Part 26 (2/2)
The next night, just as ere about to enca to Mr Joseph Alston, whoence to the eneeant of the guard, overcoo
And,orders
This villain of a blackaone above three miles before he fell in with the British, to whom, Judas-like, he betrayed us off hand!
and they as quickly took horse, and pushed on to surprise us
By sunrise I had allthe advance,up the rest of the corps
The British first discovered captain Clarke, which they did in the way of a gliles, they rushed on to the charge
Unfortunately, Clarke had not yet seen the eneles for the huntso by
But instead of a herd of flying deer, behold! a colu into the road, and shouting and rushi+ng on with draords to the charge In a moment, as if themselves metamorphosed into deer, Clarke and his advance wheeled about, and giving their horses ”the ti out as they caht -- ”The British!+ the British!+”
--This is a Carolina phrase for slashi+ng If a husband should so far forget himself as to beat his wife! which, thank God, is very rare, his neighbors, with great scorn, say of hi, Aye, that's the jockey that gives his wife the tiht the panic, and facing about, took to their heels, and went off as if the d---l had been behind them
I bawled after theht as well have bawled to the inds, for it appeared to me the louder I bawled, the swifter the rascals flew Whereupon I clapped spurs toJanus, and went off after the theer, fresh and strong froainup with them hand over hand -- But, in that very juncture of tiave way, round start, threw me, saddle, holsters, and all, full ten feet over his head, and then ran off I received no hars in an instant, bawled out again to my men to halt and form
Happily forour flight to be only a finesse, had halted, while only sixteen dragoons under colonel Ca to fly from such a handful, some of my more resolute fellows, thirteen in nu their aiave them a 'spanker', which killed upwards of half their nu their colonel, whose horse was slain, to shi+ft for hi into the woods
The British were so near us when they received the fire of o off, caround, that he was lifting his broadsword for a back-handed stroke, which would probably have savedthis history, had I not, with one of my pistols, which I took from the saddle whena bullet through his shoulder, which brought hi his horse, while alloped off, very well satisfied that the affair had turned out no worse
On returning to Marion, I could not help co to him of my men, whose behavior, I said, in this last affair, had been so very dastardly, that I was ain put confidence in the them ”Pshaw!” said he, with a sement of them: you command militia; it will not do to expect too ainst the ene eyes all kindling around you, that's your tiles and shi+ning swords, dash on, and I'll warrant yourwith their sire to the chase of the buffaloes
But on the other hand, if by any un-looked-for providence they get disin to run, you are not to fly in a passion with them, and show yourself as mad as they are cowardly No! you must learn to run too: and as fast as they; nay FASTER, that you e theet by co the there also
Our country cannot expect us to cope with British regulars War is an art, the deepest of all arts, because the greatest of all earthly consequences depend on it And none can expect to beapprenticeshi+p to it But as we have served no apprenticeshi+p, we can know but little about it in comparison with our enereatly the advantage of us But, thank God, we have our advantages too -- We are far better riders, better woodsmen, and better es Let us but iilance, and kindness to our rounds of the war, theLet us, I say, in this way, make them soldiers in principle, and fond of their officers, and all will be well yet By cutting off the ene the upon them by surprise, we shall, I hope, so harass and consuet out of our country And then, the perfor us credit, and credit enough too, in the eyes of gooddone so hts of man, and make posterity the happier for us, will afford us a pleasure that ”
Chapter 25
Colonel Harry Lee joins general Marion -- Georgetown surprised -- colonel Campbell made prisoner -- major Irwin killed -- adjutant Crookshanks miraculously saved by his sweetheart -- force of feenerosity contrasted with British barbaris Gales and dinkins, colonel Lee's little bugler, John Wiley, Peter Yarnal, young M'Coy, major Brown, colonel Haynes, and lord Rawdon
The next day, colonel Lee with his legion came up, to the inexpressible joy of us all; partly on account of his cavalry, which to be sure, was the handsomest we had ever seen; but much more on account of himself, of e had heard that, in deep art and undaunted courage, he was a second Marion -- This, our high opinion of hiallant conduct, for he had been with us but a few days before he proposed the surprise of Georgetohich was very cordially concurred with by general Marion
The infantry and cavalry employed on the occasion, were to approach the town at different points, after nal from the latter, to coet up in tiuide The infantry arrived at the appointed ed at once into the tohich they found utterly unprepared for an attack
Colonel Campbell, the commander, was made prisoner in his bed; adjutant Crookshanks, major Irwin, and other officers were sound asleep at a tavern belonging to a genteel fareat hilarity A detachment of our men approached the house and surrounded it Soon as the alar to dress, flew into the piazza, flourishi+ng their pistols and shouting to the charge
Major Irith e than discretion, fired a pistol, and would have tried another, but just as he had cocked it, he was stopped short by the stroke of a bayonet, which ended hi in the same heroic style, would have shared the sahter of the gentleed to beand horrid din of battle in the piazza, she was at first alht