Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have
been preserved. In particular, the book uses reconnoiter and
reconnoitre, and both redcoat and red-coat. Obvious typographical
errors have been corrected.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal
signs=.
[Illustration: I clasped the old man's hand, understanding for the
first time what a friend he was.--Page 93.]
WITH THE SWAMP FOX
A Story of General Marion's Young Spies.
BY JAMES OTIS.
With Six Page Illustrations by J. Watson Davis.
NEW YORK:
A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.
Copyright, 1899, by A. L. Burt.
WITH THE SWAMP FOX.
By James Otis.
"Thank God I can lay my hand on my heart and say that, since I came to
man's estate, I have never intentionally done wrong to any."
(General Francis Marion's last words, spoken February 27th, 1795.)
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. My Uncle the Major 1
II. General Marion 24
III. The Tory Camp 48
IV. Samuel Lee 72
V. The Ambush 96
VI. The Prisoners 120
VII. The Retreat 144
VIII. Black Mingo Swamp 167
IX. The Battle 191
X. Georgetown 215
XI. Gabriel 238
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
I Clasped the Old Man's Hand, Understanding for the Frontispiece
First Time What a Friend He Was
PAGE
As the Tory Spoke, Percy Leaped Upon Him 23
Then Suddenly a Red-coated Tory Rushed Toward Me with 49
Upraised Saber
As Gavin Gathered Up the Weapons, Percy and I Called 183
Upon the Sleepers to Surrender
In the Darkness We Four Comrades Were Sent Forward to 205
Reconnoitre
Gavin Seized My Arm, Shouting in My Ear: "Surrender, 250
Lad, Surrender!"
WITH THE SWAMP FOX.
CHAPTER I.
MY UNCLE, THE MAJOR.
He who sets himself down to write of his own deeds in order that future
generations may know exactly what part he bore in freeing the colonies
from the burdens put upon them by a wicked king, must have some other
excuse, or reason, than that of self-glorification.
Some such idea as set down above has been in my mind from the moment
Percy Sumter--meaning my brother--urged that I make a record of what we
did while serving under General Francis Marion, that ardent patriot and
true soldier, who was willing to make of himself a cripple rather than
indulge in strong drink.
I question if there be in the Carolinas any one who does not know
full well the story of that night in Charleston, when, the door
being locked upon him in order that he might be forced to drink,
General Marion--then only a colonel--leaped from the window, thereby
dislocating his ankle, rather than indulge in a carousal which to him
was unseemly and ungentlemanly.
This is but a lame beginning to what it is intended I shall tell
regarding those days when we two lads, Percy and myself, did, as it has
pleased many to say, the work of men in the struggle against foreign
rule; yet however crude it may appear to those better versed in the use
of the pen, it is the best I can do. My brother and myself went into
General Marion's camp before our fourteenth birthday, and since that
time have studied the art of warfare instead of letters, which fact
is due to the troublous times rather than our own inclination, for my
desire ever was to improve my mind until I should be at least on equal
terms with those lads who were more favored as to country.
First let me set down that of which we two--meaning Percy and
myself--can honestly claim without fear of being called boastful.
Our mother was sister to those noble gentlemen, John, William, Gavin,
James and Robert James, who one and all devoted their fortunes and
their lives to the cause of the independence of the Carolinas. She
married a Sumter, who died while yet we twins were in the cradle, and,
therefore, we were come to look upon ourselves as true members of the
James family, rather than Sumters, priding ourselves upon that which
every true Carolinian is ready to declare, that "he who rightfully
bears the name of James is always ready for the foe, the first in
attack and the last in retreat."
I am coming to the beginning of my story in a halting, and what may
seem a boastful, fashion, yet to my mind there is no other way of
telling plainly what Percy and I were so fortunate as to accomplish
under General Marion, than that of explaining why it was we two
lads, less than fourteen years of age, should have been given such
opportunities.
Now I will write particularly of my uncle, the major, in order that it
may be further understood how we lads came to be known as scouts in the
service of the "Swamp Fox," and while so doing much which is already
well-known must be repeated.
When the city of Charleston was captured by the British, thousands of
Carolinians who were true to the cause of independence voluntarily made
of themselves exiles, despairing of being able to wrest their native
colonies from the hands of the king, and willing to assist those in the
north whose possibilities seemed bright.
To the men who were left at home, the proclamation of Sir Henry
Clinton, offering pardon to the inhabitants and a reinstatement of all
their rights, seemed most honest.
When, however, Sir Henry's second decree was issued early in August,
in the year 1780, declaring that we who accepted "pardon" must take up
arms against those of the northern colonies who were yet holding their
own against oppression, the condition of affairs seemed suddenly to
have changed, and the gentlemen of the Carolinas asked themselves how
these two proclamations could bear relationship.
Such question could only be answered by those high in authority under
the king, and that the matter might be made plain, the people of
Williamsburg, in the colony of South Carolina, chose my uncle, Major
John James, to represent them in asking for an explanation.
The nearest post was at Georgetown, and the commandant one Captain
Ardesoif.
To this officer my uncle presented himself with the question as to
what might be meant by the demand that the people of South Carolina
"submit themselves to the king," and if, after having done so to the
satisfaction of his majesty, they would be allowed to remain at their
homes.
The British captain was one who looked upon the colonists generally as
slaves who should be whipped into subjection, rather than men who were
able and willing to defend their lives, and taking such view of the
Carolinians, he made answer much in this fashion:
"His majesty offers you a free pardon, of which you are undeserving,
for you all ought to be hanged: but it is only on condition that you
take up arms in his cause."
Had this redcoated captain known my uncle better, he might have
selected his words with greater wisdom; but, unacquainted with our
family, he could have made no greater mistake, and proud am I to set
down that which I know to be my uncle's answer:
"Sir, the people whom I am come to represent will scarcely submit to
such condition."
Then it was that Captain Ardesoif flew into a passion, giving no heed
to the possibility that it might be dangerous to allow his tongue free
rein.
"Represent!" he cried in a fury. "You insolent rebel, if you dare speak
in such language I will have you hung up at the yard-arm," and the
redcoated captain pointed to his ship, which lay in the harbor.
I had never set myself down as a member of the James family if such
words had been allowed to pass unnoticed, but those who know my uncle
could have told the captain that he was most unwise in attempting to
_force_ us into any agreement.
The king's officer was armed, and my uncle, clad in a garb such as is
worn by us of Williamsburg, carried no weapons. This fact, however, had
no weight with Major James.
Seizing the chair upon which he sat he rushed upon the insolent
Britisher, striking him senseless with a single blow, and then making
his escape at once, for the king's soldiers were there in force, he
mounted his horse and fled from the town.
All possibility that we of Williamsburg would "submit" had vanished,
and within four and twenty hours came the enrolment of that body of
true gentlemen and noble soldiers who were afterward known, and the
memory of whom will live so long as the history of these colonies are
told, as "Marion's Brigade."
It was the major, as a matter of course, who took command of these
volunteers, and they were divided into four companies, each under a
captain.
The first was led by William M'Cottry; Henry Mouzon had command of the
second. John of the Lake--another branch of the James family, and an
uncle to the major--was captain of the third, while John McCauley stood
at the head of the fourth division.
These gentlemen, who had come together within less than four and twenty
hours after my uncle's interview with the representative of his majesty
at Georgetown were all residents of the district of Williamsburg, and
were rendezvoused on the banks of Lynch's Creek nearby where it joins
the Great Pedee River within less than two miles of my mother's home.
All this is set down by way of explanation, so that whosoever in the
days to come shall read what I am so lamely doing, may understand
how it chanced that we two lads played so important a part--for
circumstances put it in our way to do good work--in the struggle which
finally freed the Carolinas, as well as the other colonies of America,
from the burdens which the king put upon them.
Percy and I had seen somewhat of warfare, or at least we believed we
had, and watched keenly the movements of this brigade which my uncle
commanded, expecting that such deeds of valor would be performed by him
and his soldiers as must give new impetus to the Cause throughout all
the colonies.
Then, to our great surprise, we learned that General Marion was
appointed chief over the forces raised in the Williamsburg district,
and our hearts were filled with disappointment because it appeared to
us that thereby had Major James lost the opportunity to show himself
the valiant and skillful officer we believed him to be.
As a matter of course we had heard much regarding this soldier who
leaped out of a window at the expense of breaking his bones, rather
than join a party of gentlemen in their drinking, and were burning with
curiosity, which as I have said, was mixed with deep disappointment, to
know what kind of an appearance he might present.
The men of the command were by no means as captious regarding him as we
two nephews of the man whom we believed to be the rightful commander.
Those Carolinians who took part in the defense of Charleston knew him
to be a brave colonel, and expected much of him as a general; but we
lads were more than disappointed in the appearance of the soldier who
had already made for himself a worthy name.
We saw a small, swarthy gentleman, walking with a decided limp, wearing
a round-bodied, crimson jacket, and, perched upon his head was a
leathern cap ornamented with a silver crescent on which were inscribed
the words "liberty or death."
While we were not disposed to compare the king's soldiers with our own
brave men to the disparagement of the latter, we had seen officers from
many countries, and had rather more than a vague idea of what a uniform
should be. Therefore this grotesque costume--for I can call it by no
other name--impressed us unfavorably, although in a very few days we
came to learn better than ever before that something more than clothes
are needed to make the man.
When General Marion arrived at Lynch's Creek on the 12th of August,
the men of Williamsburg had a military organization numbering, perhaps,
four hundred, and not a man that could boast of a complete equipment.
Our Carolinians were armed with whatsoever weapons they owned, some
carrying shot-guns and others muskets, while M'Cottry's company were
provided with small-bore rifles. Each man had, perhaps, his horn filled
with powder; but no more than that, and, as I have heard my uncle say
time and time again, when the brigade first went into camp there was
not of ammunition sufficient to sustain an engagement lasting half an
hour.
The variety of missiles was as great as that of weapons. A few had
muskets or rifle balls which they themselves had molded; others carried
buck-shot, and some were provided only with bird-shot.
As for swords, bayonets and pikes, we had none, and the first order
which General Marion issued after arriving at Lynch's Creek, caused me
to have a higher opinion of him than I had at first believed would be
possible.
Word was given that the force disperse in squads of from five to
a dozen men, and set about sacking the saw mills in the immediate
vicinity. Nothing was to be taken away from them save the saws, and
these it was proposed should be beaten by the blacksmiths of the
district into sabres.
Now in such work as this two lads like Percy and myself could do as
much as men, and, without asking the privilege of volunteering, we set
out, forming an "independent command of two," as Percy put it, bound
for a certain mill owned by one Pingree, who had announced again and
again that a Carolinian who would set himself in defiance against the
king deserved nothing better than hanging.
It was no brave adventure which we started upon, and yet it led to our
being brought into direct, and I might almost say close, contact with
General Marion himself.
There was little need that we two lads should ask permission from our
mother to join in the work of saw gathering, for the major was at the
head of the family in good truth, and whatsoever he might do, was, in
the opinion of even the most distant relatives, worthy of being copied.
It was only necessary Percy and I should announce that we counted on
aiding the major so far as might be possible, and our mother at once
saw that we were provided with such amount of provisions as would serve
to keep hunger at bay during at least two days.
Perhaps my uncle might have objected to the plan had he been informed
of it; but such information we were not minded to give lest the venture
should be a failure, and we become a butt for his mirth.
Therefore it was we set out secretly, so to speak, armed with the
rifles which during no less than half a dozen years had served us in
all the turkey-hunts and deer-stalking parties we were allowed to join.
Because this venture of ours was not important, save in what it led up
to, there is no reason why I should use many words in the telling of
it. Suffice it to say that after a tramp of ten miles or more, when
we had crossed the Pedee River at Port's Ferry and were at Pingree's
Mills, we learned, greatly to our surprise and considerably to our
fear, that we should not be allowed to dismantle the building.
There we were met by a lad of our acquaintance whose home was in
Kingstree. Samuel Lee was the name of this fellow, with whom we had
had little intercourse because of his associating much with the king's
soldiers; there had never been any bad blood between us, but we held
aloof from him, and now I was less inclined than ever to give him my
confidence.
He was curious to know what brought us so far from home, and on our
part we wondered what had led him out of the district.
Neither Percy nor I had any particular reason to fear Sam Lee; yet
instinctively we closed our mouths on his approach, which was at the
very moment when we were about to wrench the saws from the fastenings,
and awaited his speech.
"What are you two hunting?" he asked with an unwarranted assumption of
familiarity which Percy at once resented by closing his mouth closely,
while I, little dreaming what information it was possible for him to
give, replied in a tone intended to repel his advances:
"Any game which comes our way is not unwelcome."
"Are you expecting to find fur or feather in Pingree's Mill?"
I was tempted to reply roughly; but without knowing why it should be
done, I put a curb upon my tongue and spoke him fairly, even against my
inclination.
"When one has traveled far under such a blazing sun as shines to-day,
any shelter from the heat is grateful."
"And may at the same time be dangerous for some lads," he said in a
tone which caused me to believe it was within his power to give some
information of value to us.
"Why should it be dangerous for some, and not for others?" I asked.
"Because all who live in the Williamsburg district do not boast of
their relationship to the James family, great though it may be."
Now was I certain he had it in his mind to do us a mischief, and was
capable of carrying it out, else the cowardly lad who called himself a
Loyalist would never have spoken so boldly.
There was a similar thought in Percy's mind, as I understood from the
meaning look he gave me, and then I was resolved to know all Sam Lee
could tell.
By way of provoking him to further speech I said boastingly:
"If you know of another family hereabout who have greater reason to be
proud of its members, than ours, I would like much to hear the name."
"Those who are wrapped up in their own conceit fail oftentimes of
seeing the good which is in others, and I have heard it said that not
one of the James tribe would admit that even the king was higher in
position than he."
"You might have heard it said with equal truth that not a James, or a
true Carolinian would admit that such a king as now claims the right
to rule over us, was even our equal." Percy replied hotly, and this
seditious remark had the effect which I was hoping to bring about.
It stirred Sam Lee to anger, and he cried menacingly, but taking good
care meanwhile to move off at a safe distance.
"Before many days you will learn that the James family cannot even take
care of themselves!"
"But who shall teach us that lesson?" Percy asked with a sneer.
"No less a man than Major Gainey himself."
"And how can he, who is now in Charleston, teach us so odd and sudden
a lesson?"
"The major is at Britton's Neck!" Sam cried triumphantly. "In command
of a body of Loyalists so large that the people of Williamsburg will
soon be on their knees begging protection from the king's troops."
"He will need have more Tories at his back to do that, than have ever
been found in the Carolinas," Percy cried, now almost boiling with
rage.
"It may be that you Sumter lads, who hang to the skirts of Major James
because of the great deeds he claims to be able to perform, have yet
much to learn regarding the Loyalists of the Carolinas! What say you to
two thousand well-armed and well-drilled men?"
"Two thousand?" Percy repeated with a laugh of scorn. "You know full
well, Sam Lee, that such a number of Tories cannot be gathered in these
colonies."
"There is at this moment, ready to march upon your wonderful General
Marion, near to that number of men, and before a week has passed every
James around Williamsburg will be in custody of the king's forces."
"If all you say be true, and I doubt seven-eighths of it, why are you
so far afield from those of your kidney? After all that has taken place
in this colony, a Tory would do well to have a care over his steps lest
he blunder into evil," and now it was that I began to lose control over
my temper.
"It is you who are blundering, Bob Sumter, for I have but to raise my
voice and an hundred soldiers will answer me."
Percy laughed derisively; but I am willing to confess that there was
something very like timorousness in my heart as the Tory lad spoke, for
I knew full well he had not dared say so much unless friends were close
at hand.
Now I felt positive there were no such number of Tories under Major
Gainey as Sam Lee had said, yet was I equally certain there must be a
strong gathering in the neighborhood, and he would have been a dull lad
indeed who could not realize how important it was that my uncle, the
major, have immediate information regarding the assembly.
Once this fact had gained lodgment in my mind I was burning with
anxiety to retrace my steps.
There was no longer any desire in us to bring back a goodly store of
saws that our neighbors might praise us for having been industrious.
There remained only the question of leaving Sam Lee as quickly as might
be, without arousing his suspicions as to where we were going.
It was not a simple matter, however, to give him the slip.
He must have read in my face that his information disturbed me, and,
like a fool who believes that by multiplying words he gives yet further
weight to his argument, the fellow launched forth in praises of this
vast body of Tories who were to work us of Williamsburg so much injury.
My impatience increased until it seemed no longer possible to stand
there listening to what was little less than threats, and, seizing
Percy by the hand lest in his anger he should leap upon the braggart,
I said with so much of friendliness as could be assumed:
"As you have said, Master Lee, we are far from home, and it behooves
us to retrace our steps before sunset, more particularly if there are
so many traitors to their country in this vicinity as you would have us
believe. We bid you good-day, and trust that the time may speedily come
when it will not be so simple a matter to part company."
[Illustration: As the Tory spoke, Percy leaped upon him.--Page 28]
"You may be certain that day is near at hand," he replied in a menacing
tone. "Before a week has passed I venture to predict the king's enemies
in Williamsburg will be under close guard, powerless to say when they
will go or come."
As the Tory spoke Percy wrenched himself free from my grasp, and leaped
upon him.
To flog such a coward as Sam Lee was a simple matter, and I stepped
aside lest it should afterward be said that two of us set upon one,
thinking that while it might be imprudent for my brother to mete out
the punishment which was merited, it was a duty which could not with
honor be avoided.
Sam shrieked lustily, and before he had received half a dozen
well-aimed blows I heard a great trampling in the underbrush; then came
into view two score or more of men in the king's uniform, and for an
instant I believed that the Tory's threat was about to be made good.