A DASTARDLY BLOW
Now that the task which I set myself is well-nigh done, and I am come
to the point of relating that which has caused me more sorrow than I
can ever know again, I am at a loss how to go about it.
Inclination prompts me to hasten over the sad story for my own relief,
and yet the memory of that lad, which will ever live green in my heart,
demands that I do whatsoever I may, to the end that others may know how
one devoted friend to the Cause was sent into the Beyond by the most
dastardly blow ever dealt.
To begin at the moment when Gabriel led us around the encampment: The
way was difficult; owing to the darkness we could not choose our path,
but must flounder on as best we might, clinging to the branches of
trees here and there, forcing a way through thickets that we might find
a firmer foothold upon the roots of the bushes, and although we could
have had less than half a mile to advance, I believe we spent nearly
two hours in the task, because to the necessity of moving as silently
as possible, was added the roughness of the way.
Then we came, as nearly as could be judged, to the point spoken of
by General Marion. We were at the very edge of the swamp, within
less than three hundred yards of a blockhouse where it might well be
supposed a large number of Britishers would be found.
“Why should we not move two hundred paces farther on?” some one asked.
“Before we could make any showing whatsoever from here, those in yonder
blockhouse would be able to shoot us down to the last man.”
“It is here, as I believe, that General Marion intended we should go
in,” Gabriel replied, “and because we are opposite the blockhouse will
it be possible for us to attract the attention of the greatest number
of the enemy, which is all we have been sent to do.”
After that no one made objections to our station. It was seemingly the
place where death would come quickly, and that was evidently what had
been intended for us.
After thus taking station there was nothing to do save await the
signal, and we assembled on the firm ground within shelter of the
foliage, every fellow gripping his musket tightly, I fancied, even as I
did mine.
As the minutes wore away we began to believe that we had gotten into
position sooner than the commander had anticipated, and I sorrowed
because of such fact. To charge the camp, to feel the intoxication born
of powder fumes, to struggle desperately to best the enemy and fall
while so doing, was far easier than standing there idle with ample
time in which to think of what must be the end.
Perhaps some such idea was in Gabriel’s mind, for after a time he
said, speaking in a low tone as he laid his hand affectionately on my
shoulder:
“Perhaps it will never again be our good fortune to have such an
opportunity of proving our mettle as is given this night. Now I am in
no wise eager for death, but in my mind there is little fear that the
end be near at hand. Even if the odds are so strong against us, we
shall take this post of Georgetown, as I firmly believe. My brother
is a careful, prudent soldier, never taking upon himself a task which
is without hope, although there are many times when it has seemed so
to be. We shall capture Georgetown, lads, and if either of us fails
to come out alive, we have the proud satisfaction of knowing that,
whatsoever befalls the Cause, our names must live among those who gave
up everything for freedom.”
“Ay, lad, but this is not the time for such speeches,” Archie Gordon
said nervously, and had I not known the boy so well I might have
believed he was afraid. “It is no proof that his courage is greatest
who speaks very much regarding the future.”
“Meaning by such speech that I had best hold my tongue?” Gabriel
said with a laugh. “Perhaps you are right, yet there is upon me the
inclination to speak of what we have ventured, in order that I may be
the better able to appreciate life after it has been offered as a
sacrifice and refused.”
“I guarantee once we are come out from this expedition you will not
need anything of the past to make you understand that we ventured into
the very shadow of death. I realize without being told that ours is as
desperate an undertaking as a man can well imagine--”
“Now your words are more ill-timed than Gabriel’s!” I interrupted, for
between the two of them the cold chill of fear was beginning to run up
and down my spine.
Gabriel, heedless of this interruption, continued to speak of the
future as if we had no part in the present, and while he talked, even
though his hand was still upon my shoulder, I ceased to hear, for my
thoughts were gone out to that which lay directly before us.
I had never before advanced against an enemy on foot, and the fact of
being without a horse gave me a sense of uneasiness. Certain it is that
my courage did not fail me, even though I was growing timorous. My hand
was trembling with excitement, and my mouth parched and dry as if I had
been many hours without water.
Gabriel had just taken my hand in his as if realizing that I was giving
no heed to what he said, when a single shot rang out, sounding in my
ear as loud as a cannon, and it was as if the very air was aquiver with
the reverberation when Gabriel cried:
“Now, lads, shoulder to shoulder, and remember that so long as we can
keep on our feet to discharge a weapon, so much more of aid are we
giving to those who depend upon us!”
For the instant I saw nothing, had difficulty in moving my feet, and
then the pressure of Gabriel’s shoulder on one side and Archie’s on the
other brought me to my senses, causing me to realize that if I failed
ever so slightly in the task which was before us then was shame come
upon all the Minute Boys of South Carolina.
But the enemy must have been on the alert--must have had some inkling
that an attack was intended, for the report of the musket, which was
our signal, seemed to be theirs also. Before we had taken twenty paces
a mass of men began to pour out of the blockhouse like bees from a
hive, and I heard one, most like an officer, cry sharply:
“Halt! Make ready!”
Before he could speak another word Gabriel cried:
“Fire, lads! Fire, and then drop to the ground!”
We got in our volley, and were lying at full length reloading our
weapons, when the British bullets whistled over our backs.
Gabriel and I both succeeded in recharging our muskets and rising on
one knee, before the redcoats were upon us with bayonets. It needed not
the word of command to induce me to fire again, for in another instant
that bristling line of steel would have been stopped only by our bodies.
I fired, as did a dozen or more of my comrades, and that we took good
aim even in the excitement could be told by the fact that the redcoats
halted, and wavered for an instant as if on the verge of a panic. I
dare venture to say that if there had been another squad of twenty
immediately at our backs we might have driven those soldiers of the
king’s into their blockhouse again, thereby gaining just so much more
time for our regiment, which, as we could hear by the report of the
firing, had already begun the attack.
Again the Britishers came at us, and by this time the remainder of our
party succeeded in getting their muskets ready.
Once more the enemy faltered, and we strove all in vain to reload
before they could come upon us.
Then they closed in, and we struck aside their bayonets with the butts
of our muskets, until it became a hand-to-hand struggle, each trying to
preserve his own life and take that of his adversary.
A big fellow, trussed up with so much finery that he must perforce have
found it difficult to move quickly, seemed to have singled me out, and
in order to prevent him from running me through, I grappled him by the
throat. We fell to the ground, I uppermost, as I strove to throttle
him, using every effort to get my hands down beneath the leathern stock
he wore, when I heard a cry which I fancied was uttered by Archie
Gordon, and it came from the lips of one who was dying.
Dimly, as if in a dream, I realized that everything depended upon our
prolonging the fight until our people at the front could work their
way well into the encampment, and clenched my teeth to repress a cry of
pain when the fellow beneath me, having unfastened his bayonet, thrust
it through my leg. I tried to put into my fingers all the strength of
my body, believing that if I could kill this hireling of the king’s at
once I might have yet remaining sufficient life to grapple another,
thus continuing the struggle so many seconds longer.
Whether I gave him his quietus, or he succeeded in slipping out from my
grasp, I cannot say, but certain it is that after a time, not knowing
what had been done, and realizing nothing whatsoever of that which was
going on about me, I found myself confronting another man. At the same
time I heard, as if from afar, the thundering of horses’ hoofs, and
mingled with the noise the words of Gabriel:
“We surrender! Throw down your arms, lads! There is no reason why we
should sacrifice our lives uselessly.”
I believe it was the word “surrender” from his lips which brought me
to my senses, even as a douche of cold water brings the blood to the
surface of the body, and on the instant I saw and understood all the
situation.
The enemy must have believed we were the advance of a large force, for
in addition to those whom we had seen come from out the blockhouse,
a full hundred mounted men were riding toward us. Even though we had
struggled on regardless of life, no more than ten seconds would have
remained for resistance.
Seeing this, I let my hands fall idly by my side, and stepped somewhat
behind Gabriel, not, as God knows, with any idea that his body should
shelter mine, but because he was the leader, and it was for him to
speak. I also desired that those minions of the king who fancied two
or three hundred all insufficient a force to cope with twenty men and
boys, should see how young our leader was.
It was not Archie Gordon’s death-cry I had heard, but some other, for
on the instant Archie stood by my side, and from the tremor of his
voice I knew how near his eyelids the tears were brought because we had
not been able to do more, as he said:
“There are less than half of us yet alive, and I question, Rufus,
whether we were wise to surrender.”
“When Gabriel gave the command we had no choice, and what profits it we
should have stood up a few seconds longer? The fight is well on, and we
have done our part, not as we would have liked, but to the best of our
strength.”
There were only six of us out of the twenty left alive to surrender,
when Gabriel gave the command, and in front of the little party I dare
venture to say were no less than two hundred of the enemy. A gallant
victory for them in good sooth, and a glorious victory for us, insomuch
as we had held this number away, for however short a time, from the
path of those who followed General Marion.
While one might have counted twenty we stood there facing them in the
gloom, which was rapidly decreasing because of the fires which sprung
up here and there, showing that a certain number of the enemy had been
told off to build them when an attack was made, and then from some one
amid the throng, an officer, of course, came the word:
“Advance, you rebels, and show yourselves!”
Why we were put on parade at such a time, when it was for them a
pitiful victory, mayhap thirty or forty to one, I could not fancy, but
it behoved us as prisoners to obey, and so we did.
Gabriel strode forward proudly, as if he had little heed what might
be done with him, we following until having come within four or five
paces of the man who had given the command, when suddenly there was a
disturbance among those directly facing us, and then from out the mass
of armed men came that sneaking, traitorous cur, Seth Hastings!
A cry of delight burst from his lips as he recognized Gabriel, and I,
unable to hold my peace because of the anger which surged through my
heart at sight of him, cried to the officer who had thus put his six
prisoners on exhibition:
“If the king must needs have such as that miserable Tory’s aid before
he can whip us of the Carolinas, do not put us to torture by allowing
him here! We will take whatsoever of punishment you may inflict, save
the sight of that sneak!”
It was even while I spoke, and for this shall I never cease to blame
myself, because, had I not allowed the rage in my heart to overpower
me, I might perchance have done something toward warding off that
dastardly blow. It was, as I say, even while I spoke that the
traitorous reptile seized a sabre from the hand of the man nearest him,
and running swiftly forward while Gabriel’s face was turned toward the
officer, raised the blade, bringing it down on the dear lad’s head with
all his strength, cleaving the entire skull.
I quivered in impotent rage as I pushed wildly forward, seeing nothing,
but having before my eyes that which was like unto drops of blood, and
more than that of my own knowledge I cannot tell.
Archie Gordon has said that I fell upon that Tory villain before a
finger could be raised to stay me, and without weapon, save only my
naked hands, I sent his soul into that torment which I firmly believe
is to be his forever more.
Nor could the Britishers make a move toward separating me from the
lifeless body of him who had killed the bravest lad that ever lived
among us, for at that moment our people made a charge straight through
the encampment, and we who a moment before had been prisoners were left
to our own devices.
I know nothing whatsoever of that which followed. Rage and grief had
kindly deprived me of my senses, and I was spared the knowledge, for
the time being, that our adventure, from which we hoped so much, was
come to naught within ten minutes after our dear lad’s murder.
* * * * *
Even now, after we have seen a new nation spring into existence, having
had a hand in the making of it--after we are enjoying the repose
which follows a well-earned victory, my heart is too sore because of
that dastardly blow struck by the cur, Seth Hastings, to permit of my
setting down that which the Minute Boys did when Gabriel Marion was no
longer with us.
Much against my will, the lads made me their leader, and before the
struggle for independence was come to a glorious end, the company
numbered a hundred strong. Therefore do I see another reason why I
should leave to some one else the task of depicting what we did in aid
of the Cause before the king was ready to sue for peace.
Hence it is that I shall copy down here the account of our movements
in the Carolinas, after that day when Gabriel left us forever in this
world, as it has been written by one whose trade it is to write the
history of our country, only adding to his words the explanation that
the Minute Boys of South Carolina remained under command of Francis
Marion until the united Colonies were acknowledged as a free nation by
all the rulers of the world:
“After his discomfiture at Georgetown, Marion retired to Snow’s
Island, where he fixed his camp and secured it by such works of art
as the absence of natural defences required. Because of the murder
of the general’s brother, the battle cry of the ragged regiment ever
was, ‘No quarter for Tories!’
“From Snow’s Island Marion sent out his scouts in every direction,
and there he planned some of his boldest expeditions. Reinforcements
came, and at the close of 1780, Marion was strong enough to confront
any British detachments then abroad from headquarters.
“While Greene’s army was approaching the Pedee early in 1781, Marion
was very active abroad from his camp, at which he always left a
sufficient garrison for its defence. Here and there he was smiting
detachments of the British army, and when Lee, who had been sent by
Greene to join him with a part of his legion, sought for Marion, it
was with great difficulty he could be found, for his rapid marshes
were in the midst of vast swamps. As soon as the junction was
consummated, these brave partisans planned an expedition against
the British post at Georgetown, ... nothing was effected beyond
the capture of the commandant and a few privates, and slaying some
stragglers, yet the enterprise was not fruitless of good to the
patriot Cause.
“After resting a few hours, Marion and Lee moved rapidly up the
north bank of the Santee, toward Nelson’s Ferry, to surprise Colonel
Watson, who had taken post there. That officer, informed of his
approach, ... hastened on toward Camden. At this time Greene was
commencing his famous retreat, and summoned Lee with his whole
legion to meet him at Guilford.
“The departure of Lee greatly weakened Marion’s force. Yet he was
not less active than before, and his enterprises were generally more
important and successful. He sent out small detachments of Minute
Boys--lads of the Carolinas--to beat up Tory camps and recruiting
stations, wherever they might be found....
“Toward the last of January (1781), we find the blacksmith of
Kingstree forging saws into rough broadswords for a corps of cavalry
which Marion placed in command of Colonel Peter Horry. In February,
Horry is observed eastward of the Pedee battling with Tories and
British regulars.... Everywhere was the name of Marion feared, and
the presence of his men was dreaded by the opponents of the patriot
Cause.
“In the spring of 1781 Colonel Watson was sent with a select corps
of five hundred men to attempt the destruction of Marion’s brigade.
The advanced guards of Marion, under Colonel Horry, met the advance
of the enemy, and the patriots were obliged to fall back in the
direction of Williamsburg.... For ten days the British force remained
stationary, continually annoyed by Marion, until the commander was
obliged to choose between certain destruction in detail, or attempt
boldly to fight his way to Georgetown. He decided upon the latter
course, and at midnight he fled. Marion pursued, fell upon him
at Sampit bridge, near Georgetown, and smote many of his wearied
soldiers. The British commander escaped to Georgetown with the
remnant of his army, complaining that Marion would not ‘fight like a
gentleman or a Christian.’
“Sad intelligence now reached Marion. The Tory colonel, Doyle, had
penetrated to his camp on Snow’s Island, destroyed his provisions and
stores, dispersed the little garrison, and then marched up Lynch’s
Creek. Marion pursued the marauder until he was informed that Doyle
had destroyed all his heavy baggage, and had the advantage of a day’s
march on the road to Camden. Marion wheeled, and hastened, through
the overflowed swamps, to confront Watson, who was again in motion
with fresh troops, and had encamped upon Catfish Creek, near the
present Marion Court-house. Our partisan encamped within five miles
of him, and there he was joined by Lee. This junction alarmed Watson.
He destroyed his heavy baggage, wheeled his field-pieces into Catfish
Creek, and fled by a circuitous route toward Georgetown.
“In May, we find Marion hanging upon the rear of Lord Rawdon on his
retreat from Nelson’s Ferry toward Charleston, and from that time
until the siege of Ninety-six, he was often with Sumter and Colonel
Washington, watching the enemy’s movements near the Santee and
Edisto, and cutting off supplies and intelligence from Cruger.
“In June, Marion took possession of Georgetown, the garrison fleeing
down Winyaw Bay after a slight resistance. He could not garrison it,
so he moved the stores up to his old encampment on Snow’s Island....
“Marion took the leading part in the discomfiture of Colonel Coates,
at a loss to himself of seventy killed and wounded. Later he nearly
wiped out Major Fraser’s force of five hundred men, and would have
completed the victory but for lack of ammunition. In this case the
loss of the British was severe, while Marion was not bereft of a man.
He took a glorious part in the battle of Eutaw, and then retired to
the recesses of a cane-brake on Santee River Swamp to await further
opportunity.
“From this time until the evacuation of Charleston Marion’s brigade
confined their operations to the vicinity of Charleston. Elected to
a seat in the Assembly at Jacksonborough, Marion left the brigade in
command of Colonel Horry. Previous to his departure he had a severe
skirmish near Monk’s Corner, with three hundred regulars and Tories,
who came up from Charleston to surprise him. He repulsed them, but
soon afterward, while he was absent, a larger force under Colonel
Thompson attacked his brigade near the Santee. Fortunately he arrived
during the engagement, but not in time to prevent the defeat and
partial dispersion of his beloved troops. The remnant of his brigade
rallied around him, and he retired beyond the Santee to recruit and
reorganize.
“Early in April, 1782, Marion attacked a force of more than five
hundred Tories under Major Gainey, and whipped them so thoroughly
that Gainey, thoroughly humbled, joined the patriot force. From that
time until Charleston was evacuated (December 14, 1782), the Swamp
Fox continued on the aggressive, making his name, and that of his
followers, particularly the Minute Boys, now grown to a brigade of
more than three hundred, feared by Britisher and Tory alike.”
THE END.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized or underlined text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=.
Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.