Marion's first appearance -- a humble cultivator of the earth --
the great Cherokee war of 1761 comes on -- volunteers his services
to his country -- is appointed a first lieutenant in the provincial line --
commands a forlorn hope -- narrowly escapes with his life --
the Anglo-American and the Indian forces engaged -- bloody battle --
the Indians defeated -- their country laid waste -- peace made --
Marion retires.
Among the Mohawks of Sparta, it was a constant practice
on the birth of a male infant, to set a military granny to examine him,
as a butcher would a veal for the market, and if he were found any ways puny,
he was presently thrown into a horse pond with as little ceremony
as a blind puppy. Had such been the order of the day in 1732,
Carolina would never have boasted a Marion; for I have it from good authority,
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.
This puny appearance continued with him till the age of twelve,
when it was removed by the following extraordinary providence.
On a trip to the West Indies, which his friends put him upon
for his health's sake, the little schooner in which he was embarked
was suddenly attacked by some monstrous fish, probably a thorn-back whale,
who gave it such a terrible stroke with his tail as started a plank.
The frightened crew flew to their pumps, but in vain; for the briny flood
rushed with such fury into their vessel, that they were glad to quit her,
and tumble as fast as they could into their little jolly boat.
The event showed that this was as but a leap "out of the frying pan
into the fire"; for their schooner went down so suddenly
as not to give them time to take a mouthful of food with them,
not even so much as a brown biscuit or a pint of water.
After three wretched days of feverish hunger and thirst,
they agreed to kill a little cabin dog who had swam to them from the schooner
just before she sunk. On his raw flesh they feasted without restraint;
but the blood they preserved with more economy, to cool their parched lips.
In a few days, however, their own blood, for lack of cooling food,
became so fiery hot as to scald their brain to frenzy. About the tenth day
the captain and mate leaped overboard, raving mad; and the day following
the two remaining seamen expired in the bottom of the boat,
piteously crying to the last for WATER! WATER! God of his mercy forgive me,
who have so often drank of that sweet beverage without
grateful acknowledgments! Scarcely was this melancholy scene concluded
before a vessel hove in sight, standing directly for the boat,
as if purposely sent to save the child that was tossing in it
on the gloomy waves.
Little Marion was so weak that he could not stir hand or foot to climb up
the side of the vessel. The captain, however, soon had him on board;
and by means of chocolate and turtle broth, sparingly given him at first,
recruited him so fast, that, by the time he reached his native shores,
he was in much better health than ever. So that on his return to his friends,
it was found, as is often the case, that what was at first looked on
as a great misfortune, had proved a very noble blessing. His constitution
seemed renewed, his frame commenced a second and rapid growth;
while his cheeks, quitting their pale suet-colored cast,
assumed a bright and healthy olive. According to the best accounts
that I have been able to procure, Marion never thought of another trip to sea,
but continued in his native parish, in that most independent and happy
of all callings, a cultivator of the earth, till his twenty-seventh year.
A report then prevailing that the Cherokee Indians were murdering
the frontier settlers, Marion turned out with his rifle,
as a volunteer under governor Lyttleton. The affair, however,
proved to be a mere flash in the pan: for the Cherokees finding
that things were not exactly in the train they wished, sent on a deputation
with their wampum belts and peace-talks to bury the hatchet
and brighten the old chain of friendship with the whites;
and the good-natured governor, thinking them sincere,
concluded a treaty with them. The troops of course were dismissed,
and Marion returned to his plantation.
Scarcely, however, had two years elapsed, before the perfidious Cherokees
broke out again in a fresh place, killing and driving
the defenceless inhabitants at a most barbarous rate.
Marion instantly flew again to the governor with the tender of his services
to fight for his afflicted countrymen. His excellency was so pleased
with this second instance of Marion's patriotism, that he gave him
a first lieutenancy in the provincial line under the brave captain
William Moultrie. The reported force and fury of the Indians
struck such a terror through the colony, that colonel Grant (of the British)
with twelve hundred regulars, was ordered out on a forced march
to succor the bleeding frontiers.
On their way they were joined at Ninety-Six, May 14, 1761,
by twelve hundred provincials, all men of surest aim with the deadly rifle.
To draw off the enemy from their murderous excursions,
Col. Grant wisely determined to push the war at once into their own country;
which was no sooner discovered by them, than they instantly
collected their whole force to oppose him. The only passage
into their country was through a dark defile or gap in the mountain,
which it was resolved should be forced as rapidly as possible.
A forlorn hope of thirty brave fellows were ordered to explore
the dangerous pass: and Marion, though but a young lieutenant,
had the honor to be appointed their leader. At the head of his command
he advanced with rapidity, while the army moved on to support him.
But scarcely had they entered the gloomy defile, when,
from behind the rocks and trees, a sheet of fire suddenly blazed forth,
which killed twenty-one of his men! With the remainder, he faced about
and pushed back with all speed; whereupon great numbers of tall savages,
frightfully painted, rushed from their lurking places,
and with hideous yells and uplifted tomahawks, pursued and gained upon them
so fast, that nothing but the nearness of the advanced guard
saved them from destruction. The Anglo-American army then prepared themselves
for a serious and bloody conflict.
An enemy in such force, so well posted, and defending the only pass
into their country, would, they well knew, fight desperately.
And well aware, also what slaughter would follow upon their own defeat,
they determined to yield the victory only with their lives.
A long summer's day was before them, for the sun had just risen
above the hills, a bright spectator of the coming fight. Then,
in high spirits, with justice on their side, and an approving conscience,
they cheerfully left the event to Heaven. The British were formed
in small corps, the more promptly to support the riflemen, who led the van,
and now with wide extended wings began to move. In a little time
they came in sight of the enemy, who appeared flying backwards and forwards,
as if not well satisfied with their ground. The provincial marksmen
then rapidly advancing, flew each to his tree, and the action began.
From wing to wing, quite across the defile, the woods appeared
as if all on fire; while the incessant crash of small arms
tortured the ear like claps of sharpest thunder. The muskets of the British,
like their native bull-dogs, kept up a dreadful roar, but scarcely did more
than bark the trees, or cut off the branches above the heads of the Indians.
While, with far less noise, the fatal rifles continued to lessen
the numbers of the enemy. The action was kept up with great spirit
for nearly two hours, during which the superiority of the American riflemen
was very remarkably displayed. For in that time they lost only fifty-one --
whereas of the Indians there fell one hundred and three,
which so disheartened them that they fled and gave up their country
to the conquerors, who prepared immediately to enter it.
Colonel Grant had hoped to surprise their towns, but concluding
that their swift-footed runners had given the alarm, he moved on
in slow marches through the wilderness towards the settlements,
thinking that by the destruction of their towns and corn-fields
he should drive them into a disposition for peace.
Marion often spoke of this part of the war, as of a transaction which
he remembered with sorrow. "We arrived," said he, in a letter to a friend,
"at the Indian towns in the month of July. As the lands were rich
and the season had been 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. 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 Indians' 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 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 rot untasted in their mourning fields?
"I saw every where around 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 did it;' the mothers reply; `the christians did it!'
"Thus for cursed Mammon's sake, the followers of Christ have sown
the hellish tares of hatred in the bosoms even of pagan children."
The reader will, however, with pleasure remember that these
were the dark deeds chiefly of a kingly government.* A gloomy monarch,
three thousand miles distant, and rolling in all the pomps and pleasures
of three millions of dollars per annum, could hardly be supposed to know
what was passing in the American wilds; but Washington had known.
With bleeding heart he had often beheld the red and white men
mingling in bloody fight. The horrors of the cruel strife
dwelt upon his troubled thoughts; and soon as God gave him power,
(AS PRESIDENT OF INDEPENDENT AMERICA,) he immediately adopted
that better system which he had learnt from the gospel. His successors,
Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, have piously pursued his plan.
In place of the tomahawk, the plough-share is sent to the poor Indians --
goods are furnished them at first cost -- letters and morals
are taught among their tribes -- and the soul of humanity is rejoiced
to see the red and white men meet together like brothers.
--
* This generalization is doubtful for the time of which Weems speaks,
and is certainly false for some subsequent periods,
in which Great Britain had far better relations with native peoples
(as in Canada) than did the United States. -- A. L., 1997.
--
By this god-like policy, the United States have not only saved
an immensity of blood and treasure, but are rapidly adding
to the population and strength of the country.
Now to return to Marion's letter. -- "After burning twenty towns,
and destroying thousands of cornfields,* the army returned to Koewee,
where the `Little Carpenter', a Cherokee chief, met colonel Grant
and concluded a peace." The troops were then disbanded:
and Marion returned to his plantation in St. John's parish,
where, with a few well-fed slaves, he continued to till his parental acres,
occasionally amusing himself with his gun and fishing rod,
of which he was always very fond.
--
* To this day the Indians cannot bear the name of colonel Grant;
and whenever they see a drove of horses destroying a corn-field,
they call out "Grant, Grant."
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