of Independence, proclaimed in Philadelphia on the 4th of July, was hailed m Charleston with great rejoicings, and the news of tin? battle of Fort Moultrie was welcomed in return with corresponding manifestations of joy at Philadelphia, and throughout the confederated colonies.

The inhabitants of all the colonies, while colonies, admitted themselves bound by their allegiance to the king; but they disclaimed, altogether, the authority of parliament ; holding themselves, in this respect, to resemble the condition. of Scotland and Ireland, before the respective unions of those kingdoms with England, when they acknowledged allegiance to the same king, but each had its separate legislature. The tie, therefore, which our revolution was to break, did not subsist between us and the British parliament, or between us and the British government, in the aggregate ; but directly between us and the king himself. The colo-

SERJEANT JASPER. 21

nies had never admitted themselves subject to parliament. That was precisely the point of the original controversy. They had uniformly denied that parliament had authority to make laws for them.*

The South Carolianians expected another visit of the British, but they kept their fleet otherwise employed on the Northern coast, and it was not until the close of the year 1778 that the fleet again came south, and their destination turned out to be Savannath instead of Charleston. In December four thousand men were disembarked from their fleet of upwards of thirty sail.

The great number of these loyalists in Georgia, encouraged the British, and, after the disembarkment of their troops and the fall of Savannah into their hands, they rapidly possessed themselves of Ebenezer, Abercorn, and other posts in the interior. General Lincoln commanded the forces of the Americans, but, so small was his number, he was unable to oppose the enemy with any degree of effect.

While the main army of the British was encamped at Abercorn, the Americans lay but a few miles from them, on the Savannah, at a place called Purysburg. And while at Purysburg, there occurred an adventure, the hero of which was one of Marion's men, and the gallant William Jasper, of whom we had occasion to speak in account of the defence of Fort Sullivan. " Jasper was a perfect Proteus, in ability to alter his appearance, perpetually entering the camp of the enemy without detection, and invariably returning to h'\s own, with soldiers he had seduced, or prisoners he had captured."! " He often went out," is the language of Moultrie, " and returned with prisoners

* Paniel Webster, t Garden's Anecdotes.

MARION AND HIS TIMES.

before I knew that he was gone. I have known of his catching a party that was looking for him. He has told me that he could have killed single men several times, but he would not ; he would rather let them off. He went into the British lines at Savannah, as a deserter, complaining, at the same time, of our ill-usage of him. He was gladly received, (they having heard of his character) and caressed by them. He stayed eight days, and after informing himself well of their strength, situation and intentions, he returned to us again ; but this game he could not play a second time. VVith his little party he was always hovering about the enemy's camp, and was frequently bringing in prisoners."

Jasper had a brother who had espoused the other side of the contest, and was at this period in the British garrison at Ebenezer, holding the rank of a Serjeant. Wishing to see this brother, Jasper made his ' appearance in the British garrison, much to the alarm of the other.

" What brings you here, William ! Your name is well known ! You will be hung for a spy I" agitatedly remarked the Tory brother.

"Give yourself no uneasiness, brother," cooly replied Jasper — " I am no longer an American soldier."

"I am glad to hear you say so, brother — glad to find you ready to serve the King !" exclaimed the Tory.

" You mistake," said Jasper. " You presume I have come to enlist myself under the flag of England, but it is not so. Little as is the encouragement I have in fighting for my country, yet I have not the heart to fight against her, brother !"

PKISONERS IN THE POBT. 23

Jasper remained two or three days with his brother, and there is no doubt betook notice of all that invited his observation in the garrison. Bidding his brother adieu, he stole out of the garrison at night, and rejoined the Americans, reporting the amount of information he had picked up.

Some weeks after this, Jasper took it into his head to pay his brother another visit at Ebenezer, taking along with him serjeanl Newton, a comrade, a strong and active man, and fully his own match in feats of daring and enterprize. The Tory brother received Jasper and Newton kindly, and the three passed away the time quite agreeably in the garrison.

One day a party of prisoners were brought into the fort, on their way to Savannah, to which place a British officer was conducting them for trial. In speaking of the matter, " It will go hard with them," said Jasper's Tory brother. "It's my opinion they'll be hung certain, for they took arms with us and received the King's bounty; but when the American army raised, they broke their faith to the King and joined them."

The prisoners were hand-cufied, and presented a pity-impressive sight to both Jasper and Newton, and the wife of one of the prisoners, with her child, followed her husband, deeply sympathizing in his misfortunes. Moved by this scene of distress, Jasper and Newton were deeply affected ; tears trickled from their eyes, and their emotions were of more than ordinary feeling. That distressed mother and her child, how could they look on them unmoved? The poor wife gazing with tear-streaming eyes upon the sad countenance of her hope-forsaken husband, appealing with her looks for pity and assistance !

From this distressing sight, the two friends stepped aside and conferred together. That the prisoners, under the circumstances in which they had been taken, would be tried, convicted and executed, was a matter of certainty, unless they were rescued from the hands of the guard before they reached Savannah. Talking over the matter, Jasper and Newton determined to risk their lives in an attempt to rescue the prisoners.

Presently, the prisoners, under a guard of eight men, a Serjeant and corporal, left the fort and proceeded on their route to Savannah. Soon after their departure, Jasper and Newton took leave of their Tory friend, and set out from the fort, taking a direction different from that upon which the guard had started with the prisoners. When they considered themselves beyond sight, the two friends struck into the forest and travelled hard after the guard, in sight of whom they came, and remaining unseen themselves, dogged them mile after mile, eager for a chance to strike a blow for the unhappy captives. But, sanguine as they had been, the difficulty of accomplishing their object began to be apparent to them, for what could two unarmed men do against a guard of ten, each armed with a musket ? Notwithstanding this hopeless aspect of matters, the two friends followed on.