Pictorial life of General Marion; embracing anecdotes illustrative of his character

Preface

At Belle-Isle, St. Stephen's Parish, South Carolina, is a marble slab, bearing the inscription: — " Sacred to the memory of Brigadier-General Francis Marion, — who departed this life on the 27th of February, 1795, in the sixty-third year of his age, deeply regretted by all his fellow-citizens. History will record his worth, and rising generations embalm his memory,' as one of the most distinguished patriots and heroes of the American Revolution — which elevated his native country to Honour and Independence, and secured to her the blessings of Liberty and Peace. This tribute of veneration and gratitude is erected in commemoration of the noble and disinterested virtues of the citizen, and the gallant exploits of the soldier who lived without fear, and died without reproach."

This volume is presented as an humble echo to the labours of those who would keep the memory

(iii)

IV PREFACE.

of such men green among the people. While more elaborate and particular biographies appeal to the men, this book is addressed to the youth of the country which Marion fought to deliver. The principal and most interesting events in his life, and such incidents as tend best to illustrate his noble and daring character, are preserved. The writer will feel more than rewarded if his unambitious work shall lead the attention of those who are coming forward to fill men's places to such examples as will make them worthy to be the heirs of the self-denying and patriotic men of our American Revolution.

Philadelphia, March, 1847.

Chapter I

Parentage and Birth of Francis Marion — His Voyage to the West Indies — Its unfortunate termination — Suflerings and narrow escapeof the Young Sailor — He turns Farmer — Indian Troubles — Marion volunteers — Indignity to the Indian Chiefs — Death of Colonel Colyniore — The Hostages killed in retaliation — The second Indian Campaign — The third Campaign — Massacre of the Garrison at Fort Loudon — Battle of Etchoee — Gallant conduct of Lieutenant Marion — Interesting Letter, written by Marion -----.. Page

CHAPTER n.

Marion elected to the Provincial Congress — The Act of Association — Destruction of Tea and Stamped Paper — News of the Battle of Lexington — Measures of the Provincial Congress — Character of the Southern Warfare — Commissions of Marion and Horry — Their difficulties in raising Money, and ease in enlisting Men — Mischiefs of Intemperance — Marion's Rebuke to the Young Officer — His excellence as a Disciplinarian — His Promotion to a Majority — The Defence of Fort Sullivan — British Loss — Loss of the Carolinians — Anecdotes of the Battle — Gallant conduct of Serjeant Jasper — Marion's Shot — Compliments to Serjeant Jasper -----.------23

CHAPTER in.

Effects of the Successful Defence of Fort Sullivan — Evil Influences of a condition of Suspense — Serjeant Jasper — His talent at Disguises, and Visits to the Enemy — His first call upon his Brother in the British Army — His second Trip, with a Companion — A Party of American Prisoners brought into the British Camp — Their Distress — Jasper and Newton determine to liberate them — They follow, and by a Surprise conquer their Guard, killing four, and making the others Prisoners — Ill-advised Operations against Savannah — Repulse of the Americans, and Death of the brave Serjeant Jasper ------ 37

CONTENTS,

CHAPTER IV.

Withdrawal of the French Fleet from Savannah, and the American Forces from Georgia — Preparations for the Defence of Charleston — Marion as a Militia Commander — Accident by which he was Disabled — Fall of Charleston — Disingenuous and cruel course of the British — Disregard of the Terms of Capitulation — Melancholy Story of Colonel Hayne ---•--..--.-....53

CHAPTER V.

Movements and Character of Colonel Tarleton — Origin of the Phrase " Tarleton's Quarters" — Capture or Retreat of distinguished Carolinians — Eager Vindictiveness of the Tories — Hunting of Marion through the Swamps — He escapes to North Carolina — Meets his old Friend Horry — Their Poverty — The Unfriendliness of their Countrymen — National Financial Difficulties — Adventure at an Inn — American Women — Arrival of General Gates - -..-..CC

CHAPTER VI.

Marion's Fortitude — Military Character of Gates — His Obstinacy, and too hasty March — Poverty of the Country — Detachment of Marion in advance — Anecdote of Major James — Destruction of the Boats of the Planters — News received of Gates's Defeat — Death of De Kalb — Formation of Marion's Brigade — Cornwallis's Order — Success of Sumter — His subsequent Defeat ---.--...76

CHAPTER VII.

Marion watches the Road between Charleston and Camden — Disperses a Britisii Party and liberates its Prisoners — Fluctuating Numbers of Marion's Band — Surprise of Captain Barficld — Defeat of the Tories at Black Mingo -..-..-._ 89

CONTENTS. Vll

CHAPTER VIII.

Serjeant Macdonald and the Tory — Marion's Horse, "Ball" — His preference for Fords, over Bridges — His contempt of Luxury — Colonel Peter Horry's Horsemanship — Good Result from an accident — Marion's Commission as Brigadier, and Horry's as Colonel — The Value of these Co.Timissions — Surprise of the Tories on the Pedee - - 103

CHAPTER IX.

Tory Recruits — Capture of Colonel Tynes — Effects of Marion's Success — British Testimony — Marion's Mode of Punishment — His great 'Influence — Tarleton despatched in Pursuit — Alarm by the Burning of Dwellings — Narrow Escape of Marion — Tarleton's Energy — His Abandonment of the Pursuit — Result of the Expedition — Sumter's Movements — Defeat of Wemyss — Defeat of a Detachment under Tarleton — Wound of Sumter -.-----.----116

CHAPTER X.

British Reinforcements from New York sent to the South — Frustration of the Enemy's Plans — Pursuit of Major Ferguson by the Americans — Battle of King's Mountain — Total Defeat of the Tories — Cornwallis falls back to Winnsboro — Leslie ordered to Charleston by Sea — Chain of British Posts — Marion's Movements — Incidents near Georgetown — The Whig Lady's Artifice — Defeat of Melton — Murder of Marion's Nephew — Affair with Colonel Gainey — Unhappy Character of the Contest ---.-.--..-... 126

CHAPTER XL

The Camp at Snow's Island — Its Defences — Sanguinary Warfare — Difficulties of Marion's Command — The Plunder of Croft's House — Marion's Proceedings against the Offenders — Incipient Mutiny — Contumacy of the Culprits — Suppression of the Mutiny — Expulsion and Outlawry of the Ringleaders — The Potato Dinner 139

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII.

Greene's Appreciation of Marion — Colonel Washington's Ruse — A quiet piece of Ordnance — Morgan's Brigade — Pursuit by Tarleton — Battle of the Cowpens — Anecdote of Tarleton — Anecdote of Conyers — Lee joins Marion — Attack on Georgetown — Capture of the Commanding Ofiicer — Partial Success of the Attack — Lee recalled by Greene — Movements of Cornwallis — Services of Marion's Brigade, in the Absence of the Regular Army ---- 151

CHAPTER Xin.

Detachments in pursuit of Marion — Colonel Tynes — Unfortunate Condition of Horry's Men — Pursuit of Mcllraith — Challenge to an Engagement by Champions — Mcllraith recedes from the Proposal, and Retreats — Marion draws oil his Men, and Mcllraith escapes — Encounter with Watson on the Santee — Brave Exploit of Gavin

James Aflair at Mount Hope — Encounter on the Williamsburg

Road — Watson's Message to Marion — McDonald's Sharp-Shooting — His Message to Watson — Watson blockaded at Blakeley's — He Escapes to Georgetown -.------------ 165

CHAPTER XIV.

Capture of Marion's Stronghold— Retreat of Colonel Doyle— Marion seeks Watson — Good news to the Whigs — Retreat of Watson — Battle of Camden — Fall of Fort Motte — A Heroic Lady— Hanging of Prisoners — British Evacuation of Georgetown — Abandonment of Seventy-Six — Daring Movements of the Partisans — Battle of Jumby — Rescue of Colonel Harden— Defeat of Major Frazier— Battle of Eutaw ^S2

CHAPTER XV.

Position of Affairs at the close of the year 1781 — Attempt on Marion's Detachment in his Absence — His unexpected Return, and Repulse of the Enemy — Meeting of the Legislature — Surprise of Marion's Brigade — Defeat of the Loyalists on the Pedee — Defeat of the British under Frazier — Death of Colonel Laurens — Evacuation of Charleston — Conclusion ---------------- '97

LIFE

OP

FRANCIS MARION.

CHAPTER I.

Parentage and Birth of Francis Marion — His Voyage to the West Indies — Its unfortunate termuiation — Sufferings and narrow escape of the Young Sailor — He turns Farmer — Indian Troubles — Marion volunteers — Indignity to the Indian Ciiiefs — Deathof Col. Colymore — The Hostages killed in retaliation — The second Indian Campaign— The third Campaign — Massacre of the Garrison at Fort Loudon — Battle of Etchoee — Gallant conduct of Lieut. Marion — Interesting Letter, written by Marion.

RANCIS MARION', whose name is as intimately connected with the romance and adventure of the American Revolution, as that of Bruce or of Wallace with the marvels of the Scottish annals, was of French extraction. His grandfather was one of the emigrants who were driven from France by the policy toward the Protestants, or Huguenots, which marked the reign of Louis XIV. ; so different from the tolerance of Henry IV. The date of the arrival of the

(ix)

10 LI F L: O F iM A R ION.

Marion family in this country is fixed about the year 1690. The subject of our narrative was bom at Winyah, near Georgetown, in 1732; the same year, our attentive readers will note, in which George Washington was born. He is stated to have been the youngest of six children, five boys and a girl ; and his eccentric biographer, M. L. Weems, says of him, that in infancy he was a very puny little mortal indeed ; and that this delicate and insignificant appearance continued until he reached his twelfth year.

In that year, either the lad's own love of adventure, or the desire of his parents that he should try change of scene for the improvement of his health, or both causes combined, led to his attempting a trip to the West Indies. The name of the vessel in which he made this voyage is lost, as are also all the incidents of the adventure, except its unfortunate termination. At the time when the facts about this voyage could have been collected and preserved, nobody supposed that events in the life of Francis Marion would ever be of any interest, except to his immediate friends. But the course he pursued in private life, and his conduct in his personal concerns, and in his social relations, were such as fitted him for the eminent part he was afterward destined to take in the affairs of his country; and this is a lesson to all our young readers never to neglect their advantages, or slight their opportunities for improvement. There is no one of our young readers, male or female, who is not quite as likely to be called upon to act an important part as Francis Marion was ; and as the good book tells us that he who is faithful in little, is faithful also in much, we should always adopt as a motto, that whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

" Going to sea" was, in 1740, a very different tiling from what it now is. There were dancrers, adventures, and interesting circumstances connected with it, which, in these days, are scarcely known. Navigation was more difficult, and less understood; the sea was infested with pirates, and different countries were so little known, that he who had seen was supposed to hiojv; and the sailor of one short voyage was a personage of more consequence than the veteran navigator is now considered. These temptations were quite enough to make young Francis desire very much the opportunity to try his fortune. Some accounts say that his mother did not at all favour the project ; and this we can the more readily believe, since mothers are proverbial for opposing the " truant disposition" in children ; and the experience of many men will lead them to acknowledge

12 LIFEOFIVIARION.

that these kind though sometimes too timid advisers are usually not very far wrong.

Master Francis, at any rate, discovered that going to sea is not always a recreation. Some accident occurred to the vessel in which he was, which caused her to " founder," as the sailors term it; which means, to leak so badly as to become unmanageable, and at length to sink. It is said that the schooner was struck by a large fish, probably a whale, with such violence as to start a plank. The water rushed in so rapidly at the leak thus made, that the crew took refuge in the boat, after trying by the pumps, in vain, to keep their vessel afloat. They had hardly abandoned her before she went down ; and that so suddenly that no opportunity remained to secure any water, or any provisions.

In this terrible condition, with no other sustenance than the body of a little dog, which they sacrificed to their hunger, they drifted about on the ocean. On the sixth or seventh day, or perhaps later, little Marion was taken out of the boat by a passing vessel — so far exhausted that he could not move a limb. Whether any of his companions survived is not certainly known ; but as it is often the case that the young, and apparently feeble, survive where their elders perish, it is not at all improbable that Francis, the weak and delicate child, was the

LIFKOFRIARION. 13

only person of the crew who was taken from the boat aUve. The utmost care and tenderness was necessary on the part of his dehverers to fan and preserve the bare spark of Kfe ; and under the care of the sailors, w^ho, proverbially humane, are at such times excellent nurses, his life was saved.

Having thus undergone the utmost intensity of suffering which he could endure, his mother found little trouble in inducing him to forego all farther attempts to become a sailor ; if, indeed, he did not relinquish the pursuit of his own accord, after experience of its hardships. For the next twelve or fourteen years he was content with the tranquil life of a planter, though when the occasion and opportunity for more active life presented, he was not backward in improving them. We have no record of his life during the period that he spent with his mother and brothers, from the time of his shipwreck till his 27th year, when the Cherokee war broke out ; and can only conjecture that it was passed in the pursuits and amusements usual to the planters of that period. Tradition says that he was fond of his gun and fishing-rod, and uniformly kind to his dependants ; and the history of his life shows that he neglected no means of improvement which his situation afforded. A letter, preserved by Weems, which we shall presently quote, does honour no less to his heart

14 L I F E O F M A II I O N .

than to his head ; and goes, with the acts of his hfe, to show that war, with him, was not pursued for love of its sanguinary and cruel features.

Marion first appeared as a warrior in the Indian campaigns of 1759 and 1761. Inattention to the pecuUar habits of the Indians, disregard of their feehngs and prejudices, and a want of consideration for their pecuhar pride, and their method of conducting intercourse with the whites, had caused a disaffection ; and a disaffection once existing, small differences led to greater, and the colonists found themselves involved in an Indian war. It is not necessary for us to go into an examination of the particular causes of this difficulty. The general reasons which we have stated, and which will apply to nearly all the wars between the Indians and the colonists, will suffice. Nor is it just for us, with the results of their measures before us, to sit in judgment on the colonists. We cannot help admitting the consequences of what they did into our calculation of their conduct ; but these consequences were the very things they could not know, when they were called upon to act. The history of the Indian relations of the colonists leaves Americans quite as much to deplore as to be proud of; for while we celebrate the fortitude of the founders of the republic — women as well as men — we must lament the narrowness of policy, to use no harsher term, which too often caused the disasters which called the courage of the settlers into exercise.

Francis Marion was a volunteer in a troop of cavalry commanded by his brother, at the commencement of the Cherokee war, in 1759. In this campaign, however, nothing occurred which gave our hero any opportunity to distinguish himself. The savages were intimidated by the preparations which the Carolinians had made, and sent a deputation to Charleston to compromise matters with the whites. Gov. Lyttleton seized these Indian commissioners as hostages, and proceeded with them to the Indian country; subjecting them to the keen indignity of keeping them under a guard of soldiers, and in this way conducted them to the frontiers. As they were chiefs, and belonged to the best families among the Cherokees, this humiliation wounded the pride of the whole people. When the governor reached the frontiers, he would listen to overtures for peace only on one condition. That was that the Indians should give him twenty-four men, to be disposed of as he might think proper, retained as prisoners, or put to death in retaliation for the same number of whites, who had been killed by the Indians in border forays.

Upon such conditions the treaty was concluded

IG LIFEOF MARION.

after much hesitation on the part of the Indians ; but no sooner had the nation heard what their chiefs had done, than all the young men, who feared that they might be surrendered in compUance with the terms of the treaty, made their escape ; and Gov. Lyttleton detained twenty-two of the hostages whom he had already wrongfully kept to make up the number of men who had been promised him by the treaty.

Such a peace could lead only to war. The twenty-four hostages were placed for safe-keeping in a frontier fort ; and this fort was attempted by the savages, almost before the Governor had disbanded his forces. By a stratagem, the commander of the station. Col. Colymore, was killed, and two of his lieutenants were wounded. These officers had imprudently granted the Indians an interview, the whites standing upon one bank of a river, and the Indians upon the other ; but the conversation had scarce commenced, when, at a signal from the Indian chief, a party of savages suddenly made their appearance, and fired upon the whites, with the result that we have already stated. In the fort, as the officer in command naturally supposed that this was but the signal for a general attack, orders were given to put the hostages in irons, lest they should rise and assist the enemy without. The Indians resisted, and stabbed three of the soldiers ; and the soldiers, already infuriated by the murder of their commander, fell upon the Indian hostages and put every one of them to death.

Now, of course, all hope of peace or accommodation was at an end. The Indians rose in all directions, and banded together with purposes of furious vengeance. The danger of the colony was most imminent. The savages rushed in upon the frontiers, butchering men, women, and children. The small-pox raged in Charleston to such a degree that most of the male inhabitants were both unable and unwillinor to leave their homes to g^o to the defence of their friends in the back settlements. But North Carolina and Virginia lent assistance, and a battalion and four companies of regular troops were sent forward from Canada to the assistance of the distressed Carolinians. The country gentlemen of the colony rallied also, and it is said with every appearance of probability that Marion was among the number. No particulars have been handed down of his conduct in this campaign ; and it is therefore unnecessary for us to dwell upon it. It will be sufficient to say that it ended in a great battle, which was far from being decisive in its consequences, though the colonists were the victors. Several Indian towns were burned, though few of the savages

B were killed or made prisoners; and the Indians were rather exasperated than humbled.

In 176i the Indians early commenced warlike operations; and reducing the frontier garrison of Fort Loudon, on the Tennessee, they took there a fearful revenge for the death of the Indian hostages who had been killed by the colonists at Prince George. Notwithstanding the formal surrender of the garrison at Fort Loudon, by which their lives were assured, the Indian conquerors massacred them every one. This deed removed still further every hope of reconciliation ; and the Indians were also operated upon by French emissacies, and supplied with arms by the same nation. The Carolinians lost no time'in taking vigorous measures to conduct a war which had now assumed the appearance of more danger than any which had before threatened the colony.

In this campaign, beside the regular troops and the companies from sister colonies, a regiment of twelve hundred Carolinians was mustered into the service. In this regiment Marion was a lieutenant, and amonjT other names of officers dislinfmished afterwards in the war of the revolution, we find Moultrie, Laurens, Pickens, and Huger. The command of the native regiment was held by Col. Middleton, and that of the whole force devolved upon

Col. James Grant. Beside the colonists and reo^ulars, there were a body of friendly Indians in the little army, making its whole number twenty-six hundred.

With this force, in June, Col. Grant penetrated the Indian country. Nothing occurred to interfere with his progress, until he reached the point near the Indian town of Etchoee, where the great battle of the preceding campaign had been fought. At this place was the principal, perhaps the only practicable entrance into the Cherokee country, and here the Indians had mustered all their strength, to make ar desperate stand. It was necessary to force a narrow and dark defile, which a few determined men could long defend against a large force. Lieut. Marion was sent forward with a party of thirty men to explore this dangerous pass ; and at the first fire of the Indians, twenty-one of his command were killed. In this perilous but honourcible service he justified the high opinion which had been entertained of his courage and skill ; and narrowly escaped with the life which was reserved for those important services to his country which fill so bright a page in her history.

The coming up of the advance guard of the army preserved the remains of Marion's little band ; and the action now became Qreneral. The Cherokees contended with great valour and resolution; and witli so much skill that the impression prevailed that they were officered, in part at least, by Frenchmen. The native Carolinian regiment, whose arms were rilles, and whose system of warfare was better adapted for bush-fighting than the discipline of the regulars, did terrible execution; while the English bayonets were most effectual in dislodging the Indians wherever a party made a stand. After a long-contested, and sanguinary engagement, the Indians gave way in despair. The town of Etchoee, abandoned by the inhabitants, was reduced to ashes ; and the English commander followed up the work by the destruction of fourteen other villages, and the burning of granaries, and all the standing corn. Marion deeply compassionated the sufferers by the devastations of the campaign ; and it was upon this occasion that he wrote the letter to which we have alluded, and from which we make the foUowinir extract :

" We arrived at the Indian towns in the month of July. As the lands were rich, and the season had been favouraljle, 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. 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 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 whole 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 tasselled shocks, 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 die, untasted in their morning fields !

" I saw everywhere around the footsteps of the little Indian children, where they had lately played under the shelter of the ru^stling 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

22 LIPEOP MARION.

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 V they will ask their mothers. ' The white people did it,' the mothers reply, 'the Christians did it.' "

In this manner, Marion states, the army destroyed thousands of corn-fields. The Indians sued for peace, and the terrible ravages which the whites had inflicted secured their submission. The letter which we have inserted does the character of Marion more honour than a volume of military despatches could do ; and leads us to think that the object could have been obtained without this cruelty. However, as we have already remarked, we do not wish to undertake to decide upon the conduct of men in particular emergencies, into whose difiiculties of position we cannot fully enter.

CHAPTER 11.

Marion elected to the Provincial Congress — The Act of Association — Destruction of Tea and Stamped Paper — News of the Battle of Lexington — Measures of the Provincial Congress — Character of the Southern Warfare — Commissions of Marion and Horry — Their difficulties in raising Money, and ease in enlisting Men — Mischiefs of Intemperance — Marion's Rebuke to the Young Officer — His excellence as a Disciplinarian — His Promotion to a Majority — Tiie Defence of Fort Sullivan — British Loss — Loss of the Carolinians — Anecdotes of the Battle — Gallant conduct of Serjeant Jasper — Marion's Shot — Compliments to Serjeant Jasper.

^OR the next fourteen years we hear nothing of the Ufe of Marion, except that he was quietly engaged in the pursuit of the ordinary occupations of a planter. His reputation among his fellow citizens may he judged by what his friend, General Horry, says of him. "Though he was neither handsome nor witty, nor wealthy, he was universally beloved. The fairness of his character — his fondness to his relations — his humanity to his slaves — and his bravery in the Indian war, — had made him the darling of the country." Both he and his brother

24 L I F E O F M A 11 I O N .

Job were elected to the Provincial Congress which assembled in 1775, to take into consideration the posture of the colony toward the mother country. This body adopted the American Bill of Rights, as set forth by the Continental Congress ; established committees of safety, and took other steps, committing the colony to resistance against the encroachments of the mother country. And while these official and formal proceedings were going forward, the presence of the representatives in Charleston was marked by other acts not of so open a character. The royal armories in and near Charleston M-ere broken open, and their contents were removed, tea and stamped paper were forcibly seized and destroyed ; and other energetic steps, which the complexion of the times warranted, were taken to forward the great cause in which the patriots of South Carolina embarked. These transactions were not of a nature to permit the actors in them to be known ; but we can hardly doubt that our impulsive and ardent hero performed his part.

After taking the initial steps to prepare for whatever measures events might render necessary, the Provincial Congress adjourned, to re-assemble on the 20th of June. But the news of the battle of Lexington, received by express through the Committees of Safety at the north, caused the Provincial

Conorress of South Carolina to be called toorether on the ist of June. One of the first transactions of the Congress was to pass an Act of Association, binding the subscribers to union under every tie of religion and honor for the defence of their injured country, and engaging them to the sacrifice of life and fortune to secure her freedom and safety. The instrument also declared those unfriendly to the liberties of the colonies who should refuse to subscribe their names to it.